Vandemere by Kimberley D. Tait is a very interesting story of a 17 year old boy navigating his life as a circus rider and a powerful gifted passed down generations on his mother’s side. This book is very well written. I listened to the audiobook version of the first book in this duology and greatly enjoyed it! The narrator, Kyle Shive, is fantastic!! I look forward to reading the second book. I need to know what happens next to Vandy. Thank you to NetGalley, AudioBee Productions, and Kimberley D. Tait for providing me with an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this audiobook so much. It was fenomenal!
I rated this audiobook 5 stars. Such a cool story and characters. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.

4.5⭐️
Wow! I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would! I’ve mentioned many times that I’m not a history person in my fiction.. but sometimes books come along that are set in an earlier time period and it just hits! This is one of those books.

I read another review that labeled it as an urban fantasy and I absolutely agree. I am thankful to have gotten an audio ALC for free from Netgalley and the author to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

I enjoyed the narrator who did a great job with his narration especially with our MMC who embodies and angry teenager. The author really brings him to life and he has these special abilities in a regular world.

Circuses freak me out a bit and this was no exception but it was in such an entertaining way.
This book came out a little over a year ago and I’m so surprised it didn’t get more attention. Im not sure if the audiobook just came out and that’s why it was on NetGalley or what but I’m glad it was!

I’m going to get myself a physical copy to have on hand and o think you should too!

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The world building was fun, impressive and mysterious. The main character has a complex back story and I would happy listen to the rest of the series. Thanks NetGalley for letting me listen and review.

This audiobook left me breathless a few times. The plot was unlike anything I have encountered previously as it was set in the 1930's about a 17yr boy Vandemere who worked in a circus as a trick rider. The idea of the magie’s as a physic ability was intriguing and never fully explained. I guess that's the hook for book two and I'll definitely be checking it out. I'm fully invested in where his store takes him as the obstacles he must overcome seem to be piling up.

Vandemere (Vandy) Petruska is circus through and through. Born and raised to perform trick riding on his father's horses, his life would be perfect if it weren't for the fact that his father left, his mother is a drunk with bad taste in men, and the magie that he inherited from his mom is getting stronger and more dangerous by the minute.

The story pulled me in from page one, and I loved reading about Vandy's life, both as a kid stuck between his parents' very different ideas of what his life should be and as a teenager who finds himself unwittingly (and unfairly) embroiled in a missing child case. The way that Tait treats the mysterious magic that Vandy can wield makes for intense moments that add to the overall uneasy vibe of the story. It's tense and slightly bleak while also showing what perseverance and not giving up can achieve, giving it a nice balance that kept me turning pages even when things got highly depressive.

I was impressed with Kyle Shive's narration because you can very easily tell who's talking and what their intentions and mood are. The story is good enough that I was all in on it already, but Shive makes it feel like you're living it along with Vandy.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Kimberley D. Tait for the positively peculiar read!

I listened to the audiobook.
It was narrated by Kyle Shive.
Kyle Shive did an excellent job breathing life into this production. His conveyance of emotion had me enthralled. It was like he was Vandy.
The book was beautifully written. As someone who traveled with the carnival, and sometimes the circus, at an early age, the descriptions brought back fond memories of the midway. The feeling of family was well expressed within the carnie and gypsy community.
Some might find the terminology upsetting but in the era the book describes, these are the words used to describe the people who lived it by the people who lived it. While my time was during the 1970s and this book was set in the early 1900s, it still felt the same.
There are times that you won't be able to tell if Vandy is experiencing reality or something else, I feel that really makes this more captivating. There are so many different personalities on display. I can't wait to read the next book to learn even more about these characters.

A magical coming of age story about a traveling carnival trick rider coping with his repressed magical inheritance that apparently came with an insidious unconscious evil intending to cause havoc.

Set in the American southwest of the 1930s, Vandy (Vandemere) is a truck riding carnie who experiences black outs every time he uses his “magie”. This magie is a power he has inherited from his mothers Romanian side, that as a kid was warned never to use, but now as a 17 year old his magie is taking over a mind of its own and overpowering his conscious mind to be unleashed.

This was a little confusing at times but questions are answered throughout the story in his memories/past history. This is currently free to read on NetGalley and my interest was piqued on the beautiful cover before reading the book description. Overall a magical young adult read with some mature themes. There is a second book and this can be read in any order, however the author recommends reading this one first. I will definitely be picking up the second book as well.

If you are in the mood for a gritty, dustbowl-era, read about a travelling circus with some real magic users, this may be for you.

Vandemere, aka Vandy, is teenager who has lived an incredibly rough life on the road with the traveling circus with his mom and, for a while, with his dad, before his dad left. There is a lot of guilt and blame between mother and son and that was probably one of my biggest hiccups with this book because Vandy's character is frequently not very likeable due to his words and actions towards others and his mom is also not incredibly sympathetic nor a very good mother.

This is the first in a duology and I am incredibly interested in exploring the second in this series to see where we go with the magic he has inherited from his Romanian ancestors as well as a dark force which is haunting his every step. I do hope book two starts to give me a bit of hope for Vandy and his future. Though the story and premise was incredibly intriguing, I was a bit sad by the lack of hope for a positive outcome. I'm crossing fingers we will see some big turn in this young guy's journey towards growing up and accepting the powers he's gained.

Vandermere
Or Vandy as he is often called, is a trick rider for a traveling circus. He is kind of a lonely, angry teenager struggling with two sides of himself. The Del Davidson side, following in his father’s footsteps, he is the most fearless and amazing trick rider there is. We get glimpses of how this side was formed via memories of Vandy’s early years. Vandy is shaped by his interactions with Del who taught him to be high-achieving and tough.

“You’re going to get hurt Vandy. I wish I can protect you from all the sharp edges of the world but I can’t. You’re going to fall off that horse and then you’re going to get banged around. With any luck, you’ll come out a lot stronger than you were when you went in. Life is a battleground. The sooner you learn to fight your way out of it. The sooner you learn there is nothing to be afraid of. You are going to end up hating me for making you do this but I promise I’ll always be around to dust you off.” (Transcribed from audiobook, please excuse typos.)

Bonnie Petruska, his mother, had differing opinions on how Vandy should be raised. The fights and Del’s ensuing departure, left Vandy feeling like he is to be blamed, he is unworthy and he is unwanted. Bonnie is not quite herself anymore, now a drunk and hooking up with a carnie that despises Vandy.

The Petruska’s magie or psychic abilities that Vandy was avoiding, is getting strong now that he is older. It’s gotten him tangled up in a missing girl’s murder investigation. Does he embrace this side of himself and learn to wield it or will he be destroyed by it?

Vandemere’s character development is written well and the various character’s backstories are interesting. Kimberley D. Tait provides a good visual for a typical traveling circus, down to the various circus animals.

This story is young adult but there are mentions of r@pe, descriptions of intimate touches and discussions of death.

This book ends on a cliffhanger. Vandemere must venture on to find the truth about the Magie in Fire Horse (Circ de Tarot #2). I look forward to listening to the conclusion of Vandemere’s story.

Kyle Shive does a great job narrating the audiobook. His voice is soothing. He enunciated each word and used different voices for the different characters. I will definitely keep an eye out for other titles he narrates.

Lastly, a big thank you to Kimberley D. Tait and Netgalley for providing the ALC of this book.

TROPES/ THEMES: magic, psychic abilities, coming of age

Vandermere is such a great read, brilliantly narrated. I especially enjoyed the supernatural edge to the story and the fact that it is set in a circus. The narrator did a fantastic job capturing Vandy’s spirit. It has dark themes and language but, overall this is a solid five stars. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an audio ARC.

Thank you to @netgalley and the author for providing this free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
 
This historical fantasy book is a genre-bending story that includes elements of family drama, magical realism, and eventually murder mystery. Set in a circus in the 1930s, the story follows 17-year-old Vandy, a trick rider in the circus who’s inherited a cursed magical ability to see into the minds of men and beasts. Over the course of the story, Vandy must come to terms with using his magic as it becomes necessary against an invisible enemy that wants him dead.
 
The world-building is very unique and interesting. All of the main characters are well developed with compelling backstories, and each plays a key role in the story. Even Vandy’s relationship with his horses is well detailed and adds an additional heartwarming element to the story. The book ends on an exciting cliffhanger with just enough unresolved conflict to make readers want to know what becomes of Vandy in the follow-up book, Fire Horse!
 
Narrator Kyle Shive does a wonderful job bringing the circus and characters so vividly to life. He infuses a lot of emotion into the dialogue and provides distinct and authentic character voices, making for an enjoyable listening experience that’s very easy to follow!
 
Please be advised that there are some possible triggers (mostly minimally depicted), including sex, violence, and profane language.

(4.0 Stars)

This was a YA modern fantasy based in the 1930's. I liked it. The story was engaging and interesting. The characters are unique and well developed. The pace was good throughout the book, and the end made me want to read the next book in the series.

I read the audiobook version of this and the narrator did a good job. His voice is soothing, so sometimes the dramatic scenes lacked that sense of "urgency" you might otherwise get from just reading it. But overall he was very good. The women and children voices were also done well (not always true with some male narrators), so it was easy to distinguish the dialog. I do hope the next book (Fire Horse) is also done as an audiobook.

This book should appeal to younger readers, or those who prefer character-driven fantasy in a modern setting. It has magic, young romance, teen angst, and don't forget about The Circus.

Full Disclosure: This book does use the term "Gypsy" to describe people. I know today many (but not all) Romani people consider this to be a slur. I do not think the author meant to use this as a pejorative. The author also includes other disclaimers about some disturbing content. Again, this is not graphic in detail as this is a YA novel, but it is included.

I really enjoyed the audio rendition of Vandemere and especially loved the male narrator's voice acting abilities as he brought life to the protagonist. I can't wait to hear (or read) the next book in this series and I know I won't be let down!

I requested this book because of the synopsis. First point, I feel like there should have been some type of warnings because of the predatory nature of part of the book, and other things. I feel like this actually took away a bit from the novel. I listened to the audio book version of this novel, and the narrator did a great job making it come to life. The book was a circus theme with a dash of magic thrown in. Vandy was an interesting character that started as a trick rider in the circus, only later to be given some magical abilities. That also unfortunately marked Vandy for death. I loved the way the scenes were described. I enjoyed most of the characters, and their development. I am looking forward to more from this author because this book did not give me the closure as an independent novel would.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

A trick rider in a traveling circus, Vandemere Petruska’s life is far from perfect. HIs mother is a drunk, his father left, and he inherited his mother’s tarot magic. Stuck between two worlds, Vandemere struggles to reconcile the two. Every time he uses his magic, he blacks out and doesn’t remember what happened. As a result, at 17, he finds himself in the middle of a missing child case. Will he learn to embrace his magic or will it destroy him?

Narrator, Kyle Shive’s intonations and narrative style are well done and work well with the author’s writing style. He does a great job of bringing the characters to life. The characters are authentic, enjoyable, and well drawn. The plot is unique and engaging. The world building is well done and works well with the ongoing plot. Readers who like historical fiction, magical realism, carnival fiction, and mysteries will want to pick this one up. Recommended for library collections where such audiobooks are popular.

I listened to this one so quickly. I liked the world building and back story of Vandemere and his circle. His troubled past with his mother and father play and important role in his development. I loved the circus setting and all of the different interesting characters. I am a sucker for paranormal stories-this one satisfied my needs! Kyle Shive brings a light tone for the young Vandy. I can't wait to listen to book 2 in the series! Thank you NetGalley and Kimberley D. Tait for the advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own.

From the very first page, Tait’s writing captivates with evocative descriptions that transport readers to the gritty, dust-choked landscapes of the Southwest. The circus setting, with its mesmerizing performances and raw human grit, is richly detailed, and the atmosphere feels almost tangible. Vandy’s world is one where the line between reality and the supernatural is thin, and Tait masterfully plays with this boundary throughout the story.

One of the most striking aspects of Vandemere is its exploration of family legacy and inherited power. The concept of "magic isn’t the only thing he inherited" runs deeply through the narrative. Vandy’s ancestors—their choices, triumphs, and mistakes—cast long shadows on his present. As he comes to terms with the truth about his family's past, readers are drawn into a generational saga of fate, choice, and the weight of ancestry.

The supporting cast is another highlight of Vandemere. From the colorful members of the traveling circus to his Romanian family’s ghostly presence, each character is fully realized with unique personalities and motivations. Tait introduces them with deft strokes, ensuring they feel lifelike and memorable.

Vandemere is not without its darker themes. The story’s depiction of life in the 1930s is unflinching in its honesty. Grit, hardship, and struggle permeate the narrative. Violence, coarse language, self-harm, and sexual situations are present, adding layers of realism but also serving as potential triggers for sensitive readers. Tait’s approach to these subjects is thoughtful but unyielding, underscoring the harsh realities of the era.

This is a very good new adult book that’s a mix of historical fiction, magical realism, and mystery. The author perfectly captures the magical and mysterious setting of carnival life, as well as the emotions of a young boy trying to find his identity while battling the duty he feels toward his family and dreams for his own life. Other themes/tropes of this book include: 1930s American southwest, fortune telling, tarot magic, psychic abilities, and coming of age.

Vandy’s Romanian ancestors brought an evil with them when they immigrated to America and now it’s searching for him. Despite this, he’s not interested in embracing the magic that could save him. Vandy just wants to continue excelling in his career as a trick rider in the circus. He has to start accepting the magic and psychic abilities that he inherited from his mother in order to defeat the entity that has marked him for death.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator is very good and really embodies the personality of an angry 17 year old boy. There are a lot of dark themes in this book (abuse, mention of SA, murder) so be mindful before beginning it. This book is different from what I normally read but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion!

We follow our teenage MC as he tries to figure out his place in the world. He has a special power passed down through his family line they call the Magie. Something is coming for him and people are dead.
.
My only real criticism is that I feel like this book could have been a novella or the duology could have been one book.
But now for the good stuff, I really liked the magic system it’s not super detailed but it doesn’t need to be simplicity is perfect for this story. The characters we follow are likeable but morally grey enough to keep you interested and the plot has hooked me, I’m sure these books are on KU so I’ll definitely be picking up book two.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction sprinkle in a similar vide as one dark window and you have this but much better 😍
Please check trigger warnings as there is some content readers might wish to avoid.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a copy for review through NetGalley

This was a fun, whimsy book filled with intrigue, magic and mystery. The story was interesting and kept me engaged throughout the book. I lived the setting of the circus and the imagery was fantastic. The history of Vandemere and his family was intriguing, and I enjoyed Vandy’s character development. I also appreciated that every character ended up playing an important role in the plot. I listened to the audiobook version of this and thought the narrator did a great job. I look forward to the second book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Interesting mixture of circus, tarot and magic from a male POV.

I listened to this book on audiobook and want to first start by saying how great the narrator was. Really easy to distinguish between the characters and a great range of voices and accents.

Vandy is a teenage trick rider who has grown up in the circus. His mother is from a line of Romanian gypsies and his absent father has left abandonment scars in his son. Vandy has an excellent bond with horses and has inherited his mother’s gifts. A young girl goes missing and that’s just the start of the evil lurking in the magic system which is making Vandys life difficult.

The plot was good, well thought through and from about 30% I was pretty enthralled. I still have lots of questions, there’s a couple of plot twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming and the cliff hanger ending has me wishing for book 2.

The setting for me is partly why a star has dropped. It’s supposed to be the early 1900s but the descriptions didn’t quite match this and nor did the behaviours or language. I would have liked this to have been truer to the era and had a bit more world building.

The characters were strong albeit I found the first part of the book hearing from a 17 year old boys point of view as how his brain worked gave me the ick in some areas but I do encourage you to persevere as the story is good.

Thank You for Netgalley for the Audio ARC. I enjoyed this story quite a bit and will definitely continue the series. The narrator was Kyle Shive who did a great job. This is more of a Lit Fic and the story is told by Vandy perspective. He is a bit a young trickster who finds himself in some weird situations. The book ends with you wanting more.

I enjoyed this audiobook and I'm glad I got to listen to it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

Things I loved:
-The narrator, Kyle Shive, from AudioBee Productions, was probably the best narrator I've yet to encounter. All characters sounded different, tones and accents were perfectly on point. A pleasure to listen to.
-The book was set in 1930's American southwest, and the author executed this very well.
-The magic! or magie, I guess. Just everything supernatural. It was very cool and eerie at times.
-Vandy (main character)'s backstory and how it was gradually revealed, and his relationships to other characters.
-The cover! Couldn't find out who did it, but come on, it's ridiculously gorgeous! How could I not want to listen to a book with that cover?

Things I didn't care for:
-At times I couldn't locate the plot. The book was never boring, interesting stuff was happening all the time, but eventually the story didn't come off as very cohesive.
-Vandy as a character. He definitely grew up a lot during the book, but at times his inner monologue was just annoying.
-The fact that the book ended so soon! There were a ton of intriguing mysteries left unsolved that I need the answers to. Luckily, book 2, Fire Horse, is already out!

Read if you like coming-of-age-stories, historical fiction and dark magic.

As a reader, I was captivated by “Vandemere” from the very first page. Set in the 1930s American Southwest, this historical fantasy follows 17-year-old Vandemere Petruska, a trick rider in a traveling circus with a complicated magical inheritance.

The book’s most compelling aspect is Vandemere’s internal struggle with his supernatural abilities. Every time he uses his inherited tarot magic, he blacks out, which lands him in the middle of a mysterious missing child case. His journey of self-discovery is raw and intense, exploring themes of family legacy and personal identity.

The atmospheric world-building is extraordinary. Tait’s writing transports you to a gritty, dust-choked landscape where the line between reality and supernatural is razor-thin. The circus setting feels incredibly authentic, populated by vivid, memorable characters.

This was a really interesting book! The setting is a 1930s traveling circus, with Vandy being the main character. He is trick rider that has been part of the circus for years, with his mother who is a Tarot cars reader. This book has magic and demons and a possible family curse. This book definitely kept my interest and I can't wait to read book 2.