BLOG TOUR (01): CARNIVAL OF SOULS BY MELISSA MARR.

I am very much excited to post this review because it is my first time to participate in a Blog Tour! As you know, today is my blog stop and I would like to thank Kai from Amaterasu Reads, Pinoy Book Tours, Christine from HarperCollins and FullyBooked for hosting the event!

Title: Carnival of Souls
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Untamed City #1
Edition: Paperback, International
Publication: September 4, 2012 by HarperCollins
Source: Gifted
Pages: 306
Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

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This is my first Melissa Marr book and upon reading a good number of positive reviews about it, I know that it is a must-have. Lucky enough, I was given a chance to be a part of its Blog Tour here in the Philippines and my brother gifted me a copy. So I skipped all my scheduled readings just to give way to this talk-of-the-world book.

Its plot is very intriguing yet familiar. Marchosias, a powerful ruler of The City where daimons, watchers, curs and witches reside, holds a competition for each castes to win and have the chance to rule The City through the Carnival of Souls. Competitors are determined to kill and will do anything not to forfeit in each fight. Aya who belongs to a higher caste, joined the competition to rule The City to avoid being a breeder. In the process, she asks help from Kaleb who is also in the competition, but he only wanted to win to protect his packmate by being a part of a higher caste until he was payed to find and kill Marchosias' missing daughter. Mallory who lives in the human world tries to find out why her witch step-father is protecting her from daimons.

Again, it is really an intriguing yet familiar plot. While I get deeper into it, I envision the world of The Hunger Games which made me think that similarities could really make or break a story. I am not really a fan of redundancy especially with book plots. But the intriguing part kept me going. As I try to picture the world Marr has created, I was able to appreciate its brutality and beauty. She was able to infuse the world we live in today with the incredible magical world she built without any issues. And it turned out phenomenal.

Characters are very different with each other. First is Aya. She's very tough that I haven't felt any emotions from her at all not even what she really felt for her betrothed, Belias. I know she's so focused on what she really wanted which is actually a good thing but I was so shocked with her actions. Its the exact opposite of what she's been telling Belias. Kaleb on the other hand, initially had my heart because of the way he takes the responsibilities without asking anything in return and how he wants to protect Zevi. Again, as the story goes on, I just couldn't help but disagree with his intentions because he kept on breaking his promises and I am also not a fan of instant love. How could you love someone you barely even know? Adoring Mallory has also been difficult for me. His step-father trained her all her life to hate daimons but its as if she didn't listen. Being rebellious I guess will always be a part of teenager's lives, but her case isn't something normal so why not be brave and ask about things you don't know instead.

Other characters have really struck my heart hard core like Evelyn, Adam, Belias and Zevi. They're really one of a kind. Evelyn may appear annoying but there's this passion in her to avenge perhaps her kind. It is kind of evil if I may say but again, her character here only gave a glimpse and I really wanted to know her more. Adam as we all know is the protective step-dad and I adored him for being that way to Mallory even if they're not technically related. His kindness and love toward her left me with questions. Being betrayed by the one you love isn't that easy to forget but Belias' treatment to Aya tells otherwise. And its their love story I am most giddy about. Zevi is my favorite. Not only he's kind and loyal, he's also rational and patient. He's right on one thing: Kaleb would've been dead without him.

Overall, the story is something to look forward to. Its such a very dark world that would make you ask for more. Its fascinating, dangerous, magical and addictive. I hope I'm right when I say this, I think this book is somehow a prologue to something big. I loved the world building, the premise and even the concept behind the characters and I think I would re-read it then wait for the next book. This wouldn't be my first and last Marr book because on way or another, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you PBT, Harpercollins International and my brother!

Carnival of Souls PH Blog Tour Stops:

Kai from http://amaterasureads.blogspot.com/ (October 5, 2012)
Precious from http://shusky20.blogspot.com/ (October 6, 2012)
Danielle from http://bookwhales.blogspot.com/ (October 7, 2012)
Leanne from http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com/ (October 8, 2012)
Abby from http://bookshelfconfessions.blogspot.com/ (October , 2012)
Dianne from http://whoopeeyoo.com/ (October 10, 2012)
Dea from http://teenreadersdiary.blogspot.com/ (October 11, 2012)
Michelle from http://michelleshoutsrandom.blogspot.com/ (October 12, 2012)
Louisse from http://the-soul-sisters.blogspot.com/ (October 13, 2012)
- My stop, October 14, 2012 -
Janice from http://www.fiveofus.info/ (October 15, 2012)
Pam from http://jellylovesbooks.blogspot.com/ (October 16, 2012)
Von from http://mrbookwonder.tumblr.com/ (October 17, 2012)
Mary Grace from http://thesolitarybookworm.com/ (October 18, 2012)
Yvette from http://yvettetan.com/ (October 19, 2012)

And lastly, we are giving away a finished paperback copy of Carnival of Souls HERE! PH Only (sorry guys.) This giveaway ends October 20! Good Luck!