The Contortionist

The Contortionist is the kind of book that completely pulls you into its creepy little world. Harrow Faire is weird, dark, dangerous, and honestly feels like a haunted carnival you’d regret stepping into… but wouldn’t want to leave either. The atmosphere in this book was probably my favorite part. It’s eerie in such a fun way.

Cora felt really easy to connect with because she actually feels human. She’s dealing with chronic pain and exhaustion, which made her stand out from a lot of fantasy heroines for me. And Simon? Completely chaotic. He’s creepy, manipulative, dramatic, and somehow still weirdly charming. He’s definitely not a “good guy” love interest, so if you like morally gray—or honestly morally black—characters, you’ll probably love him.

The whole book has this dark carnival, gothic fever-dream vibe that makes it super addictive. The Faire itself almost feels alive, and there’s this constant feeling that something terrible could happen at any moment. It’s dark fantasy mixed with horror and romance, and it leans fully into the creepy side.

This definitely won’t be for everyone because the romance is toxic and intense, but if you love villain romances, creepy circus settings, and books that feel strange and unsettling in the best way, this one is worth picking up. It was such a fun, eerie read.