I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
What a magical, enchanting and charming story!! I could not put it down until the end.
Here, there is a contest with the winner getting to perform for royalty. If Carthage, the creator of the Electrical Menagerie, can win this competition, he believes it will save the menagerie. He must create the most spectacular illusions and use his machines as never before. At his side is Huxley, who works behind the scenes to ensure Carthage’s success. However, as Carthage and Huxley immerse themselves into the competition, the more they learn not only about themselves and what it will take for them to succeed but the other characters in the competition and their will to succeed for perhaps not the same motives.
The characters, from Carthage and Huxley to the other contestants and reporters are so well-drawn and engaging. Even the machines have their own personalities allowing the reader to connect with them and feel empathy with their plight. I enjoyed how Carthage and Huxley weren’t quite friends but depended on each other to make the menagerie work and as the competition progressed, their interactions grew more enjoyable and very humorous. The world that these characters travel in is so well created. The way the shows were written/described made me believe that I was a member of the audience experiencing each magical delight. Highly recommend!
The narrator, Travis Baldree, really brought this story to life using different accents and mechanical voices. He truly complimented the written word. His enthusiasm for this story was apparent in the narration.