Ioana VisanCritiques

cliffhangers suck

Enjoyable enough that I finished the last three quarters in a night. I really like the connection made between each of the short stories.

First of all, this book is a novella or a longer short story, and not a full novel. The author is Romanian, and you can tell that the grammar isn't from a native speaker. It's definitely not a big thing, but definitely something to be aware of.

The series is supposed to be a space opera, but other than the fact that it takes place on a giant, floating cruise ship in outer space, it's not very space opera-y. If the author didn't continually remind you that you were on a spaceship, you'd have no idea that the book took place in outer space because at no point does the plot really tie into space (other than the main character trying to leave the ship).

There is absolutely no back story whatsoever other than a line here and there, which opens up plot holes. Being the first in a series, I'm sure some of the holes are deliberately left open to be filled in the rest of the trilogy, but it just left me very confused, frustrated, and annoyed. I felt like I had NO idea what was going on in the book, and felt like Nia was just randomly wandering around the ship with no purpose, and other characters did things for no reason or explanation - it felt like it was just filler to make a short story longer.

(slight spoiler) Nia was also repeatedly abused physically, and just shrugged this off like no big deal - this tells a lot about the world she is living in, yes, but I just couldn't stomach the casual disregard for human life.

I think there is a lot of potential in the book and in the series - but there is just too much missing. Perhaps if the first couple of books were combined and rewritten it would be better, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

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I received a free copy of the book from the author in order to read and review and was not paid for my review

Dale is in a job to break into a high-security budding, but his partner is injured and unable to complete the mission. Their only chance of success is to visit the Nightingale Circus and ask for their help.

The Golden Lady, a prosthetically altered human, and the members of the circus, each with their own abilities and quirks, are an engaging set of characters, but all have their own motives for helping.

Set in an interesting new world, Broken People is an engaging story for fans of sci fi and fantasy.

*i received a copy of this book in exchange for a review½

Well, I haven't read any of Broken People series yet, but that is definitely going to change, after having read The Nightingale Circus! These seven character build ups are fantastic. The variety of people that convene to become the circus is amazing, and their backstories absolutely haunting. I want, no NEED more of this in my life!

Ioana Visan knocks another one out of the park!!!

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Very interesting read. I love fantasy and this gives you loads of it. Very exciting and a real page turner. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happens and I thoroughly look forward to the next sequel!!! I don't like to give out spoilers so I won't go into the background of the book but I highly recommend it!

I didn't care for this one as much as the first. With Alise out of commission due to a poisonous mermaid bite, the rest of the story felt almost forced, as if the writer didn't really know where to go without her protagonist. Though the ending did still leave me looking forward to the next, this was just one story I had to force myself to finish. A means to an end. Hopefully the next brings the story back to life.½

It's nice to see someone trying to break away from vampires in favor of other fantastical characters. Alise is a fairy who has lost her wings, but now must confront the person who took them from her.

I enjoyed the story. It was cute.½

Fantasy on the fast lane! Can't ask for more! Book was well written and all the characters had depth. It's the kind of book that will have your emotions going up and down and yet you won't be able to stop turning the pages. Looking forward to reading part II.

I was captivated from the very beginning! The novel is well-written, the plot is intriguing, and the characters are entertaining. The story moved at a good pace and there was a lot of action. I will definitely be picking up the sequel!½

Where does the person end and the machine bits begin? Does it matter? These are broken people indeed. Not without sacrifice, and sometimes incredible pain, but each and every one has found their own way of becoming whole, and unbroken. Their stories are as varied as they are but they all have one thing in common. They survive together.

Where does the person end and the machine bits begin? Does it matter? These are broken people indeed. Not without sacrifice, and sometimes incredible pain, but each and every one has found their own way of becoming whole, and unbroken. Their stories are as varied as they are but they all have one thing in common. They survive together.

This is billed as "Space Opera" but is really a view into the life of a rag-tag bunch of spacers who just want to survive. It's very well-written, has attention-grabbing scene-setting, unusual conflicts and dubious resolutions. All in all, a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

This is billed as "Space Opera" but is really a view into the life of a rag-tag bunch of spacers who just want to survive. It's very well-written, has attention-grabbing scene-setting, unusual conflicts and dubious resolutions. All in all, a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

This is billed as "Space Opera" but is really a view into the life of a rag-tag bunch of spacers who just want to survive. It's very well-written, has attention-grabbing scene-setting, unusual conflicts and dubious resolutions. All in all, a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.

I really enjoyed book one so I was excited to get the opportunity to read book two. The story takes you fully into the 'other worlds' rather than the human world which was both good and bad. I had a hard time following the different worlds and remembering how they can world jump which was probably due to the time frames between reading book one to this book. Besides that issue, I was able to follow along with the story, worry about our main characters and be intrigued by the worlds and secondary characters to want to know what happens next. I'm doing my best to keep any spoilers out, but I loved the ending and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Would recommend for those young adult and older that like urban fantasy, fantasy and/or clean paranormal romance.

Was given this book via author for review.

***This book was reviewed for Readers' Favourite.***

Visan's Broken Hearts is the sequel to the novel Broken People. In Hearts, we follow the continuing adventures of Dale, Aurore, and the members of the Nightingale Circus. Dale has been 'contracted' to protect Aurore, and now travels with her on business abroad.

The Circus itself had parted Bratislava a week before. During their travels, Nicolas, now the manager of the Nightingale Circus, is detained and accused of being a rogue telecharger. Telechargers seem to be pretty special, with a connection to the very building blocks of the universe, having the ability to manipulate both energy and matter. A telecharger who snaps and loses control for some reason sounds like a very dangerous prospect. Nicolas' traveling companions lay plans to free him.

This story is every bit as good as the previous one. While I like all of the characters, I most enjoyed Nicolas' story. I want to learn more about the telechargers! They seem like such fascinating, and dangerous people. I also want to learn moore of Spinner and Rake, the Circus’ blademasters and technicians. The author has done an excellent job of drawing the reader in, and making them care about the characters.

This book did have a handful of grammar/spelling errors, but these were eclipsed by the story itself. As before, the writing style was crisp and imaginative. There is very little excess writing. I did find a few places confusing, but they were few and far between.

Ioana Visan's Broken Hearts is a real treat. If you enjoy sci-fi, cyberpunk, or dystopic stories, be sure to check it out. I doubt you'll be disappointed. There is a companion novella simply titled The Nightingale Circus. I've snagged a copy of that book, as well as a few other of Visan's works, to read! Looking forward to that, most certainly. I'd love to see future books set in the same world, as well.

****This book was read for Reader's Favourite***

Does what enhances you, what makes you stronger, make you broken or less than whole? This is a question dear to my heart. I have a prosthesis that looks real. That it's only job and talent, and it does it well. To all appearances, I seem whole. Am I really?

In Broken People Ioana Visan draws us into an alter-history world at war. Technology is big, and many people have cybernetic enhancements or prosthetics. Technicians graft metal to flesh with delicate skill (if you're lucky). Robotic suits and robots themselves can also be found in this grim future. Sadly, people with prosthetics are frowned upon, and even banned in places.

Dale is a mercenary focused on a job, a grand plan to break into a heavily guarded building on rarely opened to the public. Plans get changed when he finds his partner grievously wounded. In desperation, Dale ends up contracting with the Nightingale Circus, a traveling troupe with a side-business in repair work.

This is the first 'cyberpunk' book I have read, and I fell in love with it. It is well-written, and the characters vivid and alive in the imagination. Dale, the main character, comes across as...well...mercenary, and pragmatic, but beneath it all, he has a good heart. He gives a little girl coins when he is able. Later he goes out of his way to treat little Rosie very gently after she's had a procedure done.

My favourite characters were Spinner and Rake, the Circus' Blade Masters. I think that's because they are the Circus' secret technicians, and so very close to the world I write in which blends technology like this with magick. I learned recently that is a subgenre called arcanepunk. Who knew....?

Ioana Visan's Broken People is a real treat. If you enjoy sci-fi, cyberpunk, or dystopic stories, be sure to check this book out. I doubt you'll be disappointed. I have then next in the series queued to read!

I received this book as an ARC and I really enjoyed. I loved the fact that medicine is so advanced that electronics is used. Next to it was written beautifully

I'm always ready to read a story that's unusual. This book is strange, fascinating, and imaginative. This author is great at world building, making you see everything vividly. This story has an assortment of quirky circus characters. It switches viewpoints, but it's easy to follow. I really enjoyed the technology of the prosthetics too. This book is a unique tale. I look forward to the sequel.

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review. I actually enjoyed the series of short stories. They all kinda rolled with each other and were filled with action. I like that you learned about the different kinds of Were's (and here I thought there was only werewolves!). They were funny and enjoyable and serious when needed. A fun quick read.

This is a short teaser for a new series. Good but awfully short and the central problem (how can I give you something I don't have) could possibly have been developed a bit more if another page or so had been added.

I received Breaking the Chains (The Devil You Know Book 1) by Ioana Visan (Amazon Digital) directly from the author through an online giveaway.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the book. A woman who turns out to be a fairy in hiding but is found and now in a race for her life. It helps that a few hunks and her friend are there right along with her. Some great writing and a decent story line make it hard to put down. A whole lot going on to keep you interested and turning the page. Can't wait for more.

*I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Nightingale Circus is a novella prequel to the series Broken People, telling the backstories of the main characters and performers of the circus. I am yet to read the first novel, so I don't know more about the characters and the story as a whole. However, in saying that, this prequel really pulled me in and I will definitely be continuing the series.

Because I didn't have much context or setting due to having never read Broken People, I was a little lost, but putting aside this, I found that the six stories gave a very interesting insight into the characters, and how they ended up in the circus. There was an air of mystery surrounding each one, which added to the desire to read the first book.

The story takes place in a semi-dystopian world where a war in Asia is slowly seeing Japan take over the entire world. Most people in society are fitted with various prosthetics, which enhance certain aspects of their bodies and lives. The performers of The Nightingale Circus all have prosthetics and enhancements that help them create amazing performances each night as they travel across Europe.

The circus is made up of 'The Nightingale' a singer whose voice gets inside people's head; 'The Blade Masters' two ex-army men who are super strong and work on prosthetics; 'The Magician' a telecharger who is avoiding conscription; 'The Swan' a ballerina who has a prosthetic heart and lungs; 'The Firebird' a poll dancer who is repaying her surgery debt; 'The Rocket Girl' a discarded Japanese bot powered by a girl, that is launched out of a canon; and 'The Golden Lady'` a girl who has golden prosthetic arms and legs.

Pros: Ioana's writing style makes these characters so mysterious and the world that they live in so interesting. These stories make me want to read more about their lives and continue with the first book, and this is something all great prequels should do.

Cons: Personally, I think it would be best to read Broken People before this novella, as it would help set the scene and context of the entire story. Other than that, this story had no other drawbacks.

Overall, I highly recommend that you check out The Nightingale Circus and Broken People. I have not explored the dystopian genre that much, but I thoroughly enjoyed this, and can't wait to read the first book in the series.

{Published on My Books Are Me: www.mybooksareme.weebly.com}

Good series of short stories. The opening story was good, but I did not like the second story. It was over detailed and dragged on. She almost lost me but I went back to the book. I was delighted with the remaining stories. I liked how there were unifying elements in themes throughout each story. I liked the political elements as well. The characters were savvy and funny, there was good action as well. I enjoyed reading about the various were species. This was a quick read.

I received this book from LibraryThings Member Giveaway in exchange for my honest review.