[Review] - Cirque Berserk

By Jessica Guess

When Jessica Guess contacted me to offer an ARC of Cirque Berserk, she told me that due to the subject matter (slasher! 80’s-esque! carnival!), she believed that I would absolutely enjoy this novella. Reader, she was right. I’m confident with saying that I’m completely obsessed with this entry in the Unnerving’s Rewind or Die series.

Right off the bat, we’re introduced to one of our characters, Daniel, as he chases his victim. It’s at this part where I knew I would love this story; especially, when Daniel talks about gifting the severed head to his girlfriend. How romantic, right? Throughout Cirque Berserk, we are gifted with more insanity as the four killer teenagers make their kills. & these kills are wild, and everything you could ask for in a slasher.

Chapters alternate between characters and the past (1989) and present (2019). Jessica seamlessly switches between the years and characters, keeping it a flowing read. Diving into the past, we learn exactly what is happening and why there are four teenagers going on a murderous rampage at the abandoned carnival.

This novella takes a lot of cues from the slashers that we all love. On the way to the abandoned carnival, the present-gang stops at a gas station, and tells the cashier where they’re going. Of course, the cashier gives the characters strange vibes as she warns them not to go. Our characters Rochelle and Sam even discuss horror-movie tropes on their way to the abandoned carnival.

At some point during my read, I found myself confused as to who I was rooting for. The victims running around the carnival? Or the group who’s murdering them and just wants to stick together, because hashtag friendship. At times, I felt bad that I was rooting for the killers, because of the characters’ backstory. The fact that Jessica Guess made me care at all for these characters shows how well she developed them.

Music plays a huge part in Cirque Berserk, and the parts are even titled after famous ‘80s songs. For fun, I compiled a list of songs that play throughout the novella so you can listen to your own Cirque Berserk playlist!

• I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
• Take On Me – A-Ha
• Rhythm of the Night – DeBarge
• Kids in America – Kim Wilde
• Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler
• Lovesong – The Cure
• Time after Time – Cyndi Lauper

Review by Becca Futrell
@astoldbybex

I received this book from Jessica Guess for review consideration.