Gypsy Blood (Carnival Cycle) [Hardcover]

Steve Vernon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Carnival Cycle | Publication Date: July 2008

Half-Gypsy, Carnival carries his dead Poppa inside him as a perpetual adviser as he works as fortune-teller and occult troubleshooter, banishing demons and succubi with a carefree confidence born only of youth. His life journey takes a distinctly different turn when he meets Maya, an alluring female vampire. This opening book to the Carnival Cycle Series details a dark version of the modern world, in which demons appear unbidden and where having a talent and using it successfully can mean either life or death.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Vampires, a succubus and dead spirits inhabit this confusing and rushed series opener. Half-gypsy Carnival fights the occasional otherworldly creature while working as a fortune-teller. Carnival also faces opposition from his father, whose soul is trapped within his son's chest, and protests Carnival's pursuit of a romantic relation with a vampire. The use of the father falls particularly flat; as only a few characters are able to hear him (and only intermittently), the device will leave the reader puzzled. Carnival himself often comes across as bewildered to the point of hopelessness, leading readers to wonder why he's heading up this winding story. Vernon (Nothing to Lose) keeps things moving at a decent clip, but the adventure eventually dissolves into confusion.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 381 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (July 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159414706X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594147067
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,051,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting original supernatural thriller, August 2, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gypsy Blood (Carnival Cycle) (Hardcover)

Many people live interesting lives, but no one lives a life quite like Carnival does. He tells fortunes out of a storefront and has a permanent ghost residing inside his chest near his heart. Carnival knows his late poppa killed his mother and when he refused to tell him where he buried her, he murdered his dad and placed him in his chest. The only problem with their arrangement is poppa never shuts up even as he refuses to free himself by telling his son where his mom is.

One day he meets the vampire Maya and falls in love with her. He promises to take care of her, which includes insuring she has her blood sustenance every night. The only problem with their arraignment is that Carnival does not like killing people even those who deserve death. He makes a deal with a demon who tells him how to change Maya so she no longer is a vamp. What he fails to grasp is someone is manipulating him and his friends and family to fulfill a master plan. If Carnival wants to live he must learn the full truth, but so far has no inkling that an adversary is playing puppeteer with him.

GYPSY BLOOD is an interesting original supernatural thriller as the protagonist works the paranormal to his advantage and desires, (and to the audience's delight). The life he placed inside him is a touch of irony while he accepts the undead as his soulmate. His father buried in his chest is a strange symbiotic relationship that will have the Freudians in a feeding frenzy while readers will laugh at their "discussions". The first Carnival tale is an entertaining unique story that leaves fans anxiously waiting for the next entry in what looks like will be a fun saga.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy for Those That Hate Fantasy, January 13, 2009

By 

M. Phillips (NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gypsy Blood (Carnival Cycle) (Hardcover)

Let me start by saying that I usually hate fantasy novels and prefer "suspense thrillers" to ghost stories. I just happened to pick this book up while in a weird mood.

From the opening scene I was hooked. Any man that deems it acceptable to battle a succubus by tap dancing on her teeth is an interesting character. Carnival develops in to a well-rounded character as the book unfolds. He develops in to a three-dimensional character with a troubled past, issues, dreams, and a plethora of issues to work through. Vernon gives us a character with a depth and mythology that could be mined for tons of great reading.

Vernon also gives us something else great. His writing is so vivid that it feels like you are living inside the pages. His descriptions are point on. Through out the book I could easily imagine the environments even with my eyes open. From dark alleys to blood filled bathtubs Vernon captured each locale's dark spirit.

I would sum this one up as a darkly comedic, hard boiled, supernatural thrill ride with one of the most interesting characters to come along in years. Once you finish this book you will be eagerly waiting for the next installment of the "Carnival Cycle."

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Fantasy, Horror, Weirdness That Will Mangle Your Mind., September 23, 2008

By 

SpacegrassMan (Insane Land of Words & Music) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Gypsy Blood (Carnival Cycle) (Hardcover)

If you haven't read Steve Vernon, man are you in for a treat. Previous insane works by this author include, Nothing To Lose, Plague Monkey Spam, Long Horn, Big Shaggy-and soon to be released Leftovers. You'll want to get a hold of those as well after Gyspy Blood works its magic on you.

The one thing you will marvel at after reading anything by Steve Vernon, is his psychotic way of describing things: this guy reminds me of how I felt when I first discovered Clive Barker, and I'll be honest in saying that I think no other Horror author writes anything like him. If you want originality, you've come to the right place.

Gypsy curses, the wild ghost of a dead Gypsy father living in the main character's chest, a Vampire mistress, murder, conjuring the dead from the grave, deceit, and a mesmerizing plot written only the way Steve Vernon can tell a story, will make this one of the best reads you experience for 2008.

This is one not only for Horror fans, but fans of Dark Fantasy and other worlds where just about anything can happen. And Vernon has a way of making you feel like you're sitting in front of a campfire with cold winds howling all around you, his voice in his words telling a story that not only chills you to the bone, but makes you laugh and wonder as far into the night as the darkness will take you.

Don't pass this one up. You'll be seeing a lot more of this author in months to come. Be able to say you experienced his writing with Gypsy Blood, his first novel.

Horrodude.