Spectacle: A Novel (The Menagerie Series, 2) Paperback – May 30, 2017

Part of me wishes these poor characters could just catch a break and have some peace. But it sure makes for an exciting book! The author makes it really easy to care about the characters.

I love the ideas that created this world and hope the next book tries something different. This one felt a bit too much like the first one.

Delilah and the other cryptids of Metzger’s Menagerie are recaptured after their all too brief taste of freedom at the end of the last book. Originally, I’d thought that Rachel Vincent was going to take a completely different route in this sequel, but instead SPECTACLE showed us that not all cages have bars. The writing in this series is as exquisite as the horrors are abhorrent, and it’s this unlikely combination that makes the story so enthralling.On the outside, the Savage Spectacle appears to be a relatively humane way of running a freak show, or at least as close as one can come with regards to the barbaric practice of keeping society’s cast outs incarcerated for monetary gain. The occupants have mats to sleep on, healthy food to eat, and their basic personal hygiene requirements are met. However, a prison is still a prison, no matter how shiny it is, and the fact remains that the inhabitants are being held against their will.Vandekamp has set out to revolutionize the way that cryptids are kept with collars that can shock, paralyze, mute, and call their gifts. So, as uncivilized as their previous accommodations were at least the captives could still scream and fight. The owner has also come up with a bunch of different uses for his new technology including work detail, death matches, sport hunting, and engagements. The first three are pretty self-explanatory, but the last basically means that any detainee is available for hire, and as you can imagine, anything goes because cash is king.The plot is once again driven by the need to survive, except in this installment the focus is on the mind instead of the body. It’s one thing to physically beat someone into submission, and quite another to literally take away their free will. The author’s insights into the human psyche are truly haunting in their realism, and will make you side with the monsters much like Anne Bishop did with her THE OTHERS series. Vincent concludes this novel with yet another missile that’ll see the MENAGERIE trilogy drastically shift directions one last time for the finale to Delilah’s tale.Just when I thought that the Speculative Fiction genre has nothing left to give—BOOM—here’s SPECTACLE! ~4.5 Stars

In the 2nd installment of this series we see how the degradation of humanity can reach new lows when we see people as 'other' or 'alien'...when they are different...or even a new or different species than us. The Cryptids are treated with such horrific conditions in book 1 that when they are given clean rooms, clothes, and food, they don't question anything...even when they are collared like dogs. Their words and even their ability to think for themselves are taken from them. They are, for all intents and purposes, merely a Spectacle for others view like art or toys. I loved this book and I cannot wait for book 3!!

Part of th Menagerie series. This series has had me hooked!

Delilah and her fellow cryptids new freedom does not last long. They all get added to "The Savage Spectacle" where Willem Vandekamp lets people with money enjoy the "exotic wildlife." This was a great book, I enjoyed it better than the first book. I think Delilah and Gallagher are my favorite characters, I love their relationship and I think in this book it become much more complicated but much deeper as well. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I was really looking forward to the next book in the series, hoping it would solve the problem that caused the whole division and prejudices that ripped the species apart. It continued by rehashing book one in a different setting but not touching the base conflict. I wanted to see some political resolve, a scientific explanation, or redemptions for those oppressed. They still have no rights, no privileges, and a blanket extermination order for their existence.

I ordered the first book in this series for an easy read on vacation, and as soon as I got home I had to order this one as well. The story is amazing and I love when an author has a new fresh take on the fantasy genre. I can't wait to get the third one for Christmas