I’ll admit it, I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading the first book in the Game of Thrones series. I had watched a few episodes of the show and like it, but when I’ve never really enjoyed epic fantasy books, and with each book of series having more than 700 pages, the series is about as epic as things get. Now that I’ve read the first book in the series, I’m glad I took the chance. I can’t wait to read the second book, which I’ve been told is just as good as the first.

Every single chapter is told from a different character’s point of view. The interesting thing about the way it’s done is that the writing style never changes, but you do see the world through the different character’s eyes. Each chapter is titled with the particular character’s name, which prevents the book from getting to confusing.

A good bit of the first half of the book is backstory, something you don’t get from the HBO series, but which does help flesh out the characters a bit. Unlike Tolkien, Martin did an excellent job setting up the story in a way that’s never tedious. Although the book is long, the chapters are short, creating nice stopping points.

Although the book’s content is dark, the story is basically the War of the Roses set in an alternative universe, the writing style is surprisingly light and enjoyable. I was surprised by how quickly I was able to read the book. I hope the style continues throughout the series.

The book is rather violent, and won’t be a good choice for everyone.

If there’s one thing that’s been underutilized in Young Adult fiction it has to be the circus setting. J. J. Howard is working to correct that oversight, by setting her debut novel in a traveling circus. For a debut novel, That Time I Joined the Circus is well-written and shows great insight into the emotional state of teenagers.

After the unexpected death of her father, Lexi is forced to leave New York City and everything she knows and loves to go in search of her mother. Since the last time anyone heard anything from her mother was when she worked as a singer at the circus, that’s where goes. She doesn’t find her mom, but she does find a job. Shortly after that, she finds the circus people, strange though they are, becoming her new family.

That Time I Joined the Circus doesn’t focus on the life in the circus nearly as much as I would have liked, the main character is more involved with the carnival aspect than the circus part. The book does have a very intense group of people who call the circus home and a rather wild love quadrangle that keeps thing interesting. It’s impossible to determine which guy the main character will ultimately fall in love with.

While I wish the author would have spent more time developing the setting, I have to admit she did a wonderful job creating multi-dimensional stories and not overloading the book with angst filled moments.

I urge anyone who enjoys YA literary fiction and who wants a good book that will keep them engaged on rainy afternoons to read That Time I Joined the Circus.