Indie Book of the Week: Burned, A Donovan Circus Novel by Liz Long

This week's book goes to Liz Long's much anticipated sequel to Gifted, Burned. 

Title: Burned, A Donovan Circus Novel

Author: Liz Long

Series: Book Two

Published: December 19, 2013

Source: Copy Provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review

Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description:

“Tell Sheffield that Medved is hunting him…the Bear is coming.”

Nearly a month after Lucy Sullivan saved the Donovan Circus from certain death, she discovers that Dr. Felix Hardy wasn’t the only bad guy around. When Lucy is attacked on home ground, Sheffield Donovan reveals that there are bigger foes in their world, gifted that use their powers to kill others – including her own family, as she learns from her ringmaster mentor. Medved, a Russian thug and powerful Shapeshifter, is intent on outing the gifted world and will stop at nothing to succeed.

In order to survive, Lucy and her friends must travel to another show, the Grayson Circus, for help. The uneasy alliance with owner Albert Grayson comes with potential new friends and dark secrets about their competition, including a troublemaker named Mel and an old flame of Lucy’s father. Lucy must also contend with her feelings about Keegan and Gabriel, as well as learn how to contain her rampant emotions or risk setting the entire place ablaze.

Will Lucy be able to save the Donovan Circus again? Or will Medved and his men slaughter everyone in their path on the way to gifted domination?

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About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA. 

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series. Her second book Witch Hearts, a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers, is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback. 

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I really enjoyed the feel of the first book and was excited when I learned that the sequel was out. When the author approached me about reading it, I of course said yes right away.

I have only ever read a handful of books involving the circus in one form or another but like I mentioned in my review of Gifted, the first book in the series, I have loved all of them. Even though I don't ever intend to become part of a circus, I do love reading about how people from all walks of life come together to form one gigantic family. The love, friendship and loyalty they have for one another is truly something to be desired and appreciated. 

I was really looking forward to jumping right back into Lucy's world and her life with the circus and her gifts as well as all those around her. Long really did create something that stands out in the genre. 

While this one moved at a slower pace than the first one, it was still a pretty good sequel worthy of the first. It had all the same great characters that we came to love in the first book and that pesky love triangle was (finally!) resolved which, I must admit, really made me like this one even more. 

In short I would say this was a captivating read that was well written well edited and the plot line moved along steadily. Some of my questions from the first book were answered in this one as well as still leaving room for more to come. The characters grew, which I love in books/series and I came to like them all the more because of it. This is a fun series that I truly think anyone will enjoy whether they are a fan of the genre or a first time reader.

*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author. I was not compensated for this review.*