My The Contortionist Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Contortionist by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is the opening act of the Harrow Faire series, a dark and imaginative paranormal romance with a sinister, fairy-tale twist. Cora Glass’s life as a small-town bank teller is ground down by pain (she lives with a chronic illness) and routine. Everything changes when the vanished Harrow Faire, a carnival rumored to feed on the souls of visitors, springs to life on the edge of town. Pulled into this haunted world, Cora makes a deal with Simon, the seductive, manipulative Puppeteer. She exchanges a piece of herself for a promise of relief from her pain—but soon finds herself entangled in a deadly struggle between the carnivale’s fiends, where every choice has consequences and those in power are drawn to her for reasons that only slowly unfold. The magic here is predatory, the monsters are seductive, and Cora must decide if she can survive—body and soul—without turning into something monstrous herself.
Why I Love This Book
I love how boldly weird this book gets. The world of Harrow Faire creeped me out and fascinated me—every act in the circus has real, sharp teeth and nothing is predictable. Cora is an unusual heroine: stubborn, a little prickly, and shaped by years of pain and skepticism, but still curious and capable of trust. The chronic pain rep feels honest and is part of her character, not just window dressing. Simon, the Puppeteer, is the ultimate villain-hero mix—dangerous, seductive, and utterly unpredictable. I was both uncomfortable and entranced, and that tension kept me turning pages. The story is packed with strange imagery, slow-burn horror, and unexpected romantic tension. The line between desire and fear is razor thin, and the creepy magic of the circus never lets anything feel safe or familiar. I appreciate how the writing lets the weirdness breathe, never rushing into easy answers or tidy resolutions. The blend of horror, romance, and darkness is fresh and inventive—I never knew what was coming next.
Who Will Like This Book
If you’re drawn to dark paranormal romance, villain love interests, or books that don’t play it safe, you’ll want to step into this carnival. It’s perfect for readers who like their romance morally gray, who want to be unnerved and intrigued, not comforted. If you like inventive world-building, disability rep that feels real and important, slow-burn tension, and a sense of danger you can’t shake, give this series a shot. There are scenes of manipulation, implied violence, and mental games, so be aware if those are sensitive topics for you. The story’s not for everyone—if you’re looking for sunshine and fluff, this isn’t it—but it hits hard if you want a story where the monsters are as alluring as they are frightening.
Tagged As
dark romance, paranormal romance, villain romance, circus, carnival, gothic, chronic illness, disability rep, morally gray hero, enemies to lovers, slow burn, suspense, creepy, fantasy romance, adult fantasy, open-door romance, horror elements, dark magic, found family, manipulative hero, fae romance, twisted fairytale, series, indie romance
Steam Level
The romance is intense, with real heat and slow-burn build-up. Most physical intimacy happens later in the book, with several moderately explicit scenes. The focus is as much on unsettling chemistry and psychological connection as it is on the physical. If you want romance that’s as dark as it is steamy, this book fits.
