My The Contortionist Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Contortionist by Kathryn Ann Kingsley throws me into a haunted circus where everything feels wrong—and yet, fascinating. Cora Glass lives with chronic pain, just trying to get by as a bank teller. Her ordinary world shatters when the abandoned Harrow Faire suddenly returns to life on the edge of her quiet town. Looking for a brief escape, she crosses through a shadowy gate—and that single act changes her forever.
Inside the Harrow Faire, nothing is what it seems. The price of admission isn’t money—it’s a piece of your soul. Cora becomes the personal target of Simon the Puppeteer, a villain with a hypnotic charm and a sinister edge. Simon’s obsession isn’t merely romantic—he wants to possess every part of Cora. As she tries to survive the Faire’s twisted games, she’s drawn into a dangerous power struggle between Simon and the enigmatic Mr. Harrow. At every turn, she faces temptations that could cost her much more than her heart.
Why I Love This Book
I love how The Contortionist doesn’t hold back. It’s dark, weird, and full of atmosphere. The circus isn’t just a backdrop—it feels alive, always shifting and hungry. The world-building is deliciously creepy, and I feel genuinely unsettled in the best way.
Cora makes me care. Her pain, shaped by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, isn’t ignored or treated as a plot device; it’s part of who she is and why she’s tempted by the sinister bargains the Faire offers. I admire her stubborn streak, even when her doubt gets in the way. Simon as a love interest shouldn’t work—he’s manipulative, self-serving, and a true villain—but I couldn’t help but want to see what he would do next. The push-pull between fear and attraction kept me turning pages. This isn’t a soft romance. There's real danger, real horror, and the emotional tension is just as sharp as the supernatural threats.
Nothing here feels predictable. I never quite know where the story is going, and that uncertainty keeps me locked in. The slow-burn romance, with all its moral messiness, lands perfectly for me.
Who Will Like This Book
If you crave dark paranormal romance and aren’t afraid of morally grey heroes, this book is for you. It’s a great fit if you want your heroines flawed but fierce, and your settings unsettling and atmospheric. Lovers of circus settings, twisted villains, and tension that balances right on the line between horror and attraction will feel right at home.
This isn’t for everyone. If you dislike manipulative love interests or need a sweet, light romance, you might not click with it. But if you're drawn to stories where the monsters are seductive, the bargains are dangerous, and the line between love and survival is razor thin, you’ll find plenty to love.
Tagged As
dark fantasy, horror romance, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, circus setting, villain romance, disability rep, chronic illness, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, morally grey male lead, slow burn, dangerous bargains, magic, tension, dual POV, series, twisted romance, strong heroine, manipulative hero.
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️ | Mild
The first book keeps the physical romance mostly behind closed doors, letting the emotional and psychological tension take center stage. There’s definite chemistry and some darkly charged moments, but the true steam ramps up later in the series. If you want some spice, stick around—the intensity only grows from here.
