Victoria Francés

''The light faded and the forest became darker and darker. The chill wind blew through the branches, which seemed to bend towards the bay like threatening claws. Every sound further convinced Sasha that he was not alone. A shiver ran down his spine as he noticed a mound of dead leaves in the middle of the path rustling, slowly moving.''

Paris, 1920s. A beautiful young boy finds himself alone in the City of Light. When he tires of spending his days in the dirty alleys and the cemetery of Paris, he heads to the forest. And there awaits a surprise. A feline with green eyes becomes his companion. Together they come across the Misty Circus and Ludovico Dragomir, a circus that comes and goes, a home for abandoned children. Sasha and Josh find their shelter. During a mysterious Samhain night, their steps lead them to the spells of a young blind witch.

''The wind began to whine, driving rattling, dry autumn leaves inside the tent. When darkness seemed to envelop the forest completely, an even eerier, more mysterious sound made Sasha and the cat shudder.
That sound grew louder and louder. The two friends decided to take a peek outside, putting out their heads through the gap between the curtains that formed the walls of the circus tent. A ghostly silhouette in the distance appeared to advance through the woods, into the clearing, and towards the circus.''

The well-known Spanish artist Victoria Francés is famous for her unique style that balances the romantic, the whimsical and the dark Gothic aesthetic. In Misty Circus, she has created a beautiful, bittersweet and deeply touching tales of a child gifted with a special talent that helps him overcome his sorrow. It is a tale of the deep friendship between a human being and an animal, a story about hope and second chances, about friendship and finding your way through misfortune.

Incredibly beautiful, atmospheric artwork takes us into the heart of a mysterious forest, in a time when magic is still alive, a time when witches and magicians can help us escape a bleak reality.
The last word belongs to one of the most beautiful moments in Opera.

'Vesti la giubba,
E la faccia in farina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
Ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudir!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto;
In una smorfia il singhiozzo il dolor,
Ah! Ridi, Pagliaccio,
Sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che ti avvelena il cor!''

('' Put on your costume
and powder your face.
The audience pays and wants to laught,
And if Harlequin
steals Colombina from you,
laugh, Pagliaccio...
and everyone will applaud!
Turn into jest,
your anguish and your sorrow
into a grimace
your sobs and your grief!
Laugh, clown,
at your broken love!
Laugh at the pain
which poisons your heart!'')

From Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/… (mehr)

I have to say the cover art is what got me to pick up the book. The story, not so much. It felt like the start of a story and not a complete story. The orphan finds a new home with a circus in the woods and makes some new friends but we never see how he lives in the circus and the ringmaster/wizard gives him shelter but not much info. If you like sad emo looking art then this is the book for you. The overall quality of the art is great but picture after picture of sad red rimmed eyed children does tend to wear.

Digital review copy provided by Netgalley… (mehr)