Paralyzed

Vagabond Circus, Book 2

By: Sarah Noffke

Narrated by: Steve Barnes

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

When the worst case scenario befalls the Vagabond Circus, Zuma knows she must ensure it doesn't fall to doom. Titus's job is to guarantee the show goes on, while the acrobats seek to avenge and rescue. Jack has no idea that he's about to levitate himself into a deadly situation, and only Zuma and Finley can save him from a threat unlike what most have ever encountered. In this second whimsical and dark installment of the Vagabond Circus tale, the listener learns just how the ringmaster, Dr. Dave Raydon, rescued everyone in his troupe and also brought love and treasures into their lives. The unveiling of this history only brings more mystery as the true enemy to Vagabond Circus is unveiled. Charles Knight isn't an evil man with a deadly agenda. He's the worst kind of human being and he won't stop until he's ruined everyone and everything that the ringmaster loves. Paralyzed is an episodic ride that unravels the pieces of this fantasy circus one act at a time.

©2016 Sarah Noffke (P)2016 Sarah Noffke

The feelings keep you going for a long time...

The characters..... I love them. 4 dimensional to the point where I would not be surprised to look up to seeing Sunshine glowering at me for invading her empathic space. Toward the end of the book I am cringing in pain, gasping with laughter, living every aspect of the story. I am terrified of only one thing: that Sarah Noffke might stop writing.

The narration is incredibly fitting. I shudder when Knight speaks. Every feeling is intensified in the narration of this story.

Spectacular end to a brilliant series

A magical, suspenseful, brutal and yet beautiful end to the Vagabond Circus series. This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, it breakers your heart, puts it back together and then cracks it slightly again at the end, it is both sad and joyful at the same time. The cruel destructiveness and warped manipulation that Knight rains down on the circus is devastating in how quickly it starts to destroy the beauty that was Dave Raydon's creation. Your heart breaks for the losses and the evil the characters have to endure, but despite there being times when the tension in this story is so tight that you can barely breath, there are also parts that make your soul soar. The narration captures the feel of the book, his eclecticism voice suits the circus to a tee. I especially loved Steve Barnes' interpretation of Knight, his voice puts an image of him in your mind that fits this evil, manipulative character well. It is an expertly written story with great narration. It draws you in and keeps you captive to the end. You are consumed by the characters in this book, they make you feel hope, despair, love, frustration and hate. It is spellbinding and tension filled, an amazing story with a beauty all its own. A truly magnificent end to a spectacular series.

I just want to listen to book three

The second installment of the Vagabond Circus. We left Zuma and Finley going after Jack, who had gone to Knight's warehouse to take revenge for David's death. Everybody is heartbroken at the Circus, and Titus will have to find a way to keep the show going on. But the real action will be with Jack, which will need to be saved by Zuma and Finley from a terrible situation.

As I have said before, one of Sarah Noffke's strong points is the character development. Each one has a distinctive personality, and they almost feel real people. The main characters, Zuma, Finley, and Jack, will suffer a great evolution in this book and a bit more depth on some of the secondaries will be shown too.

As with other trilogies by Sarah Noffke, this second book shows the evolution of the characters but will leave the reader wanting more, since this story is just a bridge joining the first and third books. Some mysteries will be revealed, just to add more questions to the equation. In fact, very little happens in this book, despite being wonderfully well written and keeping the listener's interest. Something that bothered me a bit was the romance. It felt more present than in the previous book, and at times it was just too much for me. I think that eliminating or reducing the romance would have made for quite a shorter book, taking into account what little happens in it.

There were a couple of details in the book that did not seem realistic, but I concede Noffke the liberty since this is a YA book. I tend to dislike YA literature, but I always make an exception with Noffke's books, because I really love how she writes. Really, her character crafting is exceptional.

Steve Barnes' narration was very good, as usual. He made the dialogs sound natural and has a pleasant tone of voice. Something I am always grateful about is when I can distinguish the characters by the narrator's interpretation, and Barnes is very good at this.

I really enjoyed this book, despite the romance part and the few events happening. I just want to listen to book three and see how everything will unfold.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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A Mezmorizing act

What did you love best about Paralyzed?

Everything.

What other book might you compare Paralyzed to and why?

That's a rude question in my book. Each Author works hard to create a story that is part of them, to compare it to others work is rude.

What does Steve Barnes bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a voice as smooth as velvet and a very pleasing tone and amazing range. He speaks clearly and you can hear every word.

Any additional comments?

What a mesmerizing tale, the second book of the Vagabond Circus is the perfect companion to book one.Book one we were introduced to the cast of the Vagabond Circus and what their act was and the special skills they possessed.
In book 2 we find out more of the history of Vagabond Circus and Dr. Dave Raydon Ring Master ex-strode nare.After Dr.Dave's death the secrets begin to slip out to a select few, who felt a little betrayed that they never knew, shouldn't they have known? Why didn't they know? Dr. Dave's right-hand man Titus is grieving like everyone else in this little Circus family, he as has to figure out how he is going to fill the wonderful man's shoes and make his legacy grow and continue and keep the Circus in the black.It is an overwhelming feat.
Finley and Zuma are both dancing around their feelings for each other and the demons they carry inside from the past. Finley is a man of few words, he has learned it is not good to let future event to be shared with others, for good or bad that is the way it must be.Zuma is hurt that he didn't share what he knew would come to pass, thinking if she had known, maybe the outcome would have been better.
Jack the other acrobat decides to get revenge for the death of his friend and being the impulsive one, he goes after Charles Knight by himself. Charles knight is a collector of special children, he is cruel and cold as ice. The children become his personal drones, they do as he directs or they pay the price.Finley knows all too well, just how horrible and dark Mr.knight is. Finley is the only drone that ever escaped his compound, he was Mr.Kight's best thief.
After Jack's unfortunate accident, we find out that Fanny was once a nurse and had amazing success with difficult cases. She just disappeared one day, who would believe that she would run away with the Circus?
We also meet Zuma's family, her mom & dad her sister Dakota and brother Hudson.As wonderful as Zuma's mom & dad are, Jack's parents and brothers are doubly horrid.Shallow, cold and worried about appearances instead of caring for each other.
If you want to know more you will have to buy the book.
I adore Sarah Noffke, the first book I read of her's was the Ren series. She is an amazing story teller and she knows just when to ramp up the emotional train with the turn of the knife or insert a bit of humor to keep it light in the dark recesses of the story. The Dream travelers and the world they live in that she has created are just wonderful, entertaining and inviting.I can hardly wait to see what happens next in the Vagabond Circus series.

uh oh! Cliffhanger leaves you wanting MORE! ;)

What made the experience of listening to Paralyzed the most enjoyable?

Sarah Noffke's ability to write a very detailed and vivid story!

Would you listen to another book narrated by Steve Barnes?

I might! I did not enjoy his narration of this book or the previous in this series ... I found his low, slow , almost mysterious/evil narration gave the story the wrong atmosphere ... often times his sentences had spaces due to this style of reading and this style doesn't fit all the characters

Any additional comments?

I love Sarah Noffke and her dream travelers and the dream traveler world is MARVELOUS!
I recommend all her books to those who like a creative fun-tastic world of reality and fantasy all smashed into one
While this is a YA book it does have adult language and situations ... I don't feel like it's just for Young adults but for anyone who loves a great story!

Can't Wait for Released in audio

When the worst happens to Vagabond Circus, Zuma and Finley must try and put the pieces back together. Paralyzed is a book that strips all the pieces of their illusions away and shows you what a harsh world these performers have always lived in and what Dr. Dave Raydon always tried to protect them from, people like Charles Knight. But Paralyzed will also show you the love and caring this family has for one another, a love story? Maybe, in a sense, but filled with action, suspense, and leave you ready for book 3, Released.

Narrator Steve Barnes in the audiobook, transforms the whole story so you feel like you are there and a part of the circus, he has a way of making you feel the part, sad, when you should be, ready to help when Zuma or Jack need it, and always on the edge of your seat. Mr. Barnes is really a very talented storyteller, and not one to be missed, I will be waiting for Released in audio.