Asa’s running from a troubled past. To a remote outback town, a disappointing father and a fresh start that’s already souring. But then the notorious Dirt Circus League arrives. A troupe of outcast teens performing spectacular fight sequences and challenging any who dares to take part. They’re ruthless. Menacing. Thrilling. And led by the magnetic Quarter. He’s dark, powerful and intensely attractive—and he faces a threat only Asa can see.
Plot
This book moved quickly. In one sitting, I had read about 25% of the way through and felt really swept up in the story. There is a lot of mystery and intrigue throughout the story. I loved feeling so pulled in with questions the characters had. While I’m not sure that all my questions were fully answered by the end of the novel, I still felt satisfied by the progression of the story.
Characters
Asa, the protagonist, is a bit of an enigma. Her actions often didn’t fit what she thinks or says or what really felt appropriate for the situation. Supporting characters felt like they felt into archetypes and I would have liked to see them more fleshed out and surprising. However, the plot does pull things along more than the characters in this story.
Setting
This story is set in Northern Australia, which was a fun change of pace compared to the other European-based novels I’ve been reading lately. I enjoyed the place-specific slang and dialogue, as well as exploring the rainforest that Asa finds herself in. I would have liked to see the magic aspects more developed, as this is where I was left with the most questions by the end of the novel.
My Recommendation
Dirt Circus League is a fun, quick YA Fantasy read. While the characters and magic systems were especially memorable or developed, the plot has plenty of intrigue and set in a unique environment. If you’re looking for a distracting weekend read, I highly recommend it!
