If you’ve invested any time in Skye Warren’s Smoke and Mirrors (Cirque des Miroirs) trilogy, take a moment and read Blue Moon, a nibble of a novella based on the enigmatic and charismatic showman, Emerson. As the “villain” of the trilogy (or seemingly so), Warren situates him in a more morally gray position in Blue Moon. He’s responsible for finding a new act for Circque des Miroirs as penance, and he finds it with Luna, a gorgeous acrobat. Throughout the novella, Emerson shows the complications of his character as he saves Luna from an abusive situation while wanting to covet her for himself. There is definite chemistry and team between Emerson and Luna, a cornerstone of a Skye Warren story.
However, Emerson’s novella is wildly underdeveloped, leaving us with questions at the end of Blue Moon. Maybe it’s because Emerson is an important character in the Smoke and Mirrors trilogy, but I was hoping for more from his story. Warren may have more for him in store later, but Blue Moon feels like mostly a start, not an end for Luna and Emerson. I know that 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Box Press stories are short-form; however, I’ve read several of them to know that I wanted more from Warren for this story.
A dangerous ringmaster claims his rebellious acrobat for a sensual show you cannot miss.
Blue Moon, a Smoke and Mirrors novella from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren is now live!
Charismatic. Devious. Secretive. Emerson Durand is the ringmaster for the illustrious Cirque des Miroirs. In each city he finds a new woman to command for the night. Until he finds the one woman who doesn’t bow to his demands.
Luna Rider soars through the air as an aerial acrobat. She’s determined to provide for herself and her sister, but she doesn’t count on being gambled away. Or the secrets that hover under the striped tent.
Instead, the person who opens it is none other than the stranger from earlier. He is surprisingly not black and blue, not beaten to bits. In fact, he looks healthy and haughty. His dark eyes twinkle like he has a secret with me. “Luna,” he says as if we’re old friends, which is not a good thing. It’s just another reason for my father to hate me later. Because whatever happens between this man and I, whether it’s sexual or not, dangerous or not, there’s no way I’m leaving Blue Moon Circus. “Come on in.” I step cautiously into the room. I’ve stepped foot into this trailer thousands of times, maybe millions of times, I don’t even know. This was my family home, my childhood home, if the word home could be applied to such a place of terror. But the scene is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Instead of my father’s poker game or a few of the female performers passed out on his lumpy couch for him to use whenever he wants, there are two men I don’t recognize with guns. Pointing them at my father and a couple of his buddies who usually play poker with him. Chips are scattered all around the room. The card table is upended. Something bad happened here though you couldn’t tell by looking at Emerson, he smiles. “We had a slight disagreement at the end of our card game. However, the results stand. I won, which means that you come with me.”
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Professor Romance 