Book Review: Owl and the Japanese Circus by Kristi Charish

Author: Kristi Charish
Published by: Simon and Schuster Canada
Publish date: January 2015
Pages: 432
Series: The Adventures of Owl, book 1
Huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing this book for review!


Ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief, Alix—better known now as Owl—has one rule. No supernatural jobs. Ever. Until she crosses paths with Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon who owns and runs the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas. He insists Owl retrieve an artifact stolen three thousand years ago, and makes her an offer she can’t refuse: he’ll get rid of a pack of vampires that want her dead. A dragon is about the only entity on the planet that can deliver on Owl’s vampire problem – and let’s face it, dragons are known to eat the odd thief.

Owl retraces the steps of Mr. Kurosawa’s ancient thief from Japan to Bali with the help of her best friend, Nadya, and an attractive mercenary. As it turns out though, finding the scroll is the least of her worries. When she figures out one of Mr. Kurosawa’s trusted advisors is orchestrating a plan to use a weapon powerful enough to wipe out a city, things go to hell in a hand basket fast…and Owl has to pick sides.

Wow. WOW. You guys, this book! It totally came in out of nowhere and made me fall in love with it! 

Owl, guys. OWL. She's amazing! She's tough and flawed and hilarious, and I adore her. Her vampire-sniffing cat, Captain, is awesome, and I kept looking at my own huge-bellied cat and asking him, "WTF, dude, you can't even jump onto the damn windowsill without falling!"
Rynn is dreamy, and what little romance there is in OatJC (yeah, I shortened it. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?) is done well and tastefully. Y'all know that I'm not a fan of a ton of romance in my books. ;)
Nadya is another really great character, and the type of best friend everyone wants to have. Smart, tech-savvy, with the ability to keep up with your drinking! 

One of the best parts about this book is the unique twists on the monsters! Vampires aren't just your run-of-the-mill vamps, and Ms. Charish also includes some lesser-used baddies like naga and ghouls and demons. 

But the best part of this book--and it was tough to pick one best part because I really loved this book. I mean, I stayed up until 5 frickin' am reading it one night--was the epilogue. Man, I wish I could say more, but I LOVED THAT ENDING. 

Seriously, if you're a fan of Indiana Jones, constant action, snipe, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural or archaeology, you're going to love Owl and the Japanese Circus.
READ IT.

Bring on book two!