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    Menagerie
    Menagerie
    Menagerie
    Audiobook10 hours

    Menagerie

    Written by Rachel Vincent

    Narrated by Gabra Zackman

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 29, 2015
    ISBN9781490673981
    Author

    Rachel Vincent

    Rachel Vincent is the New York Times bestselling author of several pulse-pounding series for teens and adults. A former English teacher and a champion of the serial comma, Rachel has written more than twenty novels and remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest form of therapy. Rachel shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two teenagers, and her husband, who’s been her number one fan from the start. You can find her online at rachelvincent.com and on Twitter @rachelkvincent.

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    Reviews for Menagerie

    4/5

    99 ratings11 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Menagerie
      by Rachel Vincent
      Menagerie #1
      Fantasy Urban Paranormal
      Scribd Audio
      18+

      In a world where the cryptic are alive and feared, they have no rights, not even rights that animals have. These creatures are caged, abused, experimented on, and put on show.

      Delilah, who studied Crypticzoology and biology, dropped out because of the creatures' treatment. A few years later her boyfriend takes her to Metzger's Menagerie, a traveling circus of the cryptic creatures, but after witnessing a young female werewolf's treatment, Delilah changes. Stunned and captured, she is taken to jail, then sold to the Menagerie by the police.

      Even though her blood test says she is human, she is caged and put on exhibition, forced to change.

      I was ready to stop listening to this book right after she was 'arrested', but I didn't. The reason was because of the 'what ifs'. I could put myself into her shoes and I could not stop but think about what could happen to her, the things these people could do to her and they would get away with it.

      But I had to find out what happened, and if anyone got what they deserved.

      I did listen to this and sadly the narrator's voice didn't fit with the MC, I felt as if there was an age difference, but she still did a good job, and had some great voices for the other characters.

      Because of the 'what ifs', the things that could happen to her, and the violence against these creatures, and others, I don't think this book is suitable for anyone under eighteen, and sensitive readers should take caution.

      4 Stars
    • 4/5
      Such a good book! I could not pace myself. Delilah visits a carnival that showcases Cryptids because in the US they do not have any rights since the reaping. While Delilah is there she sees a werewolf pup being shocked to perform for the crowed and this unleashes her inner creature. She is arrested and sold to the same carnival she went to see and put on exhibition. Her handler Gallagher is trying to help her adjust and is the only staff member who treats her like a human.

      The book can be uncomfortable to read because of the abuse described, but that's because it is well written. There are multiple perspectives, but most of it is told from Delilah's POV. It did get a little confusing keeping track of who was who and what they are. The author does a good job of explaining what each species is, so if you aren't familiar with the legends it's not required to look them up unless you want to. The ending has a lot going on that made it feel a little rushed. Looking forward to reading the next book!
    • 5/5
      Menagerie is about a young woman that's made out to be a monster and sold to the traveling "human/cryptid circus". She's locked in a cage and left to ponder what she is and how she can save those around her. The more she learns about the others, the more involved she becomes. Gallagher, her handler, is stern and professional, but as she wears him down she sees that he just may be the key to freedom.

      This book had a way of pulling me in and captivating my every sense. I could see the scenes being played out in my mind, hear the harshness in Gallagher demands, taste the stale cage air, and feel the emotions seeping from the pages. I felt committed to the words and devoted to the characters. The more I read, the more I fell deeper into the dark story.

      The Menagerie world is not for those with a weak heart. There is abuse, rape, and just plain ugly hatred. Beyond the broken facades are people searching for freedom and their families. Each cryptid is hurting and the bruises on the outside aren't nearly as painful as the inner ones. What you have to come to terms with while reading is the fact that without all of the ugly you wouldn't get the beautiful. It truly was an epic read that is going on the top of my 2015 favorites list for sure!

      *Note* To the people uneasy over the "no romance" thing... You have to consider the setting and the plot. Open up your eyes in the darkness and find the love within in the cracks. I strongly prefer romance in my reads and this one met all of my cravings. I found the romance in subtle gestures and genuine acts of kindness. So if you're thinking about passing on this one due to a lack of romance... Be real and give it a chance. I think you will find yourself quite pleased with how everything unfolds.
    • 5/5
      I loved this audiobook! I love it when an audiobook can completely pull me into another world like this one did. I couldn't get this story out of my head even when I wasn't actively listening to it. Everything about this story was so vivid and I really felt for the characters. I bought this audiobook when it was on sale months ago but I had no idea how wonderful the story was at that time. I am so glad that I decided to pick this one up.The world this story is set in is a bit different than our own. Cryptids are real but they are not allowed to live outside of captivity. That is where carnivals like Metgzer's Menagerie come into play. Cryptids are put on display in cages and petting zoos for the amusement of humans looking to pass some time. Let's just say that it is not an ideal way to live.Delilah has always been interested in cryptids and even has a college degree in the field. When her long time boyfriend buys tickets to the menagerie, she is not thrilled but goes along to make everyone happy. While at the event, things happen that cause her life to be changed forever. She has no idea what has happened and isn't even sure of what she is anymore. Soon, she becomes an exhibit in the same carnival and her adjustment process is difficult at best.I loved the characters in this book. It was interesting to see that the real monsters in the story were the humans. All of the characters that were captive like Delilah were easy to like. They all seemed to care for each other and really tried to make the most out of a terrible situation. I think that one of the strengths of the story was the level of emotions that really came through. I really felt the pain of the characters when they were treated ill by the caretakers.Gabra Zackman did an excellent job with the narration of the audiobook. I loved all of her character voices and really felt the emotional aspects of the story come through. This was the kind of audiobook that I had no problem listening to for hours at a time. The delivery was smooth and well paced. This was the first time that I have listened to Gabra Zackman's narration but I plan to look for her work in the future.I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a vividly told story that really grabs your attention. I thought that the overall story was unique and completely interesting. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series so that I can find out what will happen to Delilah and the rest of the characters.
    • 4/5
      *I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

      Menagerie was amazing. It was brutal to read in parts, but I couldn't look away. Vincent delves into the atrocities humans commit when they are scared of something or some one. She shows how humans lock up cryptids, strip them of their rights, and don't bat an eyelash when they suffer.

      Delilah, our main character, is a strong heroine who is locked up as a cryptid after years believing she was human. She sees the abuse of cryptids and the monster within her comes out. Then, her life becomes a nightmare. In a menagerie, forced into a cage like property, she is supposed to perform like a circus animal. She sees the abuse happening and the monster in her comes out.

      However, Delilah's inner sense of justice and strength make her almost unbreakable. She doesn't go down without a fight. She makes allies on her journey and the reader is rooting for her throughout the entire novel.

      My only two complaints were...

      1) I wasn't very fond of all the multiple view point. I think I would have preferred to see just from Delilah's POV

      2) The ending felt rushed... I am very ready for the next book though!

      I'm excited for Spectacle... but I can't wait until 2017! I read a sneak peek and now I need more *cries* Maybe I'll go pick up some of Vincent's other books- I've heard great things!
    • 5/5
      One of my new favorites. I loved the strength of the female protagonist. I loved the depth of writing. I loved the premise. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I had been anxiously awaiting to read this book ever since the author announced it on her website. It was worth the wait! This is a fabulous YA book full of heart and soul. In this world, cryptids are alive but treated as animals. Even the hybrids like shifters are considered property, not people. No matter their intelligence or abilities, they are part of zoos, circuses, research facilities against their will and have no rights. Fear of them comes from a event in the past called the reaping. Now enters our main character Delilah who visits a traveling circus where her life changes forever. The only negative to this book is the length of time I have to wait for the sequel. This is the first book in a trilogy.
    • 4/5
      As I have said before, I am a fan of Rachel Vincent's. I own every book in the Shifter series. It is still my favorite series. Although this might be a unfair statement to say as I have not really read any of Ms. Vincent's other series. Not to say that I have not attempted to try the other series. I just could not find another connection to characters like in the Shifter series. However I just might have found that connection again with this trilogy. I like the dark and provocative fantasy elements of this trilogy. Delilah Marlow is a strong female heroine. She keeps the story grounded with human attributes as well. Then there is Gallagher. The strong, dark, male pretense. He is Delilah's dark knight. The first half of the story while it did not showcase many of the menagerie's residents' skills, it was still magical to get to know the characters. The second half of the story is where the story really picked up the pace. I can't wait to read the next book in this trilogy.
    • 5/5
      Long ago some non-humans staged a sort of coup that took out millions and now no people who aren’t completely human are allowed to live free, own any property or have any rights whatsoever. They are locked up, sold for research and development, sold to hunters or purchased by traveling carnivals.Delilah has always been interested in the cryptids and studied them in school. On her twenty-fifth birthday her boyfriend gives her tickets to Metzger’s Menagerie, which makes her uneasy, seeing how those in cages are jeered at by the audience and abused by the handlers. When a young girl in a cage is shocked with a cattle prod for not performing for the audience, something comes over Delilah and she’s outed as “one of those” and is sold by the county sheriff to Metzger. All of this is made worse because Delilah had no clue there was anything different about her.Through Delilah as well as a few others in the menagerie, we experience their stories, abuse and humiliation. But Delilah is something a little different and she’s not going to let them break her. Her handler, assigned to break her, isn’t quite what he seems either.Well written with great characters, the first half is definitely not a happy story; a combination of disbelief, abuse and hopelessness. But the second half of the story starts to change as they finally learn what Delilah is and that she has a purpose.I’d had the book for a couple of weeks before I reading it, mostly due to already hearing that the first half of the book could be difficult. But wow, I picked it up last night and it immediately sucked me in and wouldn’t let go. Monsters come in all forms and it’s not surprising that some of the worst are the ones that aren’t chained and caged. We’re provided small newspaper articles throughout the book that indicates what took place so long ago that caused the current laws and opinions; and it would be easy to see our own laws and opinions following the same course if it happened in real life.Not sure if this is meant to be a stand-alone book or the beginning of a series. The way it’s left, either would be a workable possibility.
    • 4/5
      This was the first time I've read Rachel Vincent's work and I really like the way she writes so I'll be checking out her prior books. But on to this book. I'm not even sure how to classify this book. It was full of horrible things; torture, slavery, starvation and sexual situations. But for some reason, while reading all these terrible things, I still felt a glimmer of hope for Delilah. The way she dealt with each situation and stood her ground was awesome. I'm excited to see how the next book will end up. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
    • 5/5
      A darkly imaginative and provocative tale, Menagerie introduces a new fantasy series from Rachel Vincent for an adult audience.On her twenty fifth birthday, Delilah Marlow's boyfriend presents her with tickets to Metzger's Menagerie, a travelling carnival, whose attractions include cryptids, creatures of legend and myth kept captive since the horror of The Reaping. Delilah has never been comfortable with society's treatment of cryptids, and she is horrified when she witnesses a keeper abuse a young female werewolf, but she is as stunned as everyone around her when her fury manifests physically."But if monsters could look like humans, and humans could look like monsters, how could anyone ever really be sure that the right people stood on the outside of all those cages?"Vincent presents a stunning alternate reality in Menagerie where supernatural creatures are caged, enslaved and exploited by humans. Afforded no rights cryptids are feared and hated, blamed wholesale for an event known as The Reaping which killed hundreds of thousands of children decades earlier.Delilah is utterly unaware she is anything but human until the night she plunges black talons into the skull of the abusive keeper, and is utterly terrified when she is arrested and then denied any recourse when the Sheriff sells her to Metzger's Menagerie. Vincent creates a powerful and disturbing portrait of Delilah's disenfranchisement as she is chained and caged, placed at the mercy of sadistic keepers who force her to become a sideshow attraction despite being unable to identify her 'type', alongside the circus's collection of trolls, ogres, mermaids, djinn, were creatures, and a rare minotaur.Vincent spares little as she describes the conditions under which the cryptids live in Metzger's Menagerie. Abused, tortured, starved and drugged, their experiences are harrowing and for Delilah the dislocation is extreme. As she tries to hold onto her dignity, she displays courage, resilience and determination. Only one keeper shows her any kindness, Gallagher, who comes to believe that Delilah is the rarest of cryptid's, and the only one who can save them all.Menagerie though is much more than just a thrilling tale of fantasy, it is a story that explores the concepts of humanity, and its capacity for savagery when threatened or fearful, injustice and vengeance. It reflects some of society's worst impulses such as the internment camps, acts of genocide, human trafficking and forcible slavery. This provocative edge to the story may be overlooked by some, but the parallels were clear to me.With literally extraordinary characters, dazzling world building and a captivating plot, Menagerie is a sensational read. I can't wait for the story to continue.