The ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan gets more than greasy corn dogs and flat soda when he visits a carnival in Kansas to which his apprentice, Granuaile, drags him. He runs across a barker with a strange power over the crowd: attractive women leave their men and disappear into an unmarked tent, never to be seen again, and the men wander away, forgetting that they ever had girlfriends or wives. When Granuaile falls under the barker’s influence and enters the tent, Atticus isn’t about to forget it and move on. He and his Irish wolfhound, Oberon, pursue her and discover the horrifying secret to the carnival’s success.
How was it? Featured in the anthology “Carniepunk“ and, in an extended version, in “Besiege” this Iron Druid Chronicles novelette comes right after Two Ravens and One Crow chronologically. This might be this short story’s biggest hurdle, it sort of pales in comparison of the previous one. I had to read this twice to even muster a shred of interest in this story. Althought there is some action in this one, it will not be story that will make you want to keep with the series if you’re slowly losing interest. Fighting demons and ghouls can be fun but not here, it’s just O.K. I’d advise to skip this one, and maybe circle back, wouldn’t you agree?
Worn out Spines 
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