The Carnivia Trilogy by Jonathan Holt is one of my favourite series and I think that it a series that engages your thoughts and draws you in. It is unlike anything I had read before as it is based in two different settings that intertwine. It is set in both reality (Venice) and an online world (Carnivia). In this online world you are completely anonymous and due to this it is both an exciting and scary world.
Venice as a setting is something that really helps with this story as it adds a new dimension to the plot. Venice is often romanticised in movies and literature however this book shines another light on the city showing the canals as a link to crime and death. The online version of Venice, Carniva, also shares this outlook with it being the setting of many crimes and secrets.
I found the books are complex however they are easily read. I find that there are multiple lines of story within the book but they link in a way that diffuses the confusion and allows for an enjoyable and engaging story. It is structured in a way that I enjoyed as it is short chapters which allows for a progression that you can aim for. It is a novel packed with characters and detail and action that is so engaging and exciting.
The books are also featured around a police procedural environment also as we meet Kat and Aldo who investigate these different crimes whilst stumbling upon this online world and having to deal with many twists and turns. The characters are both realistic and intriguing with keeps you enticed and wanting to read on. Each book leads onto the next as we wish to learn more about the characters and their part in this online world. There are multiple more characters that are great to get to know and understand their place in the story also.
I would completely recommend this series and it is a series that would be enjoyed by most people as it is full of characters we love, exciting action, and extraordinary detailed. Set in both a reality and a virtual world which adds further dimension to the book.
Read and Drink Tea 