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Owl and the Japanese Circus (The Owl Series) Paperback – January 13, 2015

by Kristi Charish (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 468 ratings
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The first in an exciting series featuring the unforgettable antiquities thief Owl—a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world—from the pen of rising urban fantasy star Kristi Charish. For fans of Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Jennifer Estep, Jenn Bennett, and the like. The series also includes Owl and the City of Angels and Owl and the Electric Samurai.

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.
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  1. Print length
    431 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 13, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 1.08 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1476794995
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1476794990
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A great new fantasy series of fans of Indiana Jones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer...Here's to hoping this will be the first of many outings for Owl. ― Library Journal, starred review

Adventure! Drama! Japanese radish demons! Dr. Kristi Charish in my zombie series is an evil bitch who conducts horrible experiments. But the real Kristi Charish is awesome and her debut novel releases tomorrow! And it's fantastic! Owl and the Japanese Circus! Go buy! -- Diana Rowland, author of My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Antiquities thief Owl is snarky, funny, and geeky—in the absolute best way possible. Her globe-trotting escapades are brimming with unique supernatural foes and comic-book cool. Urban fantasy fans will cheer Owl on to the thrilling conclusion and eagerly anticipate the next adventure. Go Owl! -- Jenn Bennett, author of Kindling the Moon and the Arcadia Bell series

Fast-paced, humorous, action-filled, and completely original. -- Ian Hamilton, author of the Ava Lee novels

Rich, stylish, and uber-geeky. A thrill-ride to the darkly glittering crossroads of myth and archeology. -- Phoebe Kitanidis

...a swashbuckling affair...Alix – Owl – ain’t your parent’s Indiana Jones; she’s a tech savvy, gadget friendly, plain speaking, cat loving, Corona drinking, hardcore gamer gal... this definitely is a good time–and a wild ride. ― LitStack

About the Author

Kristi Charish is a scientist and science fiction/fantasy writer who resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her spousal unit, Steve, and two cats named Captain Flash and Alaska. She received her BSc and MSc from Simon Fraser University in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and her PhD in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. Kristi writes what she loves: adventure heavy stories featuring strong, savvy female protagonists. Visit her at KristiCharish.com or follow her on Twitter @KristiCharish.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books; Canadian Origin edition (January 13, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 431 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1476794995
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476794990
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.08 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 468 ratings

About the author

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Kristi Charish

Kristi Charish

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Kristi is a scientist and science fiction/urban fantasy author who resides in Vancouver, Canada. Kristi writes what she loves; adventure heavy stories featuring strong, savvy female protagonists with the occasional RPG fantasy game thrown in the mix. She is also a co-host on the popular Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing Podcast.

The first installment in her debut urban fantasy series, OWL AND THE JAPANESE CIRCUS (Simon & Schuster) is out and available in bookstores and through online ebook retailers. The second in series, OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS, is out Jan 2016. Her second series, KINCAID STRANGE (Random House Canada), about a voodoo practioner living in Seattle, is out May 2016.

She received her BSc and MSc from Simon Fraser University in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and her PhD in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. She is represented by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
468 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book an amazing start to a new series, with an interesting plot that combines archeological adventure and historical elements in creative ways. They appreciate the unique take on supernatural elements, great characters, and fast-paced action throughout the book. The humor receives mixed reactions, with some customers enjoying it while others find it whiny.

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48 customers mention "Enjoyment"48 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and great from start to finish, with one customer noting they were never bored while reading it.

"This book is so much fun! I can't wait for the sequel...." Read more

"...I was never bored while reading this. I ended up quite liking this book. Owl was a unique, fun, and sometimes reckless heroine...." Read more

"Here's the thing. This is actually a pretty good book. The supporting characters are interesting...." Read more

"...book #2, Owl and the City of Angels, this summer, because this book is great!Owl is a talented young female archaeologist with some issues...." Read more

35 customers mention "Plot"30 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as an imaginative adventure with plenty of action and a unique take on supernatural elements.

"...and magic of many cultures are convincingly woven into an unusual action tale that is also witty and engrossing...." Read more

"...The story itself was intriguing with a interesting cast of supernatural characters: an incubus, a naga, vengeful ghosts, vampires and even a dragon...." Read more

"...I found this book to be really exciting. There was a lot of action and the story kept me guessing until the very end...." Read more

"...This book has lots of plot twists and turns, and kept me turning pages...." Read more

31 customers mention "Character development"26 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the distinct supernatural characters and interesting protagonist Owl.

"...The story itself was intriguing with a interesting cast of supernatural characters: an incubus, a naga, vengeful ghosts, vampires and even a dragon...." Read more

"...This is actually a pretty good book. The supporting characters are interesting. the villain is entertaining (though a bit far fetched)...." Read more

"...Owl's a pretty naive character but by no means innocent...." Read more

"...the fact that Alix (or Owl as she is called) is a thief, she's a likable character...." Read more

15 customers mention "Pacing"15 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, noting its fast action throughout and describing it as a wonderful new Urban Fantasy series.

"...I still look forward to reading every episode in this great new series. I don't see how the author could top this one...but I bet she will...." Read more

"...I found it to be a really well-done introduction to a very promising series. I cannot wait to read about Owl’s next adventure." Read more

"...Circus is the surprisingly good first installment of an Urban Fantasy series that has made my inner cynic shut her mouth about publicity plugs in..." Read more

"Great fun with fast action and an interesting plot...." Read more

13 customers mention "Story quality"10 positive3 negative

Customers praise the well-written story of the book, with one customer noting how it sets up the next narrative nicely.

"...of moments where I found myself disliking Owl, but the writing and plot pulled me through. I ended up liking Owl as a protagonist...." Read more

"...responsibility for your (in)actions and I felt the author carried this arc well and tied it up neatly in the end...." Read more

"...It was a fun read, right up to the end, and sets up the next story quite nicely. Hopefully we don't have too long to wait for it...." Read more

"...Owl's background story is well thought out and engaging...." Read more

10 customers mention "Archeological content"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the archeological content of the book, which combines history in interesting ways and features creative world building, with one customer highlighting the details of Balinese digs.

"...There was action, some romance, and lots of historical sites. I was never bored while reading this. I ended up quite liking this book...." Read more

"...The setting is unusual. . The world building is good and believable. The problem is the main character...." Read more

"I loved this story with its mix of archaeology, adventure and the supernatural, as well as the resourcefulness of Owl and the wonderful friends she..." Read more

"...Sadly, this book just didn't "take" with me. Lots of cool elements: details of archeological/mythological Balinese digs, etc...." Read more

8 customers mention "Start"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book as an amazing start to a new series, with one customer highlighting it as a fantastic debut for the author.

"...This book was definitely a good start to a new series!" Read more

"...Hurrah for a great debut!" Read more

"Great beginning to the series. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment...." Read more

"I really enjoyed Owl and the Japanese Circus! Amazing start to a wonderful new Urban Fantasy series...." Read more

13 customers mention "Humor"8 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's humor, with some finding it funny and witty, while others describe it as whiny.

"...are convincingly woven into an unusual action tale that is also witty and engrossing...." Read more

"...The second is habitual use of an extremely offensive term. Owl isn't great with people...." Read more

"...I ended up liking Owl as a protagonist. She was sarcastic and smart...." Read more

"...There’s was quite a bit of humor in this tale, and the scenes involving Captain were some of the funniest...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Original, Convincing and Fun!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book is so much fun! I can't wait for the sequel.

    Folklore and magic of many cultures are convincingly woven into an unusual action tale that is also witty and engrossing.

    But also some common urban fantasy themes are used in interesting ways. I love this book and this author.

    I would like to see better copy editing in future books in the series. While far better than most, the book still has too many wrong but soundalike words, though I doubt most of today's readers would notice them.

    I still look forward to reading every episode in this great new series. I don't see how the author could top this one...but I bet she will. And that is really something to look forward to.

    Don't miss this great new storyteller!
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  • Jessica
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Start To A New And Delightful Urban Fantasy Series
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Review Originally Posted On The Goldilox And The Three Weres Blog

    This book was a fun ride and was different enough to set itself apart in a genre full of stereotypes. I’ll have to admit; at the beginning I was struck by the resemblance it had to Indiana Jones. Not because of the amazing character charisma; actually, Owl has very limited people skills. More because the plot sped along with so many entertaining events, I didn’t mind some of the things that usually bother me.

    Owl is a familiar stereotype. She's an outsider who keeps everyone at arms’ length and focuses on the financial rewards of her work. Personally, I ran into a couple of moments where I found myself disliking Owl, but the writing and plot pulled me through. I ended up liking Owl as a protagonist. She was sarcastic and smart. By the end of the story, she had experienced some necessary and logical character growth, and even had people who called her out on her decisions.

    The story itself was intriguing with a interesting cast of supernatural characters: an incubus, a naga, vengeful ghosts, vampires and even a dragon. I thought it was an interesting world and the story kept me hooked. The archeological sequences were fun, and the setting changed enough to provide variety in what was essentially a series of quest steps. Along the way, she met various other supernatural races, and tried to solve the mystery of the artifact she was searching for. There was action, some romance, and lots of historical sites. I was never bored while reading this.

    I ended up quite liking this book. Owl was a unique, fun, and sometimes reckless heroine. The side characters were varied and surprising. I loved the historical aspect of this book, and thought the friendship and romance were good. This book was definitely a good start to a new series!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Midwest
    3.0 out of 5 stars Stay in character!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Here's the thing. This is actually a pretty good book. The supporting characters are interesting. the villain is entertaining (though a bit far fetched). The setting is unusual. . The world building is good and believable. The problem is the main character. She describes herself as not being good with people. This is fine. This doesn't mean "I'm so bad with people I will do something incredibly stupid, put myself and my innocent friends in mortal danger and should have been killed because I not only lack tack I lack any sense of self preservation or diplomacy." . The main character should be dead. And that scene with the dragon severely damaged my enjoyment of this book and lowered it from 4.5 to 3 stars. I may read the next book but not sure.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Dr Susan
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great start to a fresh urban fantasy series
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Owl and the Japanese Circus is worth much more than $1.99, but I am so happy this price allowed me to buy it on release day. I am ecstatic that we are getting book #2, Owl and the City of Angels, this summer, because this book is great!Owl is a talented young female archaeologist with some issues. She has had some gnarly things happen the last couple of years, and the damage is obvious to her friends and the reader, and is becoming obvious to Owl. She is determined to make her own way without needing charity from her friend Nadya and while doing work that she loves. Unfortunately, some of Owl's choices have gotten her into trouble. Did I mention that, in this world, supernaturals are an open secret, and the International Archaeologists Association is complicit in hiding supernatural evidence from the general public?? Through no fault of her own (no, really), Owl is being hunted by vampires. She receives an offer from a dragon that will get rid of the bounty on her head and allow her to go back to her interrupted life. This book has a different kind of vampire, dragons, nagas, demons, gods, a vampire hating cat (one of my favorite parts), tombs, temples, puzzles, crosses, double crosses, and even a little romance. Best of all, this book has no love triangles and an ending that leaves you looking forward to the next book without dangling you over a cliff.
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  • Carole Wooten
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to the series!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I bought this book years ago and never got around to reading it for one reason or another until now. I really shouldn’t have put it off because it really was a good time. I have read a lot of urban fantasy in my life but this is the first time that I remember reading one that included an archeology angle and I must say that I liked it.

    Owl was once a promising archeology student but she found something that she should have and was pushed out of the program. Now she earns a living getting antiques to private buyers, often through theft. The vampires are out to get her from a previous incident and now a dragon wants her to find an artifact for him. Her journey will take her from Vegas to Japan then Bali and she will encounter one bad situation after another.

    I found this book to be really exciting. There was a lot of action and the story kept me guessing until the very end. Owl was great and I loved the way that she gave her tasks everything she had. Her vampire attacking cat, Captain, added a lot to the story and I really liked the friends that worked to help Owl with her mission. There was even a bit of romance to keep things really interesting.

    I would recommend this book to others. I found it to be a really well-done introduction to a very promising series. I cannot wait to read about Owl’s next adventure.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • peter darbyshire
    5.0 out of 5 stars Get the popcorn ready!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Owl and the Japanese Circus is a wild romp through mythology and pop culture, featuring a relic hunter who makes a habit of getting in over her head. Hey, what relic hunter doesn’t? The book has it all: vampires, naga, shapeshifting CEO dragons and MMORPGs. It’s even got a cat! Actually, the cat has kind of a major role in the book. It’s Indiana Jane meets Shadowrun meets True Blood meets… well, you get the idea. This is the kind of book where you need popcorn!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars this is a delight to read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    As Kristi Charish's first book, this is a delight to read. The characters are wonderful and I'm looking forward to her next book due out in January. Owl is a wonderful mix of science and fantasy, blended into a fantasy world that is both believable as well as fun. Lots of action and surprises.
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  • Megan J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic new urban fantasy
    Reviewed in Australia on May 7, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this book. It was fast paced with a dynamic lead chaacter, & the supporting characters are well balanced as well. I cannot wait for any further books in the series, am desperate to keep following Owl's story. This is a great start to the series, it hits the ground running and draws you in from the first page. Owl's story is established throughout the book, and the conclusion paves the way for further adventures. If I could give a higher rating than 5stars I would. I think fans of Illona Andrews or Patricia Briggs will find a new treasure with this author!
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  • Winnie Pollock
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Great read!
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  • C
    4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this fun romp through a fantasy-styled heist
    Reviewed in Australia on May 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this fun romp through a fantasy-styled heist, and I liked the main characters, Owl especially. The plot was a little predictable, but not in a bad way; it was fun to have the feeling I knew what was coming next just before it happened. It was a good way to while away an afternoon, and I would be happy to read more from the author.
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