| Circus of the Damned | |
| Author: | Laurell K. Hamilton |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter |
| Genre: | Mystery, horror |
| Release Date: | 1995 |
| Media Type: | |
| Pages: | 329 (Ace edition) |
| Isbn: | 0-441-00197-1 |
| Isbn Note: | (Ace edition) |
| Oclc: | 32414938 |
| Preceded By: | The Laughing Corpse |
| Followed By: | The Lunatic Cafe |
Circus of the Damned is a horror/mystery novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the third book in her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. Within the novel, the "Circus of the Damned" is the name of a supernatural circus that operated by Jean-Claude and serves as one of the main locations within the book. Hamilton employed the practice of titling the novels after a location within each novel for most of the books in the series.
The story begins with the arrival of the St. Louis. The circus features a variety of bizarre and unsettling acts, including a talking ape, a woman who can manipulate shadows, and a man who can swallow swords. While the circus attracts a large crowd, whispers of dark secrets and unsettling events begin to circulate.
Anita becomes involved when a young woman is found murdered in the circus grounds. The victim appears to have been drained of her life force, suggesting a supernatural element to the crime. Anita is called in due to her unique ability to communicate with the dead and her expertise in investigating supernatural crimes.
As Anita investigates, she discovers connections between the circus and a series of unsolved murders dating back to the 19th century. She delves into the dark history of the circus, uncovering evidence of a powerful magical artifact hidden within its grounds. This artifact, a cursed mirror, is believed to be responsible for the murders and the unsettling events surrounding the circus.
The investigation leads Anita to Bert Vaughn, the enigmatic circus owner. It is revealed that Vaughn is a powerful sorcerer who has been using the cursed mirror to manipulate the lives of the performers and to fuel his own dark power. The mirror has a corrupting influence, twisting the minds and souls of those who come into contact with it.
Meanwhile, Richard Zeeman becomes entangled in the events, realizing the potential power of the cursed mirror for his own ambitions. He manipulates events from the shadows, using his influence to control both the circus and the investigation.
Anita, aided by Dolph and Zerbrowski, faces off against Bert Vaughn and his supernatural forces. The mirror's power is amplified, warping reality and summoning monstrous creatures from the shadows. The battle intensifies as Anita confronts her own demons and struggles to control her growing power while protecting those she cares about.
At the circus, where Anita confronts Vaughn and his minions. The cursed mirror, activated by Vaughn's dark magic, unleashes a wave of horrifying creatures, threatening to engulf the city in darkness. Anita, using her necromantic abilities and her alliance with other supernatural beings, fights to contain the chaos and neutralize the mirror's power.
The battle culminates in a confrontation between Anita and Bert Vaughn. She fights to control the mirror's power, using her own will and the combined strength of her allies to break the mirror and sever its connection to the underworld. Vaughn is defeated and the dangerous artifact is destroyed. However, the scars of the events remain. Larry Kirkland, now free from the mirror's influence, is left to rebuild his life. The circus disperses, leaving behind whispers of the horrors that unfolded within its walls. Anita, forever changed by the ordeal, must deal with the lingering consequences of her actions and the ongoing battle between the forces of light and darkness.
Circus of the Damned features the following major characters.