Biting and gentle, hard-edged and hopeful . . . a beautiful fable of love and power, hiding and seeking, woundedness and redemption.
When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattoed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster . . . and improbably close to grace.
Starred review from February 1, 2008
Unlikely best friends Valentine and Lella, one scarred horribly and the other a multiple amputee, make ends meet by working in the Roland Wayfaring Marvels and Oddities show, always conscious that they are different from "regular people." Samson's compelling tale of their quest to make sense of their own little world and their need for love and acceptance will stay with the reader long after finishing the novel. This is truly grown-up inspirational fiction with unusual, complex characters; the publisher compares it to Sara Gruen's "Water for Elephants". Highly recommended for all collections. Christy Award winner Samson ("Songbird") lives in Kentucky.
Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.