Carnival of Souls is the first book I've read by Melissa Marr. I do have her Wicked Lovely series on my super long 'to-read' list, but figured I would give this one a whirl first. I thought it was a stand-alone novel. I was wrong. 
 Carnival of Souls tells the story of Mallory, Aya, and Kaleb; three characters who all have something to hide. 
 Aya and Kaleb are from The City, and underground mecca teeming with daimons. Daimons are creatures not unlike dogs, but usually stick to their more human form. Witches used to live in The City, as well, but were driven out and now live in the human world. 
 The City is ruled over by a man named Marchosias, and within The City lies the Carnival of Souls. The Carnival is a place where the lower-caste daimons, curs, and scabs like to lurk. They sell pleasure and they sell pain. Some wear masks; others do not. 
 There are also fights to the death in the Carnival of Souls. Lower-caste daimons and curs enter for a chance to try and better their lives; to earn the chance to join the upper ranks of the more noble daimons. 
 It is here that we meet Kaleb and Aya, bother fighters, but both fighting for very different reasons. One wants to better their life, and the other is trying for something so much more. 
 In the human world, where the witches reside, we meet Mallory, a seemingly normal human girl who is being raised by her stepfather, Adam, who happens to be a witch. He has done nothing but try to protect her from the world in which he escaped. He teaches her to fight and tells her never to trust a daimon. 
 Everything changes when Mallory turns 17 and the various truths and lies start to come out. Only then do the lives of Kaleb, Aya, and Mallory intertwine. 
 Overall, I thought Carnival of Souls was a pretty decent read. It was fascinating and intriguing to me, and it kept me reading, curious to see how things would play out. However, the ending was a bit of a tease. I like cliffhangers as much as the next person, but now knowing there will be a sequel, I am dying to get my hands on it so I can continue the journey of Mallory, Aya, and Kaleb. 
 If you're looking for a quick read that's dark and edgy, give Carnival of Souls a whirl. It's definitely worth a look.