The Axeman’s Carnival is such an original, dark and funny novel by New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey. The narrator is Tama, a talking magpie who lives with sheep farmers Marnie and Rob struggling to make ends meet during a prolonged drought. When Tama is rescued by Marnie as a few days old chick he soon becomes a social media star with earning potential and builds a massive following. He is also witness to their failing marriage and his observations and thoughts are often hilarious and spot on. The novel reaches a dramatic conclusion with the arrival of the annual event in town – the axeman’s carnival. Beautifully written, poetic and poignant.