Paris 1940 & the Nazis are about to enter the city. Michel Bonnett is persuaded by his friend Bertrum to leave the city. He jumps aboard a train & discovers he it belongs to a travelling circus. Michel has a knack with horses & he ends up staying with them, caring for the circus horses. Here he meets the unusual community of the circus & falls for the lovely trapeze artiste. Bit the war is never far behind & people's reasons for joining the circus make them vulnerable.

I admit that I would never go to a circus but for some reason books connected to circuses really appeal. I loved this book. I loved the characters, the atmosphere & the historical sense of time & place. I loved this book & it was a real five star read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this terrific book.

I really enjoyed reading this story, I laughed and cried throughout. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop,
I am looking forward to reading more .

The Ringmaster's Daughter is a tale of history and whimsy. Schabowski does a masterful job of intermixing history and fiction to create the magical world of Werner's circus troupe amidst France in the 1940s.

Michel is pushed to escape Paris as German forces lay claim to the region. He ends up on a train with a circus troupe living a nomadic existence, setting up their show wherever they are able. This ends up being quite the serendipitous meeting, giving Michel much more than just a ride out of Paris.

Michel struggles to find his place and be accepted with his new train-mates. He falls into step as the horse trainer and soon builds relationships with many performers. Michel does not only find an escape, he finds friendships, commaraderie, and even, love.

The Ringmaster's Daughter was extremely well written. It took a time in history that has been widely written about and created a plot that pulled it away from the typical story line we see. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

The minute I saw the cover for Carly Schabowski’s debut novel The Ringmaster’s Daughter my interest was piqued as it reminded me of Water for Elephants and The Night Circus two books which I loved in the past. The cover for this book is absolutely stunning and it would make you want to buy the book just for the cover alone. I did think it would have some similarities to the books mentioned above but this was not the case at all so if you are expecting a comparable read it will not deliver the same sense of wonder and awe that a book specifically about circus may do. Instead this is a character driven story set during World War Two based around a travelling circus. I would never have given any thought as to how circuses and travelling shows would have coped with what the onset of war brought to them so this alone was an interesting focal point to the story as I had never read anything like this before.

The Ringmaster’s Daughter had a very strong opening with such fantastic vivid and descriptive writing and this very visual writing continued throughout and really helped me picture the various settings and dramatic scenes in my mind. As the story begins it’s Summer in Paris which should be a lovely and relaxing time for the residents but all is not as it seems, fear and danger lurk around every corner as the city is eerily empty. People have fled as the Germans draw ever nearer in their bid to claim the city for themselves. Michel Bonnet is returning home to his small apartment. He no longer has his job which was looking after horses and he wonders what is keeping him in a city that will inevitably dramatically change from what it once was but Paris has always been his home yet the adventurer in him is stirring. He does not wish to fight but where can he go? His neighbour Bertrand, himself a widow, made a promise to Michel’s mother that he would keep him safe. So a plan is set in motion to flee Paris. Michel is taken to the train station and through one thing and another he finds himself alone and on a train venturing to god knows where.

After such a strong and tense opening I was hoping things would continue in this manner but until the last quarter or so of the book things just seemed to go along at a slow pace with not much happening to move the story on. It didn’t grip me as much as it should have until I reached the final section. Michel soon discovers he has landed on a circus train. But this circus is not what it once was and all the glamour and amazing and magical acts have lost their sparkle. Instead fear and danger are common place as the troupe must travel to wherever they feel some form of safety can be found. They are all weary with little or no pay and food becoming ever scarcer to source. The circus has become more of a fairground than anything else with little or no animals and performers dropping out or disappearing off into the unknown. They are struggling to eke out an existence and feel they will all not last the war how ever long it may rage on for. By the time Michel arrives, the circus is reduced to pitching up in small villages and performing some tricks for a few coins. There was certainly a varied cast of characters amongst the troupe and you could tell once long ago that the circus was an exciting place to be and life on the road was wonderful and such an enriching experience for every member to showcase their unique talents but sadly this was not possible anymore.

Michel feels he was meant to meet this circus and that he is there for a reason which at the moment is unknown to him. After all he really has nowhere else to turn to so he may as well stay here as long as is possible. Michel is given the chance by the ringmaster Werner to prove his worth and talent with horses. If he can train a certain horse and maintain the care of the others he will be allowed to stay and travel with the troupe but at the same time he must keep to himself. Werner was a man not easy to work with or for and he was full of rage, angst and imposed many rules. Much later on the reasons for this became clear and everything made much sense and I saw a different side to Werner and my opinion of him quickly changed.

Michel was good with the horses but I felt he didn’t make as much of an effort to interact with the different people he encounters despite the warnings Werner had given him. I thought he could have stepped outside his comfort zone just that little bit more and played a bit of a game whilst keeping on the good side of Werner if this was at all possible. I felt we never got below the outer layer of Michel or indeed many of the other characters we meet. Things felt superficial at times and I thought more in-depth exploration of characters was needed so the reader could identify with them more. There was so much potential to learn more of the backstories to the different characters and how they came to be in Werner’s circus but we were only given tantalising little titbits. Towards the end I understood why this was the case as there was a major surprise which I should have seen coming but didn’t and I came to appreciate why lots of things throughout the book were so secretive but still just a little bit more information and more page time for perhaps the likes of Odelie and the giant Jean Jacques and dwarf Giordano would have been great.

The Ringmaster’s Daughter did have some intrigue which intensified in the latter half and of course love and romance did feature too. A line on the cover says it is heart-breaking love story and I really did feel this in the very last section as then I did really identify with what Michel was going through when it came to the more personal romantic side of his life. I couldn’t believe after everything he had been through that it had come to this and I really felt his despondency and devastation. To say anymore would be to give things away but the last quarter or so the action really ramped up big time and I got what I had been longing for throughout the entire story. There was drama, tension and nervous energy and a sense of everyone working together. Good against evil but what possible outcome could there be?

The author has shone the spotlight onto a little known aspect to the war as inspired by the true story of an Austrian circus owner during World War Two. She has done so to great effect in some parts but in others the story felt a bit flat as if it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be. Was it a World War Two story or was it a story about the circus? For me, it lost its way for the mid part before finding its path towards the end.

Carly Schabowski is a bright new talent and it’s clear to see what fantastic potential she has writing in this genre if perhaps there was more of a clear focus as to what the book overall wanted to be it would have turned this into an outstanding read. I’ll definitely be eager to see in what direction the author will venture next and what more wonderful characters and settings she will create. The Ringmaster’s Daughter is a good read that for the most part I did enjoy but it didn’t have me as hooked as I had expected to be but still it is well worth the read.

This book was not for me, to say the least.
The idea of it is interesting: a book taking place during WWII in France, people in a circus hiding and moving all the time.
But the thing is, nothing happened. There are four parts in this novel, but in the first three parts (except at the end of the third), nothing happens; it is just Michel, the main character, explaining how the circus works, how he is in love with a woman but can't approach her, blah, blah. There is no plot twist, nothing that made me want to keep reading. I actually don't know why I kept reading, and didn't just skip to the end...
The characters have no flavour - harsh, I know, but really: I could not care for them, could not connect to them, for some reason. They each have a background, yes. But I just read them and... nothing happened in my heart, and I don't know why. Even the war aspect didn't move me or horrify me, so... That's saying something.
Lastly, let me say something about the end. It is a spoiler, so please don't read this paragraph if you don't want to be spoiled. So, we learn in part four that an important character dies, which is sad, obviously. But why, oh why, make this person be alive again, five pages away from the end? What is the point?

I don't have much to say about this book, and nothing really positive, except that the background for every character, even the smallest ones, has been researched. It was, sadly, a big flop for me.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The description of this book said it was good for fans of Water for Elephants, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz. All of these are books I enjoyed. The cover of the book is beautiful and has the words "A beautiful and heartbreaking Word War 2 love story. I have read a number of WW2 love stories and I would not have classified this book as being one. It is a love story and it does take place during WW2. While this is a very good book it is also very similar to the books listed in its description. The title is a bit of a disappointment as it is one of the big reveals in the book. I did enjoy the book which is why I gave it 4 stars but it did not grab my attention like it should have.

When I finished this book, I wasn’t sure where my feelings lay… I did enjoy reading this book (and that is what really matters) but many times throughout this book, I found not much was happening in the story or their just wasn’t enough character development.

This book, unfortunately, failed to have me on its grip most of the time and I didn’t care much for the characters. I didn’t find myself feeling eager to pick it up and continue to read it. So I was in a funny kind of limbo, where I did and also did not enjoy this book.

I didn’t really like how Michel fell ‘in love’ with Freida in this story, yet he had not spent any real time with her…how do you love someone, actually love them (like want to spend every moment with them) when you’ve barely even spoken to them?

He probably does lust after her, but not love, like ‘marry me’ love. But of course, he loves her and wants to marry her… Sorry but this isn’t to my liking.

Overall though, this book is enjoyable enough to read if you are looking for a world war II historical fiction novel or a circus novel.

The Ringmaster’s Daughter is Carly Schabowski’s debut novel and what a powerful and intriguing yarn she spins. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this is an immersive and thoroughly captivating historical epic. It's summer 1940 and Paris is about to be subjected to a brutal onslaught by the Nazis who are seeking to occupy it. The city is in utter chaos and its residents are terrified of the evil that lurks just around the corner. Many citizens are actively searching for places to stay safe and out of sight; after all, some quick and smart thinking could end up saving your life. We are introduced to a young French man named Michel Bonnet who scarpers from Paris before the arrival of Hitler’s comrades and seeks refuge on a train that turns out to belong to Le Cirque Neumann, a travelling circus troupe. The Ringmaster, Werner Neumann, takes an instant disliking to Michel but after some time he hires Michel to train the circus’s horses. He is told to keep away and not converse with the other circus performers and although he tries to do as told Frieda, the stunning trapeze artist, catches his attention. But is this a chance worth taking for love?

This is a rich tapestry of elements that each come together to create a delightful work of historical fiction. You'd be forgiven for thinking this is a book about World War II but the WWII backdrop is merely incidental and doesn't play a large a part in the plot as you may initially believe. Michel is a timid, complex character who it is easy to relate to and to admire and his increasing feelings for Frieda simply can't be ignored despite the repeated warnings not to speak to the other members of the troupe. It's a gripping read as the mysterious nature of the circus and Neumann’s warnings creates a tension which builds over the course of the novel. I personally would've liked more of the story to talk about the circus and its performers but that's because when it was mentioned it felt magical, whimsical and the perfect escape from our real-world issues for a few hours. An unusual, compelling and entertaining tale from a new name in the literary game. She's certainly a writer to watch and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for her next offering. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

The Ringmaster’s Daughter….Don’t Judge This One by It’s Cover
Carly Schabowski

I received this book with gratitude from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The cover is what caught me- I’m not one to normally judge based on what I see, but in this case, I did just that, and was very surprised.
This book is not so much about a circus, but about a man named Michel who was orphaned at a young age and finds himself fleeing Paris during WWII. He is encouraged by his only “family,” a dear friend and neighbor, Bertrand, to run from the war and find safety. He finds himself aboard a train- his ticket, some whispers and money exchanged in the shadows. It doesn’t take long for Michel to realize that he is not on just any train, but Le Cirque Neumann, a traveling circus led by Ringmaster Werner. Michel is fascinated by the characters he meets- the bearded lady, the giant, a lion, a fortune teller a monkey and many more. But the one person he wants to get to know, Frieda, the astoundingly beautiful trapeze artist, is untouchable and under the control of the fierce and unforgiving Ringmaster.
Michel is hired after some trials to train the circus horses. The train the the performers travel from town to town where they pitch tents, put on a show, which is getting increasingly harder as the war goes on, then back to the train again for the next town. After while, the circus sort of fades into the background of the story and the tale of WWII and the need to hide from the Nazis takes hold.
This is where the cover comes in- this story may be premised on a travelling circus, but it’s not really about the circus or the performers so much as it is a sad tale of love and loss during an unthinkable time in our history. Families torn apart, Jewish people in hiding and running, and those that helped them along the way. This is not the uplifting and fun trapeze/clowns/elephant style read that you would think without reading the jacket copy (which I tend not to do purposefully).

I appreciated that this book was based on the true story of a Ringmaster in the 1940s who sought to protect Jewish people from the Nazis by hiding them in plain sight as his circus performers. For me, the story was well written and enjoyable. But do not be mistaken- this is not a lighthearted fun book about the glamour of the circus, but more about the dark underbelly of WWII and the plight of the people and the lengths they would go to to seek safety in a time of fear.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WWII Historical Fiction with a bit of a romantic underpinning.

Michel is living is Paris when Nazi's begin occupation of the city. While looking for a safe place he stumbles upon a circus whose performers are all running away from something themselves.

This book is full of unique characters with complex histories that are slowly revealed. The circus travels to different towns on the outskirts of Paris showing how war and occupation are leaving different impacts.

I would've enjoyed this book more if it was longer. I wish there was more character development of Michel and more build up to the romance. I enjoyed learning about all the characters but wish I had felt more connected to them.

The Ringmasters Daughter was a must try for me,. I was absolutely taken by that cover and the description was so amazing I really had to contain my excitement when i started reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
The book starts set in Paris, 1940. Twenty-year-old Michel Bonnet idecides to become a refuge in WW2 d when the Nazis invade, Michel becomes a refuge on a train that belongs to Le Cirque Neumann- A travelling circus where not everything is as you expect.

Review:
Overall I enjoyed the plot and story, but I don't think this was what I was expecting when I picked up the book. I was prepared for romance and more of the circus, but the story was much more focused on the historical features of the time period. Its not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. Overall the story flowed well and kept me engaged.

The world building was good. The main character Michel was developed well, as were the characters we meet as the story progressed.

This book shows the complexities and challenges that being in WW2 as someone with a secret or needing to run would have, but honestly I just wanted to read more about the circus and its characters.

Overall:
If you are looking for a WW2 historical fiction book to sink your teeth into right now this is definitely something to give a try!

The Ringmaster's daughter is Carly Schabowski's debut novel. I must admit the cover called to me and is absolutely gorgeous. I have adored circus stories and dreamed of running away and joining a circus when I was little (who hasn't!) This historical novel starts in Paris, 1940. Michel Bonnet finds work breaking in horses on the edge of the city, finding solace in his books and his old friend Bernard but when the Nazis invade Bernard makes Michel leave the city making sure he finds refuge on a traveling circus train going south - changing his life forever. Michel, finds this new world strange and promises to keep to himself to continue stay with them but quickly falls under the spell of exotic trapeze artist Frieda. I wanted to love this book, but had problems throughout it. I thought this book would transport me to a traveling circus, and while there were a few scenes, there was really no magic. I think this may do better as a movie rather than book.. The best part of the novel is the enduring friendship between Michel and Bernard. 2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I struggled with this one... while I adore WW2 era stories, I wanted a little more circus magic and a little less history. I think I was expecting something a little different than what this is. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and ended up not finishing the book. It was written well, it just wasn’t for me.

I’m thrilled to be sharing my review for the Ringmaster’s Daughter by Carly Schabowski on my book review blog today – this thought provoking book is now one of my favourite book of 2020. Thank you to Bookouture for a digital review copy via NetGalley and for inviting me to join the blog tour. My thoughts about the book are my own and not influenced by the free copy.

Synopsis:

Circus people don’t ask who you were before, or what god you believe in… when you join the circus, you are family, whatever your past.

Paris, 1940. Twenty-year-old Michel Bonnet lives on the edge of the law, finding work where he can breaking in horses on the outskirts of the city. But when the Nazis invade, Michel takes refuge as a stowaway on a rickety train bound for the rural south. It’s a journey that will change his life forever.

The train is property of Le Cirque Neumann – a travelling circus owned by the troubled and irritable showman Werner Neumann. Neumann offers Michel a job caring for the company’s horses – a lucky break, but with an unusual condition attached. Michel must keep to himself and never speak of what he sees behind the glittering curtain of the big top.

But as Michel finds himself pulled into the strange and wondrous world of the great spectacular it becomes more difficult to keep his promise. Why does the man with the performing monkey never speak, and the sword swallower turn his face away? Who are the silent, shadowy figures who flit like moths between the wagons when the sun is down? It’s clear that Neumann is keeping his performers hidden away… but why?

And how can Michel win the love of the beautiful and exotic trapeze artist Freida – the graceful, green-eyed star of Neuman’s spectacular – when he’s been forbidden to even meet her gaze?

A heartbreaking and uplifting wartime novel– perfect for fans of Water for Elephants, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.


My thoughts:

In May 2020, during the early days of furlough, I saw this book listed on NetGalley. Both the cover image and the synopsis appealed – I enjoy ‘modern’ historical fiction having studied the twentieth century during my O level course.

The book starts in Paris, just as the Germans are marching in, in the summer of 1940 and the British are heading home via Dunkirk. Carly Schabowski sets the scene of a city in turmoil, with neighbours running away and bomb damage being temporarily repaired. We are introduced to Michel, a shy young man, who is the main character. It was only after reading the book, that I realised that this is one of very few books I’ve read recently where the main character is male and is the first male historical fiction main character (the other books were of crime or thriller genres).

Michel escapes Paris (with help from his neighbour Betrand, and ends up travelling with the Le Cirque Neumann, looking after their horses. As the synopsis states, Werner, the Ringmaster keeps his performers away from Michel. The book follows Michel as he slowly becomes trusted by Werner and we discover the history of the various performers.

This wasn’t a book about a circus for me, but a book about how dangerous it was to be living in France if you were Jewish, Catholic, disabled, gay or had a rare genetic condition. The circus performers all had reasons to hide and heartbreaking stories to share – including the one who made himself mute so that he couldn’t tell anyone where his family had fled to.

I was entranced by the story telling and could see this book as a movie. The detailed descriptions brought the locations and the Big Top to life. I realised how much I had been encouraged to care for the characters when we reached the end of the book and I was holding my breath to find out what happened next. There are many friendships and romances to discover too.

This is a beautifully written historical fiction book, dealing with some heartbreaking topics and sadly even in modern times, some of the same intolerances still exist. As I said earlier in my review, this is one of my favourite books of 2020 and I will be busy recommending it.

Honestly I wanted more circus, more history and splendor on a world gone by. I first fell in love this cover, amazing, beautiful. But inside the covers did not disappoint. Though it is set in France 1940 at the start of WWII it is NOT A WWII NOVEL . The historical novels set in this time period are numerous but this one is set then but the war is not the story, just the setting. We meet Michel of Paris who joins the circus as the horse handler. We learn about Michel but also the people in his new life and also the friends left behind. There is romance, a little mystery, and some history. It is a quick read and I was pleased with the overall ending BUT the author did . try to stretch out the ending by switching POV to account for lapse in time. Overall I am very happy to have read this story.

I gave this book multiple tries, but I just could not get going with it. I think it was a combination of the slow pace and the characters who never quite seemed real to me.

This is such a heartwarming book. It’s set during the start of the war and it’s interesting to see how the war unfolds in France.

I enjoyed seeing Michel’s flee from Paris and his friendships with Jean and Giordano were my favourite part of the story. It was nice to see everyone at the circus bond and to hear their back stories throughout the book.

The circus chapters were wonderful. The description of their vibrant colours, the music, the lighting and performers were all amazing and I could easily picture the show when I was reading. It was magical!

The only thing I wasn’t too keen on was the title, as I feel like it ruined the reveal of that part of the book - we already knew that Freida was the daughter and I feel like that could of been a nice revelation in the story.

Overall a great book that I’d definitely recommend to people that love a historical fiction.

'The Ringmaster's Daughter' tells the story of Michel who flees from Paris in 1940 (for no reason really - he's not in a particular danger) and falls in with a touring circus troupe of misfits, held together by the larger-than-life Werner.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book really. I struggled through it, particularly the first half. Part of the problem is the writing style: the author is a fan of long sentences, piling on descriptions and actions and metaphors that slow the story down, with little variation. And because the book shifts locations very quickly as the circus travels, this means we receive yet more description. Conversely, the writing style of the dialogue is nice, rapid and with a French-like rhythm. There were a few anachronisms here and there, and some adverbs could have been removed.

The main characters were not hugely engaging. I was never able to determine what Michel's personality was, why Freida was so enticing nor how either developed over the course of the novel. In fact, Werner, Jean and Giordano, members of the circus, are the most interesting. Other than Jean, they're not particularly likeable, but they feel more rounded than the central couple with clear developments over the course of the novel.

The story itself is pleasant, and the pace picks up nicely through the second half. That said, there are a couple of issues. The first is that, as other reviewers have mentioned, the twist is given away by the title. Indeed, the title itself makes some of the red herrings and vagaries of speech come of as quite jarring. The end of the main story, outside Paris, feels a bit rushed too. The moment that seems to have built up to the climax of Michel's character is glossed over.

It was a nice, quick read, and if you're a fan of circus or WWII fiction, you may enjoy it. However, I feel like it could do with a bit more editing and tightening up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a free copy of the ebook in exchange for a review.

When I first stumbled on The Ringmaster’s Daughter, I was captivated by the gorgeous cover art. (How could you not be?) After reading the book summary (and being a historical fiction nerd), I knew I had to request it. Although well-written, I have a feeling I built this story up in my head far more than I should have prior to reading it; I was excited for a WWII-era story woven into the backdrop of a circus carnival. For starters, the book started off very slow…and stayed slow until a little past halfway through. Also, while I enjoyed the curious cast of characters, I wish the author would have dug into them deeper; they didn’t leave as much of a lasting impression as I would’ve liked. Was this for me? Not entirely; it sort of fell short, but the premise was great and I do know other readers and friends who would greatly enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Carly Schabowski for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
If you are a fan of Water For Elephants, you’ll enjoy this Historical Romance set in Paris, France in the 1940’s.
While this story of Michel’s journey through World War II and life on a circus train has its moments of humor and light fun, there are more serious moments. I think that the author took a risk switching between narratives, one that unfortunately didn’t work for me. I found myself wanting it to just stick to one view point. Switching made the flow of the book pretty choppy. I wasn’t much of a fan of this one!