This book had a lot to live up to, it being compared to the works of Angela Carter, and to The Night Circus in particular. For me, it was like neither of these books. For me, it was a great big disappointment with an uninteresting narrator and a clunky and disordered story.

We are informed near the beginning that the main thrust of the story is Mouse (the otherwise unnamed protagonist) looking for a lost child known only as Bunny. That said, we then spend the following two thirds of the novel getting to know everyone at a circus that Mouse and Bunny's mother Serendipity worked on the high wire for.

While we wait to hear about anything to do with Bunny--or, indeed, her birth--we get to meet the ringmaster, Mouse's biological mother with whom she has a completely divorced and unloving relationship. We do, at least, find out there is a reason for this, and it is satisfying, though sad.

My favourite bits were definitely the five sections that were short stories that Serendipity Wilson had told to Mouse in her youth, and that she recalls throughout the narrative, in no particular order. These function as short stories that would probably function just as well outside of the rest of the novel.

Firstly, thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio UK for this Audio ARC in exchange for my review.

Honestly, this wasn't my cup of tea, some books surprise you and this one did me, from the blurb I thought I'd be reading something totally different and the very beautiful cover completely lead me in, blending magic and the historical fiction together as one with the look of mystery and it's unsual approach, but this one just didn't work for me.

I love audiobooks but I found I couldn't keep my concentration and that it wasn't all that entertaining, the narration seemed slow paced as is the book and to be honest, I didn't connect at all with the main character either, who I found to be quite dull. That said this could be a classic case of this being written for an audience and that not including me, which is totally fine, that said, I did think that the author had an intriguing and rather interesting style of writing just the story didn't really rivet me in the way I had hoped it would, I'm still unsure of what the actual point of the story was.

That said, I didn't hate it, it just didn't fit with me as well as I'd hoped. I'd still read Hetherington's future works.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a complimentary eARC for review purposes*
I was very disappointed by this audiobook. It was very slow-paced and I found myself zoning out a lot.
The plot just did not capture my interest and honestly, I found the main character really annoying.

Beautifully composed, and magically narrated, I thoroughly enjoyed A Girl Made of Air and it worked wonderfully as an audiobook. The narrator subtly stepped into the role of various characters and brought accents and voices to life without caricature but with a great deal of warmth.

The story knits together slowly and satisfyingly. It's not a huge groundbreaking story, but we step right into the heart of the small and detailed world of the protagonist, Mouse, 'the greatest funambulist who ever lived'. For me, it can be just as lovely getting into such an intimate story as it is to sweep through a complicated fantasy world. This novel really lets you get to know the characters and I loved listening to it.
Through Mouse's childlike eyes, with folk tales from Serendipity Wilson woven in between, we experience circus life from behind the wings, with all of its magic and difficulties, as well as delving into the blurs between friendships and family, relationships and the fragility of all things.
When you live your life on a wire, at some point you're bound to fall.

Thank you - I really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and the audio was so nice to listen to.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio UK for the audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book; it had been likened to other books and authors that I adore, and sadly I feel I went into this expecting something more than I got. I don't think that is the book's fault, but I found I couldn't engage with it and wasn't drawn back to the story.

Sadly I think this wasn't helped by the audiobook which I found particularly slow going.

There are some excellent ideas here, and the cast of characters is wonderful. I think with an injection of pace and a little refinement of the more TW topics, this could be an enjoyable tale. It just wasn't one for me.

2 stars

This story was captivating from the start
I was pulled into it and instantly couldn’t put it down.
The characters evolve and the story twists you around.
I also loved the audio version the narrator really brought it to life and made me love it even more.
It’s not my usual story line that I opt for but the reviews made it so tempting and I’m glad I did.
If you want a deep and enthralling read pick this up instantly it’s magical and written wonderfully

I had really high hopes for this, hearing it likened to 'The Night Circus.' I think that's one of the big problems in publishing - don't compare to previous favourites otherwise you'll always end up disappointed!

I really wanted that circus energy and magic and feeling, but this was a mournful and harsh book. That isn't to say it wasn't good, it just wasn't what I had been expecting.

Mouse was born into the circus, but neither of her parents wanted to care for her, so the great Serendipity Wilson takes Mouse under her wing. I guess you can say the same thing people as about books - don't build them up too much in your head or you'll be disappointed. Serendipity may be the 'greatest funambulist ever' but that doesn't necessarily make her the best mother or sister figure. She can teach her 'the ropes' (pun intended), but that's not all that children need.

I found the first third of this really hard to get into; as I was listening to an audiobook (thanks NetGalley!), I imagine it would be very different reading a physical copy. The text is made up mostly of taped interviews with Mouse, but also letters, newspaper articles and journals. As an audiobook it was quite confusing listening to an epistolatory style novel; although. I know it doesn't have to be (The Illuminae Files *cough*). However, that had a fully narrated cast, whereas this had one reader. I found it difficult to really connect with.

The pace is pretty slow, but gets a bit better. The book is mostly based around searching for Bunny, Serendipity's lost child. It's very dark, and needs a number of trigger warnings.

I'd give this 2.5, rounded up to 3 - although I would like to read a physical copy at some point if I have time, because I think I'd find that easier.

Roll up for a magical mystical tour with the travelling circus! The unusual hybrid of genres reflects the mix of weird and wonderful circus acts and the dual life of the performing artistes. Dickensian melodrama blends with Gothic fable, myth and folklore. However, under the glamour of the Big Top and the spell of the dreamlike prose - a fine rendition by the reader on this audio version - lie nightmare topics such suicide, sexual abuse and childhood neglect - so best not to listen before bedtime.

This book is beautiful. I listened to the Audio book and honestly, the narrator was just magical.
The narrator (unnamed, but nicknamed Mouse) was a forgotten child born in the circus, neither of her parents particularly cared for her, so Serendipity Wilson, a high wire walker, took her under her wing. She taught her about fairies and magic, and how to be the Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived.
The characters will stay with you, I loved Serendipity Wilson and Mouse, and really felt for them both.
I loved the letter Marina wrote to Mouse, it was both heart-wrenching and beautiful.
The atmosphere of the circus, and later New York was just magical and incredible. I absolutely loved it.
My downsides were that it was a bit long winded, if you're a fan of Erin Morgenstein's writing then I think you'll love this, I enjoyed it as there was plot, but there was also a lot of purple prose.

Many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this audio book.
I really wanted to love this book, but sadly found it not to my taste at all. I wasn't keen on the narration and the story just didn't flow.
I struggled to get to the end of it.

Its prose is lyrical, it's magical and brilliantly narrated!

I really, really wanted to love it but it just didn't hit the spot for me...

...found it difficult to care for any of the characters and I found the plot to be a bit of a slog at times,

I was gutted because I wanted so much more.

A huge thanks to Hachette Audio UK & NetGalley for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐

As as I said in the review of the book being a huge fan of Angela Carter i had high expectations for this book and I can say I wasn't disappointed.
It's an enthralling, magical and fascinating read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I loved the poetic style of writing, the magical descriptions of the circus life and was moved by the darker and heartbreaking moments.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions and the voice of the narrator added layers to the story making it more enthralling and enjoyable.
Great world building, storytelling and character development.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

As a huge fan of fantasy (with a particular emphasis on all things circus related) I was extremely excited to read Nydia Hetherington's debut novel "A Girl Made Of Air". And what a debut it is! Protagonist Mouse is "The Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived". For the uninitiated (i.e. me at the start of the book) funambulist = tightrope walker. Some of the descriptions of simply walking the wire are incredibly evocative. This story is heavy on strong females (another huge check mark!) and I particularly enjoyed the tales told throughout by flame-haired, fabulously named Serendipity Wilson.

In terms of setting, we have a travelling circus in England and a performer who graduates to Coney Island, with some cabaret thrown in. Yes, it is as marvellous as it sounds! Hetherington has created vibrant characters and skilfully shown us that there's so much more to circus life than spotlights, greasepaint and glamour. Despite the fantastical post-War setting, the themes of the book are universal and include love, friendship and losses of different kinds.

I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Natalie Pela. I sometimes found it difficult to devote my full attention to it, possibly due to the narrator's hypnotic tones (ideal for falling asleep) however I also have a hard copy and intend to read it again in future. "A Girl Made Of Air" would make an ideal festive gift for anyone who enjoys the work of Angela Carter and Erin Morgenstern.

This was a tough book for me. Perhaps the longest book I’ve ever read although it only had 300 something pages. I can only assess it this way, one would either love this book to pieces or not understand it’s spine even after reading it thrice like me. Maybe when I reach a certain level of maturity I’ll understand what is being portrayed in this one, though by no means is it not a GREAT book, just too deep for my understanding.

This book pulls you in to its magical world with its beautiful lyrical language. I was entranced from the very beginning. This is one of those books you want to devour in one sitting but at the same time never end. The descriptions of feelings, characters and the circus are so vivid you can feel yourself transported back in time. Like any good fairytale it is quite a haunting tale about love, grief and hope. And don’t be surprised if you shed a little along the way.

It's hard not to have Erin Morgenstern in mind while reading this book, with fairy tale and folklore interspersed throughout the story.

Mouse is born to Marina who finds herself taken in by a travelling circus. Unwanted and unloved, she is taken under the wing of Serendipity Wilson who teaches her from a young age to become a funambulist, taking to the highest tightropes at the very top of the Big Top.

Being a circus, the characters are weird and wonderful in equal measure, and Mouse being such a quiet little thing, can move around the periphery of people and relationships without being noticed, least of all by her parents. The whole story is centred around who and where a grown up baby is. Starting at the circus, learning about Mouse's parentage, and ending up in New York, is one hell of a journey for a little girl, then young woman, to process and come to terms with. Serendipity Wilson with her bright orange hair, is a constant through the story and in Mouse's life.

A story well written and well told, although I did get moments of 'where is this going' around the middle of the book, but overall, I'm glad to have learned the story and journey of Mouse and Serendipity Wilson.

This is a book about a young girl who struggles up into the world out of the direst circumstances. It is about a circus, a collection of misfit lives, a desperate, obsessive search for a child and a life formed out of the broken pieces.

I adore stories about the circus, and this one has everything I look for. The lyrical, descriptive, sensual prose – like that of Angela Carter, at times – made me feel like I was there, under the big top, clutching my seat at the dangers unfolding atop the high wire.

Stories within stories blurred the lines between myth, legend and reality. Each of the characters felt at once fully human and completely ethereal, from the funambulist with glowing hair (a mere girl, thrust too early from her home) to the mermaid mother, swimming with crocodiles (and a lifetime of horrible memories, too).

This is certainly not a cheerful read. The truths at its heart are bitter and tear-jerking. But through it all is a message of hope, a glimmer of magic like you find at the circus, and a fierce determination to put one foot in front of the other for the people you love. A beautiful, powerful tale.

I was given an audio arc of this via @netgalley for an honest review. I was sold on this based on the idea of it being a whimsical read. The premise sounded interesting and was hoping for a cross between The Night Circus and Evelyn Hugo.

I feel like I would have had a different experience reading it physically than the audiobook as I don’t think I was engaged by the narrator. It often made me lull and get sleepy, it became hard to focus and in a novel with a dream-like quality this made it tricky.

In terms of the actual novel I liked it, it was an interesting premise and the way that the author wove in the folklore elements and past experiences of side characters made the strongest parts of the novel.

I agree this would be an ideal fit for Erin Morgenstern fans. The prose style, the lyricism all fit that audience. It is also why I probably didn’t love it. I’m a plot reader and the plot in this is very loose and takes an age to kick in fully.

I would be tempted to try it again in physical copy as like I said, I think I might prefer it.

What a beautifully lyrical read. I usually am not drawn to historical fiction but this just sounded magical. A girl made of air is the story of The Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived... I also learnt a new word thanks to this book, funambulist is a fancy world for a tightrope walker. The story follows the protagonist, let’s call her mouse. She is born into a post-war circus family to a mermaid mother who has not shown her love. She is lost and unwanted, until she meets Serendipity Wilson who take her under her wing under the big top. This reads as a historical fictional memoir jumping from present to past, staring stories both beautiful and sad. Our protagonists is haunted by an incident that she tried to rectify throughout the story. This story has folklore and magic and is completely spellbinding. If your a fan of the Night Circus you will enjoy this read. I listened to this and loved both the story and the narrator. This was a beautiful and intoxicating story.