This is a complex book about acceptance and belong. Nell is a young girl sold to the circus by her father in 1860s England. Two brothers, Toby and Jasper have created a show of human wonders and when Nell joins she gains strength and insight. The depth of the characters and touch of magical realism make it a wonderful read!

I personally found this story to be less than average for the topic. It is predictable. Even characters I should feel compassion for had me rolling my eyes with the repetitive inner dialogue. Even the big secret was not shocking at all.

A circus or carnival rolls into town, whips the people up into a frenzy of excitement, chaos and changes ensue. The last book I read with this premise was The Melancholy of Resistance by Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, a superbly dark literary tale building up to a memorable climax.

Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in young Nellie's little coastal village. Nellie, ostracized by the other villagers due to 'birthmarks' all over her skin, labours with collection, stringing, processing of flowers. Unfortunately for her, her unusual appearance catches the eye of the ringmaster and circus owner Jasper Jupiter and she is sold by her alcoholic father for £20 to the circus against her will. The rest of the book is about her life in the circus, her relationship with Toby (Jasper's brother) and her explosive fame.

Circus of Wonders is historical fiction circa 1860s/70s Britain but the atmosphere of that time furthermore didn't come alive for me off the page. There are street urchins, high interest moneylenders, blacksmiths, Queen Victoria mentioned. This is apparently post the war in Crimea which both brothers Jasper and Toby, as well as a friend called Dash (his fate plays a pivotal part in the two brothers' relationship) were on the front lines of. However, the war setting of Crimea seems to exist only as an exotic backdrop for flashbacks.

Jasper is an indistinct villain - is he a megalomaniac, with delusions of grandeur or a desperate gambler? He is shown in flashback killing Russians with Dash, treating it like a lark and theater, looting from corpses and wonton destruction on enemy territory. Yet at times, MacNeal will have him tired of all the deaths and have insight into his relationship with Toby. Toby, oh my, the mental self-flagellating he does.

The strongest part of the novel for me was Nelly reflecting on her lack of agency over her own fate and how she rages about it. Jasper views her as his possession, and even protection by Nellie's brother Charlie can veer into possessiveness. I wish the book hadn't gone into that maternal territory with Nelly and her 'empty belly' and her taking in of Pearl. I was never in fear for Pearl because she would be protected by plot armor.

Circus of Wonders is a found family story, the protective relationship between the circus 'marvels'/'curiosities' is heartwarming especially between Nellie, Stella, Brunette, Peggy. How society views them as 'monstrous' and 'freaks' is heartbreaking. The ending is hopeful though I'm not sure if it's wish fulfillment considering the time period. 3.5 ⭐

Circus of Wonders' North American release date is 1st February 2022. Thanks to Emily Bestler Books/Atria Books for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Circus of Wonders is a story about transformation, empowerment, and identity. Set amid the frenzy of a traveling circus in the time when human beings were displayed as wondrous, living oddities pulling in crowds of oglers, Macneal crafts her story around three people: Nell, a nineteen year old who was born with visible birthmarks on her body; Jasper, the proprietor of the circus known as 'Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders' who strikes a bargain with Nell's father to buy her from him; and Toby, who lives in the shadow of his brother, Jasper. The story's narrative rotates between these three, and interjecting the brothers' points-of-view are flashbacks (by way of recalled memories) that provide background information on the brothers and their circumstances.

Aside from the sports commentary-like present tense that helped Macneal set the present timeline against the past tense flashback scenes, the story itself was a bit too predictable and emotionally distant for my tastes. The writing style, with a lot of telling and very little showing, was surprisingly borderline juvenile in tone and delivery — not content. This was a strange juxtaposition to push beyond and it compounded the difficulty I had with connecting to any of the characters.

Frankly, any book that flat-out writes, "She is strong, she tells herself...." isn't the book for me. (How is it not "I am strong, she tells herself...." at the very least?) I want more nuance and a more accessible style that has some heft behind it. But the directness behind these types of books and the style in which they are written is appealing to many readers, just not to me. I have trouble finding any power behind words delivered in this direct and surface-level manner.

Circuses are popular in 1860's England, and Nell is sold to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders as a "leopard girl" due to the birthmarks all over her body. There's a family of sorts to be found in the circus, and soon Nell's fame eclipses Jupiter's. Torn between him and his loyal brother Toby, Nell soon sees the shadows of their past even as she tries to secure her future.

The story feels like it's more about the brothers than about Nell. She's a fairly simple girl, ostracized because of the birthmarks across half her body, the villagers superstitious of what I'll omens they would bring. Jasper and Toby, however, circle each other throughout the story. Jasper wants to be seen and loved by everyone, wants to be more successful than other circus ringleaders, but can't get out of his own way. Toby felt more attached to Jasper and invisible otherwise; even in the Crimean War he was a photographer and not a soldier, on the outside of other friend groups and jealous of them. He feels invisible and unworthy, a contrast to Jasper. Nell is the star of the Circus of Wonders because of her novelty, but there's very little presence of her as a person even in the midst of that popularity.

The life behind the scenes of a circus, with the politicking and scrounging for money shows how hard it is to be popular and famous. The two brothers keep orbiting around each other, as Jasper has the charisma and Toby has the quiet brawn. I definitely don't like Jasper, and I feel sorry for Toby. The other circus performers are caught; the difference in appearance sets them apart in a society that is cruel to outsiders, but Jasper sees them as property to be bought and sold. The casual references to how other Oddities were treated shows the casual cruelty and objectification of these people. Perhaps that's why Nell often fades into the background, even though the summary revolves around her. In their own way, each brother treats her as an object of desire to win, not as a woman in her own right.

I read Elizabeth Macneal’s debut novel, The Doll Factory, a couple of years ago and loved it. I was super excited to see this book was coming out and I absolutely love the cover. The cover is eye catching and bright and just screams ‘circus theme’ and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. Honestly the cover and title implied that it would be a lot more whimsical and happy then it actually was.

Having read her previous novel, I was not entirely surprised that this book was a bit more serious than the cover implies. Macneal has a great way of capturing the atmosphere of late Victorian England and she has a strong sense of history as well as creating memorable characters. In her book The Doll Factory, I seem to recall that her characters had some disfigurements and in this one the main character also suffers from a disfigurement. This little detail really makes for powerful and outstanding characters which is why her books themselves stand out for me so much.

If you love historical fiction but want something a little different with a hint of circus glamour then you need to read this book. I loved the atmosphere and story more than I thought I would. While I love the cover, I think it implies more of a carefree story inside but this one had substance and so much to remember. I really liked it as a follow up to The Doll Factory, the books aren’t related but I see themes in both and I love that Macneal has such a wonderful style that will stand out to readers.

Summary

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of the “lush, evocative Gothic” (The New York Times Book Review) The Doll Factory comes an atmospheric and spectacular novel where one woman’s life is transformed by the arrival of a Victorian circus of wonders…

Step up, step up! In 1860s England, circus mania is sweeping the nation. Crowds jostle for a glimpse of the lion-tamers, the dazzling trapeze artists and, most thrilling of all, the so-called “human wonders.”

When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders pitches its tent in a poor coastal town, the life of one young girl changes forever. Sold to the ringmaster as a “leopard girl” because of the birthmarks that cover her body, Nell is utterly devastated. But as she grows close to the other performers, she finds herself enchanted by the glittering freedom of the circus, and by her own role as the Queen of the Moon and Stars.

Before long, Nell’s fame spreads across the world—and with it, a chance for Jasper Jupiter to grow his own name and fortune. But what happens when her fame begins to eclipse his own, when even Jasper’s loyal brother Toby becomes captivated by Nell? No longer the quiet flower-picker, Nell knows her own place in the world, and she will fight for it.

A gorgeously wrought exploration of celebrity, power and belonging, this is a historical novel unlike any other, with an unforgettable heroine at its heart. (summary from Goodreads)

Review

This book definitely has a Gothic undertone to it. There are parts and descriptions in the book that might be a little darker than readers might be expecting. I personally love the Gothic elements but it might not be for all readers. There are some darker family elements/relationships which some readers might feel were unexpected going into this one. As I said I have read Macneal’s other novel which was also a strongly Gothic read so this wasn’t surprising for me but new readers might be a little shocked that this one is a bit on the dark side. But what said if you love the Gothic like I do then I think you will really enjoy this book!

I found Nell’s journey and growth in this book really exciting. I loved watching her overcome her personal struggles as well as embrace her physical maladies. I loved seeing her kind of have a ‘swan song’ in this book with coming to terms with her physical deformities and become her own unique character. This is a book that really examines a variety of topics like being a celebrity and how that can take a tole or be a blessing. It also deals with some power issues and I think this would be a great book for book clubs It was really a wonderful story to watch unfold. I thought this one was extremely well research, authentic, with lots of rich characters. I really enjoyed reading it much more than I anticipated.

One of the things I wasn’t expecting to get from this book was how much the Crimean War would play into this book. I don’t know much about the Crimean War so that part of this book was unexpected even if it was a little graphic, it was an interesting period to read about from a historical standpoint for me. I feel like I learned something while enjoying a great story which is a win win for me!

Book Info and Rating

Format: 368 pages, paperback

Publishes: February 1 2022 by Atria Books

ISBN: 9781982106799

Free review copy provided by publisher, Atria Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: historical fiction

In this charming novel, the author lets the settings fill the readers imagination, bringing smells, aromas, and touch, to just as important as seeing the words on the page. Her vibrant settings are their own unique character. Then add in a twisted tale of brotherly devotion, the starting of the term dysfunctional, To the Victorian need for oddities, and a teen finding her way out of the shadows and into the bright light of stardom, and you have a classical tale, but with some subtle twists. Once senses what will have to Jasper's elaborate plans, long before the characters do, and it's like watching the proverbial 'train wreck'- you just can't look away (do we get that from our Victorian ancestors??). This is sure to be the talk of the reading club, so don't miss this new book!

This is an amazing second book of this authors!!!!!!! I loved every minute of it!!!! I highly recommend this book

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:
🦓historical fiction set in Victorian England
🦓circus stories like WATER FOR ELEPHANTS and THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
🦓chapters from multiple POVs

This is an entertaining book. It follows three main character POVs: Jasper, the circus owner; his brother, Toby; and Nell, the “leopard girl” who will be his star attraction. After their time fighting in the Crimean War, Toby and Jasper finally realize their dream to open a circus. Jasper is the mercurial and striking frontman; Toby is always behind the scenes, helping make his brother more and more famous. They are both struck by Nell, whose body is covered in birthmarks that resemble a leopard’s spots. Jasper has to have Nell in his show, while Toby wants Nell in his heart. Nell’s journey of finding her power and breaking free from the confines of the small village where she was raised was my favorite arc. I also found the flashbacks to the Crimean War fascinating as this is not an era I’ve read much about.

Like many circus stories, there are some tough moments with animals— luckily though it is nowhere near as sad as Water for Elephants. There were many references to real life circus performers who were used, abused, and discarded, and I went down several rabbit holes on Wikipedia.

You should read this book if this review sparks your interest!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cons:
Some pacing issues and repetitive passages

This was such an atmospheric story and just what I needed to pick up in the middle of a snowstorm! I loved the circus setting and the lyrical writing brought all the scenes to life so seamlessly. Nell's journey of self discovery and ownership of her talents and her individual person was also incredibly interesting to follow.

In a small village, on a flower farm, Nell was born with birthmarks speckling her body, setting her apart from her community and marking her as a freak. When she was 19, her drunken father sold her to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders as a "leopard girl". Jasper rebrands her as Queen of the Moon and Stars, giving her mechanical wings and making her the finale of his show. However, when her fame begins to eclipse his own, he threatens to ruin everything he's created.
Throughout the story, there are flashbacks to the Crimean War, where Jasper fought "Ruskies" and his brother took propaganda photos of the jolly soldiers. These flashbacks all lead up to a mysterious incident in which Jasper's friend Dash dies and Toby feels forever in debt to his brother, which only makes Toby's inferiority complex worse.
It was a good book in theory, but it left me depressed for the rest of the day. I usually love circus/carnival stories, but I was unprepared for the cruelty, death, and implicit slavery that completely permeated this story. In addition, the dialogue felt forced or rushed. The story would have benefitted from more dialogue and less descriptions of what people said. Now that's out of the way, let's talk about the good aspects of this story. *Minor spoilers ahead* The author made some very interesting parallels between Nell and Toby: their interactions with their brothers, Nell's birthmarks and Toby's tattoos, and the one vital moment where they trip either intentionally or unintentionally. Also, she did a magnificent job of creating imperfect main characters. Nell takes her pain out on Toby. Toby carries guilt from his actions in the war and a massive inferiority complex. Jasper is uncaring of other's emotions, entirely self centered, and not exactly mentally sound. This is definitely a book to read if you want complex characters and not necessarily happy ever after endings.

Thank you to Netgalley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished this, and I have a lot of feelings about this book. It's rare for me to love a book with such a detestable protagonist. And Jasper is beyond detestable. And I think I really loved this book.

Jasper buys and sells people (literally) at a whim, all in the name of making a name for himself in his circus. He reminds them constantly that they owe him, he made them. All this in the circuses of freaks in Victorian England. I went to circuses a lot as a child, and loved them. But there's a dark story behind them that most don't really think about, and these circuses of freaks (circuses of wonders) are especially dark and seedy.

And yet, this is a book about relationships, and Toby for me is the center of them all. Him and Nell, him and Jasper, him and Dash. The others are peripheral. And Toby. I wanted him to break free of the way he'd been treated by Jasper, to find his own voice, his own way. I wanted him to find his own strength and realize he is so much more than the limitations placed on him by others.

And it's possible he will, I don't know. The ending is really what has me wondering, what will come of Toby? I didn't get the ending I wanted with Jasper, so I want to imagine that Toby will get the ending he deserves. (And the books end leaves that open for us to determine for ourselves.)

Still, this book was well written, well paced. I took longer than normal on it because I both wanted it to end and didn't want it to end. (Also my day jobbe is taking a toll on me right now.)

Perhaps its the pandemic, but recently I’ve been drawn to books whose authors build intricate historical settings as a stage for their characters. In “Circus”, Elizabeth Macneal brings the Curiosity Circuses of Victorian England to brilliant life. Nell’s development from a child sold by her father to a woman of agency is terrific. Yes, there is exploitation, blood and gore, but it feels true to the time and motivates the plot.

I’m excited to see more from Macneal!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gripping and compelling story! Nell is nineteen, living in a small village. Her body is covered with birthmarks and the villagers either laugh at her or shun her, except for her brother who protects her. Her mother is dead and her father is abusive and eventually sells her to Jasper’s Circus of Wonders. She is unhappy at first, but when she begins performing, she realizes she was made for the circus. She is finally ‘someone’ and becomes the most popular performer in the circus. There is much more to this story which I want to leave to you to discover. I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy o

Netgalley unproofed copy -- 2.5 Story kept my interest, but would have liked to have seen more of a focus on Nell and Stella, and less on the brothers. I thought the ending worked well.

In 1860s England, circuses with animals, jugglers, trapeze artists, fire-eaters, and “human wonders” are popular. The queen is known to be a fancier of “freaks.” Jasper Jupiter has dreamed his whole life of having the most popular circus in the country, and his ultimate goal is to have the queen herself visit his circus and invite him to the castle. To reach that goal, he knows he has to have a true novelty, an act that no one has seen the likes of before. As he travels with his Circus of Wonders around the small towns of the countryside, he stops in a small coastal village. There lives Nell, whose skin is covered in birthmarks. Jasper buys her from her father and locks her in a caravan, and he creates a wondrous story for her: She is the Queen of the Moon and Stars. He makes wings for her and teaches her to swing and flap them, soaring high above spectators and enchanting all.

Despite her devastation at being sold by her father and missing her brother, Nell soon grows to enjoy circus life. It’s far more exciting than her simple life of picking and sorting flowers, and she doesn’t miss being made fun of by villagers. She makes friends with the others in the show and finds a place for herself, and she soaks up the adulation of the crowds. Nell also finds herself falling for Toby, Jasper’s quiet brother who is a photographer and just does what Jasper asks him to do. But there is danger in having a relationship, as Jasper wants to control everything in his carnival.

Circus of Wonders moves among the points of view of Nell, Toby and Jasper; the story is mostly set during the couple of months they work together and find fame in London, but it features flashbacks as the two men are inevitably pulled back into memories of their childhood together and the horrific things they saw and did in the Crimean War. Those experiences shape who they are and how they see the world and each other; their brotherly bond is formed, tested and remolded.

Nell is a character to root for, as she goes from a young woman who has no prospects and little feeling for herself to a woman who finds she has power and can choose the trajectory of her life.

The story is moving and heartbreaking, as we see how poorly treated people with differences were, and how little autonomy they had. It’s morbidly fascinating and appalling to learn how fine English women and others with privilege actually were spectators at bloody battles, bringing picnics and watching the show. It’s a clever move for the author to juxtapose these two “shows” in her book.

Circus of Wonders is an interesting novel, a view on a time period where humans were trotted out as “monsters” for the entertainment of others, and some of them then reclaimed their uniqueness and made the best out of what they were given to come out on top — a sleight of hand in which their inferiority became fame and fortune and a little bit of power.

Everything about Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal is beautiful! The characters and the world-building are absolutely stunning. I was engrossed from start to finish.

This is an enchanting tale that was a joy to read and I highly recommend. Everything is well-crafted and engrossing. It was difficult to put down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

The descriptively stunning novel set in the world of the circus during the Victorian era. This a coming of age story of Nell, born with birth marks all of her body. She is sold to the circus by her father for twenty pounds. Jasper Jupiter’s circus is very popular during this time and wants to make Nell a star. Nell, of course, does not want to be there, but quickly finds her home in a place where people who look a little different are more than welcomed.

Jasper’s britches are little bit bigger than he is, and with Nell’s stardom, he decides to take a large loan out from a loan shark, regretting the decision shortly after. Along with his brother Toby they try to save this world not just for themselves but for the people that are part of it.

There is love in multiple ways, that is written so lovely. Nell and Toby share something so special that is almost unbreakable, until it isn’t.

The descriptions are beautiful and the author wrote Nell a beautiful story. Everything else that surrounds it, is slightly under par. Give me Nell’s story alone and this would have been a 5 star read, instead Jasper’s story takes over and while he was interesting, it just does not shine like Nell’s.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Circus of Wonders
by Elizabeth Macneal
4 stars

This book was very interesting to me, I enjoyed reading it, but it was depressing. Great storytelling just a father sells his daughter from her having birthmarks then a mother sells her daughter. I was hoping it would end differently for Nell and Toby, but you got to stick with family. Loved the acts they had. The way they became a family well some of them were touching, I thought it was more about Nell, but it seemed a little about Nell and Toby. How they both grew into finding their way at least for Nell, Toby is still stuck and held back by his brother. Elizabeth writes tales beautifully.

The publisher’s description of this book led me to believe this story was about Nell. To me, Toby was the real heart of this story. In a codependent relationship with his brother, Toby is torn between two impossible loves. Out of the three, Nell was the most opaque character and I had a harder time understanding her. Macneal really nails these gothic stories (loved her debut, The Doll Factory) and this one had that same dark vibe. I love how she weaves the three complicated relationships together while tackling issues of celebrity, power, ambition and loyalty. Can’t wait to see what she writes next!