3.5

Circus of Wonders follows Nell, a young woman sold to the circus by her father, Jasper, who is willing to go through exploitative measures to acquire fame, and his brother Toby. The characters are not always likable.

It has some mystery surrounding the brothers (which could have been left out), but overall, it’s a story about self-acceptance.

Nell as a character didn’t work. I never understood her motivations. She would strongly believe something, then a few sentences later, change her mind.

The timeframe of the story was questionable. It happens in the span of a few months, and it feels like so much is crammed into those months. Nell becomes famous enough to meet the queen by soaring in the air, but that is all her act is. She falls in love with Toby. She bonds with Pearl, to the point where Pearl calls her mama. All of this happened too fast and I did not feel connected to any of it.

Circus of Wonders was such a rich, adventurous read that delivered far more emotion and depth than I originally expected.

I am a big fan of any book setting that involves the circus. The author paints such vivid imagery of the Victorian circus that while I was reading it made me feel like I was under the big top watching the acts.

When the book starts and Nell finds herself sold to Jasper's circus, I was not sure how her character would develop from such tragedy, but she flourishes and grows into her own as she finds people who love and accept her for who she truly is and watching her become a star is a beautiful journey.

This book also has a dark side though. Jealousy becomes a recurring theme pitting brother against brother as they both fight for what they want. The ending was a wonderful surprise as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. What follows is my honest review.

At first glance this was a book I would really enjoy. I love circus settings and a n fascinated by the era.

That said, i found the book slow going due to the repetitive nature and heavy, crawling plot. The 2 brothers at the heart of the story were not likeable characters.. they were selfish and self absorbed.

The unexpected flashbacks to the Crimean War served no purpose in advancing or 3xplaining the plot.

The female characters were interesting and I wish there was more focus on them..In particukar I would have enjoyed learning the backstories of Peggy and Stella. Instead, they were without dimension.

3.5 stars. Ahh, this book is a little hard to rate - I love a circus setting and I love our Circus characters, Nell and all the ladies were lovely and I could read books about them. Also, I enjoyed this realistic struggling circus story set in 1866, it felt very true to the era and what would be going on. I enjoyed the bonds of the characters, however, I wanted the plot and dynamics to be more developed.

It was a little unexpected that there were a lot of flashbacks to the Crimean War and all focused around another character that it took away from the main plot point (I understand it's attempting to show the complexity of the brother's relationship, however, I found it just took away a little from the circus story and the present that I would have preferred more detail about!)

"All of history is fiction."

Circus of Wonders was a book of wonder! Elizabeth Macneal is an incredible, magical writer. This novel felt so raw and real, and had incredible depth. I won't say it wasn't predictable, but the details of the story were entirely unique. If you're looking for a happy ending - this aint it; It leaves you with a melancholy feeling but it's a satisfying ending all the same. This is a historical fiction set in Victorian London.

The book follows the quick rise of fame of Jasper's circus (with the occasional flashback) with an emphasis on human curiosities. We switch POVs pretty regularly between Jasper, his brother Toby, and a woman named Nell who is an act in Jasper's circus. Nell is the driving force of the entire story and is the most complex character. There is an air of mystery and darkness surrounding Toby's past, leaving us wondering why he is so indebted to his brother. Jasper's sight is set for the stars and will do anything to make it to the top. Each character feels authentic and they each have a very prominent character flaws that defines them throughout the story. I really liked that the side characters (the other "curiosities" in the show, each had their own personality and weren't lumped together. For example, Brunette, a 7 foot tall woman, longed to settle down and have a normal life away from the circus, whereas Stella, a bearded trapeze artist, and Nell couldn't imagine life out of the spotlight after getting a taste.

It is a story of self worth, jealousy, denial, power-struggles, and family loyalties with some horror mixed in. It reminded me of a more complex, more authentic version of "The Greatest Showman". There are references to P.T. Barnum's rise and fall frequently throughout Circus of Wonders, and it's easy to see the parallel.

Overall, while the circus trope isn't really my cup of tea, it was an admirable book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Pub Date is Feb 1, 2022

I'm a sucker for books that are set in the 1800s and the circus, so when I saw this book, I knew I needed to read it.

Nell Is nineteen and from a very small, poor village. She was born with birthmarks covering her entire body and as a result is shunned by all who know or see her. her home life is no better her mother is sadly dead and her father is a drunk who pays her no attention. The only one in her family who shows any affection for her is her brother Charlie who is about to get married and leave. Sadly Nell‘s father sells her to a circus where she is taken away from everything she has ever known. Jasper the Circus owner transforms her into the Queen of the Moon and Stars, and there she finally finds a home.

Circus of Wonders took me on an emotional roller coaster, with an ambitious leader collecting people and animals to show off as spectacles. The multiple perspectives in the book allow the reader to see into the hearts of multiple characters: the clever ringleader Jasper, whose greatest wish is to see his name in lights; the ringleader’s brother Toby, whose desire is to be loved and accepted by his brother; and the newest spectacle Nell, whose dream is to have a future that she is free to command.

Each of the main characters is complex and complicated with depressing backstories. Lies and deceit, conflicting desires, and a secret that has the potential to ruin everything is what drives this story.

Be aware Of trigger warnings this book, like many realistic circus books, does have some animal harm (not too much, as the ringleader is more kind to animals than most in history were) and phobias against people who were considered different. The writing was grand but my review is based off how I felt emotionally after reading this book and I really went through all the emotions and cried more than I will admit while reading this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy!

Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First, I love circus books. I find the atmosphere these books bring so enjoyable and magical, and this one was no different. As a reader, you were immersed into the chaos and whimsy of this group.

The eclectic characters brought the story alive. Nell had the most development throughout, and I enjoyed her journey.

My only complaint was the timeline shift with Jasper and Toby. Often their timeline jumped without much warning. Until I got used to the author’s style, this was jarring.

Overall, if you enjoy circus books, this one is a great choice. Filled with all things circus with some love and history thrown in, this one is a real treat.

I am a sucker for circus themed books, whether they’re fantasy or realistic. There’s something so interesting about the inner workings of a circus and the planning that goes into the magic and wonder the audience will see. Those that are realistic often have brutality and a lot of sadness to them, though, with cruelty toward people and animals.

Circus of Wonders fits into the latter category, with an ambitious leader collecting people and animals to show off as spectacles. The multiple perspectives in the book allow the reader to see into the hearts and minds of multiple characters: the clever ringleader, whose greatest wish is to see his name in lights; the ringleader’s brother, whose desire is to be loved and accepted by his brother; and the newest “spectacle,” whose dream is to have a future that she is free to command.

Each of the main characters is complex and complicated and conflicted in some way, and it is often their faults that push the story forward. Add to this: lies and deceit, conflicting desires, and a secret that has the potential to ruin everything.

Be aware that this book, like many realistic circus books, does have some animal harm (not too much, as the ringleader is much more kind to animals than most in history were) and phobias against people who were considered different. There is quite a bit of liberation and beauty in each of the “spectacle” stories, though, and those were my favorite parts of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy!

This cover was very deceiving and I have learned my lesson. This was just….sooooo heavy. It never really had any light moments. I am all for an emotional rollercoaster, but this was just straight up depressing and I had hard time pushing through

My thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Circus of Wonders is an interesting look at the other "freak" carnivals. Jasper Jupiter is a man with dreams. He plans to build a Circus to rival Barnum. He wants to entertain the Queen. He is not above buying those whom society finds different. His younger brother, Toby, looks up to him....worships him. But does he worship him because Jasper has something secret about him?
Jasper buys a young woman named Nell who is covered with birthmarks. She soon becomes his top act. Toby and she form a secret relationship. Jasper borrows money from a loan shark and becomes obsessed with growing the circus. This sets things spiraling. Who will be left standing at the end.
A good book on a cold winter day.

1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell has birthmarks that speckle her skin. Nell's father sells her to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders as his very own leopard girl. Nell feels betrayed but she is described as The Eighth Wonder of the World and her fame grows. She decides that this is the best thing that has happened to her. She falls in love with Jasper's brother, Toby, and he eventually has to decide between Nell and Jasper. Circus of Wonders is an astonishing story about power and ownership, fame and the threat of invisibility. I found this book to be interesting but it lacked the magic of The Night Circus, one of my favorite books about the circus. The characters were unique but not very likable. I thought it was a bit dark and the story dragged in the middle. I was glad that I did hang in there because the ending did redeem the story. I would like to check out the author's book, The Doll Factory, as I do think Elizabeth MacNeal is a talented writer. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of an ebook for my honest opinion.

This book was much heavier than I thought it would be. It just felt so sad and weighted. I didn't enjoy the timeline jumps. It consistently pulled me out of the story. I also didn't really enjoy the characters. I never really got connected to them. The cover felt so bright and fun. I thought this would be a bit lighter than it was, and I just wasn't ready for it.

I loved The Doll Factory and was very excited for Mcneal's new book, Circus of Wonders. I was very intrigued by the premise, but unfortunately, I didn't find the story as captivating as a book about a circus I imagined would be. I had a hard time staying interested. There were too many flashbacks to the past that constantly took me out of the story. This book has some dark themes,an oppressive atmosphere, and a lot of unlikable characters. Even the love interest was not very likable. I did like the ending, it was the best part of the book, in my opinion. I really wanted to love Circus of Wonders, but it left me wanting more.

Circus of Wonders is superb. The writing is brilliant and immersive. Its quite evident that the author had done their research when developing this story. I found myself pulled in immediately--felt Nell's sadness, Jasper's ambition, and Toby's need for dependency.

This is a dark story. Each main character flawed in so many ways that there is a heaviness about them even in happy times. Jasper, in particular, is rather disgusting (I love it). The ending felt bittersweet. I found myself in a place of soft sadness and joy. Life is not without regret and sacrifices to reveal what is most important to you, and Circus of Wonders does a fantastic job conveying that.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read an advanced copy of Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal. I asked for this book because the description and the cover and I really thought I would love this book; At first I was intrigued...and then nothing...actually I got depressed. This book had it moments, but the storyline (especially the ending) was just too depressing, and based on the cover, I kinda expected something different. As always this is only my opinion, and others may have a different one.

Macneal gives readers a richly described world with intriguing characters in this latest book. Nothing is as it seems in the Circus of Wonders. Ambitions battle with desires while the struggle to be accepted trumps all. The evolution of Nell and Toby is enjoyable to read as is the demise of Jasper. The subtleties that Macneal intersperses throughout the plot to build the back stories of her characters is enticing but also leads to some frustrating lags in the pace of the book. Read a bit slow at times but the visualization of place is intoxicating. Overall an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this title via Netgalley.

I am not typically one for historical fiction. I honestly didn't realize this was historical fiction till after I started. But I am so glad I didn't know that going in, otherwise I may not have given it a chance. I loved that this wasn't the typical WWI or WWII story. A story about a circus and being different. Loved all the mentions of Barnum which is more of a household name. I loved meeting all the cast of characters and learning about them individually and not just what made them a "freak" or "different". I loved the love between Nell and Toby. The emotional abuse and dependency of the brothers was a twist I both saw and didn't see coming. I loved Nell's journey to find what she loved about herself including her skin which before had always made her want to hide. The found family vibes were very enjoyable.

Once again, Macneal knows how to deliver atmospheric slow burns! Her writing is so incredible that I cannot put her books down. While I liked her previous book, The Doll Factory, better than this one, I was still swept up in the magical world of circuses. I don't know why I'm drawn to stories centered around circuses, but they always catch my eye. I definitely was hoping for more from this one, but as I already said, Macneal is a masterful writer and completely catches my attention.

I overall thought this book had a promising storyline, but moved slow. I thought it was very drawn out, and could have definitely been shortened. The war background portion wasn’t my favorite. I do like that Nellie fought for herself and stood up for herself.

Atmospheric and dark, enchanting historical fiction. Themes of sibling bonding and rivalry, jealousy, ambition, lots of chemistry and tension in this engaging novel. Well written and evenly paced, overall a solid read