I've been struggling to complete a review of this book for (believe it or not) months. It's not that I didn't like it; or that I loved it. It's a good enough read. The kind of thing I'd be pleased to pick-up at a local bookstore if it was curated content (ie: local, POC author, met a monthly theme, etc.); yet it wasn't quite good enough to give five stars. But it's not really fair for me to say that as I can't seem to articulate why it wasn't five start quality.
Upon thinking on this for quite some time I think it maybe comes down to two things:
1) wordsmithing: being able to really pick the exact right word and par your sentences down is a real skill that has to be learned. I think there is a lot that could be cut here; not in plot or characterization, but maybe in the descriptions, set-up, etc.
2) outcomes: I think it wasn't clear what the real outcome Khan Wong had for his readers was. And no I do not think that just to 'have a fun time' is enough to justify a story. There needs to be some meaning, connection, or message that is being developed, portrayed, or told. The Circus Infinite maybe just needs some more finessing to really highlight what the author wants the reader to take away.

Overall this is a good read. Well above the fan fiction 'standard' that has been set, and certainly above most YA trash standards. So if the plot, characters or blub at all intrigue you give it a shot.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

DNF at 40%. I was very excited going into this book based on the unique premise and asexual representation, however, I was never able to get invested in the characters or the story, and found the reading experience slightly frustrating at points. After stopping and restarting this book several times, I have decided that it isn't for me, but will hopefully find its audience.

DNF 37% Why is this so long? I loved the idea, but the book was just all over the place. There's so many things that could happen but the book is just a giant slice of life in space. Not what I expected.

"The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong offers a complex blend of themes and emotions, making it a challenging read to review. This debut novel contains elements of found family, dark narratives about trauma, exploitation, and crime syndicates, all set in a richly developed interstellar world.

Jes, the asexual protagonist with unique gravity-controlling powers, seeks refuge from an institution that has studied and exploited his abilities. He lands on the pleasure moon of Persephone-9, where he finds employment with a local circus. The novel weaves together moments of heartfelt bonding among Jes and the circus members with scenes of brutality and psychological torment, leaving the reader in a somewhat disjointed experience.

One of the book's strengths is the representation of asexuality. Wong explores Jes's asexual identity and offers readers a profound insight into his emotional journey. However, there are moments that feel gratuitously explicit and out of place, diminishing the overall impact of this representation.

The worldbuilding in The Circus Infinite is one of its standout features. Wong crafts a diverse and immersive universe, with a wealth of alien species, cultures, and social dynamics. The representation of LGBTQIA+ identities is noteworthy, with clear and respectful portrayals throughout the story.

The narrative's pacing is well-structured, with a mix of engaging subplots surrounding the circus crew and the overarching plot involving Jes and the crime boss. The short chapters contribute to readability, keeping the story engaging.

Despite these strengths, the story struggles with an overload of plot elements. It attempts to be a space opera, a crime caper, a superpower-focused narrative, and more, ultimately feeling overwhelming. Some scenes, while effectively portraying trauma and the darker aspects of the story, can come across as excessive and uncomfortable.

In conclusion, The Circus Infinite offers a unique and diverse reading experience. It stands out for its asexual representation and worldbuilding but falls short due to its attempt to incorporate too many themes and a hedonistic atmosphere that may not resonate with all readers. It shows promise but could benefit from a more focused narrative."

Unfortunately, I did end up DNFing this book when I started it. I didnt feel very connected with the writing style at the time, since then however I have ended up purchasing the novel after trying to read the first 5 chapters at my local Barnes & Noble. I do plan on picking this book up again as soon as I feel more prepared for this what I assume will be a wonderful story.

delightful sci-fi adventure that had me hooked from the start. As a lover of anything with a circus vibe, this book satisfied my craving for whimsy and excitement. Wong's imaginative world-building created a captivating circus setting filled with eccentric characters and mind-bending performances. The blend of science fiction elements with the enchantment of the circus was a perfect combination that kept me entertained throughout.

'The Circus Infinite' is a challenging book to review. Khan Wong's debut, it's part low-key found family sci-fi in the vein of Becky Chambers, and part a darker narrative about trauma, exploitation, and crime syndicates. I admire what the novel is trying to do, but it doesn't quite succeed in melding those two halves together, giving it an increasingly disjointed feel as it progresses. There are a lot of positives, but the last page doesn't leave the reader feeling satisfied.

On the run from those who want to experiment on his gravity powers, Jes hides in the last place anyone would expect an asexual fugitive to be: the pleasure moon. Successfully picking up employment at the local circus, everything seems set for Jes to have the relaxed, family life he's always dreamed of - until he catches the attention of the moon's crime boss. When the boss gets wind of the bounty on Jes's head, he makes him an offer: do everything I tell you to, or face a return to a life of torture. With no other options, Jes become's the bosses lackey - but when the requests start to threaten the future of the circus, Jes finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. What will he risk to protect his new friends?

The issue with this book is it oscillates between cute found family scenes of Jes and the circus members bonding, and scenes of outright physical and psychological torture. Jes himself is serene in the former and naturally horrified in the latter - but the jarring switch is increasingly unbelievable. Jes also starts strongly, with a likeable personality, strong sense of empathy, and clear moral values - but as events progress, he starts to feel increasingly flat, only making decisions based on what he's told by others, with little agency or personality for himself. The author may have been trying to write this as a trauma response, but it doesn't quite work, with the reader's connection to Jes being lost. The ending should have huge emotional impact, but some of this is lost as Jes doesn't feel so three dimensional.

On a brighter note, the worldbuilding is excellent. Wong has created a world where interplanetary travel is the norm, alien species intermingle (and to an extent interbreed, although some species accept this more than others), and there's great celebration of all cultures and identities. The pleasure moon is well-crafted and feels vibrant, and each alien race has a distinct culture and identity that feels believable and fresh.

The asexual representation is also unusual to see in fantasy. His axeuality is a big part of Jes's identity and a lot of page time is spent exploring it. Personally, I didn't really feel the romantic attachment in Jes's developing relationship, but this could be my own inexperience in reading about these sort of relationships, and it was nice to see an asexual romantic relationship on page.

The plot is well paced with plenty of twists and turns, and short chapters aiding in readibility. I found myself more invested in hearing about the circus and the quieter subplots around the characters rather than the overarching plot between Jes and the crime boss, but they were well interspersed to avoid sections dragging.

There are several races with powers that could be considered magic - empathic powers, telepathy, and some more unique powers like Jes's gravity ability. These provide an intriguing extra dimension and allow the author to cheat to an extent, introducing the reader to aspects of supporting characters via the protagonists abilities rather than on-page development. Overall, this compliments the worldbuilding nicely, and whilst Jes is extremely powerful, its an interesting use of the chosen one trope that avoids common pitfalls.

One other small issue is the inclusion of a character who, whilst initially accepting Jes, becomes increasingly hostile towards him. This hostility seems to build, but in the end nothing comes of it - its simply there. This feels uncomfortable to read and unncessary, and in my opinion should be removed.

Overall, this is an interresting take on the space opera genre with wide scope and several unique selling points - but it tries to do a bit much, ultimately coming off as disjointed. One that's worth reading for fans of asexual representation and found family stories who don't mind a darker, violent edge, but unfortunately not a new favourite.

Dnf'd. I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately due to personal reasons I was unable to continue - aka, a certain part triggered me. I am sure other people will have enjoyed this book.

Jes has amazing gravity-controlling powers. He has been raised in an institution that has been studying his abilities. But the institution has not been kind to him and when he finally sees an opportunity to get away from the institute and off planet, he takes it, not caring where it brings him as long as it is 'away.' He finds himself alone and moneyless on a pleasure moon. Making inquiries as to where he might find work, Jes finds himself talking to people at a local circus when there is an accident and some riggers fall from a great height. Jes 'reaches out' to control the gravity around them and brings them down safely. He is hired immediately and his talents are used in a variety of ways, including artistically - letting acrobats perform seemingly in mid-air.

Jes enjoys the work and makes very good friends among the performers and crew at the circus. But the circus folks aren't the only ones who know of Jes' abilities. A local politician/crime-lord boss learns that there is a bounty for the return of Jes and rather than turn him in, the boss decides to use Jes and his talents (in addition to manipulating gravity, Jes can 'suss' a person's emotions and know if they are telling the truth or not) to put some pressure on his competitors and determine of those in his own organization are faithful to him.

Jes doesn't like the work he is doing for the boss, and while he draws a line at actually someone, he does use gravity to destroy bodies and and deal some significant damage to people. His fear of being turned over to the institute keeps him in check and under the control of the boss. But when the circus is threatened, Jes knows he has to take some kind of positive action.

I had a lot of fun with this book.

The descriptions of the backstage workings of the circus ring very true and it would appear as though author Khan Wong has had some backstage theatrical/circus experience. While most readers may not have this kind of experience (though a surprising number of scifi/fantasy readers do have theatre experience), a reader can often feel when something doesn't ring true.

The character of Jes comes across as a bit of a wide-eyed Pollyanna. He doesn't want to make waves and everything is eye-opening to him. It never occurs to him that he's actually quite powerful and he could use his power to stop the boss from blackmailing him.

Even Jes' relationship is like a teenager's high-affection, little-action relationship. It might be worth noting that the book is considered an LGBTQ book because Jes, identified as male, has a relationship with another character identified as male. But frankly, the relationship is so innocent it hardly needs to be identified as being of a 'type.' And if one or more characters is 'alien' - does it matter what gender they identify as?

Author Khan Wong does a nice job of balancing the circus world with the criminal underworld and then bringing them together later in the book. We don't get too in-depth in either world, but Wong's writing style made reading this easy and fun.

In general, I liked the character of Jes, simple as he appears, and I like the world-building and the circus as his home. This has the makings of a fun series, but Jes does need to grow up, learn more about his abilities as well as those of anyone else who spent time at the institute.

Looking for a good book? The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong is an adventurous, though a little simple, scifi/fantasy that is fun and easy to read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really really wanted to love this book. The premise was so interesting and the rep in it really drew me in, but I just couldn't really get into it. I'm not sure why I couldn't get into it, because there was a lot of good in this book, but something about the writing or the premise just threw me off and I didn't fall in love with it the way I wanted to. I think if you are into sci-fi circus stories this will definitely be an interesting read for you. I was just not the right audience for it.

a recommended read for those looking for science fiction with a more inclusive set of characters. the circus theme is always a hit!

We don't commonly see asexual characters as key protagonists, which I adored. An intriguing space environment filled with extraordinary alien species. The classic tale of a misfit running away to join the circus is transformed into a vivid, seductive, and subversive work of science fiction in this book.
Overall a great sci-fi story, definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC. I am behind on reviews, but I'm glad I could finally get to this one! I LOVED the unique concept and the idea of chosen family. I was also super into the LGBT rep provided in this book. Sometimes it takes me awhile to get into the depths of science fiction, but once I was there, I couldn't put it down. Definitely would recommend!

The book was interesting. The whole crime boss, mafia, espionage with a side of space opera was something fascinating...

I tried to like it. But this book just wasn't for me. Maybe I'll give it a try after sometime time.

I think what I love most about this story is having an ace character as the lead in a space opera without taking away from the story. Plus, the ace flag colors on the cover make me smile every time I see it. Again, I don’t usually read straight science fiction, but this one will definitely be a recommended title from me.

The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong has Jes, who has escaped from the institute which experimented on him, and now he's running as far and as fast as he can, and ends up at a circus.

This is a sci-fi book with aliens, set in space, and with lots of different powers described.

I didn't find that I loved the book, or the characters, but I liked the premise, and LGBTIQA+ representation with found family.

The Circus Infinite was published on 8th March 2022 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Khan Wong on Twitter and his website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Angry Robot.

nice read, enjoyed it a bit,

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an early review.

A late review from me but I'm really happy to finally have gotten around to reading this! I found in really interesting seeing the spread of opinions in the other reviews, and I can see where people struggled with the book as well as the highlights, so it feels like a novel that will hold a different experience for everyone.

Bits I liked:
- fantastic asexual/panromantic rep in the main character, which made me (same identity) feel very happy and seen
- great overall LGBTQIA+ rep as well as some Global Majority diversity
- interesting world and alien species with lots of fascinating details/back-stories
- varying pace of plot with mix of interesting themes and emotional points
- characters with distinct personalities and reasonings, even ones you're meant to dislike
- great descriptive writing and imaginative world history that made me want to know more

Bits I liked less:
- some gruesome scenes I wasn't expecting at first, but they work within the plot
- a couple of areas I had to reread a little when I got a bit confused on what was happening, which was mainly when there was a lot of explanation of circus performance or equipment
- quite a lot of characters and side plots, but it all weaved in pretty well, with most things reaching a satisfying conclusion

Overall I really enjoyed it and I've been tearing through the book these last few evenings, needing to know the conclusion. I do think it's quite sprawling, and it would be great if this was the start of a duology or something, as it feels there's more to tell!

This took me a while to get into but I really enjoyed it. It's a fun, well-written sci-fi with an abundance of found family and a great cast of characters. Really liked this one.

Me: *sneaking in the back with a very over due review*

What I Liked:
- Interesting concept
-Asexual (and other queer) rep
-The circus

What I Didn’t Like:
-Some inconsistent characterization
-The side plot. It need to be built out a bit more.
-Some plot holes

Overall this was a fun, queer found family story set at space circus. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a entertaining read that I’d recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC!