Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal is a story that will grip the reader from first page to last word.
1866 , a small costal town in the South of England . Nell is a young woman set apart from her neighbours by the birthmarks that cover her skin, her only friend is her brother . When Jasper Jupiter's travelling circus sets up nearby, Nell's drunkard father sees it as an opportunity to offload his daughter and sells her to Jasper for the sum of twenty pounds. Deeply hurt by this betrayal Nell struggles to settle in her new home, but when Jasper transforms her into the Queen of The Moon and Stars, sending her soaring over the crowds at every show , she slowly begins to see the show as home. Jasper in turn sees her as the star that will help propel the show to new heights , maybe even bring them to the attention of the Queen herself. Jasper has always been a man who dreamed big, but he, and his brother are haunted by their time spent on the front during the Crimean war, where Jasper was a soldier, and Toby his brother was a photographer. Toby has always been in his brother's shadow, but when he falls in love with Nell it seems like he will finally have to choose between his brother's happiness and his own.
This is an incredibly immersive work of fiction that draws the reader in from the outset. I was fascinated by the characters of Nell, Toby and Jasper, and the often complicated relationships between them. The dynamic between the brothers was particularly interesting, and contributed so much depth to the book. I love a book with a circus setting and this one definitely did not disappoint , the writing was rich in detail and full of descriptions that made me feel like I was sitting in the tent with the performers. I found the scenes set during the Crimean War moving , and not something that I had come across before. The Victorian era is one that is well represented in the genre of historical fiction and this book stands toe to toe with the best that I have read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.



I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Set in London in 1866, Nell is from a small village and lives with her brother and drunkard father, picking violets to sell. Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders arrives and Jasper Jupiter himself takes a particular interest in Nell due to her birthmarks which cover her body. Without her consent or knowledge, Nell's father sells her to the Circus as a leopard girl.
Jasper has bigger plans for her and so markets her as the top billing in his show. He is determined to be even bigger and more notorious than Barnum. To do this he must make some very ill advised financial commitments.
Eventually Nell finds herself fully submerged in circus life and makes some lifelong friendships with her fellow acts. She also finds love with Toby, Jasper's brother.
The story tells of those growing relationships as well as Jasper's increasing hunger for fame and the lengths he will go to, to achieve this.

This story has so much to offer the reader. The setting is so atmospheric. We have the coastal village Nell originates from and the marvel of life in Victorian London. We get to hear facts about P.T. Barnum and the horrific way people who were born 'different' were treated and put on display to be ogled and ridiculed by people more fortunate. It also shows how many of these people were betrayed by their own families even after death. Elizabeth Macneal, the author, tells us about the attitudes towards the crimean war. How it was glamourised in public so much that wealthy ladies actually followed the campaign and watched the action from the sidelines they could cheer on their preferred heroic soldier like it was a major social event.
It's easy to be transported back in time when you read this wonderful book. The beautiful surroundings, the complex relationships between the fellow employees at the Circus and their complicated reasons for choosing to stay.
There is so much to enjoy as a reader. I would definitely recommend.

‘𝒲𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝒻𝒻 𝒶𝓈 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝑜𝓃; 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓈𝓁𝑒𝑒𝓅.’

🌟B O O K R E V I E W🌟

Circus of Wonders- Elizabeth Macneal

The circus comes to town or more precisely ‘Jasper Jupiter’s Circus Of Wonders’ ; a menagerie of all the different and unusual. Nell is fascinated- she has birthmarks that cover her and is feared and seen as different.
Nell is kidnapped and sold by her father to the circus, an immense betrayal of her trust and she is devastated.
Jasper’s brother, Toby sees her and is astounded and almost bewitched by her.

‘𝒮𝑜𝑜𝓃, 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒽𝒾𝓈. 𝒮𝑜𝑜𝓃, 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑒𝓍𝓉𝓇𝒶𝑜𝓇𝒹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓇𝓎.’

Jasper is hell bent on fame and fortune and Nell is the key to this, his ‘Queen of the Moon and Stars’. Nell’s fame grows and Jasper gets into debt to ‘The Jackal’, a man with a fearsome reputation to produce a showstopper in London and so puts everyone at risk.

‘𝐻𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒶𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 𝓈𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁.’

This is a simply astonishing story and I was enthralled from the start. It moves back and forth from Victorian London to the bloody battles of the Crimea to reveal the secrets being carried.
This is written with a quiet confidence, there is so much detail and it bursts with the wonder of the title.
I loved Nell and watching her journey unfold. I really felt for her, the horror of the betrayal by her father, the burgeoning and fierce love that develops with Toby, her need to be a mother to Pearl and yet keep her fame and to be loved for her differences.

‘𝒩𝑒𝓁𝓁𝒾𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝑜𝓃.’

I felt sorry for Toby, almost stuck in the middle between his love for Nell and his love for his brother. He is in thrall to Jasper, under his power yet wanting to become visible and a spectacle himself. You can feel the weight of Jaspers power over him from their history in the Crimea and the death of Dash, Jaspers friend. Jasper is self important, selfish, crowing and craves greater and greater fame. He wants to own people and wield his power like a tyrant. I really dislike him yet almost felt sorry for him, he was the one I felt most conflicted about.

‘𝐼 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓈𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝑜𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑜’𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝒷𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓇, 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈.’

There is a sense of foreboding which builds through the book, there is a lot at stake and with so many secrets I found myself reading faster and faster to find out what happened - when finally the storm breaks, it was almost a relief as I felt quite wound up, wanting find out the truth of what has happened.

‘𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓈....𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒸𝓊𝓇𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒷𝑜𝓃𝑒. 𝒜 𝓉𝒾𝓃𝓎 𝓈𝓀𝓊𝓁𝓁, 𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓀𝑒𝒹 𝒸𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓃.’

This is a wondrous story of power, fame, love and loss. I felt wrung out by the end. Although it didn’t end as I would have wished it left me with a quiet sense of calmness. A book to be entranced by.

✩✩✩✩✩

This was a very immersive read. It was rich in detail and brought the differences between the glittering but shadowy pleasure gardens and the murky world of London's back streets to life , highlighting a society captivated by the unusual .
Nell has always been aware that she is different , she has learnt to cover up her birth marks as much as possible ,and tries to fit into life in a small village community. But always feeling like an outcast.
When the Circus of wonders passes through the village , her father sells her stating she is a 'leopard girl' to the owner, Jasper Jupiter as his newest attraction ,
While at first Nell fights against her captivity , thinking her brother will rescue her , she soon settles into the routine of her life within the closeknit community of performers , making friends with several of the other female artists.
Jasper Jupiter is a complex character. He is very ambitious and is always looking for ways to outshine the competition. It's a very competitive industry and finding a star attraction is paramount to being the best showman.
Toby is Jasper brother, although the two appear close on the surface , there is a sense of rivalry between the two and some event in the past that bonds the two together and garners Toby loyalty . Toby is a talented photographer but is haunted by his past
During the Crimean War.
As Nell becomes Jaspers star attraction , she comes to appreciate her uniqueness and accepts her differences but in doing so also loses her sense of identity in her own right. She craves the crowds adoration and fortits her right to freedom, choosing to stay with the Circus when her brother tries to rescue her.
It's a very thought provoking read. While Jasper gives his performers the chance to shine , without being an object of ridicule and exhibited on podiums , there is a fine line between exploitation. They are not free , they are considered his belongings to do with as he pleases.
When Nell begins to overshadow him in popularity with the public , how will Jasper react ? When she chooses his brother over him that will be the final straw.
This was such a captivating and insightful read, I thoroughly recommend it. I enjoyed it so much I bought the author's previous book and will eagerly await her next offering. 5 well earned stars from me !

This was just lovely. Sold to Jasper’s circus as the ‘leopard girl’ by her father, Nell is initially miserable but comes to find love, acceptance and wonder in her new life. Brilliant historical detail, great characterisation and a very engaging story. Highly recommend.

I have to be honest -I kept comparing this to The Night Circus and I'm afraid it was left wanting .
The story itself was good and had so much promise . However I thought it could have been a lot more descriptive -I wasn't actually sure what affliction Nell had apart from a few birth marks . On the whole I did enjoy it -but wasn't wowed .

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Nell is happy keeping to herself working on her fathers farm picking violets. She doesn't really think much about the birthmarks on her skin until the day Jasper Jupiter's Circus Of Wonders comes to their village.
Jasper has big plans for his show, he wants his circus to perform for the Queen and take London by storm.
When he sees Nell, his idea for the 'Queen of the moon and stars' is born. Sold by her father for £20, Nell transforms from prisoner to empowered performer realising this is a once in a lifetime chance for her to do something for herself.
When she falls in love with Jasper's brother Toby, another storyline involving their sibling rivalry develops harking back to the Crimean War. Will these events from the past affect their future happiness? Can Nell really have the future she dreams of, or is she forever tied to Jasper and his Circus of Wonders?
We had great discussions about this book in my online bookclub and it had our highest group star rating this year of 4.5/5.
I particularly enjoyed reading the comments by @elizabethmacneal regarding her research for the novel (think P T Barnam and The Greatest Showman). Historically, were these performers taken advantage of or did they seize the chance for greatness through their unique differences?

I really struggled to get in to this book and subsequently put the book down at 25%. It is clear that Macneal has done a lot of research around the topic and is passionate about the subject but there was a real feeling of disconnect from the very beginning of the book.

I wish I had liked this but I had to force myself to pick it up and as such decided to DNF.

Changeling. Freak. Outcast. Leopard Girl.
These are comments that Nell has faced throughout her life. It’s 1866 and she has never known anything but being the object of unwanted attention and hiding from it. She knows that her father blames her for the death of her mother when giving birth to her but knows that no one in the village will marry her. Charlie, her younger brother, will be married soon which will leave her on her own. He has always defended her against the comments levelled at her about her visible birthmarks. But when Nell is sold for £20 by her father to a travelling circus so that he can be rid of her she has little idea of how much her life will change.
Initially she grieves for her home and the sea but slowly she finds a community amongst the circus performers and a place in the world at last. In fact, she becomes Nellie, Queen of the Moon and Stars, as she flies high above astonished and admiring audiences. She realises the power that performing gives her. Also, she isn’t an outsider in Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders amongst the bearded woman, the 7 foot woman and others.
Jasper Jupiter is ambitious and wants to become the greatest showman in the world. He and his brother, Toby, were in the Crimean War together. Jasper fought while Toby was a war photographer and there is both a strong, almost symbiotic, relationship and rivalry between them. So, when Jasper senses that a relationship is developing between his almost too successful act and his brother, he is furious. How will he get his revenge? And what will happen to Nell when Jasper realises that her fame has eclipsed the circus? What will happen to the circus when Jasper’s plans begin to fall to earth?
This was a riveting novel which encompassed many themes such as surviving in a world that has rejected you, empowerment, the role of women in Victorian England and also the acceptance of difference. Nell was a compelling character as she rises from having to hide herself all the time to being a public figure on the stage. It was also very well researched, and I felt completely part of the Victorian world. The rivalry between circus owners to have the latest attraction was well depicted as each one wanted to outdo the other. Circus life was also very convincing: the waiting around between shows, the packing and unpacking and the animals and the camaraderie between performers.
I thought that Toby’s desire to become one of them and to have some of the circus performers power was a fascinating plotline although he ultimately loses his nerve. The book is as much about the relationship between the two brothers, controlling Jasper and the more down to earth Toby, as it is about Nell.

I really enjoyed reading Circus of Wonders.
My thanks to Picador and Netgalley for an ARC.

I enjoyed The Doll Factory, also by this author, when I read it a while back so I was quite excited to get my hands on this, her latest offering, and the often tricky second book! To say I loved it would be an understatement. It had everything I need to make a good book a great read. Fantastic, well-crafted characters acting out an interesting, intriguing and emotional story that hit every marker on its way through to a wholly satisfying ending.
We meet Nell, she picks flowers for a living and is very close to her brother. But that's not the interesting thing about her - she is blessed - or cursed - with birthmarks all over her body. This marks her out for ridicule and shaming. She fears that she will soon lose even her brother and never find her own place in the world. Until that is, the day that the circus comes to town. Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders that is. Think of a budget, low cost PT Barnum and you get the picture. A chance meeting with Jasper's brother Toby has her interested and then, the worst happens. Her father sells her to Jasper. Like a piece of meat. But, as she starts to find her feet, get to know Toby and some of the other performers, she starts to think that maybe it's a good thing... Maybe...?
And so begins a powerful, emotional, heartwarming, tale which gripped me from the start and held me captive throughout my time with the book. Spitting me out at the end thoroughly satisfied but completely spent. I really felt for both Nell and a whole host of the rest of the characters throughout the book. Shunned by society as a whole, they have found solace and a family with other misfits or freaks as the world sadly calls them.
This book has been painstakingly researched - not just Victorian Britain and the world of the circus at that time, but also, through the brothers' experiences - the Crimean war. Which contains their background. Historical fiction at its very best methinks. The author weaves the fiction into the fact seamlessly.
All in all, a cracking read that I thoroughly enjoyed. With two wins under her belt for me, I really can't wait to see what the author has in store for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Set in 1866, Nell is 19 years old and disfigured by large brown birthmarks over her face, arms and body. The villagers where she lives are scared off her looks, think she is cursed, a Witch, and she is ignored and lonely. She works at the local flower farm, making candied violets for London shops.
Jasper Jupiter’s travelling circus of wonders arrives at the village. Nell is sold to the circus for £20, by her father unbeknown to her. She is kidnapped to join the troupe of wonders or freaks. Nell is initially resistant to this and tries to escape, but soon realises, that this is an environment where she is equal to all the other performers. They are all stared at, but they earn money and respect, she has friends , food and somewhere to live. Nell realises she loves performing, being the centre of attention, but this gradually leads to her downfall, as Jasper becomes jealous of her star billing and the reaction of the audiences.
An underlying theme in this book is experienced by Jasper and his brother Toby, both men are haunted by an event in the Crimean War, whereby each believes the other was responsible for a persons death. There are issues of jealousy, spite, cruelty, but the overriding desire is to become famous and earn money, this ambition leads to rash decisions and hasty retribution for the circus.
Nell finds that you can reach for the Moon and Stars, but still be treated as a possession. Luckily, a new beginning and opportunity beckons, but it is bitter sweet for Nell and Toby.
I found this a magical read, emotional and heartbreaking in equal amounts. I loved the character of Nell, she really deserved all her good luck and happiness.
I finished reading this at least a week ago, but I always take time to mull over the books I review, but have no hesitation in giving this 5 stars, it is a cracking read. I will be eager to recommend this to my local book club, we love quirky reads! I’m sure my local library will also be interested in this, it shows that despite Mother Nature dealing you a rough hand with birthmarks, you can still aim high. There is a model, Alba Parejo, who is a good example of this affliction, and she is beautiful and has a marvellous career.

Being a big fan of Elizabeth Macneal’s previous book, The Doll Factory, I couldn’t wait to read Circus of Wonders and what a treat it turned out to be! Like her previous novel, this is set in Victorian times (1866) and follows a strong young woman as she works out her place in the world.

Our story begins when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders rolls into Nell’s little flower-farming village and her awful father sells her to Jasper. You see, Nell has birth marks all over her body that make her unique or – in the eyes of her father and many others – a freak.

Jasper buys her to market as a ‘leopard girl’ but her natural charisma means she ascends higher than that, becoming Nellie Moon – Queen of the Moon and Stars.

I enjoyed the way Nell works through her complex feelings on the situation she now finds herself in. Yes, she was sold to the circus against her will and performs as an act. On the flip side, she has never has so much positive attention, been more financially stable and finds that she actually enjoys some elements of it. But can she ever really be happy in a life she didn’t ultimately choose for herself?

Alongside Nell’s tale, we learn the backstory of circus-owner Jasper and his brother Toby, a photographer who works for him. Toby is a kind and gentle soul to Jasper’s domineering, self-focused one and their relationship has ups and downs. Their biggest test comes when Toby falls for Nell, something he knows his brother will never approve of…

There is a dark current thrumming through Circus of Wonders that makes it so addictive. Victorian England was obsessed with curiosities and the unknown, so this mixed with the dizzy delights of the circus is the perfect setting. Add in a wonderfully formed cast of characters (I had a soft spot for Stella) and I was totally captivated. I really enjoyed this book; beautifully written, thoughtful and with an unexpected – but very welcome – ending. I was rooting for the lovely Nell with every turn of the page.

Description
The spellbinding novel from the author of the Sunday Times bestselling The Doll Factory.
'An absolute triumph. Exquisitely written, intensely satisfying' - Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars

1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell picks violets for a living. Set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin, Nell’s world is her beloved brother and devotion to the sea.

But when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own leopard girl. It is the greatest betrayal of Nell's life, but as her fame grows, and she finds friendship with the other performers and Jasper’s gentle brother Toby, she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her.

In London, newspapers describe Nell as the eighth wonder of the world. Figurines are cast in her image, and crowds rush to watch her soar through the air. But who gets to tell Nell’s story? What happens when her fame threatens to eclipse that of the showman who bought her? And as she falls in love with Toby, can he detach himself from his past and the terrible secret that binds him to his brother?

Moving from the pleasure gardens of Victorian London to the battle-scarred plains of the Crimea, Circus of Wonders is an astonishing story about power and ownership, fame and the threat of invisibility.

Review

For Nell the protagonist this is an exploration of body self confidence, discovering your inner strength and growing into a loving caring woman. The journey for Nell is of self discovery and self acceptance. She experiences disappointment, love, desire, and hope along the way.

The author is a genius at creating and setting the scene of a Victorian circus. The colours, smells, the acts, the people are all painted brilliantly in the novel. Her characters are just as strongly created, we care about Nell and her relationships, we want her to be happy and fulfilled.

A vibrant, colourful novel which is yet again another honour to read.

#CircusofWonders #NetGalley
5/5

Well, that was certainly a departure for me! Set in Victorian England it is a haunting tale of yearning, empowerment, loss and redemption. These days some people go out of their way to appear different, to stand out from the crowd. In this story Nell, who’s skin is stippled with birthmarks, tries to be as invisible as she can, to deflect the stares of everyone she meets. Nell lives with her father and brother scrabbling to make a living selling miniature flowers and candied flowers. It’s a struggle. And one day Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders comes to her village. Jasper sees Nell and becomes obsessed with her, with the idea of her. He buys her from her father for £20 and promises her a ‘bigger’ life than she could imagine. This is, after all, Victorian England where freaks of all types are all the rage.

After coming to terms with her fate, Nell is entranced with the idea of having agency over her own future, over people wanting to see her, to admire her, of no longer needing to feel ashamed of how she looks. The circus is filled with similar ‘freaks’ - the bearded lady, the giantess and so on. Jasper has a brother, Toby. Toby is quieter but taller and wider - a gentle giant, a lumbering oaf, and he too, has seen Nell and is entranced by her. Yet for all his larger size, Toby seems to live in Jasper’s shadow. It has always been thus, even when the both brothers went to the Crimean war. Jasper went to fight the ‘Ruskies’ with his new friend Dash and Toby trailed behind as a photographer, a job he still undertakes for the circus.

Jasper designs a set for her where she appears to fly over the crowd and he calls her Nellie the Queen of the Moon and the Stars in reference to the markings in her skin. But Jasper has bigger dreams, he wants to own the greatest show on earth and entice the mourning queen to visit his circus. He borrows money and invests heavily in new acts, new equipment and a bigger ring. The queen eventually does come and then she invites Nellie to visit her. Not Jasper, only Nellie. And now that his creation has eclipsed him Jasper starts to unravel. The last straw is when he realises he cannot ‘own’ Nellie, her heart already belongs to his brother.

Jasper, his mind in torment, risks it all one night with a new show, with new tricks and on that night all their lives will be changed forever. How does this awkward triangle, this man on the edge, the awkward brother and the woman who does not want to sink back into obscurity go forward. It’s both a happy story and yet heartbreaking as well. It is full of pathos and small victories. It actually quite hard to describe but it is a very character driven story. And the characters are so well drawn, they all have their strengths and weaknesses, their triumphs and failures. The Crimean war is also described in all its bloody glory and it certainly changed some of our main characters. The story itself is beautifully written and it certainly qualified as ‘something different’ in my reading. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Circus Of Wonders, Elizabeth MacNeal’s second novel is as unique and addictive as her first. It is based in the 1860’s and follows Nell who is set apart as ‘different’ in her village due to the birthmarks that speckle her skin. When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders comes to perform, Nell’s father sells her to the showman. For the sum of £20 Jasper is then her employer, teacher and of course, her owner. Although this new life is thrust upon her, Nell bonds with it. This is the age of ‘freak fanciers’, of marvelling at human spectacles, in their proper place of course ... on the stage. Nell understands the power in this and lives to perform. On the stage she is celebrated and adored. But all this is at the whim of the showman and the problem with whims are that they are just that ... whims.

Circus of wonders is not pretty or polite, it is dark and shines a spotlight on parts of humanity we don’t want to be reminded of but it’s also a tale of love, loss, friendship, family and power. With characters so real you feel you can touch them, Ms MacNeal has provided another absolute must (if sometimes uncomfortable) read.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

TL;DR recommendation:
L O V E. A book that sucked me right in from the get-go and one that’ll stick in my noggin for a long time.

Shock, horror. Jen falls in love with another historical fiction. I know I’m becoming a bit predictable but, dear reader, it probably ain’t ever going to stop. When there are such delicious stories to be told about a bloody circus, you know I’m going to gobble it up and be back for seconds.

After a mere 6%, I knew this was going to be a book I adored. Here’s what you’re in for:

✨ 1866 London Victorian time where anyone who looked slightly different was shunned and labelled as a freak
✨ The main gal covered in birthmarks (not vitiligo) takes the circus world by storm
✨ One ringmaster with a massive ego who HATES to be outshone

Nell has spent her entire life being defined by her birthmarks, hiding in the shadows doing as much as she can to avoid being seen by others. Whilst she ain’t exactly chuffed with how her life is going, she’s doing alright and was quite content with just carrying on as normal. Except the circus trundles into town and her dad pulls off one of the biggest dick moves he could – he sells Nell to the fucking Ringmaster for 20 quid. £2,442 in today’s money. Absolute prick.

HOWEVER, Nell (otherwise known as the 8th wonder of the world or the Queen of Moon and Stars) does the old flipperoonie and owns the shit out of the life. Adored by pretty much everyone who sets their eyes on her, Nell stuffs her £20 pay into pillowcases and sores through the sky in giant mechanical wings. The one thing that set her back in a past life is now holding her up and oh boy does this life suit her.

You’d think Ringmaster Jasper would be well chuffed with her success, but he was quickly noticing how she was out-shining him. No one wants his face on a matchbox – it was Nell or nothing and that drove him utterly bonkers.

So why did it resonate with me? A few things – I was obsessed with the circus as a kid (I am now massively aware of how wrong it is now but I was 4), have my own boob birthmark (not anything like Nell’s but it’s there to keep ol’ righty company) and whilst I am by societies standards ‘normal’, I never quite fit in with the status quo.

This is a beautiful story that springs from a life of solitude and rejection to fame and success. From back-turning family to acceptance. I’m going to shout about it to anyone who’ll listen. And on that note…

Fly your flag and find your own damn family. Blood don’t mean shit.

Macneal's haunting prose and memorable characters linger in the mind long after reading. I loved the Victorian setting and her evocative descriptions of life back then. I found echoes of the popular musical, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, in parts. I've greatly enjoyed both this authors' books and eagerly await the next.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders comes to town, Nell’s father sees an opportunity to rid himself of his daughter, who is an outsider thanks to her birthmarks. Nell is sold to the circus, and uprooted from all she has ever known. What she doesn’t expect is to feel so at home among the “freaks” and curiosities of the circus, and to relish the liberty to be her true self. As her fame grows, however, her success begins to overshadow even Jupiter Jasper himself, and even she also catches the eye of his brother, Toby, tensions come to a boiling point.
This book got off to such a great start, with characters that really jump off the page and make you interested to follow in the story. I liked how each of the main POV characters, Nell, Toby and Jasper had such detailed backstories, and personal dilemmas and dramas, as well as the overarching storyline which drew the three of them together. I really admired Nell as a character, particularly her adaptability and determination.
I love the Victorian circus setting of this book, which brings to light the era’s fascination with “curiosities”. The community at the circus and their friendships was really interesting to read about and I loved watching how being surrounded by people who let her be herself made Nell into a happier person. I liked how each character and the setting helped the plot develop and added to it. There were some parts where I wasn’t sure where the plot was going, and where the pacing slowed down somewhat, but the characters and setting were enough to keep me entertained.
Overall a really enjoyable read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction! I am so impressed by this author and have my eyes set on her debut, The Doll Factory.

A fantastic story with "The Greatest Showman" vibes!
I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters fascinating and I loved how the chapters were based on a different character and sometimes set in the past or present. This book was extremely well written and flowed so well.
I am a big fan of "The Greatest Showman" and I feel this book showed an alternative side to the happy, feel-good movie. This story showed what being in the "circus" was really like and the trials of trying to run your own show. It also had some information about P.T Barnum and other performers which I really liked. It wasn't just listening facts, they were relevant and slotted in well with the story while enhancing the storyline.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was magical and entertaining.
Thank you to Elizabeth Macneal, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan
Picador for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Set in 1866, the book follows Nell; a young girl who picks violets for a living. Shunned by her community because of the birthmarks that cover her skin and deemed to be a bad omen, Nell spends most of her time trying to remain invisible and anonymous. But Nell is betrayed and sold to Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders where she quickly becomes the star attraction.

This book is set during the Victorian age and showcases the era's obsession with 'freaks' and curiousities. This can make for uncomfortable reading against today's sensibilities but the subject matter is handled respectfully and sensitively. Jasper (the circus owner) is a fiercely ambitious and selfish man who dreams of one day entertaining Queen Victoria. His determination to succeed at any cost contrasts with Nell's innocence and purity and, as a reader, we watch the tension increase as Nell becomes more and more famous, eventually overshadowing Jasper altogether.

There is a glittering ensemble of characters in this book: Stella, the bearded lady, Brunette, Pearl and Peggy all serve to remind us of the human life behind all performers. Macneal reinforces to us over and over again, that behind the glittering fascade of a circus, are fragile and haunted humans.

The book also features flashbacks to the Crimean War and Macneal cleverly compares and contrasts the spectacle of a circus to the spectacle of war. The sheer juxtaposition between these two extremes reinforces the ludicrosity of war.

This is a wonderful story about power and ownership, fame and the power of being different and embracing uniqueness in all forms. However, Macneal also reminds us that in the midst of our differences, we are also the same: Despite her birthmarks and Stella's beard and Brunette's height, these characters are just women like everyone else, trying to make their way in Victorian England.

Macneal's prose is beautiful and magical and it was a joy to read. Thank you to Netgalley, Picador and Elizabeth Macneal for the arc!