A worthy successor to The Doll Factory. I really enjoyed this, particularly having the same story told from different view points.

I found myself totally immersed in the life of the Victorian circus and all the people who worked so hard to make it a success. It has a feeling of magic about it, but also very gritty and real. A great read.

The year is 1866 and Nell is working in a small coastal village picking violets. Protected by her brother because of her unusual appearance she is startled to find herself being watched by a strange man. The man comes from the travelling circus, pitched nearby and run by his brother, the magnificent Jasper Jupiter. Nell's drunken father takes the opportunity to sell Nell to the circus as a wonder.
Initially she feels betrayed by her family but she soon comes to settle into circus life and when Jasper makes her the star of his show she realises that she loves performing and revels in the delight of the crowd.
But all good things must come to an end and Jasper cannot stand to be upstaged by one of his performers which leads to the final scenes of the story.
I very much enjoyed this novel by Elizabeth Macneal. I have not read her previous books but have now added it to my tbr list. I particularly loved the attention to detail - the descriptions of the circus and Victorian London and the incredible fighting, complete with audience, in the Crimean War. The abysmal living conditions of the poor are constantly contrasted with those of the rich, even down to the differences it made on the battlefield.
Relationships form a central theme in this story: the bonds between the Jasper and his brother, Nell and her brother and Nell and the other women in the circus. Most of the characters shine when they are playing a part - Nell when she is on stage, Toby when his body has been painted, and Jasper when he stands in the circus ring. Underneath they are still vulnerable and open to the abuse and ridicule of others and it is only when Nell realises that although she is a star it is Jasper that still controls her that she finally manages to break free.
Compelling writing and story telling with the present tense giving it an immediacy. I very much enjoyed this and loved the attention to detail.

1866 and the world is a very different place to now. Nell lives in a small village with her father and brother, working on a flower farm. Nell is different, and the locals do not let her forget it. Despite her brother looking after her, Nell is still subjected to ridicule and taunts.

This story tells us what happened to Nell and how she became the toast of London, even presented before Queen Victoria, if only for a short time.

The subjects raised in the book are unbelievable in today’s society and do make difficult reading at times. The story is interesting, well written and certainly doesn’t shy away from the appalling treatment of “The Wonders”.

I do feel the book was too long and certain aspects of the story, such as the initial meeting between Nell and Toby, a little contrived.

A worthy 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley.

I adored this book. Elizabeth Macneal is an extremely gifted writer and this feels like a natural successor to The Doll Factory. Her use of revolving narrators works well throughout and I personally connected with the idea of "difference" in this novel a great deal.

What a brilliant book! I was a big fan of The Doll Factory but Circus of Wonders is even more captivating. I felt I had run away to Jasper Jupiter’s circus, the descriptions are so clear and at times raw. Jasper’s ambition leads him into terrible situations and this makes for a very exciting read. I enjoyed the story of Jasper, his loyal brother Toby, and talented Nell, whose father sells her to the circus. I loved the Victorian setting and felt immersed in it, thanks to Elizabeth Macneal’s powerful storytelling. A great read!

The Introduction sets us in the circus and also introduces us to Nell, a girl with a spotted skin discoloration. She and her brother go to the circus, like any normal children, and try to ignore the comments that people make about Nell's skin.

Soon after, Toby, the circus owner's brother, comes across Nell and develops a fascination for her.

I had mixed feelings about this one early on. I love circus stories! But I detest whole novels written in present tense and strongly believe it should only be used in small doses like Dickens used to do in the occasional chapter.

Nell's first meeting with Toby didn't really ring true with me and I found the characters rather cardboard. The present tense writing kept the plot from drawing me in and it never really attained the atmosphere of the magic of the circus that I'd hoped for. I also found the ending rather flat.

4.5 Stars in total, many thanks to Netgalley & Pan Macmillan for the chance to read this before publication, thoroughly enjoyable read, immersing you in the Victorian period it's a delightful story that will keep you reading long into the night. The book is full of colourful characters, each with a unique story. Highly recommended!

A worthwhile read that highlights some significant social issues and attitudes of the time.

Rating: 2.5/5

I find myself caught very much in two minds on this one. As I pen this review I am still deciding whether this should sit as an upper end 2-star rating or a lower end 3-star. (I will have convinced myself one way or the other by the time I reach the end!)

The story is set in Victorian England and revolves around three central characters: Jasper is the eponymous circus showman and owner of Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders; his brother Toby, who is more physically imposing, but lacks Jasper's entrepreneurial flare and extrovert charm; and Nell, a young woman from a small village who feels ostracized from her local community as a result of the extensive birthmarks on her skin.

The relationship between the two brothers is not always an easy one and there are elements in their shared history, both from childhood and from their time fighting in the Crimean War that feed into this tension. When Nell is purchased from her father by Jasper to become part of his circus, the strain on the relationship between the brothers is also increased.

Elizabeth Macneal is a gifted writer and her descriptive writing can be extremely evocative. "Circus of Wonders" transports the reader back to a period when society and attitudes were very different to those of the 21st century. The author paints a vivid picture of that time and of the world of the travelling circus within it. Anyone who has seen the movie "The Greatest Showman" will make an immediate read-across and, indeed, P.T. Barnum is referenced several times in this novel, along with other contemporaries.

In spite of this, I still found aspects of the novel disappointing. Although the story is set in the Victorian era I felt that the book failed to emulate certain dramatic elements that were such an integral part of much of Victorian literature. Many of the notable wordsmiths of the time had their work serialised. In the absence of television, their stories really were the serial dramas of their day. In order to keep readers coming back for the next instalment the writers needed to entice them with a cliffhanger at the end of each episode. Once collated into the format of a novel these undulations of expectancy were still evident. I feel that "Circus of Wonders" could have benefitted from a similar approach, as plot developments did feel a little flat at times.

Overall, it is certainly a worthwhile read and highlights some significant social issues and attitudes of the time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

It’s May 1866 and Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders, full of living curiosities, comes to the coastal resort where Nell lives. Nell grows miniature flowers to sell in London and is regarded by locals as a ‘freak’ because of her prominent birthmarks. Nell’s father sells her to Jasper for £20 betraying her, giving her no choice and exerting his power and control over her. What follows is a captivating tale, full of atmospheric magic and mystery. The story is told by Nell. Jasper and Toby, Jasper’s brother.

This is a mesmerising read that immerses you in the circus world of the late nineteenth century and interweaves the narrative effortlessly with the Crimean War where Jasper serves as a soldier and Toby photographs. The sections in the war, especially at Sevastopol show the horrors of this war and are very dark with Toby in particular deeply affected by it and riddled with guilt. The colourful circus storytelling provides a stark contrast to the war although there are some similarities of the emotions felt. The quality of the writing is exceptional, you feel the characters emotions, see the sights, sounds and smells of both circus and war which comes to life before your eyes. It feels like a fantasy in places which is reinforced via references to fairytales. The characterisation is excellent, Jasper is powerful, in control, his temper can be terrible, he has a voracious appetite for success and as a consequence overreaches. Toby lives in his shadow but shows on occasions demonstrates that he has far more potential than he has self belief. Nell transforms through the circus, she’s fulfilled, she realises she has potential, the life is exhilarating and exciting and she finds strong friendship from Stella, the bearded lady, as well as Toby. There are occasions where it becomes very tense as you wonder where Jaspers ambition will go next and the story builds and builds to a crescendo where it will go one of two ways. There is so much you could comment on in this book as it contains so much from love to jealousy and hate, guilt and sadness and strong fraternal bonds. The end feels right, it touches your heart and fits the narrative.

Overall, this is a wonderful book. I love the colour of the circus, the complexity of the characters and the beauty of the writing which at times feels lyrical. It’s a fantastical tale which captivates and dazzles like the circus itself.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan, Picador for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I read Elizabeth Macneal’s last book , The Doll Factory,so I was very happy to receive an ARC of her new novel in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.
It’s an excellent read ,and I enjoyed it even more than The Doll Factory. It’s about a Victorian circus,Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders ,which is similar to Barnum’s circus seen in The Greatest Showman.The main character,Nell, is sold to Jasper Jupiter by her father and becomes one of the stars of the show .She joins a group of female performers who all have something which makes them different and appeals to the Victorian fascination with people who are unusual or different due to disfigurement ,disability or body conditions.
The story moves between the circus setting and flashbacks to the Crimean War when Jasper and his brother Toby fought and made plans to open their circus.Jasper is a monster ,selfish and unkind, but he sees the potential in his show people until they become more famous than he is.
The story has lots of interesting messages on fame,female empowerment and disability.It’s beautifully written with a strong central character and contains a lot of information about the Victorian fascination with the circus .
Highly recommended.

I was keen to read this having enjoyed Macneal's first novel, The Doll Factory. However, I just did not connect with this storyline. I found the characters opaque and did not relate to their motives or actions. The relationships were shallow and left me unmoved. I found the secret contrived and lacking in any real revelation. Having said this I enjoyed the historical exploration of circuses and the trend of the Victorian fascination with "oddities". The themes surrounding identity and uniqueness were well delivered.

The circus of wonders draws people in to see the wonders of human defect and daring feats. Into this world a young girl who is viewed as an oddity falls reluctantly at first where she finds her place and an unexpected love, the outcome could make or break her. A wholly enjoyable read, where we don’t know who the survivors will be or if the circus itself will survive. It is very well written with all the thrills and spills we would expect.

A really interesting setting, and very human, nuanced and flawed characters; a story of family and love and what that means to each.

Nellie Moon has has always been a bit different. When the circus leaves town, she finds herself part of it and her life is no longer her own.

Jasper and Toby Jupiter have always dreamed of having their own circus and now that dream has come true. Do we always want dreams to come true though, and what happens when they do?

I did enjoy reading this book but I think it had more promise than it quite delivered. I really liked Toby and Nell but the story became rather repetitive after a while and I'm not sure it went where it needed to go.

I think there's a lot of potential for a great book here and this one hasn't quite got there. I would like to see where the author goes in the future though, because I think there's a lot more to come.

After her brilliantly memorable debut, The Doll Factory, Elizabeth Macneal's showcases that her writing just goes from strength to strength, as she once again returns to the Victorian historical era, this time putting the spotlight on Victorian obsessions with 'freaks', curiosities, and the exotic. This books shimmers with magic, illusions, interwoven with horror, where in a southern coastal town, Nell is markedly different from others with her body covered with birthmarks, she is shunned by others, believed to be a curse, thought of as a bad omen by her father. She holds on to her beloved relationship with her brother, picking violets for a living. Nell, the 'Leopard Girl', is to be betrayed by her father, torn from her life when he sells her to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders. Jasper is a blindly ambitious, selfish, seeking fame and fortune at any price, he and his gentler brother, Toby, are haunted by the brutal battlefields of the Crimean War, where Jasper served as a soldier, and Toby as a war photographer, the two bound tightly together by secrets, as they realised their dream of running a circus.

Nell is initially so unhappy, but she is soon to wonder if this is not the best thing that could have happened her, as she soars high above the entranced audiences as she becomes Jasper's star attraction, becoming widely celebrated, shifting large amounts of merchandise, the media labelling her the eighth wonder of the world. She becomes close to fellow acts, including a group of women, like the wise bearded women, Stella, along with Peggy and Brunette, forming strong friendships and family, developing resilience and a more defined sense of identity. She develops feelings for Toby, but she is owned by Jasper, and his insecurities, jealousy and drive to profiteer is to be source of his unravelling. In a atmospheric, multilayered, and emotionally charged narrative, we learn of the backgrounds and past of Nell, the despicably controlling Jasper, and Toby, touching on issues of power, ownership, celebrity, exploitation, differences, sibling relationships, secrets, love, loss and circus life are explored, amidst the rich descriptions of life, the position of women, the social norms and attitudes of the day, the society and inequalities of Victorian England.

In this well researched novel, Macneal weaves her powerful spellbinding storytelling, immersing the reader in the Victorian period, and her magnetic, mesmerising, memorable and flawed authentic characters, none more so than Nell. The development of her character is a joy to behold, despite the challenges and obstacles that come her way, facing being all to obviously seen by others, yet to all intents and purposes, fighting being invisible, wanting to be seen for who she is. The author takes the reader beyond the macabre horror of the circus of 'freaks' into the thrillingly imagined world of the weird and the wonderful, the people and their lives behind the acts. This is a uncomfortable and unsettling book at times, but it just lured me in with ease with its beautifully written prose and emotional sensitivity, a historical novel of survival, hope, empowerment and acceptance in a world that can be so desperately cruel. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

“In this age of wonder, epiphanies are born in the ecstasies of dreams and fevers.”

Set in a time when Britain was obsessed with ‘freaks’ - anyone shunned due to being different than societal standards - Circus of Wonders illuminates this period through the tale of a girl sold by her father to a showman’s circus, who with his sidekick brother, take the troupe to London to gain fame, fortune and the favour of Queen Victoria.

I want to write from the offset that I don’t believe I have ever struggled to write a review quite like this before, at least for some time. I’ve really struggled to find words to convey all my feelings and thoughts on this book.  

Circus of Wonders has excellent characterisation. Truly outstanding characters. Each of the three are explored enough for their feelings, intentions and decisions to be clearly understood and even felt at times. Nell is someone who discovers she can be more than what she was told she could be. Jasper is someone who learns the price of ambition and arrogance. Toby is someone who acts on love for better or worse. They are real, true and encompass the best and worst of human nature. I wanted to hug Toby, throttle Jasper and elevate Nell’s spirit.

I think Macneal has cleverly portrayed a balanced story that illuminates a time both horrific and wondrous. I feel like I’ve seen the world in a new light, or more aptly, in a past time. It’s uncomfortable and somber yet tender, charming and hopeful. Moreover, I adored the book’s subtlety and understated air all because of Macneal’s easy prose. It’s truly special how there’s so much substance and emotion interwoven in such a readable book. I particularly enjoyed how Macneal reflected on how those who’s physique differs from what is held to be beautiful, is vilified.

“Girls are rewarded with kingdoms; deformities are given as punishments. The greedy hunchback is cursed with a second hump on the front of his chest; a spiteful sister is punished by being given a second nose.”

As well as shining a light on how differences are dehumanised and ostracised, there’s many strands worth applauding. Family, love, identity, exploitation and what makes truth the truth ajar from stories told.

The setting and events of Circus of Wonders are like nothing I’ve ever read/experienced. It was almost dreamlike in that it was easily conjured but just out of reach. The imagery was extremely impressive. I effortlessly pictured the hot air balloon, dancing poodles, the showman riding in on his elephant and the skin of a living picture. 

The pace was a little slow burn, which may feel tiresome at points, but is ultimately necessary for a rewarding story that completely ensnared me by the climax. I was holding my breath, my heart was galloping and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Profound, alluring and unforgettable. I have no doubt this will be in my top reads of 2021. I’ve already preordered my hardback copy - I recommend everyone else do so too!

Thank you kindly to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

She's done it again. Elizabeth Macneal’s new novel is a moving and beautifully written story of betrayal and strength set in a Victorian circus. Crackles with magic and power (also contains leopard girls and candied violets). Loved it, even if it broke my heart.

I really found myself engrossed in this book. It was a very good story, well written. It really kept my interest. Will there be a follow-up? I really hope so, for the ending I want.
#CircusofWonders #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book! Set in Victorian times, it tells the story of Nell, a young girl ostracised from her community because she's different from everyone else, and Jasper and Toby, two brothers whose past ties them together.

When Nell's father sells her to Jasper, you experience the poor girl's terror and anger, and her gradual acceptance of her new life and friends. As the story progresses, we discover more about Jasper and Toby's life during the war, and secret jealousies and resentments are revealed.

Beautifully written, the author takes you on a journey back in time to Victorian England, with its people, sounds, sights and smells taking over your senses. The story pulls you in, the various threads interweaving, a tale of love and loss, of hope and despair, that keeps you enthralled to the end. I will be thinking about it for a long time. Highly recommend.

Nell - it is 1866 and nell lives in a small village with her father and brother. Born with birth marks that cover her body, she longs for a ‘normal’ life. One where she is accepted and can find someone to love. She wears clothes that cover her marks but still the villagers point and stare thinking she is cursed.

Jasper and Toby - they are brothers, are very close and always have been. As children they dreamed of running a circus, as adults after Jasper fought in the Crimean war, they built Jasper Jupiter’s circus of wonders and travelled the towns with dreams of making it to London and showing their amazing wonders to the queen. When they meet Nell their circus and their lives will be set to change forever.

This book follows the three main characters stories, it takes you through Nell, Jasper and Toby’s pasts including parts of their childhoods, it takes you on their journey as they take on the world and helps Nell to overcome all her issues with her differences that she’d hated for so long.
It’s a really great book that I really enjoyed. Their stories kept me hooked and I loved every moment of it.