Jasper Jupiter owns a circus and inspires them to be the next big thing. He soon plans to take them to London in the hope he could be the next P.T. Barnum.

This tells the story of Nellie - 8th wonder of the world and the two brothers, Jasper and Toby, and their journey within the circus.

The circus while magical isn’t as it’s cracked up to be. The circus is clouded with mystery and there’s trouble on the inside which I found intriguing that soon comes to light.

The story bounces between different characters throughout giving us an insight into their back story.

Beautifully described, she did a great job of capturing the wonders of a circus. But it was the characters that did it for me. I loved the relationship between Nell and Toby and the relationship between the two Toby and Jasper.

The book I felt lacked a bit on action and pacing but it really picks up towards the end. I did feel it took some time to get there but it was worth it at the end.

For lovers of The Greatest Showman.

Thanks as always to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This isn’t my normal genre, but I really enjoyed Elizabeth’s previous book The Doll Factory, so I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed the beautiful evocative writing in this book and loved reading about the travelling circus but I found the characters all a bit lacklustre and the story for me just wasn’t exciting enough to hold my attention. I think fans of historical fiction will certainly enjoy this, it just felt a bit lacking for me. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but it just didn’t.

A fantastic read, very convincing of its time and the fun and thrills of a circus. Great characterisation, complex people fill this book. You don’t know who to root for, everyone and also no one. Historical fiction fans will enjoy reading this book, the second by this author. Thank you for sending!

Jasper is a slightly delusional man with a scary ambition to have the best Circus of Wonders anyone has ever had. Very self-centred and dangerous, Jasper finds Nell, the new star of his show. The woman with birthmarks all over her body. Toby, Jasper's brother, who is very quiet and shy, falls in love with Nell, but both Jasper and Toby have burdens from the past that sort of intermingling with the present issues and create complete havoc.

The performers are all ''freaks''. The giant woman, the bearded woman, the short woman, the woman with the birthmarks all over her bodies. They were all very visible and noticeable but at the same time unseen. They were not meant for the ''ordinary'' and normal life. The circus was their only way to shine and thrive and Jasper made it possible.

Ultimately, this is about living life the best way that you can. About owning your own life, yourself. About finding a way to live life whether you're an ostracised freak, or constrained by other life circumstances. About living with your past and future, and finding a way to move on, to live with your choices.

What I liked:

- The way you get tied to these characters, each and every one of them, because their stories feel so real.
- All the emotions. You really go through a lot in this book: from happiness and excitement, to desperation and delusions, paranoia and sadness.
- Captivating writing. Descriptive, but not excessively to the point of suffocation. So atmospheric and beautiful.
- It's a fairly quick read, tho I took it a bit slow, so I could enjoy it thoroughly.

Who would like it: Obviously, if you like stories in a circus, love stories, stories about secrets and betrayals, stories of two brothers.

I wanted to love this book and I can't quite work out why I don't. I think this one sadly isn't for me.

It has lots of wonderful reviews so I am sure it will do well.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another darkly atmospheric read from the pen of Elizabeth Macneal. Vivid, sensory and fast paced. The narrative sucks you into a whirlpool of suppressed emotions and wild dreams, in a nail biting battle for power at a time that lacked agency - with devastating consequences.

The narrative switches between three characters: Nell, Toby and Jasper. I loved the way the story unfolded through the interweaving of the three outlooks on events, and was hooked by the different ways each strive to control their own destinies....building to a tragic climax.

I especially loved the references to classic literature and real historic events and figures. Macneal's portrayal of the Victorians obsession with 'Freak Shows', and the psychology of that obsession, was pitched against literature such as Shelly's 'Frankenstein' to a truly skilful edge.

Masterful. Compulsive. Intoxicating.

Elizabeth Macneal has (yet again) delivered a masterpiece! Well-researched, engaging, and altogether dazzling, 'Circus of Wonders' is very much worth the read -- I'm starstruck. I can't wait to see what Macneal comes up with next.

A wonderful book with well developed characters. However, the book achieved only a few bouts of true wondrous atmosphere: the buzz and glitter that you would want from a ‘Circus of Wonders’ was not fluid especially having knowledge of the Victorians from primary school.

Now I understand what's the hype about ! What an excellent read !
I went blind into this one having not read anything by the author before. And now I am really looking forward to read the first book by the author too.
This was such a beautiful story with a wonderful setting and some really captivating characters. Though I would admit that it wasn't as easy to get into as I hoped, but I am so glad I kept on reading it.

It’s May 1866 and Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders is in Nell's home village, a coastal area in southern England. Nell picks violets to earn a living and is devoted to her brother but is shunned by others because of birthmarks that cover her body. Her father thinks the marks are a bad omen and Nell, the 'Leopard Girl', is to be betrayed by him, torn from her life when he sells her for £20 to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders.

This is a captivating tale, full of magic and mystery. The story is told by Nell. Jasper and Toby, Jasper’s brother. Elizabeth Macneal's character creation is undoubtedly masterful, particularly in the case of Nell as she transforms from being initially very unhappy to forming strong friendships then becoming the star attraction and being dubbed the eighth wonder of the world by the media. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip into this imagined world of the weird and the wonderful. A supreme novel in every respect, Circus of Wonders is simply unmissable.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Pan Macmillan/ Picador via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

The setting of this book is fantastically done. Both the historical time period and the circus that the majority of the story takes place in. There has obviously been a huge amount of research and it never feels too heavy handed or forced.

I also thought the character of Nell was well written and the book explores some interesting themes around identity and belonging. The relationship between Toby and Jasper is interesting and very complex.

Despite the beautiful writing I found the pacing uneven and a little off. This stopped it being a perfect read for me however I really enjoyed this.

A copy of the book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nell is different, she lives on the fringes of village accepted only by her brother. One day Jasper Jupiter's circus comes to town and Nell's father sells her. Circus life suits Nell, her differences are celebrated and she becomes a star. Such a shining star that she eclipses Jasper Jupiter. Circus of Wonders is a wonderful tale of difference, acceptance and ambition. It's ending is unexpected but happy. Perfect from beginning to end.

Such a tender, heartfelt story with characters that come alive right off the page. The kind of book it's difficult to imagine anyone disliking

This is a really atmospheric book – mixing the world of Victorian circus performers and the horror of war, as well as looking at identity, difference and fame. I worry that this makes Circus of Wonders sound very worthy, but it’s actually a real page Turner as well as being very clever. And give the renewed interest in the period and the circus after The Greatest Showman it is perhaps and opportune time for something like this. Really very readable. I read Elizabeth Macneal’s first book, The Doll Factory on my birthday holiday at the start of last year* and I found it creepy and atmospheric but only really liked one strand of the story and wanted a more definite resolution. This one, I like Toby and Nell’s story and it does have a very definite ending so that’s a definite win here. If you’re after for something to read in the sun, this would be a good choice.

It was a real treat to be taken back in time once again to Victorian England with Elizabeth MacNeal's new novel. I thoroughly enjoyed The Doll Factory and I enjoyed this story no less. I felt that it was written with beautiful depth to the characters who are trying to find their place in the world when not feeling they fit in and are viewed by most as "oddities". It does a lot to correct the idealised view of PT Barnum from The Greatest Showman with a much more realistic portrayal of a man striving to be even more famous and the little care that was had for their performers. Another beautiful novel leaving me wanting more from this superb author.

Such an original story. Against the backdrop of a travelling circus in Victorian times, we gain insights in what it felt like to be a 'wonder" of nature or a 'freak" as the paying customers saw them. The book moves at pace as Jasper realises what he can do for Nell who has been sold to him by her father for £20. Jasper is an entrepreneur, creative and mercurial but to fund his vision he borrows £20,000 from a notorious moneylender at crippling rates. We feel Nells pain as she bears her differences in her small village. We understand her transformation as she realises her value in the Circus of Wonders. We love the slow uncertain love affair develop. Such an enderaing story and so well written

This was such a gorgeous book! MacNeals writing is so beautiful but also so heartbreaking at times. I loved Nellie Moon and the circus setting was brilliant. Although not as dark as her previous book I think this one was just as compelling and gorgeous

I absolutely loved Elizabeth Macneal's 'The Doll's House' so was incredibly excited to read 'Circus of Wonders'. The cover design is delightfully eye-catching and makes you want to dive in. I wasn't at all disappointed, Macneal writes the type of books I love to read. This is a heart warming story of people on the outside, packed with vivid descriptions of settings that jump from the circus to the battlefield. I really enjoyed the thread of courage that wraps itself around the whole novel. A great character drawn historical novel and I'd certainly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Macneal has created a British PT Barnum, with all his foibles and majesty. I enjoyed the found family elements of the plot, and this book gave me the elements of The Greatest Showman that were missed - namely the back stories of the performers as people and not things. Jasper also provides the perfect 'pride comes before a fall' allegory. Nellie was an engaging character, and adding elements of the Crimean War brought the story some much needed realism. A great summer read.

Nell is sold to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders because of the birthmarks peppering her skin. Set in the Victorian Era, this novel seeks to explore the so-called "freak show" and the rise of the "disformania" that took hold of England during the 19th century. This is a very difficult topic to explore, but Elizabeth Macneal did it with a conscientious effort. This is a character led story that explores power, control, fame, and what/how it is to feel empowered. Complex themes are woven seamlessly through the relationships of the three main characters. This is done very well.

At times, I felt the narrative went down tangents, and I lost focus on the plot. One plot-line (the Jackdal) was left loose, and I would have liked to be given a mention of what happened there. The ending was bittersweet, however, the choice made sense. In an ideal world, I would have liked things to go differently, but as in The Doll Factory, the ending is realistic and believable, which I appreciate. And it takes courage to do that. Overall, it was a satisfying read that I will recommend to people who enjoy historical fiction and want to learn more about disfigurement and disabilities within this context in the 19th century.