Circus of Wonders

Its 1866 and Nell is an outsider in her small village, the birthmarks that cover her skin mark her out as different and look set to determine the lonely course of her life.

Then Nell is snatched away by Jasper Jupiter's travelling Circus of wonder. As she learns to perform, it seems the Victorian obsession with deformities as objects of entertainment may offer her a new life.

In London, Nell's fame grows and she finds friendship amongst the other performers. But circus life is harsh and precarious. Charismatic showman Jasper and his brother Toby are running from their own demons too. Has Nell swapped one cage for another? Or can she choose her own destiny?

Macneal's richly descriptive prose immerses the reader in the sights and sounds of Victorian life. As the story moves between the pleasure gardens of London and the battlefields of the Crimean War,  several themes reoccur: love, belonging, the fragility of fame, the power of storytelling and most importantly the power held by the one who gets to tell the story.

I really enjoyed the author's debut novel the Doll Factory, but I'm so pleased to say I loved this book even more. Finishing the final chapter left me with that moment of loss at suddenly realising it was over and I was back in the real world.  Highly recommended!

I was the tiniest bit trepidatious about reading this book because I absolutely adored ‘The Doll Factory’ and wondered whether it was possible to strike gold for a second time. However, I needn’t have worried because this book is entirely brilliant. I actually finished reading it a week ago but it posed such interesting questions that I wanted to mull it over for a few days before posting a review.

The story, like it’s predecessor, is very original and compelling throughout. The sub plot was eked out beautifully too. Feminism was an issue that was discussed a few times, but for once it was done in a subtle way that didn’t make me feel as though the author was bludgeoning me over the head! As a parent of a child with autism, I also connected very deeply with the idea of difference. When it comes down to it, the author is plain and simply a really fantastic writer. One of the metaphors has firmly lodged itself in my brain and the use of personification is gorgeous.

Another absolute triumph. I recommend, nay insist, that everyone reads it!

Lived up to all my expectations. This is exquisitely written and stands head and shoulders above so many of the other novels I have read and reviewed in recent months. A cocophany of visual delight and a totally absorbing storyline - this is a book I will be talking about and recommending for a very long time.

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.

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.

This magical story takes us back to the nineteenth century and the world of the circus, where we're introduced to the ordinary lives of extraordinary people as they use their differences to exploit - or be exploited. Among the dwarves and giantesses, bearded ladies and strongmen, is Nell, a girl whose skin is speckled by birthmarks. Sold by her father to travelling showman Jupiter Jones, she is promoted by him as The Queen of Moon and Stars, flying high above the crowds and drawing the admiration of Queen Victoria herself. But of course behind the glitz and glamour of the circus there's a darker, seamier side to the life the performers lead, and this novel explores themes of otherness, loneliness and an imbalance of power, not just through Nell's story, but through those of Jasper and his brother Toby. Theirs is a strong bond, but what happened on the Crimean plains years earlier that gives Jasper such a hold over Toby? Their wartime experiences shaped the brothers, and spill over into the present, when jealousy rears its ugly head with the arrival of their new living curiosity. For Jasper, Nell is a prize, a creature he owns, to be shaped and moulded to his advantage. For Toby, she is a woman to be loved and protected. And as for Nell herself? Adapting to circus life isn't easy, but maybe, finally, she's found an escape from her previous life in the shadows.
I loved this story for its plot, its characters and its beautiful writing! The author engages all our senses to explore illusion versus reality, keeps us on a tightrope of emotions and presents us with a truly dazzling show.

I love books about circuses. I love the sense of magic and fantasy, and the promise that absolutely anything can happen. Elizabeth Macneal's second novel, 'Circus of Wonders' did not disappoint!

It is 1866, and we meet Nell picking flowers in a coastal village in southern England. She has been ostrasized by her community due to the birthmarks which cover her body, and she has little to defend her except for her brother. When Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders arrives, her father wastes no time in selling her to the circus as part of its freakshow of performers. Here, Nell finds an acceptance and sense of belonging that she has never known before.

Jasper Jupiter is a spectacle in himself - confident, ambitious, and desperate to build the best circus in the world, and one that can be presented to royalty. His brother, Toby, lives in this shadow, but finds a new purpose with Nell.

Macneal paints her characters with great sensitivity, and I found them to be very realistic. I really liked meeting Nell and getting a strong sense of her backstory before the circus lands. She's a strong character and we build a real empathy with her through the opening chapters, which helps us to understand her motivation, and fear of losing her place in the limelight, later on. Jacob and Toby have a complex relationship, and we see glimpses of both the childhood, and experiences in the Crimean War, which have contributed to it.

The plot reminded me of 'Water for Elephants', which I enjoyed reading last year. However, I found this novel to be even more vivid in its colourful descriptions, and with less of a dark undertone. With episodes featuring Queen Victoria, London money-lenders, and even a little steampunk towards the end, there is something in this novel for everyone!

'Circus of Wonders' by Elizabeth Macneal is due to be published on 13th May 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley UK and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved The Doll Factory and couldn't wait to read Macneal's next book. It didn't disappoint. Set in Victorian England it features Nell who has birthmarks on her skin. Her father sells her to a circus as a leopard girl and whips through other locations as we find out what happens to her. A brilliant follow up to The Doll Factory and great for historical fiction lovers.

Read in a day – I couldn’t put it down.

Nell has always been an outsider. Born with birth marks covering her face and body, she has always hidden herself away.

When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Curiosities comes to town, Nell’s father takes the opportunity to get rid of the daughter he didn’t want around, and make some money at the same time. He sells her to the circus.

Her initial horror and desperation to escape very quickly changes to a feeling of acceptance. Can she finally find where she belongs, and feel at home with this group of ‘curiosities’?

We follow her as Jasper makes her into a star, seeing her as the object which will finally give him the fame and fortune he is desperately seeking.

The story is told from 3 points of view: Nell, Jasper and Jasper’s brother Toby, who also feels like he lives on the outside looking in.

There is also a very interesting back story of their time at war and how it has shaped their lives.

A fabulously woven, almost magical tale.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy to read and review. I already have my indie special edition on order for my forever shelf!

A story of hope, greed and finding your place in the world. I loved Nell - she is such a captivating character. Her fight for acceptance is heartbreaking and emotional even amongst her own family. The sights and sounds described of Jasper and Toby’s war are so vivid, you can almost smell the burning and hear the cries. I loved the descriptions of the circus- almost fantasy like with the threads of fairytales spun through the story. Just Magical.