Circus of Wonders
Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal
361 Pages
Publisher: Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: February 1, 2022
Fiction, Historical Fiction, England, 1860s, Circus, Side Show Attractions
Nell is a girl living in a coastal town with her father and her brother Charlie. Nell is different. She has birthmark spots all over her body. Because of this, she is treated as an outcast although her brother tries to shield her. When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders comes to down her father does a despicable thing and sells her to the circus for 20 pounds.
Jasper Jupiter created himself as a showman. He and his brother Toby have been traveling around with the circus picking up acts as they go. Both brothers have secrets, and they dwell on an incident in the past that changed their relationship.
Once Nell joins the circus as a flying creature, she begins to become famous. This both pleases and then angers Jasper. He never thought she would eclipse his fame and sees he must change things.
The story has a good pace, the characters are well developed, and it is written in the third person point of view from various perspectives. As the story progresses, we find out the past deeds behind the brothers’ relationship and we see love bloom between characters. Although I do not enjoy circuses (afraid of clowns), I enjoyed this story. It is more about how people considered different are treated by the world. If you enjoy historical fiction, side show attractions, or even human interest stories, you may like this book.
