Reviews

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers

carliefowler's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

kristinalh's review against another edition

4.0

"It was luck that we were even here. Every day of happiness that we have was more than we were designed for."

"The circus is a jealous wench. Indeed, that is an understatement. She is a ravenous hag who sucks your vitality as a vampire drinks blood...She is all of these things, and yet, I love her as I love nothing else on earth." -Henry Ringling North

This book was very different. It was more science-fictiony than I normally read, in that it takes place in a "Secret circus" in another dimension. Ultimately it ends up being a good story with an ending that explains everything and leaves me wanting more.

marinms713's review against another edition

1.0

I was listening to the book on Audible and I couldn’t finish it. It was a 16 hour read but should have/could have been 10. I understand that it would take 16 hours to read what was written, but that’s the issue. The book should’ve been 2/3 as long as it actually was. And the story itself was average, at best. It felt like walking on a treadmill - you keep going but get nowhere. And the number of times they say “Cirque secret”… I understand it’s in the title, but oh my gosh. It’s like the author replaced all other “filler words” (eg: um, like, uhh, well) in character dialogue with “cirque secret”. 0/10 would recommend.

stacey_stacey's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

I don't know there is just something about a circus story that I find appealing, so when I was given a chance to review The Ladies at the Secret Circus I jumped at the chance.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus bounces back in forth in time from present day Virginia to Paris in the mid 1920s. Lara Barnes fiance disappears on her wedding day. Soon she discovers her great-grandmother's journals and through them discovers the existence of the "secret circus" and a supposed curse that has affected females in her family for generations. The circus was a dark and magical place that was only visible to those who held a ticket. The story is full of dark magic, twisted love stories and jazz-age Paris. It is definitely an atmospheric read.


Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

papagenothehedgehog's review against another edition

1.25

Badly written and badly edited. So much telling and so little showing. 

marinaemoore's review against another edition

5.0

*I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair review.*

Lara Barnes knows about her family’s circus legacy... or so she thinks. Upon finding her great grandmother’s diaries, Lara discovers a much darker truth about her family’s magical circus ties. Can Lara save her family from a curse that’s been haunting them for generations?

This book was absolutely magical, and I was in awe of the world Constance Sayers created. Sayers is a very descriptive writer, and the detailed imagery shines through from page to page. I couldn’t put this one down.

beccablock's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Not as good as Night Circus, but still an interesting take on a supernatural circus and family

gehrkecheryl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

slicciardi's review against another edition

4.0

I’m a sucker for circus books. This was right up my alley!