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emmakchapman's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty
sannesbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I like to read about the circus. It always has a magical and mysterious vibe. This is a sad story about a circus in the Victorian era. I think this gives us a good look into these old types of circusses that take advantage of vulnerable humans with 'freaky' and rare conditions. One of the main characters, Nelly, has a rare birthmark condition and, because of this, gets sold to the circus to be used as an curious act.
This book has three point of views: Nelly (one of the circus performers), Jasper (showman, owner of the circus) and Toby (brother of Jasper, photographer at the circus).
I unfortunately didn't feel too emotionally attached to the characters, because of that, the story did not hit that hard. However, I liked the writing, the pacing, and I think the atmosphere was portrayed well. I partly read it physically and partly listened to it as an audiobook. I enjoyed my time reading the book like this.
This book has three point of views: Nelly (one of the circus performers), Jasper (showman, owner of the circus) and Toby (brother of Jasper, photographer at the circus).
I unfortunately didn't feel too emotionally attached to the characters, because of that, the story did not hit that hard. However, I liked the writing, the pacing, and I think the atmosphere was portrayed well. I partly read it physically and partly listened to it as an audiobook. I enjoyed my time reading the book like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, and Chronic illness
Moderate: War, Death, Self harm, Violence, and Sexual content
laurereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Je sors à la fin de ce livre complètement captivée par cet univers.
La plume de l’autrice m’a complètement captivée par les détails des 5 sens ou encore les émotions qu’elle retranscrit.
Tout est unique et rendu exceptionnel par l’univers et les descriptions. Je n’ai pas eu de difficultés à m’imaginer les rues de Londres et du cirque de l’époque victorienne.
Les personnages sont très travaillés que ce soit les principaux ou les secondaires. Ils sont diversifiés (femme à barbe, géante ou encore avec de nombreuses taches de naissance).
Les 3 personnages qui retiennent notre attention dès le début, sont Jasper, Toby et Nell. Un est le patron du cirque, l’autre son frère et la dernière, une merveille. Tous les trois ont des qualités, des défauts et des objectifs. Ils ont une évolution impressionnante. S’il y a bien un personnage qui a retenu mon attention, c’est Jasper Jupiter. Son charisme et ses ambitions m’ont impressionnée et j’ai adoré lire ses points de vue. Bien qu’il soit considéré comme le méchant, j’ai un moment eu de la peine pour lui. (Comme quoi, l’autrice a bien fait son travail)
Il y a de la romance, mais elle est au second plan privilégiant l’évolution des personnages et de la vie au sein du cirque.
Les retours dans le passé sont agréables et permettent de mieux comprendre le passé des personnages
On constate pendant ces 500 pages que l’autrice s’est documentée et que ce livre est riche en informations.
Bref, c’est un roman mêlant l’extase, le malaise, la cruauté et la beauté.
La plume de l’autrice m’a complètement captivée par les détails des 5 sens ou encore les émotions qu’elle retranscrit.
Tout est unique et rendu exceptionnel par l’univers et les descriptions. Je n’ai pas eu de difficultés à m’imaginer les rues de Londres et du cirque de l’époque victorienne.
Les personnages sont très travaillés que ce soit les principaux ou les secondaires. Ils sont diversifiés (femme à barbe, géante ou encore avec de nombreuses taches de naissance).
Les 3 personnages qui retiennent notre attention dès le début, sont Jasper, Toby et Nell. Un est le patron du cirque, l’autre son frère et la dernière, une merveille. Tous les trois ont des qualités, des défauts et des objectifs. Ils ont une évolution impressionnante. S’il y a bien un personnage qui a retenu mon attention, c’est Jasper Jupiter. Son charisme et ses ambitions m’ont impressionnée et j’ai adoré lire ses points de vue. Bien qu’il soit considéré comme le méchant, j’ai un moment eu de la peine pour lui. (Comme quoi, l’autrice a bien fait son travail)
Il y a de la romance, mais elle est au second plan privilégiant l’évolution des personnages et de la vie au sein du cirque.
Les retours dans le passé sont agréables et permettent de mieux comprendre le passé des personnages
On constate pendant ces 500 pages que l’autrice s’est documentée et que ce livre est riche en informations.
Bref, c’est un roman mêlant l’extase, le malaise, la cruauté et la beauté.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Violence
teresaelj's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Ok listen- I truly loved this book. In the realm of great circus books this is number three (replacing book of speculation). This was SO well written and gorgeous storytelling. It spoke to another part of me than other books. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was because I wasn’t as connected with the characters as I have been with books like the night circus and the first bright thing. This story really faces opposites - a quiet comfortable life vs a life of excitement and adventure, love of self vs love of others, and what makes a monster and what makes a man. Elizabeth has such a wonderful way of writing foils; siblings ( Charlie and Nell vs Toby and Jasper), lovers (Stella and Dash vs Nell and Toby), etc. This book takes the “freaks” of the old circus stories and asks - what was it like to be the “freak” and where did they have power. It’s a wonderful story with such a bittersweet ending I am still thinking about it and will probably to continue to think about it for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Animal cruelty, Ableism, and Child abuse
alivictoria14's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A great book highlighting the horrors within the Victorian freak shows.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and War
Minor: Kidnapping
charlottesurrey's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
the cover of my edition is so fucking ugly and all the pages fell out whilst i was reading it
anyways:
this historical circus genre is right up my alley but this wasnt a groundbreaking or beautiful book - compared to other of similar subject matters (even the late hetty feather books lol) its really just blah. the main character has a birthmark thing which is why jasper takes her, but she acts like she doesnt have a body or something lol like the other "freaks" she meets could never have a normal life but shes just self conscious? its the thing of making the main character relatable or whatever (ew) and it really takes away any depth the book has? it kinda feels aimed at 10 y/os with a little sex involved so... yeh idk
anyways:
this historical circus genre is right up my alley but this wasnt a groundbreaking or beautiful book - compared to other of similar subject matters (even the late hetty feather books lol) its really just blah. the main character has a birthmark thing which is why jasper takes her, but she acts like she doesnt have a body or something lol like the other "freaks" she meets could never have a normal life but shes just self conscious? its the thing of making the main character relatable or whatever (ew) and it really takes away any depth the book has? it kinda feels aimed at 10 y/os with a little sex involved so... yeh idk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Ableism, and Animal cruelty
_carly_'s review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Animal cruelty, Slavery, Physical abuse, and Ableism
Moderate: Sexual assault
mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved how this circus-themed novel combatted the typically romanticized view of circuses with the reality of how circuses both exploited and empowered (at the expense of others) those within the industry. I also liked the integration of historical facts, without basing the fictional circus troupe on any real life people. While the actual story is entertaining, I didn't find it as great as the overarching critique of circuses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Ableism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Trafficking, and War
kari_f's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I am a sucker for circus themed books, whether they’re fantasy or realistic. There’s something so interesting about the inner workings of a circus and the planning that goes into the magic and wonder the audience will see. Those that are realistic often have brutality and a lot of sadness to them, though, with cruelty toward people and animals.
Circus of Wonders fits into the latter category, with an ambitious leader collecting people and animals to show off as spectacles. The multiple perspectives in the book allow the reader to see into the hearts and minds of multiple characters: the clever ringleader, whose greatest wish is to see his name in lights; the ringleader’s brother, whose desire is to be loved and accepted by his brother; and the newest “spectacle,” whose dream is to have a future that she is free to command.
Each of the main characters is complex and complicated and conflicted in some way, and it is often their faults that push the story forward. Add to this: lies and deceit, conflicting desires, and a secret that has the potential to ruin everything.
Be aware that this book, like many realistic circus books, does have some animal harm (not too much, as the ringleader is much more kind to animals than most in history were) and phobias against people who were considered different. There is quite a bit of liberation and beauty in each of the “spectacle” stories, though, and those were my favorite parts of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide attempt, and Slavery
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Tuppence Middleton - she is very good at creating difference voices for each character but for some reason the audio version made the story less enjoyable to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Abandonment