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eilatan6991's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Bullying, Ableism, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Body shaming
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent and Animal death
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
hettyreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Body shaming
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Addiction, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Minor: Drug use
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