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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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty
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
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
nini23's review against another edition
adventurous
3.5
A circus or carnival rolls into town, whips the people up into a frenzy of excitement, chaos and changes ensue. The last book I read with this premise was The Melancholy of Resistance by Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, a superbly dark literary tale building up to a memorable climax.
Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in young Nellie's little coastal village. Nellie, ostracized by the other villagers due to 'birthmarks' all over her skin, labours with collection, stringing, processing of flowers. Unfortunately for her, her unusual appearance catches the eye of the ringmaster and circus owner Jasper Jupiter and she is sold by her alcoholic father for £20 to the circus against her will. The rest of the book is about her life in the circus, her relationship with Toby (Jasper's brother) and her explosive fame.
Circus of Wonders is historical fiction circa 1860s/70s Britain but the atmosphere of that time furthermore didn't come alive for me off the page. There are street urchins, high interest moneylenders, blacksmiths, Queen Victoria mentioned. This is apparently post the war in Crimea which both brothers Jasper and Toby, as well as a friend called Dash (his fate plays a pivotal part in the two brothers' relationship) were on the front lines of. However, the war setting of Crimea seems to exist only as an exotic backdrop for flashbacks.
Jasper is an indistinct villain - is he a megalomaniac, with delusions of grandeur or a desperate gambler? He is shown in flashback killing Russians with Dash, treating it like a lark and theater, looting from corpses and wonton destruction on enemy territory. Yet at times, MacNeal will have him tired of all the deaths and have insight into his relationship with Toby. Toby, oh my, the mental self-flagellating he does.
The strongest part of the novel for me was Nelly reflecting on her lack of agency over her own fate and how she rages about it. Jasper views her as his possession, and even protection by Nellie's brother Charlie can veer into possessiveness. I wish the book hadn't gone into that maternal territory with Nelly and her 'empty belly' and her taking in of Pearl. I was never in fear for Pearl because she would be protected by plot armor.
Circus of Wonders is a found family story, the protective relationship between the circus 'marvels'/'curiosities' is heartwarming especially between Nellie, Stella, Brunette, Peggy. How society views them as 'monstrous' and 'freaks' is heartbreaking. The ending is hopeful though I'm not sure if it's wish fulfillment considering the time period. 3.5 ⭐
Circus of Wonders' North American release date is 1st February 2022. Thanks to Emily Bestler Books/Atria Books for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in young Nellie's little coastal village. Nellie, ostracized by the other villagers due to 'birthmarks' all over her skin, labours with collection, stringing, processing of flowers. Unfortunately for her, her unusual appearance catches the eye of the ringmaster and circus owner Jasper Jupiter and she is sold by her alcoholic father for £20 to the circus against her will. The rest of the book is about her life in the circus, her relationship with Toby (Jasper's brother) and her explosive fame.
Circus of Wonders is historical fiction circa 1860s/70s Britain but the atmosphere of that time furthermore didn't come alive for me off the page. There are street urchins, high interest moneylenders, blacksmiths, Queen Victoria mentioned. This is apparently post the war in Crimea which both brothers Jasper and Toby, as well as a friend called Dash (his fate plays a pivotal part in the two brothers' relationship) were on the front lines of. However, the war setting of Crimea seems to exist only as an exotic backdrop for flashbacks.
Jasper is an indistinct villain - is he a megalomaniac, with delusions of grandeur or a desperate gambler? He is shown in flashback killing Russians with Dash, treating it like a lark and theater, looting from corpses and wonton destruction on enemy territory. Yet at times, MacNeal will have him tired of all the deaths and have insight into his relationship with Toby. Toby, oh my, the mental self-flagellating he does.
The strongest part of the novel for me was Nelly reflecting on her lack of agency over her own fate and how she rages about it. Jasper views her as his possession, and even protection by Nellie's brother Charlie can veer into possessiveness. I wish the book hadn't gone into that maternal territory with Nelly and her 'empty belly' and her taking in of Pearl. I was never in fear for Pearl because she would be protected by plot armor.
Circus of Wonders is a found family story, the protective relationship between the circus 'marvels'/'curiosities' is heartwarming especially between Nellie, Stella, Brunette, Peggy. How society views them as 'monstrous' and 'freaks' is heartbreaking. The ending is hopeful though I'm not sure if it's wish fulfillment considering the time period. 3.5 ⭐
Circus of Wonders' North American release date is 1st February 2022. Thanks to Emily Bestler Books/Atria Books for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Moderate: Kidnapping and Fire/Fire injury
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.
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
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