Scan barcode
elodiethefangirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Kidnapping
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
jkeishia's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Ableism
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
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
leighsnerdlife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a brilliant book that explores the dark world of the PT Barnum era of 'freak' shows. Macneal has created a world both dark and glittering, showing both the brutality of the industry, as well as the hopes and dreams of the performers.
The story moves at a slow but steady clip, and is told through 3 different POVs. I've never hated a character before, but damn, I absolutely despised one of the them - kudos to Macneal for getting me that emotionally invested!
The story moves at a slow but steady clip, and is told through 3 different POVs. I've never hated a character before, but damn, I absolutely despised one of the them - kudos to Macneal for getting me that emotionally invested!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and War
themoonphoenix's review
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
It is the year 1866, Nell lives in a small English town, where she is not entirely accepted, all thanks to her skin and birthmarks that the villagers consider unlucky. With the arrival of Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders, her father betrays her by selling her, claiming that is for the sake of her happiness.
At first, Nell thinks about escaping, until she meets other members of the circus, mainly other female artists, with whom she will befriend.
I liked watching Nell grow up, finally seeing herself as she is, regardless of the opinion of others, she is beautiful and unique and deserves to be loved.
On the other hand, we have the brothers Jasper and Toby, they are more complex and gray characters, Jasper is ambitious, he wants to be the owner of the most spectacular show in the world and he will not hesitate to use Nell to achieve his goal,
The relationship of the brothers is complex, there is brotherly love, but also jealousy and secrets, there is much more there than what is perceived at first glance.
I think the book was sensitively written and is well documented. One of the characteristics of the Victorian era was their taste for "freaks shows"
In this novel, we see a bit of both sides of the coin, on the one hand, Nell being marginalized from her people, to be a star since people buy her doll, on the other we have Jasper, the one who procures her actors but at the same time consider your property and will not hesitate to sell or exchange them if you no longer need them,
The writing was lovely, the author has a beautiful style, it is a complex story, the setting is not pretty but the author makes it easy, and she makes you participate.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Body shaming
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
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
More...