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A review by maddieandherbooks
Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
4.5 stars, rounded down.
Set in Victorian England, this story followed Nell, a nineteen-year-old girl who was born with birthmarks all over her, deemed a “freak of nature” by those in her home community. When Nell’s father sells her to Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders, Nell is distraught. Over time, she begins to love her performance and those in the circus, though. She becomes bold and shining as she discovers what she was meant to do and finds her place in the world.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book! I love circus/carnival settings, so I thought it was great. The characters were all very interesting, and very different. I liked how they all had their own distinct thoughts and aspirations, and everything was very clear (nothing was very confusing surrounding the character’s motivations and thoughts). I especially liked Nell’s character; she really grew into herself, and I enjoyed watching her story play out. Stella was also an interesting character, and I liked how she was protective over the other women in the circus. There weren’t any female rivalries which I appreciated as well. I initially was a bit disappointed by the end of the book, but after thinking about it a bit more, it's a pretty fitting ending for the story, and it makes sense for all of the characters.
The plot was very intriguing, and the book never really slowed down. It held my attention all the way through to the end! Everything felt very atmospheric, and over all, I really enjoyed this book!
4.5 stars, rounded down.
Set in Victorian England, this story followed Nell, a nineteen-year-old girl who was born with birthmarks all over her, deemed a “freak of nature” by those in her home community. When Nell’s father sells her to Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders, Nell is distraught. Over time, she begins to love her performance and those in the circus, though. She becomes bold and shining as she discovers what she was meant to do and finds her place in the world.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book! I love circus/carnival settings, so I thought it was great. The characters were all very interesting, and very different. I liked how they all had their own distinct thoughts and aspirations, and everything was very clear (nothing was very confusing surrounding the character’s motivations and thoughts). I especially liked Nell’s character; she really grew into herself, and I enjoyed watching her story play out. Stella was also an interesting character, and I liked how she was protective over the other women in the circus. There weren’t any female rivalries which I appreciated as well. I initially was a bit disappointed by the end of the book, but after thinking about it a bit more, it's a pretty fitting ending for the story, and it makes sense for all of the characters.
The plot was very intriguing, and the book never really slowed down. It held my attention all the way through to the end! Everything felt very atmospheric, and over all, I really enjoyed this book!