This sounded really great, and I'm so happy that kids are getting the chance to read such exciting stories - was a fan of Whitehorn's other works.

I really enjoyed this magical, island hopping adventure!

Harriet Whitehorn has created a really interesting world here, with strings of islands spread out across a sea. I loved the frozen landscape of the main island, with everyone zipping around on ice skates, and the names of the different places throughout the book are just brilliant.

It felt like a fully-thought out, functioning world too. I really liked the idea of the governor of the islands living and working on a ship that travels from place to place, it made so much sense and yet was such an interesting and different idea. The circus ship too, feels like just how a travelling circus would operate in a world like this one.

I really liked Cass's journey as a character, and the way she finds out more about herself, her past and what she's capable of as she travels the seas.

I'm always a big fan of circuses in books, and the circus ship is a nice addition to this. I was expecting it to feature more heavily, purely judging by the book's cover, but while it played a key role the story is more one of spies and adventure and intrigue.

This is an exciting and well written book. However, it is not quite my cup of tea. There is too much danger and threat for me! But for anyone wanting to read an exciting and adventurous story about a young girl, this could be the book for you.

Set in a fantasy world packed full of pirates, sword fights, a mysterious group of women. Cass sets out to join the circus but ends up on an epic adventure instead.
I literally raced through The Company of eight. It's fun and fast paced and
Cass the main protagonist is a likeable character, she is smart and brave and quick to make friends.
My daughter will love this book.

A delightfully charming story reminiscent of a mash up between Enid Blyton and Catherynne Valente's Fairyland series.

Recommended for readers who dream of adventure and running away to join the circus.

There's a lot here to like. Cass is an engaging main character and the worldbuilding was a lot of fun (I mean, there's a Circus boat and a secret organisation of women swordfighters? Sign. Me. Up). But ultimately, it felt like there were too many different stories the author was trying to tell. Voyage of discovery, training in an island paradise, a spying mission, working for the circus...Just as I would start to get into one narrative, the plot would move on and we'd be taken somewhere else. Not to mention how misleading the cover is: the circus portion of the story takes up maybe 20% of the book? A fun enough read and I feel bad for not being able to give it more stars, but I just wish the author had picked one aspect and focused in on that.

I received an ARC of The Company of Eight from Netgalley for an honest review. I loved the sound of this book, which is why I requested it.
Cass has always wanted to be on the Circus Ship, but when the day of the audition comes her guardian has other plans and Cass misses the boat. However, she has money from her parents and decides to travel to the Island of Women. Fate may have other plans though.

Wow, what a whirlwind of circus, pirates, royalty and sword-swinging women. I absolutely adored this story from start to finish, I wish this was out when I was younger, it is exactly the kind of book young girls need to be reading.

My favourite characters are Cass, Rip, Elsba and Lion. Cass is a headstrong teenager who knows what she wants and will nothing stand in her way. Rip is so cute, caring and sensitive, I wish I could have had a crush on him earlier, but he is definitely book boyfriend material. Elsba is a little odd to start out with but my does she have a story to tell, I'm hoping that we get to see more of her story at some point. Lion is just adorable, even with what he has been through he will not let anything get him down.

I do not think I can pick one favourite part, because it was all fantastic. I loved the parts on ships, hot springs, ports and islands. I loved the circus, training and fight scenes. I went through I a lot of emotion, definitely had my heart in my mouth a couple of times, and there were several parts where I giggled. I also fell in love with the world and characters.

The Company of Eight does end on a kind of cliffhanger, so I am hoping that a sequel is heading our way because I would love to know what happens next.

While reading this book, I described it as the middle grade that I never knew I needed. I would recommend this book to anyone. 5 out of 5.

Middle grade fiction is not something I read a lot of but sometimes my daughters will insist that I read a book they have particularly enjoyed. Such a book I read earlier this year was The Girl of Ink & Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave which Mini Me adores and has recommended to everyone she knows. When I saw this book on NetGalley, I thought I would give it a read and see if it was something she might enjoy. Plus, who isn’t a sucker for a story set in a circus?

This book does indeed have a lot in common with The Girl of Ink & Stars. A strong teenage female protagonist, exotic, foreign world and tales of derring-do. Plus, this book has the aforementioned circus (one which tours around on a ship, to add to the excitement), pirates, an island full only of strong women, sword-fighting a-plenty and a secret company of female…spies I suppose you might call them.

I really enjoyed this book. The world-building was well done, the story rolled along at a great pace and I really enjoyed the female lead, Cass. In fact, there were a lot of strong female characters in this book which is always something I am looking for, being the mum/step-mum of 5 daughters. I liked the way that the women were in charge of their own destinies, not damsels in distress waiting for the boys to sail to their rescue.

I wish there had been a little more time spent in the circus and more detail about the different acts and characters. The chapter where Cass finally confronts the pirates and the following chapter seemed a little rushed, as if the author could see the end in sight and were galloping to the finish, which made the pacing uneven at the end. However, these are minor niggles in a book that I don’t regret investing the time in.

I would definitely recommend this book for children who enjoy this kind of fantasy novel and I have now bought a paperback copy for my children to read. I’ll come back and give you their feedback once they have read it.

I believe this is the start of a series of books set in this world starring Cass and her friends and I look forward to the next one.

Who can resist a novel with a map in its frontispiece? And then to discover that there is a  close-up map for each chapter! Whether a new world created by Tolkien or Pullman, or more recently Abi Elphinstone or Kiran Millwood Hargrave, a map introduces you to a world created in the author's imagination, a new setting within which their story can unfold.

Harriet Whitehorn has created the Longest World, a series of islands governed by Lord Bastien and with a royal family.  Each island or group of islands has its own history and population to which we are introduced and the seas are populated populated by a great many boats: from merchant ships to the Palace Ship and the Circus Boat in particular. 

Cass, an orphan in the charge of kindly but dull Mrs Potts, is desperate to join the circus as an acrobat, but  she misses her audition when the Circus Boat sets sail, as Mrs Potts has other uninteresting, ambitions for her.  Cass bravely decides she must take her destiny into her own hands.

Heading for the Isle of Women, where her mother had been brought up, Cass ventures through the seas to many of the islands meeting royalty and commoners, learning new skills and persuaded to do undertake regrettable deeds.

Will she ever get to join the circus?  

Cass is a strong character, confronting her challenges and daring to try things many would not.  She is brave in the face of the brutality she encounters - be it slavery or piracy. And her bravery comes to the attention of a secretive group, The Company of Eight, who support her and train in many ways but also call on her to undertake daring deeds.

This is an adventure on the high seas - fun, bold and brave.  Some of the characters Cass meets are particularly special - Ms Whitehorn has carefully given enough character to some to particularly hold not just Cass's interest, nut ours as the reader.  I notice that other reviewers and bloggers have, like me, found a special place in their heart for brave young Lion and for Rip, Lord Bastien's nephew.

I can imagine many youngsters enthralled by this ripping adventure and imagining the ups and downs of Cass's travels through the Longest World.

Aimed at the older middle grades ,there is much to be enjoyed about this book by a wider audience. Set in an almost Victorian style world, but one where magic exists, this is the story of Cass, a young orphan determined to make her way as an acrobat on a renowned Circus Ship that floats between the Islands that make up the Longest World. When fate conspires to prevent her auditioning, she runs away in hopes of auditioning at a later stage. However fate is not yet done with her, and between encounters with pirates and slavers, and forming an unlikely friendship or two, she eventually finds herself on the Island of Women where her acrobatic training is put to good use.
When given a chance to help stop the slave trade, and assist the mysterious "Company of Eight" , she eagerly assents to go undercover in the circus, though it almost costs her her life.
As I said, this book , while suitable for middle grade readers, is possibly geared to a slightly older audience, given both the level of language used , and some of the darker moments that create a dramatic finale. I liked the character of Cass, and found the world the author created very interesting, but I will admit that I was disappointed that there was not more of a focus on the time spent by Cass at the circus, as this is what initially attracted me to the book. While the book reads well as a standalone, there is plenty of potential to expand into a series, and I would hope that if this happens we get the chance to spend more time with some of the secondary characters we met here, as well as on some of the islands of the Longest World that we have not yet visited.

In this book we meet Cass, a young orphaned girl who is desperate to join the circus which arrives in the City of Minaris. Cass's father was an acrobat in the circus, and she has picked up all of his skills, religiously following his exercises every day. Unfortunately, Mrs Potts has other idea's, wishing Cass to take up service looking after Old Madame Carpera, and making her miss her audition for the circus, the ship leaving without her.... Cass decides to take her future into her own hands, having been promised that she has a 'star above her head' by her friend Tig, and runs away on a ship to chase the circus ship.
What follows is an action filled story, with many twists and turns, friendships and betrayals., good decisions and bad, and I have a sense that there may be a second book coming along as I don't quite think we are finished with Cass just yet!
This was a really enjoyable book, it certainly keeps you on your toes, a bit of a page turner!

I'm not sure whether the cover or the blurb attracted me more, but I found a treat waiting between the pages.

Ms Whitehorn's world has a map (bonus points) but I never quite got what the world was called.  It's mainly made of islands, though, so the ships that ply within them are the main source of entertainment whether they mean to be or not.  Ravellous's Circus Ship definitely intends to be.  The world is somewhere between feudal and gangster, with pirates that can be crude or sophisticated, and an island full of women.  So I'd class this as an adventurous girl's story, and I enjoyed it tremendously.

Recently I've been pondering the use of language to induce almost tactile sensations in the reader.  Ms Whitehorn does a pretty good job of this, as I recall feeling warmer as the voyage continued without consciously being told the climate was changing.  Cass is an excellent character, and meets many other well rounded characters of all genders and levels of power and wealth.  I felt the poverty-stricken were rendered ingenious, and some of the powerful rather stupid, but then, that's the problem of inbreeding and lack of incentive.  In fact it was a very believable fantasy.

If I have a criticism, then maybe some of the plot elements were predictable, but it was thoroughly enjoyable all the same.  It's set up for further adventures in the series (while being a completed book in its own right) so I hope we see more of Cass and her 'friends'.

What a wonderful little book. Full of twists and turns and of course, a happy ending - which is awesome! A magical book for younger readers.

Great great book! 4 1/2 stars.
My 9 year old daughter said she could really imagined herself as the heroine and it was great to be part of the magic even if the story is set in the real world.
All characters are really interesting and one can really get behind them and their quest.
Definitely happy to recommend to friends and buy the sequel to find out what happens to Cass

*I recieved a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

To anyone who knows me, it's no secret I'm obsessed with circuses. Just look at that cover? It's one of the best circus-book covers I've seen. Unfortunately, the contents of this book didn't really live up to my expectations or hopes, and that always makes me sad with ARCs.

The story begins with Cass, a teenage acrobat living in a world that seems to be a huge archipelago. She's preparing to audition for the grand Circus Boat, which has been her dream for many years, but misses the audition and decides instead to run away to the Island of Women where her mother came from, with the hope or re-auditioning for the circus next year. However she gets herself into all sorts of trouble along the way.

This is a book that puts a lot more focus on its weak plot than it's characters or worldbuilding, though almost everything about this book felt weak and underdeveloped in some way. The world is magical but that's only sparsely explored (Cass is immune to magic, but it's not relevant in the story except that her guardian doesn't see her as useful). However the place names in Minaris give an intriguing glimpse into the magical history that is otherwise non-existent throughout the story, and I wish we learned more about this world. Places are mostly described very briefly and I hoped to see more diversity in such a globe-trotting book. Plot-wise, a lot happens but it's mostly predictable back-and forthness, with huge issues and personal struggles being very shallowly explored or glossed over (slavery, trauma, killing, etc). Cass doesn't do a lot herself, as for most of the book things are simply happening to her, and that got boring very fast, especially when she kept being congratulated for them. Even the circus performances and training are only glossed over, which saddened me, the circus being my main draw to reading the book in the first place.

Really, this book felt like the skeleton of a story, not fully fleshed out yet. This book had/has plenty of potential, but it definitely needs longer in the editing and rewriting process to really achieve that potential. The writing struggles along, lolling between some lovely descriptions and then being too aware of itself and awkward and clunky in other places. I don't think the writing ever got close enough to Cass's POV for me to care much for her or get into her head. Other characters lacked any real sense of depth; I've already forgotten most of their names. Despite it also being so short, this book took me three weeks to read because I just wasn't engaged or invested in the story or characters. I do hope this little book finds itself an eager audience, but I fear it'll lose out in the long run. If there was ever a book I hoped would delay the printers, it's this one -- all the potential is right there, it just needs more work.

An easy read, reminiscent of Enid Blytons books in the way its written, sits firmly in the younger end of Young Adult books.

This was a really good fun and adventure filled book. The writing was a little on the younger side of middle grade but it was still enjoyable. The characters were great and I especially loved Rip, hoping to see more of him in future books should there be any. The story did seem to wrap up quite quickly and nearly but I have noticed that happens with a lot of middle grade. Overall a great story and one I would continue on with.



I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Cass has always dreamed of joining the circus as an acrobat, but a missed audition leads her into a swashbuckling adventure, and an encounter with the brave and valiant Company of Eight.
I loved everything about the book - from the beautiful cover to the page-turning plot, and the setting and characters who leap off the page. By the end of the novel, you feel that the characters have become friends, and I can't wait to read more about Cass, Rip, Tig, Lin and the heroic Company of Eight.
I'm sure the book will appeal to boys and girls (and to a wide age range), but it was particularly refreshing to read a story with such strong female characters, and one where the mysterious fighters who save the day are women.
Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book; its other-worldliness, its little details and its magical qualities enthralled me. They combine to make the mysterious Islands a wondrous place. The story doesn't appear to give a timescale - just clues as to the era e.g. pantaloons to wear and silvers to pay for things. The Island of Women sounded particularly intriguing and I imagined a Wonder Woman type setting by the sea!
The idea of a circus (without the animal performances) has always thrilled me as it is such a spectacle filled with unusual characters and oddities so this aspect appealed to me immediately. I think Enid Blyton's Circus series and mentions of the circus in her books has something to do with this appeal!
Cass, the main character of the story, is likeable, gutsy and isn't afraid to take a chance. She has a dream to become an acrobat and wants to audition on the Circus Boat for the leader, Ravellous The boat docks at her island of Minaris once a year. After missing the audition through no fault of her own, she's forced to make another choice and joins another ship headed for the Island of Women. This sets off a series of events for Cass and she meets a host of memorable characters, visits numerous fantastical places and is embroiled in a thrilling adventure where she discovers more about the mysterious Company of Eight.
There are some beautiful descriptions in this book and it really helps to vividly imagine the settings. It is an action-packed adventure with twists and turns and some unexpected events.
I loved the little details with the food and drink - winter wine, starfruit ice cone and flower beer are just a few examples - and the unusual names of places: The Inn of the Black Octopus, The Tower of the Seven Kingdoms etc... They evoke images for me - the way the building looks, the signs etc... which all help to bring the story to life and make it a bit strange, which I liked. There are lots of characters to remember but even the names of some of these as well as their characteristics helped to make them memorable - Rip, Elsba, Lion, Ornella, Varan etc...
To summarise, a brilliantly detailed adventure which swings the reader from action to action - thrilling!

I was thrilled when I heard that Harriet Whitehorn, the author of my beloved Violet mystery series, had a new book coming out this year, and positively hopped with excitement when NetGalley approved my request for an advance reader's copy. Unlike the Violet books, which are crossovers, i.e. help young children transition from picture books to chapter books, The Company of Eight is a proper chapter book meant for older readers, i.e. middle graders aged 10-12 years.

The story opens in winter, in the great city of Minaris, which is a big, bustling and beautiful city by the sea, with large graceful public squares (with evocative names like the Square of Seas and the Square of Disbelievers), a thriving Magical district and a busy port. People with magical abilities flock to Minaris to practise their trade- be it fortune telling or mind reading or curing illnesses- because it is one of the few safe havens for them in the Longest World. Fifty years have passed since the final Magical War- a war that caused so much destruction and bloodshed that ordinary, non-magical people rose in rebellion against magicians and their battles and outlawed magic or allowed it to be practised only under severe regulations.

The heroine of the story, Cassandra Malvino (Cass for short) lives in the magical district of Minaris with her guardian, old Mrs Potts, who owns and runs the Mansion of Fortune where fortune tellers live and practise their trade. Cass is an orphan, her parents being killed in a massive fire that destroyed their home and all their possessions when she was just seven years old. She is now fourteen and an Obtuse, i.e. non magical and immune to all kinds of magic, much to Mrs Pott's chagrin and disappointment. Cass's mother was a talented fortune teller and her father was a skilled acrobat, and Cass's big dream and sole passion is to be an acrobat in the wondrous Circus Boat, a travelling circus that tours the islands of the Longest World. And now the Circus Boat is moored in the harbour at Minaris, for its annual trip there during which Ravellous the Circus Master takes auditions to recruit new performers.

Needless to say, Cass is excited and eager to audition. She has her routine down pat- cartwheels and tumbles and flips- thanks to her daily practice sessions and hours of studying technique. But Mrs Potts has other plans- she wants to get Cass employed as a rich old lady's companion. She takes Cass to meet the said lady, and wastes so much time there that Cass misses her audition, and the Circus Boat sails away, not to return for a whole year. Hurt and angry and disappointed, Cass runs away from home and buys her passage on a small merchant boat to the Island of Women (a remote island where no woman or child is denied sanctuary), to wait and work and practise acrobatics for a year till she can return to Minaris to audition for the Circus Boat.

All of this happens in the first three chapters (yes!) The actual story begins after Cass runs away, but I wrote all of this because I wanted to set the context and introduce the wondrous, detailed world that Harrier Whitehorn has created. Also, I don't want to give out the story- suffice to say that it is filled with adventures galore including moonlit jewel robberies, turbulent sea voyages, opulent parties, dangerous and cruel pirates, crooked noblemen and an awesome group of eight women fighters who work in secrecy to rid the Longest World of crime, i.e. The Company of Eight. What CAN be better than a group of swashbuckling women vigilantes who excel in hand to hand combat and sword fighting and disguises and espionage?

I loved the world Harriet Whitehorn has created in this book- it is magical, old-timey and exotic. It brings to mind Moscow or Istanbul- a wonderful blend of East and West. There ornate mansions, cobblestone alleys, smoky pubs, tiny bakeries, elegant minarets and the different moods of the sea- stormy, sun-kissed, serene. There is a map at the beginning of the book that shows the geographical location of all the islands and cities described in the story, reminiscent of Tolkien's maps of the Middle Earth. And of course, I love the brave, spirited and loyal Cass who never hesitates to step up and write her own destiny.

My only quibble? After devoting time and pages to lovingly telling the story embellished with rich details, the end comes rather abruptly- within a chapter, puzzles are solved, fights are won and the story is done. I would have liked a more drawn-out and exciting ending, perhaps with a bigger and interesting cliffhanger, particularly because it is clear there will be a sequel.

Highly recommended for everyone above age 10 years (or 9 for advanced readers), particularly those who like fantasy or fables.