Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read this in exchange for a review.

I’m a huge fan of The Doll Factory and was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book. I was not disappointed- I loved Circus of Wonders!

Nell, a girl speckled with birthmarks, is taken from her village by Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders after being sold to him by her father. She (and we) are immersed into the macabre world of the Victorian public’s obsession with freaks and curiosities brought to life by wonderfully descriptive prose. Her journey to accepting who she is, is intertwined with those of Jasper and his brother Toby. Jasper sees Nell as his ticket to fame and fortune, to being bigger than PT Barnam. But will his greed lead to his downfall? And Toby, his gentle, quiet brother by Jasper’s side since they were children but is there a secret between the two brothers?

A story of power, obsession and truth with a troupe of curious and complex characters. I couldn’t put this down!

Elizabeth Macneal's 'The Doll Factory' has been on my wish list for a while and after reading this novel, I'm going to get a copy as soon as I can. This was such a moving and enjoyable read even though the subject matter is one that can be quite difficult. We are taken to the world of the Victorian circus where the appetite was for 'freaks of nature'. A world where those who were 'different' were bought and sold and became commodities to be displayed to the general public and even Queen Victoria herself. This is something that fills us with revulsion today. However, the author does not allow us to view the circus performers that we meet as victims, as objects. She gives us real people with their own stories and she allows us to understand the fine line between being owned and exploited by the circus owner and them finding that they have a purpose and a self worth.

The novel is about Nell, a young flower-picker who was born with birthmarks covering her body. She works in the heat of the fields with every inch of her skin covered, she does not want to draw attention to herself. You get the impression that the other villagers only half accept her and her brother, Charlie, is always there to protect and shield her, a relationship which does not allow her to be herself. When Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders comes to the village, Nell's father seizes the opportunity to sell his daughter and she is taken away to become one of Jasper's performers.

The story is told through the voice of Nell, the circus owner, Jasper Jupiter and Toby, who is Jasper's brother. As we read each chapter we learn about Nell's feelings, her growing confidence, her hopes. We also learn about the relationship between Jasper and Toby and their experiences in the Crimean War. We are taken from the circus back to the Crimean war and the author combines these two periods beautifully to reveal the truth about fact and fiction, stories and lies, truth and secrets. She also makes us compare the relationship between Nell and her brother to the relationship between Jasper and Toby.

There is so much more I could say but I don't want to give too much away. The ending? It is satisfying, it is the right one and your heart swells even if you have a tear in your eye. I absolutely loved it.

I haven't read The Doll Factory but I will now
I thought this book was incredible. Set in Victorian England Nell is sold by her father to a passing circus as a freak. The author didn't pull her punches over this and we really get a strong sense of Nell's outrage and bewilderment. I immediately connected with Nell as a character and was rooting for her the whole way through. I loved Stella too-so much wisdom and insight. This book did challenge my perceptions of circuses especially of this era.
Absolutely well worth a read, a unique and inciteful read. Very well written and skilfully crafted believable characters. A tour de force

Victorian life on the margins: Crimean War veterans and other outcasts

Elizabeth Macneal’s Circus of Wonders is a perfect read for the bleak sameness of another lockdown, immediately immersing the reader into a crowded, bustling world full of close encounters in another world entirely – a very real one (this is not magic realism) though it deals with manufactured illusion.

This wonderful book centres on the stories of three central characters, though others are also woven within. The phenomenon of the freak show (like Barnum and Bailey’s) is a growing business opportunity, and also one which can offer employment to those outcast from society because of physical difference.

Jasper and Toby are brothers, close but dissimilar. Jasper is full of drive, an adventurer, an entrepreneur, charismatic, imaginative, domineering. A man who lives in the centre, with the magnetism to pull people into his dynamic orbit. Toby is slower, introspective, emotionally tender, and a watcher of others, rather than one who grabs life and diverts it to serve his own desires.

Back from the darkness of the Crimean War, Jasper has created his ‘Circus of Wonders’. A travelling circus, with Victorian ‘freaks’ – a giant, a dwarf, a bearded lady, wild animals, he is always on the look out for other ‘freaks’ to add to his troupe, to construct their freakery into crowd pulling presentations. Toby is the stage manager/carpenter/gofer responsible for day to day management, who photographs the acts, creating merchandise.

The central character round whom the main dramatic arc of the story revolves, is Nell, a young woman with a skin disorder, spotted like a leopard. She lives in poverty, and is a flower picker, in a village whose major source of employment is the creation of floral bouquets. Nell is a wonderful creation, an outcast, a source of shame and the butt of cruelty, because of her appearance, she is both someone who wishes to be unseen, yet has yearnings for wider horizons, and more intelligence, creativity and spark than others see

When the travelling circus comes to town, offering a brief enchantment to the locals, these lives dramatically collide

Characters, narrative, atmosphere and rich writing beautifully mesh. I was gripped by this, from first to last. And must particularly mention, without spoilers, that last. It was stunningly done, complex and satisfying on so many levels

I was interested to read that as well as being an author, Macneal is also a potter. This makes sense in her writing – there is a real pleasure in physicality, in how things work, practically, how objects are put together and made. The rooting in physical reality is what makes this such a three dimensional read

I somehow missed getting Macneal’s first, The Doll Factory, because it was compared to another writer of this kind of historical fiction, whose work I thought oversold, so thought Maclean might be similar. Not at all! I have now bought her first

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital arc of Macneal’s Book of Wonders!

This is Elizabeth Macneal’s second novel and after The Doll Factory I knew I had found a new favourite author and I would want to read everything she published.

This book covers some similar themes to The Doll Factory but revolves around Nell who is living in a small village and has a condition where she has birth marks on her skin which make her an outsider among the villagers and within her own family. She becomes part of Jasper Jupiter’s circus and finds fame there and the possibility of a new life, however there are secrets and mysteries here too and is this circus life all Nell wants it to be?

This is more accomplished than The Doll Factory, Macneal’s writing is brilliant but this has a slower start and a bigger build up and is less of a thriller. Macneal is not afraid to show the true horrors of life in the Nineteenth century, the dirt, poverty, illness, death and this grounds the novel very well. The characterisation is also brilliant and the mysteries and secrets are slowly revealed to the reader and the characters definitely feel real. As with The Doll Factory Macneal excels at writing morally ambiguous characters, Jasper in this novel and Silas in The Doll Factory, this shows great skill and are the best parts to read. The drama is also built very well and is exciting to read.

I love most the exploration of the various themes of the novel: Nell wanting to change her life and the circus being somewhere she can be recognised for her performing skill rather than simply victimised and laughed at, however she is owned by Jasper and he makes money from her. The subject matter of freak shows and disfigurement are well handled and both sides are shown with Nell and Stella wanting to perform and seeing power in this but Brunette wanting to live a normal life and not be on show. The circus is glamorous on the outside but the reality is different with use of deceit and costumes and fake back stories for the performers and this is a brilliant mirror for the Crimean War aspect of the story where Toby is taking propaganda photos to show the war in a more positive light which departs from the reality. Then there is the general theme of stories, who tells our story and who has the right to? Macneal really makes the reader feel for all of the characters and how they have been shaped by their lives, pasts and dreams for the future. The sibling relationship in this novel is also done very well and is another thing Macneal excels at with the connection between Toby and Jasper and their childhoods and all they have done together.

I had a few small issues with the novel, I much preferred this ending to the one in The Doll Factory, this was more nuanced, however I felt like the end and this was signalled from quite a way off which detracts from the drama of the end because I was expecting the ending and found it a bit of a let down, also I found the romance to be a bit of a plot device in that it was needed for tension between the brothers but I did not find it believable it seems like convenience and that he was really the only love interest there and it was a bit instant attraction which I don’t really like.

I would highly recommended this book, the writing is brilliant and Macneal has created an unforgettable setting and characters.

Set in 1860s England and the battle camps of the Crimea ,the story begins with Nell-a girl from a small coastal village born with visible birthmarks for which she is ostracised. That is, until the Circus Stops by and Nell’s father sells her to the Circus’ Owner and Ringmaster,Jasper Jupiter.

Nell feels betrayed and uncertain in this new life but, soon befriends the other performers and Toby,Jaspers’ brother. As Nell’s fortunes rise with her confidence and budding relationship with Toby, Jasper’s own starts to crumble.

Following the Perspectives of Nell,Jasper and Toby; Elizabeth Macneal expertly tackles the topics of exploitation,control, jealousy and greed whilst weaving a tale of love,Survival and ultimately hope.

The prose is so vividly descriptive and well researched-I’d say this was a more realistic look at the lives of Circus Performers of the era than I’ve seen elsewhere in fiction and Media.

This is the first book from Macneal that I’ve read,but I know it’ll definitely not be the last. I’d recommend to fans of the Night Circus or historical fiction, your guaranteed to be gripped from the first page to the last.

And also wanted to say a massive thank you to Net Galley for this ARC.

Totally engrossing! I was completely immersed in the world of Victorian England and Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders. Jasper fancies himself as the English equivalent of Barnum, and is driven to discover new wonders to make him the most famous showman, no matter what it takes. A new wonder, Nell, who has skin patterned by birth marks is his newest and greatest discovery and she is sold to him by her father. Jasper’s brother ,Toby is drawn to Nell as is his brother. Who will she choose? What is the dark secret the two brothers share?
I didn’t want this book to end and read it in a few days, resenting the necessary interruptions to my reading! The descriptions are very evocative. I found it a fascinating depiction of circus life in these times and a gripping story. Thoroughly recommended. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me access to an ARC in return for an honest review.

I was a huge fan of Macneals first book, The Doll Factory, so I was really excited to read this. This is the story of Nell, a young woman covered in birthmarks who is shunned by many of the locals in her small village. But she is sold by her father to a travelling circus that specialises in human curiosities. Run by Jasper with his brother Toby, the Circus gives Nell comfort and acceptance. But Jaspers overwhelming greed and ambition drives the circus into dangerous territory and Jasper sees his troupe as little more than profit makers. Meanwhile Nell grows in confidence as she finally feels accepted for who she is.

Vivid, atmospheric and a brilliant heroine, I loved it.

Set in Victorian England, Circus of Wonders tells the story of Nell, a girl born with unusual birthmarks which set her apart from the rest of her village. When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders comes to town and Nell is sold to the show by her father, her entire life is changed.

Circus of Wonders takes us behind the tent, bringing to life a cast of fascinating and beautifully written characters, including some wonderfully strong females - Stella, Peggy and Brunette.

The book is told from three perspectives: Nell, Jasper (a power and fame hungry circus showman) and his brother Toby (a Crimean war photographer torn between love and loyalty to his brother).

As a new reader of Elizabeth Macneal, I had heard good things about her other novel the Doll Factory and really looked forward to delving into the world of Jasper Jupiter’s show.

The author handles difficult topics so sensitively and makes you feel strong emotions for both the main and background characters (I adored Toby and was rooting for him to step out from Jasper’s shadow throughout). The flashbacks to the Crimean War and the experiences of the soldiers was also fascinating, adding further depth to the characters emotions and experiences.

Circus of Wonders is a story of love, loyalty, obsession, jealousy, heartbreak, hope, betrayal and family. A really wonderful read!

#Circus of Wonders
A new author for me, but Elizabeth Macneal has leapt into my list of favourites! Thinking this would be reminiscent of Water for Elephants, I was not nearly as excited as others. And yet, now I don't even know where to begin with my review, my heart spilleth over with emotion!

Nell, with her spotty complexion and deemed an oddity is sold by her father to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders who promised to make her brilliant. "He knows, at the back of his mind, that it isn't the show that counts but the tale you spin."

I was particularly struck by the multitude of entries that she was sold by her father. The person that was supposed to protect her, sold her like a farm animal.

However, Nell's popularity and confidence soon soars, she feels free and powerful. Unbeknownst to her, she is now a prisoner, a mere puppet to Jasper.
"It stops fighting, and they replace the chain with string. But the elephant doesn't know how easily it could break free. "He has turned her life into his own, his pen distorting her truth. She feels like a pulled flower, its roots severed."

Nell speaks for all women who have been subjugated, unloved, mistreated. She had love from her brother and that was ripped from her. But she finds love with Toby and she finds love with Stella and she finds love with Pearl. All amidst the harsh climate of circus survival.

The powerful dance of love and jealousy between Toby and Jasper is poignant. Toby, lives in fear, always second guessing, never certain. And although his love for Nell is powerful, his allegiance and sense of duty to his brother proved that blood was thicker than water. But that did not stop Nell. Her strength grew and grew. She was a force for good, and she soared! There are so many strands to this book, I can't possibly capture them all or do it justice. But I tend to find fault with most literature and I give this novel 5/5. Thanks to #Netgalley for the must read copy!

I was totally drawn into this magical story from the very first page. It's 1866 and Nell lives in a little coastal village with her much loved brother and her drunken father. She works at the flower farm and lives for the sea. She knows she's shunned by the villagers due to her unusual birthmark.

Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders arrives in the village and she's curious to see the acts. She's spotted by Jasper who does a deal with her father and she becomes their Leopard Girl flying through the stars. As her fame grows Jasper is jealous of it. She finds kinship and love with his younger brother, sensitive Toby who is always in the background despite his childhood dreams of co-running a circus with his brother.

Jasper wants the show to get bigger too quickly and borrows money from a dodgy moneylender who will stop at nothing if he's not paid on time. As things go wrong Nell hopes she and Toby will stay strong...

With a bittersweet ending I'm still thinking of now.. I absolutely loved the story so much. Highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book thanks to #netgalley.

I adored Macneal's first novel and 'Circus of wonders' does not disappoint! It's another wonderfully atmospheric novel set during Victorian times. It follows the fortunes of two very different brothers who have dreamt of setting up their own circus since they were small boys.
Nell hides herself and her birthmarks away in her coastal home when she is kidnapped by Jasper Jupiter and hurled into the mesmerising world of the circus. There she is reborn as Nellie, the Queen of the moon and stars. She catches the eye and heart of Toby, Jasper's younger brother who has spent his life walking in his brothers shadow.
This is a simply stunning novel about power, regret and finding your place in the world. I could have stayed in the circus for ever! Macneal has a gift for bringing to life the characters and the era so you genuinely believe you are there. I just loved this novel and look forward to reading more by Macneal in the future.

This was a magical read. I loved the way it felt whimsical but also gritty and real, like a proper Brothers Grimm fairy tale. In reading this, you’re transported into the harsh reality of Victorian circuses and freak shows - The Greatest Showman this is not - and yet the book still retains a feeling of magic and wonder.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Not normally a sort of book I would pick but saying that I really enjoyed this, great storyline and great characters.

Amazingly atmospheric! I loved the world building and the complex characters.
The story is set around 2 brothers who have always dreamed of running a circus. It was so interesting reading their story from the different perspectives. I particularly liked Nell's character and the way she developed throughout the book.
The ending was perfect.
Thank you to Netgalley uk and Pan Macmillan for an arc of this ebook.

Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read this.

The circus is one of the great metaphorical spaces - The Greatest Showman, The Night Circus, even all those Enid Blyton books - a space where people are trapped and yet free, freaks and yet beautiful, a place of endless possibilities and yet a space where things never change.

Macneal explores these dynamics beautifully. This is a book with big themes - how to be loved, how to be lovable, how to fulfil dreams, the power of women, guilt.

We follow Nell, plucked from a flower farm by Jasper Jupiter, circus owner, as she becomes a star, finds love and learns to accept her own strangeness and turn it into power. At the same time, we meet Toby, Jasper's brother, who believes himself to be unlovable. The relationship between these two lies at the heart of the book.

Macneal doesn't shy away from the pain of performing, or from difficult emotions, and she is good at exploring the complexities of being different - adored on stage, mocked off stage.

This is an excellent read.

PT Barnum meets Caraval - a stunning story set not long after the Crimea War

This story follows Nell as her father sells her to a travelling circus as their new spectacle - born with a rare skin phenomenon she’s thrust into the limelight with no clue how to deal with it or live her life through it

It’s a well researched historical fiction and leads you through different times and the struggles that we all might go through in our lifetime. If you loved The Doll Factory you’ll love this too

Its 1866 and Nell is an outsider in her small village, the birthmarks that cover her skin mark her out as different and look set to determine the lonely course of her life.

Then Nell is snatched away by Jasper Jupiter's travelling Circus of wonder. As she learns to perform, it seems the Victorian obsession with deformities as objects of entertainment may offer her a new life.

In London, Nell's fame grows and she finds friendship amongst the other performers. But circus life is harsh and precarious. Charismatic showman Jasper and his brother Toby are running from their own demons too. Has Nell swapped one cage for another? Or can she choose her own destiny?

Macneal's richly descriptive prose immerses the reader in the sights and sounds of Victorian life. As the story moves between the pleasure gardens of London and the battlefields of the Crimean War,  several themes reoccur: love, belonging, the fragility of fame, the power of storytelling and most importantly the power held by the one who gets to tell the story.

I really enjoyed the author's debut novel the Doll Factory, but I'm so pleased to say I loved this book even more. Finishing the final chapter left me with that moment of loss at suddenly realising it was over and I was back in the real world.  Highly recommended!

In the spirit of full disclosure I have to say, while I enjoyed Elizabeth Macneal's "The Doll Factory", it won't enter my "best top ten reads" list. So I was keen to see whether or not her latest novel "Circus of Wonders" would improve matters.

It's 1866 and in a coastal village in southern England, we meet Nell and her brother, to whom she is devoted. We also learn she has a drunken and slovenly father. Nell is shunned by the villagers due to her vitiligo-like affliction which leaves her marked and spotted, a bit like a leopard.

In true Dickensian style, when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell's father sells her to the circus, where Jasper has aspirations to make it big in London with his new star.

However, despite the betrayal by her father, Nell's life actually picks up, as she is accepted by her fellow performers and her fame grows, She also forms a strong attachment to Jaspers brother Toby.

What follows is a tale of told by all three characters, in both the present and past tense, offering insights into family, loyalty, greed, jealousy, betrayal, loss and redemption.

The story is beautifully told, and reads well. A sort of rags to riches tale, told against the backdrop of a PT Barnum-like circus, the characters are well fleshed out, and the background to Toby's life during the Crimea war is especially moving. Readers will take different things from the books, be it the shameless exploitation of animals and people by circuses, or the effects of war on those who survive, or one person's ability to turn around circumstances and rise above the pain and anguish.

Ms Macneal has clearly done her research, always a good sign, and I have to say I definitely enjoyed the book much more than I did The Doll Factory. I was in parts sad, angry, happy and joyous. I have no doubt it will be devoured by fans and new readers alike, and they will not be disappointed.

After reading and loving The Doll Factory, I couldn’t wait to lose myself in Circus of Wonders... and wow! It certainly didn’t disappoint.
The story of Nell who lives a lonely life shut away in a village by the coast, kept away from people because of birthmarks that cover her skin.
That is until the circus passes through her village, and her father sells her to the owner Jasper Jupiter.
Set in Victorian England, this story stole my heart and literally captivated me. The betrayal, hurt and pain Nell feels, is soon replaced with relief, as she sees the benefits of being her true self, her popularity rises and she becomes the Queen of the moon and stars,

A dark, wondrous tale told from three points of view... Nells, the circus owner Jasper, and his brother Toby.
A delight to lose yourself in
Highly recommend

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in return for a review