I felt like I’d read this book before or seen it as a film. It was a bit Water for Elephants, it was a bit The Greatest Showman without the songs. All the circus tropes were there.

The characters were a bit lacklustre too. Toby and Nell did not convince me and their motivations didn’t really make sense to me, They were both a bit obsessed with hero-worshipping their older brothers and being jealous when the brothers wanted to make friends with others, which I though was weird.

Perhaps one for the historical romance fans, was a bit of a miss for me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I was fascinated with The Doll Factory by this author, but she has exceeded my expectations tenfold with this book. Set in Queen Victoria’s era, with the Crimean war still fresh in the country’s minds, times were very different from today. The war had ended ten years ago, and in that time, Jasper Jupiter, a veteran, had created his Circus of Wonders. The Circus Wonders consisted of the members of society, that had been shunned and hidden away, but Jasper was willing to steal, buy and entice the people that society had not wanted living amongst them, but were happy enough to pay to go and see them in the Circus of Wonders.


Nell’s body was covered in birthmarks, which gave her an unusual look. Her father was keen to sell her to Jasper. He would make her the star of his show. He treated his performers well and paid them handsomely, but they still belonged to him. Jasper had a brother who worked for him called Toby, a gentle man and photographer from the war. Nell would make an impact on the brothers and the lives of the people in the circus.


What an amazing story this book is. From the very first page, I felt connected to Nell. She is fiery and strong-willed, but it was not long before she knows that there is good money to be made. She embraces who she is and makes it work for her. Toby was another favourite character of the story for me. He had a warmth and caring about him that made me feel like if he was my friend, that it would be for life.


The descriptions of the circus and performers being so vivid triggered my memories of the smells and buzz that comes with it. The anticipation and build-up to the top billing act and the heart in your mouth moments could be spectacular or disastrous and deadly if not done right.


The story takes a much darker turn, and it made me edgy about what secrets were to come to light, and how vulnerable the performers were. I could not help but be involved with how the lives of so many rested on one man. The story built, and as it did hairs on my arms and the back of my neck rose to the occasion.


I loved how I got to know this circus family, who had banded together and how relationships, were tested beyond sanity. There is a great sadness to how people could be exploited and poked and prodded for being born different. Bought and sold like stock to the highest bidder.


What an unsettling story of memorable people, not characters.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, with I loved and reviewed honestly.

I think this novel will definitely appeal to fans of Jess Kidd and Stacey Halls. I was hoping for something more in the realms of Alice Hoffman or Erin Morgenstern but Circus of Wonders just isn't as beautifully written or layered as books from those authors. The characters come across as simplistic, the present tense is a bit annoying, and the historical setting feels kind of generic.

After loving The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal I was really looking forward to reading their next book.
Set in 1866, Circus of Wonders follows Nell, a young woman born with birthmarks all over her body. The perceived difference in her appearance causes her to be shunned by her local community and even her own father who ends up selling her to Jasper Jupiter, the showman of a travelling circus looking for his next star attraction.

The historical setting was depicted brilliantly, particularly the circus itself with the descriptions of the show and the performers. I really enjoyed seeing Nell's story play out in this setting as she discovers herself, builds in confidence and learns to accept who she is through her new friendships with the circus performers who are also used to being "othered" and become a family to Nell. I loved following Nell's journey and character growth in the book.
Jasper was a very interesting character too, with a lot more complexity than just being the villain of the story.

The only things that stopped me loving this book was that the romance between Nell and Jasper's brother Toby never felt believable to me. It happened very quick and I didn't feel their connection so their relationship was a bit flat to me. Also there is a mystery element to the plot concerning what happened to a friend of Jasper's that I didn't care for and could have done with less of the flashbacks concerning that and more on Nell and the other circus performers.

Overall this was a really brilliant read though and Macneal is a historical fiction writer I will be watching out for in the future,

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

A book that completely captures the wonder that the circus contains in every page. Weaving a story with characters that are as real as flesh with a touch of the mystery of the unknown, this is a book that I would definitely recommend.

Elizabeth Macneal did not disappoint and created characters that came to life on the page, vaulting forth to enchant and delight. I found myself being sucked into this world of illusions and wonderous people, yearning to be a part of a circus of human wonders in 1866. The history of the time was well researched and incorporated seamlessly, with a second story line of the Crimean war adding a backdrop of death and destruction to this story about hope, love and living with oneself.
The multiple points of view I got to experience while diving into this book added depth and perspective, helping me to see the world through the eyes of a human “freak”, a natural performer and a dull sidekick. These contrasting lives all intertwined to create a story rich with emotion and full of heart.

The writing in itself was marvelous, with subtle changes as the characters changed. It evoked the times perfectly and contributed to the feel of an Edwardian London.
The supporting characters were not forgotten nor were they ignored, they all received the same treatment and were as fleshed out and alive as our leading lady Nell.

I have always been fascinated with the idea of the circus as well as the idea that people could possibly completely discard someone based on their physical appearance. A thought that doesn’t quite suite these modern times, but which was indeed a sad reality for many a person that ended up as a side show in the circus. This story gave a voice to all those wonders of the world, that have gone down in history as freaks and monsters. Elizabeth gave a voice to people such as Sarah Baardman, taken from South Africa, toured through Europe and then dissected and displayed in death.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the wonderous book and could not recommend a visit to Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders enough. Where you can meet dwarves like Peggy, Songbirds like Stella and leopard girls like Nell.

True to its title, Circus of Wonders really is a book full of wonder. Set in a circus during the Victorian period, there is a magical atmosphere throughout the whole book, the sense of fascination and amazement coaxed from an audience mirroring the experience of the reader, finding magic in what is really the ordinary. Each character is introduced with their own dream—intentions of freedom, longings for the fantastical, ambitions stacked on top of each other and overlapping, so many wants for so many people, wishes that cannot possibly all come true. Macneal focuses on three characters who all dream of greatness in their own way, and the way their lives are intertwined and their hopes unfold is told in beautiful prose that details circus life in the late nineteenth century, woven simultaneously with the horrors of the Crimean war to explore hope and loss.

One of three main characters, Nell is sold by her father for just £20 to Jasper Jupiter, an ambitious man who dreams of running the greatest circus the world has ever seen. Nell’s skin is covered in birthmarks and is often made uncomfortable by people staring at her in her small village where she picks violets for a living, and in her Jasper sees his newest star. Lonely and betrayed, Nell is slow to adjust to life in the circus but soon finds that when all eyes are on her in awe, the little spark of power she feels is intoxicating. Nell’s growth throughout the book was my favourite part, seeing her unfurl like one of the flowers she used to pick, holding dreams of stardom inside her heart to keep them safe. As Nell flies in the air and captivates audiences, her new title of Queen of the Moon and Stars begins to feel safer than the life she was dragged from, finding friendship and a contentment.

Jasper himself is presented as self-centred and hungry for fame. He wants nothing more than to be the greatest living showman, his circus his ticket to fame and his “freaks” his greatest asset. Though his kidnapping of Nell is entirely for his own benefit, he grapples with what it means for him when she starts to shine too brightly and I found his storyline kept me turning the pages faster, apprehension and fascination ensuring I couldn’t put the book down. If Jasper is bold and uncaring, he is perfectly juxtaposed with his brother, Toby, gentler and kinder, always in Jasper’s shadow. As a photographer, Toby is used to taking on a role that is more behind the scenes, but with Nell’s arrival, new feelings also bloom within him, tangling up his loyalty to his brother with the wanting he feels for the newest marvel.

Though the ending felt quite rushed and I wasn’t as deeply connected with the characters as I felt I could have been, I would still highly recommend Circus of Wonders. The tangled mess Jasper has made of their lives in the circus creates conflicting and interesting feelings, and the parallel storyline of what happened with Jasper and Toby during the war creates a mysterious and compelling tale that kept me turning the page. Macneal explores the complicated nature of belonging and wanting with nuance and in an enchanting setting, utilising mystery and tension to weave a story that will enchant.

What an absolute privilege it has been to read this book and join Nell as her life is transformed following the arrival of the travelling fair in her small community.

Like her previous novel, this story is a richly atmospheric Victorian novel set in the world of the freak show. Meticulously researched, mentions of contemporary real life performers add a depth to the story that really brought the book to life. As Nell adapts to her life in the travelling fair, and comes to terms with the fact that it was her father that sold her to the ambitious and egocentric ring master, Jasper the novel looks at the idea of ownership vs individual agency. Jasper may think that he is in charge, and indeed, looking at his behaviour through a modern day lens, he can be seen as greedy and exploitative. However, as Nell begins to realise, the stage and her fellow 'freaks' offer her not only a level of protection, but a chance to stop hiding away and to earn good money becoming a star. In a small way, her desires become real.

"wishing not that she would change but that the world would."

The characters do not fall so easily into the typical tropes of villain or heroine though, and Macneal's skill at creating incredible nuance within her characters really brings them to life. The reader sees a different side to Jasper and his bother Toby in the chapters that are set in the Crimean War, as each chafes at the sibling bonds that bind them, simultaneously wishing to protect the other and their relationship. Similarly Nell changes as her role within the show grows more important, and she both loves Toby, but also sees him as a tool to exact revenge on his brother.

Whilst there are hints of a fairytale ending, the final chapters of the book are far more complex and as a result, ultimately so much more satisfying.

This book is in my 'best reads 2021 list', and I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

A tale told in three perspectives this time instead two. Where the Doll Factory divides its time between protagonist and antagonist, Circus of Wonders has Nell, our birthmark-speckled violet-picking protagonist, Jasper Jupiter the circus owner and antagonist, and Toby Brown, who is struggling somewhere in-between.

If you found the Doll Factory a bit too…gruesome, shall we say, then I recommend Circus of Wonders highly. It’s still immersive in the Victorian history that the author clearly knows so well, but I didn’t find the gritty details quite as difficult to read this time around. Perhaps it’s because I knew what to expect, or perhaps there’s just something about Circus of Wonders that has a bit more sparkle and a bit less sewage in the streets.

I know it’s unfair to compare a debut novel with the author’s second, but I just…can’t…not when they just cover such similar ground – that is, they are both about Victorian attitudes towards the Other. See, when I read Doll Factory I almost didn’t like how visceral the images were. It was too much like actually living in Victorian London, because I could smell and taste it. Circus of Wonders is less sensory, and covers more character backstory, which is perhaps why it feels more mellowed than her first book.

Anyway. Comparison over. Macneal has conquered both debut and the Dreaded Second Novel very well. Much like Nell, who in the Circus goes on a journey to conquer self- perception. And Jasper. Ah, Jasper.

I am glad I read this book on kindle. It meant I could look up every individual that the characters referred to and discover whether they were made up, or real historical individuals. Mentions of Charles Stratton and Sarah Baartman, to name a couple, give Jasper’s troupe authenticity, and paint them into the same reality. After all, all of history is fiction.

My favourite aspect of Elizabeth Macneal’s writing is how she uses her storytelling to comment with such historical expertise. Jasper’s character is a vessel for commenting on Victorian values. He is the epitome of the white man who wants to own everything

‘This is all Jasper has ever wanted – to bring her body under control of his own’

…and everyone. To, as the author excellently puts it, capture things and name then after himself. Jasper’s narrative arc is one I really appreciated: his undoing inverts the classic tropes of hysteria and mad women that we so often see in classics. Much like her first novel, explores the Victorian desires to own and to conquer. It makes us wonder at where we still see these attitudes in present day.

I have not seen The Greatest Showman, but I am highly suspicious of it. P. T. Barnum sought to profit off people with disabilities, "deformities," and disfigurement, which is certainly not a good look. This book follows a similar "freak show," but makes clear from the beginning that Barnum's business model was terrible and damaging. In addition, Elizabeth Macneal describes other very real people who had been "displayed," including Charles Stratton (a.k.a. Tom Thumb) and Sara Baartman (a.k.a. The Hottentot Venus), for creepy and often racist reasons.

Nell, our main character, has been born with many birthmarks all over her body which lead her family and community to treat her as if she were something to be ashamed of. In 1866, when Nell is nineteen, her father encounters Jasper Jupiter, the head of Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders, which displays "freaks," and sells Nell to Jasper for the sum of £20. Both of these men suck.

Nell has complicated feelings about being a circus act. She is now Nellie Moon, Queen of the Moon and Stars, which gives her financial independence and gives her the opportunity to be celebrated. Her brother Charlie comes to visit her and essentially accuses her of whoring herself out.

> ‘How can you bear it?’ Charlie asks. ‘What?’ He gestures at her doublet and short pantaloons. ‘Everyone seeing you like that. Being turned into a spectacle.’ ‘It isn’t like that,’ she says. ‘Everyone just saw me as different before. Here, at least, they admire me. And I’m not ashamed of how I look. Not any more.’

Nell's honeymoon period with the circus eventually ends when she thinks of aging and the future. She discusses plans of marriage in the future with her fellow female freaks and realizes that being admired in the spotlight does not guarantee good personal relationships with "normal" people. In addition, Jasper becomes more controlling of his employees as he wants to expand the circus, which requires extra finances.

> ‘Only men like Jasper hold the reins, and that’s the truth. It’s only their voices that matter.’ She leans closer to Nell. ‘That woman called us *lusus naturae*. I’d wager you don’t even know what that means.’

[*lusus naturae* means joke of nature]

Through all this, Nell's relationships with her fellow employees, Jasper himself, and Jasper's brother Toby develop and change and she begins to wonder if her future lies with the circus or not.

The writing is beautiful and I really clicked with the story and the characterization. While I was reading it, I texted all my bookish friends how much I was loving it. I WANT MORE.

I enjoyed Elizabeth Macneal’s first novel, The Doll Factory, so was looking forward to reading her new one, Circus of Wonders.

Beginning in the year 1866, Circus of Wonders tells the story of Nell, a young woman who has always been made to feel like an outsider in her small village on the south coast of England. The unusual birthmarks which cover her skin set her apart from the rest of the community and although her brother does his best to protect her, Nell knows she will never fit in. When Jasper Jupiter’s travelling circus arrives in the village, Nell is horrified to learn that her father has sold her to Jasper, who is looking for a new ‘curiosity’ to draw in the crowds. Once she settles into her new life, however, she begins to think that joining Jasper’s show is the best thing that could have happened to her. Her performance as ‘the Queen of the Moon and Stars’ proves to be a huge success, but how will Jasper feel if she becomes a bigger star than he is himself?

Nell’s story alternates with chapters written from the perspectives of two other characters, Jasper and his brother Toby. There’s a strong bond between the brothers, but they are two very different men. Jasper is very much the leader, an ambitious and ruthless businessman who sees the exploitation of other people as his way to fame and fortune. Toby, who helps him to run the circus, is a gentle, compassionate man desperate to find a way out from his brother’s shadow, but still haunted by his experiences as a photographer in the recent Crimean War. As the novel progresses we learn more about all three main characters as each of them tries to find their place in the world.

Although this is not always a very comfortable book to read, I think Macneal handles a sensitive topic very well. Nell and the other ‘circus attractions’ are treated as commodities to be bought and sold by collectors and showmen, but they are all presented as fully developed characters who, despite their unusual appearances, are normal human beings like anyone else. I have read a few other novels that deal with the same subject, so I was pleased to come across references to Charles Stratton, who appears in The Autobiography of Mrs Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin and Julia Pastrana from Orphans of the Carnival by Carol Birch. Unlike Stratton and Pastrana, who both really existed, Nell is a fictional character but her story is no less moving and believable. I was also interested in the flashbacks to the Crimean War, where we gradually find out what really happened to Jasper and Toby, shaping them into the men they are when we meet them at the beginning of the novel.

Of Elizabeth Macneal’s two books, I think I preferred The Doll Factory, but I enjoyed both and will be looking out for whatever she writes next.

What a fantastic read!

Truly loved this book and cannot recommend it enough!

1866, England, Jasper "Jupiter" dreams to take his Circus of Wonders to London, seeking the highest recognition from the Queen herself.

Nell is different. She has strange birthmarks over her body and people look at her with fear, disdain, even disgust sometimes. She thrives in the shadows, always trying to make herself invisible.

When her father offers to sell her to Jasper, her whole world is turned upside down. She expected to live a celibate life of toil working in her brother's house to never be separated from him, but instead Jasper wants to make a star out of her.

Through absolutely beautiful and lyrical writing, you get to run away and join the circus. Behind the dazzle and the glitter, it isn't always that shiny. You get to experience the very dark side of it at the same time as Nell.

A wonderful tale of love, coming of age and the relationships you forge whilst growing up, the family you make. V
Elizabeth Macneal very cleverly brings out the duality of it all: life and death, horrors of the war and the dreams made possible, the desire to hide and the joy to shine, dazzlement and ridicule, family and friendship.

Astonishing second novel.

Thank you very much NetGalley and Picador for the opportunity to read in advance.

I’m going to have to be brave and just come straight out with it... I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I’m easily the exception that proves the rule though but for me it was uninteresting with characters I did not really care for.

Time, to face the truthe - I don't like books about circuses. I tried. I really tried. I just don't feel the magic and the womder. I'm just bored.

This book is no exception.

I had several problems with it, but the most importants were:

1.The writing. A bit too simplistic. Present tense (ugh)
2.The setting. I mean, ok I know from the blurb that it was supposed to take place in 1886, but if it wasn't for the mentioning of PT Barnum and Crimean war you wouldn't be able to tell. There was nothing in the plot that would give you the time feeling.
3. Dash sublopt. Ok, I'll admit it took me a while to figure out that Dash was in fact a person, not a dog.
4. Dash subplot again. I feel like it was unnecessary.
5.The characters - both primary and secondary. No character was actually developped enough for me to start caring. I didn't care what happens to Nell or Toby or Jasper or any of the carnival people.
6.Plot was super slow but sometimes it was very (and unnecessary rushed). Like when Nell got her costume. She got it and then maybe we should read about how she felt when she put ot on or when she tried performing? There was nothing. suddenly after what it felt like 5 minuts and one try she's a performer. It's not that easy. People are practising their whole lives to be skilled performers.
7.the ending was anticlimatic and disappointing.

If you like books about circises and carnivals then you might give this one a try, but I, unfortunately, won't be recommending it.

I loved The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal and was excited to start Circus of Wonders which tells the story of Nell who was born with birthmarks covering her body and face and making her an outsider in her village. The story is all about her being sold to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Curiosities and how her life changes. The story is told from three perspectives, that of Nell, Jasper, and his brother Toby. The writing is excellent and the descriptions make everything come to life. As the story moves between the present and Jasper and Toby's time in the war we get to feel deep emotional connections to the characters. This story will appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction.

I adored Elizabeth Macneal's first novel, The Doll Factory, and so I was extremely happy to get my hands and eyes on her newest offering. It is a wonderfully entertaining and enchanting story with unforgettable characters.  A little slower paced than The Doll Factory but another fantastic read to lose oneself in.

Circus of Wonders by Elizaebth Macneal
I was captivated by Elizabeth Macneal’s The Doll Factory and so was really looking forward to this story and I was not disappointed. It is an enthralling story of Nell who is born with a skin condition called vitiligo which causes her skin to appear leopard like. She lives in a small coastal village and hides herself away under long sleeved dresses whilst she makes her living picking violets. She has a strong bond with her brother but when the circus comes to town her father gets the idea of making money from her by selling her as a curiosity or “wonder”.
She is captured and held prisoner by Jasper Jupiter, the circus owner, but soon finds that being a famous curiosity is more entertaining than her previous sheltered existence. Toby, Jasper’s brother, becomes enraptured by Nell whom Jasper has styled the Queen of the Moon and Stars.
This is an enthralling read and the story of Jasper and Toby’s life during the Crimean War is interspersed through the current events. The author’s descriptions of the events of the war and her descriptions of the circus are magnificent. The relationships which are forged between the circus performers are very well described and the evocation of the Victorian era with their fascination for the bizarre is beautifully written. The story builds to a crescendo and sweeps you along to its satisfying conclusion. I very highly recommend this novel. I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I read this book after thoroughly enjoying The Doll Factory. Circus of Wonders took me a little longer to get into, but I really enjoyed this too. The characters were so rich and I definitely felt that I was part of the story. This novel was brilliant escapism, and just what I needed!

This book was a nicely paced story about a girl who, after the circus comes to her little town, ends up in it herself as the star attraction. Whilst I didn't find the book the most gripping of stories it was interesting enough to keep me coming back and the pace makes it a good little book to read if you want a nice simple read on a quiet night. My only major gripe with the story is the ending. It was a nicely neutral ending and for those who were more interested in Nel's story then it was fine but I found that once Nel had left her little town the most interesting story was actually that of Toby and yet he is relegated to the background and in the end any character development he had is ruined by how his life turned out in the end. He should have had a much better ending and the ending that does occur just makes any progress he makes in the book seem pointless which kind of ruined the whole book for me as I was really rooting for his growth and success.

Circus of Wonders is another fantastic novel from Elizabeth Macneal. It’s 1866 and Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders travels around showcasing his curiosities. While in a small town, he finds Nell who’s whole body is covered in birthmarks. Her father sells Nell to Jasper for £20 and she is taken away from her home and her beloved brother Charlie.
Nell soon accepts her fate and finds friends and love within the circus. Unfortunately, Jasper’s poor business sense and greed leads the whole troupe into trouble and danger. Jasper’s brother Toby is also involved with the circus and their difficult and toxic relationship also forms a captivating thread within the book. The novel also looks back to the time the brothers were together on the battlefields of the Crimean War and the constant jealousy and control that has festered between them.
Elizabeth Macneal Takes us back to a time when people who were different were exploited and ridiculed, and shows us how cruel society and individuals could be. A fascinating, well researched tale that I highly recommend.

At turns magical and wonderous, tragic and cruel, this stunning novel will capture your imagination from start to finish.

Mcneal's first novel, The Doll Factory, was easily one of my favourite books of 2020 and I couldn't wait for more from her. This was one of this year's releases I was anticipating the most, and I was so excited to get my hands on this very special early copy.

I was entranced and enthralled throughout, and I adored our main character Nell, she completely stole my heart. I loved the way this story shows both the vulnerability and the strength of women. It is also a tale of brothers, with their experiences of the Crimean war subtly woven into a tale of Victorian curiosities.

Highly recommend to lovers of Historical Fiction, and if you loved the Doll Factory then pick this up too, it's just as fabulous!

5 brilliant stars.

Thank you so much to Picador and Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.