Sadly, while I am a history enthusiast did book did not appeal to me. I'm sure others others will love it though.

Barnum's Angel is a compelling and well written fantasy series opener by Len Boswell. Released 6th Oct 2022, it's 285 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, The Barnacle's Son, will also be available on KU after release in 3rd quarter 2023.

Well written alternate history speculative fiction is a joy, and this is quite a good one. The characters are three dimensional and believable, the background settings are immersive and complete, and the dialogue is witty and flows well. Darwin and P.T. Barnum figure heavily, and the secondary characters, settings and occurrences are so well intertwined around a framework of real history that it's not always clear where real history shades over into fiction.

This would make a nice series for fans of historical fantasy, alternate history worlds, political history, and fans of the Victorian fantasy/mutant subgenre (with dragons). I was blown away by the depth of verisimilitude and world building.

Four and a half stars. Really quite good. There are aspects of gothic horror and some explicit violence and descriptions, so more sensitive readers should be aware.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Burnham’s angel is both a humorous historical fiction and a fantasy based on characteristics of well-known historical figures. We meet Charles Darwin and we get a personal view into what he’s like. The ambitious P. T. Barnum who runs the famous Barnum and Bailey Circus also plays a major role. This novel was written by the prolific Len Boswell.

Charles Darwin in his journey on the Beagle, makes collections of a number of different unique organisms. He encounters a mysterious figure who gives him an egg covered in barnacles that capture Darwin’s interest. He asks Darwin to take the egg back to England with him. During the journey Darwin loses the egg and thus begins the mystery. During a trip to the theatre to watch P.T. Barnum, Darwin sees the beautiful Lily transform into a horrific animal. Darwin ends up housing Lily and he conducts research with her permission to determine if she is a new species. In the meantime, Barnum, for different reasons, wants Lily to return to his circus. He engages the police who during their search encounter an individual who resembles Lily but behaves in a completely different manner.

The thing I love most about this book is the character development. We meet and become personally acquainted, with such famous figures as Charles Darwin, and P. T. Barnum. There is even a cameo appearances by Charles Dickens who is on the lookout for people upon which to base his characters. The story is a work of fiction but the known personality traits of these characters are incorporated into a fascinating work of fiction. This is a very unique approach.

The story of time is of a fascinating romp into a world of speciation, and whether or not, there are actually individuals of different species who live among us. How do they cope? How do they conceal themselves? On one side we have Darwin trying to define and help the species, while on the other side, Barnum is trying to exploit them. Fantasy it may be here, but the issue will be very real if a new species is ever discovered.

This is a fascinating novel, especially for those that know the characters and what they achieved in their lifetime. It is a personal look their personality traits and determination. I give this book a five on five mainly because it is unique and fascinating. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for providing me a digital copy of this work. I provide this review voluntarily.

Barnum's Angel is an enticing read. Complete enjoyment and I was engaged the entire way through. It weaves history with lore in a fantastical journey that takes you from a freakshow to sailing the ocean in Charles Darwin's ship, the Beagle.

Excellent writing with rich characters that you root for. The "Angel" is not who she seems and the underlying message of kindness and magic in our world is powerful. I highly recommend.

Although a bit farfetched, I enjoyed its book for its imaginative and horrifying dragon-type predator and the journey of P.T. Barnum trying to harness this powerful young woman. Odd, but somehow mesmerizing writing.

I thought this book was an excellent read. A blend of facts and fantasy.

Thank you for the Arc copy.

This book has left me speechless. I finished and then sat back and asked myself "what the heck did I just read?" Based on the synopsis I was not prepared for what unfolded within the pages. The sheer audacity of what Boswell did was nothing more than astonishing. To take something so austere as Victorian England, the beginnings of Scotland yard, and the renowned English naturalist Charles Darwin, and introduce such an element of fantasy truly unsettled me.
In truth though, I liked it. While fantastical, the story flowed brilliantly. There was such a great interspersing of historical elements which only enhanced the story. What began as a quest for the truth turned into a police chase of epic proportions. Lily will haunt you long after you finish this one. Hopefully Boswell doesn't wait to long to get book two to us!

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

I've always loved stories about the strange and curious, so of course, I knew I'd like this book from the get go. And, I was right! It's a very well-balanced mix of historical fiction and fantasy, with the setting of P.T. Barnum's "freakshow", starring an albino girl named Lily. There's murder and mystery and best of all, dragons! What more could a girl ask for.

Overall, it felt just long enough to tell the story as it should be told, and just short enough for the reader to remain engaged.

Barnum’s Angel was a great read. The story is about Lily, an albino oddity sought by the great Barnum. Even though it contains references to some real historic people the story is pure fantasy. It is a captivating tale that will hold your interest and keep you reading to see what happens next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Black Rose Writing, for this advanced copy.

A very imaginative blend of historical fiction with historical fantasy. It has everything from old world charm to dragons to sideshow oddities.

What exactly is happening on the HMS Beagle? Who is Lily, that odd girl born with features seemingly made for the sideshow? While Lily is “owned” by the runner of the freak show, she has much more control than anyone, including herself, even knows. It would be quite simple to figure out how the legendary (but not yet) man named PT Barnum would come into play in this fantasy. While the world sees his new angelic oddity as simply his latest attraction, perhaps there is more than meets the eye.

Dragons. Murder. Treachery on the high sees. Historical figures. Carnivals. Oddities. Freak shows. Magic. Mystery. Mayhem. Barnum’s Angel has it all.

This is the interesting start of a new fantasy series. It's a bit slow at times but I loved the world building and think that it was well plotted.
Good character development and storytelling. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to the #Netgalley, the author and publishers for an arc in return for an honest opinion


Barnum's Angel (The Pale Chronicles Book 1) is an intrguing concept, Lily is a great character, although I wish she would have been fleshed out a little more.

I enjoy some historical fiction and this had many unique dynamics in the real world, with Dickens mentioned.

This is a book that will hold your attention and have you turning page after page to find out what happens next.

If you enjoy your historical fiction fantasy-ish with dragons, then this could be one for you.

Barnum's Angel (The Pale Chronicles Book 1) by Len Boswell is a magical fun story about an albino girl named Lily who is a carnival attraction piece.

I totally enjoyed this book I normally don't care for historical fiction but this is by far a favorite. I'm so happy I took a chance at it.

This is certainly a book that will hold your attention and have you turning page after page to find out what happens next.

Thank you to the #Netgalley, the author and publishers for an e-arc of #BarnumsAngel n exchange for my honest opinion.

Let me start by saying the writing isn't terrible. Its quick, interesting, and definitely a great fit for the target audience. I just don't think I'm part of that audience. I love dragons but I love them when they stay animalistic and nonhuman. I'm also not overly find of modern ish fantasy.it can be done well, but its not something I gravitate towards unfortunately.

Of all the subgenres of fantasy that I have never quite got, people who turn into dragons is probably the one that most perplexes me. I get dragons as dragons, be they intelligent or monstrous they are intriguing and majestic alpha predators (they're quite boring but they make sense). Equally I understand the story potential and emotional depth of lycanthropy, as metaphor and in and of itself - losing control, turning into a beast. But people turning into dragons - well its a bit like that 80's cartoon where a bloke turns into a car. Where do all the bits go?

If I had realised that Barnum's Angel was broadly related to that subgenre I probably wouldn't have read it. It turns out that it is trying its hardest to be grounded and real, and as such is trying to do a bit of counter-history by slipping its esoteric mutant heroine into a story with Charles Darwin and Barnum in it (and if you're going to be in Victorian London then Charles Dickens is bound to make an appearance). The basic story is that of a low key King Kong, freakshow performance gone wrong mixed with a slightly strange coming of age of this girl with wings who slowly gets stranger and stranger. The narrative is straightforward enough, and its a brisk read, but I still don't understand the broad appeal of the premise, and it is clearly the start of some kind of series which will have more dragon people and an endless battle for supremacy via mutating barnacles and.... well sorry I'm out.

Barnum’s Angel is a bit of a Curate's Egg and like the Egg, somewhat difficult to digest. All in all, I admit that I am somewhat mystified by said book as I am not sure of its purpose other than to vaguely entertain because it left lots of loose ends hanging, along with the reader, in mid air.

It did entertain and intrigue me in places and I did finish the book. There would have been more entertainment and intrigue if the characters had more flesh on them.

Not a book for the top of your reading list.

Listen, I'm going to keep reading the series, because it's such an insane concept that I'm willing to watch it succeed or burn, but I don't necessarily see it succeeding as it wants to. The series, apparently meant to follow different albino characters, doesn't have a lot to say about being albino beyond the way it intersects with literal freak shows and circuses. An odd assortment of people appear with very little explanation, involvement, or interesting qualities; perhaps focusing on just Lily might have made things a bit easier, especially considering the lack of clarity we get on if Lily's genetics are influenced by the fact that she's a dragon, if it's just a coincidence, or if it's a coincidence that makes her more supernaturally powerful... The selling point of this novel seems to be the real world figures it centers on, Barnum and Darwin and Dickens and on and on, but the chapters they narrate are more exposition and pure chronology than anything interesting. Lily gets very little room to speak for herself, tell her own story, communicate her emotions and understandings of the situation. What results is a report, not a story.

Barnum's Angel by Len Boswell is a wonderful story and thankfully is only the first in a series to come.

Throughout the story we get to follow a young albino girl, Lily, throughout her life as a carnival attraction piece.

It is a fast paced read which holds the reader's attention easily. The story is intriguing, and the characters are well written, my favorites are Charles Sickens and Charles Darwin. The Authors' writing style is out of this world. The descriptions and plot keep you sucked in and left wanting more. I would recommend this book and do look forward to what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Lily is an albino creature raised from an egg to live amongst humans. Or rather within a cage stared at by humans in a freak show. That's until Lily hits maturity, everything changes and not all for the better.

I would describe this book as Gothic Victorian Horror Fantasy, with the horror depicted in various ways and from different perspectives. I was already aware of the superstition and real-life horrors (Persecution of People with Albinism) Albino's are still in current times being subjected to in some countries, which in itself is horrifying. It's very interesting that creature's (aka demon's), albinism and culture are used in the same breath and directly used as elements of horror in this book. At times I was uncomfortable with the cultural insensitivities regarding certain characters and cultures.

That said, it is quite a unique and interesting book that very much held my attention. Although the story is about Lily, it is the main character's around her who carry the story along. I look forward to reading book two where I hope Lily and her kin will have a stronger engagement within the storyline, where we see more of their personalities and objectives.

When PT Barnum comes across and Artist Shell with a beautiful little girl name Lily that his heart does Bing have been doing half demon he thinks wink wink and gets the man to enter a contract with him so she can be in his show. Unfortunately after the very first show she proves to be more than the public can hang out though an NDN will be the only one who can save it. This was a lot of book and I don’t know how the author came up with the story but kudos to her. Not only was the descriptions excellent the drama was high in the story moved along swiftly I totally enjoyed this book I love historical fiction and this is now amongst one of my favorites. when the book 1st started I kept waiting for the wink wink just joking she’s normal but when it never came that just made for a much better book. If you love historical science fiction then you love Barnum‘s angel. I am not even really into science-fiction and I absolutely loved it! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.