The Circus Infinite

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read and review!
An intriguing space setting filled with extraordinary alien species, really nice queer representation, since we don't see often asexual character as a main protagonist, which opened the door for the main couple's relationship to be explored in a deeper and more emotional level. The writing was really nice and explanatory. Really enjoyed the red.

I am always a fan of queer found family and this delivered! The plot was fun and well-paced but for me the best thing about this book were the characters; strong-willed, and relatable. I loved the queer rep and appreciated the villains.

Full review to come and rating may change!

Space, a circus and found family. What a great recipe for a novel. I really enjoyed this story of Jes, a half human teenager who is the subject of horrific research into his unusual powers. at the Institute on his home planet. The story opens as he makes his escape to the pleasure moon Persephone. He makes his way to the circus and there he finds friendship and acceptance. However, his powers come to the attention of the local crime lord and he finds himself being forced into actions that are unacceptable.
I loved so much about this story. Jes is vividly written and you really feel for him as he comes to terms with his emotions as well as his mental powers. It isn’t just about Jes though, other characters such as Bo and Esmee all have their own character arcs and I loved the relationships that Jes forms with the other circus performers. I also really liked the representation of the different races, each with their own characteristics. The discrimination against hybrid people felt very real.
The world building is lovely and there are some gorgeous moments as the characters explore the different aspects of the moon. The circus acts were imaginative and used the abilities of each alien race well. I also loved the flashbacks as we learn more and more about Jes’s backstory and what happened to him prior to the beginning of this story. The whole concept of this particular universe was really well worked out and was a great background to the main story.
My only issue is that I felt the ending of the story was quite rushed in comparison to the earlier parts. One minute they were planning and then it was all over. I also felt that the final resolution was all a bit too neat and tidy. However, they are minor points and overall, I thought that this was a great read.
Thank you to Net Galley and Angry Robot for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The circus infinite takes the classic story of a misfit who runs away to join the circus, and reworks it into a vibrant, sultry, and subversive piece of scifi.

The misfit is a grey-ace empath named Jes, on the run with a difficult (almost dystopian) past, and carrying many secrets (like his special abilities). The circus itself is set in a scifi universe with space travel and casino planets. Among the outcasts and misfits of those in the circus, Jes finds acceptance and family, but of course he can't run from his past forever :)

I was almost certain I’d enjoy this book based on the plot and setting alone. I’m pretty sure I’ve written before about how it’s almost impossible to tell a boring story set on a pirate ship, theme park or assassin’s guild. Circuses definitely make the list and having a diverse cast of gender identities, sexualities and relationship dynamics (polyamory rarely makes an appearance, even in sci-fi) only added to the appeal of The Circus Infinite, and the reality of the book did not disappoint. The descriptions of the circus acts and culture of the performers was a great way to drive the plot and reveal character developments, and I loved the way the act developed along with Jes’s relationship with the crew, and familiarity with his own skills.
The characters are definitely my favourite part of the book—found family is one of my favourite tropes, and The Circus Infinite delivers in spades. A variety of species and cultures are developed in this novel, and not just developed but challenged. One of my pet peeves with sci fi is the way different planets or races are sometimes portrayed as a monolith, with all of the people from a particular planet looking, behaving or believing in similar ways. I loved the way this was challenged in The Circus Infinite, as various societies seemed to be in the process of questioning long-held beliefs as cultures combined and interacted more. I think it added the grounding touch that helped all of the colourful characters and possibilities of the world seem realistic, without making them any less fun.
The plot of this book was interesting and fast moving, as both criminal, personal and social pressures kept things moving at all times without seeming repetitive. I do wish some aspects of the plot didn’t seem to happen due to coincidences or unlikely connections, but as always when world-building and a full cast of characters is being developed, some things have to take a back seat. I don’t think there were any glaring plot holes or eye-rolling coincidences, just a few points that seemed a little less filled in than I would have liked. I don’t know if this novel is a stand-alone or the beginning of a series, but I would gladly read more books in this world, exploring the happenings of Persephone 9.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author, and I think anyone who enjoys fun, original sci-fi will feel the same. I have a strange collection of recommendations for people who enjoyed this book/want to know if they might. I was reminded at various points of Ella West’s Thieves and Gail Carriger’s The Fifth Gender. If you read and enjoyed those books, or enjoyed this one and want more suggestions, these are probably your best bet. Likewise, fans of Nora Sakavic’s All for the Game series might like this book for the found family/runaway learning to trust and queer romance elements. In terms of themes and novel looks into a world most people have likely never experienced, I think Kate Mascarenhas’s Thief on a Winged Horse has several parallels, and if you enjoy entertaining characters with equally entertaining settings, Seanan McGuire’s InCryptid series is a great choice. The Circus Infinite releases on March 8th 2022, and I’ll also make sure to post a reminder on my blog closer to time.