Circus of Wonders: A Novel

Written by Elizabeth Macneal

Narrated by Tuppence Middleton

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of the “lush, evocative Gothic” (The New York Times Book Review) The Doll Factory comes an atmospheric and spectacular novel about a woman transformed by the arrival of a Victorian circus of wonders—“as moving as it is deeply entertaining” (Daniel Mason, New York Times bestselling author).

Step up, step up! In 1860s England, circus mania is sweeping the nation. Crowds jostle for a glimpse of the lion-tamers, the dazzling trapeze artists and, most thrilling of all, the so-called “human wonders.”

When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders pitches its tent in a poor coastal town, the life of one young girl changes forever. Sold to the ringmaster as a “leopard girl” because of the birthmarks that cover her body, Nell is utterly devastated. But as she grows close to the other performers, she finds herself enchanted by the glittering freedom of the circus, and by her own role as the Queen of the Moon and Stars.

Before long, Nell’s fame spreads across the world—and with it, a chance for Jasper Jupiter to grow his own name and fortune. But what happens when her fame begins to eclipse his own, when even Jasper’s loyal brother Toby becomes captivated by Nell? No longer the quiet flower-picker, Nell knows her own place in the world, and she will fight for it.

Circus of Wonders is a beautiful story about the “complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life” (Naomi Ishiguro, author of Escape Routes).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781797135977

Elizabeth Macneal

Elizabeth Macneal is the author of two Sunday Times-bestselling novels: The Doll Factory, which won the 2018 Caledonia Novel Award and has been adapted into a major TV series on Paramount+, and Circus of Wonders. Her work has been translated into twenty-nine languages. Born in Scotland, Elizabeth is also a potter and lives in Twickenham with her family. She can be found on instagram @elizabethmacneal

Reviews for Circus of Wonders

[Leah Barton Tew · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked that it was an imaginative and different setting for a book. However, while I wouldn’t necessarily call it predictable, I pretty much knew how it would turn out. A fun read, though.

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes it's not the book, it's me. I just realized how long it's taken me to start writing this review - and that I keep postponing it because I don't quite know how to review it. I loved Macneal's first book, The Doll Factory, so was very much looking forward to reading this one. Somehow I just didn't love this one as much and I've struggled to understand why. The writing is excellent, the storyline is interesting, so perhaps it was just my overall mood when I was reading it. So much of it is dark and depressing, and maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for that type of book. But the writing is indeed lovely so I've rounded up to 4 stars because I strongly suspect if I'd read it some other time I'd probably have enjoyed it much more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

[Becki Basley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story about a Girl who feels her life us over when her dad sold her to the circus but finds life is just beginning