“Hypnotized me from its first page to the last: from Nell, a dirt-poor girl born into a dusty, poverty-stricken village, her body covered with birthmarks that target her for a life of humiliation, to the relentless Jasper Jupiter, whose cravings to own the brightest spotlight surround him in darkness, to Jasper’s brother Toby, always in the shadows, so in love with them both he is lost to himself. Elizabeth Macneal’s wonderfully detailed research and the colours of her creative mind took me on a macabre, addictive journey lit by shooting stars.”
— GENEVIEVE GRAHAM, USA TODAY and #1 bestselling author of Letters Across the Sea

“This glittering follow-up to The Doll Factory . . . . . . is a mark of Macneal’s subtlety and originality.”
— The Guardian

“Beautifully written and filled with character and life.”
— The Times

“A soaring, tumbling, whip-cracking book. Elizabeth Macneal has brought an extraordinary group of characters together in these pages; the result is a glittering world, a story as moving as it is deeply entertaining.”
— DANIEL MASON, New York Times bestselling author of The Piano Tuner

“A glittering, begrimed tale of love and self-determination flush with richly detailed prose. Sumptuous, macabre, enthralling; a perfect slice of Victoriana.”
— JANE HEALEY, author of The Animals at Lockwood Manor

“[A] vibrant cast of characters—they are tenderly drawn yet dazzle off the page.”
— RACHEL HORE, bestselling author of The Love Child

“Entrancing. I couldn’t put it down.”
— SARA COLLINS, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton

“I loved The Doll Factory and I loved Circus of Wonders just as much . . . An intriguing and beautifully written love story as well as an exploration of the journey from rejection to adoration . . . Elizabeth Macneal explores the nature of exploitation, pride and vanity through her vibrant and believable characters.”
— JENNY QUINTANA, author of The Missing Girl

“A beautifully told and immersive look at a complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life. I adored its characters, I was utterly gripped throughout, and I loved having my eyes opened to the troubling yet fascinating world of Victorian circuses.”
— NAOMI ISHIGURO, author of Escape Routes

“The dark and evocative story drew me in immediately. What a rich world Macneal has created—both harrowing and deeply human. The ending is defiant in the best ways and wonderfully satisfying.”
— MEGAN CAMPISI, critically acclaimed author of Sin Eater

“Utterly captivating. Circus of Wonders is rich with historical detail that will transport readers into the grittiness of Victorian England, and teeming with the very best and worst of humanity. Elizabeth Macneal has crafted a powerful and immersive story that is by turns unsettling and enchanting.”
— MOLLY GREELEY, author of The Clergyman’s Wife and The Heiress

“Macneal’s novel is spectacular—a book of wonders!”
— ALIX NATHAN, author of The Warlow Experiment

“A tremendous read. Richly imagined, vividly rendered, each scene is like an old painting in which light gleams off the detail . . . The story is full-bodied and addictive from the outset, told with pace and verve but never compromising style . . . Circus of Wonders displays in abundance everything readers loved about The Doll Factory . . . an ambitious, enlightening novel.”
— EMMA STONEX, author of The Lamplighters

“Macneal develops an intimate tale of passion, longing, and self-preservation.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“Macneal successfully balances thrilling action sequences with poignant passages…The author brings her fully developed characters to life, highlighting the exploitation of people with visible differences during Victorian times. This makes for a worthy spectacle of its own.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Soaring . . . A great pick for book clubs and all those seeking a wondrous story awash in atmospheric details and fully lived characters.”
— Booklist (Starred Review)