Such a beautiful book.  It was both magical and lyrical and I was totally mesmerised the entire way through.

For me, a wonderful read, a read that I will recommend to anyone and everyone is one that holds my attention.  A read that pulls me in and has me reading every single word on the page, never feeling the need to skip ahead for fear of missing something or reaching the end too soon.  It’s being invested in the characters and feeling a part of their life.

Circus of Wonders captured all those feelings. 

Set in 1866 amidst the backdrop of circus life, when those that were different were paraded around as “freaks”, spectacles to be gawked at, laughed at, and profited off, all for their differences to what the world deemed as “normal”.

Born with birthmarks that give her skin a mottled, speckled appearance, Nell lives a quiet life in a coastal village in southern England.  Although often dreaming of something better, she is content to lead a relatively isolated life, tending her flowers and spending time with her brother.

When Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in her village Nell’s father sees a way to make some quick money, as well as way to rid himself of the girl he sees as a blight on his family, a bad omen for the village.

Now finding herself sold to the circus, ripped away from everything she has known, to be treated as an object on display each and every night, Nell’s life will never be the same.  Yet what starts as heartbreak for Nell, soon turns into a life full of wonder and joy, and as she starts to fall for Toby, the Circus ringmaster’s brother, can she for the first time experience what true love is?

A truly magical book that shows the worth of someone is not how they look on the outside but how they feel about themselves on the inside.