[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"work-reviews-detail-circus-of-wonders-20bv":3,"work-reviews-list-circus-of-wonders-20bv":107},{"id":4,"slug":5,"title":6,"original_title":7,"description":8,"first_publish_year":9,"original_language":10,"primary_cover_url":11,"cover_3d_url":12,"cover_blurhash":13,"preferred_edition_id":7,"community_rating_avg":7,"community_rating_count":14,"page_count":15,"estimated_reading_minutes":16,"shelves_added_this_week":14,"enrichment_status":17,"community_depth_avg":7,"community_momentum_avg":7,"community_atmosphere_avg":7,"community_craft_avg":7,"community_impact_avg":7,"community_spice_avg":7,"is_non_fiction":18,"is_romance":19,"is_indexable":19,"rating_distribution":7,"authors":20,"genres":27,"characters":44,"places":57,"subjects":67,"series":74,"editions":75,"enrichment":85,"community_distribution":7,"default_edition":103,"faqs":104,"reviews_count":105,"contributions_count":14,"quotes_count":14,"photos_count":14,"created_at":106},"01kr82zy5317vs7htw1e78f2e7","circus-of-wonders-20bv","Circus of Wonders",null,"In 1865 England, Nell lives an isolated life, set apart by unique birthmarks, until her father sells her to Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders. What begins as a profound betrayal soon transforms into an unexpected new home among the performers, and a burgeoning connection with Jasper's quieter brother, Toby. As Nell becomes the circus's star attraction, she must navigate questions of identity and freedom, all while she and Toby plot their escape from a world threatening to collapse around them.",2021,"en","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.seekquel.app\u002Fstorage\u002Fcovers\u002Feditions\u002F01\u002F01kr82zykyg5vbv9mybcnsavxn.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.seekquel.app\u002Fstorage\u002Fcovers\u002Fworks-3d\u002F01\u002F01kr82zy5317vs7htw1e78f2e7.png?v=4a7a780ecc","LiH2+Aof%ft6jZjtj[j[_Lofj?of",0,376,427,"complete",false,true,[21],{"id":22,"slug":23,"name":24,"role":25,"bio":26},"01kqhtnrvsr7tpgk67hrettptb","elizabeth-macneal-rdfw","Elizabeth Macneal","author","Elizabeth Macneal is the author of The Winter Spirits, a novel praised for its historical detail and atmospheric storytelling. Her work often combines rich settings with a touch of the mysterious.",[28,32,36,40],{"id":29,"name":30,"slug":31,"is_fiction":19},4,"Romance","romance",{"id":33,"name":34,"slug":35,"is_fiction":19},8,"Historical Fiction","historical-fiction",{"id":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"is_fiction":19},9,"Literary Fiction","literary-fiction",{"id":41,"name":42,"slug":43,"is_fiction":19},34,"Historical Romance","historical-romance",[45,49,53],{"id":46,"name":47,"description":7,"role":48,"is_spoiler":18},"01kjswgpcxe4xj4bzfa1277jcf","Nell","protagonist",{"id":50,"name":51,"description":7,"role":52,"is_spoiler":18},"01kr82zymgwsqqb04btgennt5r","Jasper Jupiter","antagonist",{"id":54,"name":55,"description":7,"role":56,"is_spoiler":18},"01kjwtj5n7a28mr20c6yf8j2se","Toby","supporting",[58,61,64],{"id":59,"name":60,"description":7,"is_fictional":18,"real_world_location":7},"01kqgaez4y5bxp0q0k8r6wgz45","Southern England",{"id":62,"name":63,"description":7,"is_fictional":18,"real_world_location":7},"01kk4557a9nb3chbq8ee8zyk14","London",{"id":65,"name":66,"description":7,"is_fictional":18,"real_world_location":7},"01kr82zyn804syk303g1vdk4dy","Crimean War battlefields",[68,72],{"id":69,"name":70,"type":71},"01kjq6yq7bb20z9mdwg86230sa","Historical","subject",{"id":73,"name":30,"type":71},"01kjq6vr3m8qn7pggm93dmpeqh",[],[76],{"id":77,"title":6,"edition_name":7,"format":78,"format_label":79,"page_count":15,"audio_duration_minutes":7,"narrator":7,"publish_date":80,"cover_url":11,"cover_blurhash":13,"isbn_13":81,"asin":7,"publisher":82,"language":10,"quality_score":83,"submission_status":84},"01kr82zykyg5vbv9mybcnsavxn","paperback","Paperback","2021-05","9781529002515","Pan Macmillan",10,"approved",{"summary":8,"pace":86,"complexity":87,"complexity_score":88,"audience":89,"mood":90,"themes":94,"setting_period":99,"content_warnings":100},"moderate","dense",7,"adult",[91,92,93],"emotional","atmospheric","melancholic",[95,96,97,98],"fish-out-of-water","found-family","betrayal","forbidden-love","1865",[101,102],"abuse","trauma",{"id":77,"title":6,"edition_name":7,"format":78,"format_label":79,"page_count":15,"audio_duration_minutes":7,"publish_date":80,"cover_url":11,"cover_blurhash":13,"isbn_13":81,"asin":7,"publisher":82,"language":10},[],1,"2026-05-10T04:40:39.000000Z",{"data":108,"links":118,"meta":119},[109],{"id":110,"slug":111,"title":112,"user":7,"work_id":4,"is_draft":18,"verified_reader":18,"featured":18,"body":113,"overall_rating":29,"depth":7,"momentum":7,"atmosphere":7,"craft":7,"impact":7,"spice":7,"spoiler_level":114,"locale":7,"feed_item_key":115,"like_count":14,"comment_count":14,"top_likers":116,"viewer_can_reply":18,"created_at":117,"updated_at":117},"01kr8300agnvmf243rmzwg4bqx","review-of-circus-of-wonders-by-deleted-258","Review of \"Circus of Wonders\" by deleted_258","Another unexpectedly good read. I am always fond with reading historical fictions and this has captured me in both its setting and characters. Circus of Wonders' narrative was set in 1866 when circus was in its glitz and glamour. Nell has been kidnapped after secretly being sold by her father to a circus troupe. Having birthmarks speckle all over her skin, being told she was a curse and a bad omen of all her life, Nell found a new journey for herself as Nellie Moon; The Queen of the Moon and Stars at Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders. As her fame grows, and she finds friendship (which she never really experienced before as people at her village observed her as a strange creature) with the other performers and Jasper’s gentle brother Toby, she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her.\n\nGripping and evocative, great well-rounded characters telling their stories from each perspective. Nell's story was engaging and poignant at the beginning. From a village girl to been described as the eight wonder of the world (I was not really into Jasper's intention in objectifying humans though) and knowing what she wanted for her own life-- her dynamic was compelling. That ordinary Toby, the quiet existence and his acceptance towards Nell was heartwarming. Not really a fan of Jasper but I appreciate his narrative in bringing me to know more about the circus business during the Victorian era.\n\nIt gets interesting in the middle when Jasper's ambitious personality getting more ferocious. Totally into the brotherhood plot of both him and Toby although I was having a love-hate with Toby's character-- about his past and secret, I wish he can be more assertive and carefree :\u002F\u002F No heavy conflict but Dash's making me curious as much as Stella wanting to know the real truth. Love the style of writing-- no overused phrasing, quite lyrical and I fancy the mesmerizing drama-ish vibe. Honestly love the epilogue, 4 stars to this!","none","rv-01kr8300agnvmf243rmzwg4bqx",[],"2026-05-10T04:40:42.000000Z",{"first":7,"last":7,"prev":7,"next":7},{"path":120,"per_page":121,"next_cursor":7,"prev_cursor":7,"has_more":18},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.seekquel.app\u002Fapi\u002Fworks\u002F01kr82zy5317vs7htw1e78f2e7\u002Freviews",20]