The premise of this book is that a secret circus exists, primarily found in Paris, and linked to Hell itself. The circus is shrouded in mystery, and only those who receive a special ticket can even see it, let alone visit its wonders. Is it real? Is it a myth? No one seems quite sure, but three paintings are linked to the stories of the secret circus -- these paintings depict the Ladies of the Secret Circus.

After tragedy strikes her life, Lara discovers one of the paintings has been in her family's possession for several generations. Not only that, but the picture is said to depict a relative of hers. Suddenly she is on a quest to discover the history of the secret circus and the ladies in the paintings, because they might be interwoven with her own history, and possibly her future as well.

Sayers has written a satisfying romp through history, combined with a more modern mystery, jumping the reader skillfully from one timeline to another as the two stories are woven together. While the storyline wraps to a satisfying conclusion in the end, the reader may find themselves wanting to know more of the circus itself, about it's creation, and about the performers found therein. Overall, the story is enjoyable.

I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the author's book A Witch in Time, but it just fell short for me. The story which sounded so great didn't grab my attention as I expected. It had plenty of mystery and spookiness in it. The plot was very unique. I liked some of the characters but I found myself most disappointed.

It took me a long time to get into this one. I’m not sure why, as I usually love circus settings but I didn’t connect with the main character and I didn’t get invested in the mystery soon enough to where I kept putting it aside as I got bored.

It did pick up and I enjoyed the magic and the rest of the story but I can’t put my finger on what exactly didn’t click for me. I think there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book but personally it fell a little flat, which was super disappointing as I wanted to love it so much!

As someone who has ancestry from the circus, I found this book just fascinating. It's a book that will draw you in and keep you entertained. I even felt like I learned some things. Overall, a good, fun, interesting read.

3/5 Stars

I enjoy books about the circus, but this one was not an ordinary circus. It contains evil, secrets, and horror. I found I just got into the whole story and it was really unique. Creepy for sure, but the Circus always carries mystery.

Lara is just about to get married to Todd, her long-time love. However, on her wedding day, he never shows up. Then his car is found empty, but there are no signs of him. She doesn’t know what to think. Lara has grown up in the quiet and safe town, Kerrigan Falls, Virginia. She knows she has magical powers, she can move objects and make things change. Her mother has the same ability. She wants Lara to keep it a secret. However, her life seems carefree and her dreams coming true.

When Todd is not found, Lara try’s to start life over again. Her mother gives her a picture of a woman that is her great-grandmother. When she shows the picture to an art dealer, he thinks it may be from the famous painter Emile Giroux. Lara also finds diaries written by Cecile Cabot, her mother’s grandmother. Suddenly, Lara world is turned upside down. She leaves for Paris, but does know she could be in danger. Evil lurks for many people in her family.

The very best parts of the book were hearing about the Secret Circus. Those were captivating to read about. There is also a love story for Cecile and it is uncertain how that will turn out. Cecile has a sister, Esme. Their father is quite cruel and both are frightened of him. The circus is special and glorious though.

So, the book then becomes a mystery. A detective is trying to find out how Todd disappeared. Is it a killer or something more, something very sinister?

This book was different and not the type I usually read, but I liked the plot. My only criticism is that there was a lot of skipping around in time and place and many characters. I really had to pay close attention. I would definitely recommend it if you are in the mood for a Circus with a mind bending theme.

Thank you NetGalley, Constance Sayers, and Redhook for providing a copy of this book.

Very interesting book... I enjoyed it even though it wasn't too much different than other books in its writing style and historical themes. But quite enjoyable and one that I would recommend.

4.5 stars.

I love historical type fiction that adds in a fantasy element. I also love the circus/carnival trope. You cannot stop me from gravitating to this style of book. With <i>Ladies of the Secret Circus</i> this addiction proved to be a good thing.

The writing flows incredibly well and I love the historical elements that got drawn into the book and the story. The narrative is incredibly atmospheric and fun as well as just the right amount of dark.

It started off a little slow and I couldn't quite grasp the feel of where things were going to go. Then it swerved to the left and went dark. I could not have been happier. The world created by Sayers is awesome and creepy. I loved it. The characters were rich and well-written and things felt highly tangible. I was gripped by the middle and read the majority of the book in one sitting. I needed to know how things were going to end.

Dark, magical, beautiful, and haunting. A fantastic read and a great addition to the circus/carnival genre. This one will have a home on my bookshelf.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Finally...I’ve been reading this book for 3.5 months. I really wanted to like it, and there were a few aspects of it that I did enjoy, but overwhelmingly it fell short of my expectations. It’s rare that I have to force myself to finish a book, but this was one of them.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a fantastical journey through the past, one filled with dark magic, star-crossed love, and determined women at its core. While I felt that the book started off a bit slow for my taste, I was quickly enraptured with Sayers's lushly descriptive writing style that is just so transportive it took my breath away. It took me a minute to warm up to Lara, but as she investigates her fiancée's disappearance and untangled the web of lies in her family tree that stems back to the Secret Circus in Paris 1925, she really became endearing. All of the women of the Secret Circus, whose generational traumas and courses were set by one powerful daemon, were endearing in a way. I was fascinated with the lore of the daemons, the Secret Circus, Cecile and Esme Cabot, and Althacazar and was delighted with how dark of a turn this story took. The bonds between family and between female members of families takes center stage in this novel and all of them, as complex and messy as they may be, were well done. Ben was a super hunky love interest and I loved seeing his perspective in this book. He must be protected at all costs. Truly. A stud. I did not see the twist about the mystery behind the disappearances of the men associated with the Barnes' family and the true identity of the culprit was a surprise to me, one that was very satisfying. The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a magical story that spans generations, and deals with how the powerful and society as a whole cause damage that can be felt for years to come when women are pitted against each other. I walked away from this story wholly dazzled as I would if I had visited the Secret Circus myself, and I really hope that there are more books in this franchise

This was a very engrossing story. I flew through it and have recommended it countless times in my book groups.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lara Barnes finance disappears on the day of her wedding. While looking for answers she is swept into the family history of a dark circus and a family curse. The book is full of mystery, mysticism, murder and magic.

I have tried a few times to pick this up over the past few months and for some reason I am just not connecting with it. I made it 57% into the book, so I feel like I gave it a strong effort. It's really strange because it is an interesting book with an unusual plot! I know a lot of people have really enjoyed it, but I am going to have to set aside for the foreseeable future. Everyone should still give it a try though, because I feel like this is truly a case of it's me, and not the book.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you closed your eyes and wished for a ticket to a mesmerizing, once-in-a-lifetime show and a bleeding, nearly alive ticket showed up under your door inviting you into the dangerous world of a secret, magical circus, would you go?

The Ladies of the Secret Circus was a brilliant fantasy novel rooted in a family’s secrets and magical history complete with a circus with characters and scenes from the Underworld. (Anyone for a ride over the River Styx? How about a carousel that takes you backwards through your lifeline?)

The story plays out by alternating between two distinct and equally enthralling timelines that take us back and forth between Paris 1925 and modern-day Virginia. We open with Lara and her mother preening right before Lara is to walk down the aisle to marry her beloved. However, he doesn’t show and we find fairly quickly that his disappearance wasn’t nearly as it seemed on the surface. This was most assuredly not a case of cold feet. I was hooked.

We are transported to a Paris of 1925 that is pretty magical in and of itself. Then, we get a front row seat to the true gem. We get taken in through the devil’s mouth into the secret circus. This is where Sayer’s world building really shows itself. The author absolutely writes us into a place that is dark and twisted while being wildly creative.

This book, while most assuredly entertaining, still had some issues that lead me to give it three stars. I found it had plot holes and hiccups, but none so great that I would’ve thought to abandon the book. There was just so much crammed in those pages! Open that gorgeous cover and find yourself lost in family secrets, magical worlds right in the middle of reality, sister bonds and conflicts, and the search for love and answers to any number of mysteries that present themselves.

This book was simply beautiful. I can't say enough good things about it. The exceptional writing just pulled me in and I didn't want to stop reading. I was so upset when I reached the end because I didn't want to let go of that world yet. Constance Sayers' second novel proves to be just as good as her first, if not even better. I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with in the future!

This book is NOT my typical style or genre, but wow - I'm left thoroughly impressed! I read this as an advanced reader copy, thanks to #NetGalley. I'm so glad I requested this book and would highly recommend!

The novel intertwines mystery and history, with magic and suspense, as it seeks to solve the mystery of Lara's wedding day. I found the second half of the book especially gripping and flew through the final 30% - where I was continually guessing what was about to come next! The twists and plot lines were so well thought out, each filled with intense details and continually kept me interested.

From the description, I thought this would be a book I’d fall in love with. But unfortunately that wasn’t the case. This book just couldn’t hold my attention and I ended up putting it down after just a chapter.

This book grabbed me from the first page and wouldn’t let go!! Full of history, magic and intrigue, this multigenerational story of the Ladies of the Secret Circus is a gripping, epic mystery you won’t ever want to end (and I’ve got my fingers crossed for a sequel with how the author leaves things hanging🤞🏻🤞🏻) When Lara’s fiancé disappears and strange things start happening, she is compelled to travel to Paris to learn more about the women in her family and their involvement in the mysterious Secret Circus of 1920s Paris. Highly recommend for fans of The night circus, The lonely hearts hotel or The invisible life of Addie LaRue. This is definitely one worth reading that you don’t want to miss!

I really liked this book. I like the setting and the plot and the characters. I did not like that she left it open ended.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers was Pure Escapism Delight! It had magic and murder and mystery all rolled up into a mystical circus that can only be found if you're invited into the fold.

I find that the more I love a book, the harder it is for me to write about WHY I loved it so much. Was it the multiple strong female characters? Was it the traveling back and forth between past and present only to have them come together in the end? Or was it the magic that wove its way through from beginning to end? YES.

This is one of those books that will hold a special place on my bookshelves and be revisited many times when I am wishing for a way to escape into another world.

5 Solid Stars and wish I could give it more...

A HUGE Thank You to NetGalley and Redhook Books for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy to review. (Confession: I also bought it the day it was published.)