Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
Mystical, magical, fantastical. Reminds me of the Night Circus.
Didn't love the ending but still deserves 5 stars.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This story was fascinating and I enjoyed it, even if it took a little time to get in to. I liked the premise - the missing groom on the day of the wedding, the previous disappearance, wondering how it all ties together. And I loved the magic - right in the beginning she is altering her dress and talking about focus and how it all works. SO fun. But somewhere in the middle things got a little slow and I wasn't quite as pulled in to the story. Things finally got moving again and the ending - I like how it left it open a bit. I wonder if we'll have a book 2? I'd definitely read it!

<i>A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

**Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**

How do I begin to unpack my feelings for Ladies of the Secret Circus? This was a book that I had to sit with for awhile before being able to write this review.

Ladies of the Secret Circus throws both the protagonist, Lara, and the reader into the world of the daemonic and macabre Le Cirque Secret. Here, nothing is as it seems and admittance comes at a price. As Lara searches for answers about her fiance, who went missing on their wedding day, she discovers the family secret that binds her to Le Cirque Secret and the daemon who uses the circus as his personal playground and the performers as his toys.

Magical realism isn't a part of fantasy that I generally enjoy, but Ladies of the Secret Circus drew me in with its darkly immersive and atmospheric writing. The side characters were developed beautifully and I felt as close to them as I did to the protagonist.

While it's not my favorite book of the year, I don't doubt that this will end up in my top 10.

An excellent story that mixes a bit of horror, magic realism and mystery.
It's quite dark and gripping, a highly entertaining story that kept me hooked and made me turn pages as fast as I could.
I loved these women and I loved the dual timeline and the well developed plot.
The world building and character development are excellent, the author is a talented storyteller.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

From Constance Sayers, author of A WITCH IN TIME, comes THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS, a spellbinding, magical tale that spans lifetimes and realms as it follows the most fantastical circus imaginable.

On the night before her wedding, Lara Barnes is like any anxious bride: trying on her dress, regretting the color, shape and style, and gearing up to spend a night away from her fiancé, Todd, before their big day. Unlike (most) other brides, however, when she decides that her dress is not the right shade of ivory, she uses magic to fix it. By simply wishing for the dress to change in color and shape, it reacts accordingly --- but Lara’s magic is only an act of illusion, one that her mother, Audrey, reminds her takes a great amount of focus to keep up, especially during a high-stress event like a wedding. Descendants of the infamous Le Cirque Margot, a retired circus run and performed by Lara’s grandmother and great-grandmother, Lara and Audrey are not witches, exactly, but have carried magic through their bloodline and use it periodically to make life more convenient.

On the day of her wedding, Lara, looking bewitching in the perfect dress, is ready to start the rest of her life with Todd, but there’s one big problem: Todd has gone missing. Audrey, never a fan of Todd’s, is not surprised that her daughter’s unfaithful partner has disappeared. But when his car is discovered a few days later, it’s obvious that something has gone wrong. As the town sheriff, Ben Archer, discovers, the location where Todd’s car was found is the same spot where another young man vanished 30 years to the day and was never found. Lara suspects that her mother knows more than she is saying about both disappearances, and when she learns that the last man to vanish was connected to her family, she starts to wonder about her magical bloodline.

Several months later, Lara has thrown herself into working on her new home and business. But as her magical powers grow in strength and intensity, she recalls a mysterious visitor from her childhood. Althacazur not only knew Lara’s grandmother, he introduced her to her own magic and told her that he had plans for her one day. As strange occurrences keep happening around her and Althacazur makes another ominous appearance, Lara finds herself drawn into her great-grandmother Cecile’s past, and the mysterious story of a secret circus, Le Cirque Secret, visible only to those granted access by magical tickets. After finding Cecile’s diary, Lara realizes that there may be more truth to the wondrous story of Le Cirque Secret than the women in her family have let on, and that her fate is bound to her ability to unravel its many mysteries.

As the mystery of Todd’s disappearance starts to blend with the secrets of her family’s history, Lara finds herself traveling to Paris, ostensibly to verify the authenticity of a portrait of her great-grandmother, but also to investigate the place where Le Cirque Secret was last seen. Alternating between Lara’s life in the present and Cecile’s diary, Sayers immerses her readers in both circus life and a world of witchcraft, demons and unimaginable horrors where nothing can survive unharmed, including an ill-fated love between a young circus performer and a brilliant --- but mortal --- artist. Every sentence is brimming with magic, and every scene is perfectly weird, terrifying and awe-inspiring. Sayers takes the already limitless bounds of the circus, a place where anything is possible, and pushes it to new ends, leaping between this world and another and showing the dangerous ways that magic has fragmented both.

At a whopping 452 pages, THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS is no quick read, and I must admit that I found the opening very slow. Lara, while arguably the main character, is not as compelling as I might have liked, and with the first third of the book largely focusing on her and the cancelation of her wedding, it was difficult to push on. But that all changes with the appearance of Cecile’s diary. In Cecile and the other supporting characters, Sayers truly shines: their personalities are distinct and their character arcs rich. Although Lara drives the narrative, Cecile, her sister Esme and even Lara’s mother truly make it memorable. Adding to the weight that they lend the narrative are the scenes from Le Cirque Secret. Set in 1920s Paris, they are so full of historical details --- and famous, recognizable characters like Hemingway and Picasso --- that they transcend the border between magic and reality perfectly, bringing to mind classics like A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.

It is nearly impossible not to be interested in the idea of a secret magic circus, and in this regard, Sayers more than delivers. Her imagery is vivid, and her imagination feels like a thing of magic. Le Cirque Secret --- and even its real-world counterpart, Le Cirque Margot --- will absolutely sweep you away. Cecile, Esme and even Althacazur will captivate you and tug at your heartstrings, while the mysteries and secrets between them twist, turn and unravel. Sayers combines dark magic with swoon-worthy love stories and cuts through them both with shocking familial betrayals and sacrifices that give a sharp edge to this mesmerizing fantasy.

Though Lara fell flat for me, and some of the dialogue was a bit mawkish, THE LADIES OF THE SECRET CIRCUS is a dazzling, decadent story that will keep readers begging for more from Constance Sayers.

This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

Lara's fiance goes missing on the day of their wedding. Has he run away? Or is there something darker going on in their little town. He disappears on the same day and in the same way another man disappeared 30 years ago.

Lara is determined to find out what happened to her fiance and the mystery behind her family. Are the two related? Seems like the plot of a thriller, until you start throwing magic and secret circuses into the mix. Towards the end of the book it lost my interest.

This was beautiful, amazing, and wonderful. I fully expect that I will re-read this one. It is a story I want to go back and enjoy again! It's dark and magical and just what I expect to read from Sayers. The story spans several generations of one family and their stories are excellent! I highly recommend this one!

absolutely adored this novel. It had everything I love in life and books in it: circuses, rock music, dark magic, family heritage, historical fiction set in the 1920s, art history and unsolved murders. This book is perfection. Sayers did a fantastic job at weaving both plot lines (past and current) seamlessly together. Thank you so much for this copy and it was truly a treat to get to experience the magic of the cirque!

For more book reviews and features, follow me @literaturewithalatte on IG!

On the day of her wedding, Lara Barnes finds out that her fiancé has gone missing. Her quest for solving the mystery behind his disappearance starts with her own family’s history. Her great-grandmother’s journal reveals a past that has been concealed from her, a story of a dark circus and ill-fated love.

Wow! I loved this book. Although this book reminded me of “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, it was really hard for me to categorize the genre. The story had a little bit of everything: mystery, fantasy, romance, magical realism and historical fiction. The book went back in forth in time: from Paris in the 1920s to a small, American town in the early 2000s. The story itself was so unique, it started with being a little whimsical and then took a darker tone towards the later part of the book. It was hard to put down, I kept getting pulled into the story and the history of the Cabot women until the mystery finally began to unravel. I recommend (especially if you would like to read about a dark circus)!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Redhook for my ARC!!

This was a very fun novel filled with magic. More so than I originally expected.
This is a story centered around Laura who is about to walk down the aisle with a perfectly nice man named Todd. Suddenly, Todd goes missing the day of the wedding and his car is found abandoned by the side of the road.
Through the course of the story we slowly learn that Laura comes from a line of women who are half daemon and have a family grudge causing the men they love to go missing.
There are much more complex elements than this, but basically Laura's great great grandfather is a very cruel daemon. He had two daughters who were conjoined and he brutally ripped them apart. He created this circus that serves as a kind of weird purgatory, but is a place where his daughters are seen as beautiful and accepted.

There is lots of heartbreak, magic and family drama in this book. One of the two twins hates the other because they fell in love with the same man. The evil twin stays alive and young away from the circus by sacrificing a man every 30 years. And she just so happens to always pick the man that her sister's ancestors are in love with.

This was a bit of a weird story, but it was quite intriguing. I don't think I can say it was my favorite fantasy novel, but it was fun to listen to.

I absolutely loved this novel! From the very first paragraphs Sayers is able to draw the audience in with mystery and a little bit of humor. I don't normally tend to read stories with mystical or fantasy themes but The Ladies of the Secret Circus should be everyone's exception to their genre preference rules.

This was great. I loved the premise.. magic, circus, daemons, love, murder... all entwined in a well written novel. I feel the need for a sequel. This circus is the kind of place my mind makes up in my dreams. Details from the colors, to the descriptions of the painting, to the towns and cafes, all really made this feel relatable. It felt like you could almost see it.

4.5 stars

With the word “Circus” in the title and the promise of magic, I knew I had to read this book, and it surely did not disappoint.

As other reviewers have mentioned, it is similar to The Night Circus, but also, different. The story is not only told in alternating time lines (2004 & 1925), it is also told in alternating narrators (Lara & Cecile). The first few chapters, I was pretty unsure if I was going to like this book. I mean, what does a woman on her wedding day have to do with a Secret Circus? Thankfully I kept reading to find out.

This book has a little bit of everything- historical fiction, magical realism, fantasy, mystery all told in very dark undertones; and I loved everything about it! I would highly recommend this book if you like anything with sense of magic, darkness and, of course, circuses.

Thank you to Red Hook Books for my copy of this book via NetGalley

Fantasy in the adult realm sometimes falls into the area of being a little on the cheesy side or so non believable side. This book delivered in so many fashions! I will admit that I'm always in for the read of a book about the circus. It's so magical......and literally speaking in this book! I love the way Lara learns of her families, how she had to journey through the secrets and learn how to cope with the magical realms in her family's history as well as in her personal life. The characters in this book were well thought out and left me thinking of them as real people. I will admit there were times when the book got a little darker than what I anticipated, but all in all I really enjoyed the story in The Ladies of the Secret Circus.
Thanks you to NetGalley, Constance Sayers and Redhook Publishing for allowing me this arc copy.

A thought-provoking read!

Lara Barnes prepares for her wedding day, nervous, excited, and madly in love. But then her fiancé disappears and she must somehow come to terms with the rumors and speculation that abounds in her small hometown.

When police chief Ben Archer shows up on Lara’s doorstep with the upsetting news that Todd’s car was found in the exact same place as a disappearance from thirty years ago (to the day) the mystery grows.

The investigation turns up links to Lara’s family and fuels her search into a past stranger than anything she could have imagined.

This story takes place in two time frames and another dimension- yes, you read that right!

1925 Paris is alive with artists, writers, and a mysterious circus that only appears to those gifted with a magical ticket.


The acts are astonishing, the stars of the circus- three sisters- breathtaking. But they share a secret, one that ties them to the circus forever. They are half-mortal, half-daemon. The girls’ father is Althacasur, Lucifer’s general, a daemon with great power. He created the circus as a way for his girls to shine, and they thrived under the spotlight until one falls in love and another in lust with the same man. It creates a rift which lasts decades.

This story is unlike anything I’ve ever read but it was riveting!

There is the mystery of the missing men woven throughout the book, but the main storyline is a family saga like no other.

This is a love-it or hate-it type of book- I loved it!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
I have a little bit of a problem with sliding timelines but this was an okay book. Im not particularly fond of the writers style so I don't think it will be a favorite for me

If you found a bleeding ticket that promised an unforgettable.. killer experience. Would you go?

Lara, a descendant of a secret circus family doesn’t have much of a choice.

Wow, this book is smart. Constance Sayers made it up to me after her previous book had me looking the other way. Luckily, The Ladies of the Secret Circus has such a strong central story driving it along that I ultimately didn’t mind the contemporary real world environment which I'm typically not fond of. Added bonus was the ridiculously rich historical detail. I loved the story and enjoyed the movement from time period to time period. Sayers's ability to set a scene is just plain magical. In addition, the construction of the plot with the use of dreams and flashbacks could have been corny, but it is so well done and super effective. The story gripped me from the start, entangling me in the character's lives, all of them. But I did at times find myself wishing there was a little more magic and a bit less realism.

Overall an absolute solid read that was a nice change of pace from the darker fantasy I read frequently. Not to say this isn't dark, because I mean.. it's about a circus run by a demon from the underworld. Yup, You'd never expect it from looking at the cover but it dives into much more sinister areas.

I really liked this story, it was unlike anything else I've been reading lately which was great. I always love historical mysteries and when famous historical figures are brought to life. The demonology and magic weren't too dark or heavy, in fact althacazur was actually kind of funny. The circus and the demons actually kind of reminded me of The Good Place, with some quirky twisted humor and even some compassion for the damned souls. The pacing was just right to keep me reading but also give me permission to put the book down when I needed to. Overall this is a book I would recommend and I have no complaints.

I was really hoping this book would be like The Night Circus. I know the word circus shouldn't make them comparable, but I still felt like it should lol. This was just as good if not better than I anticipated. It had a darker vibe than I had expected and I really enjoyed the hint of magic in the story line. The writing style was a little complex, but it still kept me hooked from the beginning all the way to the end I didn't want to ever come. I would love to pick up some of the other books by this author to see if they are just as good.

The Ladies of the Secret Circus // by Constance Sayers // narrated by Emily Lawrence

This is one of the books that I definitely judged by its cover. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it and I find myself staring at it on my shelf again and again (I'm one of those people that enjoys just sitting in front of bookshelves, just staring at them). I was also lucky enough to receive the audio ARC as well so I was able to switch between the two formats. For the most part, though, I was listening to this one because I adored the narrator so much. I don't know how accurate her accents were because I don't personally know people with those accents but they sounded so well done to me. The voices she did for each character were great as well, each one so distinct from the others.

I honestly don't have a lot of things to say about this book because I am just that happy with it. It is a great mix of historical fiction, using real places and people (such as world leaders and painters), and what initially feels like magical realism but in the second half definitely turns fully towards fantasy. It also has dual timelines, which I have always loved. I know this part has seen a little criticism but I actually liked the transitions and the only thing I would say is that I wish there were more chapters of the past because they were just so interesting and intriguing! I would've loved to learn more about the secret circus! This book blends fantasy elements with enough realism and mystery to keep you glued to it the entire time, just waiting to find out what happens next and who did what. I haven't read A Witch in Time by this author yet but now I definitely need to add it to my TBR!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.