I tried to get into this book on two different occasions and just couldn't get very far into it. I saw it being compared to Addie LaRue which is one of my absolute favorites and what inspired me to request this. The story seemed intriguing and atmospheric. So promising!

Unfortunately, I found the writing heavy and wordy, the plot to be slow moving, and I didn't immediately connect to the characters. I did not finish, but may pick it up again in the future when I can perhaps appreciate it better. If so, I will update my feedback to reflect my full thoughts.

If you're a fan of the Illusionist/The Prestige/Ripper Street/etc pick up this book! I listened to it on audio and the narrator is fantastic, reminded me a lot of the iconic Jim Dale on the Harry Potter audios. This is a story about a girl, stuck in a world not geared toward women in the 1800s but also with magic. I'm not into regency romance at all, but give me a story set in the less than impressive areas of the 1800s and I'm all for it. This isn't a romance, this isn't a fantasy. It's a story set in a real time and place with some fantastical elements but all the more real because of it.

The Carnivale of Curiosities lush descriptions made for an incredibly immersive magic circus read. This troup of inclusive misfits lead a dark, intriguing story. Their tale was slow building, causing my interest to wane by the middle of the book. It also got a bit twisted and confusing.

Strange things go on with this circus. Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy.

A Carnivale of Wonderful

First, thanks to NetGalley for this one! I was intrigued by the description but didn’t have any expectations. Sometimes that is to the good and sometimes not - for I never seem to check Goodreads before requesting a title and that can lead to confusion on my part often when I end up reading book 3 or 10 in a series…. And for some series like a cozy that’s not a huge deal while other series… well, it can present a challenge! But it also means that I only have the blurb in NetGalley and the cover to go on.

My expectations for The Carnivale of Curiosities by Amiee Gibbs were really limited to Victorian London, some magic and maybe a little romance. The first few chapters drew me in, with not a tremendous amount of action, but great tone setting and introductions to most of the main characters. Not a lot of magic either, but there was clearly the hint of something more with each of them. There were hints to so much as we are introduced to the setting and what will eventually be the reveal(s) if you are paying attention. And while I was able to guess one of the little mysteries that were presented as the plot progressed, I wasn’t stressing over it because it was a glorious spectacle to try and just enjoy the show!

There were moments when I thought that there might be either a steampunk aspect (one could argue that there was a little of this in the stage and craftsmanship of the master builder but that wasn’t really the way this went) or a religious aspect (one could also argue that the abilities and explanation give a little of this) but neither played any significant part. Instead, it was the wonderful characters, excellent dialogue, and fresh story with twists and turns in all the right places that made this such a joy to read. I also wondered if this was taking a turn at Jack the Ripper but that turned out to not be the case either. Instead, a few elements of religious superstition come into play but the subtlety was masterful and not only wasn’t preachy but in many ways is was religious agnostic since what we did see is represented in many different religions.

I really hope the was not a one-time story but the start of something bigger because I would love to visit this world, and these characters again!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me this Advanced Readers Copy of The Carnivale of Curiosities by Amiee Gibbs!

I'm not sure if I wasn't in the mood for this book or if I just didn't enjoy it. The premise is very interesting. A "Freak Show" type circus where most of the participants are actually magical. I had very high hopes, but unfortunately I found the writing a bit hard to follow. I had many moments where I had to go back and re-read overly wordy sentences to simply understand what was being said. There was a lot of description and I felt the plot was slow moving, especially in the beginning which kept me from being drawn into the story.

I ultimately did not finish and had to put the book down at about 50%. With that being said, I will pick this book back up at some point to see if the above opinion changes with the change of the season which is entirely a possibility.

I do not know why, but I had difficulty getting into this story. I stuck with it though and was rewarded with an interesting story about a carnivale that I would love to go see perform. My favorite parts were the shows and I was fascinated by Aurelius, especially when his secret was revealed. I also kept reading because I was hoping that Odilon Rose would get what he deserved. Kinda funny that I was rooting for Aurelius over Odilon.

I was not a fan of Charlotte though. She was wishy washy and annoying, until the end. She did redeem her actions then and I actually would not mind reading more about this world and Carnivale with the people as they have changed. Harlequin is awesome, and Pretorious was a cool inventor. I think Aurelius is doing a fine job collecting people for his Carnivale.

The Carnivale of Curiosities is Amiee Gibbs' debut novel,and I am excited to see where her career goes. A bewitching and exciting Carnivale plot? Love. The writing was lyrical and novel. I do wish the book was edited down a bit especially with some of the superfluous words. Overall, I liked the characters and would check our Gibb's next book!

I meant to sit on this review to let my thoughts settle and nearly forgot I'd read the book. I do think this is perfect for fans of the Night Circus, and I'll definitely read more by this author, but for a book that held the promise of brimming emotions and interesting conflicts of character, it felt a little stayed. That said, I'd definitely read more by this author!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure how to feel.? The writing was good, but perhaps a little pretentious. If you have to Word Hippo every other word to understand a sentence perhaps you're trying too hard. The story was just okay. I guess I was expecting more "The Night Circus" vibes get spooky type of thing given the title and the premise. However, it fell flat for me.

Kind of a mixed bag.

I loved how immersive this book was, and Gibbs did a wonderful job on the atmosphere and setting. Less wonderful was the story, which needed an infusion of originality to balance out all the tropey fantasy stuff that we’ve seen many times before.

Anytime a book involves a Faustian bargain, it’s marketing is bound to attempt to compare it to Addie LaRue, but with this book and many others like it, the comparison does more harm than good. It doesn’t actually have much in common with Addie in tone or specific plot, and just suffers from the comparison because it’s a perfectly fine but significantly lesser book.

It’s a bit difficult to keep all the characters straight, probably because there isn’t enough differentiation in voice between the major protagonists and too much dialogue / not enough descriptive content for the minor ones.

If you’re just looking for something with solidly macabre vibes and excellent setting, this will work fine for you. But if you’re most concerned about plot, there are many better circus/Victorian faux-Gothic/Faustian bargain novels on offer.

{4.5/5}

CW: mentions of rape/assault, violence, some gore, some others

Read as an ARC copy via NetGalley.

Ashe and Pretorious’ Carnivale of Curiosities has returned to London after years of travel. Odilon Rose seeks a cure for Charlotte Bainbridge’s terminal illness. Aurelius Ashe, of the aforementioned Ashe and Pretorious, is an illusionist, a magician, some might say a miracle-worker, and Rose is convinced that Ashe is the key to Charlotte’s problem. But things are rarely what they seem, especially in a Carnivale.

It takes a great deal of talent to capture both the magic and the tragedy of a thing, yet Gibbs has accomplished it in spades. I don’t even really have words to describe the story she’s told here, but I’m already prepared to go back and re-read just to drown myself in the magical fever dream that was this book. It’s a bit of a dangerous skill, really.

A mesmerizing blend of a subtle, sturdy backdrop and an intriguing panoply of characters, “The Carnivale of Curiosities” weaves a tale of omission and misdirection, those key components in any good illusionist’s toolbox. Layer after layer of information is revealed, and the story fully embraces the idea that not every loose end has to be fully hashed out and tied up. While most books would suffer as a result, this one seems to thrive on the mystery, which gives it the feeling that the reader has simply peeked in through a door and is catching a glimpse of a life in passing. It’s a delicious whirlwind of a tale, and one I can see myself revising many, many times.

“Hell is empty, and all the devils are here.”

Unfortunately my college library does not maintain a large collection of fiction novels. As a result we will not be purchasing this title. However I did enjoy reading it.

WOW! - This book had EVERYTHING I love and more. As soon as I saw it took place in Victorian London, I was sold and basically went in blind, but oh my goodness, I had such a fun time reading this. The world building was so rich and painted such a vivid picture of Victorian London and all the oddities therein, because let's face it, Victorian London was weird. Gibbs' descriptions and inserts of historical facts was masterclass--as soon as she mentioned mudlarkers, I knew I was going to love this. The fantasy aspect was sublime, and there are so many little reveals throughout that had me at the edge of my seat! Faustian bargains? Revenants? Victorian steampunk?? Yes, yes, yes--checked all my boxes. The cast of characters were so fascinating, but the characters that stood out most for me was Aurelius (Imagine Luc from Addie LaRue but better), Timothy, and I love a good villain, so Rose definitely kept my interest throughout. There was romance between two of the main characters, but it is slow-burn, and I really appreciate that it didn't get in the way of the plot. Very well-balanced, sweet, not forced at all. Can't wait to see what happens between Charlotte and Lucien.


Thank you to Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book

Ideally, I like to give any ARC I read about 25% of its length to impress me before I either decide to DNF the book or to soldier on and see if I can complete it, despite knowing it’s going to be a slog and I’m not going to enjoy it much. Such was the dilemma I felt at the 25% mark of The Carnivale of Curiosities. I chose not to DNF it and to continue on, hoping for some sort of redemption in the rather one-dimensional characters that seemed plucked from some sort of B plot in a Six of Crows spinoff or a pick up in the plodding pace of a sagging plot.

Really, neither happened for me.

For a book that had a really great opening sentence to hook the reader, the book itself seems like a mish mash of Six of Crows, The Night Circus, movies like the Prestige and tv shows like Penny Dreadful or Carnival Row. Fantasy just on its own stands on the shoulders of giants because it’s genre fiction; in the case of historical fantasy writers need to be even more careful because they have that historical, real world ephemera that’s floating around their world building and plot too. You can’t stray too far outside the bounds of what really happened unless you want to classify your book as Alternative Earth fiction (think Steampunk or Gaslamp).

I just ended up thinking this book moved too slow, was too predictable, the characters were just not given the care and attention they should have been, and it really shouldn’t take until you’re into the second act of the book for the inciting event to happen, no matter how long the book is.

That being said, Gibbs is an excellent writer when it comes to setting a scene and when it comes to prose. I think that some better editing would have made this book shine. I hope to see more from her in the future.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you. As per personal policy, this review will not be posted to any social media or bookseller website due to receiving a rating of three stars or lower.

The Carnivale of Curiosities is a beautifully written, dazzling tale of magic, mystery, and intrigue set in gothic London. This is one of those books that will have you reflecting back on the world, the characters, and the story long after finishing it. The author carefully crafts each character, whether hero or villain, so that the reader truly feels that they understand why that character is the way they are. I absolutely loved Luce. The scene when he finally learns the truth of his history is one of the most beautifully written and emotionally jarring scenes I've read in a long time. The themes of family, freedom, desire, and consequence are elegantly molded into the story. Much of the book focuses on how each character suffers from a trauma and how they react to that trauma. The obvious villains in this book are truly evil; however, with that said, there are also characters that one could argue are both hero and villain. This is one of those books that makes me want to sit down with a group of readers and dissect it. While I acknowledge that this book may not be for everyone, I will definitely be recommending The Carnivale of Curiosities.

*Note* - There are definitely parts of this book that could be triggering, so I'd recommend looking at any content warnings out there before reading.

The Carnivale of Curiosities has a strong gothic novel feel. Set in 1880s London, this is a story with many themes. Aurelius Ashe is a magician, imbued with powers that go beyond illusion, yet also involve his subjects' illusions. Together with a masterful carpenter, inventor of machinery and careful craftsman, Mr. Pretorius, Ashe is responsible for having done something far out of bounds in saving the life of Luce. At one point, this was very publicly known, but now that Luce is a young man, it has been many years since he was called Lazarus. Ashe owns a troupe made up of "curiosities" who travel the world. More than a freak show, each member has developed their talents to be both performing artists as well as being individuals who are different. Columbine, the Albino woman from Africa who is a gifted gymnastic and silks performer; Angelique a tiny woman who dances; Georgie, a body covered in hair and still a boy plays beautiful violin. There are people in the troupe who can read minds, who can make fire and create pictures with it; who can shape change and go about invisible in the world. Some of these gifts are supernatural/fantastical. Others are developed from inate talent.

Across London from the Athenaeum Theater where the Carnivale is playing every night is the Rose home, one of the grandest residences in London, where Milbrough Rose, now dead, established his family. He was highly successful in banking and less known very lucrative business. His son Odilon now heads the house. Florence, Odilon's younger sister is married off to an elderly judge and his ward, a beautiful young woman named Charlotte, has leukemia. Odilon desperately wants to save her life. Charlotte came to the family when her mother, a former nursemaid to the children, passed away.

Odilon has done his homework, hiring individuals who could bring harm to Ashe because he wants something from him and he wants to ensure he gets it. Ashe knows the Roses and is ambivalent about helping. So begins the dance between two powerful men, each with complex personalities and of questionable morality. The various connections between and among the characters are revealed along the way. Violence is perpetrated. We are called upon to consider the condition of people in 1880s London with a twist as to who is really blessed in their lives and who is not. It asks the question, "What is possible and do we want what is possible?" There is a bit of the old cult favorite movie, "Freaks" in this; a bit of Jack the Ripper;, a bit of Mary Shelly/Frankenstein; and lots and lots of atmosphere. Overall I was really engaged with the story, the writing, the setting and the characters. I did not love the ending, but it leaves open possibilities that there is more to come, so I am okay with it. I can definitely recommend this to anyone attracted to this kind of story. Very well done. 4.5 stars rounded down.

The writing in this book is great, and the characters are fascinating. It is a slow burn, and it took me a while to really get into it. I liked it as a one time read but I don't think it will be one of my top of the year.

Book Name: The Carnival of Curiosities
Author: Amiee Gibbs

ARC
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Amiee Gibbs’s

Couldn't Take It any more
Marketed as having a love story subplot, I was excited to dive into a Victorian circus romance. However, our two MCs didn't even meet until 52% in. and they barely interacted with each other. To make matters worse, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, While the atmospheric and historical elements were perfect the pacing issues and overly inflated writing style became obstacles to my enjoyment. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be the next VE Shawb and not their own style. as if the author prioritized showcasing an impressive vocabulary over delivering a genuine plot. As a result, this book is the first I DNF'd at 65% I just couldn't push through anymore.

Stars: 0
Spice: UNKNOWN

Slow Paced
Victorian Era Low Fantasy Circus “Romance”

- Topics
- Freedom
- Inheritance Deal With the Devil
- Magical Realism
- Thoughts.
- What I wanted the Night Circus to be
- The dialogue was a Wonky
- Caravel but make it gothic and grown-up
- Intends to use every word in the dictionary. ( great for SAT prep lol )
- SA Trigger
- Pretentious
- Overly inflated writing
- Pacing issues
- “You caught me monologuing…. for pages”
- Atmospheric
- MCs Meet at 50%
- DNF’d at 60%

Let me just say if you loved The Night Circus by Aaron Morganstern then you’re going to love the Carnivale of Curiosities by Amy E Gibbs. I have been waiting for a book to affect me the way that book has and I have found it this book is so awesome I don’t know how anyone could give it less than five stars. Arelious Ash is the proprietor of a traveling magic show rumors abound that he can help those in need of what some would say as miracles or is it a deal with the devil?. Orland Rose is one of those people who asked for his assistance he has a ward named Charlotte Who is in desperate need of a cure for her liaise. They are back in London after a long time away and after the first show Mr. Ash is ready to meet Mr. Rose but in his sted he sends mr. Josiah Emmett most men and Mr. Ash’s position would be offended but because he is a smart practical and very intelligent man he sees things as they are and agrees with the caveat that only if Mr. Rose makes an appearance will he agreed to it if the terms are agreeable that is. Mr. Rose does want help for Charlotte but he also has other axe’s to grind with Mr. Ash he also believes that knowledge is power, but Mr. Ash knows only power is power! He also inquired about Lazareth boy, he was a boy rumored to have died and Mr. Ash brought him back to life he is now a grown man who can spit fire from his hands. There is so much more to the book how he becomes the one who really saves Charlotte and there’s nothing really detailed but they do have some triggers such as talk of pedophilia, murder end scenes with blood but if you can stomach that do yourself a favor and read this book. This really isn’t the best summary because OMG there’s so much more is Mr. Ash Satan a demon or an angel or is he god? That will be left up to the reader but you have to read the Book Tours it is so good I know I said that and I am doing a terrible job at selling this book but you really need to read it it is so so good! I absolutely loved it! I received this book from Penguin Random House and NetGalley but Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.