Review by Booklist Review
In October 1887, the formidable illusionist Aurelius Ashe and his immensely popular Carnivale of Curiosities returns to the Athenaeum Theatre in Southwark, London, after a seven-year absence. Odilon Rose, a cruel, abusive man with too much money and power, needs access to Ashe's particular otherworldly abilities while also wanting to prove that he can outwit him. Hiring criminals with past grudges to harass Ashe and his performers, including the star, Lucien the Lucifer, Odilon reopens old wounds that could destroy them all. First-time novelist Gibbs crafts a strong sense of time and place through descriptions of the physical world as well as the societal expectations for the rich and poor in Victorian England; she also deftly weaves threads of darkness into all the characters while portraying the Carnivale as a close-knit, found-family unit. Tension builds as the fragility of life is repeatedly tested, and dangerous lies unravel the ties binding lives together. Unique and emotionally engaging, Gibbs' tale may appeal to fans of Mexican Gothic (2020) by Silvia Moreno-Garcia as well as readers enthralled by Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allan Poe.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Gibbs sets her dark and glamorous debut in Victorian London, where Aurelius Ashe's Carnivale of Curiosities, a travelling sideshow based in the city, employs people with unusual abilities. Its star is Lucien the Lucifer, Aurelius's son, who has a talent for conjuring fire--and whose very existence hinges on a secret that makes his father a much sought-after man. Rumors fly that Aurelius's magic is the real deal, and that--for the right price--he'll grant even the most impossible wish. This talent puts him on the radar of notorious businessman Odilon Rose, who hopes to cure his ward, Charlotte, of her hemophilia and sets out to blackmail the Ashes into acquiescence. As Lucien and Charlotte alike question their roles in their unusual families, secrets come to light and the pair develop a doomed affection for each other. Through lyrical prose, Gibbs builds an atmospheric historical world with danger and magic around every corner. The carnival's minor acts steal the show; it's harder to connect with the main characters, whose backstories come too little too late. Still, this vibrant and unusual circus is well worth a visit. Agent: Julie Barer, Book Group. (July)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT In Gibbs's gothic, Faustian debut novel, the Carnivale of Curiosities performs its astounding acts in Victorian London while the real show goes on behind the scenes. The story promises high stakes, blackmail, the supernatural, and an eccentric sideshow family, and delivers on some of it. It is beautifully presented, with vivid descriptions of the most minute aspects of setting. However, the characters, and there is a robust troupe of them, often feel one-dimensional, and the point of view too quickly cycles between multiple players without adding as much depth to the story as seems necessary. Additionally, while it is easy to like the quirky players on the surface, some readers will find it difficult to connect on a deeper level. The plot is intriguing and smartly woven together but sometimes feels too slow to develop, and the stakes aren't high enough. VERDICT This novel will appeal to those who deeply loved V.E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, but may be a tough sell for others.--Kara Jonson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A Faustian battle of wits and wills set in Victorian England. London's elite flock to the seedy borough of Southwark when Ashe & Pretorius' Carnivale of Curiosities returns for a two-week engagement at the theater they call home--an elaborately renovated former debtors prison built on the Newington Crossroads. Conjoined child tumblers, an albino aerialist, and a hirsute violin virtuoso share the stage with a doll-sized ballerina, a disappearing juggler, and Lucien, a winged fire-conjurer called "the Lucifer." Most attendees come for the spectacle, but some have heard whispers that the troupe's leader, illusionist Aurelius Ashe, is capable of true magic and come seeking a miracle. Wealthy, influential banker Odilon Rose falls into the latter camp, medicine having failed to cure the leukemia of his 23-year-old ward and reluctant paramour, Charlotte Bainbridge. Ashe despises Rose from the start and has an acrimonious history with Rose's henchmen. He endeavors to decline the man's request, but Rose reveals he has information that could destroy Lucien, so Ashe agrees to help--for a price. Rose signs the strange contract Ashe proffers, certain he can find a way to break it. Debut author Gibbs dazzles with lush, evocative prose, delightfully diabolical plotting, and abundant heart. Individual characters may lack dimension, but the dynamics of the found family formed by the "curiosities" add more than enough nuance and emotional complexity to compensate. Subtle worldbuilding elevates the tale's intrigue without distracting from the action. Darkly enchanting and grimly gratifying. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
