The Carnivale of Curiosities
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
A dazzling gothic tale of Faustian bargains, jealousy, and murder set in a spectacular circus, where star-crossed lovers' destinies are forged at an unexpected price—perfect for readers of V. E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
In Victorian London, where traveling sideshows are the very pinnacle of entertainment, there is no more coveted ticket than Ashe and Pretorius' Carnivale of Curiosities. Each performance is a limited engagement, and London's elite boldly dare the dangerous streets of Southwark to witness the Carnivale's astounding assemblage of marvels. For a select few, however, the real show begins behind the curtain. Rumors abound that the show’s proprietor, Aurelius Ashe, is more than an average magician. It's said that for the right price, he can make any wish come true. No one knows the truth of this claim better than Lucien the Lucifer, the Carnivale's star attraction. Born with the ability to create fire, he's dazzled spectators since he was a boy.
When Odilon Rose, one of the most notorious men in London, comes calling with a proposition regarding his young and beautiful charge, Charlotte, Ashe is tempted to refuse. After revealing, however, that Rose holds a secret that threatens the security of the troupe's most vulnerable members, Ashe has no choice but to sign an insidious contract.
The stakes grow higher as Lucien finds himself drawn to Charlotte and her to him, an attraction that spurs a perilous course of events. Grave secrets, recovered horrors, and what it means to be family come to a head in this vividly imagined spectacle—with the lives of all those involved suspended in the balance.
Includes a Reading Group Guide.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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.
