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 Ladies of the Secret Circus 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. *