Paris, 1940, and the city of lights has gone dark.
Twenty-year-old Michel Bonnet earns a living breaking and caring for horses on the outskirts of the city. But as the Nazis invade, Michel flees Paris and takes refuge as a stowaway on a train headed for the rural South…and so begins the journey that will change his life.
The train belongs to a travelling circus whose Ringmaster, Werner Neumann, is a troubled and irritable man. Neumann offers Michel a job caring for the troupes horses, an opportunity that comes with some unusual conditions. Michel must keep to himself and never speak of what takes place behind the glittering curtain.
But as Michel finds himself pulled into the wondrous world of the great spectacular he begins to doubt if he can keep his word. Especially, when it comes to the beautiful trapeze artist Frieda - the graceful, green-eyed star of the show.
I have always loved historical fiction, especially those set during WWII. Usually those I read are set in the UK, depicting the home front and full of the British blitz spirit. But lately, I’ve found myself reading novels set in different countries that were affected by the war, particularly those that were under occupation.
This is one such novel, starting in Paris and moving through several rural French villages. This is a story of romance, friendship and hope, set against the captivating and colourful backdrop of the circus.
Michel is a wonderful main protagonist, he is kind and gentle, and his scenes with the horses and Bertrand are so heartwarming. The whole cast are enticingly eclectic, each with their own story of what brought them to the circus, shrouded in an air of mystery and magic.
This book, this story, had me entranced from the beginning. Even under the shadow and trials of war the reader is swept along on the characters journeys, celebrating every high and feeling every low.
However, I do have just a few tiny negative points, which is so disappointing as this was a 5-star read for me all the way through. Firstly, the title is a major plot spoiler, which I won’t go into in detail. Secondly, the last two chapters are changed from a third person narrative to first person, which I found caused somewhat of a jarring effect on my reading; and lastly, the ending felt rushed and just a tad too conventional after such a whimsical tale.
That aside, this is a truly sensational debut novel. Carly Schabowski is definitely one to watch out for, I certainly will be.
** Thanks to The Bookouture, via NetGalley, for this ARC **
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