Circuses have enchanted audiences for centuries ever since showman P.T. Barnum brought them to life in 1871. Today, they live as the setting for hundreds of enchanting books that bring you straight into the magic of the circus. Although they’re not around much anymore, circuses continue to bring happiness and escapism to readers through some of the most well-loved literature. Here are six must-read books for all the lovers of the circus.
1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The night circus arrives without warning or announcement. One day it’s simply there, and the next it’s not. Set within black and white striped tents, the night circus is a unique experience full of breathtaking amazements that is only open at night and only available to those who can catch it. But, behind the scenes, two young magicians, Celia and Marco, are in competition and have been trained since childhood for this single purpose. What they don’t know though however, is that only one of them can be left standing, and the night circus is all but a stage for a battle of imagination and will. But when Celia and Marco find themselves diving headfirst into a deep and magical love, will this love be enough to leave them both still standing, or will true love be the reason for their doomed fate?
“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words.”
From The Night Circus
2. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Set in the Great Depression, Water for Elephants tells the tale of Jacob Jankowski, a recently orphaned man, who finds himself in a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, in a second-rate circus struggling to survive. When the ringleader finds out that Jacob was once a veterinary student who almost earned his degree, he puts Jacob in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. There is where he meets Marlena, the beautiful married star of the equestrian act. There, Jacob also comes across Rosie, an elephant who is deemed untrainable until he discovers a way to understand her. Told in past and present perspectives, Water for Elephants is a beautifully written tale of a love between two people who overcome incredible odds in a world where even love is a luxury that not many can afford.
“From unspeakable cruelty and brutality, to selfless acts of kindness, Water for Elephants not only has it all, but delivers it with unapologetic honesty and genuine heart felt passion.”
From RJ McGill on Goodreads
3. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett Dragna and her sister, Tella, have never left the small island where they live with their powerful and cruel father. But when Scarlett’s father arranges a marriage for her, Scarlett begins reminiscing on her dreams of seeing Caraval, the once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show. When Scarlett believes that her dreams are far from over, she receives an invitation to participate, and with the help of a mysterious sailor, Scarlett and Tella sail away to the show. But when they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by the Caraval Mastermind, Legend, and it turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first wins. Scarlett finds herself lost in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic, and she must find her sister before the consequences of losing Caraval set in.
“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”
From Caraval
4. Scythe and Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Motorcycle performer Rose Evans has spent a decade running away from her past on the road with the Silveria Circus. But when a kill goes awry and she ends up with a broken leg, she finds herself begging for help in none other than Doctor Fionn Kane’s clinic. After Fionn patches her up, Rose is stuck in Nebraska and has to find a way to build a life where running away isn’t an option. When Rose and Fionn find themselves falling in love, they realize that maybe not every broken heart can be sewn back together, and the longer you stay in one place, the higher the chance your ghosts can catch up.
“I think I fell in love with Rose when she was ready to beat down Rowan with her crutches, then made delicious homemade waffles. I get it Fionn, I get it.”
From Melissa on Goodreads
5. The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff
Set in the midst of World War II comes a novel that follows two women brought together by fate under the cover of a travelling circus. After being shunned out for becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier, 16 year old Noa rescues a Jewish baby from a boxcar set for a concentration camp and escapes into the night. There, Noa finds refuge with a German circus where she must master the trapeze to stay hidden. There she finds Astrid, the star aerialist with secrets of her own. As danger begins to close in, Noa and Astrid’s bond is tested by sacrifice, survival, and the painful truths that they each carry.
“We cannot change who we are. Sooner or later we will all have to face ourselves.”
From The Orphan’s Tale
6. The Mermaid by Christina Henry
When Amelia, a mermaid desperate to escape the ocean, trades her fins for feet after falling in love with a lonely fisherman, she begins to yearn for more. One day, after sharing years of quiet happiness on a seaside cliff, Amelia finds her fisherman missing. Heartbroken, Amelia is discovered by showman P.T. Barnum, who sees her as the perfect addition for his growing American Museum. Amelia agrees to perform as a mermaid, thinking that she’s free to leave whenever she pleases. But Barnum isn’t in the business of letting go, and Amelia soon learns that some cages are made to die in.
“At the end of the day, under all of its necessary and skillfully woven social commentary, this is a gorgeous historical fantasy tale with remarkable, three-dimensional characters, a plot that never grows stale or slow, and a protagonist that you can’t help but love and root for.”
From destiny on Goodreads
Whether it’s filled with wonder or woven with darkness, these circus stories continue to dazzle reader’s imaginations. These six books prove that even long after the tents have come down, the magic of the circus lives on within the pages of books.
Looking for more magical circus reads? Check out our article The Circus Is In Town: 5 Recommendations for Clown Week!
Find these books and more on our Bookshop Books for Circus Lovers Bookshelf!
