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thebrunettebookjunkie's review against another edition
4.0
When the Germans make their way to Paris in 1940, Michel Bonnet and his friend and neighbor, Bertrand, try to flee the city that they love. In the end, Bertrand decides to stay but secures Michel passage on a train as a stowaway. What Michel quickly discovers is that this is no ordinary train, it belongs to a circus. Ringmaster Wernher allows him to stay to work with the horses which is Michel's specialty but gives him strict rules and guidelines. Michel quickly falls in love with Freida, the raven haired trapeze artist who seems to belong to the ringmaster. There is something else going on within this group of misfits that Michel can't quite put his finger on but with war all around them, will their lives or their secrets stay safe?
I love historical fiction especially stories that take place in Paris and France. Set all that up against the backdrop of a circus and you have a winning recipe for a great book. I fell in love with the characters that Carly Schabowski created. I was enthralled from the beginning just by imagery alone which she does very well. There were plenty of times that the plot wasn't very deep but the story moved along based on her characters and setting. Rarely, do you get a historical fiction novel that leaves you with a truly happy ending but this one does. If WWII fiction can be lighthearted, this one is it.
I love historical fiction especially stories that take place in Paris and France. Set all that up against the backdrop of a circus and you have a winning recipe for a great book. I fell in love with the characters that Carly Schabowski created. I was enthralled from the beginning just by imagery alone which she does very well. There were plenty of times that the plot wasn't very deep but the story moved along based on her characters and setting. Rarely, do you get a historical fiction novel that leaves you with a truly happy ending but this one does. If WWII fiction can be lighthearted, this one is it.
melaniesreads's review against another edition
4.0
This has to be one of the most exquisitely detailed books I’ve ever read, in fact I would go as far as to say it is so sumptuous in its imagery, that I found myself walking alongside Michel through the streets of Paris.
Sitting listening to the radio with Bertrand they hear that the war is moving closer and Bertrand pushes Michel into the decision to leave their apartments and flee to safety.
But Bertrand was never going to leave and after bidding farewell he pushes Michel onto a train and into a new adventure, as the train he has stowed away on is a circus train constantly on the move. The circus troupe consisting of the ringmaster, strongman, bearded lady, trapeze artists, an old lion and horses amongst the usual or perhaps unusual figures of a circus.
What then follows is a story of friendships formed against the backdrop of war, of love and romance and ultimately hope.
I will be upfront and admit that historical fiction isn’t my usual choice of read although I have read Water for elephants which I have seen this book compared to. However I am glad I left my comfort zone of thrillers to pick up this wonderful book. I will also admit that Bertrand was my favourite character and I would happily sit in one of his armchairs and describe this adventure to him like he used to do with his wife.
Rich in characterisation and setting imagery I implore you to read this and go travelling with the circus, but just make sure you pack a tissue.
Sitting listening to the radio with Bertrand they hear that the war is moving closer and Bertrand pushes Michel into the decision to leave their apartments and flee to safety.
But Bertrand was never going to leave and after bidding farewell he pushes Michel onto a train and into a new adventure, as the train he has stowed away on is a circus train constantly on the move. The circus troupe consisting of the ringmaster, strongman, bearded lady, trapeze artists, an old lion and horses amongst the usual or perhaps unusual figures of a circus.
What then follows is a story of friendships formed against the backdrop of war, of love and romance and ultimately hope.
I will be upfront and admit that historical fiction isn’t my usual choice of read although I have read Water for elephants which I have seen this book compared to. However I am glad I left my comfort zone of thrillers to pick up this wonderful book. I will also admit that Bertrand was my favourite character and I would happily sit in one of his armchairs and describe this adventure to him like he used to do with his wife.
Rich in characterisation and setting imagery I implore you to read this and go travelling with the circus, but just make sure you pack a tissue.
bitofabookworm's review against another edition
2.0
I was sucked in in by the cover...ever since reading 'Water for Elephants' a few years ago, I have been drawn to circus themed books.
This however was a mild book, if I'm totally honest I really struggled to connect with it, and wasn't desperately wanting to pick it back up.
Set in France, during WWII the book follows Michel who escapes Paris around the time of the German invasion, and finds himself tacking along with a circus train, tending their horses and being drawn to the mysterious performer, Freida. He has however, been forbidden by Ringmaster Werner from mixing with the performers.
The story itself is pleasant enough, and the writing is easy - but it felt quite slow paced at times.
Thank you to NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.
This however was a mild book, if I'm totally honest I really struggled to connect with it, and wasn't desperately wanting to pick it back up.
Set in France, during WWII the book follows Michel who escapes Paris around the time of the German invasion, and finds himself tacking along with a circus train, tending their horses and being drawn to the mysterious performer, Freida. He has however, been forbidden by Ringmaster Werner from mixing with the performers.
The story itself is pleasant enough, and the writing is easy - but it felt quite slow paced at times.
Thank you to NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.
lenoirleon's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Ringmaster's Daughter tells the story of Michel, a young French man, who leaves Paris just as the Germans arrive at the beginning of World War Two. He stows away on a circus train, is kicked off the train, but then brought back not much later. Werner, the ringmaster, forces him to promise that he will train a new stallion within a week in exchange for continuing to work with the circus. Though Michel doesn't quite get the horse trained in time, he manages to become part of the group and is allowed to stay. As he spends months traveling, he comes to know the performers and the workers.
I feel like I keep saying this about books that I get from here, but the pacing in this book was what kept me from truly enjoying it. Perhaps its the fact that the summary (and one of the goodreads subtitles) mentions that it's a World War II romance, but skirts around the war for the most part. Not to mention the minimal romance. The summary on Goodreads also makes it seem that Michel isn't allowed to see the performers,
To me, there was not the amount of mystery and suspense that seems promised in this excerpt. It was an okay read, but I don't know that I would read it again.
The Ringmaster's Daughter tells the story of Michel, a young French man, who leaves Paris just as the Germans arrive at the beginning of World War Two. He stows away on a circus train, is kicked off the train, but then brought back not much later. Werner, the ringmaster, forces him to promise that he will train a new stallion within a week in exchange for continuing to work with the circus. Though Michel doesn't quite get the horse trained in time, he manages to become part of the group and is allowed to stay. As he spends months traveling, he comes to know the performers and the workers.
I feel like I keep saying this about books that I get from here, but the pacing in this book was what kept me from truly enjoying it. Perhaps its the fact that the summary (and one of the goodreads subtitles) mentions that it's a World War II romance, but skirts around the war for the most part. Not to mention the minimal romance. The summary on Goodreads also makes it seem that Michel isn't allowed to see the performers,
" Why does the man with the performing monkey never speak, and the sword swallower turn his face away? Who are the silent, shadowy figures who flit like moths between the wagons when the sun is down? It’s clear that Neumann is keeping his performers hidden away… but why? And how can Michel win the love of the beautiful and exotic trapeze artist Freida – the graceful, green-eyed star of Neuman’s spectacular – when he’s been forbidden to even meet her gaze?"
To me, there was not the amount of mystery and suspense that seems promised in this excerpt. It was an okay read, but I don't know that I would read it again.
unwrappingwords's review against another edition
3.0
Michel enjoys his life in Paris, working with horses and living near his dearest friend. But the Nazis are edging closer to the city, and even if Michel doesn’t want to leave, his friend knows he must. Michel ends up on a train heading south, only to discover the train belongs to a circus. Michel joins the circus to look after their horses, despite the hostility from the ringmaster. And Michel falls in love with the mysterious trapeze artist, although he feels she can never really be his.
Okay, firstly: I liked the first part of this book. Enjoyed it, and until about halfway through it would have maybe been a 5 Star, but everything felt off after that. The description at the start was intriguing, Michel a likeable if dim character, and the situations presented with the Nazis drawing ever closer made for some good tension.
But almost as soon as the threat itself is pressed on the characters, it lost the things that made it good in the first place.
Firstly, the title is The Ringmaster’s Daughter, but Michel spends a vast majority of the book not realising the woman he loves isn’t his boss’s wife. It would have been handled better if he found out sooner, but instead it’s stretched out for so long it becomes frustrating, it’s treated like a huge reveal, and even the conversations that take place regarding her are confusing. The way Michel talks makes it clear what he thinks, but not a single person corrects him.
And it’s built up as a great big love story, but Michel barely even speaks to her, just spends half his time lusting over her while sleeping with someone else.
The actual female characters here aren’t great. The two main women exist solely for Michel, never interacting with one another, and the others are barely existent in themselves, like mannequins that only come to life when looked directly at. By about three-quarters of the way through this book, I was frustrated. The dialogue was bland, the interactions between Michel and his ‘love’ felt like two fish who kept headbutting each other in a bowel, and the fact this was during World War 2 seemed forgotten for the most part, unless it was required for the plot.
So much of this story hinged on the idea of a ‘mysterious circus’, but we don’t even get to see the circus itself, and things are only a mystery because Michel cannot be bother to do much of anything. He goes from dim but likable to just dim and boring, never really doing much except reacting to what was happening.
This is set in France, when the Nazis invade, but you’d be forgiven for forgetting that during the book’s meandering plot. Michel, for the most part, seems happy to ignore what is really going on, to not pay attention to the way others are reacting, to ignoring the news they get filtered through to them. He just doesn’t seem to care about much of anything.
And then there’s the ending. The ending, which could have been really strong and redeemed the book, instead felt like it was tacked on, like the author had an idea in mind for how to end, but changed it at the last minute. The last section feels both rushed and too slow, with no real reason for it.
I was really keen to give this book a try. I thought there’d be a bit of magic to it, a grand romance, an intriguing setting. Instead, this book let me down, and it could have been so much better than it really was. I felt like the author had the ability to create something really compelling, but got bored of their own story, right when things should have got interesting.
Okay, firstly: I liked the first part of this book. Enjoyed it, and until about halfway through it would have maybe been a 5 Star, but everything felt off after that. The description at the start was intriguing, Michel a likeable if dim character, and the situations presented with the Nazis drawing ever closer made for some good tension.
But almost as soon as the threat itself is pressed on the characters, it lost the things that made it good in the first place.
Firstly, the title is The Ringmaster’s Daughter, but Michel spends a vast majority of the book not realising the woman he loves isn’t his boss’s wife. It would have been handled better if he found out sooner, but instead it’s stretched out for so long it becomes frustrating, it’s treated like a huge reveal, and even the conversations that take place regarding her are confusing. The way Michel talks makes it clear what he thinks, but not a single person corrects him.
And it’s built up as a great big love story, but Michel barely even speaks to her, just spends half his time lusting over her while sleeping with someone else.
The actual female characters here aren’t great. The two main women exist solely for Michel, never interacting with one another, and the others are barely existent in themselves, like mannequins that only come to life when looked directly at. By about three-quarters of the way through this book, I was frustrated. The dialogue was bland, the interactions between Michel and his ‘love’ felt like two fish who kept headbutting each other in a bowel, and the fact this was during World War 2 seemed forgotten for the most part, unless it was required for the plot.
So much of this story hinged on the idea of a ‘mysterious circus’, but we don’t even get to see the circus itself, and things are only a mystery because Michel cannot be bother to do much of anything. He goes from dim but likable to just dim and boring, never really doing much except reacting to what was happening.
This is set in France, when the Nazis invade, but you’d be forgiven for forgetting that during the book’s meandering plot. Michel, for the most part, seems happy to ignore what is really going on, to not pay attention to the way others are reacting, to ignoring the news they get filtered through to them. He just doesn’t seem to care about much of anything.
And then there’s the ending. The ending, which could have been really strong and redeemed the book, instead felt like it was tacked on, like the author had an idea in mind for how to end, but changed it at the last minute. The last section feels both rushed and too slow, with no real reason for it.
I was really keen to give this book a try. I thought there’d be a bit of magic to it, a grand romance, an intriguing setting. Instead, this book let me down, and it could have been so much better than it really was. I felt like the author had the ability to create something really compelling, but got bored of their own story, right when things should have got interesting.
curlyjessreads's review against another edition
3.0
I was provided a free copy of this ebook from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
When Michel stows away on a train escaping the Nazi's arrival in Paris, he soon realizes it's not an ordinary train. The circus troupe he meets allows him to stay and work as their horse trainer. A lot of this felt forced. Over half the book Michel thinks Freida is married to the Ringmaster. But... As you see from the title of the story, she is not! Seemed like unnecessary angst/drama. I also struggled to like Michel. He just kinda let things happen to him and never seemed to take action. People kept telling him what to do (including tricking him into even leaving Paris), and so he did it. The circus characters were interesting, and I was curious where the story was leading. The ending was pretty satisfactory, but overall not the best.
#TheRingmastersDaughter #NetGalley
When Michel stows away on a train escaping the Nazi's arrival in Paris, he soon realizes it's not an ordinary train. The circus troupe he meets allows him to stay and work as their horse trainer. A lot of this felt forced. Over half the book Michel thinks Freida is married to the Ringmaster. But... As you see from the title of the story, she is not! Seemed like unnecessary angst/drama. I also struggled to like Michel. He just kinda let things happen to him and never seemed to take action. People kept telling him what to do (including tricking him into even leaving Paris), and so he did it. The circus characters were interesting, and I was curious where the story was leading. The ending was pretty satisfactory, but overall not the best.
#TheRingmastersDaughter #NetGalley
mariahandbooks's review
3.0
I liked the characters but I felt like something was missing. It also felt like there was no romantic development between Michael and Freida. He sees her once and decides it’s love.
kolakubez07's review against another edition
4.0
This book was just delightful, set during the times of WWII, it’s a story of escaping and being free, losing people to refind them later down the line.
Michel is escaping from Paris, the war and the Germans but doesn’t want to leave his friend Bertrand. After some persuasion, Michel finds himself getting involved with the circus who are also trying to stay safe and escape.
It’s during the time at the circus, Michel falls in love with Frieda and at first believes he can’t have her.
If you like your WWII based stories but getting a little disheartened with them being all samey samey, then give this read - it makes you just awww at the end!
Michel is escaping from Paris, the war and the Germans but doesn’t want to leave his friend Bertrand. After some persuasion, Michel finds himself getting involved with the circus who are also trying to stay safe and escape.
It’s during the time at the circus, Michel falls in love with Frieda and at first believes he can’t have her.
If you like your WWII based stories but getting a little disheartened with them being all samey samey, then give this read - it makes you just awww at the end!