A review by jess_mango
The Ringmaster's Daughter by Carly Schabowski

3.0

It is 1940 on the eve of the Nazi troops arriving in Paris. 20-year old Michel lives alone in the apartment he once resided in with his now deceased mother. His neighbor convinces Michel to board a train to escape Paris. The train Michel stows away on happens to belong to small circus troupe. The circus is run by the ringmaster, Werner. Werner agrees to allow Michel to temporarily tag along working as a horse trainer, as long as Michel keeps to himself and doesn't talk to the circus performers. Michel finds himself drawn to Freida, the beautiful trapeze artist.

This book was a slow burn. We are pulled into this traveling band of outcasts slowly working their way across France under the shadow of the Nazis. We meet the various members of the circus troupe. None of the characters are developed very deeply and I didn't get that circus atmosphere felling as much as I'd hoped. The title of the book threw me off a little and was a bit of a spoiler. We don't learn who the titular character is until about 60% of the way through the book. This is the point where the action also picks up.

I recommend this book to historical fiction fans particularly those that involve a circus or carnival.


I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.