The Carnivale of Curiosities

Gibbs sets her dark and glamorous debut in Victorian London, where Aurelius Ashe’s Carnivale of Curiosities, a travelling sideshow based in the city, employs people with unusual abilities. Its star is Lucien the Lucifer, Aurelius’s son, who has a talent for conjuring fire—and whose very existence hinges on a secret that makes his father a much sought-after man. Rumors fly that Aurelius’s magic is the real deal, and that—for the right price—he’ll grant even the most impossible wish. This talent puts him on the radar of notorious businessman Odilon Rose, who hopes to cure his ward, Charlotte, of her hemophilia and sets out to blackmail the Ashes into acquiescence. As Lucien and Charlotte alike question their roles in their unusual families, secrets come to light and the pair develop a doomed affection for each other. Through lyrical prose, Gibbs builds an atmospheric historical world with danger and magic around every corner. The carnival’s minor acts steal the show; it’s harder to connect with the main characters, whose backstories come too little too late. Still, this vibrant and unusual circus is well worth a visit. Agent: Julie Barer, Book Group. (July)