Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody. It’s set in a traveling circus known as the Gomorrah Festival. It has strong mystery elements, illusions, and a cast of strange and magical characters. There’s also a dark and eerie undercurrent that fits a thriller vibe.
Odd-Tell-5702 on
The Night Circus
Water for Elephants
keholmes89 on
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. Not a circus but a carnival.
rachlancan on
Geek Love
Responsible_Lake_804 on
Idk if it fits your plot element request but there’s a romantic aspect, John Steinbeck’s Burning Bright is an experimental play and 1/3 of it occurs in a circus setting. Lmk if you enjoyed!
TheGreatJatsby on
Dungeon Crawler Carl, but you’ll have to get to book 2.
whskid2005 on
Cirque du freak is a fun YA series
astereae4 on
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is an excellent romantic fantasy set in a circus!
YakSlothLemon on
Mechanique: a Tale of the Circus Tresaulti by Genevieve Valentine was absolutely wonderful.
I loved The Night Circus as well!
soupysailor on
Geek Love!!!
MeetMeAtTheLampPost on
I loved the Harrow Faire series starting with The Contortionist by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. There is a romance that builds in the books.
adamsensei82 on
Anything to do with US politics.
unlovelyladybartleby on
A Son of the Circus by John Irving
suztothee on
It’s historical fiction, but The Orphans Tale is really good. Set in a traveling circus scene back in the 40s.
21 Comments
Not a fantasy but it’s set in a circus:
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody. It’s set in a traveling circus known as the Gomorrah Festival. It has strong mystery elements, illusions, and a cast of strange and magical characters. There’s also a dark and eerie undercurrent that fits a thriller vibe.
The Night Circus
Water for Elephants
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. Not a circus but a carnival.
Geek Love
Idk if it fits your plot element request but there’s a romantic aspect, John Steinbeck’s Burning Bright is an experimental play and 1/3 of it occurs in a circus setting. Lmk if you enjoyed!
Dungeon Crawler Carl, but you’ll have to get to book 2.
Cirque du freak is a fun YA series
When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley is an excellent romantic fantasy set in a circus!
Mechanique: a Tale of the Circus Tresaulti by Genevieve Valentine was absolutely wonderful.
I loved The Night Circus as well!
Geek Love!!!
I loved the Harrow Faire series starting with The Contortionist by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. There is a romance that builds in the books.
Anything to do with US politics.
A Son of the Circus by John Irving
It’s historical fiction, but The Orphans Tale is really good. Set in a traveling circus scene back in the 40s.
Like Water for Elephants, Spangle.
FYI, Water for Elephants is NOT FUN!
Son of a Circus by John Irving.
Water for Elephants