★ 11/30/2020
Sayers (A Witch in Time) weaves romance, mystery, and a family curse into a spellbinding historical fantasy that stretches from 1920s Paris to modern-day America. In Jazz Age Paris, the Secret Circus is a place of both beauty and horror, unique because it has no physical building and only becomes visible to ticket holders. Twins Cecile and Esmé Cabot are confined to the mysterious world of the circus, where Cecile has always lived in Esmé’s shadow. But when Cecile falls for a charming young artist, the affair worsens Cecile and Esmé’s already strained relationship and the consequences of their rift stretch through time. In present-day Virginia, Lara Barnes is floored when her fiancé disappears on their wedding day, and, after coming across her great-grandmother’s journals, she sets off for Paris in search of answers. There, Lara uncovers both her family’s secret past and a curse that has plagued the women in her family for generations. The rich descriptions and fascinating settings create engagement in both timelines, and the secret of Lara’s bloodline is original and surprising. Fans of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus will love this page-turning story of dark magic, star-crossed love, and familial sacrifice. Agent: Roz Foster, Frances Godlin Literary. (Mar.)
Ambitious and teeming with magic, Sayers creates a fascinating mix of art, The Belle Époque, and more than a little murder.” —Erika Swyler, author of The Book of Speculation
"A spellbinding historical fantasy....Fans of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus will love this page-turning story of dark magic, star-crossed love, and familial sacrifice."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"At times decadent and macabre, The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a mesmerizing tale of love, treachery, and depraved magic percolating through four generations of Cabot women."—Luanne G. Smith, author of The Vine Witch
"Encompassing as many genres as a circus carousel has animals to ride, this is ultimately a story about love. Highly recommended for lovers of timeslip fiction, readers who enjoy their genres very bent indeed, and those who have dreamed of running away to the circus."—Library Journal (starred review)
"The novel’s massive network of connections—tactile and ethereal, physical and mystical—makes for a luxurious reading experience, like a rich tapestry. The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a book to get lost in. Through beautifully orchestrated prose and careful, confident pacing, Sayers constructs a story that feels like sitting down with an older relative and slowly, over hours, getting all the family secrets in one juicy, enchanted package."—BookPage
"The Ladies of the Secret Circus is a dazzling tale, laced with sinister magic, blood and beauty, love and loss. This is a book that will haunt you long after the last page is turned."—Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel
"Romance, mystery, and a family curse — The Ladies of the Secret Circus has it all.” —Popsugar
“Spellbinding. The Ladies Of The Secret Circus is a dazzling, high-wire feat of storytelling." —Catherine Taylor, author of Beyond the Moon
Praise for A Witch in Time:
"A sweeping story of magical, star-crossed love, as glamorous as it is romantic. Prepare to be dazzled." —Alma Katsu, author of The Hunger
"A captivating tapestry of a tale."— Gwendolyn Womack, bestselling author of The Fortune Teller & The Time Collector
"Fans of Deborah Harkness will devour this page-turning tale of love, reincarnation, and dark magic.A highly unique and enjoyable read!" —Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow Hall
"Sayers cleverly twists the loves-lost-through-time motif....A smart, engrossing debut from a writer to watch." —Kirkus
"Sayers weaves a spell of love, lust, and magic to create a page-turner like no other." —Steph Post, author of Miraculum
★ 03/01/2021
Lara Barnes's fiancé disappears the morning of their wedding, the "runaway groom" making Lara a figure of pity in her small town. When the police discover that this is just the latest in a string of creepy disappearances, Lara and her family find themselves at the heart of mystery, madness, and obsession, as they learn that the magic they have always hidden has reached out to draw them back in. That is, unless they can find their way back to Paris and the Secret Circus that will either claim them, kill them, or send them straight to hell. Encompassing as many genres as a circus carousel has animals to ride, this is ultimately a story about love. Not just romantic love, although that lies at its heart. Rather, this tale of dark fantasy, obsession, and the Lost Generation turns out to be the story of a father trying to do his best for his daughters. That the father is a prince of hell means that his solution is quite literally on the road paved with good intentions. VERDICT Highly recommended for lovers of timeslip fiction, readers who enjoy their genres very bent indeed, and those who have dreamed of running away to the circus.—Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, Duluth, GA
Emily Lawrence delivers an expert narration of Constance Sayers’s second novel. In a fantasy filled with magic, love, and mystery, Lawrence portrays Lara, a contemporary descendant of a magical circus family. Lara’s future husband goes missing on their wedding day. When his car is found abandoned in the same spot in which another mysterious disappearance took place, something sinister appears to be at work. Lawrence heightens the tension when Lara receives a painting of her great-grandmother, Cecile, which may be worth millions. As Lara investigates, she finds Cecile’s diaries, which tell a story of ancient magic, a circus of the damned, and a frightening connection to Lara’s family. Fans of fantasy and mystery will appreciate Lawrence’s ability to ratchet up the suspense with each shocking revelation. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Emily Lawrence delivers an expert narration of Constance Sayers’s second novel. In a fantasy filled with magic, love, and mystery, Lawrence portrays Lara, a contemporary descendant of a magical circus family. Lara’s future husband goes missing on their wedding day. When his car is found abandoned in the same spot in which another mysterious disappearance took place, something sinister appears to be at work. Lawrence heightens the tension when Lara receives a painting of her great-grandmother, Cecile, which may be worth millions. As Lara investigates, she finds Cecile’s diaries, which tell a story of ancient magic, a circus of the damned, and a frightening connection to Lara’s family. Fans of fantasy and mystery will appreciate Lawrence’s ability to ratchet up the suspense with each shocking revelation. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
