Circus of Mirrors

(Paperback)

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A dazzling new novel set in twentieth century Berlin, perfect for fans of Cabaret and The Whalebone Theatre BERLIN, 1926- After the death of their parents, sisters Leni and Annette only have each other. Dreaming of better days, but desperate, Leni finds work at a notorious cabaret- the Babylon Circus. From the dancer's barely-there costumes, to the glimmering mirrors that cover the walls, the Babylon Circus is a place where reality and fantasy merge. For Leni, it's an overwhelming new world, and she's happiest hiding in the shadows. Until she meets the cabaret's resident pianist, Paul. And so begins a love affair that will shape the lives of Leni and Annette, as they navigate the next forty years in the dark and dazzling city they call home. . .

Reviews

Sexy, electrically stylish, and beautiful - a gorgeous story about sisterhood, and a glamorous, evocative passport to a period we all long to get lost in. Julie's such an incredible writer -- Daisy Buchanan
What a brilliant tale of two sisters in Berlin. Atmospheric and the characters and flawed, complex and believable. Julie's best novel yet -- Georgina Moore, author of The Garnett Girls
A tale of two sisters and a city, all three of them so vividly drawn, I felt I knew them. An almost unbearably poignant story of missed chances, long-hidden lies and women fighting the odds to grab happiness where they can. Superbly atmospheric, with convincingly flawed characters that just leap off the page -- Frances Quinn
An all-singing, all-dancing, moving and masterful book about two complex sisters living in incredibly complex times. Mid-twentieth century Berlin and the glittering world of the Babylon Circus are brilliantly evoked and, as always with Julie Owen Moylan's writing, the characters - astutely rendered, flawed and convincing - live with us long after we've closed the book. Brilliant -- Anna Mazzola
The sisters are terrific, unsentimentally and vividly portrayed. So, too, is Berlin, filled with menace, glitter and upcoming destruction. Bold and brave and absorbing -- Elizabeth Buchan
What a brilliantly evocative, moving and emotionally affecting read. Leni and Nette's struggles and the twists and turns of their relationship were so well realised and had me absolutely gripped. The Babylon Circus shimmered off the page, I could picture it completely. I raced through the final pages late at night desperate to know what would happen! -- Emma Hughes
Immersive, tender, simmering with secrets - and such a richly-drawn portrait of Berlin from 1926 to 1961 -- Alex Hay
With hints of Atonement, this is an epic novel, spanning decades as it explores with compassion and humanity the relationship of two sisters torn between the love and obligation they feel towards one another, and their desire for freedom and a better life that will split them apart. Its about secrets and hidden truths and the deep and long-lasting consequences of both. Above all its a story of missed opportunity, chance, guilt, love and forgiveness. I devoured this novel with its rich, vivid prose and its complex characters, tossed into conflict and dire circumstances through no fault of their own. A deeply thought-provoking and emotional story I will be thinking of long after I finished the final page. Utterly luminous -- Louise Fein, author of The London Bookshop Affair
Set against the backdrop of the exotic nightclub of the title, The Circus of Mirrors is the story of two sisters, Leni and Annette, and their struggles to survive in a Berlin torn apart by first war, then communism. Moylan has researched her period thoroughly, and her characters are well drawn, drawing the reader on to a heart-breaking conclusion -- Laura Shepperson
A sweeping saga of sisterhood, missed chances and a glittering circus sparkles fiercely against mid-20th century Berlin. Gorgeous and poignant. A captivating tale of two sisters that at turns dazzles and devastates -- MA Kuzniar
Praise for Julie Owen Moylan * : *
Touching, entertaining, hopeful. A vivid sense of time, place, people's attitudes and fragilities * Sunday Times *
I so enjoyed That Green Eyed Girl. The atmosphere of city heat and dust and stifling apartments was so vividly evoked. And I was equally invested in both narrative strands . . . I was hooked from the beginning -- Clare Chambers
It's beautifully written and particularly wonderful on forbidden love, loss and forgiveness * Daily Mail *
Gripping . . . Julie Owen Moylan vividly recreates drab, grey postwar London and her characters are convincing to the end * The Times *

Author Bio

Julie Owen Moylan is the author of three novels- That Green Eyed Girl, 73 Dove Street and Circus of Mirrors. Her debut novel That Green Eyed Girl was a Waterstones' Welsh Book of the Month and the official runner up for the prestigious Paul Torday Memorial Prize. It was also shortlisted for Best Debut at the Fingerprint Awards and featured at the Hay Festival as one of its 'Ten at Ten'. 73 Dove Street was a Waterstones' Books of 2023 and a Daily Mail Historical Fiction Book of the Year. As a filmmaker Julie won the Celtic Media Award for her graduation film "BabyCakes" before going on to win Best Short Film at the Swansea Film Festival. Her writing and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications including Sunday Express, The Independent, New Welsh Review and Good Housekeeping. She has a Masters in Filmmaking and an additional qualification in Creative Writing & English Literature. Julie is an alumna of the Faber Academy. Circus of Mirrors will be published in Sept 2024. Julie can be found on Twitter- @JulieOwenMoylan