The best quality of this book is the exotic background, the environment and setting are different from any other story set in the real world. The author describes an elaborate 19th century circus, making the scene easy for the reader to picture.

Much of the story centers around Calliope, who pines for Brian, a lion tamer in the circus, from afar. Brian leaves the circus and Calliope doesn't see him again until she is almost full-grown, but then they are torn apart again when the circus burns down.

Calliope sees a chance to make a new life for herself and seizes it. She takes off and reinvents herself as "Mary." However, this involves a lot of lies and soon the plot weaves into an elaborate deception with tinges of intrigue and mystery. Calliope and Brian may be reunited again...but at what cost?

The characters were likable enough for the most part, they all had their quirks. The plot is relatively fast-paced and definitely unusual. The events are fairly quick...a little slower in the beginning. This novel has its own unique flavor, the diction of the characters is fun to read. This story will appeal to adults who enjoy romance.