Ned's Circus of Marvels by Justin Fisher
Ned's Circus of Marvels bk 1. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN
9780008124526
(Age:12+) Film and television animator and designer Justin Fisher's
debut novel Ned's Circus of Marvels conjures up a
frenetically paced fantasy adventure, with a huge cast of bizarre
characters set in an alternate world beyond the Veil. Here,
mysteries unfurl, dark magic abounds and good and evil forces fight
for control. Fisher weaves an intricate multi-layered story, where
he combines elements of steam punk engineering with a coming of age
tale and a quest to bring two pivotal characters together to save
the world.
Ned Waddlesworth is an ordinary boy who lives with his engineer
father in the quiet London suburb of Grittlesby. Unbeknownst to Ned,
he holds the key to saving the world and his life will dramatically
change forever on his thirteenth birthday. With evil clowns chasing
them, his father races him across town to the safety of Benissimo's
Circus of Marvels. George the talking, book reading, banana loving
giant ape becomes his protector, Ringmaster Benissimo is there to
guide Ned's journey and blind Kitty the farseer and witch supplies
him with sage advice and wisdom. The circus performers are really a
trained army of creatures, shape shifters and darklings, ready to
wage war to save the world. Ned constantly questions the people and
creatures around him, as well as trying to come to terms with a
travelling circus that flies to different locations.
The overarching plot is lost in the middle of the narrative, with so
many subplots, character additions and deviations. Ned's search for
Lucy the other key holder who can stop the veil disintegrating
needed to be central to the storyline. There are however, moments of
love, sacrifice, humour and friendliness, a family reunion all set
against the preparation for war and the ultimate marathon battle led
by warring brothers.
Ned's Circus of Marvels is suited to the confident reader who
enjoys reading fast-paced fantasy adventures.
Rhyllis Bignell