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The Circus Infinite
Hunted by those who want to study his gravity powers, Jes makes his way to the best place for a mixed-species fugitive to blend the pleasure moon. Here, everyone just wants to be lost in the party. It doesn’t take long for him to catch the attention of the crime boss who owns the resort-casino where he lands a circus job. When the boss gets wind of the bounty on Jes’ head, he makes an do anything and everything asked of him, or face vivisection.
With no other options, Jes fulfills the espionage, torture, demolition. But when the boss sets the circus up to take the fall for his about-to-get-busted narcotics operation, Jes and his friends decide to bring the mobster down together. And if Jes can also avoid going back to being the prize subject of a scientist who can’t wait to dissect him? Even better.
With no other options, Jes fulfills the espionage, torture, demolition. But when the boss sets the circus up to take the fall for his about-to-get-busted narcotics operation, Jes and his friends decide to bring the mobster down together. And if Jes can also avoid going back to being the prize subject of a scientist who can’t wait to dissect him? Even better.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2022
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January 19, 2022Source of book: NetGalley (thank you)
Relevant disclaimers: nope
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
I was ultimately rather charmed by The Circus Infinite, although it’s also quite a paradoxical book—and it’s hard to entirely tease out which of those paradoxes are features and which are bugs. Which is to say, the book is on the one hand a lightish-feeling romp about a young man who can read minds and control gravity running away to join the space circus. And on the other dark as fuck: I mean we are talking, torture, non-consensual institutionalisation, experimentation on living subjects, racism/xenophobia, acephobia (internalised and otherwise), blackmail … and I’m pretty sure I’ve missed a bunch. I think in the end I did find it a bit difficult to fully reconcile these shifts in tone and I wish there’d been a touch more consistency across the book in general, when it came to plot, pacing, and characterisation (the back cover copy led me to expect more ‘ganging up to take down the bad guy’ type action but in practice they decide to take out the bad guy at about the 80% mark and, uh, proceed to do that?) but there’s also a lot I sincerely appreciated here.
The hero, Jes, is on the run from The Institute: one of those sci-fi ‘we wish to study your special powers by torturing you in the name of progress’ jobbies. He ends up joining the circus on a pleasure moon, and these sections of the book are some of the most heart-warming: lonely and frightened, having experienced mostly coldness, rejection and cruelty in his life so far, Jes finds home, family, friends and purpose in the circus. Even a delicate, consent-centric romance with an acrobatic alien boy. Unfortunately the circus is under threat from the local crime boss, who wants to replace them with a more profitable act. Jes’s ideas for saving the circus attract said crime boss’s attention, who then uses Jes’s fugitive status to blackmail and manipulate him into working for him on the side. It’s at this point that the book transitions from the feel-good to the feel-bad, feel very bad indeed, as Jes witnesses and, indeed, enacts some truly grim shit while working for Dax.
And while I didn’t want Jes to be further traumatised (given his history) and he definitely does feel guilty about, err, maiming and torturing people for Dax it was in these sections that I personally got my clearest sense of some of the book’s narrative disjoints. Basically it’s like … you know when you eat a massive dinner but you still try to sneak in pudding by claiming it goes into your pudding stomach? Jes’s experiences with the crime lord feel like they’re going into his emotional pudding stomach: they’re very real and shocking while they’re happening, but then he bounces back to the circus and it’s all warm fuzzies again. More complicatedly still, the way Dax forces him to use his powers (blowing shit up and maiming people) are essentially what allows him to fight off The Institute when it inevitably comes for him.
I mean, that’s kind of the thing about untold power, right? It’s either unethical to use it to hurt people or, um, it’s not? And I’m not saying the folk from The Institute don’t deserve to be blown up and crushed into tiny balls of compacted meat, or that Jes doesn’t have the right to defend himself from a bunch of people who treat him like an object rather than a person and are hellbent on stripping away all his freedoms, but some of those guys were probably shuttle pilots or low-level researchers. And given the book has a massive reckoning with Jes refusing to murder for Dax, having him then go on a murder spree of his own volition is … is … complicated to say the least? Not that I think you have to forgive people who have hurt you and actively denied your humanity but there’s whole spectrum of behaviour between “hug it out” and “tiny ball of compacted meat.” Especially given they quite explicitly choose to get the crime boss jailed for his crimes. I might be coming at this from a “have read too many superhero comics” mentality but, the way I see it, you’re either Batman or The Punisher. And once you’re on the murder train, that feels like a one-way trip?
There is also sort of a slightly odd dynamic to the book in general in that Jes is literally the most powerful person ever, manifesting over the course of the story multiple types of abilities that no other person has manifested while also having fab ideas for making a circus profitable and just being broadly liked/wanted by everyone around him, including his corrupted-father-figure crime boss who is blackmailing him. And there’s part of me that is resistant to this because we’re so conditioned to sneer at overpowered, over-loved central characters (when they’re not straight white men) as Mary Sues. But Jes (despite the whole tiny balls of compacted meat thing) is really damn likable and relatable in his vulnerabilities, especially those related to his intersecting marginalisations of race (he’s half-human, half alien-race I temporarily can’t remember the name) and sexuality. All of which is to say, when Mary Sues are straight white men we tend to call them “protagonists” and why shouldn’t there be stories about mixed race asexual boys who discover they have the power to reshape the fabric of the universe?
Something I find on-goingly (yes that’s a word) fascinating about SFnal settings are the multitudinous ways authors choose to explore acceptance and prejudice. I would characterise, from my position of zero authority to do so, The Circus Infinite as space operatic, in that it’s a universe full of aliens and drug smuggling and magical interstellar travel. And, from the text, it seems clear enough that it’s set in a future that has mostly evolved beyond discrimination based on gender identity, sexuality and, in the case of humans, race. This means that the setting is comfortably populated by characters covering a wide range of sexual and gender identities (including sort of future-seeing space insects who introduce themselves with their pronouns). But notably Jes still feels misunderstood and (no pun intended) alienated by his asexuality. There’s part of me that’s kind of sad he can’t live in a future where we’re over that, but at the same time Jes coming to terms with who is and the fact he can still share love and (non-sexual) physical comfort makes for a very lovely arc. Although I should say, for the sake of people who may identify with Jes, he’s a sex-repulsed asexual who has quite a lot of work to do in terms of self-acceptance and is occasionally thrust into situations (like a sex club) that are extremely challenging for him and the intensity of his unpleasant experiences within them would likely be challenging for certain readers. Let me clarify, nothing physical happens, but as he's an empath, he becomes overwhelmed by his awareness of other people's sexual desire: something far from an ideal for an asexual person. As a kind of thematic window into asexuality, however, Jes’s empathetic abilities provide an excellent narrative device to engage the reader in just how invasive life can feel for an asexual person in a thoughtlessly sexual world.
I don’t really have an obvious place to mention this, so I’ll just stick it here without any attempt to segue to it with subtlety or élan: the only character I felt was hard done by was Moxo, the gender non-conforming queer juggler from a race of macho four-armed aliens. He helps Jes dress for a business meeting and is half-charmed, half-wary of him, while sharing some melancholy thoughts about lack of acceptance from his own people. This seemed like the beginning of an intriguing relationship—Moxo’s cynicism a fine foil to Jes’s determined hopefulness—except kind of out of nowhere Moxo’s attitude shifts towards aggression and resentment, ostensibly because Jes is having an impact on the future of the circus when Moxo feels he’s been ignored and side-lined. I mean, fair enough. Jes did just waltz in out of nowhere? The problem is, this doesn’t really go anywhere, nor is it ever illuminated: Moxo just hates Jes mindlessly to the point that Jes accidentally erases part of Moxo’s brain (one of the future-seeing space aliens puts it back again). And while I don’t mind this in principle (not all interpersonal relationships are positive or possible, not everything has to have a reckoning, and not all queer people are inherently connected by their experiences of queerness) I just didn’t know purpose it was serving either in terms of the narrative or the characters. Plus I was kind of … tentatively ready to identify or over-identify with Moxo? And so having him be the Bad Queer among the happy circus family felt kinda harsh.
For all its occasionally rough edges, though, The Circus Infinite really does have a lot to recommend it, especially when it comes to its emotional set pieces. The confrontation, for example, between Jes and Dax the crime lord after the latter’s fall from grace is incredibly satisfying while avoiding cliches of condemnation and redemption. Dax, in general, has a kind of unpleasant charisma to accompany his utter ruthlessness that makes him an annoyingly compelling villain. The moments of Jes just hanging out with his circus family or falling gently in love are utterly charming. And the ending, too, (which I will not give away) in terms of its reckoning with Jes’s future also felt really satisfying: a true celebration of found family and finding yourself.
Relevant disclaimers: nope
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
I was ultimately rather charmed by The Circus Infinite, although it’s also quite a paradoxical book—and it’s hard to entirely tease out which of those paradoxes are features and which are bugs. Which is to say, the book is on the one hand a lightish-feeling romp about a young man who can read minds and control gravity running away to join the space circus. And on the other dark as fuck: I mean we are talking, torture, non-consensual institutionalisation, experimentation on living subjects, racism/xenophobia, acephobia (internalised and otherwise), blackmail … and I’m pretty sure I’ve missed a bunch. I think in the end I did find it a bit difficult to fully reconcile these shifts in tone and I wish there’d been a touch more consistency across the book in general, when it came to plot, pacing, and characterisation (the back cover copy led me to expect more ‘ganging up to take down the bad guy’ type action but in practice they decide to take out the bad guy at about the 80% mark and, uh, proceed to do that?) but there’s also a lot I sincerely appreciated here.
The hero, Jes, is on the run from The Institute: one of those sci-fi ‘we wish to study your special powers by torturing you in the name of progress’ jobbies. He ends up joining the circus on a pleasure moon, and these sections of the book are some of the most heart-warming: lonely and frightened, having experienced mostly coldness, rejection and cruelty in his life so far, Jes finds home, family, friends and purpose in the circus. Even a delicate, consent-centric romance with an acrobatic alien boy. Unfortunately the circus is under threat from the local crime boss, who wants to replace them with a more profitable act. Jes’s ideas for saving the circus attract said crime boss’s attention, who then uses Jes’s fugitive status to blackmail and manipulate him into working for him on the side. It’s at this point that the book transitions from the feel-good to the feel-bad, feel very bad indeed, as Jes witnesses and, indeed, enacts some truly grim shit while working for Dax.
And while I didn’t want Jes to be further traumatised (given his history) and he definitely does feel guilty about, err, maiming and torturing people for Dax it was in these sections that I personally got my clearest sense of some of the book’s narrative disjoints. Basically it’s like … you know when you eat a massive dinner but you still try to sneak in pudding by claiming it goes into your pudding stomach? Jes’s experiences with the crime lord feel like they’re going into his emotional pudding stomach: they’re very real and shocking while they’re happening, but then he bounces back to the circus and it’s all warm fuzzies again. More complicatedly still, the way Dax forces him to use his powers (blowing shit up and maiming people) are essentially what allows him to fight off The Institute when it inevitably comes for him.
I mean, that’s kind of the thing about untold power, right? It’s either unethical to use it to hurt people or, um, it’s not? And I’m not saying the folk from The Institute don’t deserve to be blown up and crushed into tiny balls of compacted meat, or that Jes doesn’t have the right to defend himself from a bunch of people who treat him like an object rather than a person and are hellbent on stripping away all his freedoms, but some of those guys were probably shuttle pilots or low-level researchers. And given the book has a massive reckoning with Jes refusing to murder for Dax, having him then go on a murder spree of his own volition is … is … complicated to say the least? Not that I think you have to forgive people who have hurt you and actively denied your humanity but there’s whole spectrum of behaviour between “hug it out” and “tiny ball of compacted meat.” Especially given they quite explicitly choose to get the crime boss jailed for his crimes. I might be coming at this from a “have read too many superhero comics” mentality but, the way I see it, you’re either Batman or The Punisher. And once you’re on the murder train, that feels like a one-way trip?
There is also sort of a slightly odd dynamic to the book in general in that Jes is literally the most powerful person ever, manifesting over the course of the story multiple types of abilities that no other person has manifested while also having fab ideas for making a circus profitable and just being broadly liked/wanted by everyone around him, including his corrupted-father-figure crime boss who is blackmailing him. And there’s part of me that is resistant to this because we’re so conditioned to sneer at overpowered, over-loved central characters (when they’re not straight white men) as Mary Sues. But Jes (despite the whole tiny balls of compacted meat thing) is really damn likable and relatable in his vulnerabilities, especially those related to his intersecting marginalisations of race (he’s half-human, half alien-race I temporarily can’t remember the name) and sexuality. All of which is to say, when Mary Sues are straight white men we tend to call them “protagonists” and why shouldn’t there be stories about mixed race asexual boys who discover they have the power to reshape the fabric of the universe?
Something I find on-goingly (yes that’s a word) fascinating about SFnal settings are the multitudinous ways authors choose to explore acceptance and prejudice. I would characterise, from my position of zero authority to do so, The Circus Infinite as space operatic, in that it’s a universe full of aliens and drug smuggling and magical interstellar travel. And, from the text, it seems clear enough that it’s set in a future that has mostly evolved beyond discrimination based on gender identity, sexuality and, in the case of humans, race. This means that the setting is comfortably populated by characters covering a wide range of sexual and gender identities (including sort of future-seeing space insects who introduce themselves with their pronouns). But notably Jes still feels misunderstood and (no pun intended) alienated by his asexuality. There’s part of me that’s kind of sad he can’t live in a future where we’re over that, but at the same time Jes coming to terms with who is and the fact he can still share love and (non-sexual) physical comfort makes for a very lovely arc. Although I should say, for the sake of people who may identify with Jes, he’s a sex-repulsed asexual who has quite a lot of work to do in terms of self-acceptance and is occasionally thrust into situations (like a sex club) that are extremely challenging for him and the intensity of his unpleasant experiences within them would likely be challenging for certain readers. Let me clarify, nothing physical happens, but as he's an empath, he becomes overwhelmed by his awareness of other people's sexual desire: something far from an ideal for an asexual person. As a kind of thematic window into asexuality, however, Jes’s empathetic abilities provide an excellent narrative device to engage the reader in just how invasive life can feel for an asexual person in a thoughtlessly sexual world.
I don’t really have an obvious place to mention this, so I’ll just stick it here without any attempt to segue to it with subtlety or élan: the only character I felt was hard done by was Moxo, the gender non-conforming queer juggler from a race of macho four-armed aliens. He helps Jes dress for a business meeting and is half-charmed, half-wary of him, while sharing some melancholy thoughts about lack of acceptance from his own people. This seemed like the beginning of an intriguing relationship—Moxo’s cynicism a fine foil to Jes’s determined hopefulness—except kind of out of nowhere Moxo’s attitude shifts towards aggression and resentment, ostensibly because Jes is having an impact on the future of the circus when Moxo feels he’s been ignored and side-lined. I mean, fair enough. Jes did just waltz in out of nowhere? The problem is, this doesn’t really go anywhere, nor is it ever illuminated: Moxo just hates Jes mindlessly to the point that Jes accidentally erases part of Moxo’s brain (one of the future-seeing space aliens puts it back again). And while I don’t mind this in principle (not all interpersonal relationships are positive or possible, not everything has to have a reckoning, and not all queer people are inherently connected by their experiences of queerness) I just didn’t know purpose it was serving either in terms of the narrative or the characters. Plus I was kind of … tentatively ready to identify or over-identify with Moxo? And so having him be the Bad Queer among the happy circus family felt kinda harsh.
For all its occasionally rough edges, though, The Circus Infinite really does have a lot to recommend it, especially when it comes to its emotional set pieces. The confrontation, for example, between Jes and Dax the crime lord after the latter’s fall from grace is incredibly satisfying while avoiding cliches of condemnation and redemption. Dax, in general, has a kind of unpleasant charisma to accompany his utter ruthlessness that makes him an annoyingly compelling villain. The moments of Jes just hanging out with his circus family or falling gently in love are utterly charming. And the ending, too, (which I will not give away) in terms of its reckoning with Jes’s future also felt really satisfying: a true celebration of found family and finding yourself.
April 23, 2025
Oh, this was magnificent. It tickled all the right places in my brain.
Magical, plot-driven, lots of interesting characters and species with such diverse abilities and cultures. Add to that a shocking accumulation of torture and violence. Quite bloody and a bit gruesome. But the awesomeness of the story outweighs it all.
It took me some time and was quite exhausting. But it was worth it. I think you have to read every sentence thoroughly and internalize it, otherwise you'll miss the important details. But that wasn't difficult; it's really brilliantly written.
The author opens up a masterfully crafted world that I would love to learn more about. Everything mentioned in this story deserves to be explored in much greater depth.
Especially because, although it has a happy and somehow satisfying ending, it also somehow remains open. Honestly, I hate the ending a bit. But it's the right ending, anything else wouldn't have made this book a meaningful read.
For my romance-loving friends: it's not a fulfilling story in terms of romantic love. I think the tiny morsels of romance that are in here are perfect. It shouldn't have been more. I really love how Jes' asexuality is portrayed and fits so naturally into everything. As well as all the other forms of sexuality, and gender conceptions, that find a place in this story.
Apart from that, it is first and foremost a story about finding a family. Finding trust in people. Finding a way to your own being.
And all this unfolds in a truly rich setting.
I’m surrounded by people who I share values with, and who value all of me. More importantly, we share a mindset that features of our biology shouldn’t decide what we do with our lives. Shared mindset and values offers a far greater sense of belonging than merely being the same race. 💗💗💗
He hasn’t experienced affectionate touch since his grandparents died – nothing from his parents and only intrusive handling and pain from the Institute staff.
[…]
He susses Bo and what he gets is tenderness – not lust. The same tenderness rises in him – not just a sense of Bo’s feeling but his own. It’s strange being able to feel them both simultaneously, like two strings on that lute Bo likes to play, in harmony. 🫠🫠🫠
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: alcohol, drug use, lousy evil cold-hearted parents, experiments - main character was a lab rat for years, violence, death, murder, torture - also performed by the main character, suicide of a friend, speciesism
Magical, plot-driven, lots of interesting characters and species with such diverse abilities and cultures. Add to that a shocking accumulation of torture and violence. Quite bloody and a bit gruesome. But the awesomeness of the story outweighs it all.
It took me some time and was quite exhausting. But it was worth it. I think you have to read every sentence thoroughly and internalize it, otherwise you'll miss the important details. But that wasn't difficult; it's really brilliantly written.
The author opens up a masterfully crafted world that I would love to learn more about. Everything mentioned in this story deserves to be explored in much greater depth.
Especially because, although it has a happy and somehow satisfying ending, it also somehow remains open. Honestly, I hate the ending a bit. But it's the right ending, anything else wouldn't have made this book a meaningful read.
For my romance-loving friends: it's not a fulfilling story in terms of romantic love. I think the tiny morsels of romance that are in here are perfect. It shouldn't have been more. I really love how Jes' asexuality is portrayed and fits so naturally into everything. As well as all the other forms of sexuality, and gender conceptions, that find a place in this story.
Apart from that, it is first and foremost a story about finding a family. Finding trust in people. Finding a way to your own being.
And all this unfolds in a truly rich setting.
I’m surrounded by people who I share values with, and who value all of me. More importantly, we share a mindset that features of our biology shouldn’t decide what we do with our lives. Shared mindset and values offers a far greater sense of belonging than merely being the same race. 💗💗💗
He hasn’t experienced affectionate touch since his grandparents died – nothing from his parents and only intrusive handling and pain from the Institute staff.
[…]
He susses Bo and what he gets is tenderness – not lust. The same tenderness rises in him – not just a sense of Bo’s feeling but his own. It’s strange being able to feel them both simultaneously, like two strings on that lute Bo likes to play, in harmony. 🫠🫠🫠
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Minor spoilers probably ahead
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Content warnings: alcohol, drug use, lousy evil cold-hearted parents, experiments - main character was a lab rat for years, violence, death, murder, torture - also performed by the main character, suicide of a friend, speciesism
May 12, 2023
(Transparency: This review was commissioned by the author, however this does not at all affect my rating)
This is a solid 3.5 read and i highly recommend it to those of you looking for queer science fiction, and great asexual rep in books.
I talk about it here: https://youtu.be/733VaQzvJWg
Our main character is Jes, a mixed species protagonist who escapes from a facility that was experimenting on him to learn more about his magic abilities. He runs away to the pleasure moon Persephone-9 to join the circus. But, there's a bounty on his head and the crime boss Niko Dax knows. So Jes starts having to do some side crime while also juggling (pun intended) forming new relationships both platonic and romantic, and being a new part of the circus using his abilities.
Where this books shines is it's ability to use a different planet, alien species, magic and unique settings to have important conversations about real-world topics: asexuality, queerness in sexuality and gender, being mixed race, platonic love being just as important and valid as romantic love.
I also think that the character work here in certain places is fantastic. Jes in particular had a great arc, i understood him, i empathized with him, I loved being with him as he experienced things even when that meant watching him have to make really impossible decisions due to his reluctant involvement with a crime boss.
Jes explaining his asexuality via being an empath was quite smart on the authors part. It made it very easy to understand and I think this is one of the best books with ace rep out there. It explains the feelings, the challenges, and misconceptions very well while still remaining personable and particular to Jes. Basically, it doesn't read like an ace textbook but rather like having a real person who is ace explain their sexuality in a real way.
The circus itself was fun, and felt a little fever-dream like, and I think the writing during those scenes was intended to be that way.
The alien races were all unique and i had a fun time learning about their differences and their cultures.
The reveal regarding why Jes existed and his parents was wild. Fascinating idea but simultaneously my heart broke for him. However... that brings me to my issue with the book.
Where this book doesn't shine so much is it's structure and it's use of structure to emphasize themes. I felt like going back and forth between the present was not cohesive. It would've been better if the scenes with Jes in the hands of those experimenting on him would've coincided with the info we were getting when we switched over to the present, to emphasize a point. I was almost hoping to see an exmination of the theme of Jes looking for a parental figure since he was so desperate for his parents to love him. I thought maybe we were going there with Niko, that he would end up with a really shitty stand-in parent, one who knew his background and exploited his desire to be loved and parented, and have to deal with the consequences of that. But there was no cohesive theme, no parallels between past and present. I think doing this would've made the narrative a lot stronger.
I also don't feel like many of the side characters were super strong. Particularly his new best friend and his love interest. I'm not exactly sure what i would recommend to fix this, but they fell really flat for me.
June 7, 2022
3.5 Stars
This was such a unique science fiction story that pulled so many components into a fresh science fiction narrative. From the synopsis, I had mistakenly assumed this would be a light fun romp. Instead the actual story had a lot more depth and complexity than I would normally expect from a standalone novel. The tone of the story was more serious than I expected, which I didn't mind because I prefer darker narratives.
In spite of the length the author managed to pack a lot of worldbuilding into this little package. This was probably my favourite aspect.
This book also contains asexual representation which is not something I see too often. The protagonist is ace panromantic which is explicitly stated on the page. I'll admit that all the relationship talk was not to my tastes, but I respect that there are readers looking for this representation in their fiction.
I would recommend this nook to anyone looking for ascience fiction which feel fresh and new.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was such a unique science fiction story that pulled so many components into a fresh science fiction narrative. From the synopsis, I had mistakenly assumed this would be a light fun romp. Instead the actual story had a lot more depth and complexity than I would normally expect from a standalone novel. The tone of the story was more serious than I expected, which I didn't mind because I prefer darker narratives.
In spite of the length the author managed to pack a lot of worldbuilding into this little package. This was probably my favourite aspect.
This book also contains asexual representation which is not something I see too often. The protagonist is ace panromantic which is explicitly stated on the page. I'll admit that all the relationship talk was not to my tastes, but I respect that there are readers looking for this representation in their fiction.
I would recommend this nook to anyone looking for ascience fiction which feel fresh and new.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
March 6, 2022
I was a tad hesitant to dive into this book because I'm not super into circus stories, but I'm so glad I gave it a shot. The "circus" thing really does lead to a lovely sense of found family and togetherness, and I really enjoyed Wong's vivid imaginings of alien circus acts and strange performances. This is a book about a runaway, who finds a community of other discarded people and oddballs, which is my favorite kind of story. I loved The Circus Infinite's portrayal of an asexual person with empathic powers — when Jes is forced to be around people being sexual, it actually hurts and is super upsetting. (I am not ace myself, so I would defer to others as to how accurate this portrayal is, but I found it very compelling.) There is a running theme in this book of cultural interchange: a lot of the major characters—including the protagonist, Jes—are a mix of two or more species, and part of what makes the circus so magical is that it combines many different cultural traditions. This is a book that is firmly about the amazing things that happen when we respect diversity and celebrate difference. Niko Dax is a chillingly horrifying villain, though . At its heart, this is a book about violence and cruelty and how they affect sensitive, empathic people who are caught up in them. It felt super timely for all kinds of reasons, and I really appreciated the asexual protagonist (and his lovely romance) a whole lot. Definitely worth checking out!
December 26, 2021
I love the cover. It looks great. How about the story, you might ask? Well, less so.
Jes, the asexual and mixed-species protagonist, has fancy gravity powers. There's a bounty on his head. And individuals interested in vivisecting and studying him. Jes seeks refuge at the pleasure moon, where he joins the circus. Unfortunately, a nasty crime boss, Niko Dax, tracks him and forces him to fulfill his requests (demolition, espionage, torture). If Jes says no, well, you guessed it. Vivisection.
Things go too far when the boss wants the circus and Jes' found family to take the blame for his shady operations. Friends decide to bring the mobster down. Chaos ensues.
I liked the opening chapters of the story and Jes' narration. He's a genuinely lovely guy. He cares for others and wants to do good. The world is chaotic but exciting. Everyone on the Persephone-9 wants to party. The world feels inclusive and celebrates the whole spectrum of gender and sexuality. Everything is flashy and loud but doesn't feel lived-in; it lacks cohesivity. We get more than a few blocks of exposition that bored me a lot but didn't make the world more real.
Jes' friends are a motley crew of endearing characters. I mean, they work at a circus. They're a weird bunch, outsiders and rogues interested in living their lives to the fullest and in artistic expression. Some Circus scenes awed me; some felt clunky. Although I liked the characters and Jes, I felt their development was sudden and not tooted in anything. Take Jes, who is cautious, intelligent, caring, and sensible until, suddenly, he's not. I prefer a more gradual shift in behavior.
I applaud the author for the ability to create an engaging narrative. Darker and more violent moments are here, but they don't bring down the hopeful tone of the story. Of course, more sensible readers should think twice before starting it. Some scenes are gruesome and may upset them.
All told, it's a solid story, but not the one I loved. An ok read, I guess.
ARC through NetGalley
Jes, the asexual and mixed-species protagonist, has fancy gravity powers. There's a bounty on his head. And individuals interested in vivisecting and studying him. Jes seeks refuge at the pleasure moon, where he joins the circus. Unfortunately, a nasty crime boss, Niko Dax, tracks him and forces him to fulfill his requests (demolition, espionage, torture). If Jes says no, well, you guessed it. Vivisection.
Things go too far when the boss wants the circus and Jes' found family to take the blame for his shady operations. Friends decide to bring the mobster down. Chaos ensues.
I liked the opening chapters of the story and Jes' narration. He's a genuinely lovely guy. He cares for others and wants to do good. The world is chaotic but exciting. Everyone on the Persephone-9 wants to party. The world feels inclusive and celebrates the whole spectrum of gender and sexuality. Everything is flashy and loud but doesn't feel lived-in; it lacks cohesivity. We get more than a few blocks of exposition that bored me a lot but didn't make the world more real.
Jes' friends are a motley crew of endearing characters. I mean, they work at a circus. They're a weird bunch, outsiders and rogues interested in living their lives to the fullest and in artistic expression. Some Circus scenes awed me; some felt clunky. Although I liked the characters and Jes, I felt their development was sudden and not tooted in anything. Take Jes, who is cautious, intelligent, caring, and sensible until, suddenly, he's not. I prefer a more gradual shift in behavior.
I applaud the author for the ability to create an engaging narrative. Darker and more violent moments are here, but they don't bring down the hopeful tone of the story. Of course, more sensible readers should think twice before starting it. Some scenes are gruesome and may upset them.
All told, it's a solid story, but not the one I loved. An ok read, I guess.
ARC through NetGalley
June 18, 2023
A really interesting queer sci fi with a circus at its core and found family!
I must admit that I can be very picky with my science fiction - if it's "too sci fi" my brain will most likely not compute. And at the beginning I was afraid this book might be too, with so many various alien races and their various capabilities and skills.
The main character is Jes, a human hybrid who's recently escaped from an awful institute, where scientists were conducting all kinds of traumatising experiments on him, as he has some never seen before powers due to his mixed heritage. One of these powers is his intuition, so after his successful escape from the institute he manages to flee to a pleasure moon. It's not an easy environment for him, as he's an asexual empath, but he soon finds a circus where he gets a job.
I love the found family trope. The circus members are all so interesting and lovely and help Jes grow in so many ways. I also love how prominent Jes's asexuality is!!! And his love interest respects all his boundaries and always asked for consent, it made me so incredibly happy to see such good representation of not just what an ace character can be like, but also what an ace-allo relationship looks like.
I think this would make an incredible tv show. Netflix, hope you're paying attention!
P.S: listened to the audiobook, and really liked the narrator.
Rep: queernorm setting, panromantic ace main character, gay love interest, queer side characters
I must admit that I can be very picky with my science fiction - if it's "too sci fi" my brain will most likely not compute. And at the beginning I was afraid this book might be too, with so many various alien races and their various capabilities and skills.
The main character is Jes, a human hybrid who's recently escaped from an awful institute, where scientists were conducting all kinds of traumatising experiments on him, as he has some never seen before powers due to his mixed heritage. One of these powers is his intuition, so after his successful escape from the institute he manages to flee to a pleasure moon. It's not an easy environment for him, as he's an asexual empath, but he soon finds a circus where he gets a job.
I love the found family trope. The circus members are all so interesting and lovely and help Jes grow in so many ways. I also love how prominent Jes's asexuality is!!! And his love interest respects all his boundaries and always asked for consent, it made me so incredibly happy to see such good representation of not just what an ace character can be like, but also what an ace-allo relationship looks like.
I think this would make an incredible tv show. Netflix, hope you're paying attention!
P.S: listened to the audiobook, and really liked the narrator.
Rep: queernorm setting, panromantic ace main character, gay love interest, queer side characters
March 13, 2022
CW: torture, fictional racism/xenophobia, loss of parent (father and mother, a character finds out about the passing of their mother during the plot of the book), emotionally abusive parents, death of grandparents (past), alcohol, drug use, bullying, violence, death, murder, blood, sexual content, gore, body horror, vomit, suicide (brief, onscreen), nonconsensual medical procedure
Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
What a whimsical story! Like a mixture of City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, but make it adult!
This story follows Jes, an asexual panromantic mixed-race empath escaping from a life of torture and experimentation. It has diverse representation, found family, heists, and an adult coming-of-age narrative. Jes's personal growth was extremely well-done, from the self-discovery of his powers to his journey through experiencing a romantic relationship for potentially the first time.
I will say, the book as a whole didn't blow me away, but I found the story engaging and the characters easy to love.
A few nit picks:
-The writing was written in third person but in the style of first person, which made it a bit difficult to read at times. (Like the way it was written, I kept expecting to see the pronouns "I/me" rather than the "he/him" pronouns on the page.)
-The book as a whole could've just been 100 pages shorter. With the amount of heist and action, the pace could've been a lot faster and started a lot earlier. It took me a bit to really get into the narrative and it made the stakes feel unearned at times.
-The word "suss" or "susses" used as the ONLY word for Jes's empath abilities.
Thank you to Angry Robot for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
What a whimsical story! Like a mixture of City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, but make it adult!
This story follows Jes, an asexual panromantic mixed-race empath escaping from a life of torture and experimentation. It has diverse representation, found family, heists, and an adult coming-of-age narrative. Jes's personal growth was extremely well-done, from the self-discovery of his powers to his journey through experiencing a romantic relationship for potentially the first time.
I will say, the book as a whole didn't blow me away, but I found the story engaging and the characters easy to love.
A few nit picks:
-The writing was written in third person but in the style of first person, which made it a bit difficult to read at times. (Like the way it was written, I kept expecting to see the pronouns "I/me" rather than the "he/him" pronouns on the page.)
-The book as a whole could've just been 100 pages shorter. With the amount of heist and action, the pace could've been a lot faster and started a lot earlier. It took me a bit to really get into the narrative and it made the stakes feel unearned at times.
-The word "suss" or "susses" used as the ONLY word for Jes's empath abilities.
January 27, 2022
Rating: 2.5 stars.
Well. This was not my thing at all, unfortunately.
I figured out pretty early that the writing wasn't for me, it was very flat and kind of empty and I could never feel anything for the characters because all their emotions were explained to the reader in great detail rather than letting them figure it out for themselves. The characters themselves were pretty two-dimensional, everyone was a really good person and only wanted the best for everyone. The conversations felt forced and the dialogue clumsy, at times.
For a Sci-Fi novel, this was also shaky in terms of worldbuilding, there was some info-dumping in the beginning and then not much else was added, leaving me with many open questions. The superpowers were fun, I guess, but also not explored like they could have been. The plot was pretty much exactly what the blurb told you, but without the action expected from such a premise. Half the book seemed to be just exposition.
What threw me off as well were the sudden, very graphic instances of violence - I don't mind those generally, but they didn't seem to fit the tone of the book at all and also weren't very well integrated into the plot. They seemed to exist for shock factor only.
What I liked were the found family themes and the bits of worldbuilding we did get, those were f fine and interesting to read about. However that didn't save the book for me, it probably just wasn't my thing at all and I expected something else going into this.
Well. This was not my thing at all, unfortunately.
I figured out pretty early that the writing wasn't for me, it was very flat and kind of empty and I could never feel anything for the characters because all their emotions were explained to the reader in great detail rather than letting them figure it out for themselves. The characters themselves were pretty two-dimensional, everyone was a really good person and only wanted the best for everyone. The conversations felt forced and the dialogue clumsy, at times.
For a Sci-Fi novel, this was also shaky in terms of worldbuilding, there was some info-dumping in the beginning and then not much else was added, leaving me with many open questions. The superpowers were fun, I guess, but also not explored like they could have been. The plot was pretty much exactly what the blurb told you, but without the action expected from such a premise. Half the book seemed to be just exposition.
What threw me off as well were the sudden, very graphic instances of violence - I don't mind those generally, but they didn't seem to fit the tone of the book at all and also weren't very well integrated into the plot. They seemed to exist for shock factor only.
What I liked were the found family themes and the bits of worldbuilding we did get, those were f fine and interesting to read about. However that didn't save the book for me, it probably just wasn't my thing at all and I expected something else going into this.
April 12, 2022
I feel bad because I really wanted to like this, and I also received a Netgalley arc but this just didn't work for me whatsoever. Actual rating 2.5 stars.
Further Review:
Wow. This book is heavy. I had a hard time reading this. It took three tries like I said above. I have no clue how to write this review. On the one hand, awesome ideas. An ace main character that controls gravity and reads people’s minds? So cool!
But there’s also the negatives. This book is dark. And heavy. Please pay attention to triggers when diving into this book!
Let’s start with the world building. This was so cool. Loads of interesting things were in this book. The circus was only a part of it. The planets, the people, and the characters were all fascinating! The whole idea of the book was supremely intriguing and I so wanted to like it.
But there were scenes in this that just felt like it was trying to hard, and seriously stretching believability. I’m aware this is science fiction/fantasy, yet I struggled to connect with a lot of the characters. I didn’t really get the plot, and I just have no clue how to review this book.
Maybe I might need to read the again but I’m giving this a 2.5 stars rounded up to a generous three. It had great elements! It had a lot of promising features! But it just wasn’t to my taste.
Further Review:
Wow. This book is heavy. I had a hard time reading this. It took three tries like I said above. I have no clue how to write this review. On the one hand, awesome ideas. An ace main character that controls gravity and reads people’s minds? So cool!
But there’s also the negatives. This book is dark. And heavy. Please pay attention to triggers when diving into this book!
Let’s start with the world building. This was so cool. Loads of interesting things were in this book. The circus was only a part of it. The planets, the people, and the characters were all fascinating! The whole idea of the book was supremely intriguing and I so wanted to like it.
But there were scenes in this that just felt like it was trying to hard, and seriously stretching believability. I’m aware this is science fiction/fantasy, yet I struggled to connect with a lot of the characters. I didn’t really get the plot, and I just have no clue how to review this book.
Maybe I might need to read the again but I’m giving this a 2.5 stars rounded up to a generous three. It had great elements! It had a lot of promising features! But it just wasn’t to my taste.
to-read-so-bad-it-hurts
July 7, 2021'A queer space fantasy where the hero finds a new family in an intergalactic circus and comes up against a crime boss who threatens their lives and livelihood'
YES TO THE QUEER SFF, FOUND FAMILY AND CRIME-FIGHTING
Also, the author is a 'homoromantic grey ace', love to see it
YES TO THE QUEER SFF, FOUND FAMILY AND CRIME-FIGHTING
Also, the author is a 'homoromantic grey ace', love to see it
did-not-finish
June 25, 2024DNF @ 30%
I know there's some dark stuff that comes up later on, but rn it's so cozy that I'm getting cavities. (Speaking as someone who dislikes cozies)
I know there's some dark stuff that comes up later on, but rn it's so cozy that I'm getting cavities. (Speaking as someone who dislikes cozies)
July 1, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up!
October 28, 2024
I purchased this ages ago because a space opera featuring a romantic asexual relationship fits the description of my perfect book, but sadly I was not too fond of the writing and world-building style of The Circus Infinite. I'd say it's a mix of Persephone Station and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. It was also cheesy and it was just too easy to guess where it was going. Another issue I had was the flashbacks/intermissions which contributed little to nothing to the story (a little background info is always nice, but it just dragged).
Proper review later. I'm doing something I never do and giving an additional full star just for ace rep.
Proper review later. I'm doing something I never do and giving an additional full star just for ace rep.
March 11, 2022
I was moved several times while reading this debut novel by Khan Wong. Wong tells the story of Jes, a young man fleeing from something, which is gradually revealed over the course of the book. We also find out what a kind, generous person Jes is, after he’s hired by a circus as crew, and begins forging friendships with the diverse aliens who work as acrobats, clowns and other performers and crew. Jes also has an incredible talent (known as a paratalent by the Institute that Jes has escaped from): he can manipulate gravity, and uses this to add an unusual flair to an acrobatic act.
Unfortunately, he also comes to the attention of a crime lord, who blackmails Jes into working for him on specific jobs that require his paratalent. While Jes hates what Niko Dax has him do, Jes also hones his skills, gaining much more control of his ability.
Things would not be complete without the evil Institute finding him, which necessitates the application of Jes’ honed skills.
And Jes learning that not all relationships have to involve neglect or physical pain, as Jes enjoys several deepening friendships with members of the circus, and a burgeoning romance, which is totally new and tentative territory for the ace Jes.
I liked this book, and I think the wonderful Jes and the friends he makes (and the scenes with his grandparents) are a huge part of my enjoyment. There is so much love, respect and kindness in the circus scenes, and I love how Jes has to learn to open himself up to these people.
Of course, there are also the horrible interactions between Jes and Nico, and the memories Jes has of his very painful relationship with the head researcher at the Institute, Matheson. Jes’ increasing distaste and desperation to escape Nico and stay away from Matheson are terrific contrasts to his open and giving relationships at the circus.
I liked this universe that Khan Wong has created, and loved Jes. I’m intrigued by the variety of aliens and wonder what happens next with Jes. I hope the author returns to this universe.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Angry Robot for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Unfortunately, he also comes to the attention of a crime lord, who blackmails Jes into working for him on specific jobs that require his paratalent. While Jes hates what Niko Dax has him do, Jes also hones his skills, gaining much more control of his ability.
Things would not be complete without the evil Institute finding him, which necessitates the application of Jes’ honed skills.
And Jes learning that not all relationships have to involve neglect or physical pain, as Jes enjoys several deepening friendships with members of the circus, and a burgeoning romance, which is totally new and tentative territory for the ace Jes.
I liked this book, and I think the wonderful Jes and the friends he makes (and the scenes with his grandparents) are a huge part of my enjoyment. There is so much love, respect and kindness in the circus scenes, and I love how Jes has to learn to open himself up to these people.
Of course, there are also the horrible interactions between Jes and Nico, and the memories Jes has of his very painful relationship with the head researcher at the Institute, Matheson. Jes’ increasing distaste and desperation to escape Nico and stay away from Matheson are terrific contrasts to his open and giving relationships at the circus.
I liked this universe that Khan Wong has created, and loved Jes. I’m intrigued by the variety of aliens and wonder what happens next with Jes. I hope the author returns to this universe.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Angry Robot for this ARC in exchange for my review.
February 13, 2024
I've been struggling to complete a review of this book for (believe it or not) months. It's not that I didn't like it; or that I loved it. It's a good enough read. The kind of thing I'd be pleased to pick-up at a local bookstore if it was curated content (ie: local, POC author, met a monthly theme, etc.); yet it wasn't quite good enough to give five stars. But it's not really fair for me to say that as I can't seem to articulate why it wasn't five start quality.
Upon thinking on this for quite some time I think it maybe comes down to two things:
1) wordsmithing: being able to really pick the exact right word and par your sentences down is a real skill that has to be learned. I think there is a lot that could be cut here; not in plot or characterization, but maybe in the descriptions, set-up, etc.
2) outcomes: I think it wasn't clear what the real outcome Khan Wong had for his readers was. And no I do not think that just to 'have a fun time' is enough to justify a story. There needs to be some meaning, connection, or message that is being developed, portrayed, or told. The Circus Infinite maybe just needs some more finessing to really highlight what the author wants the reader to take away.
Overall this is a good read. Well above the fan fiction 'standard' that has been set, and certainly above most YA trash standards. So if the plot, characters or blub at all intrigue you give it a shot.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Upon thinking on this for quite some time I think it maybe comes down to two things:
1) wordsmithing: being able to really pick the exact right word and par your sentences down is a real skill that has to be learned. I think there is a lot that could be cut here; not in plot or characterization, but maybe in the descriptions, set-up, etc.
2) outcomes: I think it wasn't clear what the real outcome Khan Wong had for his readers was. And no I do not think that just to 'have a fun time' is enough to justify a story. There needs to be some meaning, connection, or message that is being developed, portrayed, or told. The Circus Infinite maybe just needs some more finessing to really highlight what the author wants the reader to take away.
Overall this is a good read. Well above the fan fiction 'standard' that has been set, and certainly above most YA trash standards. So if the plot, characters or blub at all intrigue you give it a shot.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
March 19, 2022
Four words: Found. Family. Space. Circus. Also the main character is asexual. Need I say more?
This book is a bit rough around the edges, with a few characters whose flipping motivations don’t quite make sense, and a slight disconnect between seriously dark medical scenes and fluffy circus romance, but ultimately it’s a fun ride. The protagonist, Jes, is so sweet that I had to root for him. His relationship with Bo warmed my heart.
[Thank you to Angry Robot Books for providing a copy! I’ll be posting a video review soon.]
This book is a bit rough around the edges, with a few characters whose flipping motivations don’t quite make sense, and a slight disconnect between seriously dark medical scenes and fluffy circus romance, but ultimately it’s a fun ride. The protagonist, Jes, is so sweet that I had to root for him. His relationship with Bo warmed my heart.
[Thank you to Angry Robot Books for providing a copy! I’ll be posting a video review soon.]
December 17, 2021
so uh, if you’re looking for a gritty, space Ace book, that’s also somehow very low key and —
listen—
if you liked the slice of life feel of The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers AND the harsh circus underbelly setting and traumatic mc backstory of Pantomime by Laura Lam, then you will enjoy Khan Wong’s The Circus Infinite
this one is not for the faint hearted; i loved it, but i read it in pieces because it was unexpectedly tense
it’s got that queer found family of space misfits mixed in with the intense, and dangerous, circus mafia setting
—my one complaint is there wasn’t enough Niko Dax, a villain so easy to hate i needed him on every page. what a sleezy shit and excellent foil to the protagonist—
moving on, though—
the world building and politics of The Circus Infinite are SUPER immersive and expansive, i REALLY hope there will be other books written and set in this universe
i loved that every bit of the story is so casually, wonderfully, queer. Jes, the mc, is a sex repulsed panromantic asexual, with empathic abilities, super powers, and a LOT of trauma—
which leads to my next and very important thing: i enjoyed reading The Circus Infinite, but i do wish i’d been able to find more content warnings because there are A LOT. i knew of some going in, but it was much heavier than i anticipated.
so, content warnings: graphic and gruesome violence, blood, sex, conversion therapy, torture, hospital/institutions, experimentation on living people, people treated as objects, death, murder, consensual drug use, non consensual drug use, abuse, shitty garbage awful parents, blackmail, bullying, racism, slurs, self hate, challenged internalized acephobia (and resolved, imo)
those are the ones i can readily remember. it’s uh, definitely not a book i’d recommend as light reading, and very different from ace books i’ve read in the past, which is great actually, but please, please, mind the content warnings!
(if you’d like to know if something i haven’t listed is in the book, please ask and i will do my best to answer. i’m sure i’ve forgotten something and i don’t want anyone getting hurt)
listen—
if you liked the slice of life feel of The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers AND the harsh circus underbelly setting and traumatic mc backstory of Pantomime by Laura Lam, then you will enjoy Khan Wong’s The Circus Infinite
this one is not for the faint hearted; i loved it, but i read it in pieces because it was unexpectedly tense
it’s got that queer found family of space misfits mixed in with the intense, and dangerous, circus mafia setting
—my one complaint is there wasn’t enough Niko Dax, a villain so easy to hate i needed him on every page. what a sleezy shit and excellent foil to the protagonist—
moving on, though—
the world building and politics of The Circus Infinite are SUPER immersive and expansive, i REALLY hope there will be other books written and set in this universe
i loved that every bit of the story is so casually, wonderfully, queer. Jes, the mc, is a sex repulsed panromantic asexual, with empathic abilities, super powers, and a LOT of trauma—
which leads to my next and very important thing: i enjoyed reading The Circus Infinite, but i do wish i’d been able to find more content warnings because there are A LOT. i knew of some going in, but it was much heavier than i anticipated.
so, content warnings: graphic and gruesome violence, blood, sex, conversion therapy, torture, hospital/institutions, experimentation on living people, people treated as objects, death, murder, consensual drug use, non consensual drug use, abuse, shitty garbage awful parents, blackmail, bullying, racism, slurs, self hate, challenged internalized acephobia (and resolved, imo)
those are the ones i can readily remember. it’s uh, definitely not a book i’d recommend as light reading, and very different from ace books i’ve read in the past, which is great actually, but please, please, mind the content warnings!
(if you’d like to know if something i haven’t listed is in the book, please ask and i will do my best to answer. i’m sure i’ve forgotten something and i don’t want anyone getting hurt)
March 25, 2022
I had so much fun with this book, and it made me so happy for a number of reasons. For one, not only did this book have ace rep, which I am always looking for and what primarily made me want to read this book, but it was specifically paromantic asexual rep, which is what I consider myself. I so rarely see this specific kind of rep, especially handled and explained so well. Jes, the panroace mc, was allowed to just casually exist queerly while still better explaining what his orientation was for readers who may be unfamiliar with it. There were also many side casually queer characters allowed to just exist in his vast world and it not be such a big deal to most people. The fact that almost everyone introduces themselves with their pronouns was such an amazing thing to have in a book, it made tear up. Another thing I adored was Jes' eventual romantic partner. He was such a sweetheart and respected Jes so much. The respect and love and family Jes found was so amazing. Which brings me to my third point, I love the fact that almost everyone always asked for consent before giving even the smallest of touches to Jes because they quickly picked up the fact that he doesn't like to be touched and they realize how special it is when he feels comfortable enough with someone to permit casual touches. And of course the found family aspect itself was phenomenal. The fact that they protected him and he protected them. TEARS. My last favorite thing that I immediately noticed was that it diverts from the usual path of lying. What I mean is, usually the mc will lie about something, for instance, why they are in this new place and essentially seeking refuge, despite the fact it could endanger the people already there and then it dogpiles into a web of lies that has to be untangled later. It diverts a few times, and each time, it was such a relief. This book was so great. I am so grateful to have. chance to review it!
October 4, 2021
The Circus Infinite by Khang Wong brings to life a charming story of found family against the backdrop of a breathtaking otherworldly circus. It's an action packed tale of a fugitive empath who rubs up against the unyielding edge of organized crime on a seedy pleasure moon. Gravity-powered Jes has managed to maintain his good-hearted kindness in the face of gruesome scientific experimentation; however, the local corrupt crime boss just might be his undoing.
Khan Wong gives us an adventure that reaches all the right hard-hitting space fantasy notes while protecting a tender heart of inclusivity and respect. Featuring an ace protagonist, the consent dynamics of the book are particularly adept. The Circus Infinite explores the nuances of gender and sexuality while punching you in the gut with soaring feats of gravity and interrogations that will make you gasp out loud.
Khan Wong gives us an adventure that reaches all the right hard-hitting space fantasy notes while protecting a tender heart of inclusivity and respect. Featuring an ace protagonist, the consent dynamics of the book are particularly adept. The Circus Infinite explores the nuances of gender and sexuality while punching you in the gut with soaring feats of gravity and interrogations that will make you gasp out loud.
January 16, 2022
The circus infinite takes the classic story of a misfit who runs away to join the circus, and reworks it into a vibrant, sultry, and subversive piece of scifi.
The misfit is a grey-ace empath named Jes, on the run with a difficult (almost dystopian) past, and carrying many secrets (like his special abilities). The circus itself is set in a scifi universe with space travel and casino planets. Among the outcasts and misfits of those in the circus, Jes finds acceptance and family, but of course he can't run from his past forever :)
The misfit is a grey-ace empath named Jes, on the run with a difficult (almost dystopian) past, and carrying many secrets (like his special abilities). The circus itself is set in a scifi universe with space travel and casino planets. Among the outcasts and misfits of those in the circus, Jes finds acceptance and family, but of course he can't run from his past forever :)
May 2, 2022
The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong wasn't for me and I should have known that. I saw a lot of "if you liked A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, than you'll like this!" talk and that alone should have stopped me from putting a hold on this one. I kinda hated A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and I've come to realize that space operas are not my thing. I mean, I like the idea of them, but they have too much interpersonal drama for my tastes.
But who can resist a story about A CIRCUS IN SPACE??? Cause I sure as shit couldn't!
Let's get straight to brass tacks here, my biggest issue with The Circus Infinite was that it felt like a YA book. The majority of the focus of this book is on our protagonist discovering himself and refining his identity through interactions and relationships with new people. I'm just not a fan of not-your-average-boy kind of characters who are *special* and *unique* because of who their parents are and what kind of magic powers they have. Yuck.
Our protagonist is Jes, a cunning, young, mixed-species fugitive looking for a place to fit in and lay low. He's drawn to a pleasure moon where people indulge themselves on booze, a weed-like smokable, and sex. Seems like it would be easy to blend in with the crowd when the crowd is busy with... other things, right?
So this is where and when the circus comes to town. Literally. Jes stumbles upon a circus of misfits and soon discovers that he can help them just as much as they can help him. You see, due to being mix raced, Jes is an empath who can "suss" people's emotions and feel them as if they are his own. He also has gravitational powers and can create energy fields and like, levitate and move things with his mind.
Honestly, Jes' powers, in particular his empath powers, were not my thing at all. I'm an emotional void and I generally hate focusing and perseverating on feelings so I just really couldn't stand it.
I will admit that there was some interesting discussion regarding the fact that Jes is an asexual panromantic who struggles with "sussing" lustful feelings that he can't personally relate to. It was one of the few things in this book that was new and interesting and truly unique. Like I said, I don't really care for emotions and feelings, but I like hearing from different kinds of people and this was new to me.
Unfortunately, and this is a big part of why The Circus Infinite felt so YA to me, Jes almost immediately begins a romantic relationship with one of his new circus friends and I just didn't care. Jes has never really been in a relationship, so it's all very juvenile and warped by jealousy and inexperience on Jes' part. Not bad if you like that kind of thing, but it was about as far away from being my thing as you can get.
Was anything in this book my thing you ask? Eh... there were some cool action scenes, some with a touch of torture and violence. And there are these mob boss type baddies who could have been cool if they weren't so cartoonish. Oh, and there was a hint of a seedy underbelly to this world, though I would have liked to spend more time in it than in the minds of little boys who are jealous that their boyfriends dated other people.
But other than that, no. Not a lot of this book worked for me. It wasn't exactly bad, but too much of it felt very immature. Speaking of immature, I've got some final nitpicks to get off my chest before I wrap this one up.
I struggled to care about any of the characters other than Jes, who was a likable enough guy. I will say that the characters were entertainingly diverse, but I just couldn't connect with any of them because they weren't very well fleshed out.
The circus performance aspect was... not great. I struggle with visualizing things that I read, so other people will probably enjoy this more than I did.
I found the atmosphere to be lacking in The Circus Infinite and it rarely felt like we were in space. Other than referencing planets and alien-like species, this very well could have set in any average fantasy land.
The only thing that felt remotely adult about this book was a scene where Jes goes to some sex club and comments on the sounds he hears and activities he sees. Oh, and I guess some people were bothered by the violent scenes, but I'm desensitized to that sort of thing and it didn't bother me one bit. Other than that, the characters and themes and plot points felt more suited to the YA genre than to anything adult.
The last thing I want to say that this one ends on a "this journey is just beginning" kind of message. I didn't see any indication that there will be a sequel, but the set up is there, so do with that what you will.
In the end, I rated Kahn Wong's The Circus Infinite 2.75 out of 5 stars. I'm sure it's a fine book for the right person, but I'm not that person.
You might like this if you like: space operas, stories about young people growing into adulthood, and circuses.
But who can resist a story about A CIRCUS IN SPACE??? Cause I sure as shit couldn't!
Let's get straight to brass tacks here, my biggest issue with The Circus Infinite was that it felt like a YA book. The majority of the focus of this book is on our protagonist discovering himself and refining his identity through interactions and relationships with new people. I'm just not a fan of not-your-average-boy kind of characters who are *special* and *unique* because of who their parents are and what kind of magic powers they have. Yuck.
Our protagonist is Jes, a cunning, young, mixed-species fugitive looking for a place to fit in and lay low. He's drawn to a pleasure moon where people indulge themselves on booze, a weed-like smokable, and sex. Seems like it would be easy to blend in with the crowd when the crowd is busy with... other things, right?
So this is where and when the circus comes to town. Literally. Jes stumbles upon a circus of misfits and soon discovers that he can help them just as much as they can help him. You see, due to being mix raced, Jes is an empath who can "suss" people's emotions and feel them as if they are his own. He also has gravitational powers and can create energy fields and like, levitate and move things with his mind.
Honestly, Jes' powers, in particular his empath powers, were not my thing at all. I'm an emotional void and I generally hate focusing and perseverating on feelings so I just really couldn't stand it.
I will admit that there was some interesting discussion regarding the fact that Jes is an asexual panromantic who struggles with "sussing" lustful feelings that he can't personally relate to. It was one of the few things in this book that was new and interesting and truly unique. Like I said, I don't really care for emotions and feelings, but I like hearing from different kinds of people and this was new to me.
Unfortunately, and this is a big part of why The Circus Infinite felt so YA to me, Jes almost immediately begins a romantic relationship with one of his new circus friends and I just didn't care. Jes has never really been in a relationship, so it's all very juvenile and warped by jealousy and inexperience on Jes' part. Not bad if you like that kind of thing, but it was about as far away from being my thing as you can get.
Was anything in this book my thing you ask? Eh... there were some cool action scenes, some with a touch of torture and violence. And there are these mob boss type baddies who could have been cool if they weren't so cartoonish. Oh, and there was a hint of a seedy underbelly to this world, though I would have liked to spend more time in it than in the minds of little boys who are jealous that their boyfriends dated other people.
But other than that, no. Not a lot of this book worked for me. It wasn't exactly bad, but too much of it felt very immature. Speaking of immature, I've got some final nitpicks to get off my chest before I wrap this one up.
I struggled to care about any of the characters other than Jes, who was a likable enough guy. I will say that the characters were entertainingly diverse, but I just couldn't connect with any of them because they weren't very well fleshed out.
The circus performance aspect was... not great. I struggle with visualizing things that I read, so other people will probably enjoy this more than I did.
I found the atmosphere to be lacking in The Circus Infinite and it rarely felt like we were in space. Other than referencing planets and alien-like species, this very well could have set in any average fantasy land.
The only thing that felt remotely adult about this book was a scene where Jes goes to some sex club and comments on the sounds he hears and activities he sees. Oh, and I guess some people were bothered by the violent scenes, but I'm desensitized to that sort of thing and it didn't bother me one bit. Other than that, the characters and themes and plot points felt more suited to the YA genre than to anything adult.
The last thing I want to say that this one ends on a "this journey is just beginning" kind of message. I didn't see any indication that there will be a sequel, but the set up is there, so do with that what you will.
In the end, I rated Kahn Wong's The Circus Infinite 2.75 out of 5 stars. I'm sure it's a fine book for the right person, but I'm not that person.
You might like this if you like: space operas, stories about young people growing into adulthood, and circuses.
March 14, 2022
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a proof copy from Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, torture, medical trauma/content, body horror, confinement, death, xenophobia, alcohol/drug use, emotional abuse, acephobia
--
A great space fantasy adventure that at its core is a story about acceptance and finding where you truly belong.
The Circus Infinite follows Jes, a mixed-species fugitive who has run away from the Paragenetic Institute of the 9-Stars, a research organisation that has been experimenting on him and his ability to control gravity.
With a bounty on his head he escapes to a far off moon, Persephone-9, where he finds refuge with a circus troupe and does his best to lay low and make a new life for himself. However, with great powers come those who wish to manipulate said powers and Jes soon becomes mixed up with the local crime boss who leaves him with two choices – compliance or a ticket back to life as a lab rat.
From the endearing found family at its heart to the great queer representation and fascinating supernatural abilities, there was so much about this book that I loved!
First and foremost it was wonderful seeing an asexual panromantic protagonist whose identity and experiences were not shied away from on page. The fact that Jes also has empathic powers further enhanced how this representation was explored and Wong wove this through the overarching storyline brilliantly.
The story for the most part takes place in one corner of the vast universe that Wong has imagined and while the handful of locations we come across are beautifully described I do feel like this element of the worldbuilding could have been fleshed out a little more. I absolutely loved all the parts that took place in the circus though, it had me wishing I could experience it all for real!
What really helped shape everything were the various species of the 9-Star System, making up society that we are introduced to and their individual customs and cultures. They not only gave the circus its magic and wonder but the interactions of the different communities brought to light a handful of important discussions around the themes of power and prejudice.
There is a predominantly light tone to the story however, there are also some very dark and grim moments too. Interspersed amongst the primary storyline are flashbacks of Jes’ past, including some of his time at the Institute, which gave more context to the plot as well as Jes’ personality and the versatility of his powers (which were so cool but also horrifying at times).
Though these moments also helped to add nuance to the character relationships in the book that were beautifully written and developed. The found family aspect is so wholesome and I really loved following Jes on his journey of finding trust, love and acceptance in others.
The only issue that I had was that within the last 100 pages or so the story seemed to lose its flow a little. Big parts of the plot were solved so easily that it made everything seem rushed when compared to the rest of the book.
That aside this was a really entertaining read with a good balance of character driven narrative and action and I would welcome more stories set in this universe or with these characters in the future!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
**I received a proof copy from Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, torture, medical trauma/content, body horror, confinement, death, xenophobia, alcohol/drug use, emotional abuse, acephobia
--
A great space fantasy adventure that at its core is a story about acceptance and finding where you truly belong.
The Circus Infinite follows Jes, a mixed-species fugitive who has run away from the Paragenetic Institute of the 9-Stars, a research organisation that has been experimenting on him and his ability to control gravity.
With a bounty on his head he escapes to a far off moon, Persephone-9, where he finds refuge with a circus troupe and does his best to lay low and make a new life for himself. However, with great powers come those who wish to manipulate said powers and Jes soon becomes mixed up with the local crime boss who leaves him with two choices – compliance or a ticket back to life as a lab rat.
From the endearing found family at its heart to the great queer representation and fascinating supernatural abilities, there was so much about this book that I loved!
First and foremost it was wonderful seeing an asexual panromantic protagonist whose identity and experiences were not shied away from on page. The fact that Jes also has empathic powers further enhanced how this representation was explored and Wong wove this through the overarching storyline brilliantly.
"...sometimes we have to choose which feelings to focus on. Focus on the love and let that guide you. The rest will sort itself."
The story for the most part takes place in one corner of the vast universe that Wong has imagined and while the handful of locations we come across are beautifully described I do feel like this element of the worldbuilding could have been fleshed out a little more. I absolutely loved all the parts that took place in the circus though, it had me wishing I could experience it all for real!
What really helped shape everything were the various species of the 9-Star System, making up society that we are introduced to and their individual customs and cultures. They not only gave the circus its magic and wonder but the interactions of the different communities brought to light a handful of important discussions around the themes of power and prejudice.
"He likes the way he looks all dressed up, but he's also a little embarrassed. It doesn't really feel like him. But, he reasons, who is that anyways? For so many years he's been controlled by everyone else. Shouldn't he take the chance to be someone new?"
There is a predominantly light tone to the story however, there are also some very dark and grim moments too. Interspersed amongst the primary storyline are flashbacks of Jes’ past, including some of his time at the Institute, which gave more context to the plot as well as Jes’ personality and the versatility of his powers (which were so cool but also horrifying at times).
Though these moments also helped to add nuance to the character relationships in the book that were beautifully written and developed. The found family aspect is so wholesome and I really loved following Jes on his journey of finding trust, love and acceptance in others.
The only issue that I had was that within the last 100 pages or so the story seemed to lose its flow a little. Big parts of the plot were solved so easily that it made everything seem rushed when compared to the rest of the book.
That aside this was a really entertaining read with a good balance of character driven narrative and action and I would welcome more stories set in this universe or with these characters in the future!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
March 13, 2022
I absolutely loved this book.
If you’re looking for a sci-fi book with a sex-averse panromantic asexual lead character who is wonderfully open about it, a strong theme of found family, and some great queer rep, then give this story a try!
⠀
I love how open and honest Jas is with his asexuality. I also love the respect of boundaries and Consent from friends and Bo. I also love the description of the different species and that what is essentially a giant praying mantis makes sure to use pronouns when introducing himself. I love that the ace empath has found his way to a group of rag-tag circus performers on a planet full of debauchery and pleasure.
Jes is on the run after escaping the Institute, a place we learn across the overall story that was keeping him and others for their powers. On his escape he falls into a group of Circus workers and finds a place to call home.
I really loved the world building in this, the different characters and their nuances and cultures. It was very fun to read about. This had a great blend of scifi and also just a fun circus found family feel through it.
Thank you Angry Robot bools for a review copy.
⠀
If you’re looking for a sci-fi book with a sex-averse panromantic asexual lead character who is wonderfully open about it, a strong theme of found family, and some great queer rep, then give this story a try!
⠀
I love how open and honest Jas is with his asexuality. I also love the respect of boundaries and Consent from friends and Bo. I also love the description of the different species and that what is essentially a giant praying mantis makes sure to use pronouns when introducing himself. I love that the ace empath has found his way to a group of rag-tag circus performers on a planet full of debauchery and pleasure.
Jes is on the run after escaping the Institute, a place we learn across the overall story that was keeping him and others for their powers. On his escape he falls into a group of Circus workers and finds a place to call home.
I really loved the world building in this, the different characters and their nuances and cultures. It was very fun to read about. This had a great blend of scifi and also just a fun circus found family feel through it.
Thank you Angry Robot bools for a review copy.
⠀
April 6, 2022
"Circus Infinite" is a book full of color and character that uses the 'fun but maybe a little shady' side of the circus rather than 'the creepy clown' motif to full effect. It's the carnival you want to go to, for the spectacle (and maybe a bag of weed), rather than the one you want to flee because of all the rust, dried blood and spikes. The main character is fresh and interesting and the family he makes along the way rings true. Nice work!
Read
October 26, 2022Dnf, confirming sci-fi isn't my genre and I found the book a bit slow
March 26, 2022
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content warnings:
The Circus Infinite was one of those books that I have mixed feelings about. Fleeing from The Paragenetic Institute of the 9-Stars, Jes heads to the one place he figures they will never look for him; the infamous pleasure moon of Persephone-9. The universe Wong has created is magnificent, an open world sandbox that has taken present day issues and ideas and run forward thousands of years. Earth is long gone, humans spread across space and migrated to two different planets; Indra and Loran. Both of them vastly different from the other. Despite their differences they have kept the human need to colonise, with humans retaining their perceived superiority over alien species despite mating with them. As one character refers to humans being responsible for the most cross-species breeding in the universe. Of course, they also remain among the first to show their disdain for the mixed race offspring of such unions. Thousands of years has not removed prejudice from the universe and Wong deftly shows it at play in society throughout the novel.
One of the main ways is the sexuality of the protagonist, Jes and that is what makes The Circus Infinite is an interesting and important read regardless of its flaws. Jes is asexual and also an emphath. Wong uses Jes’ empath abilities to help describe asexuality to the reader. In a book with a romantic relationship most readers will be familiar with the language the author uses to describe romantic feelings. In The Circus Infinite Wong has to walk the reader through how emotions feel to Jes, how they appear as physical manifestations. For example, during a house party Jes refers to all the feelings of need as a type of monster trying to batter down the walls. Drawing on these vivid descriptions Wong develops a sense of how it feels to be asexual in situations where romance, and sexual desire are rampant or expected. While Jes obviously feels these in a heightened way as an empath, it still enables the reader to draw a parallel to uncomfortable experiences that they have had.
While the house party was a good example, as were other moments in the novel, one scene struck me as feeling unnecessary. It felt out of place and felt almost like the author was torturing the main character. The pleasure moon is described multiple times throughout the novel, it is no secret that there are pleasure houses and the like on it. But apparently it was completely necessarily to include a scene in one, and since the book is only from Jes’ perspective, you can see where this is going. It was an extremely painful scene to read as someone who is not asexual, and it felt completely unneeded in terms of saying “see this is how asexuals feel”. Instead, it just felt like it was playing to the crowd a bit too much for my liking. The book’s set on a pleasure moon so by golly we will have a scene in a sex club! It was just over kill.
Sadly, that was a bit of a theme in The Circus Infinite. The world building was solid, however, there was too much crammed into the plot and the book was trying to be too many things at once. Was it trying to be a space opera or science fiction pulp novel? Or a crime caper about found family and becoming your true self? Maybe it’s a superpower book set in a circus? On top of all this there are numerous side plots with the theme of changing perceptions, and while they were solid plots involving interesting characters, they were again, they just felt like too much being pressed into one book. There’s no information regarding whether this is a standalone or part of a series, the book ends in a way that either is plausible. I think this would have been better suited as a duology or a trilogy.
Despite having so many moving parts the plot is actually quite simplistic; a fugitive runs away from an evil scientific organisation, hides where he doesn’t think anyone will look but, surprise, gets found out anyway and then gets blackmailed. Simple doesn’t always mean a bad thing if there are twists and turns, and the way the synopsis is written I was expecting those. Unfortunately, The Circus Infinite wasn’t quite the thriller or the mystery that I expected. Instead, it’s more a novel about parties and raves.
“Pleasure” moon is a bit of a misnomer, and at least to me, means something entirely different to the atmosphere of Persephone-9. While there are pleasure houses, as mentioned, the emphasis is on hedonism and more specifically, the consumption of copious amounts of drugs and alcohol. I’m not a fan of either of these, and in real life intoxicated people are a source of great anxiety to me (re: previous trauma), so reading a book that is frequently filled with scenes of people doing just that is not a fun read for me 1. The author’s biography refers to becoming involved in the Burning Man culture and underground circus’ so this may very well be from his own experiences, which is fair enough. That being said, if the synopsis had said “party moon” I would have not picked this book up because I would have identified it as not being my type of read.
There is a chilling contrast between the party scenes and those of found family and the stark reality of what happened to Jes at the Institute. While this is a novel about a party lifestyle, it would be remiss to say that is all it is. These scenes are explicit, they are cold, scientific and terrifying. Wong does an excellent job of separating them completely from the joy of finding a home, of finding family. These moments will have you holding your breath, feeling your heart beat in your chest and only then will you remember they are flashbacks, that Jes has already escaped.
Another of Wong’s strengths is his world-building. The universe he has created is wonderful and interesting, the cultures of the alien races incredibly thought out especially the asuna. Their physical description is stunning, and I’m not going to say any more because it’s something you need to enjoy for yourself. I did feel that compared to the other alien races the asuna and the Mantodean were more developed compared to some of the others. Likewise, some physical descriptions were a bit confusing. Mantodean culture was described well, however, their physical appearance was confusing to me, and it was only after I noted the mantis on the book cover that I realised that what I had imagined was completely different to what had apparently been described. I also have no idea what a Bezan looks like.
The Circus Infinite is a fun novel about found family with a caper twist and more importantly, it has an asexual protagonist and all round diversity. The problem for me was that despite these good qualities it was a bit too hit-and-miss in other areas, and overall it just didn’t make a huge impression on me. I felt that the emphasis on a hedonistic lifestyle overwhelmed everything else that was taking place in the novel, and it was hard to take things seriously when everyone was more interested in partying than anything else.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
Content warnings:
The Circus Infinite was one of those books that I have mixed feelings about. Fleeing from The Paragenetic Institute of the 9-Stars, Jes heads to the one place he figures they will never look for him; the infamous pleasure moon of Persephone-9. The universe Wong has created is magnificent, an open world sandbox that has taken present day issues and ideas and run forward thousands of years. Earth is long gone, humans spread across space and migrated to two different planets; Indra and Loran. Both of them vastly different from the other. Despite their differences they have kept the human need to colonise, with humans retaining their perceived superiority over alien species despite mating with them. As one character refers to humans being responsible for the most cross-species breeding in the universe. Of course, they also remain among the first to show their disdain for the mixed race offspring of such unions. Thousands of years has not removed prejudice from the universe and Wong deftly shows it at play in society throughout the novel.
One of the main ways is the sexuality of the protagonist, Jes and that is what makes The Circus Infinite is an interesting and important read regardless of its flaws. Jes is asexual and also an emphath. Wong uses Jes’ empath abilities to help describe asexuality to the reader. In a book with a romantic relationship most readers will be familiar with the language the author uses to describe romantic feelings. In The Circus Infinite Wong has to walk the reader through how emotions feel to Jes, how they appear as physical manifestations. For example, during a house party Jes refers to all the feelings of need as a type of monster trying to batter down the walls. Drawing on these vivid descriptions Wong develops a sense of how it feels to be asexual in situations where romance, and sexual desire are rampant or expected. While Jes obviously feels these in a heightened way as an empath, it still enables the reader to draw a parallel to uncomfortable experiences that they have had.
While the house party was a good example, as were other moments in the novel, one scene struck me as feeling unnecessary. It felt out of place and felt almost like the author was torturing the main character. The pleasure moon is described multiple times throughout the novel, it is no secret that there are pleasure houses and the like on it. But apparently it was completely necessarily to include a scene in one, and since the book is only from Jes’ perspective, you can see where this is going. It was an extremely painful scene to read as someone who is not asexual, and it felt completely unneeded in terms of saying “see this is how asexuals feel”. Instead, it just felt like it was playing to the crowd a bit too much for my liking. The book’s set on a pleasure moon so by golly we will have a scene in a sex club! It was just over kill.
Sadly, that was a bit of a theme in The Circus Infinite. The world building was solid, however, there was too much crammed into the plot and the book was trying to be too many things at once. Was it trying to be a space opera or science fiction pulp novel? Or a crime caper about found family and becoming your true self? Maybe it’s a superpower book set in a circus? On top of all this there are numerous side plots with the theme of changing perceptions, and while they were solid plots involving interesting characters, they were again, they just felt like too much being pressed into one book. There’s no information regarding whether this is a standalone or part of a series, the book ends in a way that either is plausible. I think this would have been better suited as a duology or a trilogy.
Despite having so many moving parts the plot is actually quite simplistic; a fugitive runs away from an evil scientific organisation, hides where he doesn’t think anyone will look but, surprise, gets found out anyway and then gets blackmailed. Simple doesn’t always mean a bad thing if there are twists and turns, and the way the synopsis is written I was expecting those. Unfortunately, The Circus Infinite wasn’t quite the thriller or the mystery that I expected. Instead, it’s more a novel about parties and raves.
“Pleasure” moon is a bit of a misnomer, and at least to me, means something entirely different to the atmosphere of Persephone-9. While there are pleasure houses, as mentioned, the emphasis is on hedonism and more specifically, the consumption of copious amounts of drugs and alcohol. I’m not a fan of either of these, and in real life intoxicated people are a source of great anxiety to me (re: previous trauma), so reading a book that is frequently filled with scenes of people doing just that is not a fun read for me 1. The author’s biography refers to becoming involved in the Burning Man culture and underground circus’ so this may very well be from his own experiences, which is fair enough. That being said, if the synopsis had said “party moon” I would have not picked this book up because I would have identified it as not being my type of read.
There is a chilling contrast between the party scenes and those of found family and the stark reality of what happened to Jes at the Institute. While this is a novel about a party lifestyle, it would be remiss to say that is all it is. These scenes are explicit, they are cold, scientific and terrifying. Wong does an excellent job of separating them completely from the joy of finding a home, of finding family. These moments will have you holding your breath, feeling your heart beat in your chest and only then will you remember they are flashbacks, that Jes has already escaped.
Another of Wong’s strengths is his world-building. The universe he has created is wonderful and interesting, the cultures of the alien races incredibly thought out especially the asuna. Their physical description is stunning, and I’m not going to say any more because it’s something you need to enjoy for yourself. I did feel that compared to the other alien races the asuna and the Mantodean were more developed compared to some of the others. Likewise, some physical descriptions were a bit confusing. Mantodean culture was described well, however, their physical appearance was confusing to me, and it was only after I noted the mantis on the book cover that I realised that what I had imagined was completely different to what had apparently been described. I also have no idea what a Bezan looks like.
The Circus Infinite is a fun novel about found family with a caper twist and more importantly, it has an asexual protagonist and all round diversity. The problem for me was that despite these good qualities it was a bit too hit-and-miss in other areas, and overall it just didn’t make a huge impression on me. I felt that the emphasis on a hedonistic lifestyle overwhelmed everything else that was taking place in the novel, and it was hard to take things seriously when everyone was more interested in partying than anything else.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
February 17, 2022
I rather enjoyed The Circus Inifinite, it has its flaws but I liked how it treated some dark themes with the right lightness for YA but sometimes it could come across as inconsistent. Oner thing, i really enjoyed is how unapologetically asexual Jes is, it wass really nice to see the term for once and being in a book with not asexuality as the sole theme.
So Jes has escapedand has a bounty on his head and a lot of people want to study/disecting him for his powers and joins a circus however the circus is threatened by a crime boss. He will get the said boss attention and he will be blackmailed to work for him , that is how it starts.
Jes will have to torture, kill for the boss and he is traumatized by it this was interesting to see how it affect him, he isn't a morally grey guy, he is lovely and hated every minute of it, he cares for other people.
I liked the queer found family and the little side romance with Jes and how it was written to make a highlight of his asexuality and showing how a aspect of asexuality is, I found that great, they were cute.
On the asexuality subject again, as Jes is also an enpath it was interesting to see him in quite a lot of situations being uncomfortable in specific situations that you would not notice as a sexual person in this world where it is actively pushed for it.
For the end, the antagonist Dax was interesting to me and a good villain, he did his role and the confrontation was well written and so satisfying.
This book was really full of hopes and dreams with a nice message while carrying some dark themes along the way to finish it comfortably
So Jes has escapedand has a bounty on his head and a lot of people want to study/disecting him for his powers and joins a circus however the circus is threatened by a crime boss. He will get the said boss attention and he will be blackmailed to work for him , that is how it starts.
Jes will have to torture, kill for the boss and he is traumatized by it this was interesting to see how it affect him, he isn't a morally grey guy, he is lovely and hated every minute of it, he cares for other people.
I liked the queer found family and the little side romance with Jes and how it was written to make a highlight of his asexuality and showing how a aspect of asexuality is, I found that great, they were cute.
On the asexuality subject again, as Jes is also an enpath it was interesting to see him in quite a lot of situations being uncomfortable in specific situations that you would not notice as a sexual person in this world where it is actively pushed for it.
For the end, the antagonist Dax was interesting to me and a good villain, he did his role and the confrontation was well written and so satisfying.
This book was really full of hopes and dreams with a nice message while carrying some dark themes along the way to finish it comfortably
April 7, 2024
I loved this. A fast paced adventure and great characters. Bonus points for a great ace relationship.
December 30, 2024
This came up in my ARC list recently. First off, it’s published by Angry Robot. If you don’t know Angry Robot, they describe themselves as seeking to ‘find and give a platform to new voices and new stories that push the boundaries of genre fiction, mess them about, and put them back together again in all kinds of awesome ways – we like to think of ourselves as “genrefluid”.’
When it comes to traditionally published novels, if I’m reading it, there’s a good chance it’s an Angry Robot book.
The Circus Infinite offers up one of the finest found family stories I’ve read in a while – and I love me some found family. It’s an epic tale filled with flawed and adorable characters set in an exquisitely imagined universe.
Jes is a fugitive who hasn’t known love – or even kindness – since his grandparents died when he was a child. He escapes from a mysterious institution, where he’d been studied, tortured, and experimented on and makes his way to the one place he assumes his captors won’t think to look for a sex-repulsed asexual: a seedy pleasure moon in the furthest reaches of the known galaxy.
I suspect the author won’t mind when I say this is an eleganza extravaganza of an adventure that is, by turn, chilling, heartwarming, infuriating, and affirming.
This science fantasy novel explores the nuances of consent and acceptance through the medium of a compelling and unconventional story.
The plot does meander a bit in the middle. But I can forgive that when the characters are as wonderful as Jes, Bo, Esmee, Essa, Quint, and the gang.
Think A Closed and Common Orbit crashes headlong into Space Unicorn Blues with a little sprinkling of The Android’s Dream for good measure.
I received an advance review copy via Queer Sci-Fi for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When it comes to traditionally published novels, if I’m reading it, there’s a good chance it’s an Angry Robot book.
The Circus Infinite offers up one of the finest found family stories I’ve read in a while – and I love me some found family. It’s an epic tale filled with flawed and adorable characters set in an exquisitely imagined universe.
Jes is a fugitive who hasn’t known love – or even kindness – since his grandparents died when he was a child. He escapes from a mysterious institution, where he’d been studied, tortured, and experimented on and makes his way to the one place he assumes his captors won’t think to look for a sex-repulsed asexual: a seedy pleasure moon in the furthest reaches of the known galaxy.
I suspect the author won’t mind when I say this is an eleganza extravaganza of an adventure that is, by turn, chilling, heartwarming, infuriating, and affirming.
This science fantasy novel explores the nuances of consent and acceptance through the medium of a compelling and unconventional story.
The plot does meander a bit in the middle. But I can forgive that when the characters are as wonderful as Jes, Bo, Esmee, Essa, Quint, and the gang.
Think A Closed and Common Orbit crashes headlong into Space Unicorn Blues with a little sprinkling of The Android’s Dream for good measure.
I received an advance review copy via Queer Sci-Fi for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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