Roll up! Roll up! See the Fortuna circus family with your own eyes. Ringmaster extraordinaire and ruler of his domain, Arturo Fortuna ensures a feast for the tongue, the eyes and ears within the tents of his 1890’s circus.

He rules with an ego the size of a planet, the voice of a lion and the greed of a billionaire. But billionaire he is not. Everything he lays his eyes upon is a possible way to make coin – even his children. He has three. Luna is the oldest and as soon as she began to bloom as a young woman, not fitting her clown costumes any longer, Arturo saw an opportunity.

Now as a fully grown woman in her early 20’s, Luna is voluptuous and knows exactly what to do with her body clothed in seductive gowns, to wind her punters insane with lust and want.

The next Fortuna child is Ren (Lorenzo). He was born a dwarf. But what he doesn’t have in height is more than made up for in smarts. Well read, and brilliant with numbers, he is the finance side of the Fortuna Family.

Last, but by no means least, is Avita. Also born different. She is normal from the tips of her toes to her upper back. That is where shiny, black feathers grow, constantly poking through the skin of her shoulders no matter how many times her mother plucked them. Her mouth is full of pointy, razor sharp teeth. Her eyes, bottomless pools of black. The most monstrous part of her face that her father loves to take advantage of is her beak, instead of a nose.

Now 16, Avita has had her own tent and show since a young girl, living for the screams she pulls effortlessly from her audience as she prowls her cage on her circus stage.

Every juggler, tumbler, tiger tamer and clown are deemed family by the Fortunas, and jump at Arturo’s will. Especially when another circus is in range and can take coin from pockets that Arturo believes are his own and only his. Everyone lives on Arturo’s dreams and aspirations and gives him their all.

Arturo’s children have grown up in this world and know nothing else, but now they have their own dreams, which might not follow their larger-than-life fathers’. Is life outside the circus possible, or do they have even better ways to plunder a punter’s purse?

I’d say wow, but that would be an understatement. The Family Fortuna’s cover is so intriguing, and the more I read, the more of this novel I saw in it.

A monster, a circus ring, and ultimately a girl growing up and finding her own identity and control of her life.

This novel is beautifully written, rich in simile that will sting as much as make you smile. Strong and lewd language is present throughout, cementing the feel of the Fortuna family, especially father, circus owner and ringleader, Arturo.

Coin is king, even above his own children who he takes advantage of for his glorious dream of being the best. Arturo is easy to hate – by his children and as a reader, but his will and might to succeed drives this family and circus onto greatness and a fabulous read.

Want to read something different? Escape into another world right here on our own? The Family Fortuna provides what it promises. Entertainment like never before.

Author – Lindsay Eager

Age – 15+

(2024, Walker Books, Harper Collins, Circus, Bird Girl, Feathers, Monster, Circus Act, Kootchie Tent, Controlling father, Egomanic, Control Freak, 1800’s, 1890’s, Freak show, Screaming audience, Coin is king, Conflict, Family, Greed, Growing up, Historical, Dwarf, Little Person, Bawdy act, Controlling your own destiny, Breaking away)