Spotlights and sawdust, secrets and lies…
1911: Sydney, Australia.
From the moment the tumours appeared on her face, Maggie Bright knew she would never live a normal life. Abandoned by her mother and then given away by her father, she spent her childhood learning to become the ‘Lagoon Creature’: part acrobat, part clown, part circus hand. It’s not a bad life. Rafferty Braun, the ringmaster, provides her with an ongoing education, and now, as a young woman, she has the kind of freedom her condition could have easily taken away from her. As much as she tries not to, however, Maggie can’t help wishing for more.
Charlotte Voigt could not be more different. The talented tightrope walker is a star of the circus, with the entertainment world at her slipper-clad feet. She is also a liar with a drinking habit.
When an opportunity arises to try on Charlotte’s identity for her own, Maggie doesn’t hesitate. She wants to know what it feels like to be admired, to be accepted, to be beautiful. And the circus’ sudden decision to cross Australia via wagon provides her with the perfect cover.
Each new town and remote settlement bring the women another step closer to understanding each other. Resentments begin to fade, but in their place are secrets and confidences that could undo the delicate trust they’ve built: Maggie, with her alternative life pretending to be the glamorous tightrope walker; Charlotte lying about her background, her family, and the reason she reappeared with the circus after several years’ absence.
The sawdust road will test their willpower. The truth will determine their futures.
Kerri Turner is an Australian author of historical fiction, including The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers and The Daughter of Victory Lights. Her books and short stories focus on female roles throughout history that have been largely overlooked or forgotten. She’s hit the bullseye with The Magpie’s Sister. Turner dances through this heart-stirring tale with depth, verve and agility.
Her evocative writing style leads us into an in-depth and insightful journey into the world of circuses past. Turner has woven her knowledge into a tale of identity and belonging, highlighting the cruel time when diversity was considered a ‘freak show’. A story of courage and heart, this is about realising the road to empowerment must come from within, as Maggie learns to fly free and high as a performer, a woman and an example.
Leave a Reply