‘The Circus Train:’ A promising read that lacks deeper impact

Amita Parikh’s debut novel, The Circus Train, is a fast-paced historical fiction story set during World War II. The plot follows Lena Papadopoulos, the daughter of a traveling circus’s star illusionist, who is brilliant and curious but uses a wheelchair due to a childhood bout of polio.

She dreams of a life in medicine and science. Her life changes when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with a mysterious past. As their friendship deepens, the war intensifies, and Lena’s father, Theo, and Alexandre are arrested by the Nazis. They are forced to perform in a “model town” for Jewish people while Lena is left to navigate her own path.

The novel is a solid read, especially in its first two acts. The world-building is captivating, although the character development feels a bit thin. While the characters have their flaws, their backstories—and the motivations behind them—are not always explored in a way that makes you truly care about them. For instance, we learn about how Horace entered the circus business, but not what makes him so cunning. Alexandre is introduced as a morally gray character, but he begins to change almost immediately, and his past bad deeds—like stealing—are mentioned only in passing.

Among the characters, Theo was a personal favorite. I believe his death in the second act would have made the third act far more impactful. His backstory, which he shares with Lena, beautifully delivers the novel’s core themes. I loved his fierce protectiveness of Lena, and it was a poignant moment when she finally understood his motivations.

Lena is an interesting character. The story effectively conveys her struggles, but I did wish the secret room inside the maze that she shows to Alexandre so early on had been put to better use in the plot. It felt like a missed opportunity.

The story moves along continuously without ever pausing to develop its characters’ inner lives. It sets up major arcs, but the twists are predictable. The third act, which should have been a payoff, falls flat due to a lack of tension. There is no real emotional conflict between any of the characters; everything feels too easy, almost like a fairy tale. I had hoped for more at stake, perhaps with one of the main characters dying, but the survival of both Theo and Alexandre lessened the emotional impact.

The inclusion of Harry as Lena’s current partner felt like a lazy attempt to create a rom-com ending. Horace’s role in the third act also felt unsatisfying, as if the story was trying too hard to make everyone a good person.

The author’s research is impeccable, and I did enjoy reading the book. For a debut novel, the story is well-executed. However, in its entirety, the novel doesn’t feel as satisfying as it could have been. I believe a longer story that allowed for deeper character exploration and higher stakes would have made a more profound impact.

I’d rate this book 3/5 stars.