I’m not always the biggest fan of historical fiction, however reading the synopsis really pulled me into the story and I am glad I requested this book. A coming of age story for Mim, a teenager who is trying to figure out who she is, The Electrical Venus is a gorgeous read.

The characters throughout this book are really well developed, particularly Mim as she develops into the title character, but also Alex too as the book goes on, leading to a really nice finale. If this book is anything, it’s short and sweet and the characters for the amount of pages really are very good.

The story is okay and I feel like it really does have a nice ending to it with moments in the story that really give this book some drama but I feel like the characters are what steals this story and the fact they are characters you rarely see in fiction, makes this an important (for representation) but also an enjoyable read.

(I received an ARC from Netgalley for a honest review).

I really enjoyed reading this! It's about a biracial "exotic" girl called Mim, and about Alex, who's a one-armed acrobat. The story's set in eighteenth century England, and in a circus (similar to Caraval, but also way way different) - I'm a sucker for a good steampunk novel, so of course I had to read it. 

The layout of the book was so beautiful! The chapter images, changing perspectives, switches between first and third person - they were all so intriguing? I especially loved the little illustrations of animals before each chapter <3

The writing style was really easy to read? It was sort of diary-like, but at times it felt a little dry. A bit too deep in descriptions, maybe. The best part was definitely how they included the feelings of Pig and George the parrot (who, let's be honest, were the true stars of the show). 

I loved the characters so much!! Mim was snarky and funny and a bit headstrong but Alex,, god I would die for him. He's so soft and beautiful and trying so hard and skshskhsjs??? And their relationship was so sweet and unhurried !!!

Something I would've wanted is more backstory? Especially for Abel and Joe, I just feel like it would've brought the whole thing home. Sometimes they felt a little unrealistic.  
I'd recommend it to anyone looking for character-driven historical fiction, or just something breezy and intriguing! 

thank you to the publisher for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

(and yes, I'm extremely late. sue me.)

Mim and Alex are part of a travelling carnival show run by Mr Grainger and his wife. Both have been travelling since they were young and as they got older their friendship seems like it could grow to more as they start to notice each other as something more. Then Mr Fox arrives with his Electrickery, philosophy and his inventions and Mim is raised to top billing, leaving Alex behind.
It took me a while to get into this book, it was a bit slow throughout but the prologue adds some suspense which builds to the almost-finale at the end. I found the changing perspectives a little confusing at times and the language made it difficult to picture what was actually happening at first but I got used to it soon enough.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mim works in a side show fair as the sort-of exotic attraction with a parrot that speaks four languages. Alex is the shy one armed boxer of the fair, who grew up with Mim, and struggles with his growing feelings for his friend. Told from both points of view, we get to see romance blossom despite facing adversity and life on the road as the mysterious Mr Fox arrives with his ‘electrickery’ which will thrust Mim into the spotlight.

This is a story of young love, first love, told in a delicate and sensitive way. It’s not pushed, there’s no instalove here. It’s years of friendship and deep levels of trust that have changed into something more as the characters have grown up. It’s a rather lovely thing to watch unfold, and comes complete with the awkward tensions and embarrassing moments you’d expect from first love. As the story is told from both points of view, we gain a better understand of how each of the characters feels too, which I thought was a nice touch (although the way it’s told is a little unusual at first).

I loved all the secondary characters here too, and thought they were well fleshed out, diverse (for the times) and full of colour and life. The author does a good job of exposing the prejudices these individuals faced in Georgian England for the sake of ‘entertainment’ too, and I found myself really rooting for them to gain a better life for themselves despite everything. The setting is also wonderfully described, and sets the scene well. I felt like I was there in the side show, smelling the popcorn, with them.

YA historical fiction done well is hard to come by, and this feels authentic and genuine without being too out of its time. I did find the ending a little bit rushed after a slowish build up, and the plot when detached from these wonderful characters is a little obvious and stereotypical of the genre, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Another good edition to the expanding historical YA fiction genre, perfect for lovers of the Georgian era and side shows.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very sweet book and a pretty quick read. 'The Electrical Venus' definitely lends itself to being more of a romance than any other genre (not always my favourite). But it has the added attraction of being set in a travelling circus in the eighteenth-century, which is setting I find absolutely fascinating. It revolves around our two main characters Mim and Alex, who both have acts in the travelling circus, told from both of their viewpoints and almost in a diary-like format it really gives an insight into both sides of the story. Mim tells her side of the story to her pet parrot and Alex tells his side to one of the pigs who travels with them, it really allows the reader to get behind the romance and understand the thinking on both sides.

Once Mr. Fox turns up with his 'Electrical Venus' act and convinces Mim to be the star of the show the story really starts to move along, picking up pace as it goes. The last quarter of the book really flies by and if anything I wish it kept going for longer rather than ending so suddenly once everything had been wrapped up!

I can't speak for the historical accuracy of the piece, however it is incredibly believable and at no point was I questioning anything that was happening. The setting really lends itself to the story and it creates some fascinating moments that couldn't really be achieved with any other setting, in my opinion.

'The Electrical Venus' is a really lovely read, and perfect to pass by the time with a romance novel to remember.


The Electrical Venus is the new historical romance from talent writer, actor and novelist Julie Mayhew.

In eighteen-century England Mims is a mixed raced teenager trying to find her place in a traveling group of 'performers'. She is neither black nor white in eighteen century England she is seen as exotic, but that is not enough to be an act, her pet parrot that speaks 4 languages is more interesting than see is.
The only person that truly see any worth in Mims is Alex, the one-armed boxer who have known each other since they were small children. Something is about to change between Mims and Alex when Dr Foxs turn up with a machine that creates "electrickery", and a new show to draw in bigger crowds.  He picks Mims to be The Electrical Venus, the show resolves around paying a penny to kiss Mims and feel the shock of love.
But as Mims becomes the star of the show and spends more time with Dr Fox, is the spark between them Love or just electrickery?

The Electrical Venus is split it two narrative which are Mims and Alex point of views, I liked the fact that they were telling their story to their pets. As someone who talks to her dogs, I really like that element.
I have always been fascinated with history, so I enjoyed reading a book based in eighteen century England. I loved how real Julie has made the book feel, even if the treatment of women made the feminist in my very angry.
I admired the way in which Julie dealt with the subject disability (Alex missing his arm) and race. I loved the fact that these factor do not impact how they see each other.
I also don't know if it to do with my age, that sometimes I wanted to shake Mims and set her straight, although this happened less and less as the story continued.
This book was a slow burn for me but I was entertained throughout, I really enjoyed who this story ended I thought it was perfect for the story.
This book reminded me about A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars and Daughter of a Burning City, due to the different mixture of people and traveling performance.
I give this book 3.8 out of 5.

Thanks to Hot Keys Books for sending me this book to read for a honest review.