This book follows two time periods: Present day and late 1700s / early 1800s.

The timeline in the past was fantastic. The characters were intriguing, especially Amos, the one who couldn’t speak but found his own ways to communicate with others. The traveling circus life / family seemed tough yet loving and supportive.

The timeline in the present was dull and lackluster. Simon was pathetic. Ebola was abrasive. Churchwarry felt creepy. Doyle was forgettable. Alice should have left them all behind and had her own adventure. The wrong questions were answered (I could care less why Doyle is covered in octopus tattoos), and those discoveries / events felt too convenient and neat by the end. Guess the unanswered questions are left for speculation…