The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

In 1886, a mysterious travelling circus becomes an international sensation. Open only at night, constructed entirely in black and white, Le Cirque des Rêves delights all who wander its circular paths and warm themselves at its bonfire.

Although there are acrobats, fortune-tellers and contortionists, the Circus of Dreams is no conventional spectacle. Some tents contain clouds, some ice. The circus seems almost to cast a spell over its aficionados, who call themselves the rêveurs - the dreamers. At the heart of the story is the tangled relationship between two young magicians, Celia, the enchanter's daughter, and Marco, the sorcerer's apprentice. At the behest of their shadowy masters, they find themselves locked in a deadly contest, forced to test the very limits of the imagination, and of their love...

A fabulous, fin-de-siècle feast for the senses and a life-affirming love story, The Night Circus is a captivating novel that will make the real world seem fantastical and a fantasy world real.

Reviewed by ladygrey on

4 of 5 stars

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This is a surprisingly extraordinary book. At first I wasn't quite loving it, because it's so detached from the characters. Since I read a lot of young adult fiction, I'm used to stories that are much more immersive, dwelling on characters thoughts and emotions to pull you into the very middle of the story with them. This story is more removed than that and so I wasn't sure of it at first.

But then, what is austere becomes evocative when it moves beyond a handful of characters that you're not that connected to and opens up the world of this story, the mystery and wonder and sensual oddity that is so interesting. There is so much that is unknown, so much you're wondering about but so much to enjoy while you wonder.

It's an elegantly crafted story; emotional despite it's simplicity; unique and fascinating and wonderful.

ETA: Even better on second reading. I connected with the characters because I wasn't so lost in what was going on. And the story was richer and deeper since I understood it from the beginning.

Also, perfect song to listen to while reading The Night Circus?
Little Talks | Of Monsters and Men

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 December, 2011: Finished reading
  • 4 December, 2011: Reviewed