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 Beth C. on

4 of 5 stars

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I needed a book for a long, emotional drive - and after listening to the sample, and absolutely adoring the incomparable Jim Dale (who narrates), I decided this would be the perfect one. I was right. Nothing too heavy, allowing me to focus on the book and not my emotions - and as usual, Mr. Dale's narration was perfect. I swear he can upgrade any book. However, I did truly enjoy the story - it's unusual and entertaining, with the circus fully as much a character as any of the humans within the tale. Enough fantasy and whimsy to be able to suspend disbelief and just revel in the idea of such a wondrous place, this was a great read. And apparently I finished it in time to look forward to Morgenstern's upcoming title!

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  • Started reading
  • 14 February, 2019: Finished reading
  • 14 February, 2019: Reviewed