Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Here is a summary of book from the author's website:


The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

My Review:
This book is unlike any other book I have read.  The beauty, magic, and mystery will keep you entranced as you find the circus at a new location.  No advertisements will let you know when the circus is coming.  It will just be there one day and the anticipation grows as you wait for the sun to set so you can experience the circus that evening.

At the heart of this novel is a challenge that Marco and Celia find themselves as the main participants.  By the time that they realize that they are opponents in this magical game, they can no longer deny their love for one another.   Their feelings for each other conflict with the purpose of the game, so how can one of them possibly win this challenge but yet remain in this relationship.

Both Marco's and Celia's magic is special, and it seems that the circus itself feeds off of them as they draw strength from the circus.  But besides these magicians, all of the circus performers are extraordinary with what they have to offer.  Their gifts are exceptional and when it is apparent that the circus itself is in jeopardy, a plan must be devised in order for it to continue.

As I said earlier, this was a special and magical novel.  Morgenstern's writing was beautiful and believable, as sometimes when I read books with magical elements they become a bit too far-fetched for me.  I enjoyed this book and I'm sure many of you will also!

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this ebook from my library to read for my own entertainment.