By Erin Morgenstern
I don’t want to be bold and state that this is my favourite book, but no other story has ever come close to the way The Night Circus made me feel. It’s heart-warming and magical, and the author’s use of point of view is fantastic. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it.
As the title suggests, it is a story about a travelling circus that comes to life at night. It is set during the late Victorian era, which gives the setting an almost gothic edge. The circus is the stage on which two magicians, Celia and Marco, battle to prove who is the strongest through intricate performances and dream-like displays of magic. Halfway through the book, we are introduced to circus attendee Bailey, and we see how the magic of the circus alters the trajectory of his life.
For the chapters that follow Celia, Marco, and Bailey, Morgenstern uses third-person present tense. This unusual tense feels jarring at first, but the strange mix of intimacy and distance lends itself to the realness of the world. You feel like you are watching the events as they happen: movie magic, but in the form of a book. Arguably, the best part of The Night Circus is the second-person perspective chapters scattered throughout the book that detail elements of the circus. Within these chapters, sensory description is used to bring the circus to life, allowing you to place yourself inside the circus tents to experience the magic first-hand. All the different elements might sound confusing, but I promise that the storylines are woven together expertly to create a satisfying ending. And once you’ve finished the book, I recommend re-reading the second-person perspective chapters in order as a bonus mini-story.
The Night Circus is rarely promoted as a romance book, which I think is a massive oversight. The romance is palpable from the first chapter, and the high-stakes, competitive setting creates the perfect set-up for an enemies-to-lovers relationship that feels realistic. The slow build-up of tension between the characters is flawless. It keeps you addicted to Celia and Marco’s developing relationship, despite fantastical world and the alternate storylines that compete for your attention.
Do you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romance? Are you a fan of magical realism? If you can answer yes to either of those questions, then you need to give this book a chance. But if you can’t stand magic without rules, this book isn’t for you.
Descriptive writing: 10/10
Character depth: 8.5/10
Pace of the story: fast, with short chapters.
For fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab