By Erin Morgenstern
I don’t want to be bold and state that this is my favourite book, but it’s definitely up there. No other story has ever come close to the way The Night Circus made me feel. It is heart-warming and magical, and the author’s use of point of view to tell the story is fantastic. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like it. But if you can’t stand magic without rules, then this book isn’t for you.
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 added dark and mystical 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 magic and realness of the world: you feel like you are watching the events as they happen. It’s movie magic, but in the form of a book. But in my opinion, 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, Morgenstern uses a lot of sensory description to bring the circus to life, allowing you to place yourself inside the performances and circus tents to experience the magic first-hand (or as close to first-hand as a written story can allow). All the different elements of this book might sound confusing, but I promise that the storylines are woven together expertly to create a satisfying and emotional tale. 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 romantic subplot 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 the highly detailed, fantastical world and the alternate storylines that compete for your attention.
Do you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romance? Do you like soft fantasy? Are you a fan of magical realism? If you can answer yes to just one of those questions, then you need to give this book a chance.
Descriptive writing: 10/10
Character depth: 9/10
Pace of the story: fast, with short chapters.
Relationship believability: 9/10
For fans of Stardust by Neil Gaiman and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab