The Night Circus was the debut novel by Erin Morgenstern. It was released back in 2011 and was a New York Times bestseller.
I love books based within a circus, and particularly enjoyed Circus of Wonders and Water for Elephants. There’s always something mysterious and atmospheric about them. I also love historical fiction and this novel promised to combine 19th century intrigue with a captivating blend of magic and mystery.
I therefore couldn’t wait to read The Night Circus once I’d got my hands on a copy.
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Plot
The circus arrived without any warning or fanfare. The black-and-white striped tents just appeared one day offering a unique experience full of breathtaking acts. Although this isn’t a typical circus. This circus only opens at night.
As night falls, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies and the sign lights up – Le Cirque des Rêves. The Circus of Dreams.
Within the circus, a fierce competition is underway between two young magicians, Celia and Marco. They are aware they are competing, but what they don’t know is only one of them can survive. The circus is the stage for this battle of imagination and magic.
As the competition intensifies, along with Celia and Marco’s feelings for each other, the fates of everyone at the circus hang in the balance.
The Night Circus Book Review
This was such an atmospheric and immersive read. Erin Morgenstern has a real talent for using rich, descriptive prose so you feel like you’re really there. I could almost smell the scents of the circus and feel the heat of the fire. The world the author created was so believable and I felt fully immersed in the story.
One of the main positives of this book was the characters. Celia and Marco were likeable lead characters and the supporting cast was memorable and interesting. I particularly loved the character of Bailey and his friendship with the twins, Poppet and Widget.
I loved the concept of a circus that comes alive at night and really enjoyed the menacing undertones beneath the magic and allure of the acts. However I did feel the story jumped around a little too much, both in time and perspective. I’ve read a lot of books with a dual timeline but this was done in a way that felt quite jarring.
I also found that the ending to the story was a bit underwhelming. It built up really well but ended with a sizzle rather than a bang.
I did enjoy the story, I just didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped.
What should I read after The Night Circus?
If you enjoyed the Night Circus, I would also recommend Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal.