Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Publication Date: September 2011
Pages: 387
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Xmas Gift
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. (Goodreads Synopsis)
There are some books that receive a lot of hype and that are then a disappointment when you read them. This is not one of them! This time the hype is completely deserved!
I loved this book from the opening page to the final page. It is an amazing blend of literary fiction and fantasy that sweeps you up and takes you along for the ride. It is one of those books where you can completely immerse yourself in the world and its people.
I thought the mixture of narratives worked exceedingly well and added to the dream-like quality of the piece. The pacing is flawless and the characters are engaging and beautifully realised. I never once found myself thinking ahead, I was always in the moment with the characters.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone - it is a book you'll read with a smile on your face. Magical!
I was debating whether or not to read The Night Circus, since "hype" is not always a good indicator of a good book. I'll be reading it soon, thanks to your review.
ReplyDeleteI heard the author being interviewed on radio a few months ago and thought then the book sounded incredible. I am so glad you found that it has lived up to the hype. I look forward to reading it myself.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book! I had also been wary of it, due to all the hype --- but the hype was completely justified in this case. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of this book! And the audio book was amazing too! I actually lucked into this book about 2 weeks after release and fell totally in love with everything about it :) So glad you liked it too!
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