Review: Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Night Circus
Written by Erin Morgenstern
Published by Anchor Books
Released in 2011
512 pages
Fantasy

Synopsis:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede. It is simply there,  when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tent is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Reves, 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 both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Amidst the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone from the performances to the patrons hanging in the balance.

Erin Morgenstern has written a magnificent tale in The Night Circus. It is hard to find the words to describe my love for this books, but I will try.

The first thing I noticed about this book is the richness of it. The descriptions are so detailed and vivid. I could imagine myself walking through each tent and experiencing the magic. I feel privileged that Ms. Morgenstern let us inside her amazing imagination.

The circus is its own character. Each individual tent has its own distinct personality. The use of black and white did not give the circus a sinister feel. Instead, the colors, or lack thereof, make it whimsical and magical. I usually don't like circuses but the The Cirque des Reves would be a beautiful sight to behold.

At the heart of the book is Celia and Marco and what I call their diabolical competition. Two men steal their lives for a competition that no one really wins. Hector, in particular, is obsessed with the game. He doesn't care who he hurts, including his daughter, in order to win. While Alexander does show some pity Marco at times, he is still cold and indifferent. It is heartbreaking. Celia and Marco's love story evolves slowly over time. Each creation in the circus is made with love for each other. Deep down, it is a true Romeo and Juliet story.

I really enjoyed Ms. Morgenstern's view of magic. The illusions are beautifully described. There are no witches or wizards, only amazing illusionists who can manipulate people and objects around them. I found this be very intriguing and kept me engrossed in the book.

The Night Circus is amazing book. I highly recommend it to anyone that loves the circus, or even if you don't, and beautiful love story.