Book review : The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air. 

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way--a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, 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. 

As the circus travels around the world, the feats of magic gain fantastical new heights with every stop. The game is well under way and the lives of all those involved--the eccentric circus owner, the elusive contortionist, the mystical fortune-teller, and a pair of red-headed twins born backstage among them--are swept up in a wake of spells and charms. 

But when Celia discovers that Marco is her adversary, they begin to think of the game not as a competition but as a wonderful collaboration. With no knowledge of how the game must end, they innocently tumble headfirst into love. A deep, passionate, and magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. Their masters still pull the strings, however, and this unforeseen occurrence forces them to intervene with dangerous consequences, leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

*****

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves. 

It took me quite some time to finish this book. But don't get me wrong, I love The Night Circus so much. This was not a fast-paced and plot driven book. It was a character driven book. Some might like it, some might find it boring and too slow. As I said, it was a character driven book. The writer focus on the characters and their stories rather than on the plot. I think every characters in this book play a significant role for the main plot, they existed in the book for a purpose and not just a side character. All were memorable and important characters. 

I like the romance between Marco and Celia although I pitied Isobel. I like the friendship between Poppet, Bailey and Widget and how Bailey became a very important character at the end of the book. I like how the author constructs the circus and I like the way she wrote the book that makes me feel like I was experiencing the circus myself. Every characters in this book was very likable. 

The book was quite thick and the cover was extremely pretty. The book kinda gave me a magical feeling that the circus was real. The story took place in various places and times so it might be confusing a little bit. Overall I really like The Night Circus.

This book deserves 5 stars from me.