#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two starcrossed magicians engage in a deadly game of cunning in the spellbinding New York Times bestseller that captured the world’s imagination.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 … 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 both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.
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A beautiful book full of flavour that lingers long after reading. The jumps between timelines got me very tangled, but I can understand why it was done that way. It was a bit distracting though. My only wish is that Marco and Celia had spent more ‘real life’ time getting to know each other, as it would have made their emotions much more believable and delicious.
The book cover and design are beautiful. The writing creates an enchanting mood and tone, but after about 50-100 pages, the plot got too fluffy and cutesy for me. One of the main characters in The Night Circus and some of the details are oddly similar to those in the psychological thriller The Silver Tattoo which I consider to be deeply atmospheric and a magical thrill ride.
Review coming!
A trip into the fantastical! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I never liked the circus or anything pertaining to it but this is a magical story. Everyone that I have recommended it to found it creative and wanted me to recommend more like this. There is “none like this”. One of the best I have read in years.
Very original. Be prepared for a different kind of ‘ride’
Magical and Mysterious! Thrilling and Exciting! Classically romantic!
And scrumptious to listen to if you enjoy Jim Dale’s narration. 😀
One of my favorites. Different and unexpected!
I loved this book. I felt a literal ache as I fell head long into these pages. A little magic and a little love together with a backdrop described so brilliantly I felt like was watching it unfold so clearly. I keep waiting for more to read from this author 🙂
My favorite book of 2018. Beautifully conceived and written. A magical leap of imagination introduces a love story at once familiar and yet completely unique. But isn’t that true of all our love stories…
One of those rare books that I wanted to start over as soon as I reached the last page, it still holds a prime spot on my bookshelf waiting for me to read it yet again.
I needed to sit on this book a few days before writing my review because I loved it so much, and I wanted to keep the magic all to myself. We start off with a bet, a game of sorts, and an incredible little girl, Celia, who can do things we would call magic. We then meet a young man who doesn’t have the name Marco until much later in life, but we are led to believe he will be Celia’s opponent. In what, we aren’t sure, and I think that lends to the air of mystery that surrounds The Night Circus.
A circus unlike any other, where instead of one giant tent, you have multiple. There are things you’ve never seen and you aren’t sure how they are even possible, but you are drawn in. You might never visit all the tents in a lifetime of visits, and that’s okay. At the center of this circus are Celia and Marco, the magic they create, and the game without clear rules. Heck, they didn’t even know each other was their opponent for years.
The other performers in the circus all had unique talents, some magical in their own right. The contortionist, the twins, Isobel and her ability to read cards, all made for a complete cast. I have a feeling I would have been one of the Rêveurs who followed the circus around, anxious to get as much of it in as I possibly could.
I’m amazed that people hated this book where I found only whimsy, secrets both delicious and horrible, but perfectly so, and the wild imagination of the author and the ability to make the reader feel included. I loved the details, I scoured the internet for such clocks that Friedrick created. I want such magic to exist in our world, to wander in childlike wonder at everything I could never imagine but always wanted, and Morgenstern has given us just that. Bravo!
My #1 favorite book of all time. Considering how much I’ve read, and read, that’s saying something. Eagerly anticipating Morgenstern’s new book in the fall 2019.
If I were going to be trapped on a deserted island, this is one of five books I’d take with me.
Simply magical!
This book presents a unique twist on circus magician tales. Circuses have served as backdrops for tales of magicians before. But in this charming tale, the circus is literally an intricately-designed venue for dueling magicians. Five stars.
Such a beautifully written love-story filled with magic!
Definitely an original story. I did feel the ending just left too many loose ends, but this it the author’s first book and I’m going to give her next book a try.
Very original, descriptive and fantastical. Kept me turning the pages. Let’s call it magical realism with emphasis on the magic. Beautifully written.
One of my favorite books–it is truly magical.
This is one of the most interesting and creative books I have read in a long time. It not only lets you suspend belief but has characters that are inspirational.
Fascinating book about a magical contest set before the first world war. I’m torn between wanting more details and thinking that more would be less here.