Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

• Title: The Night Circus
• Author:  Erin Morgenstern
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Genre: Fantasy 
• Targeted Age Range: Adult
• Content Warnings: Child abuse, suicide, death of a parent, blood depiction, animal death, fantasy violence physical abuse, alcoholism.
• Rating: ★★★★★

Recently, Cossette wrote an incredible review of one of her favourite books, Beach Read, and so I was inspired to finally write a review of my own. Having just finished listening to the audiobook again, I thought now was the perfect time to finally write a review of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. For those who do not know, The Night Circus is my all time favourite book. My first ever post for this blog was a discussion on book collecting, in which I shared all editions I have of The Night Circus. To say that post is now outdated is a bit of an understatement, and my collection has now risen to fifteen. This book is simply magical, and I struggle to put into words how much it means to me.

The Night Circus follows Celia and Marco, and their lives playing in a magic competition. The stage? A travelling circus that opens at nightfall, and closes at dawn. Celia and Marco are both powerful magicians, and their task is to battle to see who the stronger competitor is. However, how are you supposed to continue competing against the person you fell in love with? In another timeline, we meet Bailey and his struggle to decide what to do with his life. He becomes enamoured with the circus, one special girl within the tents, and the decisions he is faced with are made even harder. The book is told in alternating timelines, changing dates and a non-linear structure until it comes together and you see how entwined it really is. Simply put, it is a masterclass in writing. 

Erin Morgenstern could write grocery store adverts and I would eat it up with no hesitation. The way she writes is simply magical, and I genuinely think that is the best word for it. With each turn of a page you get transported more into the circus. In my opinion, there isn’t a dull moment, and piecing together the tiny details to see the bigger picture is so satisfying. Morgenstern writes complex, interesting characters and you find yourself with a new favourite upon each re-read. In my most recent re-read (I read this book so often that I don’t even put it on my Goodreads challenge anymore, for the sake of repetition) I found myself feeling very connected to Isobel. In fact, I found myself texting Cossette a few times simply saying “justice for Isobel”, and I stand by that sentiment. The band of protagonists are just so beautifully written, that I genuinely love all of them. They complement and contradict each other in such an interesting way that each interaction within the book is thrilling to read. It’s no small feat to have all of your characters be vital to the plot, but Morgenstern pulls it off exceptionally. 

I think the most beautiful thing about this book is the setting. I loved watching the circus change throughout the book, and discovering the new tents alongside Marco and Celia. With every new tent came a new atmosphere to explore, and I loved it. My personal favourite has to be the ice garden, or even the cloud maze. The way Morgenstern describes them makes them feel so real, and I’m forever sad I won’t be able to explore the circus for myself. Erin Morgenstern has a very descriptive writing style, so it’s very easy to visualise the setting. Her writing is so descriptive that it tackles all of the senses – sometimes I feel like I can almost taste the caramel apples, or smell the trees Bailey and his sister climb. It’s a wonderful experience. 

“You are no longer quite certain which side of the fence is the dream.”

My one piece of advice for first time readers of The Night Circus is to pay attention to the dates at the start of each chapter. As mentioned before, Erin Morgenstern has written The Night Circus in a non-linear way, meaning we jump from past to present to future chapter after chapter. It’s very easy to get lost in this book, and keeping track of what events happen in what year was essential for me to understand the plot. The time jumps don’t bother me, however I can see it being hard for some people to get a hang of the story. I personally like the time jumps, especially now that I have read it so many times, as it lets me piece together the story and the events that happen in advance. It’s almost a fun puzzle, and it was so cool to see the repercussions of past events develop in the future chapters. 

The Night Circus is one of the most satisfying slow burn romances I have ever read, and now that I think about it, it might be where my love of the trope came from. Y’all, the yearning in this book is absolutely unparalleled. While the romance is not the centrepoint of the novel until I’d say the last quarter, the sprinkling of it throughout is beautiful. You really get to root for Marco and Celia, and cheer them on as their love develops. You see their love blossom in a difficult setting, and how they have to sacrifice everything to be with each other. Honestly I won’t ever grow tired of reading about them, and while I know a sequel to The Night Circus probably won’t ever happen, it will forever be in my dreams. Celia and Marco make a great couple, as they complement and challenge each other so beautifully. The romance is intense and consuming, but it only adds to the brilliance of this book. Combined with the complicated timeline mentioned above, it makes for an interesting element in an already interesting book. 

My other favourite characters in this book are Poppet and Widget (Penelope and Winston), a pair of twins who are born in the circus. They are so funny and loveable, you’re instantly besotted with them. Poppet and Widget grow up with the circus, so they know it almost as well as Marco and Celia do. Then, once they become acquainted with Bailey, their trio is complete and you can think of no better group of characters. The three of them compliment each other so nicely, I’d love an entire book just about them and their adventures in the circus. After Widget’s cameo in The Starless Sea, I am itching for more content. 

Honestly, I think The Night Circus will never get old. I don’t think Erin Morgenstern knew she was writing a timeless classic during the process of writing this book, but she has, and I am forever grateful I came across it. Like I said before, words cannot explain how much I love this book, and I hope this review has piqued your interest just a tiny bit. The Night Circus is historical fantasy at its finest, and you will find yourself lost within the pages of the book in no time. The circus opens at nightfall, and closes at dawn, so make sure you give yourself enough time to explore. And, if you do choose to explore, make sure to wear a pop of red – welcome to the Rêveurs. 

Links for The Night Circus: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound