Book 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.”

I thought I’d never again get the chance to read something as mesmerising as the Harry Potter series. Little did I know that The Night Circus has been patiently waiting for me. This was one of my biggest frustrations as a child – not being able to find a decent book to read. One with a good measure of adventure, fantasy, humour, and love. Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus had me wanting for more, truly captivated by the mysterious array of characters and the lead character itself – the circus. I saw it unfold before my eyes as I was dazzled by the performers, tasted the carnival food upon my tongue, and delighted in the simple artistry of it all neatly weaved together.

The beginning was a little frustrating as I couldn’t see clearly where it was going, just a foggy sense of “it’s all going to come together soon enough”. And to be honest, the whole book continued in this way, piecing bits together, slowly, surely, all the way until the third act. I did feel that the ending was lacking in emotion – focussing too much on systematically tying up loose ends but those ends I was fairly happy with how they were tied.

If you find circuses more romantically magical than scary-clown creepy, then this book is for you. I myself will always be a Night Circus Rêveur.

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Type: Fiction
Category: Fantasy, psychological thriller
Publisher: Anchor Books
Publication Date: 2012
Edition: First Edition
ISBN: 978-0307744432