The Night Circus

Charming fantasy with a smouldering love story at the heart and beautiful evocation of magical environments with actual magic mixed in. I notice a previous reviewer gave it one star because it describes Victorian dinners where "no one ever had dietary restrictions or allergies". Yes, I guess that makes it totally unbelievable. ( )

Couldn't put this book down! I love circus books and shows and found this book while looking at lists that included Water For Elephants, one of my favorite circus books. The descriptions in here made me feel like I was at the circus. Must read!! ( )

Star and a half because it had pretty descriptions. I originally DNF'ed the book because I don't like second person, which the author opens the book with and uses as occasional chapter transitions. I really don't like second person openings that switch to first person, as I feel it makes the opening pointless and and like the author was kind of trying to show off. Look how pretty I can write, it seems to say. There are other ways to show me, please. People on BookTube raved about this when it first came out, and--um, okay. I was really excited about it, and now thought about second chances. The cover is still beautiful. The art on the pages is still a nice touch. Right away, I realized this was going to be a lyrical story where the power and focus would be in the beautiful sentences, not the plot or characterization. With such novels, readers are meant to savor lush descriptions and and beautiful chapter transitions. It's not intended as a character study, but to admire the author's skill. That was the case here, only I really have to be in the mood for it -and- swept away by such book, and I wasn't here. I waited patiently to be engaged with the story somehow.

Prospero was a real jerk and Chandresh was a creep. Among other things, he never tells his guests of his midnight feasts what the ingredients are, and I can't suspend my disbelief enough to imagine that no one ever had dietary restrictions or allergies. Those existed in the 1880s, when this novel takes place, even if it is in a fantasy world under eerie-ness. New headcanon: he's a serial poisoner. One guest is described as wearing a gorgeous ruby necklace, and I delighted in imagining it until it was stated that her throat looked like it had been slit and it was beautiful. This occurred on page 57 of the edition I was reading. Instantly and irrevocably, I thought of how "The Hunger Games" describes actual slit throats: still with prose, but not at all romanticized.

It wasn't until ninety pages in that I figured out all three timelines (Bailey, Marco/Celia, and the second-person transitions) the book whips back and forth between, were going to intertwine and the story would then begin. It was an impatient wait, as the entire novel read like multiple backstories for every single character until the integration. I delighted in the Ice Gardens descriptions, though. The love triangle was barely there between Isobel, Marco and Celia, but it was still annoying. Nearly two hundred pages in, though, the story does begin. I wanted it to be over, but had resolved to finish it. The story is a slightly faster-paced character study that quickly becomes an attempt at a star-crossed romance, with side characters also being paired up. It was a chore to read except for some descriptions, and I was relieved when I finished. ( )

I was very unsure how to rate this title. On one hand there was a lot I liked about it but there were definitely a few things that I didn't. I loved the writing style, it was very lyrical and descriptive. I really felt like I was actually there in the circus setting. I also liked the idea of a competition between two magicians. On the other hand the plot was little to nonexistent. I expected everything to be mysterious in the beginning but thought that as we progressed forward certain things would come to light and the 'action' would begin. I also expected at least some character development. I was entirely disappointed in that regard and really wish that had not been the case. I am glad I read it but it is definitely not one of my favorite books. ( )

The imagery in the book was amazing - I think everyone would love to visit a circus like that! ( )