The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern - ★★★★.¼

AUTHOR: Erin Morgenstern

GENRE: Historical Fantasy

PUBLICATION DATE: September 13, 2011

RATING: 4.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A historical fantasy that is far more intricate than the title suggests. Excellent character-driven storytelling, strong characters, fabulous descriptions. A solid jigsaw of a plot that comes together neatly at the end. Slightly low on action-based fantasy if that’s your jam. Else, this offers one beautiful and soulful magical ride. Much recommended. Not for those who prefer plot-driven or fast-paced books. Don’t expect a typical circus story.

Plot Preview:

1890s Europe and USA. One captivating circus with several uniquely talented performers.

Two young magicians, Celia and Marco, have spent their whole lives training for a mysterious competition against each other, though they know neither their opponent’s identity nor the purpose or time of their challenge. Their benefactors have prepared them well in their talent, but there is one event they didn’t foresee, and this might endanger not just the young duo but the entire circus.

The story comes to us from several timelines and locations, and from various characters’ third-person perspectives.

PSA: Don’t read the GR blurb. As usual, it didn’t know where to stop!

This is a highly intricate plot that is impossible to preview in brief. The above is a barebones outline that in no way represents the beauty of the whole story. And as any detailed analysis will go into spoilers, I will keep my points brief.

Bookish Yays:

🎪 The circus – awesome, as long as you aren’t expecting a standard circus story. None of the acts in this circus are typical.

🎪 Celia and Marco as characters – perfect for each other, perfect for their job, and perfect for the plot.

🎪 The secondary characters. Though plenty in number, each is intriguing. I especially loved the twins Poppet and Widget.

🎪 The skillset of those blessed with magical talent – mesmerising!

🎪 The historical feel – subtle yet powerful.

🎪 The plotting. So complex and so clever!

🎪 The writing – lush and lyrical. Many thought-provoking one-liners.

🎪 The romance. With a girl and a guy as the opponents, it was a given that love would creep into the narrative. But I appreciate how the relationship never supersedes the core challenge; rather, it complements it well, spurring action like a catalyst.

🎪 The prologue (written in second person) describing the circus. An apt start to such a story.

🎪 The ending. How wonderfully and seamlessly all the tracks come together at the finale!

Bookish Okays:

🤡 The magical challenge. Most of the story is more about the prep for the challenge than the challenge itself. So don’t expect something action-packed throughout. Better if you are in for the journey than for the destination. I enjoyed both, but I am more of a destination-person.

🤡 The fantastical elements. Plenty in quantity, but for the most part, they stay in the background. We get all of the whats and a few of the whys but none of the hows. If you want a rationale for whatever magical is happening, this isn’t the book for you.

🤡 The slow pacing, which is on par for a character-driven work but creates impatience at times. Be prepared for a long time of waiting for something to happen!

🤡 The shifting third-person perspectives and timelines. It is nice to see the circus from the POV of both its full-time residents as well as external parties such as local visitors and fan club members. But initially, it is tricky to keep track of everyone and everything, especially as one of the narrators isn't even from the main timeline and is not a part of the circus. But soon, things start coming together neatly. Every character turns out to be an important cog in the overall smooth running of the plot, even if it takes time for us to see their purpose.

Overall, patience is a must for this novel, but as they say, good things come to those who wait. At first, I felt disappointed that so much of the narrative didn’t even focus on the challenge mentioned in the blurb. But once I saw the pattern of the interconnections, I was in awe of the planning and plotting skills of the author.

Note that it is essential to keep track of the timeline through the dates given at the start of each chapter. And keep your focus no matter which character is narrating the chapter. Everyone and everything is important! This story is an intricate jigsaw that fits together neatly and cleverly only in the final quarter.

Definitely recommended to readers who enjoy historical fantasies and character-driven writing. If you seek instant gratification through books, better to skip this trip to the circus. But to those who enjoy the journey as well as the destination, this ride will be a memorable one.