K. Z. Richards

Those who enter the Le Cirque des Rêves are in for a unique experience, an indulgence of the senses, as they wander through a mysterious world they do not quite understand and will keep them curious, puzzling, and wanting more. They will have questions that go unanswered, mysteries unsolved, but it doesn’t matter, because that is precisely why they’ve come—to be mystified.

The experience is no different for readers of Erin Morgenstern’s fantasy novel. The Night Circus follows two magicians, bound as children to compete with each other in a enigmatic game at Le Cirque des Rêves where neither is really sure what the rules are or how one wins, and each must make his or her moves in front of an audience who believes in only illusion, not magic. The book’s non-linear plot weaves through numerous timelines, settings, and characters, making it difficult to follow, but the experience remains enjoyable nonetheless thanks to Morgenstern’s beautiful prose and magical setting. As a reader, I was torn between taking scrupulous notes to make sense of the ambiguous storyline and simply enjoying the mysterious plot as a visiting patron to a world I would never understand. Ultimately, I landed somewhere in between and very much enjoyed the experience.

I have only two criticisms of the novel. First, I felt the romance between the star-crossed magician lovers escalated far too quickly, so I cared less for their relationship than I could have, and second, I wish there would have been a little less mystery surrounding the game, both for the magicians and for the reader, although the mystery was an interesting experience in itself. Overall, though, I enjoyed the novel and would read it again. I would also highly recommend this book to anyone who would be interested in reading what feels like Christopher Nolan meets fantasy romance.