The Night Circus: A Novel

Occasionally, as an adult, we need that sort of magic we felt when we were a child. These days that is often hard to track down in the bustle of society but "The Night Circus" provided me with that exact sort of outlet. It was such an enjoyable, mystical read and creatively executed. I found myself retreating back into the book in my mind whenever I was feeling chaotic amongst my surroundings. Even after having finished the book, I will continue to roam the incredible tents of Le Cirque des Reves for many days and nights to come. It's most definitely a sort of fairy tale for adults needing that sort of escapism. I highly enjoyed it and hope to see it brought into film one day.

When was the last time you’ve been to a circus? It’s been too long for me. Just the thought of it makes me so excited. And I’m not talking about Cirque du Soleil. I remember reading (and watching) Water for Elephants and wishing that a circus stops nearby. There’s something magical about a circus… not just the sleight of hand or the very well trained performers. As soon as you pass through the gates, it is a whole new world.

The book’s own blurb provides the best hook. If this does not tickle your curiosity, I don’t know what will:

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.

The blurb sent a chill up my spine when I first read it. It seemed so mysterious; it almost sounds like a horror story. I grew up wishing my Hogwarts letter would one day arrive and I’ll be living in a magical world. This is the closest I’ve ever felt to that. Yes, it even trumps the magic I felt while reading Harry Potter.

The “Le Cirque des Rêves” or Circus of Dreams not only provides entertainment but it also serves as an arena for a challenge. Two mentors train two students for a battle of magical abilities. At first, they don’t know who their opponent will be and when and how the challenge will end. This challenge set something in motion… an eccentric rich man gets the idea to start a Night Circus, an iconic clock is made and becomes a beacon for Circus enthusiasts from all over, performers with their own unique and unusual talents join the family. All the while, there is a challenge going on around them. Celia and Marco find themselves in the center of everything. It could all end tragically for them or they can find a way to change things.

On the other side of the fence, we meet Bailey, a kid that has a special connection to the Circus. At first, I wasn’t sure what his contribution will be but time and time again, we come back to him. He becomes the representation of the reader and the circus represents the story itself. He comes in as a normal kid, an outsider, sneaking into the circus in broad daylight out of curiosity. Like the reader, he gets sucked into the wizardry and illusions so much that he could not get enough. I certainly felt that. I wanted to run away with Le Cirque des Rêves myself!

“Magical” is THE word to describe this book. Every time I curled up to read, I felt transported to wherever the Le Cirque des Rêves was performing at the moment. Just like losing yourself in a circus. Each page, each chapter is absolutely beautiful. If you think about it, it’s a pretty complex story. But I never felt bored or confused even with shifting timelines and POVs. Every single thing, person is connected.

This book went straight into my Favorites list instantly. I could not put it down. I did not want to put it down! I felt so connected with Bailey, Celia, Poppet, and even Isobel. There is not a throwaway character in the story. Everyone and everything is connected. The author is a magician and her pen is a magic wand. It is so well-written and so very creative that I just had to applaud her effort. The details eases the reader seamlessly to every setting. It is so vivid and rich that you feel like you’re actually there experiencing it.

The Night Circus is one of those one-of-a-kind books. Stories like these don’t come by often and I’m glad they don’t. It was so refreshing to find this gem. Now, on to find the next one.

Rating: 5/5. If I could give this a million gold stars, I would.