Victoria Reads Books

"The circus arrives without warning."

Thus begins Erin Morgenstern's enchanting novel about love, a high-stakes game, and the circus of dreams. Although I initially thought that this book was intended to be a young adult novel, it is, indeed, a book for all ages. Morgenstern's storytelling flows effortlessly, and the reading experience is difficult to describe other than the fact that it made my heart really happy. The strength of this book is in its rich atmosphere, the delectable descriptions of nighttime parties, the circus, the smells, the magic, and pure, unrestrained awe. It's been awhile since I could feel myself within a setting so vividly.

I can see how this book wouldn't be for everybody- you have to be the type of reader who loves heavily descriptive stories. If you're looking for action-packed magical battles, I would probably recommend The Warrior Heir (Cinda Williams Chima) over this one.

I thought that elements of the ending were a bit weaker than the middle of the book, but it was, overall, still satisfying. The chronology and the intricacies of the plot complemented the lush descriptions well, and the parts told in second person cleverly drew the audience further into the story and atmosphere. Overall, The Night Circus was a wonderful read, containing shiver-inducing descriptions that make your heart ache to don dark colours, throw on a bright red scarf, and visit the magical cirque des rêves yourself.

Entertainment value: 5/5
Writing quality/style: 5/5
Readability: 1/5 (5 being the most difficult to read)
Characters (depth/development): 3.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5