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daisyfont's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It took me ages to finish this book.
This was the book I read before going to bed. Erin's description of the (probably gigantic) circus is beautiful, but I didn't feel very much for the characters. I didn't really care about the development of the story, the characters or the ending.
I also have her other book, The Starless Sea, on my book shelf. But it will remain there for a while, I think.
This was the book I read before going to bed. Erin's description of the (probably gigantic) circus is beautiful, but I didn't feel very much for the characters. I didn't really care about the development of the story, the characters or the ending.
I also have her other book, The Starless Sea, on my book shelf. But it will remain there for a while, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief
Minor: Murder and Pregnancy
adarose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Animal death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Addiction, Suicide, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
reasek's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Murder
aas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Emotional abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Alcohol, and Suicide
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
She's not like other girls... She can do magic!
Considering how popular this book is, I'm pretty disappointed. I didn't even have high expectations, but so many people, mutuals and friends; have read this and rated it highly, but I'm not sure what they like about it so much.
I didn't like the writing style. It felt clunky and contrived. For example, the lack of contractions felt like a cheesy way to write historical fiction. I thought the pacing was odd. The jumping back-and-forth in time didn't make sense to me because it felt like it rarely served the plot, it just made things confusing. I thought many of the characters were flat and boring. I didn't care much for the main characters, which became a big issue towards the end, which was the most disappointing part. I just didn't think this was written very well, and I also think it should have been shorter.
Considering how popular this book is, I'm pretty disappointed. I didn't even have high expectations, but so many people, mutuals and friends; have read this and rated it highly, but I'm not sure what they like about it so much.
I didn't like the writing style. It felt clunky and contrived. For example, the lack of contractions felt like a cheesy way to write historical fiction. I thought the pacing was odd. The jumping back-and-forth in time didn't make sense to me because it felt like it rarely served the plot, it just made things confusing. I thought many of the characters were flat and boring. I didn't care much for the main characters, which became a big issue towards the end, which was the most disappointing part. I just didn't think this was written very well, and I also think it should have been shorter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Sexual content, and Death
froggiebog's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Confinement
Minor: Suicide and Fire/Fire injury
sadiaa's review against another edition
4.0
I found myself wanting more from the story.
I prefer the starless sea to this book
I prefer the starless sea to this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Murder, and Dementia
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Blurb:
Marco Alisdair and Celia Bowen have been groomed since childhood to compete against each other in a competition of fantastical manipulation and illusion, although they are not told whom they are competing against, why they are competing, or the rules of the game. The venue of the competition is a traveling black-and-white circus that only opens at night, a circus full of magic, wonder, beauty, and enchantment. Marco and Caelia must contend with the complex and dangerous rules of the game while protecting the circus and its people they have come to love.
Review:
I first read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern when I was young (perhaps eleven or twelve), and I read it far too quickly. My impression of the story was that it had a beautiful, evocative setting but a weak plot and characters. I am not sure what compelled me to pick it up again, as I rarely re-read books, but I can safely say that my opinion of the book remains the same.
Morgenstern has a gift for creating imaginative and fantastical settings and descriptions so delectable to all five senses that they feel like magic. I loved falling into the Night Circus and exploring it; it felt like entering another dazzling world. I did not even mind how slow-paced the book is because I enjoyed indulging in the sensory cornucopia of the circus.
Characterization and plot remain the book’s weak spots. The characters, while not poorly written, lack depth and complexity in the way that young adult book characters often do. Beyond the initial setup, the plot moves at a glacial pace. The climax and resolution at the end feel rushed and rather fuzzy on the details. In terms of representation, the book’s Asian character is depicted as an exotic, Oriental stereotype, which isn’t great.
Overall, however, the book is so good at what it does well that I did not mind its weaknesses.
The Run-Down:
You will probably like The Night Circus if . . .
· You love rich, multi-sensory, imaginative, and fantastical settings and descriptions
· You like star-crossed lover stories
· You don’t mind slow-paced stories
You might not like The Night Circus if . . .
· You can’t stand lengthy descriptions of setting, characters, etc.
· You need strong characters and plot to enjoy a book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Death
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Murder
deluna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
innerweststreetlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is such a lovely book, magical and delightful like a children’s fantasy but with a bit more grit and romance to keep it interesting for adults. The circus tents reminded me a little of the magical worlds at the top of the faraway tree.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Addiction, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Child abuse