Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Night Circus

If you look up the definition of "no plot, just vibes", this novel is probably what you would find.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the world that was build, the magical always-changing circus where seemingly everything is possible. But that world itself is not enough to keep me invested. To say that the story was slow is an understatement. I would go as far and say that the plot was secondary to the world that Morgenstern build. The ending was exciting, however, it feels like low stakes when the "story" takes place in a world where anything is possible.

2.5/5*

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sadiaa's review against another edition

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4.0

I found myself wanting more from the story.
I prefer the starless sea to this book

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xosirenox's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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hrubelle's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

It can be confusing sometimes

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mblanke's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

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thecriticalreader's review against another edition

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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

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sxndaze's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Gorgeous and intriguing!! It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but Erin Morgenstern’s books are enhanced in audiobook format. I could better catch details by physically reading it, but the atmosphere and the magic really feels captured by the narration in both The Night Circus and The Starless Sea.

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catherinedsharp's review

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Good book! Some beautiful passages with a fun plotting with bits that kept me guessing. Nothing that completely moved me or changed my life, but I believe that was because this book is more ‘good, cool vibes’ with less of a concrete plot. This would be something to bare in mind, but overall, a pretty good read!

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