Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Night Circus

I read this for StoryGraph's first hosted readalong, so much of what I say here will be taken from my own forum comments.

At first, I did enjoy the shifting perspectives, but after finishing the book I feel that there wasn't much of a payout. These parts could have been used to pull the reader in better, or have provided more information or foreshadowing. The coming-of-age and passing-of-the-torch tropes seem a bit too convenient. I wish we got to know the characters more - I’m primarily a character-driven reader, and though many are intriguing to a certain extent, I’m not particularly fond of the overwhelming majority of the cast. Tsukiko is probably one character that interests me, but she does seem to be a bit stereotypical in the “eastern mysticism” kind of way that doesn’t really sit super well with me. I want to know more about the contest, the original rivalry that seemingly spawned this competition altogether, and indulge in more world-building, but it’s all a bit too vague. I wish there were specific Shakespeare quotes, instead of vague references as well. I’m also not really a fan of the love-triangle or enemies/rivals-to-lovers tropes, so was looking forward to some twists and turns or subverted expectations somehow,

but was disappointed.

I really did not find the romance compelling at all; there was no build-up or depth to the relationship.

I did enjoy a lot of the whimsical descriptions of the circus itself, especially the designs and performances or attractions, in particular. The use of color, and the black and white theme greatly complimented the day/night cycles the circus rigidly follows, and the contrasting chapters exploring the many mysterious characters added to the intrigue. I also really loved the food descriptions, and how immersive it felt while Morgenstern gave us the sights and tastes and smells of the scenes.

Regarding the ending,

Marco and Celia are, quite frankly, not very good people for how they've treated Isobel, who receives very little, if any closure, relationship or narrative-wise, or any of the other people caught up in this contest, which they did not consent to. I also really feel bad for Bailey; he’s a young kid and getting so impulsively tied to the circus forever doesn’t seem fair at all. I liked the bit at the end with Widget and Poppet more than Celia and Marco’s conclusion, honestly. I also felt really bad for Chandresh, when it was revealed his manipulation from Marco was destroying his mind, and for Friedrick, who was killed abruptly to move the plot along. Marco also seemingly takes advantage of Celia's grief by flattering her after his death, in which they sleep together for the first time (YUCK!). There were so many characters I wish got more recognition, while others I was tired of hearing about.

Overall, glad I finally knocked it off my tbr, but it just wasn’t for me.

Content Warnings

thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is a testament to the power of language in storytelling. Every moment I was reading, I felt like I was fully there, walking through the circus, experiencing the white and black powdered ground and caramel-scented air. It was enchanting and intoxicating and strangely distant. It was like being fed maraschino cherries dipped in dark chocolate by my secret lover while they whisper old stories, only to close the book, wake up, and realize it was a dream and that nothing was real except the confusion and disappointment and longing that lingered.
It's almost impossible not to wax a little poetic about it because this is a highly poetic book, which is wild considering it's at least partially, basically about Disney adults. All that to say, it was a five-star read for me, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for what I can only describe as a luscious read.

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itsheyfay's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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zoeelora's review

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dark inspiring mysterious medium-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

3.0

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bi_n_large's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

The last quarter of the book is so frustrating. I despise Marco with every fiber of my being.

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alexisgarcia's review

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

i am so glad that this book lived up to the hype. i can’t even begin to describe how beautiful and magical the writing was. i could taste the circus snacks, see inside every tent and their corresponding act, and feel the magic that surrounded the circus. the concept was executed perfectly and truly left me in awe. this is one of the most beautifully written books i’ve ever read. i was fully immersed in this world and never wanted to leave.

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thewordsdevourer's review

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I totally get why so many ppl love this book: it's original, unique, charming, a lil whimsy; it's all things that are considered 'pretty' all rolled into a volume of almost 400 pgs. As much as I wanted to also love it, however, The Night Circus wasn't totally for me.

I felt like the story had a lot of wasted or unexplored potential. You have a circus that traveled all over the world, yet the majority of the story took place in Europe and the U.S.; there was a lot that could've been explored in this respect, yet the opportunity was wasted. Furthermore, while the story's about the famed circus, it felt more like 'conversations about it and those that took place in it'; I personally felt the show-not-tell trick was really not utilized here. The book would've been a lot more interesting if we got to see how both Celia and Marco costructed their tents and creations, all the magic that was involved. Instead, readers were often transported to when all the fun bits were over, after the magic stuff was already done and we got to see only the results.

The challenge between Celia and Hector was also made to seem a lot more complex and serious than it actually was. For something that had deadly consequences and put the lives of so many involved, the reasoning behind the challenge and the workings of it were insufficient and frustratingly glossed over.

To sum up, my main issue is w/ the book's wasted opportunity at exploring its full, possibly-fantastic potential--a lot of fluff w/ no substance--but it's also balanced out by the fact that it's quite original and undeniably charming.

Content Warnings

uranaishi's review

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adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective 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

4.75

March 5, 2012
March 26, 2014

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