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thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Grief
biobeetle's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
rochelleisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual content
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
kcmg710's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Grief, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Sexual content
greatestheights's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5ish stars, with an extra star for the circus descriptions alone. I'm not a circus fan, either in real life or fiction, so I avoided this book mainly because I assumed I wouldn't like the circus. Then the circus was my favorite part? What?
To be honest, there were more than a couple plotlines I really couldn't follow or lost the thread of, but it didn't really matter because then we'd go back to the circus, and it was so dreamy (no pun intended) that I'd stop caring about the 50 other characters I was supposed to be keeping track of.
There was a lot to love in this book, but it didn't go far beyond the magic of the circus for me. I didn't find the romance particularly compelling (instalove will never be my thing), I hated the "duel," and I didn't understand about 90 percent of what happened to the original circus proprietor...but boy, I really wanna eat all the food at that circus and hang out in the magic tents.
To be honest, there were more than a couple plotlines I really couldn't follow or lost the thread of, but it didn't really matter because then we'd go back to the circus, and it was so dreamy (no pun intended) that I'd stop caring about the 50 other characters I was supposed to be keeping track of.
There was a lot to love in this book, but it didn't go far beyond the magic of the circus for me. I didn't find the romance particularly compelling (instalove will never be my thing), I hated the "duel," and I didn't understand about 90 percent of what happened to the original circus proprietor...but boy, I really wanna eat all the food at that circus and hang out in the magic tents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail
thecriticalreader's review
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
sxndaze's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide
vas_17's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
jo_d's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Absolutely enthralling
The mix of timelines and perspectives was easy to follow, as the characters were distinctly different. The romance wasn't enemies to lovers, but rivals, who respected and turned movers who became better for each other
Poetry in novel form
The mix of timelines and perspectives was easy to follow, as the characters were distinctly different. The romance wasn't enemies to lovers, but rivals, who respected and turned movers who became better for each other
Poetry in novel form
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail