A review by st0bbit
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

adventurous emotional mysterious 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? No

4.75

this book single-handedly dragged me out of my reading rut… where do i even start. a gorgeous tale of whimsical magic and wonder that’s left me with a sense of comfort i haven’t felt in a long time. this book was constantly at the back of my mind when i wasn’t reading it, and it was so nice being able to settle down and fully immerse myself in it, with each part i left off at.

where do i even start! the characters are (generally) so lovable, with changing povs but not too many that it gets confusing and overlaps. they were also slowly introduced, so that i didn’t feel too overwhelmed or mix up people’s identities. i’m normally not a fan of non-linear timelines either, but this one was brilliantly executed — plus it’s only another diverging timeline from the future and they converge in the end, so it wasn’t messy or distracting.

the romance was a special kind of gorgeous. i love this forbidden lovers kind of trope, and it didn’t detract from the overall plot of the story either; it complemented the main storyline and made it stronger. the descriptions of fleeting gazes and uncontrollable lust was so JWBSHSHSHSH be still my heart….

overall, the flowy, descriptive prose really captured the circus in all its allure, in all its mystique. made me yearn to disappear within its folding, looping paths and get lost in that world of secrecy. the passion of those who chased after it, the emotions evoked from the injustice of pawns trapped in a game they never wanted to participate in (or even had a choice). all feels so raw, and vivid

i do have a few small qualms though… that overall did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. for a story that has elements of loss and dealing with grief, it feels very brushed upon? the reactions of characters would feel too casual, some conversations talking about these losses somehow making it all about the main characters again. felt like this didn’t do the deceased characters a service and felt kinda out of touch during those times:/  and at this point, there’s certain elements about characters’ decisions and actions that don’t feel adequately explained or rationalised. and i suppose because of that things felt off balance — especially towards the end as things were unravelling.

but all in all… so many hearts and love for this story. 😢😢😢 take me back 
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