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A review by foxonabook
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book's premise is really interesting but the original synopsis (which is was prompted me to buy the book) is misleading. While a 'duel' between the two protagonists is what inspires the series of events that lead to the Night Circus' founding, neither the duel nor the protagonists play a central role in the book. I suppose in that sense, the real main character is the Night Circus itself, and I'm glad the synopsis has been updated to reflect that.
We are introduced to a plethora of characters and we get to experience things from several of their perspectives. I enjoyed some of these more than others, but I didn't feel particularly attached to any one character. I think this is because there isn't any real character development throughout the book nor any real focus on the characters really, and I finished the book with a sense that I still didn't know any of them any better than at the start of the book. This lack of investment also meant that I couldn't care about what what was at stake for the two duelling magicians.
I wasn't at all invested in the romance between Cecelia and Marco either, but I enjoyed how they played off of one another in the circus. What would have made it more enjoyable for me was if we got to learn more about the magic system and the different learning methods. I do understand why the magic system isn't explored in more detail thought; it helps keep the mystery of the Night Circus alive.
The writing is very good and undeniably the reason why I kept reading the book despite its slow pace and the lack of actual plot. Morgenstern's writing is beautifully descriptive without crossing into flowery prose. It was incredibly immersive, with the sights, smells and atmosphere jumping right off the page.
Anyway, this is a definitely not a book for everyone nor for every occasion. It's best described as a book for readers who love atmospheric and vibes-y books, or for those who enjoy beautiful, evocative writing.
We are introduced to a plethora of characters and we get to experience things from several of their perspectives. I enjoyed some of these more than others, but I didn't feel particularly attached to any one character. I think this is because there isn't any real character development throughout the book nor any real focus on the characters really, and I finished the book with a sense that I still didn't know any of them any better than at the start of the book. This lack of investment also meant that I couldn't care about what what was at stake for the two duelling magicians.
I wasn't at all invested in the romance between Cecelia and Marco either, but I enjoyed how they played off of one another in the circus. What would have made it more enjoyable for me was if we got to learn more about the magic system and the different learning methods. I do understand why the magic system isn't explored in more detail thought; it helps keep the mystery of the Night Circus alive.
The writing is very good and undeniably the reason why I kept reading the book despite its slow pace and the lack of actual plot. Morgenstern's writing is beautifully descriptive without crossing into flowery prose. It was incredibly immersive, with the sights, smells and atmosphere jumping right off the page.
Anyway, this is a definitely not a book for everyone nor for every occasion. It's best described as a book for readers who love atmospheric and vibes-y books, or for those who enjoy beautiful, evocative writing.