A review by margot_meanders
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Circus arrives without warning.

 I  really liked this story with its imaginative flair, a flair for the wonderful and fantastical. It's a lovely fairy tale with a touch of well- placed romance but also about the fantastic in our lives. It's a well-structued meandering story, we visit the circus as events unfold in it and as it begins to unravel. 
It's storytelling where you are inside of things, a microcosm built of wonder and intrigue and the protagonists strive to find a way out to forge their own path, their happiness; in general to make their own choice at last. But to gain something, they must lose something else. Is the price too high ? You decide. 

  • the plot revolves around a bet, a game of wits between old adversaries who choose to imprison two young people in an impossible situation.  it propels the story forward, we observe how the game affects not only the chosen ones, Marco and Ceila but others around them - I loved this
  • also loved how we travel with the circus in space and time  , meeting ensemble cast, seeing how the lore of the circus spreads and grows, what it brings to people outside the circus
  • the descriptions of the circus are wonderful, you feel the sense of wonder 
  •  I love how Ceila and Marco fall in love, that was a very palpable connection between them,  and I was happy they found their freedom  from roles neither of them ever wanted and that freedom was in each other.
  • the ending brings more to the table and all in all I'd say it's a thoughtful fairy tale.

Note that while Ceila, Marco and others were absolutely lovely,  it's not a story you will remember for characters, but for the central idea and some  considerations about storytelling  and where events take the characters. The circus is central to everything, the circus is the main character as well as the field, where everything happens: the wonders, but also how those wonders affect others. 

The central idea was super and I loved meandering through the circus, loved observing the game and loved how the game turned into a desire to give and collaborate;  that Marco and Ceila couldn't help but fall in love and that feeling helped them  challenge the game and build a collaboration instead. It's a pleasant read, the game propels the plot and you are drawn into the night  circus , enjoying all it has to offer, you cheer for Marco and Ceila and for the supporting characters. 

Ordered a physical copy and going to enjoy the love story in the night circus again. It's a good read for when you look for something magical and fairy tale like.

And there are never really endings, happy or otherwise. Things keep going on, they overlap and blur, your story is part of your sister’s story is part of many other stories, and there is no telling where any of them may lead.
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