A review by chelsloukelly
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

3.0

3.5/5: ‘The Night Circus’ is an Adult-based Historical Fantasy by Erin Morgenstern; two powerful magicians, Prospero the Enchanter and the enigmatic MR. A.H-, groom two young proteges, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, to proxy their rivalry with the exhibit of ‘Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams) as a stage. Morgenstern’s work is a phantasmagorical tale set in an ahistorical Victorian London; enchanting and effective, in spite of the sentimental conclusion. The patient, lucid construction of the circus – the creators, performers and followers – makes for a world of illusion beyond that of realistic fiction. There is a matter-of-factness about the magicians' magic, a consistency about the parameters of the circus world, that succeeds both in itself and as a comment upon the need for and nature of illusion in general. While the novel's occasional philosophical gestures seem glib the book enacts its worldview more satisfyingly than could any summary or statement. Rather than forcing its readers to be prisoners in someone else's imagination, Morgenstern's imaginary circus invites readers to join in an exploration of the possible. Around her protagonists, Morgenstern assembles a cast of intriguing eccentrics, including Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the clockmaker and chief circus groupie, Tsukiko the contortionist, and Poppet and Widget, the red-haired twins born on the circus's opening night. Through the movements of her characters in this sparklingly realised alternative reality, Morgenstern explores the relation between competition and collaboration, collusion and manipulation, fate and freedom. The Night Circus poses questions about the essential connection between fantasy and reality and the human need for the former for the sustenance of the latter. However, the largest criticism is pacing; the plot is character driven and therefore, it takes almost ¾ of the novel for action to strike up. It grew boresome and required large amounts of effort; hence the duration of time to complete the read. I resorted to listening to the latter half of the novel on Audible to bring draw me out of the reading slump the story brought upon. The low rating purely revolves around the structure, the story-telling needed to pick up the pace. Above all, the novel is a genuine pleasure to read. Like any successful illusion, it could be carefully unravelled; but surely, as rare as it is, it should simply be enjoyed – Dreamy!