Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    The Night Circus
    Unavailable
    The Night Circus
    Unavailable
    The Night Circus
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Night Circus

    Written by Erin Morgenstern

    Narrated by Jim Dale

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

    But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

    True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

    Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

    Editor's Note

    Unforgettably enchanting...

    Morgenstern’s debut defies categorization as it creates an unforgettably enchanting, romantic atmosphere surrounding the most elusive and magical circus. Ten-time Audie Award–winner Jim Dale lends perfect narration.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 13, 2011
    ISBN9780307938916
    Unavailable
    The Night Circus

    Related to The Night Circus

    Related audiobooks

    Fantasy Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      'Dread Nation' Is A Rollicking 'Gone With The Wind + Zombies' Adventure

      Apr 20, 2018

      But don't underestimate the latest YA novel by activist Justina Ireland – it's also a biting commentary on contemporary race relations in America.

      3 min read

    • Article

      Dark Blade

      Jul 17, 2019

      Dark Blade
      1 min read

    • Article

      The Bone Shard Daughter

      Sep 9, 2020

      RELEASED 10 SEPTEMBER 448 pages | Hardback/ebook/audiobook Author Andrea Stewart Publisher Orbit Books Epic fantasy has long had a thing for One True Kings. You know the drill: a dreadful tyrant is murdering people for fun and generally imperilling t

      1 min read

    • Article

      Book The Good Sister

      Oct 29, 2020

      Laced with her usual quirky humour, sass and darkly charming tone, Australian author Sally Hepworth brings her latest tome – tipped to be her breakout – to shelves. Delivering a knockout novel about the lies that bind two sisters, Hepworth tells the

      1 min read

    • Article

      Also Out

      Jul 14, 2021

      Miles Cameron switches from fantasy to space opera for ARTIFACT SPACE (out now, Gollancz), which centres on a vast merchant vessel. When on-the-run orphan Marca poses as a midshipman on the Greatship Athens, she gets caught up in a plot to destroy th

      1 min read

    • Article

      HOW TO… Install Google Play Store on your Amazon Fire tablet

      Jan 4, 2023

      What you need: Amazon Fire tablet (2018 onwards) Time required: 30 minutes What do Duolingo, Gmail and Firefox have in common? Despite being among the most popular apps on Android and iOS, none of them can be downloaded through the Amazon Appstore. T

      6 min read

    • Article

      Le Coup

      May 31, 2022

      Le Coup
      1 min read

    • Article

      On by Circa

      Oct 4, 2022

      On by Circa
      1 min read

    • Article

      Fun For The Whole Family

      Oct 18, 2023

      The trees of Westonbirt Arboretum are stunning at any time of the year, but its Enchanted Christmas days take everything to another level, turning the place into a genuine winter wonderland with spariding lights and mesmerising installations. 24,25 N

      2 min read

    • Article

      “Stag Hunt”

      Jul 30, 2020

      “Stag Hunt”
      2 min read

    • Article

      Hot right Now!

      Jun 15, 2023

      £7.99, WATERSTONES ‘Heart-warming, moving and romantic, with a beautiful setting – what could be better?’ – Katie Fforde. It’s been 10 years since author Jo Thomas released her debut novel The Oyster Catcher – this year she is back with another winne

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Nocturne for Eurydice

      Mar 15, 2022

      for “the maiden in her dark, pale meadow” Twilight through the roof of a rain forestshatters like a chandelier of green glass,the shrillness strafed by keening cicadasand unseen flocks of cockatoos that cawtheir catcalls at the meltdown of the sun. D

      2 min read

    • Article

      Cradle Of Filth

      Jun 24, 2021

      Cradle Of Filth
      1 min read

    • Article

      Le Coup

      Aug 2, 2022

      Le Coup
      1 min read

    • Article

      Creating Haunting Memories

      Aug 5, 2021

      Creating Haunting Memories
      2 min read

    • Article

      Theater of Shadows

      Feb 27, 2020

      Theater of Shadows
      17 min read

    Reviews for The Night Circus

    4/5

    6,512 ratings775 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      A highly stylized novel; to me it read like a fairy tale. This had its benefits and its drawbacks: it was elegantly told, the writing itself phenomenal with not a word wasted in the telling of a unique tale, and it allowed me to utterly entrust myself to the author's care. It also meant it took a while for me to connect to the characters, as they initially existed very much in service of the story and only toward the end began to drive events based on their own desires and the relationships that developed. The last 100 pages or so were excellent, while what came before felt like (granted, very well told) prologue.

      I loved the descriptions of the circus. The story tells us it's meant to be imaginative, enchanting, transcendent, but then does not rely on us simply accepting that fact. The concept of the circus and the wonders it beholds are both thoroughly conceived and a delight to read in detail; it's a place I would very much wish to go see myself, if it existed.

      But I think my favourite aspect of the novel was the idea of the rêveurs (based on the name of the circus, Le Cirque des Rêves), lovers and aficionados of the circus. I'll leave the ways in which they express their appreciation a surprise, but it will ring true for anyone who considers themselves to be a fan. And, in fact, The Night Circus ultimately seems like a parable of, well, fandom and the way the relationship of creators to fans does not move in only one direction in the process of storytelling, how fans ultimately inform stories and make themselves part of the process, and how this is necessary for the survival of stories.

      3 stars, but a very solid three stars: I liked it! I recommend it to anyone who has the patience to see it through.
    • 3/5
      The story evoked a strong sense of magic with strong passions and cruelty throughout. I found the characters compelling, but despite the lyrical descriptions and wonderful action, the main story left me sad. Fantastic imagery and brilliant story-telling.
    • 4/5
      I’ve been hearing about Night Circus for a while now, but there always seemed to be something else to read before I could read this (the dilemma when you have a long “to read” list). Also, whenever something becomes as popular as Night Circus, I’m more reluctant to read it, because I don’t want to be disappointed. (I’ve been burned before with Divergent, Twilight, etc., so popular books nearly always scare me when I first set out to read them.) However, this finally became available through OverDrive and I’d run out of excuses not to read it, so it was just time to get down to it. Luckily, there was no reason to worry.The story itself is absolutely lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of reading it. It was one of those books where I couldn’t put it down, but I wanted to stretch out the experience so I could spend more time enjoying it — quite the dilemma when I’m reading a good book. It has a nice mix of realism along with fantasy, to the point where I could see it *almost* being reminiscent of magical realism, but it doesn’t quite hit that point. I think the way Morgenstern portrays the darker side of magic and the game/war between the two older magicians touches on a lot of deeply gruesome notes, and it kind of reminded me of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in regards to the dreaminess and darkness of the story itself. (But don’t worry! This novel isn’t nearly as long or as complicated. It’s much more to-the-point.)I was worried when a romance started blooming in the book, but I think it was handled well. It was just whimsical enough to be believable, but not so overly dramatic that it annoyed me. The characters weren’t going crazy for each other and abandoning everything so that they could be together, which I really appreciated. This is the type of romance I want in young adult books. So, well done on Morgenstern for that.The only thing that pulled me out of it is that I wasn’t quite sold on how the story is told. There were some chapters written in second person that I didn’t feel were relevant, and I’m not sure that the story was at all enhanced by the past-future switch that occasionally happens. Without those things niggling at me, this book would have been 5 stars for sure. Highly recommend. I’m trying to convince Andrew to listen to the audiobook version of this since it’s narrated by Jim Dale. Hopefully we can get a copy of that so he can listen to it soon, and then he can share his thoughts on the book!Originally posted on
    • 5/5
      Okay. Wow.

      This was...so unlike anything I've ever read. I'm completely enthralled by this book. Let me tell you why.

      At first, seemingly, there is no plot.... Our story jumps back and forth in time and to different characters. To where the circus is up and running and back before it existed. And even after that. Once the book is finished you may not realize it, but you just read through years of the circus's history. It's kind of hard to keep up with, but I'm telling you it's worth it. (Just a tip: Take note of the date when each chapter takes place).

      With several characters and times to work with, Morgenstern expertly weaves together a complex, magical story with an entirely unique concept. And yes, there is a plot. (And it doesn't largely have to do with romance, even though the description makes it seem that way. :P Though the romance is still important.)

      I know it took many people awhile to get into, but I was captured from the start. Curiosity spurred me on, even if the plot was slow-moving. And the writing.

      The Night Circus was so cleverly written, even lyrical at times. It's written in Third Person Present Tense with small snippets of Second Person narrative at the beginning of each part, and I was blown away by the author's ability to write so expertly in both tenses. It's true. Erin Morgenstern is a master wordsmith.

      Don't care if it sounds corny. This book is magic. A Top Favorite of 2015.

      Content: I don't remember exactly, but there might have been some mild language; one kind of intimate scene, can easily be skipped over; Recommended for everyone 15 .

      Originally posted at The Scribbling Sprite.
    • 4/5
      [Cross-posted to Knite Writes]I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book when I first heard about it, but whatever I was thinking, it far exceeded my expectations. Morgenstern crafts a very complex plot that follows several characters across many years, covers deaths and births, love and loss, and pretty much everything you could think to put in a historical fantasy novel (including sex and murder).Her characters were all fully fleshed out, and she managed to keep a focus on Marco, Celia, and Bailey despite frequently jumping to other, more minor characters’ story lines. Every little plot point fits together, and I didn’t spot a single plot thread left hanging (though I could have missed one; it was a long book). There was no lack of interesting character development. There were no lulls in the action. I’m not going to say it was flawless, but it was pretty close.
    • 3/5
      I so wanted to love this, everything about this book is visually arresting, the book looks beautiful, the descriptive writing is beautiful, no it's magnificent,lush and breathtaking; it reads like a Tim Burton film looks.

      The black and white striped tents of the Night Circus hold wonders such as an ice garden, acrobatic kittens, a cloud maze and bottles that release stories when uncorked complete with smells, sounds and taste.

      The imagery is overwhelming and begs to be made into a film so the amazing scenery and costumes can be brought to life

      The whole book is a feast for the senses and so stylised that Pinrest and Tumblr accounts dedicated to The Night Circus are springing up everywhere
      The Night Circus

      Within all this imagination and creativity, for me, and the author, the the characters and story came a poor second.

      I just couldn't connect with the two leads, I felt no insight into their characters, I never knew them, in fact I didn't even like them. I thought their story was weak and never felt that the 'duel' was a matter of life or death. It is a shame that Marco and Cecilia were the main focus of the story and felt that the author missed an opportunity as there were far more interesting characters in the story.

      I liked Bailey's story which took up a huge part of the book but then as Celia says at the end Bailey was basically nobody who happened to be in the right place at the right time.....so why...?

      Also the story never fully describes how the magic in the book works or even how the competition itself works. For example how do they set up the circus and where do they all go during the day? I know you should just go with it but I can't ...I want to know!

      A triumph of style over substance.
    • 4/5
      I listened to the audiobook of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern as read by Jim Dale, known in other circles as the 'voice' of Harry Potter (winning numerous awards, including two Grammys). I've heard him read before (via one of the Potter books) and he is a delight to listen to. Even more delightful than Jim's exceptional voice characterizations was the enthralling tale told by Morgenstern in The Night Circus. I found myself looking for excuses to continue listening, even though I wasn't driving, or walking the dog, or cleaning house, or doing laundry.

      Of all the suggested readings for the Kansas City Public Library's 'While the City Sleeps' Adult Winter Reading Program, this one hit the spot perfectly for me. I highly recommend it.
    • 4/5
      Also reviewed at: Written Permission

      The Night Circus is, hands down, one of the most beautifully written books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The language is superb. It is divine. It is one of only two books I can think of that I have actually savored. (The other is The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield)

      Atmosphere is most definitely Erin Morgenstern's strong point. Every single page is brimming with rich prose that paints a vivid picture of the circus and its inhabitants. And the mystery. There is a mysterious dreamlike quality to the book that at time came across as just plain vagueness, but in the end played out well.

      I didn't expect the magic aspect of it, and I didn't expect the romance twist to it either. Actually, I didn't really know what to expect when it came right down to it, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

      The book features an ensemble cast, and we never really find ourselves drawn in to any one character. I didn't feel like any of them really stuck out as outstanding characters, but then this isn't really a character-driven novel. That isn't to say the characters are not likeable or they are poorly written, I just felt they were not the focus of The Night Circus, and that is completely OK.

      Plot-wise, it is slow. The plot unfolds, as I stated above, at a very dreamlike pace. There are only a few moments where there is any real sense of urgency, and those are mostly near the end. Honestly, I was so entranced by the prose that I only noticed the slow plot once or twice in my reading. They were short-lived notices before I was distracted by the shiny prose again. Some of the plot devices seemed a little sloppy to me. There wasn't much explanation into the workings of the magic used, it was more just "Look, magic!".

      Bottom Line: Absolutely gorgeous prose. Slower paced story, but still a lovely read.

      I leave you with a quote. A book has to really resonate with me for me to quote it, so this should speak pretty highly of it.

      "It is important," the man in the grey suit interrupts. "Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There's magic in that. It's in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift. Your sister may be able to see the future, but you yourself can shape it, boy. Do not forget that." He takes another sip of his wine. "There are many kinds of magic, after all."
    • 5/5
      "Trespassers will be exsanguinated."I got this book for Christmas from my sister-in-law who understands my love of books AND magic. I also have a not-oft expressed love of sideshows, so this one was the trifecta being a book about magic and circuses. Not circuses in the three ring, sad animals sense, but rather the romantic, 19th-century magician sort. The traveling circus in this story has no travel itenerary and just shows up under cover of darkness, thus adding to its mystery and the curiosity of local townfolk. And the magic is real even though great pains are made for it to appear as expertly executed illusion. The circus is the venue for a secret challenge between two magicians who have been groomed for the exhibition since childhood. They each manipulate the circus and add components to the best of their abilities, but neither quite understands the rules of the game or how a victor will be determined, just that they were magically bound to the competition by their mentors and must participate. "I have always been nocturnal." The two magicians create tents for the circus with fantastical presentations (like the Cloud Maze, the Ice Garden, and the Pool of Tears) and, over time, they fall in love as they admire one another's skill and imagination. They eventually begin creating exhibitions for each other. I love all the acts in this circus, but my favorites are the living statues. I first heard of them when I started listening to the Dresden Dolls and read a now forgotten article stating that Amanda Palmer made part of her income as a living statue named the Eight Foot Bride, which is an icon in Harvard Square. The living statues in this story are very romantic. One is a lonely woman holding a solitary rose. One is a snow angel. My favorite is a couple entwined in an embrace, but not touching, just moments before a kiss. The reader can feel the energy sparking between them in the author's description and it is incredibly moving. I love the artistry of creating a character that doesn't move, yet intrigues passersby. I could never do it myself because standing that still and moving so slowly would make me crazy for my lack of patience. "I prefer to remain unenlightened, to better appreciate the dark." My other favorite part of the circus is the Fortune Teller. Her character, Isobel, is integral to the operation of the circus for several reasons, which I won't go into here so as not the spoil the story for someone else, but I loved the scenes where Isobel did tarot readings for herself and other characters. It is not necessary to know anything about tarot to enjoy the story, but I did find myself Googling what different cards meant and it was clear that the author carefully chose how the cards would fall, so to speak. Also, tarot cards are really beautiful works of art and after reading this book I added the classic Rider-Waite tarot deck to my Amazon.com wish list. I don't really believe in fortunes, but I do think the mythos surrounding fortune telling is fascinating. I would love to have my fortune read, but the only places I ever see that do that are crummy little houses with neon fortune teller signs in the window and that is not the experience I want. Isobel does her readings in a black velvet tent with a beaded doorway and she wears a black veil to add an extra air of mystery. The descriptions of her readings are dark and laden with psychic energy."That man has no shadow."I talked to my hairstylist about this book as she is an avid fantasy reader and she said she tried to read it, but was unable to finish it. How can this be? She couldn't quite remember why, but said she remembered feeling like nothing was happening. My friend Laura had a helpful perspective about this when she said that people appreciate different things about how a story is told and I think that has to be the case with this one. I will admit that the action is slow, but as the story built I felt a growing sense of curiosity and anticipation that I really enjoyed. The scenes are beautiful and lush and Morgenstern's attention to detail in creating the imagery is impeccible. By the time the two magicians figure out the rules and terms of the challenge, every move they make has dire and far-reaching consequences and this is when the story really takes an exciting turn. What I loved about this story the most is how it made me feel and this is summed up quite eloquently in a passage at the end of the book: "Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasure and the dragons eat their foes..., someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There's magic in that. It's in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose."And, shocker, a movie is currently in development. Will I see it? Yes, I will. http://theunstrungharpist.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-i-read-night-circus-by-erin.html
    • 2/5
      I'm really not sure what to think about this book. There were parts I loved including the almost dreamlike quality of the writing and the beautiful, visual circus created by the author. The black and white theme of the circus and the wonderful mysteries hidden within its tents such as the Ice Garden, the Cloud Maze, the Wishing Tree, the burning bonfire, the contortionists and illusionists, and the smell of popcorn and caramel make for an enchanting setting. However, while Morgenstern creates a a whimsical world for her characters, the characters themselves are lacking. As I read "The Night Circus" I never felt fully connected with them. It was as if I was just a spectator watching them go about their business without ever being a part of their lives. Their stories were uninteresting and I never cared for any of them, nor did I fully understand the purpose of the central challenge between Celia and Marco. In summary I found this book disappointing.
    • 5/5
      While this book got off to a bit of a slow start, it really pays off. I love the description of the circus, and many of the secondary characters were great. In fact, I liked the secondary characters including Poppet, Bailey, Chandresh, and Herr Thiessen more than I liked the main characters.
    • 3/5
      I don’t want to expend much effort on The Night Circus, because I know that with thousands of reviews, dozens of which have hundreds of likes, my lukewarm thoughts will be buried in no time. So I’ll keep it relatively brief.What I liked? The color, or lack thereof. The setting and scenery of this novel are, in my opinion, its very best qualities. The circus, with its black and white tents and dashes of red, is stunning. The various shows are worth the price of admission. It’s perhaps too easy a comparison to make, but I doubt any fan of Tim Burton’s movies can read this novel without thinking of his style of moviemaking. Also, I liked the bones of this story. It’s an interesting premise and, as an outline, it works great.What I didn’t like? Despite having a great premise, the story itself is so incredibly dry. This is a great example of a plot-driven novel. Events happen, then more events, but there’s little to no reflection or character development. People eat this style up, and I know I’m in the minority, but I find it boring. Even though it’s focused on plot, The Night Circus fails by telling far too many of the details without showing them: pivotal scenes are surmised by conversations between characters. Likewise, the romance is artificial. The only reason we know the two leads are in love is because the reader is told they are. No spark is evident between them.Recommended for fans of adventure-based epics with more show than substance.
    • 3/5
      This book had the unenviable position of being the one I read after The Charioteer, which blew my mind. I can see why people love this book, and why it gets compared to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and Harry Potter, and Neil Gaiman. I think it's just not for me. The anachronisms bothered me the most - she should not have set this in any particular time period, in my opinion. It ended up feeling like a lot of choices she made were aesthetic ones, and as a result it felt too surfacey for me. That's something Jonathan Strange (which I adore) really excelled at - placing the story very firmly in its historical setting.

      And like other readers, I felt like some of the characters were very cardboard - particularly Marco, Bailey, Tsukiko, and Hector. I needed to see their motivations more.

      This book succeeds as a beautiful aesthetic experience, but I wanted more beneath the surface.
    • 5/5
      I received an advanced reader copy through Goodreads First Reads.
      I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a magical story that kept me interested right from the start. The writing was very vivid and made the circus come alive for me. I found myself wishing that I could see the circus. All of the characters were well written and intriguing. I was most drawn to the story of Bailey and Poppet. I would have liked to have more of them in the story.
      My only complaint is the same as other reviewers. I found the jumps in the time line to be confusing. Several times I had to go back several chapters in the book to find out when a certain even took place. But as I read more of the book, I was able to keep the story timelines straight. It helped that towards the end, the time jumps weren't as large as at the beginning.
      Overall this was a great book. The Night Circus will stay with me for a long time. I was so excited to finally find a book that lives up to all the hype. It was wonderful.
    • 3/5
      The Night Circus is the kind of book that feels like a dream. You pull back from a page and you blink, because you forget where you are. The words you just read are lush, but they all build into one singular picture: that of a circus. The chapters feel less like collections of pages, and more like memories.

      While I enjoyed the story, I do find it was a bit slow, as this is less of a tale and more of a large description of a place. The real love story is not between two people, but the love story of a circus, and all of the people in it. It's beautiful to read, but like a dream, it kind of all fades by morning.

      What I will remember most is not the characters, nor the plot, but rather how it made me feel. Magical. Wonder-filled. Awed. And believing in things that are bigger than us all.

      As I close the back cover, I let out a sigh. Time to wake up.
    • 4/5
      I loved the audio version. It extremely well read. The best magic book I've read since Dr. Norell &Mr. Strange.
    • 1/5
      DNF because nothing happens. If nothing is happening after 200 pages, I am out.
    • 4/5
      The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a very unusual tale of a circus and the bizarre and wonderfully strange people that work there. The book centers around a bet made by two shady men and the pawns in the game is an orphan boy and one of the shady fellow's own daughter. The contest and time of the book lasts many, many years. It follows the the two contestants and how they do in life under their trainers of magic. It is an odd but fascinating book but I enjoyed it very much.
    • 3/5
      I can see why this won the Alex Award last year. It is beautifully written and such a unique concept. I think it would be pretty cool if there were real magicians that could do things like Celia, Marco and the other illusionists. I'm glad I read this book. I have one complaint. I have an issue with authors who think they have to jump back and forth between time a bunch of times. It got really confusing and I finally gave up looking back and forth to see what year it was and what other section of the book it went with. I would rather have a book flow through time correctly or not jump back and forth so frequently (like every 4-5 pages) that it confuses the reader. If there is going to be jumping, have it for bigger chunks. Other than that it was very well written, it drew you in, you could visualize the circus, the clock and the people.
    • 5/5
      This was a really enjoyable story, Jim Dale does a wonderful job with the narration he really brings the circus to life. The only thing that stops this being a five star read is that I think there are to many characters, some of whom seem to serve no real purpose in the story.
    • 5/5
      I didn't know quite what to expect with The Night Circus. I only knew that it would involve enchantment. What I got was a feast for the senses. Though the story takes its time to unfold, and spans many years, it is full of magic, whimsy, a touch of darkness, and a crew of unique characters. The imagery Erin Morgenstern created is phenomenally vivid. I could see, hear, taste, and smell all that was described within the pages. One thing I will say against it, is that I was led to believe this was a romance. It is not a romance. It has a romance. The Night Circus is about the circus itself, the way it lives and breathes and touches the lives of those within and those who visit and love the circus more than anything.I loved that every now and then there would be a page in which the reader was a visitor of the circus.The Night Circus is not for those who like fast paced, who like things to happen right away. It's for dreamers, those who like to feast on every word, those who like to be carried away.
    • 4/5
      Le Cirque des Reves appears suddenly, without warning, and with little fanfare. Its black and white tents seem to unfold from the ground, filled with unimaginable, wondrous magic controlled by two powerful magicians, Celia and Marco, who find much more than they bargained for in this lyrical book.

      Destined to compete with one another in a game arranged by their mentors, Celia and Marco find themselves falling in love, when everything they know works against them. The power surge they each experience when they are near to one another or when they touch disconcerts and frightens not only them but the people around them.

      Can they allow their stories, begun without their knowledge, to play out under the circus tents, or will their love end it all?

      There are really few words that can adequately describe this book. It is one of the rare stories that hasn’t been told before, at least not in the lilting, enchanting words of author Morgenstern. Part fantasy, part love story, part magical reality, The Night Circus is hands down one of the best of 2011.
    • 5/5
      This is a great read filled with imagination, intrigue, desire, and insight.

      You can take this book as a diverting read about an enchanting world, or as something deeper. There is meaning tucked away behind the scenes and if you choose to be thoughtful about them you'll find yourself questioning all sorts of things you thought you took for granted, but the story works just as well if you don't analyze it and simply let yourself get lost in the world Morgenstern creates.

      And it's an incredible world:

      “You think, as you walk away from Le Cirque des Rêves and into the creeping dawn, that you felt more awake within the confines of the circus. You are no longer quite certain which side of the fence is the dream.”

      Imagine a carnival where the illusions are real, but reality is an illusion. It opens at dark and closes at dawn, everything you see is black and white and silver and grey, hand lettered signs entice to you to enter a series of small tents, but there is no way you can visit them all.

      This is the traveling circus of every gothic dream. It inverts the image of silly clowns and carnival rides, bright colors and garish music. This circus is Cirque Du Soleil meets the world of silent film. Everyone involved from the top performers down to the ticket sellers and the circus cats are avant grade artists, lost in their craft.

      Morgenstern says:

      “Secrets have power. And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them. Writing them down is worse, because who can tell how many eyes might see them inscribed on paper, no matter how careful you might be with it. So it's really best to keep your secrets when you have them, for their own good, as well as yours.”

      The Night Circus is full of well kept secrets. Its master illusionist is involved in an epic battle whose outcome will determine her fate and that of the entire circus. She and her opponent have both been raised since childhood with the sole purpose of playing this high stakes game, but the details of the game have been kept from them for years.

      I gave this book five stars - it was easily my favorite read of 2015, and I know I'll come back to it again and again.
    • 5/5
      This is an absolutely delightful fantasy. I loved that not only did we have the dream circus, but that the story goes into both the prosaic and the magical background to it. So many beautiful ideas -- the world-building and the setting are amazingly lush. And I loved that the 'bad' characters are just people. Not nasty, not out there unpleasant, just oddly normal people, just, subtly icky.
    • 3/5
      Such high hopes for this book! I really, really wanted to like it but I made it 1/4 of the way through and nothing was really happening. Sure, people did things but the story itself wasn't pushing forward. There is lots of beautiful language, the book is atmospheric, but it was like a pretty cake with mediocre filling. Basically, meh.
    • 5/5
      I'm not sure how to categorise this book or even how to describe it. I think it was more like an experience than a book, and I have to admit I was carried away and totally captivated by the whole thing. In short I loved it. Not the best story you might ever read but it just had that je ne said quoi! I can see how it would be a book you'd either love or hate with not much middle ground. I listened to this on the commute and Jim Dale did an excellent job with it. Couldn't wait at the end for the next commute and had to just keep on listening!
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this story. It was atmospheric, incorporated a but of an older time period, and it added in a heap of magic. All the things I generally love and enjoy! Highly recommend for those who like a bit of whimsical magic and a story around two individuals who meet as enemies and end up something much different.
    • 5/5
      This is a gorgeous read, and one I think will hold up extremely well on the re-read. The visuals are stunning, the themes that weave through the stories are elegantly wrought, and the characters are excellent. And the colors. Oh my word, Morgenstern knows how to use her colors.

      I've read several circus novels this year that I've loved, most notably Mechanique by Genevive Valentine. Morgenstern's The Night Circus is different and refreshing (nota bene: so was Mechanique.). I was struck most by the simplicity and clarity of the language when describing vast ideas. And the tents. Oh, the tents. And that clock. Goodness.

      There were a few characters (three, to be exact) who I wanted to fill out a bit more, but it's ok. There was so much to love in here. The reveurs and their rites, for one. The interactions between characters outside of the Circus for another. Morgenstern does an excellent job of creating a fantastical world within the real world, and showing how each bleeds into the other and impacts the other. I'm looking forward to the Cirque des Reves coming to my city soon, actually. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.
    • 4/5
      lives up to every bit of hype and praise, just absolutely lovely
    • 4/5
      This book was a big ball of confusion for me. I'm not really sure that I was ever certain what was going on. For a good bit I thought two separate characters were one character pretending to be two different people. It was kind of a mess in that respect, for me at least.That being said, while I was confused throughout most of the story, I was also fascinated by it. I'm not sure what drew me in, but even in my perplexed state, I was eager to read more, to see what what happen next.I enjoyed the protagonists Celia and Marco, hated the antagonists Alexander and Hector, and pretty much all of the side characters endeared themselves to me. I loved the circus. It was magical--literally and figuratively-- and romantic. As one character stated it was basically love letters from Marco and Celia to one another. It was so sweet and utterly sad at the same time. They were thrown together in a complicated competition without their consent, which started when they were children (so they wouldn't have been able to make an informed choice anyway) and lasted well into adulthood. So many other innocent bystanders were dragged into this twisted game concocted by ridiculous men who clearly thought much too highly of themselves, but were too cowardly to fight it out on their own. They did this with no thought or care as to how it would effect the participants or the non-participates that were swept up in the game. And the sacrifices that had to be made in order to end the game were just heart-wrenching, if a little romantic.The author is clearly a mad genius for concocting and bringing the tale to life--even if I was completely befuddled. But in the end, I can't really decide whether I loved or hated it. I think a future re-read may tip the scales one way or the other. I think the fact that I want to reread this in the future is telling (I probably really love it.) For now I will just say, the story was definitely captivating.