My sister slept with the light on until she was 27. She rightfully blames me. I would leap out of closets with my hands made into claws. I would...
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This is the story of the Night Circus, a black and white extravaganza of your wildest dreams, a carnival bound only by the human imagination. This is the story of the circus' founders and performers, who work to create something transcendent. This is the story of the rêveurs, the patrons who come to the circus and are touched by it. Most of all, this is the story of the secret duel being waged behind the scenes of the circus. Two young magicians, Celia and Marco, were trained from childhood as competitors: now they are locked in a battle of sorcery, creativity, and before long, love. But what their mentors did not tell them is that only one of the young magicians can survive the duel. The Night Circus is a gorgeous novel, full of exquisite descriptions, fascinating characters, and a rich and soulful love story. This novel is not just about a carnival; it is a carnival of fun, magic, and humanity.
The Literacy Advocate, February 23, 2013 (view all comments by The Literacy Advocate)
A lyrical, lush, and breathtaking treatment of the power of love and its ability to impact even the most determined destiny. Rarely have I lived inside two main characters the way I coexisted with Celia and Marco, as I clung to the hope that love might conquer all...absolutely magical.
EllenSka, January 31, 2013 (view all comments by EllenSka)
I had looked forward to reading this book for so long, and when I finally got my copy, it surpassed my hopes. This is a book of grown-up magic for those of us who loved stories of magic as children. Morgenstern doesn’t cheat and say that the character “came away dazzled” after visiting one of the enchanted circus rooms. Like the best children’s books, she completely describes the magic, the beauty, the strangeness. She has created a world strictly from the filmy wisps of her imagination, weaving them into a solid world that others can also inhabit. That’s what I want when I read; I’m not creative enough to build it, but I can hop on the Good Ship Morgenstern and follow along after my captain quite well.
This novel also has the best sense of smell of anything I’ve read. Chocolate, nuts, even the smell of ice.
Beautifully realized.
CINDYSUNSHINE, January 31, 2013 (view all comments by CINDYSUNSHINE)
This was the most enjoyable surprise read of 2012. Imaginative and creative. I had no idea where the next chapter would take me. Any time I mention this book to a friend who has read it, the feel the same. In my book, a must read.
Touted as an adult's version of Harry Potter, The Night Circus actually lives up to its hype. It's the story of a couple of magicians, a circus, and a duel. And, of course, it's so much more. Morgenstern's creation is astounding and intricate, delicate and beautiful, frightening and overwhelming. Though torn between the contrary desires of racing through this perfectly paced tale or savoring every complex and unique sentence, I was hooked from the beginning. Not much of a fantasy fan? Me, neither. Read this book anyway.
by Dianah
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"Debut author Morgenstern doesn't miss a beat in this smashing tale of greed, fate, and love set in a turn-of-the-20th-century circus. Celia is a five-year-old with untrained psychokinetic powers when she is unceremoniously dumped on her unsuspecting father, Hector Bowen, better known as Le Cirque des Reves' Prospero the Entertainer. Hector immediately hatches a sinister scheme for Celia: pit her against a rival's young magician in an epic battle of magic that will, by design, result in the death of one of the players, though neither Celia nor her adversary, Marco, is informed of the inevitable outcome. What neither Hector nor his rival count on is that Celia and Marco will eventually fall in love. Their mentors — Marco's mentor, Alexander, plucked him from the London streets due to his psychic abilities — attempt to intervene with little success as Celia and Marco barrel toward an unexpected and oddly fitting conclusion. Supporting characters — such as Bailey, a farm boy who befriends a set of twins born into the circus who will drastically influence his future; Isobel, a circus employee and onetime girlfriend of Marco's; and theatrical producer Chandresh Christophe Lefèvre — are perfectly realized and live easily in a giant, magical story destined for bestsellerdom. This is an electric debut on par with Special Topics in Calamity Physics. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review"
by Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife,
"The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book."
"Review"
by Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review),
"Self-assured, entertaining debut that blends genres and crosses continents in quest of magic....Generous in its vision and fun to read. Likely to be a big book — and, soon, a big movie, with all the franchise trimmings."
"Review"
by Library Journal (Starred Review),
"To enter the black-and-white-striped tents of Le Cirque des Rêve is to enter a world where objects really do turn into birds and people really do disappear....Debut novelist Morgenstern has written a 19th-century flight of fancy that is, nevertheless, completely believable. The smells, textures, sounds, and sights are almost palpable. A literary Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, this read is completely magical."
"Review"
by Booklist (Starred Review),
"This big and compelling first novel ushers in a menacing tone with its first sentence: 'The circus arrives without warning'....With appeal for readers not particularly geared to fantasy but who plainly enjoy an unusual and well-drawn story, this one will make a good crossover suggestion."
"Review"
by Téa Obreht, author of The Tiger's Wife,
"A riveting debut. The Night Circus pulls you into a world as dark as it is dazzling, fully realized but still something out of a dream. You will not want to leave it."
"Review"
by Katherine Dunn, author of Geek Love,
"The Night Circus is a gorgeously imagined fable poised in the high latitudes of Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wilde, with a few degrees toward Hesse's Steppenwolf for dangerous spice. The tale is masterfully written and invites allegorical interpretations even as its leisurely but persistent suspense gives it compelling charm. An enchanting read."
"Synopsis"
by Random,
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 both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.
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