The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”

The circus held only at night is a unique and amazing experience that enchants all who attend. However, very few know that it is also the venue for a duel between two young magicians who have been studying and preparing for the challenge from the time they were children. The two fall in love without realizing that only one can be left standing. As time passes and the challenge continues without a victor, the lives of those associated with the circus become affected as well with dark consequences.

“Life takes us to unexpected places sometimes. The future is never set in stone, remember that.”

This is a book I have been meaning to read for quite some time, and I am so glad that I finally did. It is a wonderfully creative and engrossing novel that captured my attention from the beginning. It skips around different years and select characters as the story unfolds, and while initially it took a little time to learn the various characters and get familiar with the flow, I found each section to be compelling all on it’s own. Unfortunately I did not connect to the characters as much as I would have liked, and I was not a fan of the way the romance between the two magicians was handled. As a result the ending and the way the story concluded felt quite rushed and somewhat unsatisfactory, but that is likely just a preference on my part. Overall I was really impressed with the intricacy of the story as there is something undeniably magical and compelling about it. An intriguing concept and an engaging read.

“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.”