Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Overview:
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
The Night Circus has been on my TBR list longer than any other book — about 5 and a half years! There’s so much hype around this novel, and I was nervous to pick it up. All in all, though, I think this is a decent read. The world-building alone makes it worth it. However, I do think the character development and ending are a bit weak.
Content Warning:
The Night Circus contains animal abuse, child abuse, and references to suicide.
Book Description:
The Night Circus is a Young Adult fantasy novel. A girl named Celia and a boy named Marco have been chosen to fight in a battle of magical endurance. They do not know each other, and from their youths, they are trained for what their mentors only describe as “a competition.” The venue: a traveling circus. As both try to outshine each other with fantastical displays, the circus gains notoriety among the public and those who work it. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the circus may be dependent on the power of both magicians. When their competition draws to a close, more than victory lies in the balance.
On the World-Building:
Without a doubt, this is the most atmospheric book I have ever read. Morgenstern’s descriptions of the environment are absolutely visceral — the tastes, smells, and visuals of the circus are rich and flood the senses on every page. While we don’t necessarily get descriptive magical systems or explanations of how the enchanted attractions are created, they are vivid and believable. I doubt the images depicted in this book will leave me for a long time, and they are worth reading the 500 pages (give or take a hundred, depending on your edition) for.
On the Structure and Readability of the Story:
The Night Circus is presented as a series of non-linear scenes across decades. We encounter a handful of characters that are all in some way connected to each other and the circus, but it is not until the very end of the novel (as in, the last 50 pages or so) that each person’s relevance to the text becomes clear. For the most part, I enjoyed the sense of mystery and building anticipation that this structure gave the story. There were just a few points at which the nonlinear aspect of the narrative confused me. Because the chapters are so short, the reader is made to jump back and forth in time every few pages. Even with dates clearly labeled at the top of each new chapter, it was hard to keep track of the chronological order of events and my understanding of the plot was muddled.
On the Characters and Character Relationships:
Due to the novel’s non-linear structure and the large amount of characters that are involved, the reader doesn’t spend much time with any one individual. There are also huge gaps in time between our encounters with them. Not only does this prevent strong character development over time, but it makes their interactions with one another seem extreme. For example, Marco and Celia barely knew each other in one chapter and are madly in love the next. More intentional elaboration and exploration of these characters and their everyday lives would have improved the story greatly.
On The Ending [spoilers]:
The ending of this book is emotionally impactful: we see our main characters survive a traumatic event with their love intact, observe the beginning of a new era for the circus, and bear witness to a delightful scene that discusses the importance of stories and storytelling. All that being said, while the conclusion is substantially fulfilling, the means by which Morgenstern gets there is NOT. The major conflict of the book — the fact that the game can only be ended by one competitor’s death — is absolved by a confusing piece of magic wherein Celia diffuses her and Marco’s physical beings into the circus. They dissolve and partially reappear, able to interact with each other and the circus attendees, but not quite human. Even as I attempt to summarize these events for the review, I struggle because they make no sense! How does this prevent them from using magic? if they are still able to interact with each other and outsiders, what has changed? How was this spell even work in the first place? The plot here is underdeveloped and leaves one feeling that the novel’s closure, beautiful as it is, is undeserved.
On Who Might Enjoy The Night Circus (an incomplete list):
I recommend you read the Night Circus if you:
enjoy strong aesthetics and atmospheric works, such as period pieces and dark academic novels
watch t.v. shows such as The Magicians
are a fan of YA fantasy staples like Percy Jackson, ACOTAR, and the Shadowhunter series
prioritize world-building while reading
PLEASE NOTE: Image sources for the photo edit on this post can be found here.