A feast for the senses, a fantasia of magic, mischief and love, The Night Circus is an extraordinary blend of fantasy and reality that will dazzle readers young and old.
The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon iron gates reads-
Opens at Nightfall
Closes at Dawn
As dusk shifts to twilight, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies. When the tents are aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign lights up-
Le Cirque des Raves
The Circus of Dreams
The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition.
They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside.
Now the circus is open.
Now you may enter.
Discover this amazing fantasy read with a different kind of magic.
The Starless Sea, the second novel from the author of the The Night Circus, is out now.
‘The only response to this novel is simply- wow. It is a breathtaking feat of imagination, a flight of fancy that pulls you in and wraps you up in its spell’ The Times
Format: Paperback
Pages: 512
Imprint: Vintage UK
Publication date: 24/05/2012
The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern
Review by Mida
The Night Circus is a mystical experience. Twisting through plots like a winding path, each chapter of the story slowly weaves itself together into a bizarre story of immortals, magic, romance and above all, a bet; two immortals playing a twisted game with the lives of two children in the crossfire.
If you were to ever ask me what book I wish I could read again for the first time, it is this one. The multiple narratives satisfyingly knit together, but you are forced to take your time and digest each one, lest you miss a crucial detail that comes into play later.
Every setting in this novel is as vivid as a painting. Moonlit streets at dusk, rural farms, and crowded theatres all contrast with the monochrome brightness of the magical circus. The contrast between these rather ordinary environments and the circus only accentuates the bizarreness of our titular setting.
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Rather than being a complete fantasy story, The Night Circus has delicate hints of it scattered throughout, leaving you relishing the tastes of magic you get. Great for fans of Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands or Morgenstern’s other book, The Starless Sea.
