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classical_learner's review
dark
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Very good read.
One of the lowest high-stakes fantasy I’ve ever read with a charmingly unique atmosphere straddling fae absurdity and late-19th century Chicago World’s Fair.
Maybe I’m not intelligent enough, but I never figured out the role of the first-person POV that was inserted every so often until the final chapter!
But the last two chapters definitely raised the rating of this book. Strong themes of rising above self, hope’s indomitability, and the mutability of one’s attitude toward a given nature.
Is a story a story if it doesn’t encourage us to fight against the worst of our natures?
One of the lowest high-stakes fantasy I’ve ever read with a charmingly unique atmosphere straddling fae absurdity and late-19th century Chicago World’s Fair.
Maybe I’m not intelligent enough, but I never figured out the role of the first-person POV that was inserted every so often until the final chapter!
But the last two chapters definitely raised the rating of this book. Strong themes of rising above self, hope’s indomitability, and the mutability of one’s attitude toward a given nature.
Is a story a story if it doesn’t encourage us to fight against the worst of our natures?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
theirgracegrace's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A loving and alluring pastiche of present, past and future, the Night Circus is a great book for lovers of mystery and magic. The plot centres around le Cirque des rêves, a circus that appears suddenly and is only open at night. The circus is a battleground between two magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been forced into a competition that neither participant quite understands. As the magic of the circus deepens, the two get entangled more and more, and the performers begin to suspect something is afoot...
My most adored parts of the book are the descriptions of the circus venues, from the enigmatic Labyrinth to the Wishing Tree and the Ice Garden. The symbolism of a circus that is adorned in black and white, and it is the visitors who bring colour to it, shows immaculate sense of the book's themes. I was immediately drawn to the character of Bailey and loved how the narrative slowly incorporates him and the rêveurs. A delightful tale with a bittersweet ending that I look forward to reading next time the circus rolls into town!
My most adored parts of the book are the descriptions of the circus venues, from the enigmatic Labyrinth to the Wishing Tree and the Ice Garden. The symbolism of a circus that is adorned in black and white, and it is the visitors who bring colour to it, shows immaculate sense of the book's themes. I was immediately drawn to the character of Bailey and loved how the narrative slowly incorporates him and the rêveurs. A delightful tale with a bittersweet ending that I look forward to reading next time the circus rolls into town!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Body horror, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Murder, and Physical abuse
Minor: Vomit, Classism, and Cursing
One of the side characters get hit by a trainitsyakidalex's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
kattila's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual content
flowersindecember's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
such good vibes all around i enjoyed myself so thoroughly there were just a lot of timelines to keep up with but i LOVED the romance subplots and that they weren’t the main focus of the book but also were at the same time. it was just really good but i cannot explain most of it
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Grief, Blood, Child abuse, Death, and Violence
gothcoraline's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
a decadent read, dripping with magic and mystery. i could not put this book down and have reread many times. the descriptions are so real i feel like i am in the circus, i can smell the kettle corn, i can taste the caramel apples, i can see the london buildings rising up around me. erin morgenstern enthralled me with this book. if i could give a book 6 stars, i would 🤍🎪🖤🎪🤍
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
ramakn22's review
The opening threw me so badly I felt like I couldn't find any piece of the story to latch onto. What I did get through was whimsical and confusing and sounded like it would build into something fantastical, just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Violence, Torture, and Animal death
Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, and Suicide
readerette's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
If you prefer books with plot and believable relationships between characters, this may not be the book for you. I've heard it described many times as "just vibes" which is extremely apt.
There's beautiful imagery for the circus's various tents and performers. However, I found there to be way too much of it, at the expense of a coherent plot and well-developed characters. If most of the first 3/4 of the book were expunged, its plot and character relationships would still make just as much sense--maybe even more so since there wouldn't be as much fluff between plot points and character development moments--and would read as quickly as it should given its relatively simple plot (for a fantasy novel).
There's beautiful imagery for the circus's various tents and performers. However, I found there to be way too much of it, at the expense of a coherent plot and well-developed characters. If most of the first 3/4 of the book were expunged, its plot and character relationships would still make just as much sense--maybe even more so since there wouldn't be as much fluff between plot points and character development moments--and would read as quickly as it should given its relatively simple plot (for a fantasy novel).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood and Death
queersicles's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicide
Minor: Violence
mblanke's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Violence