The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

 Oh, the magic, the ambiance, and the characters. This book is everything I long for. 

Set at the end of the 19th century, a challenge between two gentlemen starts. A challenge of skill and endurance. The two candidates are Celia and Marco. They both grow up training for defeating each other and when the time has come to begin the competition officially; the Night Circus is born. Welcome to a magical world that makes you feel as living in a dream. 


All I can say is "Wow". I reread this book. The first time around I've already found it magical, but now I discovered more things that I hadn't before. Let's take a closer look at why this book is one of my favorite ones out there:

1) The atmosphere 
Erin Morgenstern brings a vibrant world to life in the way how she describes scenes. There are passages that will tell you all about the outlook of the circus. What certain tents look like from the inside, or there are passages that tell you the way how an interior looks like. Don't worry, they're not endlessly long. They're the right amount of length to keep you invested to discover the world and to feel the magic in the entire scenery. Amazing how she does it. 

2) The usage of time 
The book follows two stories that are set in a different timeline, but come together at the end in some way. You have to see it as a chain of reactions happening in the first timeline which will trigger the second timeline. You can compare it a little to a Christopher Nolan movie where he uses time often as an important part of his storytelling (think Inception in the dreams, Interstellar in the Black Hole, or Dunkirk with the 3 timelines - so yes, a lot like that last one). Just as in these movies, Time plays a pivotal role in this book. Timing is everything. You just have to be at the right spot at the right time. In the beginning, it won't make much sense, but when eventually it comes together and you will understand. Let the time guide you. 

3) The characters 
Waw. I l o v e all the characters. 

Celia and Marco are everything you need in a book: A slow-burn romance, a lovers-to-enemy romance, and a forbidden romance. It's enchanting and daring and both of them are so different but just drawn to each other, despite the fact that they compete against one another until a winner is declared. Both of them grew up in different circumstances and had different training, but the way they fit together is perfect despite their imperfections. Both make mistakes, both feel overwhelmed, and both feel infatuated with each other. Their entire lives have been about the other, creating a bond that even their teachers cannot deny. 

Bailey is an interesting young boy we get to follow. He's nothing special. No particular skills, no big ambitions, and no special life planned ahead of him. The only thing he truly - truly - has is his fascination with the Night Circus which starts at a young age. And when he breaks into the circus at a young age on a dare, he meets Poppet, and here starts his weird, but a magical journey with the circus. I love his inner dialogue and love that we get to see the magic of the world through his eyes as opposed to Celia and Marco who create the magic. Bailey shows us what it looks like from an outside perspective. 

Of course, there are many other characters who bring this book to life such as Isobel, Poppet, Widget, mister Friedrick Thiessen, mister Chandresch, and one of my favorites Tsukiko. So many more people should be mentioned, but this review would go on forever otherwise, and let's be real, I hardly doubt many people want to hear me ramble on forever about how amazing everything written in this book is. 

So yeah, this sums up my thoughts about the book that I adore with my life. Having all the aspects I need from a story. Romance, tension, and magic. 

5/5⭐️'s, but it deserves so much more.