Book Review: The Night Circus

By: Stella Y., Grade 8

Book: The Night Circus
Rating:5/5
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Age rating:13+

A black and white circus and a game with rules in shades of gray. The Night Circus will have you enchanted within its pages. The novel is a fantasy that combines magical elements with a captivating sense of wonder and dark mystery. The story follows two players, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since birth for a mysterious game. Neither player knows who their opponent is or how to win, only that Le Cirque des Rêves is the playing board. As each illusionist makes their move, new fantastical rooms are added. From cloud mazes to wishing trees, the circus is a playground for the performers and visitors alike. As the circus grows, so does the mystery, and Celia and Marco find themselves looking for a way out of the game together.

One of the main reasons why The Night Circus drew me in was the author’s attention to detail. Each character introduced eventually fits into the large puzzle that makes up the story. Each new creative room was described with so many sensory details that they mixed with reality. While some authors list off descriptions that break the flow of the writing, Morgenstern’s writing flows seamlessly, blending the movement of the storyline with sensory details that keep me invested. Her writing style relies on vivid descriptions to make the black and white of the circus feel incredibly rich. She frequently describes the scent of caramel and smoke, the texture of velvet, the warmth of bonfires, and the illusions of moving shadows. Furthermore, Morgenstern mimics the experience of wandering through a maze or a circus, shifting between perspectives and time. Not only does she include the perspectives of different characters, but also the reader themselves. These short chapters are written as if you. As you walk around the circus at night as a patron yourself, it makes the setting feel tangible and immersive. As the plot moves forward, the timeline slowly fuses as the pieces of the puzzle fit together. 

Throughout the book, tropes of found family and star-crossed romance are presented through challenges of strength and skill. Instead of the stereotypical romance, Morgenstern uses the tents as love letters, and each unfolds as a breathtaking aesthetic battle. Furthermore, she is also a master at misdirection, using intricate pieces of information and seemingly minor figures that eventually fit together like clockwork. Morgenstern’s writing and characters prove that within the gates of the circus, no character and no act of magic is ever truly wasted.

Overall, The Night Circus was a thrilling and incredibly immersive read that I would recommend to readers who enjoyed Caraval by Stephanie Garber and lovers of magical games and slow burn. The magical elements in The Night Circus reminded me of Caraval from page one, and I would highly recommend it if you want a more sophisticated magical read.