[Book Review]- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

After hearing and reading a bunch of glowing reviews about The Night Circus, I was ready to be swept away by the wave of hype. The book was original, riveting, whimsical, and at times even enchanting. However, for whatever reasons, It wasn't quite love at first read for me.

THE CIRCUS ARRIVES WITHOUT WARNING. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white-striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is open only at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Amidst the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance. 

I really, really wanted to be as enraptured by this book as most raving reviewers seemed to be. I love it when I can free fall in to a book and lose myself in the storytelling. I have really fond memories of reading the Harry Potter series while growing up, being completely enamoured with the world of witchcraft and wizardry that J.K. Rowling created. I had a similar experience reading the first book in George R.R.  Martin's ASOIF series. There were certainly sections of the novel that had me completely riveted, these were mainly the scenes where Marco and Celia's flame for each other shone brightest; but mostly, their relationship was always there burning under the surface; much like the bonfire does at Le Cirque des Rêves. Another dynamic I really enjoyed watching unfold was the blossoming of Bailey and Poppet's relationship. It was so sweet and cute to read. If they both existed in real life, I'd totally have to squish them!

Considering, this is author Erin Morgenstern's debut novel, I think she did a fantastic job. Her writing style is precise, yet descriptive. I found her prose easy to follow and quite enjoyable to read. I would definitely recommend The Night Circus to fantasy fiction lovers who are looking for an adult tale involving magic, star-crossed lovers, and a Circus you could only hope to visit in your wildest dreams.