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 only open 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, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
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, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
My Review:
My thoughts. Oh my. Well. I love it and I hate it. Ok hate is a strong word so we'll go with I love it and I dislike it. I love the detailed descriptions of the circus and everything within it. I wanted to be one of the red scarf crew who followed the circus around, experiencing the magic, and writing about it to capture the enchantment in ink.
Overall the story is interesting BUT I felt that the pace of the first 2/3 was horribly s l o w. I’m sure not everyone feels that way but it really drove me bonkers for a while and I had to force myself to sit down and push through. I think it may have been better for me if I had expected it to be a slow read but I didn’t.
Another thing that I disliked was that the story jumped forward and back in time A LOT! I have a bad habit of not reading dates, notes, or well anything at the beginning of chapters. I just like to read through books and not have to stop and write up a timeline. Ok, I really didn’t stop and write up a timeline but honestly I think it may have helped ease the confusion at times.
Overall, I don’t think I got as much out of the book as I could have because of the pace and because of the story bouncing around in time. I might decide to reread it someday when I want a slower read and will be able to take it in more of the details.
Overall, I don’t think I got as much out of the book as I could have because of the pace and because of the story bouncing around in time. I might decide to reread it someday when I want a slower read and will be able to take it in more of the details.
Oh my! You read this? I didn't know you were reading this. You never tell me anything! LOL JK.
ReplyDeleteI have heard such mixed reviews!!! I know a lot of people who LOVED it and so many others really did not like it!
I thought your review was very good and I loved that you were honest.
Lol!
DeleteHey Wendy, guess what?!? No really, guess! I read The Night Circus! ;-)
This was a buddy read on Goodreads and most of the other peeps loved it so I agree it's a mixed bag kind of book.