The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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.


Goodreads Summary

This is one book a reader should buy a ticket too.  The main characters, Celia and Marco, have been girded for battle for a very long time.  However, when they are finally put in the arena, they find that they do not know what they are fighting for or what they want the outcome to be.  Instead, they choose to construct elaborate tents...they end up impressing each other and are unconcerned about the judges.  Their romance builds slowly, but steadily in the novel. 

The reader will love getting to know the individual characters as well.  In a circus, there are many odd characters and the author remains true to this theme.  The secondary characters are intriguing and often know much more than they tell...the reader will have fun guessing about the plot of this story and the perfect ending.  The main characters complement each other perfectly, it seems perfectly natural that they would fall in love. 

The events are fast-paced and structured so as not to overwhelm the reader with the awesome that is in this book.  The reader won't be confused by the sub-plots or the much larger plot that has many hidden secrets tucked away.  The author writes very concisely, leaving just enough details to keep the reader on his/her toes.  The ending is both perfect and surprising.  This book is perfect for teens/young adults/adults.


5 Stars