The Night Circus
By Erin Morgenstern (Doubleday, September 13, 2011)
The author, Erin Morgenstern, is a young woman. This is her first novel. The characters perform magic. There are scarves involved. That, however, is where the similarities between The Night Circus and Harry Potter end. Comparisons to Twilight stand on even shakier gound. The world that Morgenstern has created is unquestionably unique.
The story focuses on a pair of young magicians who are bound together by the contest that their mentors have arranged. They know that the contest is a test of their magical abilities. What they do not realize is that one of them must die for the other to win.
The arena for the competition is a very unique circus. Open only at night, it goes against many of norms asociated with most circuses. The tents are black and white. The costumes are black and white. The attractions are like nothing that anyone has sen before. And, of course, there is the magic. Initially, the identities of the two competitors are secret. Marco figures it out before Celia does, and he chooses to keep it from her, hoping to gain an advantage. The two communicate through their magic, creating wonders that they hope will not only impress, but also please their competition. One creates a room where everything is made of ice. The other, a magical tree of wishes. Their magic gives the circus life and slows down the march of time for all those associated with it.
The circus also weaves its spell on all those who attend. There are those that who follow it as it mysteriously moves from town to town. They dress in the standard black and white of the circus, but make themselves known to eachother by wearing something red, a scarf or a hat, to signaling that they, too are reveurs. Neither they nor those that call the circus home would see it come to an end. It is this deep devotion that will ultimately save the circus when the contest finally comes to its conclusion.
This is but a glimpse of the world that Morgenstern has created. Beyond the wonder, there is also mystery and betrayal, love and devotion. The characters are well-developed and complex, as are the ties that bind them together. With a narrative that is so rich and has so much depth, it is easy to see why so many readers have fallen under Morgenstern’s spell.
*On Friday, I’ll be talking about making your own red scarf to let the world know that you are a reveur. See what the craft temptress has to offer.
*An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
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