“This is not magic. This is the way the world is, only very few people take the time to stop and note it.”
Blurb: The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon iron gates reads:
Opens at Nightfall Closes at Dawn
As dusk shifts to twilight, tiny lights begin to flicker all over the tents, as though the whole circus is covered in fireflies. When the tents are aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign lights up:
Le Cirque des Rêves The Circus of Dreams
The gates shudder and unlock, seemingly by their own volition.They swing outward, inviting the crowd inside.
Now the circus is open. Now you may enter.
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BOOK REVIEW
You will enjoy this if you like:
~ Magicians
~ Circus
~ Illusions
~ Mystery
~ Period setting (with a twist)
To Note: Standalone
Writing Style~ 4.5/5
Characters~ 4/5
Plot~ 4.5/5
Personal Enjoyment~ 4/5
Overall Rating~ 17/20
I was astonished to find out this was Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel. It has the voice of a writer that has matured their craft over decades. The complexity of the storyline, the sheer number of characters and all this tied together with convoluted, meandering plots all adds up to an enjoyable experience.
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Having said that, during the first half of the book, I could not decide if it was good or just dressed up as good. Let me explain, on the face of it there is a lot to love. The setup of the competition, the lack of information surrounding the original magicians and their ‘proteges’ the smoke and shadows of the circus itself, was certainly interesting enough to keep me reading. However, I was confused for a vast chunk of this book because of a certain view point. Without giving away spoilers I could not work out who the narrator was speaking to and why. Because of this I felt like I was slightly distanced from the story. I felt the relationships between characters was not fully explored, we did not see it unfurl as I was expecting it to. Though considering what era it is based in perhaps it wasn’t too unrealistic.
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The book is written in third person narrative so we cannot rely on the characters’ internal monologues to help us understand them and their actions better. Without which, personally for me, it is very difficult to form any attachment to them. I wonder though if that was a deliberate ploy of the writer to keep the characters more mysterious and ephemeral to help convey the mood and atmosphere of the book? This dreamlike magical circus that only comes alive at night?
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Once I was more immersed in the story and I was able to keep the characters straight in my head I found myself enjoying it more and more.
Overall I enjoyed this very much. The victorian era with its luxurious dress and opulent setting really adds something special. It was full of descriptive prose that though isn’t to everyone’s liking I simply adore. This is a story of layers, that require careful unravelling, and when you start making links and understanding the little well placed clues, there is an added thrill. I am now looking forward to reading Starless Sea.
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I would recommend this book on its own merit (and certainly to those who felt Caraval had been a bit lacking!)
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Favourite Quotes:
"They want to believe that magic is nothing but clever deception, because to think it real would keep them up at night, afraid of their own existence."
“I would have written you, myself, if I could put down in words everything I want to say to you. A sea of ink would not be enough.' 'But you built me dreams instead.”