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 both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite 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.
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A circus of black and white with the occasional secret touches of red. A fantastical competition between two starry eyed prodigies. Magic disguised as trickery. Piles and piles of amazing characters. And of course a beautiful love story.
Honestly, how could I possibly ask for more out of a book?
I picked up this book for a couple of reasons. Various booktubers were absolutely raving about it, friends were recommending it, and the reviews were spectacular. My local librarian and I also had a very long (and awesome) conversation about our favorite books in which I recommended A Song of Ice and Fire to her and she recommended The Night Circus to me.
Then of course there's the GORGEOUS UK edition that I will absolutely own very soon.
What struck me at first was the uniqueness of this book. Every single facet of this novel is totally and completely unique and unlike anything I've read before. The Night Circus utilizes the occasional use of second person, making it feel as if you are truly involved in the circus itself. Primarily it is written in third person, present tense and switches between the perspectives of multiple characters. Along with that there are two different time lines that eventually catch up to one another and meld beautifully.
With all of that, one might think the book would be confusing and disjointed. However reading it and getting immersed in this book is so smooth and easy it's almost like reading velvet.
The chapters are short with a very cinematic feel to them that it makes things move quickly, even during the slower, world building sections in the beginning. But despite the short chapters, Morgenstern's writing is so beautifully and subtly descriptive, it leaves lingering and breathtaking images in ones mind.
Adding to that, there are so very many realistic and well rounded characters to be found in this book. Even side characters and background characters feel like real people. I was convinced The Night Circus actually happened by the end because the character development felt so incredibly real. Each character seems to have their own distinct personality and what feels like a very in depth back story which is fantastically impressive. Characters I didn't think I liked, became instant favorites within a mere chapter. The characters make me cry, they made me laugh, and they gave me such overwhelming joy.
But all in all, finding the words to correctly and thoroughly describe how this book impacted me is close to impossible. So I'll leave it up to Miss Morgenstern instead: "You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose."
Erin Morgenstern managed to do just that with this piece of artwork in the form of a novel. It has taken hold of me and will not let go.
I give this book not only 5/5 stars but also a longstanding recommendation. If you read only one book in your life, make it The Night Circus. It is now one of my absolute favorite standalone novels and I promise that it will change you in all the best ways.
If you're looking for a breathtakingly magical experience, check out The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. And while you're doing that, check out my book, The Reviled, which is on sale right now for 99¢ (shameless self promotion)! It's about superheroes, zombies, and the Grim Reaper.
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So I have a confession to make. And maybe you'll judge me. I don't care.
I... love... fairytale retellings!
The obscene amount of fairytale retelling I've read, not to mention the inappropriate amount of original fairytales I've OBSESSIVELY researched is mildly embarrassing. I have a serious disorder when it comes to the works of the Grimm brothers, Perrault, and Hans Christian Anderson.
A far less embarrassing confession, is the love I hold very close to my heart for all things science fiction. My father raised me on sci-fi movies (as any good father should) and I've never read a science fiction novel I didn't enjoy (yet).
Why this tangent you might ask?
Because of the greatest things that has probably ever happened to me or ANYONE.
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. The word "perfection" does not do it justice.
These books are, in a nutshell, sci-fi/fantasy retellings of classic fairytales. Cinder follows a cyborg Cinderella character, Scarlet follows Red Riding Hood falling for her wolf, and Cress follows Rapunzel whose figurative tower is a satellite orbiting Earth. And all of these characters lives intertwine and affect one another as they fight to protect earth from the literal Evil Queen. The last book, Winter (Snow White has gone absolutely bonkers) is set to come out early 2015, but I figured I ought to share my thoughts while they're fresh.
We'll start with the first book, Cinder.
I went into this series incredibly wary. I mean, I love science fiction, but this seemed... so out there. WAY out there. In like, outerspace.
I've never been happier to be wrong.
Cinder, as a character is such a badass. She is far from a damsel in distress. And while she has a love story interwoven into the tail, it's not the only focus. This book has meat. Beautiful, tasty, substantial, AWESOME meat.
If you're uncertain about this book series, I suggest reading the first five chapters on your eReader. It's free and it'll help you realize just how amazing this weird concept can be.
There were times when the book could be slow, but it made up for it with every single one of its action scenes. I particularly enjoyed all the nods the story made to the original fairytale. (SPOILERS: I mean she didn't just lose her slipper. She lost her WHOLE GODDAMN FOOT! HOW HILARIOUS AND AWESOME AND CLEVER IS THAT SHIT?!)
On to book two, Scarlet.
Starting Scarlet I was again, uncertain. I wasn't sure I'd like it as much as Cinder and I feared it would fall victim to "Second Book Syndrome".
How very wrong I was. Scarlet's tale--involving attempting to find her missing grandmother with a mysterious companion by the name of Wolf in tow--intertwines beautifully with Cinder as she continues her attempts to protect all that she holds dear.
I can't go into too much detail because of spoilers, but I will tell you that Scarlet manages to be even better than Cinder.
The characters introduced in this book are probably my favorite of all of them. The story felt so deep and interesting and it kept me guessing till the end.
Last of all we have book three, Cress.
I can honestly say that the only thing I found disappointing in this book was the fact that the title didn't seem to follow to pattern as smoothly as the others do (Cinder for Cinderella, Scarlet for Red Riding Hood, and Winter for Snow White).
But other than that I have nothing bad to say about the latest installment in the series. I enjoyed the setting, the characters (SPOILERS: CRESS AND THORNE, oh my god, otp. OTP FOREVER. They will never stop being my otp. I love you babies.), the love story, the concepts, the gentle nods to the original tale, the additional, interwoven story of Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, and Wolf. Even the cover is probably my favorite of the lot.
I think it's probably safe to say that the Lunar Chronicles is an exciting, unique, intriguing, beautiful series that you will honestly not regret picking up. The writing is beautiful, the characters are well rounded, unique, and intriguing, and the all around worth a little uncertainty when you first pick it up.
All around I give all three of The Lunar Chronicles books 5/5 stars for pulling me out of a reading rut and hitting all the right notes.
Check out Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress by Marissa Meyer for yourself, and add Winter to your 2015 must read list. And while you're doing that, check out my book, The Reviled, which is on sale right now for 99¢ (shameless self promotion)!
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