A centuries old disagreement, two very different techniques of magic, two students matched against each other to prove who's the best, and one magical venue that will transform them and the world. The Night Circus will take you on an incredible ride as Celia and Marco try to outdo each other, performing greater and greater feats of magic. As time passes and they build, enhance, and collaborate on the circus, they'll forget they're meant to be rivals. But falling in love was never part of the plan and the battle cannot be ignored. Outside forces and magic will begin to tear them and the circus apart. In a battle that can only have one winner, who will survive in the end? There can only be two words that describe The Night Circus; magical and epic. The story sets not a slow, but a steady pace. Like a gentle walk through the magical story of the circus and of the two young magicians. It's also a story that spans 30 years, from 1873 to 1903, so there's a lot that happens. And I mean, A LOT. As I read the book I couldn't help comparing it to a clock. Each gear moving another who in turn moves another. There are three time lines going on; the present in which you (the reader) are going through the many tents in the circus, the near past with a boy called Bailey who falls in love with the circus, and the far past with the magicians, their challenge, and the circus. It can be a little confusing at first, but once you get this timeline in your head you'll understand and it'll be magical. It all starts with the bringing up of Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, our two magicians. Their lives are very different. Celia's father is extremely hard on her, to the point of cruelty. He abuses her letting her go half starved, and breaking her body so she can practice healing. Marco has it easier, though his guardian mostly ignores him, leaving him alone for long periods of time. They're also brought up practicing very different sides of magic; one who excels at physical manipulation (transfiguration) while the other excels in perfect illusions and spells. We then jump to the creation of the circus, as it is an integral part of the challenge set to them. A challenge which 'starts' on opening night at Le Cirque des Rêves. After that the story only gets better and better as Celia and Marco get to know each other. Their romance just tugs at the tender parts of my heart because their love is something that grows and maintains through the years even though they know its forbidden. Marco is so direct and open with his feelings when they're together. He just came up with the most perfect lines to say, making me swoon in delight. He's so not afraid to love her, the way she is afraid of loving him. "Everything I have done, every change I have made to that circus, ever impossible feat and astounding sight, I have done for her." The different tents they create are just amazing. The Cloud Maze is probably my favorite tent of the circus, followed by the Ice Garden, and the Tree of Wishes. I kept zoning out trying to imagine if a real circus could somehow replicate that, and if such circus was created would I be able to join. I am that in love with this! There are really so many great things in this book. It's like it is The Night Circus and every chapter is a new tent with incredible secrets to discover as we read. As fan of series I thought I would be angry or sad or disappointed at the ending, since it’s a standalone novel. But as I read those final chapters I could only smile. Smile at the memory of all that had happened since I read the words "The circus arrives without warning." Smile because I know that I'll keep coming back again and again to read it. Final Note: This book has plans to be turned into a movie, and believe me when I say I'll be the first one standing at the door of my local theater on the first day of showing. How many of you have seen The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasus? I can only hope that The Night Circus has even better magical scenes than those of the Imaginarium. And the Imaginarium has some stunning scenes.
