Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of The Night Circus

The Night Circus
barbsis avatar reviewed on + 1076 more book reviews


interesting. strange. bizarre.

The Enchanter, Hector Bowen and mystery man, Alexander hatch some kind of plan to pit their protege's against one another in a challenge which only ends in the death of one of the combatants. Of course, the protege's know nothing of this caveat and fall in love, thwarting the game, or so they thought.

Celia Bowen, Hector's daughter is an illusionist (magician) and Alexander grabs a boy from an orphanage and spends years training him for the challenge. Neither Celia nor Marco know who their opponent is or when the challenge will start or end. When the circus is started by Chandresh Christophe LeFevere, Marco is hired as his assistant and Celia is immediately hired as their illusionist. Marco's job is stationary in London while Celia travels with the circus. They compete by creating mysterious and exciting circus tents which stun and amaze all visitors - the ice garden, the drawing room, the hall of mirrors, etc. Marco creates one to amaze Celia and then Celia tries to top his creation with something she thinks he will love. A long distance romance that somehow works regardless of the troubles challenging them.

It's all very interesting but it's a story that goes nowhere. Alexander is rude and obnoxious; Chandresh has lost his mind; Hector is gone, and yet the challenge continues until somebody wins but no one is actively judging the contest so how will a winner be decided? It's already gone on for 13 years and neither challenger may quit.