I haven't written a book review in quite some time. Not because I haven't read books worth reviewing or anything. I just tend to get sidetracked with writing my own work. Then a friend introduced me to The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. And... wow.
To say this book suits my aesthetic would be a gross understatement. It's stylistically stunning from start to finish. The magic in this book came to life while reading it, and every new scene and description had me marveling at what it made me see.
Like... I'm not entirely convinced Marco Alisdair didn't just set a vivid illusion loose in my head.
I grew quite attached to the various characters in and around the circus to the point where I found myself in a very strange conundrum. I had a hard time putting the book down, but I was actually scared to finish it. I wanted the best for the characters and ended up fearing the worst as I went. The story truly captivated me, and by the time I finally did read the last page, I already wanted to read it again.
The way Morgenstern weaved words together and really described sensory details had a way of grounding even such a magical book. The pace was easy to keep up with. Questions were answered in due time while mysteries remained to keep pushing forward. I wanted to learn about the challenge. I wanted to learn about the circus. The different timelines were easy to follow and pay attention to. And, really, just how enraptured I was with the style and the beauty of it made for an amazing read. An actual dream and a new favorite.
My friend experienced this story in audiobook format, and I read it through an eBook myself. But I knew I needed to have a physical copy of it before I was even finished. This is the kind of book that belongs on my bookshelf where I can revisit Le Cirque des Rêves as many times as I want.