Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Rating: 3/5 First, I have a better title for this than The Night Circus— more appropriate would be Dear Tim Burton, Please Make My Book Into a Movie: Love, Erin Morgenstern. Other than that, I liked this cute story of a forbidden romance between two magicians in a prearranged duel set in a whimsical nocturnal fairground. The ill-fated lovers find adorable secret ways to flirt with each other using magic, giving their relationship a sweetly old-fashioned romantic tension. However, I think it could have gone beyond a cute story with a little more character exploration, less focus on elaborate imagery and a willingness to go darker. For me, people and story development are always going to be more interesting than attempts to make extremely specific mental images. Also, none of the reveals were particularly shocking. In a mystery about a magical feud with nefarious origins, the author could have taken that extra step to produce more unsettling twists and turns. It’s a fun read, though… but seriously, it’s giving off a ridiculously strong “make-me-a-movie” vibe.

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Rating: 3/5

First, I have a better title for this than The Night Circus— more appropriate would be Dear Tim Burton, Please Make My Book Into a Movie: Love, Erin Morgenstern. 

Other than that, I liked this cute story of a forbidden romance between two magicians in a prearranged duel set in a whimsical nocturnal fairground. The ill-fated lovers find adorable secret ways to flirt with each other using magic, giving their relationship a sweetly old-fashioned romantic tension. 

However, I think it could have gone beyond a cute story with a little more character exploration, less focus on elaborate imagery and a willingness to go darker. For me, people and story development are always going to be more interesting than attempts to make extremely specific mental images. Also, none of the reveals were particularly shocking. In a mystery about a magical feud with nefarious origins, the author could have taken that extra step to produce more unsettling twists and turns. 

It’s a fun read, though… but seriously, it’s giving off a ridiculously strong “make-me-a-movie” vibe.

bookbook reviewThe Night CircusErin Morgensternfictionnovel