The Night Circus:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/books/review/the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern-book-review.html?_r=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Circus
RA Review: A+. Morgenstern's The Night Circus is a masterpiece.
This novel is as beautifully crafted as the feats of magic and illusion performed by Le Cirque des Rêves. There is something bold, ethereal and elegant about this novel; something magical and elusive, that you can't quite put your finger on, like a dream you forget almost instantly upon waking.
Set in the late 19th century, two magicians set the board for a challenge of power and protégés. Enter Prospero the Enchanter, who wishes to use his own daughter, Celia, in the test.
Mr. A.H- selects an orphan, Marco, as his contestant. Each mentor grooms their ward in their own magical method, until they reach adulthood and begin the rivalry in full, not knowing their opponent's name, face or talents. The challenge pits them unknowingly against each other, bound in a magically binding blood contest, with Le Cirque des Rêves as the stage.
Le Cirque des Rêves has no schedule fixed, it appears overnight. As the years progress, its devoted patrons, the "rêveurs", send each other notifications of when the circus arrives, and identify themselves and each other with a splash of red against monochrome clothing, hoping to see any new feats offered while enjoying old favourites. Contestants in the magical feud work in different methods: Marco works from outside of the circus from a business perspective and appear at random intervals to add his own magical elements, while Cecilia was hired as an illusionist from the circus' very opening, and travels with it regularly.
Despite the magically binding nature of their participation in the contest, over the years Marco and Cecilia discover each other's identity and fall in love. They attempt to subvert the contract in order to remain together and evade the fate placed on them by their mentors.
The Night Circus is easily my favourite read of the year, and one of the most elegantly beautiful novels I have enjoyed. Well done, Morgenstern.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/books/review/the-night-circus-by-erin-morgenstern-book-review.html?_r=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Circus
RA Review: A+. Morgenstern's The Night Circus is a masterpiece.
This novel is as beautifully crafted as the feats of magic and illusion performed by Le Cirque des Rêves. There is something bold, ethereal and elegant about this novel; something magical and elusive, that you can't quite put your finger on, like a dream you forget almost instantly upon waking.
Set in the late 19th century, two magicians set the board for a challenge of power and protégés. Enter Prospero the Enchanter, who wishes to use his own daughter, Celia, in the test.
Mr. A.H- selects an orphan, Marco, as his contestant. Each mentor grooms their ward in their own magical method, until they reach adulthood and begin the rivalry in full, not knowing their opponent's name, face or talents. The challenge pits them unknowingly against each other, bound in a magically binding blood contest, with Le Cirque des Rêves as the stage.
Le Cirque des Rêves has no schedule fixed, it appears overnight. As the years progress, its devoted patrons, the "rêveurs", send each other notifications of when the circus arrives, and identify themselves and each other with a splash of red against monochrome clothing, hoping to see any new feats offered while enjoying old favourites. Contestants in the magical feud work in different methods: Marco works from outside of the circus from a business perspective and appear at random intervals to add his own magical elements, while Cecilia was hired as an illusionist from the circus' very opening, and travels with it regularly.
Despite the magically binding nature of their participation in the contest, over the years Marco and Cecilia discover each other's identity and fall in love. They attempt to subvert the contract in order to remain together and evade the fate placed on them by their mentors.
The Night Circus is easily my favourite read of the year, and one of the most elegantly beautiful novels I have enjoyed. Well done, Morgenstern.
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