The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

5
A highly engaging and slightly confusing book that follows a circus in which two magicians are involved in a competition neither really understands. This has to be one of my favourite books this year. It's been a while since I've read a new fantasy book (part of a series or otherwise) that has kicked in my obsessive-reader streak. I just could not pull myself away.

First off, the circus is amazing. I've only been to a few circuses in my life, but they don't even compare to the Le Cirque des Rêves (Circus of Dreams) and I wonder if I've ever enjoy a circus after being transported to this one. Reading about it is immersive in a way I can't describe. I could smell the caramel, see every performance and every performer, feel the energy of the crowd. I can't remember being so transported by a book, and for that alone I would give it five stars. Interspersed with the actual plot, we are told about the experiences in various tents and the things we see. It helps to break from the plot and make the character transitions seem smoother.

But then we have the actual story. As I said, it two magicians in a kind-of contest (all is revealed later on in the book) and the circus is the venue for this. So everything in the circus is the spawn of their imagination, their dreams. Every tent, in its own way, implies something about the maker, hints at the plot and present feelings. I'm reading into it, I admit, but it seems all so cleverly interwoven, much like the circus itself.

Yet I think the characters are what make it interesting. We have our magicians, Marco and Celia. They are designed to opposites (that's why they were chosen as the competitors) so they match, even compliment, each other perfectly. It means we get two distinct voices and views, and two ways of seeing the same world. And their magic is wrought in different ways. Hers physical, his with charms and symbols; he is more considering, she more impulsive. It amazing. We also have Bailey, who story we jump into, as well as characters like Mr. Barris, Poppet and Widget, Tsukiko, Chandress, Prospero (Hector), Mr. Alexander, The Burgess Sisters, Friedrick Thiessen, Isobel and others I've likely forgotten. They make the book amazing, and each one is distinct in my mind and has their own story. I can't express how pleasant it is to read so many connected characters but not once become confused.

The Circus itself becomes almost a character too. Almost. I'm always aware it's a circus, but it has personality and is so well loved and talked about as though alive that one cannot help but consider it a character also.

Their is also romance in the book. It becomes integral, but the book does not become a complete romance, which I appreciated. It was fantasy and stuck to that like glue to paper. Certain events pre-empted this, and I think anyone could have guessed this would happen a quarter of the way into the book when Marco first sees Celia. And guess what? No love triangles! Huzzah! (You could argue otherwise, but I disagree. I never believed that romance.) It was much more interesting to see them interacting with each other and facing problems in their own relationship.

It's also set in the late 1800s, early 1900s. On one hand this was great for the lack of technology, the clothes, the atmosphere, and the people themselves. It's also handy since it meant it wasn't based at a time when there were huge events happening in history. There were events, but none so far reaching they could affect the story or have the characters being split. This story isn't about conflict, I feel. It seems odd since it's a competition, but I think it was more about working together than against each other.

I'm going to say something bad because I have to, but this didn't really bother me: I found some of the explanations hard to follow. Sometimes they were just concerning magic and its mechanics, but I expected to understand more than I did. I had to just move past it, but I didn't expect to understand. Part of the magic (pardon the pun) of this book was that we didn't know everything. The mystery was alluring, and the discovery sweeter for it; regardless of the comprehension. That's why I wasn't bothered by the mystery around the contest. This books hinges on not knowing anything, and we are made to get used to this idea very early on.

The novel is a treasure of a book and of a story. Never would I dare part with it. And it's wondrous element is well suited to the Christmas season. Buy this for yourself for Christmas. By it for anyone who loves fantasy, or someone who's faith in romance in a book is fading. My adoration for this book cannot be put into words; I am a rêveur through-and-through. Buy it, love it, but don't thank me.

I think this has earned the highly acclaimed spot as My Favourite Book of the Year.


After publishing/writing this, I've found a site for people interested in the books to kind of experience and live the books again. It's okay, but slow-going; many people would hate it. Link.

The Scorch Trails by James Dashner

*WARNING If you haven't read book one there are a few very mild spoilers which shouldn't be an issue since they're all predictable. The spoilers only concern events in book one. Except the blacked out word.*


4
The Scorch Trails is the Sequel to the YA Dystopian Maze Runner and is much better than the first one I feel. We follow Thomas again, and despite the same desolation and characters, the book feels fresh and anyone could pick it up and understand and enjoy the story.

Having finally escaped the maze, our group believes everything will be okay, but as returning readers will know, the epilogue of book one revealed something else was going on. We don't have to wait long to find out what's what and the story is quickly on its way in a gruesome way. That first bit with the bodies in the main room area? Gross. But also really good since it got the message across and the cold-hearted determination of WICKED.

Thomas is still a great narrator. He's intelligent and entertaining and all that, but the most interesting for me is the amnesia element of the story. He realises that, in some way, he was involved with the planning of the Trials and the Maze, and the confusion of that- who he was and who he is- just mesmerises me. Also, though we have some idea of why the Trials are occurring (which I expect to be overturned at some point for the surprise), we never actually know. And Thomas, who we believe is good, was involved so it can't have been all bad. As the message creeps up all the time, WICKED is good (apparently). It's a huge mystery that we are kept engaged in because we are fed scraps like starving beasts, and just as we're about to lose interest, we get something more. It's really well written.

I also like how we all assume Thomas would be the natural leader, but he's never chosen. All I can think at these moments is "Why, why, why?"

The little rag-tag group of boys plus Theresa, is split up in a number of ways in no time at all. We are left with enough from the last book that we don't hate Dashner for what he does, and I think that's partly because we can see the world they're in and the situations they face. I only remembered two people from the last book and that was Thomas and Theresa. I didn't even remember who Thomas' former best friend was until halfway through (after he'd been mentioned like a gazillion times). But then, I'm just glad I remembered anyone. Occasionally I'd realise who someone was and what they did in the last book. I guess the whole point of my rambling is to say that maybe one should re-read the book (or an online summary) before picking this one up. I wasn't confused, but I think I missed out on some important details.

There is the beginnings of romance in this book (*groans*) but it's only like the seed has been sown. It uses it more for the (Spoiler- Highlight to see) betrayal element. Which, I have to say was well done. I didn't see it coming because the ambiguity of the events leaving up to it had me doubting myself and then doubting my doubts. It was confusing, but it kept me hooked and reading. I'm actually really glad they romance wasn't over played because I think I'd rage and break things if I had to read Thomas- who is amazing- become a love sick, pining fool.


And a final thing, I absolutely adored the idea of a second, mirror group. It seemed to tie in so well with what one might expect. Okay, they're not overly important here but they did seem perfect and really fitted with the story


I really liked this book, and I'm glad I decided to get it (I was unsure). I think that it's well written, the characters are great and the plot is engaging. The only reason it doesn't have a 5 is that it just didn't feel real. It was more escapism. Of a masochistic kind, if you think about it too much. Or hopeful. Let's go with hopeful.