The Night Circus

From Goodreads:    The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a very enchanting, haunting, and delightful read! It is a pretty unique story.

-    Celia's training was cruel! I can't believe her father subjected her to so much pain.

-    There were a lot of characters, and it took me a while to get them all straightened out in my mind.

-    Reading this was like reading a classic, like Austen or Dickens. 

-    I don't say this often, but I would love to see this book as a mini series or something. I want the British to do it, OR I think Tim Burton could make an amazing movie out of this book, especially in black and white.

-    After I got to know the characters better, I started loving the story more. Each character is so vital to the circus, and I love each role they play.

-    I want to visit this circus!

-    There is a date at the beginning of each chapter, and I was really grateful for that. It was a little confusing going back and forth between years, but I finally caught on to what was going on, and I really liked the time frame. 

-    Celia and Marco's relationship was really interesting. I was routing for them the whole time, but at first I didn't want them to get involved cause they were competitors. 

-    I'm still confused on how the magic works in this world. I'm not sure I'll ever understand it. Part of the allure is that it is such a mystery.