5 Stars
This book is not without flaws even though I am giving it full marks. The story does not truly hook you as the reader until the halfway mark of this book. I found that I had little attachment to either the main protagonists, Celia and Marco until their first meeting together. This book does not answer all your questions, nor does it resolve all the plot lines. I agree however, with many of the fabulous reviews here, that this is a magically written, lyrically told fantastical love story. Much of it is dream like, whimsical, and colorful down to the last detail.

The plot is one that slowly builds; it takes the entire duration of this novel to come to a head. The number of amazing supporting characters, points of views, and interlaced storylines is simply fabulous. This is an adult oriented fairy tale in the vein of Neil Gaiman.
I love the way the story was told through jumping time frames. I loved the tension and felt it growing to palpable levels. The mystery behind the contest remains just enough out of reach to us as it does to our young heroes. The magic is marvelous. The circus is breathtaking. The friendships are all ones that you would wish to be part of. Though the outcome becomes somewhat obvious, it does not detract from the feelings that you will feel when they finally reach them.

I was moved by this book. As the story progressed I found that I was making many internal comparisons of things in my life, my past, and in my dreams that are touched on by the prose of this novel. I am probably reaching but I feel that the best parts of this book are the things that are left unsaid. What is the contest? Who are the two father figure magicians? Why has the contest failed seven times previous? Are things really so Black and White? What is greater the heart or the mind? I am not sure how much the author intended on us going down these deep philosophical paths but I found myself feeling that this book was a test of Love, of human spirit. A testament to the fact the not all things are black and white and often, a change in point of view can render the differences moot. Celia and Marco are raised by very different fathers, opposites you might say. They were educated one through reading and thing of the mind, the other through emotions, feelings, and of the heart. They displayed magic in different ways; again you might say in an opposite way. There is a great deal of synergy between the heart and the mind in their magic, in their feelings, and in their dreams.

I was reminded of a favorite song of mine as the story came to conclusion, so I thought that I would share some of the relevant lyrics:

“I could leave but I won't go
It would be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes

So why does it always seem to be
Me lookin' at you, you lookin' at me
It's always the same it's just a shame, that's all

But I love you, more than I wanted to
There's no point in trying to pretend
There's been no one who makes me feel like you do
Say we'll be together til the end

But just as I thought it was goin' alright
I found out I'm wrong when I thought I was right
It's always the same it's just a shame, that's all
Well I can say day, you'd say night
Tell me it's black when I know that it's white
Its always the same it's just a shame, that's all
That's all “ Phil Collins That’s All

If you want to read a fairytale story that involves great magic, great characters, has wonderful prose, and leaves your imagination wondering and your heart aglow, then I highly recommend that you read Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.