From the Bookshelf of Dumbledore's Reading Army…

The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern

Start date: June 1, 2020

Finish date: June 30, 2020

Discussion: Book of the Month Discussions

Why we're reading this: Won the poll for June Fantasy BOTM
[close] Won the poll for June Fantasy BOTM

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 23 topics — 349 comments total

Book of the Month Discussions

April 2021- The House in the Cerulean Sea
By Tessa · 9 posts · 24 views

last updated May 28, 2021 08:38AM

February 2021- The Sea of Monsters
By Tessa · 3 posts · 20 views

last updated May 25, 2021 04:29AM

showing 2 of 2 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Sep 07, 2025 Teodora rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: on-app, standalone, favorites, fantasy, historical, owned

4.5/5 ⭐

This was the circus story of my dreams, all stories about the circus world and magic should be as wonderful and full of beautiful sparks as this one, or I don't want them! ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Sep 20, 2020 Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff rated it really liked it · review of another edition

So many annoying characters, but also so many characters i really liked espesially Celia, Marco, Poppet and Isobel. This author`s writing captured me and didn`t want to let me go, when i had finsished the last page i was like... but...hey! There should be more. But, i liked how it ended. I did not give it 5 stars, because sometimes i was a bit lost and confused, but i managed to get caught up with characters and who was who and it was a little long. ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2017 Coralie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own-physically, 2019-reads

Second time reading this book : ★★★★★

11 likes · Like · see review

Apr 28, 2020 Ani rated it really liked it

"You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul..."

I'm at a loss for words. My heart feels heavy with love, loss and magic. I grasp real magic every time I open up a book, and I did the same thing with The Night Circus.
It felt so real, so tangible...

I loved every character, some more than others, and even though I had a few issues with Marco *cough specially how he treated Isobel cough* and a little with Celia (not because I didn't liked her, but because I felt like there was stil ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

May 23, 2018 Emma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, historical-fiction, magical-realism, library-or-borrowed

*** This review will contain potential spoilers, so be aware of that ***

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3/5 stars).

This book has been on my tbr for years and years. The night circus might have been on my tbr since the day I started watching booktube (and by now that's like 6 years ago). The funny story is I wouldn't have picked up this book as soon as I did if it wasn't for my sister. Me and my sister went for a weekend trip to london this March. Me being a reader I dragged her into all the bookshops because BOO *** This review will contain potential spoilers, so be aware of that ***

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 (3/5 stars).

This book has been on my tbr for years and years. The night circus might have been on my tbr since the day I started watching booktube (and by now that's like 6 years ago). The funny story is I wouldn't have picked up this book as soon as I did if it wasn't for my sister. Me and my sister went for a weekend trip to london this March. Me being a reader I dragged her into all the bookshops because BOOKS. But then the biggest surprise came that my non reading sister actually ended up buying a book and that book was the night circus (it wasn't even my recommendation because I hadn't read it then). So whenever I said I didn't have anything to read she would always say READ THE NIGHT CIRCUS. So one day nothing on my tbr shelf (which only has like 20 books on it) I decided to borrow her copy of the night circus and that I would read the night circus. Another funny thing is that my sister hasn't even finished this book yet but still she was like read the night circus and so I did.

I did enjoy this book but I have to say it isn't my favorite read of 2018 or a new favorite. I did expect to love this book but sadly that didn't happen. I did like it but I felt something was missing. The beginning of this book was slow, not a lot was happening. Before I was halfway through I hadn't really realised that not a lot was happening because the writing of this book was really good and made it very easy to read it. There was definitely some beautiful prose in there but this book isn't a fast paced story. It really takes it's time to get there. I have to say that the last 200 pages were really good. In those 200 pages a lot of stuff was happening and for me those pages were the best.

I also have realised that magical realism books aren't for me. I always feel like something is missing and I prefere that magic is more well explained. In the magical realism books that I've read so far the magic system is never really explained and you just have to go with the flow. I personally love worldbuilding and well explained magic systems sooooo much, so I wished the magic in this book was a bit more explained. I also feel this book is really overhyped. Like yes the story was pretty fun and unique but I simply don't think it's as good as people say it is. the atmosphere of the book was great but I still felt that something was missing. I also feel like I have read better books than the night circus. The romance wasn't that amazing in my eyes. In the beginning I truly felt meh about the romance and I still feel like it came a bit out of nowhere. I did like the romance a bit more when we were reaching those last 200 pages, but it still isn't my favorite romance ever. This could also have to do with the fact that I felt that the romance in the night circus was a bit like Romeo and Juliet and I TRULY DISLIKE THAT FAKE LOVE ROMANCE THAT WE CALL ROMEO AND JULIET. And I was also annoyed with the you chapters. Why do authors keep writing chapter from the 2nd perspective I DON'T LIKE IT SO STOPPPPP DOING IT.

I did like some other aspects like the writing style which was beautiful. And I did really like some of the characters. Celia was my favorite character but the twins poppet and widge were cool to0. With the other characters I never truly felt an connection or did I really like. Marco was pretty okay but the rest missed something. And I still don't get what the whole point was of that game. The two storylines were cool too but could have been done better in my opinion. So yeah my overally opinions and feelings are pretty meh and I hate to say it but I think the night circus is an overhyped book. It had some really cool elements but something was just missing and I think the execution could have been better. I wouldn't really recommend it if you're not a fan of magical realism like me. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2017 Steph L rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-lit

This was such a beautiful and I loved it so much!

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 24, 2020 Aimee rated it it was amazing

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a pretty long time now, and it was definitely worth the wait. There was never a dull moment, at least in my opinion. DEFINITELY one of the best stand-alone books I’ve ever read :)

Like · see review

Aug 01, 2021 Emmiegilbs rated it it was ok

The concept is cool and all but the execution...is lacking. There was supposed to be this fantastic game or trial or what not and there was like??? None??? It just kept describing the circus. Idk not for me I guess

Like · see review