Following a nonlinear narrative, the book is a great read if you fancy something a little experimental.
It tells the story of a magical fairytale circus that appears without any warning. It’s only open during the nighttime.
Known as the Le Cirque des Rêves, this astonishing circus promises to provide a breathtaking experience.
However, this circus has a dark secret that’s kept behind the scenes. The circus is home to a passionate competition between two magicians named Marco and Celia.
Trained since childhood, these two young magicians have been guided to duel by their strict instructors.
Neither Marco nor Celia is aware that this deadly duel can leave only one of them standing.
Tragically, Celia and Marco soon fall in love among this fantastical circus backdrop. But sadly, this passionate love threatens to endanger everyone involved.
If you are a fan of fantasy novels with high stakes, The Night Circus is a fantastic read! It’s packed with engaging images that are sure to inspire your imagination.
If you enjoyed The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, then you will absolutely adore books like A Crown of Wishes, The Paper Magician, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, and The Hazel Wood. Discover our 5 fabulous recommendations.
Themes In The Night Circus
The Night Circus is a compelling read because it covers loads of entrancing themes, such as:
Love
Celia and Marco are intended to be rivals. Yet, these two characters end up falling in love.
There is a rebellious element to their relationship, as both characters have been trained to be furious rivals.
This relationship is powerful and consumes both characters. They are happy to sacrifice everything in the name of their love.
Yet, it takes time for them to develop this strong relationship. Celia and Marco have trouble trusting one another and allowing themselves to be vulnerable.
This deep relationship is perhaps the central theme of the book.
Rivalry
Prospero the Enchanter and Alexander have been rivals for a long time. These magicians pass this rivalry down to their younger pupils, namely Celia and Marco.
Despite having been positioned as rivals, Marco and Celia become lovers.
The rivalry between Alexander and Prospero the Enchanter has become toxic and unhealthy to the extent that it impacts future generations.
Magic
Magic is perhaps the main theme of the novel. The book explores the different relationships and fractions that people have toward magic.
Le Cirque des Rêves offer genuine magic, which can impress, amaze, and frighten different people.
Magic gives the members of the circus more control over reality, as they can create illusions that immerse the spectators.
Fate
Celia and Marco are fated to be rivals. Crafted by their tutors, this rivalry has informed and defined the entire life of these magicians.
Yet, Celia and Marco break away from this rivalry, allowing them to become free from this fate.
Instead of being controlled by destiny, these marvelous magicians take control of it themselves.
Belonging
If you are a fan of chosen family novels, The Night Circus is bound to be a hit.
Many of these characters do not have traditional families. Often, they have been separated from their birth families.
Yet, they have formed a found family among the members of the circus. Shunned by the rest of the world, the circus performers have found acceptance among one another.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is an incredibly popular book that mashes different genres. Susanna Clarke’s debut novel is a book that merges fantasy with alternative history.
Set in an alternative version of England during the Napoleonic World, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell follows the story of the titular Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell.
Magic was once prominent in England, but it has since disappeared. That is until it returns to these two characters.
The brilliant book focuses on the dynamic relationship between Norell and Strange. These two characters are seemingly opposites.
They have conflicting ideas about what English magic should be like. However, their pursuit of magic poses a threat to the entirety of England.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell is a witty book that is perfect for people who love pairing fantasy with humor. It’s also ideal for people with an interest in history.
Packed with magic and romance, this book explores similar themes to The Night Circus.
Pros
Clarke’s writing is sharp and witty.
If you enjoyed the relationship between Marco and Celia, the enjoyable relationship between Strange and Norrell is bound to be a hit.
It has an old-fashioned style that perfectly fits the narrative. This style is akin to Charles Dickens.
Cons
The book is a bit slow at times.
Themes: Magic, History, Gender, Civilization vs The Wild, Englishness.
The second book in The Star-Touched Queen series is A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi.
If you had a fun time reading The Night Circus, you will probably appreciate this book. It also focuses on competing enemies who end up teaming up.
In this sequel, Princess Gauri has been captured by the enemies of her kingdom.
With little chance of escape, Gatruri has but one option. Namely, she must team up with Vikram, the prince of a rival kingdom.
These unlikely allies work together to compete in a magical competition.
However, Gauri and Vikram soon discover that this competition is much more dangerous than it initially seems.
If you liked the initial rivalry between Celia and Marco, you can’t go wrong with A Crown of Wishes.
We recommend reading this book if you enjoy a beautiful writing style paired with fledged-out characters (see also “Books Like Alice By Christina Henry“).
Pros
The relationship between Gauri and Vikram is comparable to that of Celia and Marko.
Chokshi creates fantastic fairy tale writing.
The writing is of exceptional quality.
Cons
The narrative’s competition can be a little nonsensical, as there are very few rules that guide this competition.
Last but not least, Melissa Albert’s bestselling book The Hazel Wood is extraordinary for enthusiasts of The Night Circus.
This page-turning book has taken the world by storm for good reason.
Young Alice has been pursued by bad luck her entire life. When her reclusive grandmother passes away in her home, Hazel Wood, Alice discovers the true meaning of bad luck.
Her mother is taken away by a crazed fan of her grandmother. This fan says that he originates from Hinterland, the fictional world created by Alice’s grandmother.
To find her mother, Alice unites with a Hinterland fan named Ellery Finch. During her journey, Alice finds out where her misfortune originated from.
This young adult novel has a similar vibe to The Night Circus (Also check out Books Like Bone Gap). It’s an ideal book for people who love mysteries.
Pros
The book has been flawlessly influenced by fairytales.
Young adults will adore The Night Circus.
It’s really easy to get into this book.
Cons
Though the first half of the book is excellent, the ending is a little disappointing.
Themes: Misfortune, Reality vs Fantasy, Unlikely Allies, Rivalry.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve recently finished The Night Circus and are wondering what to read next, these five fantastic books are sure to be a delight.
So why not dive into one of these page-turning narratives?!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Night Circus Appropriate For 13-Year-Olds?
Yes! This book is considered suitable for anyone over the age of 12, so thirteen-year-olds should be fine.
Is The Night Circus Suggestive?
Despite being packed with romance, The Night Circus is not suggestive.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
