Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

70 reviews

theaceofpages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I'm so happy that got to relive the magic again after so many years. The last time was back in school and I actually did an artwork inspired that striped cover page (well actually two since our end of year project had to incorporate elements of other works we'd done over the year and those stripes were a great way of connecting things!). 

I'd definitely forgotten a lot of what happened! While it wasn't quite the same as reading it for the first time, it was still such a great experience. The writing is just as beautiful as I remember it being. I loved the mysterious tranquillity of the circus. And the clock! I love the clock. Being able to explore some of what it contains was definitely my favourite part of this book! I will say that, like last time, I found keeping track of all the characters was a little confusing, although it was better this time around. (also, a side note here. The original adults are terrible! I had forgotten or maybe didn't even realise the first time just how bad they are...

I mean, essentially sacrificing kids, stealing their childhood and actually their whole lives and abusing them for your own pride and entertainment??? No!

It definitely got better when the various plots, prophecies and timelines came together towards the end. I do feel like the action everything built up to was a little rushed, although I can kind of see why Morgenstern did this. That doesn't change that I would have loved this part to have been a little longer though.

I'd love to be able to see some of Bailey's circus to see how it has changed because while it was definitely a dark place for a while, the people who worked there still managed to make it something beautiful. He's definitely one of my favourite characters in this. I can only imagine what it could become when someone who loved the circus for its magic rather than seeing it as a competition field took over and became its caretaker and owner.  The ending... That last part was so beautiful. (Now all I have to do is find this mysterious circus...)

I know this book is recommended a lot and I love it, but I can understand why others struggle with it. Be aware that this is a meandering walk through space and time (although in a magic way rather than a scifi one!) full of descriptive writing for most of it. You might enjoy this less if you need a lot of action to keep you engaged. There is action, but it takes quite some time to get there. But if you are the kind of reader who enjoys the journey to the climax, this might be the book for you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

daisyfont's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It took me ages to finish this book. 
This was the book I read before going to bed. Erin's description of the (probably gigantic) circus is beautiful, but I didn't feel very much for the characters. I didn't really care about the development of the story, the characters or the ending. 

I also have her other book, The Starless Sea, on my book shelf. But it will remain there for a while, I think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Alcoholism and Grief

Minor: Murder and Pregnancy

adarose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

aas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol

froggiebog's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement and Murder

Minor: Suicide and Fire/Fire injury

xosirenox's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

deluna's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder

vas_17's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

jo_d's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Absolutely enthralling
The mix of timelines and perspectives was easy to follow, as the characters were distinctly different. The romance wasn't enemies to lovers, but rivals, who respected and turned movers who became better for each other
Poetry in novel form

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ok wow, the atmosphere and the anticipation were fantastic. I loved losing myself in this world and the different timelines. 

That being said, very few of the many questions were answered and the characters fell completely flat, while the circus was dazzling. I’m left feeling unsatisfied and maybe even frustrated. Like the MAIN source of “conflict” has a mysterious origin that is never explained and the magic throughout the book is difficult to understand. The world-building is an illusion, just like the circus.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Suicide and Death of parent