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delicateteacup's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? N/A
5.0
A whimsical masterpiece. I literally had goosebumps and my eyes welled up by the end. So beautifully written. If I could read this book for the first time all over again, I definitely would. Absolutely amazing. I now consider myself a 'Réveur'.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
galoshes's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I picked up this book convinced I would hate it but hoping I wouldn't. I'd tried reading Starless Sea before this, and I'd DNFed it in anger at the dizzying repetition and lackluster characters. But everyone said this one is so much better so I gave Morgenstern one more chance. I wasn't entirely disappointed.
The author is very good at painting with words. Her imagination is perfect for event planning, stage dressing, and designing magic shows or video games. She has great ideas for what I imagine to be impressive museum installations, dark rides, or movie sets. She would be a wonderful concept artist.
The characters and plot are really just there to propel the reader through the wonderful environment. Most of the characters seemed to have the same personality and spoke the same way. There are no actual stakes, there is no real reason for the plot to exist in the first place, and motives are nonsensical. There is no chemistry nor logic in the romance, which is apparently the main plot but doesn't start until more than halfway through. I kept reading out of frustration at the constant withholding of information, only to find out at the end that the motive behind the entire story was feeble, egotistical, and not at all satisfying. The Everyman Saves The Day ending was the nail in the coffin for me. I do not care.
One thing that really bothers me: there is some very obvious and scarring child abuse here that is just swept under the rug. One kid is severely physically abused while another undergoes severe neglect. Both of these kids turn out just fine and never consider their past as anything unusual. The flippant way the author handles abuse is unsettling.
Read this for the fantastical setting. Use it as inspiration in your next sculpture or watercolor painting. The scenery is the best part.
The author is very good at painting with words. Her imagination is perfect for event planning, stage dressing, and designing magic shows or video games. She has great ideas for what I imagine to be impressive museum installations, dark rides, or movie sets. She would be a wonderful concept artist.
The characters and plot are really just there to propel the reader through the wonderful environment. Most of the characters seemed to have the same personality and spoke the same way. There are no actual stakes, there is no real reason for the plot to exist in the first place, and motives are nonsensical. There is no chemistry nor logic in the romance, which is apparently the main plot but doesn't start until more than halfway through. I kept reading out of frustration at the constant withholding of information, only to find out at the end that the motive behind the entire story was feeble, egotistical, and not at all satisfying. The Everyman Saves The Day ending was the nail in the coffin for me. I do not care.
One thing that really bothers me: there is some very obvious and scarring child abuse here that is just swept under the rug. One kid is severely physically abused while another undergoes severe neglect. Both of these kids turn out just fine and never consider their past as anything unusual. The flippant way the author handles abuse is unsettling.
Read this for the fantastical setting. Use it as inspiration in your next sculpture or watercolor painting. The scenery is the best part.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
uselesspirateraven's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Sexism, and Grief
e_l_thompson's review against another edition
I prefer not to have a book involving tarot on my completed list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
rainbowofcrazy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
This book enraptured me. The writing immediately drew me in, held me tight, and didn't let me go until it was all over. (And let's be real. It still has a hold on me.) The story was refreshing and fun and so damn mysterious. I love the not knowing in a book. If you can pique my curiosity, you got me good, and this novel got me so good. The charm, the touches of darkness, the romance and whimsy. The magic! Oh, the magic. The involvement of tarot greatly pleased my tarot loving ass too. There are some time skips and jumping around but nothing that felt too confusing.
The plot started off strong, but unfortunately it eventually left something to be desired. But I'll be honest: by the end of it all, I really didn't mind that it didn't quite hit the mark because I was already so happy wrapping myself up in all the lovely writing and imagery and imagining the existence of this whimsical magical little circus world. I'm not really one to reread books but I'd be more than happy to reread this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
wren_cat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
oceanbluetay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
eclipse799's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is really lovely. I was confused at the time switches, so I would've had a hard time reading an ebook or audiobook version.
The imagery is so vivid that I could for real add each element to a mental picture that I could easily construct. Your images will look different, even given the same description, and I think that's what the circus is all about.
The imagery is so vivid that I could for real add each element to a mental picture that I could easily construct. Your images will look different, even given the same description, and I think that's what the circus is all about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail