A review by morganx
Enchanted Night by Steven Millhauser

2.5

I didn't hate it and there were some parts that were nice to read but mostly it kind of fell flat. I kind of feel like millhauser read a midsummer nights dream and said "let me try that" but the modern-day, real-life elements kind of diluted the idea. The concept of the book was so intriguing to me because I loved the idea of like a moonlit summer night's fever dream come to life, but the only story that I felt portrayed that properly was the one with the lovers in the spruces. Like the idea that daylight might steal whatever happens in the night from reality and trying to savor it. I get that. This also felt oddly sexually charged when it didn't need to be at times and soooo hyperfixated on moonlight (which again, I like the sentiment of that but it was too overt, like more subtlety would be nice) anyway! I like the inquiry into what happens when the world sleeps and the dreamers walk the streets, but I think it could've had better delivery.