Literature, Fantasy -- 5 stars
There is a circus--open only at night. It appears without warning, and displays unimaginable marvels. Two magicians have been at war for centuries. Now they both have apprentices, trained to carry on the contest. One creates a circus, one becomes an attraction. At first, neither is aware of their purpose. As the realization dawns, they remain unaware of the identity of their adversary or the consequences of losing. Then they fall in love. ----- This is a book difficult to categorize. If you're a fantasy lover (as I am) you won't find any witches or faeries, but how else do you classify a book written on the premise that real magic exists? But it is also a beautifully written piece of literature, ethereal and haunting. In some ways it reminded me of works by John Irving, but at the same time it is so entirely original that it evokes no one. Ms. Morgenstern spins a web that mesmerizes and hypnotizes, makes the air you breathe smell differently, and leaves you bereft when you must return to the real world.
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