The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.
Firstly I need to say that I found the blurb for this book really deceiving - I have passed over reading it in favour of another book so many times because I didn't think it sounded intriguing or 'deep' enough. Finally I gave in due to how many positive reviews it had received and once I started I couldn't put it down! I am in awe of the writer for having such an amazing and creative imagination!
It does start of slow though - for the first 40% it is a really nice story and then before you know it, it builds momentum and unfurls like a magical Alice in Wonderland, and you are stuck within the story whether you like it or not. I could sit down meaning to only read "a chapter or two", and look up hours later feeling like I have spent the afternoon walking around the circus myself.
On reflection, one of the things I liked about this book is that it is very much a love story, without being a story 'just about love'. For the first half of the book there really is no romance at all, and when it does come, it isn't in that thick sickly way that most writers smear on, which to me made it feel more genuine and real. The story is a much about the circus, other performers and the competition, as it is about their love for one another.
The best way to describe this style of book would be whimsical and dreamy, and I think it would best suit readers who love books/movies such as Big Fish, Life of Pi and Walter Mitty (i.e. those with the ability to believe in something magical rather than the practical)
