The Night CircusThe Night Circus
Score Modern
What it's about
The circus arrives without warning. It's open only at night, within black-and-white striped tents full of breathtaking wonders: Le Cirque des Rêves. Behind it, two young magicians, Celia and Marco, have been bound since childhood to a mysterious competition, and they fall in love, not knowing the game can only end with one of them left standing.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 66 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's an enchanting, atmospheric fantasy with an unforgettable setting.
You'll love it if you liked
The Starless Sea
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryGood to know
It moves slowly and jumps through time. It's more about atmosphere than plot.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #87 of the 233 romances we rank
- #166 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #596 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1133 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Erin Morgenstern
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A Court of Thorns and Roses
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Legendborn
Throne of Glass
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Quick answers
Is The Night Circus worth reading?
Yes. It spent 66 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,133 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Night Circus about?
The circus arrives without warning. It's open only at night, within black-and-white striped tents full of breathtaking wonders: Le Cirque des Rêves. Behind it, two young magicians, Celia and Marco, have been bound since childhood to a mysterious competition, and they fall in love, not knowing the game can only end with one of them left standing.
How long does it take to read The Night Circus?
About 13 hours (512 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Night Circus?
If you liked it, try The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab or The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.