This is a highly original and inventive book. Full of colourful characters and a charismatic circus setting. This novel contains elements of the fairy tale, a love story as well as drama. Celia and Marco are attracted to one another, both blessed with magical talents that allow them to manipulate objects and animals to their will. The problem, as they discover, is that they are to be star crossed lovers, pitted against one another by their mentors, locked together in a challenge to perform the best magic. Can they find a way to outwit the challenge and be together.
Then there is Bailey who is dared to enter the circus as a young boy, the circus that is only open at night and known as the circus of dreams. He does so and there starts a lifelong obsession with the circus that sees him building up to play a pivotal role in the life of the circus. Everything about the circus is mysterious and strange. A fan club who identify one another by wearing red springs up following the circus all over the world and record their adventures. There is the magical clock that inspires the patrons, a magic carousel and mazes that come and go as well as acrobats, contortionists and amazing illusionists!
The novel draws in the reader as the circus attracts its patrons, it has to be read carefully and absorbed, there are a host of characters whose motives are not entirely clear, the performers never age, the bonfire that is lit with great ceremony seems vital to the survival of the circus and one is never sure if the magic they see is real or an illusion. A wonderful novel and a fantastic read. 5/5
