This book is about a Le Cirque des Reves; a circus that travels the world, appearing and disappearing without notice. Unbeknownst to most, this circus is the venue of a competition between two talented illusionists. During their childhoods, their respective instructors have placed a bond on them that entitles their participation in a game against each other, a game that will last for many years, all the way into their adulthood. Due to the bonds placed upon them, their is no way to leave the game until a winner is declared, and neither of them were told clearly how the winner was supposed to be chosen. So without being told who their respective opponents were, they began to create incredible feats of magic for those visiting the circus to enjoy, taking turns to counter each other's moves. Once they first meet, they inadvertently begin to fall in love, learning too late that to end the game there must be only one left standing.
The book spans from 1873 to 1903, which is the duration of their entire competition, from the moment they are bound to it until the moment the game ends. I like how the book is set during this time period, because it adds to the mysterious setting and it fits the circus and magic theme very nicely. What really made this book worthwhile to read was the writing-style of the author; she really puts a lot of effort into describing the setting and characters in such detail, that it made this fictional world so much more magic. The description of the circus was so intriguing that I honestly wished it was real just so I could visit it and experience it myself.
I found the story about the two illusionists to be very heartwarming. The author had a pretty big cast of characters with different personalities that you get attached to, and I think it's very interesting that although the game is between the two illusionists, they didn't realize that there would be so many others that were involved as well. This enriched the story even further; the author made use of a great deal of description in order to make the reader grow really attached to the circus and the characters.
As much as I loved the writing-style of this book, this book had many flaws as well. As I mentioned, it's quite lengthy without much development at times, that it's easy to get bored, despite it's detail. Another thing that contributes to the slow-pace is the time period. Each chapter has a location and a date, and because it's not always in chronological order, it takes some time to realize that the events that are happening are often several months apart. It took me a while to realize that the book covered a period of 30 years, that although at the beginning the characters were young and reckless, they've progressed well into adulthood before the game has an end in sight. Also, because the chapters kept jumping from the past to the present, it's easy to get confused and make sense of everything that is happening.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book, as it was something a lot different than books I've already read. What sold this book to me was the writing-style, and although slow, the story line was also touching to read about. I feel as if I've been brought into a whole new world of magic since I read Harry Potter, and I think those with patience and time will enjoy this book as well.
Rating: 8 out of 10
