"The Night Circus" is a rare book -- it is fiction, it is fantasy, it is fairy tale, it is a circus tale, and it is a magical romance. Erin Morgenstern's debut novel is one of those rare stories that simply grabs your imagination and refuses to let go -- full of haunting magical experiences and eccentric characters, but also in need of some editorial trimming at times. 
 In the vein of "The Prestige," there are two children in the blossoming time of the Gilded Age, and only room for one of them. Celia is a born magician -- she is left at Le Cirque des Reves with Prospero the Entertainer, a place of strange people and even stranger magics. 
 And Prospero conspires to create the greatest magical battle in history by pitting young Celia against her only rival, Marco. Like Celia, Marco was a child of great power, abandoned because of it and groomed by a weird man. You can probably guess where this magical concatenation of Shakespeare and magic is going: the two kids fall in love, and try to be together despite the destined battle they have been groomed for. 
 Erin Morgenstern is undeniably a richly talented writer -- she crams this story full of eerie happenings, odd characters, drifting smoky magic, and fairy-tale atmosphere that happens to be set in the middle of a strange, almost dangerous circus. Perhaps "The Night Circus'" biggest flaw is that it needs a little editorial pruning, in some spots that needed a little less description. 
 The romance here feels pleasantly organic -- Morgenstern lets them drift together and intertwine in the context of the story, avoiding instant super-passion or big flashy displays. It burns slow and soft as it goes on, and feels all the richer because it avoids "Twilight"-style theatrics and hyperbole. But hanging over it all the time is the creepy, dark threat to the two young magicians. 
 And the magic is much the same, seeping into the pages like a rich scent. This story is slow, subtle and shimmering, like diamond-studded velvet floating through the air, and the inclusion of steampunky technology (trains, electric lights, industrial factories) merely highlights the magic. 
 Both Celia and Marco could have used a little more polishing, but they are likable lead characters, and you do want them to find their happily-ever after. But the truly engaging characters are the rich supporting casts -- Tsukiko the contortionist, the twins, a weird clockmaker, and the manipulative mentors of the two young magicians. 
 Erin Morgenstern casts a spell over the reader, sweeping us into the sensual beauty of the "Night Circus" -- and leaving us craving more stories set in her enchanted world.