• The Night Circus

  • A Novel
  • By: Erin Morgenstern
  • Narrated by: Jim Dale
  • Length: 13 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (29,178 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Night Circus  By  cover art

The Night Circus

By: Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by: Jim Dale
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.29

Buy for $19.29

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

©2011 Erin Morgenstern (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

" The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for, and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty, and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book." (Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife)
"Self-assured, entertaining debut that blends genres and crosses continents in quest of magic…. Generous in its vision and fun to read. Likely to be a big book—and, soon, a big movie, with all the franchise trimmings." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Debut author Morgenstern doesn't miss a beat in this smashing tale of greed, fate, and love... a giant, magical story destined for bestsellerdom. This is an electric debut on par with Special Topics in Calamity Physics." ( Publishers Weekly)

Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time


When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.

What listeners say about The Night Circus

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    17,752
  • 4 Stars
    6,883
  • 3 Stars
    3,045
  • 2 Stars
    963
  • 1 Stars
    535
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19,594
  • 4 Stars
    4,622
  • 3 Stars
    1,432
  • 2 Stars
    344
  • 1 Stars
    235
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15,656
  • 4 Stars
    6,002
  • 3 Stars
    2,910
  • 2 Stars
    1,044
  • 1 Stars
    612

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, narration not quite the right fit imo

overall a very enjoyable story that got better as it went. I do wish the character build up in terms of the romance had been developed a little bit more earlier on, but it was still great. in terms of narration, as much as I love Jim Dale, tonally I don't think he was quite right for this part. Will likely try to pick up a physical copy and reread this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

fantastic imagery, a little long-winded

when the author is describing the night circus, or any scene really, the imagery is so vivid you can perfectly see it in your mind. the plot is interesting, but the story went on a little long and could have been wrapped up sooner without losing anything, in my opinion. the characters are a little flat and I didn't find myself rooting for any of them. the narrator is fabulous. definitely worth a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

absolutely enchanting!

This story, and the phenomenal narration, transported me to the fantastical places so well described. I reread it immediately after finishing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Refreshing

Loved it! One if my all time favorites. such an interesting story with narration that takes you on a visual journey that is unforgettable!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Unique and whimsical

A very unique story. Charming. But didn't grip me and I could start and stop easily.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magical & Romantic

I loved this so so much. It brings back that feeling of magic and wonder that you seem to lose as you grow older. I will miss the characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Love this

The shifts of time are a bit more difficult in audiobook but this novel is excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A feast for the senses, and...

I was captivated by the costumes, effects, and scenery, but not by the story necessarily. Not sure why. I had to rewind a lot to stay with what was happening. Might enjoy it more as a movie than a book. Still, well-crafted, just not my cuppa, I guess.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a magical dreamy delight!

What a magical dreamy delight! You absolutely must read or listen! Best in long blocks of quiet solitude

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Glorious Book

This book was so wonderful. Beautifully written, narrated superbly by Jim Dale. I found myself not wanting to listen to the last 1/2 hour, because I didn’t want it to end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!