The Night Circus

The Night Circus is a sluggish story about a circus... that happens to contain two magicians who, for much of the book, have no idea that they're competing or why. There is no “fierce competition” or “duel” and describing their feelings for each other as “deep, magical love” is only accurate in that magic is the only explanation for why either of them would be attracted to the other.

This book had a lot of problems, but the one that bothered me the most was the choice of the 3rd person omniscient narrator. The author tries to build tension by having Celia question Marco's motives, but the attempt falls flat when you remember that you've been privy to both their innermost thoughts throughout the whole book.

If you really like romantic-to-the-point-of-absurdity depictions of circuses, tension-less romance, and clocks, this one might be for you.