The Night Circus looks like it will be a lovely book — striking, clean and something you want to pick up and feel.

It’s great to see that this principle of simplicity has been applied to the blurb, too. Rather than trying to explain a complex story, Random have gone for three short yet intriguing statements that convey magic, uncertainty and a certain amount of threat.

It’s a shame, though, that this compelling blurb gets lost in a sea of reviews.

There’s already a great quote from Audrey Niffenegger on the front cover — “This is a marvellous book”. We don’t need to hear from her again. This quote is also intensely self-referencing and, as a result, gives the customer very little insight, particularly if he/she hasn’t actually read The Time Traveler’s Wife.

The Tea Obrecht quote offers far more to potential readers by giving them a real sense of how the book will make them feel, yet this is tucked away at the bottom of the cover.

The blurb also suffers by being in a font and colour that are more recessive than the review above it. It becomes the second thing the reader looks at and has less impact as a result. This copy should be what draws you to the book; the review should be the confirmation that you have made the right choice.

We would recommend losing the Niffenegger quote and replacing it with the Obrecht. The blurb could then be beefed up in size and given more weight, so it talks directly and immediately to its audience.