The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book tells the story of an epic magic competition, made all the more difficult by the two participants falling in love with each other, set against the backdrop (and venue) of a fantastical circus. The prose is incredibly rich, and after reading the book, you'll want nothing more than to attend this circus yourself. But the real strength of the book is in its stakes and challenges--the competitors not only have to figure out what they're up against, but also how to change the game, which can only have an unsatisfactory ending for them as it's designed. With changes and developments up till the very end, this book will leave you exhilarated and delighted.