From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Circus, a timeless love story set in a secret underground world—a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, … lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues—a bee, a key, and a sword—that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library hidden far below the surface of the earth. What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians—it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also of those who are intent on its destruction. Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose—in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
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A real disappointment after “Night Circus”. Dragged form the beginning. I could’t make myself read past the first tenth.
Erin Morgenstern is a master of evocative imagery and plot. Readers of “The Night Circus” will enjoy this journey built on plots that weave in and out of each other, plots involving pairs of lovers who are star-crossed, time-crossed, or fate-crossed. They find each other and lose each other and find each other again. They pass back and forth between our world and a phantasmagorical and charming – but sometimes dangerous – underworld full of books, cats and interactive stories. Always they seem to be following plots constructed by others until they realize they must decide whether to follow those stories or to choose their own ending to their stories. That’s a worthwhile message for all of us.
Love that it’s a stand alone story, beautiful world, intricate mystery and puzzles, unique use of magic. I love her writing.
One of my top ten, and that’s tough as I read a ton. But love the style and imagination on this book. Must read!
Haunting and yet extremely confusing and meandering
I like complicated novels. I like magical realism (surrealism in this case). But this story had no plot. There were fun sub-stories. There were interesting characters. The world was cool. But you never had a sense of where or why anything was happening. I didn’t know why I should care about how things turned out — should I be rooting for the main characters to make this choice or that? It just didn’t matter. So ultimately, it was not a successful story. But it had potential.
4 stars (probably more like 3.5)
Didn’t care for this book at all; especially with all the publicity for it. Just didn’t make much sense to me.
Erin Morgenstern once again delivered a deliciously heady book. I rarely slow down and savor books but I enjoyed slowly winding my way through this masterfully crafted work of art.
I enjoyed reading it but it went on and on forever. the ending was a let down.
An amazing adventure that leads you through twists and turns, compelling the reader onward, while tempting you to linger. A spell was cast and the enchantment remains.
The Starless Sea is SO stunning! This is the kind of story that’s too deep for me to read in one go, because I need a moment to process all these layers and threads. I imagine the author has a crime wall to keep track of it all.
I don’t quite know what to say, to be honest. I feel this is a story you need to experience yourself to really appreciate. I’m not sure any words can do it justice.
I don’t think the subtlety and depth in this will be for everyone, but those of you who love those elements will really *love* The Starless Sea. Personally, I’m in love with it. It’s stunning in every way.
I knew from the first page that this masterpiece belongs on my Forever Shelf. The writing is so effortless (but you know it’s carefully constructed and laboured over) and gorgeous, I can open this on any page and lose myself.
For a full review of this book please visit https://tinyurl.com/yywduaug.
Where to start with this incredible, twisting, magical book?
I thought about looking for a quote, but to be truthful 80% of this could be quotable. There were many moments where I had to look away as the sheer magic of the words got to me.
Now I know this is a bit of a Marmite book. Lots of people say they just couldn’t keep a hold of all the stories within stories that weave their way gloriously through this tale of Zachary Ezra Rawlins and his time in the Harbour by the Starless Sea. But as a writer I bow down before the sheer genius of Erin Morgenstern in holding these threads together and melding them into this jaw dropping tale.
You don’t really need to know the plot. Just that there’s doors and bees, crowns and swords, owls and myths and truths and books. And there’s love.
You’ll come away not quite knowing what happened or why, with the taste of honey on your tongue, eager to begin it all again.
A young man finds an uncatalogued book in his university library and in it reads a story about himself. This drags him into a mysterious world of books, of painted doors and hidden doors and lost doors, of underground rooms and bees and swords and keys. The occasional flash of dry humour is very welcome. There is a magical style to this book, a love of stories and intertwined stories, that fills your head with half-caught ideas for stories of your own, and in the end the plot actually works.
Erin Morganstern writes poetic magic, and her “The Starless Sea” reads like a Valentine to Literature. With a full cast, lush descriptions, and a story-hopping dynamic, the novel floats, rather dreamlike, through allusions to other works of literature and role playing games to examine the nature and importance of story telling. Much like “The Tales of the Arabian Nights,” stories are told within the story. However, instead of using tales to save a young woman’s life, these explorations help a young man find purpose. This all happens in an underground world with a starless sea. It is romantic in the humanistic sense.
When I got to the last quarter of the book I tried to make myself read only a page a night because I knew I would be devastated when it was over. I wouldn’t be in that world anymore.
Erin Morgenstern is the master of creative long-form fairy tales that are captivating and worlds you can’t bear to leave.
Also, at one point my husband caught me crying while reading. When he asked I said “It’s just a very touching scene between a man and a kitchen.” I feel that sums up this book.
Can’t say enough praise. Underground secret library? Please. It’s the best. Listen to it on audio if you can.
A complex, magical journey. I don’t usually read books twice, but I might do a reread on this one, just for the language. Beautifully written and imagined. Complex plot line and a unique story telling method. I loved it.
I loved this book just as much as I loved The Night Circus. Morgenstern’s writing is just so whimsical and detailed. I love it.
When I first started the book I was unsure of it, there were many stories unfolding so it was hard to dive in, but once I did, it was sooo worth it. It’s such a pretty book, so magical. I will reread this book. I loved it
This is the story of Zachary Ezra Rawlins. He is a graduate student who one night stumbles upon a mysterious book in his college library. As he begins to read the book, he stumbles upon a story that seems very familiar to him. A story from his own childhood. Confused how he has become the part of a very old book, he returns to the library in search for more clues about the books beginnings. This leads him to a masquerade party in New York, a secret club, and a library hidden deep in the earth. Here Zachary meets Dorian and Maribel, and as he continues to read Sweet Sorrows – the book that contained a piece of his path – it takes him on an adventure filled with danger and wonder. Zachary finds himself deeply wound in the world he has discovered through books and the one he lives in as he tries to figure out where he belongs.
The Night Circus – Morgenstern’s first book -is one of my all time favorite reads. I was so excited to see that she put out a second book because she is an incredibly talented writer. I always know I am going to enjoy a book when I am hooked on chapter one. Magical Realism is one of my least favorite genres but Morgenstern’s writing pulls me in.
This one wasn’t QUITE as good as The Night Circus. I don’t think I can give it 5 stars because I didn’t find the story as good as her first novel. Expertly written? YES. The story just had some parts that I didn’t love, and didn’t tie quite as nicely as I was hoping it would in the end. But it came so very close to a 5 star book for me. I did really enjoy it. Plus – it didn’t hurt that she mentioned one of my other favorite books – The Shadow of the Wind – within the first few pages. Scored some points there.
If you loved The Night Circus, or you like Magical Realism – don’t miss this one. Truly. It is a story that will suck you in as you picture the world that Morgenstern creates.