The Starless Sea

"A journey adventure through library labrynth fantasy land, which can be rather convoluted."

"I don't know where to start. This was beautifully done (some might argue pretentious). Even more layered than The Night Circus! I'm warry I might turn someone off this book by over hyping it because of my own love for it. So Im gonna try not to do that and not give anything away: This is a very slow book. It is surreal and does not really come together until the end. It is not told chronologically, but all characters do tell their stories chronologically, so I found it easy to follow and delightful for connecting the dots. My husband was getting a synopsis of each chapter from me as I read, and he couldn't grasp what the story was about or why the characters did anything at all and for once I cant blame my retelling. But I think this is a book about storytelling. A love letter to libraries and the spaces between the printed words in our books. This is not a book I would recommend for someone who only gets through a few books a year. But I think it's a very fun change from traditional narratives if you find yourself wanting something a little lost and you liked The Night Circus. Or bees. Gosh, I'm a sucker for bees in books..."

"Magical. There were some confusing parts but even when I had no clue what was going on I was loving where I was. "

"Finished January 23rd. Best book of the year so far. "

"I enjoyed this book but had absolutely no idea what was going on with the multiple plots until 75% in. Because of that it took me a long time to finish because it wasn't revealed early enough or maybe some of it should have been? It was just too beautiful to stop and I knew it was going to be mind blowing how it all came together and it was even more than I could have possibly guessed. I absolutely adore Erin Morgenstern's writing and these characters. "

"Way below the surface of the earth, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories. The doors to get to the Starless Sea are often hidden. They can be found on forest floors, in private homes, or even in plain sight. But those who seek will find. Their doors have been waiting for them. Zachary is searching for the door that is his, he just doesn’t know it yet. He follows a siren song it draws him like he is meant for another place, another time. One day while looking through books at a library, he discovers a mysterious book, he begins to read and is drawn in by tales of lovelorn prisoners, lost cities, and nameless acolytes. He flips the next page in the book and suddenly it brings Zachary to a story of his own life written in a book that is way older than he is. A bee, a key, and a sword depicted on a book lead Zachary to two strangers that would change his life forever. One being Maribel, a fierce painter, and Dorian, a handsome mystical man where his name may not even be Dorian. This two people guide Zachary through a parties and the back doors of secret societies. Here doorknobs hang from ribbons and he sees the door he has always yearned to find. Through many dastardly tales, Zachary falls into a world dripping in mystery and romance. He doesn’t know it when he arrives but there is question as to what will become of this place, will it be protected or is it fated to be destroyed? The three unlikely partners delve deeper to uncover the histories, myths and answers. This is probably the most trippy book I’ve ever read. This makes you question time and space. Behind each door is a new life, time doesn’t move the same within the story. And who you think you are and who you think you know, may just be another figment of your imagination. Often times I had to stop because it’s like piecing together a puzzle! I could read this ten times and still miss something. The writing is very lyrical and descriptive. At times I did have to slow it down and try to make sure I was getting the deeper meaning because it is like a story inside of a story. This book is definitely different and interesting though. It was very much worth the read, but my brain did have to work out the meaning. It’s kinda like “Inception”"

"This felt like a love letter to books. It was comforting and fascinating and I can absolutely see myself returning to the Harbor to reread this book on a day where I need to feel that the world is more fantastical than it may seem."

"The story reads like the love child of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and The City We Became by N K Jemsin - lyrical, lovely, and nightmarish all at once. The pacing is much like the honey and the bees that the story revolves around - slow and steady and lively and constantly moving in a swirl amber and gold. To be frank? It drove me nuts. But I also know that with this author, you're in for a *Journey* - a twisting, spinning, branching and splitting, rejoining, raging, rushing and retreating kind of journey that leaves you displaced and adrift right along with the rest of the river detritus trapped in its current. Destination is merely the byproduct of the ride."

"From the very first page, I knew it would be an adventure. A story within a story, within a story. I really fell down the rabbit hole here. Metaphorical chapters always go over my head, but here I felt the intention behind it. The story became disjointed but in a fun, fairytale manner full of magic. Even the narrators shifted in unidentifiable patterns. <br/><br/>The world building was spectacular. Starts out so normal and near the end I was wondering if what I read was even real. The characters were also interesting and relatable. Zachary was adventurous and I longed to go with him. I loved Dorian's story telling ability and also the narrators voice in the same respect. Mirabel reminded me of the Cheshire cat at times haha. You want to love her but it is also hard to trust her. Mirabel's King of the Wild Things costume made me jealous. And the unspoken love in the story felt so present and real.<br/><br/>I have complained many times about an author telling the reader how to think. Giving them too much information. I have also been upset about not having enough. Some authors keep knowledge from a story almost as if to sell a sequel. This story stayed right on the edge. Giving the reader freedom to explore their own thoughts. Making the story unique to whoever dared to read it. So while the pacing was slow and I wasn't given much I was still running alongside the protagonists racing towards the end. The author gave me a gift, to look for answers within myself.<br/><br/>In the end, I didn't fully understand what I just read, and that's okay. But the story made me feel regardless. It made me anxious, it made me love, and I had that feeling of wanting for something even if I didn't understand it. A week later, the story was like a distant dream.<br/><br/>"How are you feeling?" Zackary asks.<br/>"Like I'm losing my mind but in a slow, achingly sort of way."<br/><br/>Excatly how I felt reading this book.<br/><br/>"A multitude of seekers looking for things they do not have names for and finding them in stories written and unwritten and in each other.""

"This is the type of book that is not everyone's cup of tea. I love the style of writing. But it’s a confusing mystery with ups and downs and you'll be asking yourself the entire time, “where is the story going?” or if it even has a plot. I give it around 3.5 stars.<br/><br/>Update: Honestly, this book has grown on me. I take it back. 4 Stars."