The Starless Sea: A Novel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - From the 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, 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.
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, 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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Community Reviews
This is a beautiful book, and has earned a spot on my favorites shelf. It demands to be read slowly, so you can appreciate the rich descriptions, and keep track of the various story threads. Definitely worth the time to read it, though. Now I just need to go find a mysterious door to open...
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Confusing at times but very uniquely written and wonderful plot. So interesting how characters and stories are intertwined and time is more or less a complete construct.
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This book sat on my shelf for years, because I was afraid to read it. Afraid that Erin Morgenstern could never write another book as incredible as The Night Circus. I only regret waiting so long. While The Starless Sea isn't quite as incredible, it is still wonderful. Erin has such a unique way of thinking and writing, creating a whole magical world full of mystery and bittersweet emotion. I won't say this was an easy read; neither of her books are. You'll keep getting pieces of the puzzle that you eventually put together, but your brain will be working the whole time. The Starless Sea is so unique, magical, sweet, and innocent. Zachary and Dorian and even Kat are such unassuming heroes.
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This book felt like a magician revealing her tricks. Interesting for sure, but also, afterward, the magic is gone. It was like Morgenstern had an idea for a story and then rather than write the story, she turned it inside out and cut it into pieces. And even though the pieces still fit together, there are chasms where it was cut. I could see, even feel the lines in the story, constantly reminding me that I was listening to a story. I couldn’t be a part of it. I couldn’t get lost in it. And worse I could see the strings, the muscle of it, and that made it kind of a drag. I did enjoy the narration and was pleasantly surprised to hear the voice of Bahni Turpin. Her chapters were the most interesting as Katrina Hawkins was my favorite character. Not just because of the narration, I love the epistolary format. It was in those chapters I was the most connected to the novel. I can see why this book was so heavily recommended but, in the end, it wasn’t for me. I have a weird hang-up for books/movies/TV Shows where the framing device takes over the story and becomes its own character, if you like that sort of thing, you might love this.
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