The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Reviewed by: Beth Weimer, Communications Specialist
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is This Book About?: Zachary Ezra Rollins encounters a mysterious book containing a story about himself as a child. This bewildering discovery leads him on the quest of a lifetime through magical doors and down the tunnels of an ancient underground world full of whispering bees, lost lovers, secret seas, loyal guardians, and stories within stories of beautiful, heartbreaking fables and tales. Zachary must unlock the secrets of this strange world to protect his friends and save this mythical place from those who would destroy it before Time and Fate run out.
My Review: Morgenstern writes with undeniably enchanting language and stunning imagery, creating a captivating atmosphere for anyone who loves storytelling to relish. I enjoyed the concept of the book overall but was frustrated by the glaring lack of plot. I grew tired of the endless keys and bees – gilded doors and feathers and fairy tales and such – halfway through and then was fairly disappointed by the non-ending. It felt like the writer was just as lost in the labyrinth as her characters and didn’t quite know how to finish – resulting in a book about the power of stories that muddles the fundamentals with too many tangents and layers upon layers of metaphors. Hopefully her next effort will involve more thorough worldbuilding with bolder conflicts and resolutions.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Intriguing, Dizzying, Lyrical
Give This a Try if You Like… The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Rating: 3/5
