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adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am in awe of this book. The way Morgenstern wove layer upon layer of story and world building was truly impressive. I felt fully immersed in the world she created. And I loved how everything came together in the end yet still left an air of mystery / open endedness.
I can't wait to reread this book in a few years. It is certainly a story I will return to over and over again.
I can't wait to reread this book in a few years. It is certainly a story I will return to over and over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved The Night Circus. I didn’t think I’d find a tale that surpassed that in terms of its elegance and magical power. But here I am, drowning in honey and wine as my mind works to accept the close of The Starless Sea.
I love this book. There’s so much to ponder and consider, so many beautiful little details, so quiet and lovely. I feel like I did, like I do, when I walk through a quiet art museum, only leaving because I’ve been dragged out by closing time. I feel as though I’ve lost my breath. I was so gripped by this book, and I cannot stop thinking about it.
I love this book. I already know I’m going to reread this many times. Ms. Morgenstern, should you ever read this, thank you.
I love this book. There’s so much to ponder and consider, so many beautiful little details, so quiet and lovely. I feel like I did, like I do, when I walk through a quiet art museum, only leaving because I’ve been dragged out by closing time. I feel as though I’ve lost my breath. I was so gripped by this book, and I cannot stop thinking about it.
I love this book. I already know I’m going to reread this many times. Ms. Morgenstern, should you ever read this, thank you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Not all stories speak to all listeners, but all listeners can find a story that does, somewhere, sometime. In one form or another.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Stalking
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Simply stunning. The construction of the narrative is unbelievably intricate. I've never seen anyone build a story from multiple "books" & narrative viewpoints in the way this author has. The closest comparison I could make would be to Cloud Atlas, but its Russian Doll effect falls flat in comparison to Morgenstern's seamless, multidimensional weaving of a story that expands into every direction and loops in on itself time and time again. She's outdone herself with this one, taking her approach to asynchronous chronology seen in her debut novel to a whole new level. This time, her characters and the plot are virtually indistinguishable from one another, forming a rich tapestry that is somehow -- amid the magic and adventure and sensory wonder of it all -- also a meta-analysis of storytelling itself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Okay so I finished The Starless Sea.
I am in a loss for words. This does not happen often but I truly don't know what to say. I loved this book so much. But it was more than just me enjoying a fictional story. It resonated with me and it feels like it is now a part of me. I will have to take some time to think about this book before I can say anything more but this:
The Starless Sea is pure poetry. It takes you on a journey that feels like your own and so realistic even though it is very much a fantasy story. It confused me, made me happy and sad. I absolutely love the stories inside the story and the ending... I don't know what to think about it. It was good but also kind of unsatisfactory? I generally don't like open ended stories and even though this one isn't it still left many questions unanswered. Kind of in a good way though? It makes you think about your own life and you as a person.
This book did something to me. It changed me and now I will need to get to know the new me which is strange to say about a book.
Lastly: please read this. Saying the writing style is beautiful is a vast understatement. It is pure poetry.
I am in a loss for words. This does not happen often but I truly don't know what to say. I loved this book so much. But it was more than just me enjoying a fictional story. It resonated with me and it feels like it is now a part of me. I will have to take some time to think about this book before I can say anything more but this:
The Starless Sea is pure poetry. It takes you on a journey that feels like your own and so realistic even though it is very much a fantasy story. It confused me, made me happy and sad. I absolutely love the stories inside the story and the ending... I don't know what to think about it. It was good but also kind of unsatisfactory? I generally don't like open ended stories and even though this one isn't it still left many questions unanswered. Kind of in a good way though? It makes you think about your own life and you as a person.
This book did something to me. It changed me and now I will need to get to know the new me which is strange to say about a book.
Lastly: please read this. Saying the writing style is beautiful is a vast understatement. It is pure poetry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Starless Sea is entrancing. It's easy to fall into and fall in love with the characters. The shifting settings and perspectives makes the story feel fluid and dreamlike and I look forward to reading the book again and finding the pop culture and mythology references that I missed the first read through. I like a book with a good ambiguous ending, and I really enjoyed how Morgenstern brought Zachary and Dorian safely together, brought the woman who is not and never will be Eleanor and Simon within sight of each other, brought Mirabel and the keeper together outside of the harbor, and gave Kat a family while allowing the opening of the door to be open ended. It's an end and a new beginning all in one, and I think that fits really well with the cyclical nature of the story.
The book is a coming of age story for a generation that grew up with their heads full of magic and had the traditional coming of age narrative delayed
The book is a coming of age story for a generation that grew up with their heads full of magic and had the traditional coming of age narrative delayed
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood
Minor: Violence