23.7k reviews for:

The Starless Sea

Erin Morgenstern

4.01 AVERAGE

its_riverlee's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ccscribe's review against another edition

5.0

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i’m gonna tattoo this entire book on my body

missapathy's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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This book starts off so well but it’s at least 100 pages and three plot lines too long, and by the end it was total chaos. Very little got resolved and I never understood the motivations of the characters that were central to the plot (what was Allegra trying to achieve, exactly??). That said, the world had moments where it was pretty magical. 

sledstorm99's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i7bambi's review against another edition

5.0

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i think about this book every once in a while. this book is my life, my soul and everything that i am.

mothlight13's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous mysterious

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

takemetocerch's review against another edition

3.0

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I wanted to love this book. For the strong majority of it, I did. Drawing the connections between the main plot and the stories intermixed within kept me engaged and wanting more. But Morgenstern lost me in the last quarter or so. The story almost got too far outside of itself and I kept hoping I’d get drawn back in but I never did. Maybe it just got too metaphorical for my more practical brain to follow, but as a whole I ended this book feeling rather disappointed.

kristin_bee's review against another edition

5.0

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Erin Morgenstern has to be one of the most beautifully talented writers alive (and possibly ever). I waited for seven years for another chance to enter in Erin's brain and she did not disappoint. This book is a love story for stories and story-telling, for libraries and for readers, for writers and dreamers. I loved the slow unfolding of the story and the bits and pieces you experience with Zachary. The side characters become protagonists in their own tales and each is woven together into a beautiful tapestry. No sophomore slump here! More book please, Erin!!

deboranosk's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

jerney2004's review against another edition

5.0

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Wow! What a trippy, magical ride… oops I used the m-word ;-)

The novel follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins as he discovers a fantastical underground library, which is the simplest and most boring way to describe it, but no spoilers! My favorite thing about The Starless Sea is that it is peppered with tales and fables that are mentioned throughout the main storyline. These little vignettes push the main character’s story forward, while being great pieces of fiction in their own right. It has been 8 long years since Morgenstern debuted with The Night Circus and I can safely say that The Starless Sea was worth the wait!

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader’s edition in exchange for an honest review.

Read-A-Likes: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.