A review by stephanieam
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I wanted to love this book. The story pulled me in and was written so beautifully, and I had such high hopes at the beginning. Unfortunately, the coherence and meaning of the plot got lost in all of the world building. The mystery of the Starless Sea and what was happening became way too intricate and weird. It was a challenge to keep track of all the stories and their significance, and there were some loose threads by the conclusion. The characters themselves were likable. However, I would have enjoyed more development between Zachary and Dorian. I understand having an instant connection with someone and being drawn to them, but it just played out in a way that was awkward and not believable. I found it difficult to make the leap from all the deception and withholding of information to a deep, meant to be together love. The ending did not feel earned and held none of the magic found earlier in the book.