The Starless Sea

SYNOPSIS:

Far beneath the surface of the earth, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories. The entryways that lead to this sanctuary are often hidden, sometimes on forest floors, sometimes in private homes, sometimes in plain sight. But those who seek will find. Their doors have been waiting for them.

REVIEW

(5 STARS)

This is an ode to all the readers around the world. Erin Morgenstern really knows how to seduce a book lover. The setting she creates is magical and her careful tailoring allows us to travel within the Starless Sea as if we're a character ourselves. Her voice guides you through the mazes of the Harbour and the different stories within it. You'll get lost sometimes, but be sure Morgenstern is right there, waiting for you to show you the way forward (or downward). "The Starless Sea" is a story within a story within a story. At first, it might be confusing, but as you dive deeper, you'll be able to dot some Is and cross some Ts. Don't expect, however, to find all the answers along the way – there are so many tiny tales that some are bound to remain open forever. I must admit, though, that I found the last chapters a bit more confusing, maybe because the pace quickened and a lot was happening in the different POV's. The writing got so intense, sometimes I had to read things twice to truly capture the meaning of what Morgenstern wanted to convey. The second issue I had concerns the characters. I honestly can't understand how the two main characters got romantically involved - it felt so rushed and forced, I couldn't feel the connection between the two. I wish Morgenstern had taken more time to develop their relationship, but since it didn't happen, I didn't enjoy it as much. I didn't have any other issues with the characters. I loved the LGBTQ+ element of the plot and how that information is disclosed in the beginning, helping to fight the prejudice of heteronormative love. I enjoyed the character's complexity and how mysterious they were. I loved the fact that it was up to the reader to figure out who they were and what their part in the story was. The references to pop culture were on fleek. They provided a modern tone to the whole plot, which in turn allowed me to connect more with the story. The allusions to Narnia, Harry Potter and other literature works created proximity that made the story more believable. Like Mariana (the girl with whom I read this) said, there's a whole 'Alice in the Wonderland' vibe to this story that speaks to our generation. This is a book "where each word is more than one thing at once, and everything's a metaphor". I have no clue how Morgenstern does it. She's a true storyteller and in this book, she reflects on what it means to tell a story. "Change is what a story is" and she showed it so in 'The Starless Sea'. Erin created a world from scratch, an interchanging world of a hundred stories and subplots that seemed to have nothing in common with one another. She then proceeded to weave them slowly, connecting them. She left some clues, enticing us to figure it all out. And when we did, she took that world away and gave it to the Sea. And another world arose, calling out our names. I'm not trying to say this book is perfect. Perfection is a utopic concept created to scare us all into mediocrity. But this is an amazing book that I urge you all to read. Like Morgenster herself wrote, 'books are always better when read rather than explained', so I won't even dare to do so. But I'll say this: I cried. I gasped. I screamed in horror and frustration. I frowned. I laughed. I sighed. I fell in love with it. Quoting the author (yet again), the words on the pages became so precious that they now feel like part of my own history. So I'm now part of the Starless Sea, and it is as part of me. Meet me there, will you?