This book takes you literally by storm. The plot untangles ever so slowly and doesn't let you rest a minute. You want to keep discovering the mysteries behind the well woven storyline. It was a truly spell-binding read that kept me enthralled till the very end. Would definitely recomment this book to everyone who's a fan of a good fantasy book. The language is magnificent. Morgernstern has such a way with describing the world building she wants her reads to see. It's almost as if you could actually visualise and taste everything in the book. And this is truly something magnificent.

I'm going to put this down as a download error. Why? Surely there was an error of how this was presented? Repetition all through the book really distracted me from the storyline so I couldn't settle into it. If it was supposed to be that way, then surely it would have been commented on in the story to explain so I'm putting it down as some kind of loading issue. It would be interesting to see if the actual physical book does this or was it a download error.

So sorry. I don't like doing negative posts

I find that Erin Morgenstern is an engaging and lyrical writer. I absolutely loved The Night Circus and was eagerly waiting for something else from her. I am pleased to say I was not disappointed.
The magical world of the Starless Sea can only be accessed through doors in a variety of places but only if you make a choice to enter. Had Zachary missed an opportunity as a child and been directed towards a choice again. Zachary now an adult acquires a strange book and goes on to discover a series of clues which lead to a subterranean library. He finds this strange library spans lost cities and seas. As he tries to navigate his way through twists and turns he meets Mirabel and the enigmatic Dorian. We find it is unclear where Dorian’s allegiance lies. Zac is determined to find out the connection to his childhood and why he is part of a story written in the strange book he found and will the threat to the library mean he will never find answers.
The reference to various books are ones that I’m sure we’ve all read and heard of and as such are interwoven throughout. The characters are well defined and interesting. A well imagined world both complex and well thought out. The Starless Sea at its heart is a place of stories and those whose aim is to protect those stories. There is an attention to detail which is expected from this author.

The ebook ARC is difficult to read because there is regular repetition and jumbled passages throughout but there is NO WAY I was missing out on reading it pre-release so I stubbornly persevered and oh my, I'm so very glad that I did. I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity. "The Night Circus" is my favourite book in the world and I have purchased several copies with different covers, plus the ebook and audiobook versions. I have been desperately (and most impatiently) waiting for Erin Morgenstern's next offering so being selected to review "The Starless Sea" has meant more to me than you can ever know. Many, many thanks. If there are any physical copies of the ARC going a-begging, please consider sending one my way. I've already pre-ordered hardbacks for myself and my son but (as with "The Night Circus") I desperately wish to own, and treasure, copies of this wonderful tome in all its many guises.

Here is my review:

I've found 2019 to be an excellent year for literature and just as it's coming to a close, this exotic beauty appears - a feat of creativity and imagination which imbues the reader with a true sense of magic (yep, I used 'the m word') and wonderment. It's no secret to anyone who knows me that "The Night Circus" is my favourite book in the world, ever. I have eagerly anticipated this next offering from Erin Morgenstern for what feels like forever, so it was with some trepidation that I approached "The Starless Sea". My fears were immediately assuaged as unfounded and I leapt, headlong, into this stunning piece of work. It's a love letter to libraries, bookshops, stories and books - and so much more besides. I couldn't read it fast enough, yet often paused to revisit favoured sections. This is, without question, my book of the year and shall be taking pride of place on the top shelf of my bookcase. I can't wait to get my hands on a hard copy and the audiobook! I implore you to devour, savour and share it. Once again, Morgenstern has spun words into the finest gold. She is possessed of the rare talent of painting vivid pictures inside other people's heads. This is more than a book; it's sustenance for the soul. A breathtakingly beautiful read!

The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern



Morgenstern’s first novel The Night Circus was a surreal, magical masterpiece, and her second has been eight years in the making, beyond massively anticipated by its fans.



The Starless Sea tells of a magical underground world. A heady blend of library, private members club and secret society, the crazy mix of ideas it contains completely will captivate any reader. We follow Zachary Ezra Rawlins, who finds childhood memories in a book older than he is, meets an enigmatic man at a bookish cocktail party, ends up in the middle of rival factions and intertwined in epic time slip romances.



The narrative shifts, perspectives are introduced and fall away. There are so many ideas that could have made their own book!



It’s intoxicating, spellbinding, and does it live up to expectations? In short, Yes.



This should be on any bookish Christmas list

I’m a huge fan of The Night Circus so I was really excited to read this. But I had to give up after about 7% because there were passages of text repeated every few pages and it got too frustrating to continue. I liked what I read though and I’m still excited about this book.

I struggled through 11% of the ebook before giving up due to large sections of text being repeated every few pages. The repetition and jumbled formatting kept pulling me out of the story, which from what I could tell seemed as intriguing and imaginative as The Night Circus. Will just have to buy a physical copy!

I was unable to read this book as the text was jumbled, paragrahps were repeated and it was all just too confusing to read. Sorry.

Zachary Ezra Rawlins finds a mysterious book in the stacks at his university library.  As he becomes lost in a world of key collectors, nameless acolytes and devoted guardians he comes across a story so familiar he can't believe what he is reading - a story from his own childhood.  Entranced, Zachary follows where the book leads him, finding an ancient library hidden below the surface of the world.  As Zachary travels the dark tunnels, secret stairways and crowded ballrooms he find that the library is so much more than a buried home for lost books, and with the help of newly found friends he discovers not only the secrets of the hidden world but also his purpose in life.


I don't even know where to start with describing this book, there is so much to say but it is almost impossible to put into words. 
I loved reading about the ancient library, and the harbour on the Starless Sea. Its a magical and mystical place that would appeal to book lovers from all walks of life.
I also loved reading the stories within the story, and piecing together how the characters in those stories related to the characters in our story.  Throw in a couple of secret societies that will do anything to protect their secrets and you have a novel full of wonder and intrigue.

I thought the characters were marvellously well written.  They were all just a little flawed, or a little eccentric, or just a little different, enough to make them totally believable people, and make you curious about their personal stories.

As a whole the book is a mesmerising tale that take you on a journey through a world I could only wish really existed.  When you start out you have no idea where the story will take you, and even as the book progresses this doesn't really become clear, but it never feels like the story is lost or off course.

Overall I think this is one of my favourite books of recent times, and I'm hoping that somehow there is a sequel.  Now, where can I find myself a painted door to take me to the Starless Sea?

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK and Vintage Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review

This is a story about stories, about a world below the surface, filled with books and intriguing characters. I liked this very much. Zachary, Dorian, Mirabel, the Keeper, Allegra, Rhyme and the bees are wonderfully written and the prose of the book is beautiful. But I couldn’t get on with the repetition. I think I understood that it was about Time and Fate and therefore Time was not linear but I just found it a bit annoying.

This is a book for anyone who has ever wanted to step through the back of the wardrobe, receive a letter delivered by owl or stumble across a knife capable of cutting doors into alternate realities. It is a book written for this community, for anyone who has ever found comfort, magic or escape in the consumption or creation of stories. It’s about the stories we read, the stories that exist within stories and the stories we all live. This is a book that felt like it was written just for me and I feel so incredibly privileged to have received an early copy; thank you so much @vintagebooks for the best bookish gift I could possibly have been given. I love you forever and always.

The Starless Sea is beautifully written with a multi-layered, non-linear narrative that twists and turns as the overarching story unfolds. It’ll give your brain a bit of a workout, give your heart a painful squeeze and be somehow familiar and strange all at once. It is completely unlike anything I have ever read and I know it’ll take multiple re-reads for me to fully untangle this stunning novel.

If this is what the results of seven years look like, I might have to start hoping that other authors slow down.

Like so many other people, I have been by turns eagerly awaiting and terrified to read Erin Morgenstern's second novel, given that The Night Circus was so good. I am so genuinely grateful that she took the time to craft this novel and didn't rush to publish because this was definitely worth the seven year wait. The Starless Sea tells the story of Zachery Ezra Rawlins, a mixed media graduate student who also has a love of books. When exploring his university library, he discovers a book which appears to be detailing his life story. What follows is a roller coaster ride that encompasses secret societies, masquerade balls, forbidden libraries and true love, all wonderfully packaged in Morgenstern's eloquent and lyrical prose. I loved the way that each book was excerpted within the narrative, providing backstory in places but also adding layer upon layer to the mystery while also revealing information that becomes pertinent as the narrative progresses. I LOVED Zachery (always Zachery, never Zach). He is quirky and kind and intelligent and secure in his own skin while retaining a vulnerability that was so appealing. All of the characters are incredibly well drawn and the way in which all of their lives intersect is so intricate and fascinating and utterly compelling. Anyone who has a love of books will really appreciate all of the literary nods and references throughout the narrative and there is a real sensuality and decadence to the prose that is intoxicating. I would say that the intricacies of the plot do require real focus to make sure that you keep everything straight, particularly in the last 100 pages, but quite honestly, this is a pleasure as it would be a real tragedy to miss anything in the prose. Overall, I absolutely loved this book and I think anyone who liked The Night Circus will be thrilled by this sophomore novel, as will those who enjoyed Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer duology or Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series. Loved it!!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Harvill Secker in exchange for a fair and honest review.