Ahoy there! I enjoyed the night circus and was excited for this supposed sea yarn. And I was bored mateys. Bored! I thought the set-up for the book was interesting but ultimately did not live up to its premise at all. There was some beautiful writing in places, especially in the short inner fairy tales, but I didn’t really care for most of the characters. And the only one I actually liked didn’t get nearly enough page time. I struggled to finish this one and almost abandoned it about 50 times. I would pick it up and read a chapter and put it back down. I kept reading because I thought that if the characters didn’t move me then perhaps the world building would. But no. I have absolutely no urge to visit the starless sea. Other than the cats and the Kitchen, there was no appeal. Not much of the action even takes place on the sea. The promised pirates and ships were lame. The descriptions of the world were repetitive and the parts of the starless sea itself barely explored. I also didn’t like how the story threads tied together. I thought the plot was headed that way and hoped I was wrong. The writing was also kinda choppy and fragmented and had short chapters that didn’t flow well. The majority of the book just didn’t make sense. And I basically hated the ending. I be very glad that I got this from a local library and didn’t spend me hard-earned loot on it. Disappointed for sure. Arrrr!
Side note: What in the world was the purpose of the owls?
Goodreads’ website has this to say about the novel:
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Circus, a timeless love story set in a secret underground world–a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues–a bee, a key, and a sword–that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.
What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians–it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction.
Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose–in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
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Hm… I’ve seen this one around a lot, but I’m not a fan of unlikeable characters. So I’ll probably get it from the library, if I see it there. Thank you for your lucid, punchy review, Cap. As ever, I come away with a very clear idea of what the book is about and a why it didn’t work for you.
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I am glad ye thought this one was clear and understandable. Cause dang was it hard to write about. And aye, if it interests ye then the library be the way to go. I understand why people love this one. I just didn’t.
x The Captain
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Thank you for the suggestion! Yes, I’m sure the library will have a copy, too:)).
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Great review! Sorry you didn’t like it! I haven’t read either night circus or this one, so I can say much. I’ve wanted to read the Night Circus. I’ve heard good things about it.
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I did enjoy night circus but not as much as everyone else. I am not opposed to reading another book by her. She does have a beautiful style. I would certainly start with the night circus. Thanks for visiting!
x The Captain
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Oh nooo! I’m really hoping I love this one. I have two beautiful copies (that I’ll keep even if I don’t like the story). I’m reading it with a couple friends in January.
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Most crew seemed to love this one. I hope ye be on the side against me. Arrrr!
x The Captain
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Mutiny! Lol
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I hope I don’t have to make ye walk the plank! Ye rant well and share pretty treasures all the time. It would be a waste.
x The Captain
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🤣🤣🤣💕
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Yikes! I wasn’t expecting that. I’ve been curious about this one since I recently read and enjoyed The Night Circus. This is the first full review I’ve read. Sorry t was a disappointment!
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Well I do seem to be in the minority as usual. I can see the appeal, I just didn’t get it.
x The Captain
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Well I know the feeling of always being in the minority. If I decide to give this a go I’ll be sure to get it from the library or something.
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Sounds like a good plan.
x The Captain
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This is the first review I see of this. I wasn’t in a hurry to pick it up anyway (I thought the Night Circus was enjoyable but certainly not a favourite). Good to know I don’t need to get my hands on it asap indeed.
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Well, if and when, ye get around to it I do hope it appeals. But aye, don’t stress yerself out trying to get a copy.
x The Captain
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Sorry you didn’t like this one! I plan to read it within the next month or two, so hopefully I’ll have better luck with it than you did!
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I do very much hope that ye love this one! Good luck. Arrrrr!
x The Captain
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Thanks!
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I’m about 75% done with this book now (I’m taking my time with it on purpose, because I am enjoying it) but I just realized something about it that clicked as to why it might not be a book for you: the storytelling style reminds me a bit of Middlegame, which as I recall you also weren’t thrilled with.
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That makes me laugh that yer thinking of me rant while reading. I am not sure if that be a good thing. I am glad that ye enjoyed it. I can see how middlegame and it could be compared in terms of ramblingness. And ye are right that I abandoned it.
x The Captain
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😀 With this one, I wrote my review as I went so that I didn’t forget things. And in the process I remembered other reviews — yours included — that I had read about it. 🙂
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I don’t remember seeing yer review? Did I miss it?
x The Captain
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My full review is here but I’ll also have a post about it on my regular blog on Friday. 🙂
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Oh no!! I’m so sad. I had high hopes for this. But I may enjoy it even if you didn’t. On to the next one, eh?😁
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Aye, I have moved on. I hope ye don’t agree with me at all when ye get around to reading it.
x The Captain
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Sorry to hear you didn’t like this one! I wasn’t a huge lover of The Night Circus – Morgenstern’s writing is lovely, but I find it very hard to care about her characters – and the reviews I’ve been seeing of The Starless Sea make me think she’s probably not an author for me, sadly.
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