The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern



The Starless Sea is a book I have been looking forward to since finishing those final few pages of The Night Circus, Morgenstern’s magical debut novel. 

I was lucky to be able to purchase a special edition from Waterstones with sprayed edges (which I’ve not yet photographed to my satisfaction) which isn’t the edition pictured here, though I think I may prefer the above presentation to the English hardcover edition…

The Starless Sea is a book featuring a different type of magic to The Night Circus. To me, it seems a love letter to bibliophiles and storytellers, with more references than I could possibly catalogue (and probably a few I missed!). 

Here’s a brief synopsis from the Goodreads page:

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.

I really enjoyed reading The Starless Sea, though I should admit that it did not quite hit the mark as accurately in terms of feeling and conclusion that The Night Circus did. It is a very clever book, with wonderful prose and characters and prose which I’m sure I will return to read for comfort in the dark winter months. 

Sincerely though, I hope Erin Morgenstern writes a third (fourth? fifth?) novel. I will purchase and devour anything she writes!

Reviewed by Amanda Kennedy on 08/12/2019. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is available to buy from all good booksellers.

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