The Starless Sea
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This reminded me of Scheherazade’s tales - many beginnings, a few middles, and, more or less, an end. The writing was beautiful and the voice narrators were fabulous. I can’t recommend the audio version enough - it felt less like listening to a book and more like I’d been invited to sit down at a stranger’s campfire and share in the evening’s tales.
If you prefer plot-driven books or require endings that tie everything up neatly this may not be the book for you. But if you’re ok following along as the main character realizes a little too late that he’s stumbled into a funhouse where he can never quite get his bearings? It’s a winner. The action starts off when Zack stumbles upon a strange old book only to recognize himself in it. Morgenstern then alternates chapters of Zach’s life with chapters from the book he has found. Nothing is spoon-fed
to the audience here - lore is dropped thick and fast, and while there are hints about how all the different threads tie together it’s never overt. But while I was confused for large chunks of the book, it felt purposeful. It wasn’t because the author hadn’t done a good job foreshadowing/explaining/structuring the characters or plot, but because there’s just so much happening. It's meant to be overwhelming, at least the first time through. This is a book I’ll have to read two or three times before I really feel like I’ve put the pieces together, and I think I’m going to enjoy it just as much as I did the first time.
More than anything, The Starless Sea is an ode to storytelling. Every tale must have an ending, but the joy comes in the telling. In honor of the storyteller vibe I’m pairing this with my favorite tea (Rooibos) and homemade banana bread. This is a book to read on a quiet evening curled up in a comfy chair when you want to fall into another world and disappear, or nested on a couch with your best friend so you can keep looking up to ask, “Did you hit this part yet? What did you think?”
