feiv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
sophie020's review against another edition
5.0
Admittedly I spent a majority of this novel confused. It's more an extended metaphor than plot. I'm actually still trying to figure out what the "plot" was. It's a unique novel to be sure and not one that is easy to pull off.
It's less of a story and more of a place. 'The Starless Sea'; where all story's become one. Over the course of the novel you get to know more seemingly disconnected characters and start to understand more of how this 'world beneath the world' operates. It's a magical place; a combination of so many different myths and fairy tales into one very sticky sea of honey.
The characters are all likable, although you don't truly get to know many of them. I like Eleanor. She's sweet and reminds me of someone although I can't remember who. She somehow went from being a rabbit to a pirate which is cool. I think.
It's written in the whimsical way that Erin Morgenstern is well known for, I liked her 'The Night Circus', which I seem to remember also confused me greatly yet enticed me all the same. She has a way of writing that never fails to enchant the reader.
It's less of a story and more of a place. 'The Starless Sea'; where all story's become one. Over the course of the novel you get to know more seemingly disconnected characters and start to understand more of how this 'world beneath the world' operates. It's a magical place; a combination of so many different myths and fairy tales into one very sticky sea of honey.
The characters are all likable, although you don't truly get to know many of them. I like Eleanor. She's sweet and reminds me of someone although I can't remember who. She somehow went from being a rabbit to a pirate which is cool. I think.
It's written in the whimsical way that Erin Morgenstern is well known for, I liked her 'The Night Circus', which I seem to remember also confused me greatly yet enticed me all the same. She has a way of writing that never fails to enchant the reader.
hbroadley's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
itsclayo's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
nataliaputnam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
man_rae's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mahroctah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
annaleblanc316's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! It is whimsical, lyrical, beautiful! A love letter to storytelling. I didn’t want the story to end and I would have read another 500 pages. I will absolutely read it again and I VERY RARELY pick up a book and read it a second time. I enjoyed The Starless Sea much more than The Night Circus.
Giving it more thought I’m downgrading to a 4 star rating. I did really enjoy it but there were a lot of unresolved things from the book and I wish there had been more character development. I still really enjoyed the book, but it’s not a full 5 stars from me.
Giving it more thought I’m downgrading to a 4 star rating. I did really enjoy it but there were a lot of unresolved things from the book and I wish there had been more character development. I still really enjoyed the book, but it’s not a full 5 stars from me.
kabrahams's review against another edition
5.0
Dec 2 (Reread)
This is one of those books that truly gets better with each read and with the more time you give it. It is a true love letter to stories, particularly fairytales, and each sentence is achingly beautiful without being too flowery. I had a great time taking note of the imagery (which is funny because I didn't enjoy that so much the first time) and trying to untangle some of the mysteries that completely went over my head the first time. I definitely didn't solve them all and I think that's how it's meant to be. I didn't even rank this five stars originally but now it has secured a place as one of my favorite books of all time. I will definitely be returning to this time and time again.
April 8
The mostly beautifully written book I've read in awhile, alive with imagery and magic. Portals to other worlds, seas of honey, forbidden libraries full of cats, giant bees, secret societies, literary parties, lovers lost in time, keys to nowhere and to everywhere―this breathtaking book has it all. Loved the references to Tolkien, Lewis, and Carroll in this fairytale for adults. I think my biggest complaint was that sometimes the characters and plot took a backseat to the imagery and writing, but that it was all so stunning and seamless that I didn't care.
This is one of those books that truly gets better with each read and with the more time you give it. It is a true love letter to stories, particularly fairytales, and each sentence is achingly beautiful without being too flowery. I had a great time taking note of the imagery (which is funny because I didn't enjoy that so much the first time) and trying to untangle some of the mysteries that completely went over my head the first time. I definitely didn't solve them all and I think that's how it's meant to be. I didn't even rank this five stars originally but now it has secured a place as one of my favorite books of all time. I will definitely be returning to this time and time again.
April 8
The mostly beautifully written book I've read in awhile, alive with imagery and magic. Portals to other worlds, seas of honey, forbidden libraries full of cats, giant bees, secret societies, literary parties, lovers lost in time, keys to nowhere and to everywhere―this breathtaking book has it all. Loved the references to Tolkien, Lewis, and Carroll in this fairytale for adults. I think my biggest complaint was that sometimes the characters and plot took a backseat to the imagery and writing, but that it was all so stunning and seamless that I didn't care.
lucycochrane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0