margaret_k30's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The overall plot had some interesting story lines and was descriptive, but there wasn't much emotional depth and the characters really didn't seem to grow or develop at all. The main character really didn't progress on his own things just seemed to happen to him after the first few chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Confinement, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and Grief
katievallin's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Stalking
alexgalloway26's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
peperopoi's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Body horror
Moderate: Death and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment and Adult/minor relationship
Spoiler
Alcohol is consumed regularly in the novel. In the beginning, rituals are described in detail that include branding, burning, cutting off of body parts. It is not disgustingly graphic (in my opinion) but smells are described. There is a complicated relationship that at first seems like a relationship with a large age gap, and made me, personally, wonder if there was child grooming, but it is later explained through mythology and magic. The only graphic death is due to drowning. There are other deaths and false-deaths but they are not described in detail. No one dies from suicide, but there is a scene when there is a false, staged suicide that may be triggering to some.amylynnknitsreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
I feel like this was written for me. I loved the themes and the mechanics. I even liked the story structural aspects, and I normally hate jumping perspectives and settings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Minor: Alcohol
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Starless Sea is a novel of grandeur; it is brimming with magic and fable. Morgenstern has an incredible ability to create a fantasy world hidden among reality, and the descriptions of this world throughout the book are absolutely stunning. The number of stories she tells while still focusing on one central idea threatened to be overwhelming at times, but they were also filled with so much wonder and beauty.
At first I found a lot of similarities to The Binding, with the idea of protecting a story being central to the plot. But while The Binding is about protecting or keeping individuals' memories or secrets, The Starless Sea goes to a much broader place where the importance of the story itself outweighs that of the characters. It's hard to elaborate without giving too much away, but the plot is really driven by inevitability.
In a book filled with fantastical characters, Zachary feels like the grounding force we need to draw together the whole plot - he is our conduit inside the story whose confusion and exploration mirrors our own. It makes it easier to digest when there are multiple stories layering on top of each other and it becomes hard to keep track. I chose to trust Zachary's path and it felt easier to keep hold of the narrative as a result.
I started to feel like the end was dragging a little, and I wouldn't say that I finished the book with all my confusion cleared up, but it's so worth reading for the sheer beauty and ambitious storytelling.
At first I found a lot of similarities to The Binding, with the idea of protecting a story being central to the plot. But while The Binding is about protecting or keeping individuals' memories or secrets, The Starless Sea goes to a much broader place where the importance of the story itself outweighs that of the characters. It's hard to elaborate without giving too much away, but the plot is really driven by inevitability.
In a book filled with fantastical characters, Zachary feels like the grounding force we need to draw together the whole plot - he is our conduit inside the story whose confusion and exploration mirrors our own. It makes it easier to digest when there are multiple stories layering on top of each other and it becomes hard to keep track. I chose to trust Zachary's path and it felt easier to keep hold of the narrative as a result.
I started to feel like the end was dragging a little, and I wouldn't say that I finished the book with all my confusion cleared up, but it's so worth reading for the sheer beauty and ambitious storytelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
val_theburrowofstories's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Death
brom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a book about stories with a story itself. It’s beautifully written, with wonderful imagery and symbols that appear throughout the whole thing. Really feels like a fairytale.
It may seem confusing in the beginning, but give it time. It’ll all make sense.
It may seem confusing in the beginning, but give it time. It’ll all make sense.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death
20sidedbi's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely brilliant.
There's a bit where it starts to feel long, but stick with it! It's worth it!
There's a bit where it starts to feel long, but stick with it! It's worth it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking and Death
Minor: Violence and Fire/Fire injury