This is one of those books, that is hard to describe in words. It is so intricately complex and beautiful that it has to be experienced rather than read. And to be sure, this book is an experience. From it’s beautiful imagery of keys, bees, swords, and cats, to it’s beautiful homage to stories and storytelling and how it’s treats the subject of stories like a luscious dream filled fairy tale that leaves readers forever wanting more, to it’s complex story line that is woven together like a spider weaves it’s web, to the mysterious and changing characters who are not at all what they seem, this book is a literary piece of art.

This story has many moving parts, that are too complex to explain without giving everything away, but it revolves around one main character, Zachary Rawlins a graduate student in game development technology at a school in Vermont, his finding of a mysterious book within the libraries book stacks that includes many entrancing fairy tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, but one particularly catches his eye. A story from his past, namely his story. Desperate to understand how his story could be recorded, he seeks out every clue he could which leads him to a masquerade ball, where he meets many interesting characters who lead him into a mysterious, beautiful forgotten realm. A place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. As he get’s deeper and deeper into this rabbit hole, he discovers not only his own story, but how story shapes all of us.

Every story no matter how dark, magical or light has a lesson. Part of the fun of reading, is discovering what those lessons are and how we as readers can apply them to our lives. The Starless Sea is a fairy tale about many things, romance, adventure, mystery, but at it’s heart it’s a story about identity, the need to belong, to feel needed, and to feel loved. All throughout the story, no one is who they seem, and Zachary is desperately seeking after his identity and those around him. Similarly the author challenges the reader to look into themselves and discover who we are. What journey are we on or need to go on to discover who we are?

This story is also about learning to help and loving our fellow man by taking time to notice and do the small things that are often overlooked. Throughout the story there are many small beautiful side stories that weave together to form an overarching plot. This one, which is taken from an uncorrected ARC and quotes taken from this version are not final, illustrates my point perfectly.

“There is a stag in the snow. Blink and he will vanish. Was he a stag at all or was he something else? Was he a sentiment hanging unspoken or a path not taken, or a closed door left unopened? Or was he a deer, glimpsed amongst the trees and then gone, disturbing not a single branch in his departure? The stag is a shot left untaken. An opportunity lost. Stolen like a kiss. In these new forgetful times with their changed ways sometimes the stag will pause a moment longer. He waits, though once he never waited, would never dream to wait or wait to dream. He waits now. For someone, to take the shot. For someone to pierce his heart. To know he is remembered.”

This beautiful side story is infused with so much meaning. The imagery speaks of missed opportunities, the need to learn to listen and take little opportunities to help others out, but it also speaks of a character who just wants to feel loved and needed.


With our world today the way it is, books and passages like these are important because they get us to remember things we may have forgotten and reminds us to love others as well as ourselves. Passages and stories like these, are the little nudges we need to remind us of just how important our humanity is. Which is simply why Erin Morgenstern is one of the best storytellers there is. Though some may criticize the slow pacing of this novel, or the flowery language, or the sometimes confusing plot line, sometimes taking the time to savor a book and think about what it means is the most important thing and best thing we can do because it reminds of the bigger narrative always unfolding around us.

So please when this story comes out on Tuesday, don’t rush through it, savor it, like you would a great dessert, and let it remind of the small things, the important things we often forget. But please whatever you do pick this up. Let it envelop you and take you to a place beyond imagination.

Thank you to Erin Morgenstern, Edelweiss and Doubleday books for my DRC for review!