When I read Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus back in 2012, I was not impressed. Well, I was initially. The setting and descriptions were fantastic, and the characters were interesting enough. But that ending though. It was a lot of build-up that did not result in much. So I was not planning on reading The Starless Sea, but curiosity got the best of me. So here we are.The Situation: When Zachary Ezra Rawlins was 11 years old, he found a door painted on a wall in an alley. For whatever reason, he felt compelled to reach out and attempt to open it, almost certain that it would. But then he didn't, so it didn't, and his life continued as normal as it can for the son of a fortune teller. It is not until years later when he is in college that he once again comes face to face with the incident. After checking out a book from the university library, he reads about the painted door, and the boy that did not open it, which is undoubtedly him when he was 11 years old. The book has no author, and the barcode attached to it would not scan at the library. All Zachary has to go on is the image of a bee, a sword, and key, and it is these three symbols that may give him the answer as to how he is in this strange book, while also bringing him many more questions.
The Problem: There are people who would rather keep hidden what Zachary has managed to find. In our world there are doors leading to another world. Some are obvious, though most are not, and some simply hide in plain sight. These doors lead to the Starless Sea, but someone is working hard to destroy these doors, keeping the sea hidden and protected. And this person will do whatever it takes to achieve this, even result to threats and violence. Zachary may be inclined to walk away from the mystery forever and return to his life, except now he has met a handsome storyteller, a curious woman with pink hair who certainly has answers, a myriad of cats, and encountered a place full of books...and he loves books. Even after it is clear that the dangers are real, Zachary continues on his journey, meeting more enigmatic people as he finds answers that only seem to bring on more questions. But beyond the danger and adventure is a love story that has continued across time, and will seemingly go on forever.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction and fantasy novel set both in the world we know, and in a world far below the earth's surface. At the core of the novel are books, stories and storytellers. But there is also a considerable amount of discussion concerning games of all sort, and the choices we are presented with and make when we play them. At every step of the way, Zachary has choices to make, including the most important one of all, which is whether or not to even continue in the adventure. And the cast of characters are as colorful as they are intriguing, and no one is as they seem, including Zachary's own mother. What is clear is that whatever Zachary is dealing with is something that has been going on for longer than he could imagine, and as soon as he thinks he has even one part of the equation figured out, something changes, or someone moves, and a new course of action is required. With someone clearly wishing to close off the Starless Sea forever, the book could be looked at as a discussion regarding stories and the importance of storytellers, as well as having access to them. But that is only one interpretation, and I could easily be way off the mark.
My Verdict: Morgenstern is a great worldbuilder. She has created a place below the earth's surface where people can sail upon a sea whose water tastes like honey. There are harbors that come and go as the sea rises and falls, and the way to get into this place is through one of the many doors scattered throughout the world. Sounds hard to grasp, and sometimes it was, but for the most part, it is captivating. But once that world is built, and once it comes time for real answers as to what is going on, the mystery loses some of its fun, and my patience began to wear thin. As the ending approached, I had nearly lost interest in what was happening, and much like with The Night Circus, the payoff was not worth it, not for me. The Starless Sea truly is about the journey, and if you are fine with that, and only that, then this book may be for you.
Favorite Moment: I enjoyed reading excerpts from Kat's diary as she attempts to find Zachary. I do not know if I could go so far as to say I could hang out with her and talk about books and video games, but the moments when we got to read through her notes were easily some of my favorite.
Favorite Character: I wish Kat was more present throughout the novel. She is mostly at the beginning and shows up again close to the end, and has little to do with Zachary's actual adventure. She is smart and insightful, and knows when someone is trying to manipulate her.
Recommended Reading: I cannot recommend The Night Circus. It is beautifully written, for the most part, but ultimately a huge disappointment. So I recommend The Reader by Traci Chee.
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