The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

I read Morgenstern's The Night Circus a couple of years ago and I liked it.  Though I can't say I was waiting around for her next book, when I saw this was out I grabbed it.  It was...ok.  It doesn't help that I started this book, broke my Nook, and waited close to 6 weeks to pick it up again.  I think it probably says something that I did not go out immediately and either buy the book or buy a replacement Nook - which is something I would not hesitate to do if I were in the middle of a book that I just had to finish. 

On the positive side?  Morgenstern's writing is amazing-I have not a complaint in the world about her style.  The short little mini-stories interspersed with the main story were actually in some ways THE main story, with Zackary Ezra's plot meandering through theirs as opposed to the other way around.  I did not ever get tired of wandering through the corridors and corners under the ground-the world building worked for me.  I liked that a door might be around any corner, or behind any painting, or on basically any flat-ish surface. 

On the negative side?  I was never 100% sure what was happening.  A villain was destroying doors and maybe she was trying to kill people too but honestly, I'm not sure.  There was also sort of a love story but I didn't wholly buy that Dorian and ZE were really in love.  ZE's mother was supposed to be some sort of conduit but I couldn't quite figure out how and I think that in the end the lovers wandered forever and never did return to the real world so did she ever get that holiday with her two sons, or did she just have to trust that they were out there somewhere?  And don't get me started on the person who set off for her own adventure at the end of the book...were we really supposed to be that invested in her?  When was THAT supposed to happen?

I'd say if you were going to read Morgenstern, start with The Night Circus-its delightful.  Then hit The Starless Sea if you are up for another by the same author. 

Rating:  #5 Good Enough

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