First Impression Friday is hosted by J.W. Martin.
First Impression Friday will be a meme where you talk about a book that you JUST STARTED! Maybe you’re only a chapter or two in, maybe a little farther.
Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what you’ll think by the end.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues–a bee, a key, and a sword–that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.
What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians–it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction.
Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose–in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
I know that it is nonfiction November, but I just couldn’t resist giving The Starless Sea a chance. It has been getting so much hype! It is no secret that I was a little disappointed in The Night Circus, so I went in to The Starless Sea with lower expectations, and so far it has blown me away.
It was evident in The Night Circus that Morgenstern was a beautiful writer, and so far that is certainly coming through in The Starless Sea. She is a master at world-building and really creating vivid imagery.
I love that the story starts with an imprisoned pirate, and I already have so many questions. I am already getting the whimsy vibes that I was desperately wanting in The Night Circus.
I am only 5% into the audiobook (which is great!) so I have absolutely no idea where this story is going, but I am intrigued. I have started to see some mixed reviews for so far so good!
I am SO glad to hear you say that! I actually ended up picking up the Toll (Neal Shusterman) instead of Starless Sea but I think that’s because I also wasn’t as blown away as everyone else by Night Circus. Now I really can’t wait to pick it up :]
I need to continue on with that series. I love Scythe!
I am possibly the only person on the planet who hasn’t read The Night Circus but I have been very tempted to get Starless Sea. Weirdly the reviews of the audio seem mixed but reviews of the ebook are all five star. I’d been tempted by the audio but the not so good reviews put me off. I may just risk it, it doesn’t sound like you’re having any problems with it. Hopefully you’ll find the rest of it lives up to the start.
I am pretty happy with the audiobook so far. I wonder why people are having a hard time with it! I am hoping to get a big chunk of it done this weekend. I will keep you posted if the audio starts to lose me!
I read the book and then listened to the audiobook, and loved both.
That’s great to hear!
I loved The Night Circus so this one is definitely going on my tbr list….probably in physical book form though…sometimes I get lost listening to actual stories on audio; preferring to listen to memoirs or self-helpy stuff.
I completely get that! I much prefer nonfiction on audio!