November 2019 Standalone BOTM - The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern

[Alaina]

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Circus, a timeless love story set in a secret underground world--a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

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.

[Aly]

End of Book 1 (view spoiler)[ This definitely has the same style as Erin's first book. The story jumps around and feels very whimsical. I'm liking it so far. I wonder what Zachary has to do with the book and who these other people are that have been watching him (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of Book 2 (view spoiler)[ I like the little stories interspersed and I think they're important to Zachary's story. The owl king has been in 2 so far. I still don't understand the other group and what their goals are. They did threaten Zachary's mom and tie him up, so I guess they're bad (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of Book 3 (view spoiler)[ Allegra wants to dismantle the doors, which is so terrible. Why prevent people from knowing a bit of wonder and magic? I wonder if Mirabel is Eleanor? Or Dorian is Eleanor's son? There's a connection somewhere. Even though the keeper told Eleanor that Simon never saw her again, I hope that's not true. I want them to reunite! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of Book 4 (view spoiler)[ Dorian better be okay or I'm going to have a freak out! I love Dorian and Zachary and they were just starting to have something between them. Allegra is the painter?! I know what she saw some crazy stuff, but to be so angry as to destroy all the doors? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

End of book 5 (view spoiler)[ Wow, Zachary has been gone 2 years? I'm glad his mom knows he'll return and isn't freaking out. I'm glad Zachary found Simon and Dorian saw Eleanor and they're okay. Hopefully they can return Simon's memory and he and Eleanor can reunite. And it's weird that Mirabel is Eleanor's daughter but not really because she isn't human. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Okay, I really tried to pay attention to this because it was so good and I knew I could easily get confused. It seems like at the end, Zachary woke up and is with Dorian. Cat went into the harbor or something, and Mirabel and the Keeper are together watching over everyone. But what about Simon and Eleanor? It didn't seem like they ended up together and that makes me really sad. Unless I missed a part? Still a great read though and worth the wait! (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Book 1 (view spoiler)[ I understand why I didn't really like The Night Circus now. Her style is not one that I can handle with audio. Everything is so beautiful, I'm in love and intrigued. I'm so curious to Zachary and everything else is going on. I want to know all the things!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Book 2 (view spoiler)[ I really don't know what's going on. Trying to keep Zachary's story straight plus all these other stories about this other world are a lot. I'm eager to see it all tie together though and to see more from Dorian and just the Starless Sea. It's such an interesting world. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Book 4 (view spoiler)[ I feel so lost and confused, but what in the world was that cliffhanger??? Dorian falling into a hole with Allegra and Allegra being the painter? I'm so eager to continue reading. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Aly wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[That's what I got from it too. I don't think that Simon and Eleanor ended up together again either, but it did seem like she was going to go pick him up so maybe they do and it just wasn't written. Something up to interpretation? I'm saying they ended up together again even if she didn't write it.

But this was a good story! Just really confusing and definitely a reread to catch all those things I missed before. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Erin wrote: "Aly wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[That's what I got from it too. I don't think that Simon and Eleanor ended up together again either, but it did seem like she was going to go pick him up so..." (hide spoiler)]

I definitely need to read it again to fully understand all the pieces

[Alaina]

ahhh I should definitely dive into this today

[Aly]

It's so good! Especially if you loved The Night Circus

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "It's so good! Especially if you loved The Night Circus"

I did, but I haven't even started my audio yet! Got distracted and ended up working on the January challenge lol.

[Aly]

Ha :) well I loved the audio, really fun

[Alaina]

lmao maybe I'll listen to it tomorrow - in the zone for this challenge. Almost done creating it.