The Starless Sea: A Novel

Written by:
Erin Morgenstern
Narrated by:
Dominic Hoffman , Various

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
102
Narrator
24
Release Date
November 2019
Duration
18 hours 39 minutes
Summary
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 of 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.

Read by Dominic Hoffman, with a full cast:
Dominic Hoffman reading the Zachary Ezra Rawlins storyline
Dion Graham reading the Sweet Sorrows storyline
Bahni Turpin reading excerpts from the Secret Diary of Katrina Hawkins
Fiona Hardingham reading The Ballad of Simon and Eleanor
Allan Corduner reading Fortunes and Fables
Jorjeana Marie reading Another place, another time
Reviews
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Anonymous

As many others have commented. It’s slower and less captivating than the night circus. The narration is a little dull as well. Not my favorite.

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Stephanie J.

wonderfully wonderful

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Catherine C.

Loved this book! It’s kind of out there but in the very best way. Unique and beautifully written. I will be reading this one again. The narration was perfect. It can be hard to mentally switch between characters and scenes when listening to an audiobook but I could argue that this narration may make the audio of this book better than the paper version.

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Jessica N.

Absolutely horrible. Like all the other comments, I loved the Night Circus. I survived 3 hours of this book--and I forced myself to listen that long because I kept thinking (hoping) it would improve. It didn't. No substance, stagnant, and an example of a book that I think was published as-is only because the Night Circus was so good, and the publisher thought folks would buy this one too. Very disappointing. Even the little plot that does exist is boring and feels flat. So are the characters. Nothing wrong with the narration, but no narrator could make this book sound better.

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Dorte L.

I read Erin's Night Circus. Like most other reviewers, I agree it was better, but the starless sea had its own charm and magic. The never ending intertwining of stories and characters. It was magical but at the same time philosophical. It was sad, but at the same time one of the happiest books I have read. Probably a little bit too long, as some mention, but the ending collects the whole story, that it is worth to listen to the end.

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Anonymous

terrible. The Night Circus is one of my favorite all time books so i was excited for this one- but i couldn’t even get through the whole book. very disappointing

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Holly W.

Oh my gosh, what a massive waste of time! This book goes on and on. So many details that ultimately don’t matter. I felt like the author was just making up the story as she went along.

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Brian M.

Fantastically magical! While I liked her first book more so, I would not pass on this one. A true storyteller. I hope to meet her someday just to see the amazing wonderment in her eyes

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Ryann H.

I absolutely adore this book, so many twist and turns. These stories/ This story kept me engaged every step of the way. Erin has an amazing imagination and I'm so glad she shared it with the world.

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