Book Reviews The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White
Once upon a time, a young boy found a painted door, which led to a hidden world called The Starless Sea, with rooms and rooms of stories. (Of course, the boy was not aware of this then.) To open it or not? Years later, that boy, grown-up, finds a book telling his story and so, embarks on a journey of endless wonder.
When Kiersten White announced her new novel, The Guinevere Deception, I was super excited to read it. I love stories that put a new spin on the classic King Arthur tale, and this one was no exception. Guinevere has come to Camelot, a place where magic has been banned and Merlin banished, to wed king Arthur. She must protect him from a new magical threat, but she must also keep her true identity a secret or risk everything she’s worked for.
The Starless Sea was like a shrewdly crafted quilt with each piece adding something to the whole picture or like puzzle pieces thrown here and there and you had no idea where they fit in until you brought all of them together. This story with its countless smaller ones, interlocked together, dazzled me. That very first story at the beginning of the book broke my heart a little, even with that clever dash of humor. Each story that followed stoked my curiosity further and kept me focused on the marvelous trail with its winding corners. The main and side characters delighted, infuriated and saddened me with their choices and reactions. The author did a fantastic job with the vivid writing that brought them to life in my mind. The world-building was excellent and added a lot of depth to the whole. The Starless Sea was a tale in a tale in a tale, of missed opportunities and lost love, with a heartbreaking and apt ending, leaving you with the undeniable conclusion that every ending is also a beginning, the start of something new. Photo and Review by Lyn @lyn_nomadicworlds
74 K CURIOSITALES
White’s writing was once again phenomenal. The book quickly sucked me in and wouldn’t let go. The writing was smooth and flowed well, making this an easy read. The characters stood out for me the most in this book. I loved reading the story from Guinevere’s point of view, it painted familiar characters such as Arthur and Lancelot in a whole new light. Reading about familiar characters in a new setting is what makes me so fond of retellings. The biggest complaint I have about this book is the plot and pacing. It felt slightly disjointed and I struggled to piece things together in the beginning. Guinevere is very unsure of herself and there are large gaps in her memory, making her narration a bit unreliable. The plot moved slowly and was convoluted at times, making it hard to keep up with everything. Overall this was an enjoyable read and I definitely recommend The Guinevere Deception if you’re a fan of retellings! Photo and Review by Bianca Visagie @yourwordsmyink
