When Zachary Ezra Rawlins discovers a book, Sweet Sorrows, in the university library he wants to find out where the book came from, especially as part of his story appears in the book. This quest leads him on an incredible adventure until he eventually comes upon the Starless Sea.
Zachrary meets other storytellers and seekers of books including Dorian and Mirabel as his adventure takes him through the many passageways and doors in the world of storytelling hidden beneath the earth. The stories are often intertwined and sections added as the search for an ending to the story continues. What is past and what is present? Characters often have many lives. Events of the past encroach upon the future. This is indeed a wold of mystery.
Much of the story revolves around the symbols of the bee, key, crown, heart, feather and sword which appear regularly, often requiring a choice. The author also alludes to other works of fantasy in this book such as the rabbit (or bunny) which appears from time to time (suggestions of the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland). Readers will no doubt discover allusions to other works of fantasy.
The concept of doors leading to new worlds is not new and the author, at one stage, has characters looking for doors in a wardrobe leading to another world such as Narnia. Other books that I have recently read using this concept are Exit West and The Ten Thousand Doors of January. The doors are important in The Starless Sea not only as entry and exit ports but also, often, providing the characters with the need to make a choice, hopefully the correct choice. This is also a story about Time and Fate.
The Starless Sea is a book written for lovers of fantasy and believers in the power of story telling.
No comments:
Post a Comment