3.5-4 stars⭐️

This book has me all over the place with how I feel about it. Lots of mixed emotions but—

The worldbuilding, prose/writing, and creativity was 5 stars! I loved all the different POVs even if it took awhile to adjust to all the different years they took place in. Like seriously, the craft the author put into this was exceptional. In this book and in The Starless Sea, the author puts together a world with descriptions and emotions that make you feel you’re there (or at least desperately want to be). I personally love her writing style, a cold and omniscient style looking in.

This whole book was magical. And I loved its ending.

Now where I almost DNF’d:

Don’t be like me— Do NOT go into this for romance. I did based off what I’d heard about this book and all the fanart I saw and was disappointed. I would also say this book focuses way more on its wordbuilding and settings rather than character building. The author seriously is a master in atmosphere.

I had some really complicated feelings about the main couple. At the end I finally relented to liking them but oh boy the journey. Marco… what a realistic male character in terms of just being a stereotypical shitty guy… watched Celia for years (10 years +) obsessed with her while treating his girlfriend, Isobel, worse and worse as in… years with no contact… so there was nuance, Celia and Marco are definitely the trope of starcrossed lovers, just the added drama into it atop the “game” was a huge turn off for me. But I’m sure it was done purposefully.

lowkey I’m a Celia x Friedrick (the clockmaker) shipper

I don’t even know how to encompass this book in a review. Like… I’ve finished and have no words, just trying to take it in.

For most of this book I was confused, but that kind of “what the hell is going on” in a way I had to keep reading. There’s a lot of jumping around in this in terms of narration, random stories that feel like they make no sense. But everything has its reason and you just have to let the story take you on this journey.

Though I can totally see why the writing style or nonlinear and confusing plot (at times) would put people off. There’s times it feels long/dragging out and like we don’t need the stories, but by the end it all felt crucial and like I was apart of the story myself.

Anyways, this was a beautiful story, bitter sweet in many ways and I have a feeling this is going to stay with me for a long time. I now desperately wish I could go find the Harbor and the Starless Sea🥲

(As a video game lover i loved all the little references— Zelda, Skyrim, Dragon Age, and others)