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Morning Star Trilogy #3
The Morning Star: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine is Illuminated
Isabella—
The stronger you grow the more I seem to want you. You say you believe I'll respond to your love and I will. But now I understand the self-doubts Griffin must have endured when he knew he was to meet with Sabine. He was troubled by the idea that he wouldn't be a match for her soul. You and I are so like them.
Love, Matthew
Plunged into an otherworldly maze, Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims are stretched to the limits of love, of certainty, and of their belief in the powerful guidance of Griffin and Sabine. Isabella is drawn into her predestined journey that forces her to explore a world beyond her imagination. In Alexandria, challenging his deepest fears, Matthew makes hi own compelling discoveries in the fertile fields of both archaeology and the human heart.
In this, the final chapter of the Griffin & Sabine stories, lies the fate of Matthew and Isabella—and their unexpected kinship with Griffin and Sabine. Author and artist Nick Bantock draws on myth, memory, and his limitless imagination to create a story that has resonated with readers the world over. In The Morning Star, the mystery that began with an enigmatic postcard from Sabine Strohem to Griffin Moss reaches its dramatic conclusion.
The stronger you grow the more I seem to want you. You say you believe I'll respond to your love and I will. But now I understand the self-doubts Griffin must have endured when he knew he was to meet with Sabine. He was troubled by the idea that he wouldn't be a match for her soul. You and I are so like them.
Love, Matthew
Plunged into an otherworldly maze, Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims are stretched to the limits of love, of certainty, and of their belief in the powerful guidance of Griffin and Sabine. Isabella is drawn into her predestined journey that forces her to explore a world beyond her imagination. In Alexandria, challenging his deepest fears, Matthew makes hi own compelling discoveries in the fertile fields of both archaeology and the human heart.
In this, the final chapter of the Griffin & Sabine stories, lies the fate of Matthew and Isabella—and their unexpected kinship with Griffin and Sabine. Author and artist Nick Bantock draws on myth, memory, and his limitless imagination to create a story that has resonated with readers the world over. In The Morning Star, the mystery that began with an enigmatic postcard from Sabine Strohem to Griffin Moss reaches its dramatic conclusion.
60 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
6 people are currently reading
1175 people want to read
About the author
Nick Bantock
67 books762 followersNick was schooled in England and has a BA in Fine Art (painting). He has authored 25 books, 11 of which have appeared on the best seller lists, including 3 books on The New York Times top ten at one time. Griffin & Sabine stayed on that list for over two years. His works have been translated into 13 languages and over 5 million have been sold worldwide. Once named by the classic SF magazine Weird Tales as one of the best 85 storytellers of the century. He has written articles and stories for numerous international newspapers and magazines. His Wasnick blogs are much followed on Facebook and Twitter. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and prints have been exhibited in shows in UK, France and North America. In 2010 Nick's major retrospective exhibition opened at the MOA in Denver. His works are in private collections throughout the world. Nick has a lifetime BAFTA (British Oscar) for the CD-ROM game Ceremony of Innocence, created with Peter Gabriel's Real World, featuring Isabella Rossolini and Ben Kingsley. He has two iPad apps, Sage and The Venetian and is working on a third. Three of his books have been optioned for film and his stage play based on the Griffin & Sabine double trilogy premiered in Vancouver in 2006.
Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.
For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.
Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.
Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.
Source: Nick Bantock - profile
Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.
For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.
Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.
Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.
Source: Nick Bantock - profile
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
November 12, 2013
When you read a book, or a series of books, and you're not quite sure what happened, the next step is one of two things: go online and have someone explain to you what just happened - or - go online and see that everyone else is just as confused you are. I think that ultimately the second option is more satisfying, because then at least you don't feel like you missed anything obvious. You just have to take the books for what they are, beautiful and mysterious.
December 27, 2011
(Note: This review covers all three books in the series -
The Gryphon
,
Alexandria
and
The Morning Star
.)
The Morning Star Trilogy is the second trilogy of books regarding Griffin and Sabine. But this time, Griffin and Sabine are in the background, guiding another pair of lovers together in an effort to stop Frolatti from some horrible plot. In the forefront of this story are Matthew Sedon, a young archaeologist in Alexandria with a connection to Sabine (she helped deliver him) and Isabella de Reims, a student in Paris and Matthew's lover. Isabella often has waking dreams, views into the psyche of the world. The letters are primarily between Matthew and Isabella, though Sabine does contact Matthew on occasion and Griffin keeps in contact with Isabella. There are shades of the beginnings of Griffin and Sabine's romance within these correspondence - primarily with Matthew's doubts regarding Sabine.
Unlike the previous trilogy, there is more of a sense of menace with this trilogy. There is active evil in the unseen Frilotti and his cohorts. But getting Matthew to understand the seriousness of what is happening (within the first book) is a large part of the first book.
I'll be honest. The second trilogy fell flat with me. It still had the beautiful artwork of the first trilogy, but the magic wasn't quite there. I think the addition of "the next generation" just didn't work as well. My husband, of course, thinks I'm crazy as he loved them as much as the first trilogy. But for me, Griffin and Sabine had a simplicity beneath the complications of their circumstance. Something primal about the connection and the love they shared. But adding Matthew and Isabella complicated that. And it just didn't sit as right with me.
The series was ok... worth reading at least once. But it didn't, in my mind, live up to the magic of the first trilogy.
The Morning Star Trilogy is the second trilogy of books regarding Griffin and Sabine. But this time, Griffin and Sabine are in the background, guiding another pair of lovers together in an effort to stop Frolatti from some horrible plot. In the forefront of this story are Matthew Sedon, a young archaeologist in Alexandria with a connection to Sabine (she helped deliver him) and Isabella de Reims, a student in Paris and Matthew's lover. Isabella often has waking dreams, views into the psyche of the world. The letters are primarily between Matthew and Isabella, though Sabine does contact Matthew on occasion and Griffin keeps in contact with Isabella. There are shades of the beginnings of Griffin and Sabine's romance within these correspondence - primarily with Matthew's doubts regarding Sabine.
Unlike the previous trilogy, there is more of a sense of menace with this trilogy. There is active evil in the unseen Frilotti and his cohorts. But getting Matthew to understand the seriousness of what is happening (within the first book) is a large part of the first book.
I'll be honest. The second trilogy fell flat with me. It still had the beautiful artwork of the first trilogy, but the magic wasn't quite there. I think the addition of "the next generation" just didn't work as well. My husband, of course, thinks I'm crazy as he loved them as much as the first trilogy. But for me, Griffin and Sabine had a simplicity beneath the complications of their circumstance. Something primal about the connection and the love they shared. But adding Matthew and Isabella complicated that. And it just didn't sit as right with me.
The series was ok... worth reading at least once. But it didn't, in my mind, live up to the magic of the first trilogy.
October 18, 2016
"Our house was a temple to The Book. We owned thousands, nay millions of books. They lined the walls, filled the cupboards, and turned the floor into a maze far more complex than Hampton Court’s. Books ruled out lives. They were our demi-gods." -Nick Bantock (Griffin and Sabine)
.
.
Today I finished the final three installments of Griffin and Sabine. They are: The Gryphon, Alexandria, and Morningstar.
.
.
All three books in this second series, like the three in the first series are beautifully illustrated. They are truly works of art. With fold out letters on some pages, and completely remove-able ones on others, the interactive component is stimulating. These three books have the added feature of coming with a few clues inside the letters, separate pieces to help complete the puzzle.
.
.
In this series we meet again with Griffin and Sabine, as they guide Matthew and Isabella (an archeologist and a zoology student in her final year) through similar circumstances as they faced prior.
.
.
Intrigue, mystery, super natural occurrences, and all throughout a deeply moving love story plays out.
.
My only disappointment was that the ending is not conclusive. Or not enough to satisfy me, at least. I give it a pass though, given how damn beautiful this series was.
.
.
Today I finished the final three installments of Griffin and Sabine. They are: The Gryphon, Alexandria, and Morningstar.
.
.
All three books in this second series, like the three in the first series are beautifully illustrated. They are truly works of art. With fold out letters on some pages, and completely remove-able ones on others, the interactive component is stimulating. These three books have the added feature of coming with a few clues inside the letters, separate pieces to help complete the puzzle.
.
.
In this series we meet again with Griffin and Sabine, as they guide Matthew and Isabella (an archeologist and a zoology student in her final year) through similar circumstances as they faced prior.
.
.
Intrigue, mystery, super natural occurrences, and all throughout a deeply moving love story plays out.
.
My only disappointment was that the ending is not conclusive. Or not enough to satisfy me, at least. I give it a pass though, given how damn beautiful this series was.
Read
March 18, 2021I'm sorry... what?
This set contains all the beauty and charm of the first trilogy, but it kind of lost me with the storyline.
This set contains all the beauty and charm of the first trilogy, but it kind of lost me with the storyline.
February 6, 2019
I love these books. This one is beautiful and I think I like the words in this one the best of all the books. The thing I really like about These books is that while I don’t know exactly what it means I am absolutely certain that it means something – and that applies to both the words and the pictures. Beautiful art.
June 5, 2017
this got weird...
Read
August 8, 20234.5
My favourite of the six Griffin and Sabine's books so far... only one left to go.
It felt divinely timed reading this on Lion's Gate 2023.
My favourite of the six Griffin and Sabine's books so far... only one left to go.
It felt divinely timed reading this on Lion's Gate 2023.
February 20, 2024
The mystery that began with a single enigmatic postcard reaches its dramatic conclusion in The Morning Star. Three million readers the world over await this last chapter of the best-selling Griffin & Sabine series, a volume of gorgeous artwork and passionate correspondence that crosses oceans and transcends realms. In these sumptuous pages lies not only the fate of Matthew Sedon and Isabella de Reims, but that of their unexpected kinship with Griffin and Sabine, as the long-distance lovers are drawn ever further from the safe haven of logic into a magical maze beyond the certainty of experience. Author and artist Nick Bantock draws on myth, memory, and his limitless imagination in a saga that has resonated with readers and lovers everywhere. The Morning Star marks the final destination on a journey across fabled landscapes and the uncertain terrain of the human heart-one to be savored and remembered long after the last page is turned.
A Must Read! Read only 3 of the 6 books in the series...as per what was available at local library.
Need to pick up and read Sabine's Notebook, The Golden Mean, and The Gryphon.
A Must Read! Read only 3 of the 6 books in the series...as per what was available at local library.
Need to pick up and read Sabine's Notebook, The Golden Mean, and The Gryphon.
April 20, 2013
This series should have stopped at the third book, even if questions were left unanswered. A feeling of resolution did not come about even after six books. I think had it ended by the third book I would have liked the series a little more, but these additonal last three books almost made me wonder what it was I liked about the first three. I'll be honest that I did not read the fifth book because my library did not own this book and at this point I don't care to complete the series. I don't feel that I missed much by not reading the fifth installment.
I did not care much for the new characters introduced in the 4th-6th books, Isabella and Matt. Why add this element into what was already a mysterious and intriguing romance between two people? This last book just became tedious and I just wanted to get it over with and be done with it.
I did not care much for the new characters introduced in the 4th-6th books, Isabella and Matt. Why add this element into what was already a mysterious and intriguing romance between two people? This last book just became tedious and I just wanted to get it over with and be done with it.
January 4, 2018
I guess I don’t get because I feel like nothing was “illuminated”
March 28, 2018
This second trilogy is not good. Creepy and a little bit satanic. Not a fan.
September 12, 2024
The Morningstar by Nick Bantock is a captivating exploration of epistolary narrative, art, and the mysteries of the human psyche, enveloped in the dreamlike atmosphere that Bantock has mastered over his previous works. As the final installment of The Griffin and Sabine series, The Morningstar delicately intertwines visual art with written correspondence, creating a multifaceted experience that is as much about the art of storytelling as it is about the story itself.
Bantock, as always, plays with the boundaries between text and image, immersing the reader in the tactile experience of letters, postcards, and artwork that seem to breathe with life. The correspondence between Sabine, Griffin, and the enigmatic figure of Morningstar unfolds with a mysticism that blurs the line between reality and the subconscious. The letters are not mere exchanges of words; they are deeply symbolic artifacts, heavy with subtext, and rich in visual language. The inclusion of physical letters and postcards as integral narrative devices evokes a sense of intimacy and mystery, engaging the reader as a participant in the unfolding drama.
Thematically, The Morningstar is a meditation on the act of creation, particularly the elusive nature of inspiration and artistic connection. Bantock uses his characters as embodiments of creative tension—Griffin, the grounded artist struggling with his vision; Sabine, the muse who is both ethereal and tangible; and Morningstar, a catalytic force who represents the untapped or suppressed dimensions of creative potential. These figures are not only characters but symbols of the different facets of the artist's psyche. In this sense, the novel functions as a metaphysical dialogue on the relationship between artist, muse, and creation.
Bantock’s use of the epistolary form allows for an interplay between public and private selves, as Griffin and Sabine’s correspondence reveals their inner worlds in fragmented, poetic pieces. What is left unsaid in their letters is just as important as what is written, and the gaps between communication serve as fertile ground for interpretation, offering the reader the chance to project their own emotional and intellectual readings onto the story. Bantock encourages an active reading, demanding that the audience engage not only with the narrative but with the aesthetics of the art on each page.
The symbolic weight of The Morningstar also extends into metaphysical territory, touching on Jungian themes of duality, the anima and animus, and the confrontation with the shadow self. The correspondence between Griffin and Sabine is, in many ways, an exploration of the unconscious and the tension between inner and outer realities. Bantock layers these themes with a mysticism that draws heavily from archetypal symbolism, offering a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
However, one of the novel’s few challenges may lie in its somewhat elliptical structure. For readers unfamiliar with the previous books in the series, The Morningstar may feel incomplete or overly cryptic. The novel assumes a certain level of familiarity with the dynamics between Griffin and Sabine, and without that foundation, some of the emotional and thematic richness may be lost. Yet, for those who have journeyed with Bantock through the series, The Morningstar provides a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion that leaves as many questions as it answers.
In terms of literary tradition, Bantock’s work situates itself within a niche that combines visual art, literature, and the physicality of the book as an object. His integration of these elements can be seen as part of a broader conversation about the evolution of narrative form, particularly as it relates to the postmodern blending of high and low art. Bantock's approach is a celebration of the book as a multidimensional art form, one that defies the purely textual and invites the reader to engage with narrative through multiple sensory channels.
In conclusion, The Morningstar is a richly textured and aesthetically mesmerizing work that challenges traditional narrative forms while exploring profound themes of art, creation, and the mysteries of the human soul. Bantock’s ability to weave together visual and verbal storytelling offers a singular reading experience, one that lingers in the mind long after the final letter is read. For those willing to surrender to its dreamlike logic and embrace its mysteries, The Morningstar is a rewarding and evocative journey.
Bantock, as always, plays with the boundaries between text and image, immersing the reader in the tactile experience of letters, postcards, and artwork that seem to breathe with life. The correspondence between Sabine, Griffin, and the enigmatic figure of Morningstar unfolds with a mysticism that blurs the line between reality and the subconscious. The letters are not mere exchanges of words; they are deeply symbolic artifacts, heavy with subtext, and rich in visual language. The inclusion of physical letters and postcards as integral narrative devices evokes a sense of intimacy and mystery, engaging the reader as a participant in the unfolding drama.
Thematically, The Morningstar is a meditation on the act of creation, particularly the elusive nature of inspiration and artistic connection. Bantock uses his characters as embodiments of creative tension—Griffin, the grounded artist struggling with his vision; Sabine, the muse who is both ethereal and tangible; and Morningstar, a catalytic force who represents the untapped or suppressed dimensions of creative potential. These figures are not only characters but symbols of the different facets of the artist's psyche. In this sense, the novel functions as a metaphysical dialogue on the relationship between artist, muse, and creation.
Bantock’s use of the epistolary form allows for an interplay between public and private selves, as Griffin and Sabine’s correspondence reveals their inner worlds in fragmented, poetic pieces. What is left unsaid in their letters is just as important as what is written, and the gaps between communication serve as fertile ground for interpretation, offering the reader the chance to project their own emotional and intellectual readings onto the story. Bantock encourages an active reading, demanding that the audience engage not only with the narrative but with the aesthetics of the art on each page.
The symbolic weight of The Morningstar also extends into metaphysical territory, touching on Jungian themes of duality, the anima and animus, and the confrontation with the shadow self. The correspondence between Griffin and Sabine is, in many ways, an exploration of the unconscious and the tension between inner and outer realities. Bantock layers these themes with a mysticism that draws heavily from archetypal symbolism, offering a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
However, one of the novel’s few challenges may lie in its somewhat elliptical structure. For readers unfamiliar with the previous books in the series, The Morningstar may feel incomplete or overly cryptic. The novel assumes a certain level of familiarity with the dynamics between Griffin and Sabine, and without that foundation, some of the emotional and thematic richness may be lost. Yet, for those who have journeyed with Bantock through the series, The Morningstar provides a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion that leaves as many questions as it answers.
In terms of literary tradition, Bantock’s work situates itself within a niche that combines visual art, literature, and the physicality of the book as an object. His integration of these elements can be seen as part of a broader conversation about the evolution of narrative form, particularly as it relates to the postmodern blending of high and low art. Bantock's approach is a celebration of the book as a multidimensional art form, one that defies the purely textual and invites the reader to engage with narrative through multiple sensory channels.
In conclusion, The Morningstar is a richly textured and aesthetically mesmerizing work that challenges traditional narrative forms while exploring profound themes of art, creation, and the mysteries of the human soul. Bantock’s ability to weave together visual and verbal storytelling offers a singular reading experience, one that lingers in the mind long after the final letter is read. For those willing to surrender to its dreamlike logic and embrace its mysteries, The Morningstar is a rewarding and evocative journey.
September 21, 2019
This is the opening postcard to this book.
The rest of the book has as much substance as that, a sweet fortune cookie spewing sugar and wisdom by the sentence. I should've looked closer for lottery numbers.
Before your hunger for Matthew can be satisfied there are certain precautions to be observed. Move fluidly by earth or water and stop to listen to the wind as it whispers your whereabouts. When I ran from Sabine and journeyed to the islands, the more I hurried across the sky, the more dislocated I became. By insulating myself from the elements, I failed my innate need to know exactly where I was. I would arrive, step into the landscape, and feel my body slip into confusion. A gentler pace will give you time to evolve. By keeping low to the ground you will also make yourself less conspicuous to Frolatti's dark angels. Savour the path and enjoy the sun.
The rest of the book has as much substance as that, a sweet fortune cookie spewing sugar and wisdom by the sentence. I should've looked closer for lottery numbers.
May 25, 2022
Again, it is as if the book is attempting to be something it cannot, as if it is trying to encompass more than it is able to. I was happy when it was only about love. I was happy when there were only two characters who shared one singular emotion, and that was enough.
That was enough for me. Now, the metaphors are only growing stronger, and still, I do not understand them. Where there was allure, there is now destruction. I don’t see why beautiful things have to be stopped. I don’t see why they cannot just be beautiful.
Apparently, in the end, they have somehow reunited, but I am still lost. Why are Griffin and Sabine suddenly writing in tandem, and why have we not seen Griffin’s handwriting in such a long while? I’m at a loss.
This did not feel like an ending. It was stark and unreal. I feel like I’ve been chasing the end of a string, just to discover that the other end was in sight.
One more, and I’m hoping it will be different next time.
That was enough for me. Now, the metaphors are only growing stronger, and still, I do not understand them. Where there was allure, there is now destruction. I don’t see why beautiful things have to be stopped. I don’t see why they cannot just be beautiful.
Apparently, in the end, they have somehow reunited, but I am still lost. Why are Griffin and Sabine suddenly writing in tandem, and why have we not seen Griffin’s handwriting in such a long while? I’m at a loss.
This did not feel like an ending. It was stark and unreal. I feel like I’ve been chasing the end of a string, just to discover that the other end was in sight.
One more, and I’m hoping it will be different next time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2020
The Morning Star: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine is Illuminated.
That is a very interesting use of the word "illuminated," my friend. It has been six books and I still have basically no understanding of any of the metaphysical connections between the four main characters or where their powers come from, other than one idea re Sabine and Matthew.
Who knows!! Maybe there will be some (and by some, I mean literally any) closure in The Pharos Gate. But knowing Nick Bantock, probably not.
But I liked the Frolatti plotline a lot and thought it wrapped up reasonably well so I'm rounding up to 4 stars because it's my review and I can.
That is a very interesting use of the word "illuminated," my friend. It has been six books and I still have basically no understanding of any of the metaphysical connections between the four main characters or where their powers come from, other than one idea re Sabine and Matthew.
Who knows!! Maybe there will be some (and by some, I mean literally any) closure in The Pharos Gate. But knowing Nick Bantock, probably not.
But I liked the Frolatti plotline a lot and thought it wrapped up reasonably well so I'm rounding up to 4 stars because it's my review and I can.
December 10, 2022
This book in the series is my least favorite of all the books, including the Griffin and Sabine series and the standalone books I have recently read by Bantock. Overly formal language and an archaic romance. Boring. The art has changed a bit and there is more color and different imagery, which is nice. The stamps are beautiful as always. I’ve noticed rather a lot of bare breasted women in the art and in the writing and on the stamps. (But where are the half naked kourous, Mr. Bantok ??) You have to wonder if the author was newly in love while writing this series. I can’t think of another explanation for the oddly prehistoric sex talk going on here. I do like the title. That is a win for me.
September 29, 2024
Welp, it's over now and I kinda hated it. Such a far cry from the first three books, which I very much enjoyed. I liked when it was Griffin and Sabine... I have come to find Matthew and Isabella insufferable. These last three books have disappointed me more with each book, culminating in... this. Sigh. I have no idea what just happened, and I have no real resolution to anything. It was all so woo-woo, and the romantic writing was just TOO MUCH. Also, did anyone else notice that Sabine's handwriting became Griffin's handwriting in this trilogy? Either that's secretly saying something, or it's the continuity error of the century...
April 30, 2024
I still enjoy the author’s artwork ( love opening the letters from their envelopes) even still at this stage in the series but unfortunately this installment of the story has lost me. It’s become overly flowery without saying anything. Even though the first three books tended toward this as well, it’s verging on dull at this point. But because not much time needs to be invested to read these, I am going to finish the series with the final book The Pharos Gate. I will see if his nonfiction books like Urgent 2nd Class are interesting.
June 15, 2018
This trilogy definitely didn’t always make “logical” sense, but I find that to be the point. I enjoy the intense imagination and ideas behind seeking desires, getting rid of self-doubt, and for lack of a better phrase: pushing yourself to the utmost limits.
No one knows the power that they have inside of them!
I would have liked a bit more explanation of how everything went down and what that meant for Griffin and Sabine more clearly, but again, I don’t think that is the point.
No one knows the power that they have inside of them!
I would have liked a bit more explanation of how everything went down and what that meant for Griffin and Sabine more clearly, but again, I don’t think that is the point.
September 16, 2018
I love this series--epistolary novels where the letters and postcards are actual art objects, where you have to literally remove the letters from their envelopes. Magic, mystery, love, time, space--all themes Bantock explores in these short books, all of which can be read in a single evening for a wonderful escape. Fantastic stuff! (I'm using the same review for all six books. Read them in order.)
August 15, 2023
I'll tell you something else Nick Bantock cannot do and that is finish this dang story. It's about a crazy person in a loony bin, I think, and I'm tired of wondering if the author will play fair with us. I have just decided, after finishing The Pharos Gate, that the answer is no, Nick cannot play fair with his tired audience. So, I finished the pointless story myself: the painter is a nutcase, The End. That's it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2023
The last one in the second trilogy of griffin and Sabine, enjoyed this one also. I think the last one is Pharaoh’s Gate which may be the hardest to get hold of, hoping if I read that one all will become clear? But also maybe not as this is Nick Bantock and all of these books are full of enigma and mystery where nothing is as it seems and end with cliff hangers. These are well worth the read and effort it takes to get them. They need to be reprinted.
May 1, 2020
I was excited to finally know how the story ends and understand the cryptic storytelling. It ended but I was still scratching my head. The beautiful and unusual artwork and use of postcards and letters were still enjoyable as a method of storytelling. I should have guessed that this didn’t wrap everything up in a nice little package as there’s one more book written 13 years after this one.
August 25, 2020
Brilliant and perfect.
Now I have read them all.
But I read them out of order.
Soon I’ll give myself the pleasure of reading them again. Next time I’ll read them in order. Probably should wait a bit until some of the magic has dissipated.
If you haven’t enjoyed these yet, put them high on your list.
Trust me.
Now I have read them all.
But I read them out of order.
Soon I’ll give myself the pleasure of reading them again. Next time I’ll read them in order. Probably should wait a bit until some of the magic has dissipated.
If you haven’t enjoyed these yet, put them high on your list.
Trust me.
April 8, 2022
While I thoroughly enjoyed the first trilogy in the story of Griffin and Sabine, I felt lost paging through the second. The books became increasingly convoluted and I couldn’t quite grasp the imagery and metaphor within. I did enjoy the shouts to Roman and Egyptian mythology, but definitely missed the big picture. The art as always was lovely.
Read
August 13, 2022I discovered that there are three more books in this series. So now I have to keep reading. I thought that I had read all three of the books when I first got them, but I think that I only read the first one. I was pretty busy back then, trying to get tenure and everything, so I didn't have much patience with leisure reading that wasn't utterly straightforward.
October 27, 2022
I continue to be blown away by the beauty of these books, and by the pure tactile pleasure. Taking a letter out of an envlope and reading the letter is a fun thing, and I loved flipping over each page to experience a new letter.
The plot, such as it is.... I can't say it amounted to more than a bunch of mystical mumbo jumbo.
Full stars for tactile pleasure, minimal stars for story.
The plot, such as it is.... I can't say it amounted to more than a bunch of mystical mumbo jumbo.
Full stars for tactile pleasure, minimal stars for story.
February 14, 2023
"It is pointless to be any less than all you can be".
Відкривши The Morning Star вперше я була підкорена форматом. Якщо ви належите до людей, яким у дитинстві (або і не тільки в дитинстві) подобались ці великі дуже тактильні і гарно оформлені видання на кшталт "Єгиптолігії" та "Драконології", вам буде приємно тримати в руках роботи Ніка Бентока. Книги оформлені у вигляді візуально оформленої коресподенції, з листами у конвертах та дуже цікавими листівками у колажному стилі. Зважаюи на те, що це остання частина другої трилогії, я не можу судити історію взагалом, але з того фрагменту з яким я мала можливість ознайомитися, ми отримуємо романтичну історію, натхнену атмосферою дитячих спогадів про казки середнього сходу та пригодничого кіно у цьому ж сеттингу та приправлену дрібкою магічного реалізму. Абсолютно точно збережу на полицях та ознайомлюсь з іншими частинами.
Відкривши The Morning Star вперше я була підкорена форматом. Якщо ви належите до людей, яким у дитинстві (або і не тільки в дитинстві) подобались ці великі дуже тактильні і гарно оформлені видання на кшталт "Єгиптолігії" та "Драконології", вам буде приємно тримати в руках роботи Ніка Бентока. Книги оформлені у вигляді візуально оформленої коресподенції, з листами у конвертах та дуже цікавими листівками у колажному стилі. Зважаюи на те, що це остання частина другої трилогії, я не можу судити історію взагалом, але з того фрагменту з яким я мала можливість ознайомитися, ми отримуємо романтичну історію, натхнену атмосферою дитячих спогадів про казки середнього сходу та пригодничого кіно у цьому ж сеттингу та приправлену дрібкою магічного реалізму. Абсолютно точно збережу на полицях та ознайомлюсь з іншими частинами.
June 15, 2019
Extra Book #22... not for the EBN Challenge.
The final book of the Trilogy.... but it didn't really end. Hmmmm....
These are very quick reads. Like less than an hour to read. Sometimes the handwriting is a little difficult to make out, but thats what makes it fell real.
The final book of the Trilogy.... but it didn't really end. Hmmmm....
These are very quick reads. Like less than an hour to read. Sometimes the handwriting is a little difficult to make out, but thats what makes it fell real.
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