Zachary Ezra Rawlins spends most of his time in his university library, mostly because he loves to read, but also because he thinks that books are more interesting than people. So when he discovers an old looking book that doesn’t seem to have an author’s name written anywhere on it, he can’t help but take it home. His fascination quickly turns to panic when he realizes that one of the short stories in the book is written about him. And when he turns to the last page of the book, he sees three symbols: a bee, a key and a sword. Zachary soon becomes obsessed with this book, its mysterious author and what the symbols mean, and decides that he must search for answers. But when he leaves home he finds much more than answers, and ends up getting lost in a magical world full of bees, cats, and countless lost stories. 

I loved this book so much, and it is definitely now a favourite. The main thing that I liked about it was the author’s unique writing style. At the beginning it felt a bit overwhelming being introduced to such a magical place through so many different short stories, but it was satisfying to read as they all came together to form a beautiful plot. The writing of this book is very whimsical with a fairy-tale kind of feel to it, and it makes the story feel extra magical, and also a little nostalgic. The characters in this book range from people to fate and time, and I enjoyed how so many characters were unexpected, but still made sense in the story. The setting was also incredible, Erin Morgenstern created a very intricate world that is so addicting to read about, and it constantly made me want to learn more about it. 

Overall I would describe this as a book for people who love reading, suitable for teens and adults. Another book with a unique magical world is Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor.