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applesodaperson's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was actually a really good sequel to this series. In true sequel fashion, it created way more questions than it answered. Like the reader still has no idea what Area X is, or what created it. It just seems to make things more twisted and spooky.
The number one thing this book created more questions about was the director/the psychologist from the first book. Her old office was so atmospheric and borderline gross. I swear I could smell the icky, mildew-y carpet smell. And what was going on with the plant and the mouse in the drawers? It also brought her connection to Area X to life, becauseshe knew the lighthouse keeper when she was a child. It is just interesting that this character was given such depth, because in the first book, she is definitely a secondary antagonist, the first being Area X itself. But I guess that just serves to show that the biologist is not necessarily a reliable narrator. This book also gives some insight into the biologist. Because now it is revealed that the biologist that came out of Area X is the double, not the original, and is seemingly not afraid to be open about that. Very spooky. It also brings the question of if the other 2 who came back were doubles (it is implied that they were). And also why didn't a double of the psychology come back?
I also liked the new character of control. He felt pretty realistic and was entertaining. He is basically a nepo baby himbo. But I liked the way he slowly went crazy and started to doubt his perception of the Southern Reach. Only for it to be revealed that he has beenhypnotized to forget certain things by Lowry and his mom. I also liked his strange alliance with Ghost Bird at the end.
My only criticisms were that it wasn't as scary as the first book, and didn't give me that breathless, edge of my seat terror.
I also think that there were a few too many characters. The simplicity of the cast in the first one was definitely a strength.
Overall I liked this book though.
Read borrowed copy from Hannah.
The number one thing this book created more questions about was the director/the psychologist from the first book. Her old office was so atmospheric and borderline gross. I swear I could smell the icky, mildew-y carpet smell. And what was going on with the plant and the mouse in the drawers? It also brought her connection to Area X to life, because
I also liked the new character of control. He felt pretty realistic and was entertaining. He is basically a nepo baby himbo. But I liked the way he slowly went crazy and started to doubt his perception of the Southern Reach. Only for it to be revealed that he has been
My only criticisms were that it wasn't as scary as the first book, and didn't give me that breathless, edge of my seat terror.
I also think that there were a few too many characters. The simplicity of the cast in the first one was definitely a strength.
Overall I liked this book though.
Read borrowed copy from Hannah.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death
judassilver's review
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Body horror
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Gun violence, Grief, and Death
sophieamreacher's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Utterly bizarre, I felt like I was being hypnotised myself. Really interesting plot, characters and concept. The writing was intriguing and kept me feeling disorientated like the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Cancer, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Alcohol, Abandonment, Grief, and Gun violence
toastrats's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Body horror
emilywemily6's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book was weird just like the last one, but it was much slower and lots compelling to read. We got relatively few answers for the length of this book, and while it was interesting to take a different perspective on Area X, it was mildly frustrating. I think this writing style is not for me and most of the book said nothing and then big moments were passed over too quickly for me to grasp. It was still intriguing, and kind of a pseudo-character study, but the payoff was not as much as I anticipated when I started reading it. I’ll probably read the next one to get more answers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Torture, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Cancer
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking, Misogyny, Cancer, Terminal illness, Confinement, and Alcohol
Minor: War, Sexual content, Gun violence, Cursing, and Abandonment
bomenvernietiger's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Brave choice to not feature a new expedition into the area at all, and to completely rely on the academic and administrative side of the plot, but it pays off. Because of this, the story sometimes gets a little too slow, but overall the slow-burn works well.
Very colourful prose, sometimes trying a little too much to be clever, occasionally leading to metaphors and expressions that are just a little weird.
Very colourful prose, sometimes trying a little too much to be clever, occasionally leading to metaphors and expressions that are just a little weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Gun violence, Mental illness, Child abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Cursing
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
athryn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Much more literary in feel than the previous book, I can see why people don't like this follow up as much. There's seemingly not a whole lot that goes on for a good 3/4 of the book, right up until the end. It's a lot of mystery and pondering of what's actually going on. But I still found it pretty entertaining.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer and Death
calico_camaraderie's review
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, and Cancer
Minor: Death and Death of parent
samdalefox's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Incredibly disappointing after the first book. For the first 10% of the audiobook I actually quite liked the change in perspective, I thought it would be interesting to gain insight into the authority and researchers behind area X. But no, what this book is instead is a steady stream of conciousness from the new Director of the Southern Reach (John Rodriguez/Control). We only get small, unsatisfying, tidbits about area X that neither inform or grow the mystery, only frustrate the reader (in a bad way). We get long winded descriptions of the Director's daily habits that do not build suspense, only boredom. He frequently over anaylses and describes things by what they are not, rather than what they are, which is infuriating. We get no substantial insight into the 'authority' of the Southern Reach. Where there is any possibility for an insteresting sub-plot, it is completely forgotten about e.g., Whitby's artwork or the plant, mouse, and mobile phone.
At over double the length of 'Annihilation', I frankly don't see why this book is justifiable, or even necessary at all. I guessed the indicators of theings going awry e.g., the rotting honey smell, the doppelganger biologist, the voice using hypnotic control and did not find any of the story's 'revelations' shocking e.g., Control's fieldwork fuck up, the old Director returning, or the area X border advancing/breaching. Overall, this is mostly useless filler story, I will however read the final installment with high hopes of a better ending since the first book was so excellent.
At over double the length of 'Annihilation', I frankly don't see why this book is justifiable, or even necessary at all. I guessed the indicators of theings going awry e.g.,
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, and Murder