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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
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
mosshaunt's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
struggled to get through this one. something about it made me reread passages a lot, thinking i missed something.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Animal death, Cancer, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol, Fatphobia, Racism, and Vomit
antigonecounterpart's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
4.0
Despite a really slow start, to the point where even I considered dropping it, the last 100 or so pages are some of the best horror I've read. I think Vandermeer is talented in making things alien. In Annihilation, it was nature. Here, It's man made structures and rules.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Animal death
scifi_rat's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Gore, Racism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Body horror, Cursing, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Violence
moonytoast's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
while i do still enjoy this series so far, i think this particular book suffers from immediately following up annihilation, which was significantly shorter and, in my opinion, much better paced. this unfolds very slowly in comparison and — even though the story was still engaging overall and the writing style retains its tone — makes it a less enjoyable experience as it begins to feel like the narrative is lagging.
all that being said: i think the dynamic between control and the biologist was really interesting as the story played out and i liked where authority picked up from its predecessor by revealing that "versions" of the expedition members (including the biologist) have returned to the outside world, throwing the reader off given the ending of annihilation. there's an understanding of the fact that this is not the same biologist we knew and experienced in the first book, but we as the reader don't fully understand how much they remember and understand what happened in area x. that element as well as the revelation of certain things about the psychologist on the previous expedition were intriguing.
***this rating may change once i have officially finished this series
all that being said: i think the dynamic between control and the biologist was really interesting as the story played out and i liked where authority picked up from its predecessor by revealing that "versions" of the expedition members (including the biologist) have returned to the outside world, throwing the reader off given the ending of annihilation. there's an understanding of the fact that this is not the same biologist we knew and experienced in the first book, but we as the reader don't fully understand how much they remember and understand what happened in area x. that element as well as the revelation of certain things about the psychologist on the previous expedition were intriguing.
***this rating may change once i have officially finished this series
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
aloy's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Minor: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Death
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
Ah. I accidentally read this after reading the third and final book. Well. I'd have to say it's kinda maybe the weakest in the series. Not that it's poorly written, just that maybe it doesn't need to exist, per se. It does feel like backstory for the third and final book, but then again you could vice versa that sentiment.
While Annihilation takes place inside Area X, Authority preexists just outside, after the first books expedition. The bureaucratic side isn't any less chaotic and suffocating. You'll want answers, and you will want.
Can you expect anything different?
content warnings:
minor ableism towards people who use drugs, alcohol use, animal death, animal death, arson, blood, child abuse, fire, gore, hate crime, homophobia, parental death, smoking tobacco, vomit / emetophobia
medium alcohol use, animal death, cancer, death, drowning, gore, religion christianity?, self harm?
major body horror, death, gun violence, guns, murder, unreality, violence
Ah. I accidentally read this after reading the third and final book. Well. I'd have to say it's kinda maybe the weakest in the series. Not that it's poorly written, just that maybe it doesn't need to exist, per se. It does feel like backstory for the third and final book, but then again you could vice versa that sentiment.
While Annihilation takes place inside Area X, Authority preexists just outside, after the first books expedition. The bureaucratic side isn't any less chaotic and suffocating. You'll want answers, and you will want.
Can you expect anything different?
content warnings:
minor ableism towards people who use drugs, alcohol use, animal death, animal death, arson, blood, child abuse, fire, gore, hate crime, homophobia, parental death, smoking tobacco, vomit / emetophobia
medium alcohol use, animal death, cancer, death, drowning, gore, religion christianity?, self harm?
major body horror, death, gun violence, guns, murder, unreality, violence
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Self harm, Mental illness, Gore, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Murder, Gun violence, Alcoholism, and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Mass/school shootings, Animal death, and Vomit