54.2k reviews for:

Piranezis

Susanna Clarke

4.3 AVERAGE

wardreads's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

chellew's review against another edition

4.75

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

aredlund's review against another edition

5.0

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

sonntagthedog's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

olliemnandez's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

psychborg's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Told through an ingeniously used journal, "Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke pulls you into its fantastic setting—a limitless, dream-like House of halls and statues. The slow, deliberate start is not a flaw but a feature, lulling you into the protagonist's ritualistic and peaceful worldview. This makes the subsequent build-up in pace all the more powerful as the journal entries transform into a tool for uncovering a dark mystery and a stolen past. The villains are perfectly pitched, with "The Other" standing out as a chilling portrait of intellectual exploitation and gaslighting. A short novel that feels vast, and a puzzle that resolves with emotional weight.

hamptonj's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

twebb91's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

margaret002's review against another edition

4.0

mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kat10's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated