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dora_ysh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
diredreamings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
aachessin's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
malynn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
paper_mache_reader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
4.5
Part fantasy, part sci-fi, part thriller. This books has you determined to understand the fate (and the history!) of Piranesi at every turn. The blurb doesn't do it justice. It could never do it justice. A complicated adventure
saoirse_the_thespian's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tomcat0's review against another edition
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
4.5
anle_w's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Gaslighting
bfrance99's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
An incredibly unique and powerful fantasy book, about innocence, identity, mental illness and belonging. I was immediately captivated by the House, with its Halls and Tides giving almost an eerie, dark academia setting. The main character, Piranesi, intrigued me, and his mental journey as the plot and his mind unravels was brilliantly written. This is truly a one-in-a-million book and I wish I could forget it all, just to reread it again.
slowshows's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
“I almost forgot to breathe. For a moment I had an inkling of what it might be like if instead of two people in the World there were thousands.”
what a stunningly haunting book! the first chapter or two are definitely confusing as you’re thrust straight into this strange labyrinthine story, but the payoff as it unfolds is so worth it; you really just have to trust a story sometimes. the writing is economical, yet so marvelous at the same time, piranesi’s love and admiration of the House and its surroundings bleeding through the narration. i loved piranesi as a protagonist the way i don’t think i’ve loved a main character in a very long time; he is so earnest and endearing, which makes his fate all the more devastating.
piranesi reads as a dream and a nightmare and a puzzle. i can see that some readers might find the almost lack of a huge climax unappealing, but i can’t think of a more suitable ending than the devastatingly quiet manner in which the mystery unravelled. somewhere around the 80% mark i felt a heaviness in my heart & didn’t stop crying until the end. it’s incredible how masterful clarke is at evoking that oppressive loneliness piranesi feels. it’s the kind of read that i will have to come back to, as i’m sure i will find new perspectives each time.
i’ve listened this partly on audiobook and i have to give chiwetel ejiofor his flowers - it was one of the most masterfully-done audiobooks i have listened to; he breathes so much life into piranesi and his story.