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miller8d's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved that this book felt like a refreshing escape from the normal structure and narrative that many fiction books follow. I was surprised by most of the book, and deeply appreciated that the magic of this universe was both fantastical and simple, both logical and inexplicable. I found myself confused about the storyline/losing focus frequently throughout the book, which normally would bother me, but it felt like I was experiencing the same thing as the narrator LOL, which I enjoyed. I found the narrator’s genuinely kind soul very touching and deeply enjoyed the process of discovering what had happened. I didn’t realize it was a mystery novel until halfway through which is awesome. The well-established isolated world meant that, with the appearance of each new person or information, it was genuinely shocking. Very interesting and refreshing read. Also, I pictured The Other as Brett Goldstein.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Dementia, Confinement, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Trafficking, and Blood
Although this book covers many dark topics,jasminrain's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely brilliant piece of dark academia exploring the depths that people are willing to go to in the search for knowledge. I don't think it's a book for everyone - it is slow and there needs to be a certain appreciation for learning and knowledge to take interest in the book and its characters. But it is a truly astonishing piece of literature bringing together mystery, magical realism, ancient world and academia. I cannot say I've ever read anything quite like it before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence
aidareads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Vomit
spineofthesaurus's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Torture, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Slavery, and Ableism
wishbea's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Cursing
literaryscouser's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
This book is a little wild. The magical realism and religious undertones make for a wonderful combination. Honestly, I feel like if I go into too much detail I might spoil something, as there is a part of me still unsure about what I read- in the best way possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Cursing
Minor: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, and Vomit
tomas_lw's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A haunting tale and an intriguing mystery. I could barely put it down. This is a story that will live in my mind for many years.
My only complaint is that there is a part of the book, after the central mystery is mostly revealed but before the climax begins to build where the book lost its pace and rhythm for bit but t got it back and stuck the landing magnificently.
My only complaint is that there is a part of the book, after the central mystery is mostly revealed but before the climax begins to build where the book lost its pace and rhythm for bit but t got it back and stuck the landing magnificently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death
It's not quite as bad as the tags make it sound though. But there's some heavy stuff in it.novemberreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Kidnapping and Emotional abuse
shannabanana6's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really cool sci fi book. The world of the Labyrinth was so cool and Piranesi's love and reverence toward it and the world is admirable, to find beauty in everything is not easy but I think that's the moral of the story here. There's also some more intense aspects too which is kind of a strange mix of trauma/sadness and love and beauty. I found the resolution at the end of the book rather satisfying although I want to know more bout how he's getting on in this new world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
ambers's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm of two minds about this book. I read the whole thing in one sitting, and I honestly thought I was going to give it 5/5 stars. Then, as I started to think about it, I changed that to 4/5. At the time of actually siting down to write this review, I've dropped it to 3.5/5.
Why? There was obviously plenty that I loved, given my knee jerk reaction. The lush writing, the strange ecology, the dreamlike quality and its descent into nightmare - all of that was fantastic. Unfortunately, I can't get past the author's choice to write her only gay character as a predatory villain with a pattern of taking advantage of younger men, including lumping his sexuality in with his 'transgressive' nature (which explicitly includes several despicable acts). It isn't that queer characters can't be villains (although I would, honestly, caution authors to be careful of that regardless - being aware of harmful tropes is important), but this particular blend of using sexuality to highlight someone's perversion is harmful and dated. The longer I sit with that, the more I sour on this book. It's a real shame, because Piranesi could've been something beautiful.
Why? There was obviously plenty that I loved, given my knee jerk reaction. The lush writing, the strange ecology, the dreamlike quality and its descent into nightmare - all of that was fantastic. Unfortunately, I can't get past the author's choice to write her only gay character as a predatory villain with a pattern of taking advantage of younger men, including lumping his sexuality in with his 'transgressive' nature (which explicitly includes several despicable acts). It isn't that queer characters can't be villains (although I would, honestly, caution authors to be careful of that regardless - being aware of harmful tropes is important), but this particular blend of using sexuality to highlight someone's perversion is harmful and dated. The longer I sit with that, the more I sour on this book. It's a real shame, because Piranesi could've been something beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Murder