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bluebellfallen's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.75
This book is a fantastic read and I cannot recommend it enough!!
The main character (known to the audience as Piranesi) keeps a written log of his life and his discoveries within the (labyrinthine) House / World he resides in.
The book is made up of Piranesi's journal entries, and as time goes on, the audience starts to see a much darker story at work.
Piranesi is an unreliable narrator (we only see what he deems important enough to write about after all), but the structure of the book makes this a very intimate reading experience. I cannot provide much detail without spoiling the book, but it is absolutely and without a doubt my current favorite book I've ever read - and I haven't chosen a new one of those in literal years.
The only place this book fell a little short for me was the final transitional entries between Piranesi's interactions with the 16th, and his final entry about the House before the book ends - that section felt a bit long to me, like I was just *waiting* for that final entry that I knew was coming and would be so satisfying. And it was! ... when we finally got there. And I get why that section is there and feels like that - Piranesi is continuing to accurately log his experiences as best he can, and quite some time passed between that interaction with the 16th and the final entry - but even knowing why and agreeing that yes, it should in fact be there, it was my least favorite part of the book.
Other than that one, very minor issue? Absolutely, without a doubt, 100% a masterpiece.
The main character (known to the audience as Piranesi) keeps a written log of his life and his discoveries within the (labyrinthine) House / World he resides in.
The book is made up of Piranesi's journal entries, and as time goes on, the audience starts to see a much darker story at work.
Piranesi is an unreliable narrator (we only see what he deems important enough to write about after all), but the structure of the book makes this a very intimate reading experience. I cannot provide much detail without spoiling the book, but it is absolutely and without a doubt my current favorite book I've ever read - and I haven't chosen a new one of those in literal years.
The only place this book fell a little short for me was the final transitional entries between Piranesi's interactions with the 16th, and his final entry about the House before the book ends - that section felt a bit long to me, like I was just *waiting* for that final entry that I knew was coming and would be so satisfying. And it was! ... when we finally got there. And I get why that section is there and feels like that - Piranesi is continuing to accurately log his experiences as best he can, and quite some time passed between that interaction with the 16th and the final entry - but even knowing why and agreeing that yes, it should in fact be there, it was my least favorite part of the book.
Other than that one, very minor issue? Absolutely, without a doubt, 100% a masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Kidnapping
kitkathw871's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Brilliant storytelling that feels like walking in a labyrinth. I am not a fantasy person so the world building in the first part was a little hard to get through, but I read the rest of the book in one go. I love the way the story unfolds as you gain more and more information alongside Piranesi, but the focus stays on him and his wonderment of discovery even while the fascinating backstory unravels. This book is a delight even while handling some dark subject matters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Kidnapping
ursa_arlo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I really liked this book, especially the slow unraveling of Myself's mystery and the descriptions of the House, but I think I was led astray by all of the positive reviews.
Because, while Piranesi is a good book with an interesting format and mystery, I have read similar books that are similar in subject that hit a little harder and push the boundaries a little further. (A personal favourite is Beneath the world, a sea.) So ultimately I was a bit disappointed by the end.
Because, while Piranesi is a good book with an interesting format and mystery, I have read similar books that are similar in subject that hit a little harder and push the boundaries a little further. (A personal favourite is Beneath the world, a sea.) So ultimately I was a bit disappointed by the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood
lonelylooper's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Dementia, Confinement, and Mental illness
Moderate: Murder, Slavery, Death, Homophobia, and Gun violence
Minor: Fatphobia, Deadnaming, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Cursing
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dementia, Confinement, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Murder and Cursing
aristarcodisamo's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit, Addiction, Cursing, Excrement, and Mental illness
hobby1's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
rubyredders's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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
2.25
,I get why this is a highly rated book but it is just not for me.
I felt very distant from the characters, short of a general feeling ofKetterley is a massive cunt I would like to see get his comeuppance and a feeling of sympathy for Piranesi for being so blindly optimistic.
Despite the shortness of the story it felt like it really dragged to me. It took until after the first 50% before I felt anything other than god I hope this speeds up soon.
The world sounded interesting but I just couldn't engage with it and found the mapping of the place difficult (although I think that was kind of the point, it was still somewhat frustrating)
The ending left me more confused as to if I was supposed to feel some grand awe inspiring emotion or not - that was it? Huh, ok then.
The references to other media and locations were neat though when noticed, such as the allusion to C.S.Lewis' Mr Tumnus speaking to Lucy under the lamppost early on in the first half.
I think this is one of those books you'll either really enjoy or will struggle to connect to and for me it was the latter.
The slow start and unsatisfying ending is what ultimately has me giving this such a low rating though I can see how this would be a compelling story for others if you can really sink yourself into the mystery of the world early on, as Piranesi has such an optimistic view of the world and joyful nature that you want to see him achieve a happy ending(the lack of which is part of the reason why I think the ending feels so unsatisfying)
I felt very distant from the characters, short of a general feeling of
Despite the shortness of the story it felt like it really dragged to me. It took until after the first 50% before I felt anything other than god I hope this speeds up soon.
The world sounded interesting but I just couldn't engage with it and found the mapping of the place difficult (although I think that was kind of the point, it was still somewhat frustrating)
The ending left me more confused as to if I was supposed to feel some grand awe inspiring emotion or not - that was it? Huh, ok then.
The references to other media and locations were neat though when noticed, such as the allusion to C.S.Lewis' Mr Tumnus speaking to Lucy under the lamppost early on in the first half.
I think this is one of those books you'll either really enjoy or will struggle to connect to and for me it was the latter.
The slow start and unsatisfying ending is what ultimately has me giving this such a low rating though I can see how this would be a compelling story for others if you can really sink yourself into the mystery of the world early on, as Piranesi has such an optimistic view of the world and joyful nature that you want to see him achieve a happy ending
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Death, and Abandonment
acorny's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Death
yellowbinge's review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit