Reviews - Absolution | The StoryGraph

1.57k reviews for:

Absolution

Jeff VanderMeer

3.73 AVERAGE

makennahbristow's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kakinou's review against another edition

4.0

My brain is broken so it took me forever to read this but what a ride!!! The last part was so uncomfortable to read and I’m not talking about the cannibalism part. Truly had to fight back the strongest “ain’t reading all that. im happy for you tho. or sorry that happened.” urge I’ve ever felt. Cannot wait to read everyone’s theories!

huntress181's review against another edition

3.25

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

noshyira's review against another edition

The first 304 pages were fine and then the pov changed and it became impossible to read.

bex_knighthunter's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a very VanderMeer book, but I don't think one of my favourites. There are 3 parts, focussing on different time periods. I enjoyed the first two but really struggled with the third part from the perspective of Lowry who is extremely unlikeable and I found jarringly sweary. I didn't find the other main character 'Old Jim' particularly likeable either although he was at least sympathetic in a similar way to 'Control' in Authority. I found following the plot threads harder in this book than the earlier ones too, and that's after having reread them all recently. I do just find the whole world and story of Area X absolutely fascinating and so I enjoyed this book mainly for uncovering the mystery of it! Despite my lower rating for this installation, I can see myself rereading this and potentially enjoying it more second time around. I'm glad VanderMeer keeps adding to this series as each book feels so different and weird in it's own way, but still working together to show all angles of the enigma that is Area X. Recommended for fans, particularly if you liked Authority as here we are catching more of a glimpse of Central (rather than Southern Reach in Authority) and the crazy bureaucracy full of people on power trips making questionable decisions.