Reviews - Absolution | The StoryGraph

1.58k reviews for:

Absolution

Jeff VanderMeer

3.73 AVERAGE

stephaniepoli's review against another edition

3.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Do not read this expecting answers. A long winded conclusion that doesn't satisfy or add much clarity to Area X. But the characters are the deepest dive, and Lowry had me laughing and gagging so there's that.

arborapollonis's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Loveable characters: Complicated

Delightfully weird and harrowing at the same time.

karlaruanoj's review against another edition

4.0

I started reading the Southern Reach saga thanks to the recommendation of my dear friend Manny. From the very beginning, I was completely immersed in this universe and had a constant feeling of "what the actual f*ck is happening" throughout the entire book. It's the kind of book that requires you to keep an open mind and understand that you may never fully grasp what is happening, but it's a very good kind of "WTF." The fourth book in the saga was shocking because I never expected to return to the southern reach. However, when I saw the chance to get an ARC, I went for it. Keeping in mind that I have a love for the trillogy even if book three wasn't mine fav I started the book with high hopes and loving the new editions.The book takes us back 20 years before the barrier on area X came down and 18 months before and during the first expedition. This results in a lot of timeline jumps throughout the story. So the book is divided in three parts that take lots of attention and at moments feel heavy to read. Okay I need admit I get a bit disappointed and bored at the beginning BUT I was surprised excited when I realise we kinda get answers on this book. The answers we have been craving since the first book are supplemented with even more new questions. After reading this book, I have to say that it's probably my favorite of the series so far, as it provides much-needed points of view and reveals many details. Some things that initially seemed unimportant turned out to be significant, and we were mistaken not to recognize their importance earlier. I love the flora and fauna, and I always adore the feeling of terror when everything starts to fail, and the characters seem unaware as they NOT try to leave the place. I like that this place can make you question everything, disappear, or even kill you. In the end, the most important character in this book is The area X, is what we being missing all this time and is a fascinating and terrifying place, and I'm eager to learn more about it. Jeff Vandermeer's book it is both awful and beautiful, and it's left me wanting more. Specifically, I'm interested in getting signed hardback editions of the entire series take my money Jeff!

imsosobored's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

andrewgolden's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious slow-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: No

wiltedneck's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I think, for me, Vandermeer's schtick has run it's course. Book 1 was mysterious and pacy, Book 2 took a look from the other side of things, Book 3 gave personalities to characters in the first 2... And book 4 just kept questioning itself, incessantly. Who knows what anyone knows. No one knows! No one's name is ever their real name. Everyone's name comes to them from Area X magic. Central is an all powerful agency, but it's not, but the factions, but the spies are super spies, but they're not. Area X is fundamentally unknowable but also time passes differently there, and it's spooky nature!

4 books in and the unsteady ground is just tiring to walk on, not thrilling. Vandermeer takes it even further this book by having whole scenes disjoint while in Area X (again, I get it's function but it's just irritating to be reading and think "how the hell did I get here" and have to reread the last 2 paragraphs to make sense of someone's brain melting the narrative). The final 2/3rds of the book had some incomprehensible/near incomprehensible sections that, truthfully, I just let wash in one ear and put the other because I knew it would make no difference to the outcome or feel of the story for me.

If you do like these things it seems like the sleuths of reddit have found them endlessly rereadable, so I think that could be fun for anyone who IS invested in these books.