Reviews - Absolution | The StoryGraph

1.59k reviews for:

Absolution

Jeff VanderMeer

3.73 AVERAGE

alayhuh's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

This was an enjoyable return to the world of Area X - I did really like the main protagonist a lot more than those of the other Area X books and that fact that it was so much longer than the other books really allowed Vandermeer to be intentional with pace.

texasrambler's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

j_yarbrough's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

banjo_hammer's review against another edition

3.25

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If you liked the Southern Reach trilogy, then you'll like this. Reading the trilogy first isn't essential, but it probably makes a very disorienting book less disorienting.

Don't go into this one expecting answers, or at least clear answers. Looming and ominous uncertainty pretty much define these stories, so that should be a given.

The story focused on minor characters from the trilogy. As many have said, the third act uses an absurd amount of profanity, in a way that makes sense for the narrator but it can be off-putting until you're used to it. Just remember, language loses all meaning in Area X.

jimmehgeebs's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Vandermeer dives back into Area X with new prequel-esque coverage of the Southern Reach and its expeditions. Old Jim's story overall was compelling and surprisingly emotional. The third act, as many have said, is tough to get through if you're not a fan of profanity. That and also the bit where Lowry was hungry. Admittedly, I found the overwhelming profanity funny -- it felt like a callback to the Footnotes in the Ambergris universe.

I listened to the audiobook -- the reader, Bronson Pinchot, has read several other Vandermeer books (Ambergris being one), and his voice feels almost synonymous with Duncan Shriek, Control, Old Jim, and Lowry.

This one definitely isn't for everyone, and I completely understand the gripes others have had with Act 3, but overall, it definitely makes the Area X universe that much more interesting.

Content Warnings

mandyberryholmes's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This was not my favorite of the Southern Reach series. I felt like I was left with more questions than answers. And the continued use of “f***” in the end chapters was both gratuitous and tiresome. But I did like having some different perspectives from the missing expeditions.
The feel of the book is almost boring but simultaneously so unsettling it keeps you reading. I will read anything by VanderMeer at this point though; the man is genius.