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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honest to god, from someone who gave Annihilation 5 stars and who liked the original trilogy, 1.5 stars. This book was straight dookie. He must have had some bills to pay. Total unmoored disconnected noncommittal nonsense. I finished the book so that I could be a credible hater, but listening to 87 f-bombs in a row and every other word at 1.75x speed almost broke me. Who would even want Lowry’s perspective he’s insufferable. Old Jim is practically just a straw man version of Saul Evans. The only interesting character, Cass, was of COURSE not delved in to as much. Why not have the book from her perspective? Anyway. Massive waste of my time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3 stars because VanderMeer is a fantastic wordsmith doing fascinating things, but I really can't rate this any higher because as a novel, it sucks.
It's not really a novel, more like three connected novellas that would've better suited being exclusive material available to super-fans via a Patreon. What I mean is that if you generally liked the original trilogy and hoped this book would reveal new things about Area X/Central/etc. or otherwise expand the universe, you will be disappointed. What's presented here is more like...minutiae about events and characters we already know that only people who starving for ANY new content would find rewarding.
As a reading experience, VanderMeer write really interesting prose and has some amazing images, but story-wise...this dragged. Pacing is all over the place, and each novella ends just as it starts to get intriguing. Plus, there's no narrative payoff.
The only good thing I can say this book did for me is that it made me appreciate Authority and Acceptance more because this book makes them look much better in comparison. Annihilation remains the best novel in the series by far.
It's not really a novel, more like three connected novellas that would've better suited being exclusive material available to super-fans via a Patreon. What I mean is that if you generally liked the original trilogy and hoped this book would reveal new things about Area X/Central/etc. or otherwise expand the universe, you will be disappointed. What's presented here is more like...minutiae about events and characters we already know that only people who starving for ANY new content would find rewarding.
As a reading experience, VanderMeer write really interesting prose and has some amazing images, but story-wise...this dragged. Pacing is all over the place, and each novella ends just as it starts to get intriguing. Plus, there's no narrative payoff.
The only good thing I can say this book did for me is that it made me appreciate Authority and Acceptance more because this book makes them look much better in comparison. Annihilation remains the best novel in the series by far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
challenging
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
I loved this book, and I loved this series. Absolution genuinely does wrap up the themes of the series so well; the ideas that Vandermeer wrestles with shine through, in part with how much the third act’s protagonist’s psyche and worldview contrasts with the people who have been hollowed out by life in different ways than him that narrate much of the entire series.
The idea that ignorance alone is not the sole determining factor for dealing with Area X will sit with me for a long time, that sheer selfishness and stubbornness could also win out even in the face of absolute oblivion. What a novel and what a series.
The idea that ignorance alone is not the sole determining factor for dealing with Area X will sit with me for a long time, that sheer selfishness and stubbornness could also win out even in the face of absolute oblivion. What a novel and what a series.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Cannibalism
Moderate: Abandonment
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
Holy fuckballs, what did I just read.
I have been obsessed with the Southern Reach since I read the first few words of Annihilation, and this new installment has given me plenty to chew on.
As with the nature of the universe of these books, it gave me so much and left me with so many things to contemplate. Loved the Old Jim perspective, really struggled at times with Lowry, which I believe is by design.
Feeling a desperate need to read all four books, like, now.
Every time I read more is revealed.
I have been obsessed with the Southern Reach since I read the first few words of Annihilation, and this new installment has given me plenty to chew on.
As with the nature of the universe of these books, it gave me so much and left me with so many things to contemplate. Loved the Old Jim perspective, really struggled at times with Lowry, which I believe is by design.
Feeling a desperate need to read all four books, like, now.
Every time I read more is revealed.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced