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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Notably bad editing as usual. Part two is where the good stuffs at
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
As mind bending and strange as the rest of the Area X series, I liked this one as a take on three separate yet connected times within the southern reach. Seeing the effect of the phenomenon on those who go within the boundaries play out over a period of time was something I appreciated, and each part building on the last and informing it
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
I don't even know what to say. What a wildly fucked up book, a delicious corridor back into Area X...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a wild and twisted ride this was. From spy shenanigans, to guns that become gars and a man with fingers that become mangroves, the return to Area X was a blast. I like the way the three stories came together as though they were supporting one another while also each standing as their own little story. The first one was like a fever dream of cannibalistic rabbits and the ever encroaching approach of the Rogue. I really liked the way this one built up a sense of dread until it all sort of came to a head. The second stretch was a spy thriller type story which was interesting and explored the idea of a doppelganger from the emotional side of things. And the final part was about the first expedition and involved some of the more grotesque imagery of the story. The narrator at this part was a huge pain to read at the start, but eventually the story settled into its groove in Area X. While the central mystery wasn't as gripping as the main books, this one was a very welcome addition to the series. Here's to hoping there might be more.
I was kind of hyped up for this seeing the premise and curious what would come of the author returning to this world almost a decade later and doing a prequel. It felt very much like a Southern Reach novel again, but was kind of a mixed bag as large portions of this was most reminiscent of “Authority”, the second book of the original trilogy and also the worst of the original three. A lot of this focused on the spy organization again, which was always the weakest part of the original series. The opening section about Dead Town was interesting, and the last section where we go on the first expedition with Lowry felt closer to the best book of the OG3 (aka “Annihilation”) in that we followed the twists and turns of being part of an adventure inside Area X…but the problem was the parts in between, which were of course the largest parts of the book. I felt myself having to really force myself to keep going in the middle there, until I got to the last hundred pages or so. The writing is still fun and fresh to read—Vandermeer’s favorite words come back (leviathan and preternatural), and while at first Lowry’s excessive cussing as a symptom of drugs and paranoia seemed an odd choice, it became a kind of amusing quirk that I enjoyed, breathing a bit of whimsy and energy back in at the end after the slog in the middle. There was one section that Lowry just goes off the rails and I bet as an author that was a fun bit to write. This also kind of answered some questions, but again left things up in the air, as the Southern Reach novels tend to do.
Would I recommend this to anyone? Maybe. If they read the full three books of the OG3, then probably yeah might as well see some of the new things in this world and how they overlap with the other three (particularly with aspects from the last book, “Acceptance”). For a passing fan of maybe one book of the first series, probably not worth it. Will I read another book if Vandermeer decides to write another in this world. Yes, but with slightly lower expectations than I had going in with this one. Three stars felt about right for this offering
Would I recommend this to anyone? Maybe. If they read the full three books of the OG3, then probably yeah might as well see some of the new things in this world and how they overlap with the other three (particularly with aspects from the last book, “Acceptance”). For a passing fan of maybe one book of the first series, probably not worth it. Will I read another book if Vandermeer decides to write another in this world. Yes, but with slightly lower expectations than I had going in with this one. Three stars felt about right for this offering
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes