aliyachaudhry's review
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Cursing, Vomit, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Trafficking
Moderate: Excrement, Mental illness, Murder, and Gun violence
gusipetch's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ridiculously readable. Fast paced, intriguing, absolutely brilliant.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Cursing, Confinement, and Child death
gcherry64's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Kidnapping, and Death
Moderate: Murder and Slavery
tulilipz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the beginning felt very slow, but then it got suuuuper interesting. i was totally captivated by the story. sadly the ending felt again flat… i still believe it’s a brilliant book though, and i do recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Death
Minor: Fatphobia and Vomit
levesc17's review
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow! What an unusual book; lovely and thought provoking, and fantastical. It’s told from one character journaling the whole story and the narrator’s voice is delightful and whimsical which guides you through the mystery of the plot effortlessly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Murder and Vomit
chalkletters's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Piranesi was a Christmas gift from Rebecca, and being picked for Fantasy Book Club means I’m actually ‘allowed’ to read it, even though this blog still has more fantasy reviews than any other single genre. I went into it knowing nothing, except that I’d liked what I’d read of Susanna Clarke’s last book, but hadn’t even come close to finishing it. Piranesi is much shorter, but both novels have been written in a metafictional way which foregrounds the process of writing.
Like Beatrice Belladonna Eastwood (The Once and Future Witches), Piranesiis another character who values notebooks and journal-keeping. His journals even have a separate notebook which serves as an index, which will surely excite any bullet journal fans reading! Writing advice often insists that every character needs a goal, but for most of the novel, it’s hard to tell what, exactly, Piranesi is looking for. Despite this, and the fact that he spends much of the book alone, Susanna Clarke keeps his story interesting.
Piranesi’s thought-process is refreshingly different. Like The Napoleon of Notting Hill, Susanna Clarke includes thought-provoking insights which invite the reader to think about how they see their own world. The capitalising of some nouns could be a tad distracting, but the prose is otherwise nicely transparent. Though the mystery of the world inclines the reader to question character’s motives, Piranesi has a much more relaxed atmosphere than The Loneliest Girl in the Universe.
There should be plenty to talk about in book club, though it remains to be seen whether Piranesi will raise as many questions as The Bone Shard Daughter. Either way, it should be interesting!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gaslighting, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gun violence
sorcha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Abandonment
Minor: Kidnapping and Murder
troldmand's review
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Murder, Slavery, and Gun violence
Minor: Vomit
sophiesmallhands's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death
Minor: Murder
dosxhime's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I will destroy anyone that hurts Piransei.
That is all.
This read was pretty quick since there were so many mysteries to unravel and Clarke delievered on them perfectly. The twist on what the House is was so original and unique and if I was a thinker, I would ponder more on the themes and ideas that the novel presented. I have to say that the romanticization of the past as well as it mystical properties were well presented in the House and it gives off a haunting lonely atmosphere that kept me hooked on the book.
4.5 / 5 A
That is all.
This read was pretty quick since there were so many mysteries to unravel and Clarke delievered on them perfectly. The twist on what the House is was so original and unique and if I was a thinker, I would ponder more on the themes and ideas that the novel presented. I have to say that the romanticization of the past as well as it mystical properties were well presented in the House and it gives off a haunting lonely atmosphere that kept me hooked on the book.
4.5 / 5 A
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Abandonment and Murder