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john_quixote's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
2nd read through, I enjoyed it as much as the first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide
caseyhaunter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don’t really know what happened but I think vagueness and mystery is the point. I will be reading the next book in the series as I’m very curious what comes of this. I enjoyed the experience nonetheless, this wasn’t like anything I’ve read before.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
This book is confusing, vague, and can be tense.honeybones's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Self harm, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
mklmy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer
shelbyskates1999's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Vandermeer's writing is beautiful. This book is challenging and dense, but very rewarding if you stick with it. I highly recommend this as well as the rest of the Southern Reach trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
emath98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really enjoy a good mystery, and the unsettling nature of something only barely glimpsed and even less comprehended made for a delicious read. I’ve heard others complain about the unlikability of the main character and how many questions we are left with at the end of the book, but I think the author did both of those things intentionally and well. The alien, body horror and psychological horror of hypnosis and government agency lies combined in a really spooky way that did not feel too overdone. I’m excited to check out the rest of the trilogy, but would also be content with Annihilation as a stand alone story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer
takarakei's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have read the introduction written by Karen Joy Fowler included in this version now 3 times. The first time it was sent to me by a friend to convince me to read this book. Then again obviously when I read it. And a third time after I finished I went back and read it again, to really understand what the hell was going on! (Sometimes I just need to read analysis of something to fully comprehend it) That third time really blew my mind! WOW!
The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*
I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!
The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*
I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Sexual content
pitchblackkoi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer
lpogo16's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is such an interesting read. The choices the author made in regards to the writing of this book are so unique and I know this book is going to stay with me for a while, if not forever.
I can’t say with full confidence if I even liked this book, but it’s so unlike anything I’ve read before that I needed to give it five stars. This book makes me wish I read it in school because at least then I’d have other people to talk about it with.
I can’t say with full confidence if I even liked this book, but it’s so unlike anything I’ve read before that I needed to give it five stars. This book makes me wish I read it in school because at least then I’d have other people to talk about it with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
audreyxine's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That's how the madness of the world tries to colonize you: from the outside in, forcing you to live in its reality.
Loved this for the rancid, wretched vibes and group of horrible women tearing each other apart. Gotta love a book that makes you root for the bad guy, and in this book the "bad guy" is a symbiotic unharnessable wilderness and abandoning all sense of individuality. It's hard to root for humanity here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Murder