Reviews

this rating could go up or down a star depending on how this sits with me, but for now, this is a perfunctory if not somewhat disappointing conclusion to the trilogy (and not because of its ambiguity re: the central mystery. that makes me like it more, if anything, even if i have no interest whatsoever in fan theories.) as a standalone novel it's almost completely incoherent which is probably my biggest disappointment here, since the first two books work so well on their own and can really be read in either order. this also has got to be one of the most weirdly, kinda poorly paced books i can think of, and i truly have no idea why it's structured this way, alternating between three plots, two of which are flashbacks. the first two books are addictive even when there are long stretches of nothing happening, whereas anytime this picks up any momentum it loses it immediately by having scenes that go nowhere. there are still passages here that are as moving and haunting as anything in the first two books but i don't see myself revisiting this one as often! ok!

2shainz's review against another edition

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Shaina's rating: DNF

Original review here (includes thoughts on Authority): http://www.shainareads.com/2015/03/the-southern-reach-trilogy-parts-2-and.html

Acceptance definitely started out more interesting than Authority, since we started hearing the story from a few different perspectives (Control, Ghost Bird, the former Southern Reach director, and the lighthouse keeper). Around page 100 or so, I started finding reasons to put the book down. I was traveling and couldn't focus, or I wasn't in the mood for something so meandering. Finally, I had a quiet moment over coffee to try again. After I read the same paragraph for what had to be the sixth time and my mind was still wandering, I paused to reconsider. Why was I still trying to read this? Did I really care about what was going on in Area X anymore? And the answer, unfortunately, was a resounding no. I even stopped flipping through the remaining pages for spoilers—I was that disengaged. I DNFed at page 171 and haven't looked back since.

Despite my failure to get pulled into the story, VanderMeer has some really great moments, particularly in setting his stage:

"The long, wide swathe of green that was the island at that distance was made irregular and disheveled-looking by the few tall oaks and pines that, along with the shattered spire of the lighthouse, broke through the skyline. Trapped between: the calm motionless sky and the always restless sea, the island shimmering in the middle distance, surrounded by distortion as if it emanated heat. Sliding in between them from either side, rangy, scruffy islets with pine trees contorted low upon them, the silhouettes of these outposts extended by the rough gray-black line of oyster beds shot through with a startling iridescent white from dead shells pried open by birds." - p. 112, Acceptance

Would it have worked for me at another point? It's entirely possible, especially if I hadn't been traveling and coming up on a due date without an option to renew. A couple of days after my decision to DNF, I'm still not regretting it, so I don't think I'll be making another effort.

I think this trilogy could be fantastic for someone with significantly more patience and concentration to devote to it. It's mysterious, cerebral, and anything but straightforward. I hope you get more out of it than I did!

waheinz14's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

dcsmith952's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

fernreadsometimes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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