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yellowbinge's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit
lianaet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It was certainly a struggle to get through Part 1 of this book, and the rest was still fairly hard to read in big chunks (until this last bit). The confusing aspect of the World is hard to follow most of the time, but you do kind of just have to accept that's how this book is. And it's an important aspect, with Piranesi's character.
Also minor spoilers? Kind of? But this book resonated with me towards the end, with the gaslighting, and the realisation of what's really going on - but still feeling a confusing type of way towards that person. As well that Piranesi is forever changed by the House and what he lived through there.
Also minor spoilers? Kind of? But this book resonated with me towards the end, with the gaslighting, and the realisation of what's really going on - but still feeling a confusing type of way towards that person. As well that Piranesi is forever changed by the House and what he lived through there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: Vomit, Murder, Gun violence, Death, and Excrement
godfrina's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
When the Moon rose in the Third Northern Hall I went to the Ninth Vestibule.
If I have to read the word "vestibule" one more time this year...
Look, I gotta be honest, I did not love it.
Obviously, I read it for the hype / just wanted a shorter story inbetween other reads. I don't know what I expected.
The first 40% or so were an absolute slog for me. I dredged through, like Piranesi through the Drowned Halls; I was this close to my first DNF for the year.
Don't get me wrong, the prose as a whole is beautiful, albeit almost unintelligible. There is paragraphs of "I read it, but that's it". It knits together in the end, yes, however, it left me with an "huh"-feeling, with looming ✨anxiety and dread✨ behind it. I did not think it inspirational or hopeful.
I upped my initial rating of 2 for the second half of the novel to 2.5 as I clearly had a lot of thoughts right after finishing the story and that in itself always counts for something in my book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Mental illness, and Gun violence
kajasversion's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved the writting style and the characters mind captivated me completely. The main focus of the book is how Piranesi perceives the world, and his experiences through his eyes, which is a type of book I love. I found the psychological part of his character study at the end very interesting, but the ending ultimately left me feeling a bit disappointed. Though it is true to the character, I couldn’t help but hope for something to be different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Confinement, and Mental illness
Moderate: Gun violence
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Confinement, Slavery, and Murder
Minor: Sexual violence and Violence
withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Treading the lines between literary fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi, this is very much a “wtf am I reading” book in the best way, and I devoured it so quickly because the mystery was so gripping. Piranesi is such an endearing protagonist, I loved his almost childlike innocence combined with the fact that he can be highly intelligent at times. I was told that the book had a slow start which made me a little apprehensive, but I didn’t find myself getting bored at all because Piranesi’s narrative voice is so strong and the vibes of the book are so atmospheric and whimsical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Gun violence
yerfillag's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I went into reading this completely blind and loved the fact that until quite far in you're not completely certain of what's going on. The worldbuilding while subtle seemed really detailed and engaging. As you're following the POV and internal monologue of the protagonist, you get to reflect on the reliability of your own mind and how our circumstances affect what we consider to be true or possible.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, and Excrement
Minor: Gun violence
ericvreadsstuff's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement and Murder
Minor: Gun violence
desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was a pretty surprising read. I would say it starts with fantasy, then adds in some dark academia and towards the ends becomes a bit of a thriller. I did not expect that. It was also a quick read and well written.
It gives you a lot to think about, which can be nice.
It gives you a lot to think about, which can be nice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Mental illness, Death, Child death, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Gaslighting, and Confinement
caseythereader's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cursing, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Fire/Fire injury