I wish I could have been the perfect reader for this book, but sadly it's just not my cup of tea.
As someone who is new to China and Keanu and the entire story of B, I should have done a bit more study before I requested this ARC. The topics were a bit scattered for me, with the story jumping back and forth so much, and I just couldn't really get pulled into the stor enough to finish it. Sadly, I DNF'd at 38%.

This book was very stylistically different. While it took me some time to get into the groove of things, I really appreciated the wild places this story went. I would recommend it to someone who wants to challenge their brain and is looking for something out of the ordinary.

DNF at 27%

It isn't the book, it is me. I may eventually come back to this when my brain isn't mush, but this is too cerebral. I respect what they are trying to do, and the writing is lovely, but I don't have it in my to finish. So many of my friends loved this though, and I definitely want to give it a try when I have the patience and brain capacity to handle it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wasn't for me, I made it about 10% in or so before losing interest. My mind was very much picturing John Wick during that time, but I found myself gravitating toward other books instead. It was well-written, and I enjoyed the mysteriousness of the world — I just wasn't pulled into learning more.

Like a lot of other people, I picked this book up because I was curious about the type of book Keanu Reeves would write. And like other reviewers, I quickly realized this book was not for me. This book IS for bezerkers who also read. If you like the game and also enjoy books about omnipotent immortal men who are going through an existential crisis, then have at it, and bless your heart. Thank you NetGalley and DelRey for an advanced copy of this ebook.

I delayed giving feedback because I wanted to love this so much but just couldn't get into it enough to even finish, no matter how many times I tried.

Did not finish this one. It took too much effort to try to read. I am well-educated and well-read but the writing felt pretentious to me. Books should be enjoyable, not a chore.

I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Book of Elsewhere. But I couldn't get in the right mindset to start it, kept putting it off, finally opened it.... and it just didn't work for me. Flat and confusing. I like weird, but not boring weird.

My thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the Advance Reader Copy.

Wow an unexpected experience. Took a bit of time to get use to the writing style but at the same time a fascinating tale that I couldn’t put down. Or when I did I’d find myself thinking of this book.

Oh, Keanu. I love you but this book was not for me. I also really loved Perdido Street Station!

But this one was so hard for me to read. It was too much on every level and so hard to get even the slightest grasp of the narrative. I have a hard time with sci-fi as it is, but there was nothing to hold onto to try and make this enjoyable for me. I just tried to go along with the ride.

I bet this would make a killer movie, though.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Ultimately, I'm not certain what I wanted out of this book, but what I knew was that I was curious. The book didn't necessarily do much for me. It was fun, but I wanted less and more at the same time. By which I mean there was a lot here but it didn't give me what I wanted. A more streamlined concept/narrative would have served the whole more. If that makes sense.

So I want to say that I had a solid understanding of what was going on in this book but I didn't. Having never read any of the graphics, I had no clue, and I felt that I was stumbling around blind.

Surprisingly weird narrative for a celebrity "vanity" project, but not for Mieville novel. Not really sure who this book is for, as it falls somewhere inbetween, but I really enjoyed the mix of high octane action and the mythology/worldbuilding.

This book was good. I had to go back and read the earlier graphic novels to really understand the story though.

I can't pretend that I really understood this. It's more of a collection of stories in the same universe and I'd classify it as weird fiction. I didn't dislike it but it was hard to stay focused. My favorite parts, though, were the ones that felt like Keanu Reeves being cool on screen.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

2⭐️

I wanted to like this, but unfortunately I don’t. The writing was interesting, but the story wasn’t particularly great and I often got lost and had no idea what was going on. I even tried listening to the audio book, and despite the large cast, it still wasn’t enjoyable.

"The Book of Elsewhere" by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville is an ambitious fusion of action and speculative fiction that delves into the life of an immortal warrior on a millennia-long quest to understand his existence. The collaboration between Reeves and Miéville brings together cinematic flair and intricate world-building, resulting in a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
Readers have praised the novel's well-developed characters and intriguing setting. The protagonist's journey is depicted with depth, capturing the weariness and complexity of immortality. The book's descriptive language and vivid imagery further enhance the immersive experience.
However, opinions on the story's structure and coherence vary. Some readers find the narrative intricate and engaging, while others feel it reads as a collection of loosely connected stories, leading to moments of confusion. The writing style, characterized by its descriptive nature, is appreciated by some but considered challenging by others.
Critics have noted that the novel's violence is presented in a matter-of-fact manner, aligning with its graphic novel roots. While this approach suits the context, some readers may find it excessive.
In summary, "The Book of Elsewhere" offers a unique and immersive exploration of immortality, enriched by the combined talents of its authors. While it may not resonate with all readers due to its complex narrative and stylistic choices, those interested in a genre-blending tale that challenges conventional storytelling may find it a rewarding read.

This was better than I expected, but honestly, was nothing to write home about. Maybe I was missing the lore from BRZRKR comics, but I feel like it should marketed as part of that if it is required reading to understand.

Seeing Keanu as a co-author pulled me in.

This book definitely came off more descriptive, more screenwriter level versus novel and I appreciated that. I felt like the time line was well thought out along with the depth within these characters.

I will say this wasn’t the easiest book to read and I wouldn’t say this was a casual read either where I had to actually pay attention and understand what I was reading. Compared to other books that I can breeze through, shrug and move on with my day.

This witty, smart and complex read definitely gave my brain a good deal exercise.

I wanted to read this because Keanu is a co-author. This was so much better than I expected, and I think it reads somewhat like a screenplay. It is more descriptive than other novels I've read. I enjoy the descriptive nature because it helped me truly imagine the setting and characters. I felt the character arcs were well thought out, and I enjoyed it.