DNF at 28% (~99 pages)

I definitely gave this a decent shot. There were bits that intrigued me, but it's definitely one of those books that you have to focus in on to avoid getting lost. Maybe I would have liked and understood this better had I read the BRZRKR series -- I think The Book of Elsewhere is supposed to act as a standalone, though. I didn't hate it, but I kept finding myself wanting to pick up other books instead. I think I'm just not the target audience for this, and that's okay. I decided to DNF instead of wading through it only to give it a likely two stars.

This book was not for me. Although I like a good sci-fi, I don’t do violence very well. I love the idea of a literary collab so kudos to the authors and much success!

I love Miéville's work, and honestly, I love Reeves too, but this one sorta missed the mark for me. The structure of the prose read more like a script and I just constantly felt disappointed. I had to DNF around 30%. Thank you Net Galley for sending me an arc of The Book of Elsewhere by China Miéville and Keanu Reeves.

I’m not sure how to rate this one. It was definitely unique. I enjoyed it but also was lost much of the time. Basically I didn’t know where we were going but I was along for the ride.

This is a very odd book and not for everyone. That said, I very much appreciated the different writing style and it kept me engaged throughout.

THE BOOK OF ELSEWHERE – by Keanu Reeves & China Miéville

‘There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.”

‘And he wants to be able to die.’

After finishing this book, I struggle with the how of reviewing it, as the writing is very different from what I have read before. Reeves and Miéville weave a tale, its center that of Life and Death, by way of a third and second-person narrative that spans centuries—highlighting various moments throughout B’s existence.

This novel is not a quick read, rather, one that you will need to sit and simmer with as the story unfolds. You may find yourself looking up unfamiliar words, as I did, throughout, so bonus for me!

Who knew a combination of question and exclamation marks is called an interrobang?

I, for one, did not!

Though a challenging read at times, overall, I enjoyed the book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey Books (Penguin Random House Publishing), for providing me with an eBook of THE BOOK OF ELSEWHERE at the request of an honest review.

I went into reading The Book of Elsewhere basically blind, not knowing anything about the BZRKR comics and I'm glad that I did because I had no preconceived notions of the characters or the background. I may not have fully understood everything by the end, but it was definitely an entertaining journey getting there.

The Book of Elsewhere is first and foremost, definitely not written for the average sci-fi reader. The prose is exceptional and highly literate. I really enjoyed what can be construed as interludes where various individuals told their stories of their interactions with Unute. The plot itself was fast-paced and those who are heavily into special ops military thrillers will devour this one. The added element of a 75,000 demigod who cannot die gives it a fun sci-fi/fantasy twist.

Although the personality of Unute is well-developed, my biggest complaint about the book was that all of the side characters were ill-defined and I had a very difficult time keeping track of who was whom because the descriptions were completely lacking and their personalities were cookie cutter government operatives. Because I am a very visual person when reading, I ended up not caring at all about any of the supporting cast simply because I could not picture them in my head.

Overall, a cerebral read that works great as a standalone, with or without having read the comics. Definitely recommended for those who love sci-fi thrillers and care more about plot rather than character development. 3.75 overall stars, rounded up to 4

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine/Del-Ray, Keanu Reeves, and China Mielville for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, Keanu Reeves, and China Mieville for allowing me to review this unique book. I have never read anything like this before. There is a lot happening in this book and it was sometimes confusing to keep up with, but, overall, this is a very thought provoking book. The writing style is unique and almost poetic. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys poetry and uniquely written novels. Thank you again for allowing me to review this book.

I truly had high expectations for this book. This book was truly unreadable, I’m so sorry. It was confusing and hard to keep up with. The way it was written made it hard for me to keep up with the story and characters, I found myself going back and forth pages to try and understand what was going on with the story.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This book was completely fascinating. It took me a minute to get a feel for the style and cadence that this was written in but once I got my bearings it could not put it down. There were so many things going on in this book. I really appreciated the way that it was broken up into separate mini stories. It made the book flow so much easier. I will say that there were some that I really did not understand at the end of them. I also feel though that not all of it is meant to be understood in a literal way. Kinda fever dream like. I look forward to seeing if these two collaborate again int he future and will be ready for their next adventure.

This book was intriguing from the first page and like nothing I’ve ever read before. This is not my typical genre, but I am interested to see what else this duo may come up with!

Read this book and then go online and read how it came to be written. I ask you, Who else would Keanu Reeves collaborate with but China Miéville? Very strange and very good.

Unfortunately, I found this book difficult to get into. While I was initially excited by the premise, the writing style left me questioning the plot more than enjoying it. If you appreciate books written in a more poetic, reflective style with thought-provoking pauses, this might be a great fit for you. However, it just wasn’t for me.


*Thank you to Keanu Reeves, China Mieville, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I was extremely intrigued by a book from Keanu Reeves. However, 30% in and I just can not anymore. The story is too strange, choppily written, and nothing really makes sense. I'm hoping it gets beter if you stick with it, but it's not good enough for me to stick with it. I really did try though.

Keanu Reeves? Of course I had to read this!
It felt very slow at the beginning, and I'm not usually a fan of military thrillers, but I'm glad I kept reading because it got better. I'm glad I read this!

I wanted to love this because Hello, KEANU, but it just wasn't my type of book. That doesn't mean someone else might not love it. I most likely would have DNF'd if not for Keanu being a part of it.

Thanks to Ballentine and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

I'll be honest, I had a really hard time following this book and I"m not sure I could tell you the plot of it if I tried. I was confused by the end of the first chapter and should probably have DNF'd it but I just kept powering through. I might try again? Sometime? I don't know.

The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville is a mind-bending thrill ride that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. This unique collaboration brings together Reeves' haunting narrative and Miéville's singular style to create a story that's both action-packed and deeply philosophical. The book follows "B," an immortal warrior who's lived for 80,000 years and is now desperate to find a way to die. As he works with a shadowy government organization, the plot takes unexpected twists that'll make your head spin in the best way possible.

What really sets this book apart is how it blends genres and explores complex themes. It's not just about the action (though there's plenty of that); it dives deep into questions of mortality, identity, and the nature of existence. Miéville's prose is as lush and imaginative as ever, painting vivid scenes that jump between different time periods and realities. While it might be a bit confusing at times, especially if you're not familiar with the BRZRKR comics, the sheer creativity and emotional depth make it a worthwhile read. If you're in the mood for something that's equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking.

I really reeeeally wanted to like this book. Instead, I was constantly confused. The storyline is hard to follow and nothing truly feels explained. To this day, I couldn’t explain the plot to you. What a bummer!

When Keanu wants a ghostwriter, the man really commits. China Mieville is one of my favorite writers. The way he manages to not only dream up extremely imaginative worlds, but bring them to life in a highly engaging and readable way. Based on Keanu's graphic novel series, he and Mieville do right by the source material.