Gareth Brown casts another winning spell.

4.5 stars rounded up.

“All unknowable objects did something; these ordinary, everyday items could enable those who possessed them to do unusual and extraordinary things.”

"The Society of Unknowable Objects" centers on a secret society hidden beneath a London bookshop, where four unlikely guardians protect “unknowable objects” - seemingly ordinary items with extraordinary powers. When a dangerous artifact resurfaces in Hong Kong, newest member Magda Sparks, an author with secrets of her own, is sent to investigate. What begins as a retrieval mission quickly spirals into a dangerous international chase, involving shadowy enemies, long-buried truths, and revelations that challenge the very foundation of the Society’s mission.

The novel cements author Gareth Brown’s place as a master of modern fantasy fiction. Following his internationally bestselling debut "The Book of Doors", which I absolutely ado(o)red, Brown delivers another imaginative, immersive, and elegantly crafted story - one that stands on its own while quietly expanding the magical world fans of his writing have come to adore.

As with "The Book of Doors", Brown excels at intricate worldbuilding and populates his novel with vivid, emotionally resonant characters. Magda is compelling and tenacious, and her fellow society members - present and future - are drawn with equal depth and warmth. Likewise, Owen is a compelling antagonist: there was no ambiguity in his menace, and that made him truly chilling. Finally, though I found Luke’s storyline to be slightly predictable and not as convincing, it adds a compelling layer of moral complexity to the plot.

The book's prose is sharp and engaging, balancing suspense, heart, and quiet humor with ease. Full of rich mythology and a deeply satisfying arc, "The Society of Unknowable Objects" is both a thrilling adventure and a thoughtful meditation on power, secrecy, and legacy.

While "The Society of Unknowable Objects" is a standalone novel, it shares the same world and expands on the themes of magical objects and a secret society dedicated to protecting them as "The Book of Doors". While not a direct sequel, and offering a complete narrative even without prior knowledge of "The Book of Doors", it also features a delightful cameo from a character in "The Book of Doors", and the ending of the book strongly hints at at least one other work to further tie these two stories together. I for one cannot wait.

Many thanks to the publisher, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Society of Unknowable Objects" is slated to be released on August 12, 2025.

Is magic good or bad? That is what this book looks to explore by giving us an inside look into the The Society of Unknowable Objects.

Magda, Frank, Will and Henry make up The Society, tasked with keeping safe all magical items that exist in our world. They believer that, in the wrong hands, magic could be used for evil and therefor should be kept away from anyone that isn't them. But even within their group, there are secrets from each other. And those start to come to light when Magda volunteers to go on a voyage to collect the latest item that has been found.

The supernatural aspect, as well as the imagery of this book, very much reminded me of a The Night Circus meets A Discovery of Witches. Although creepy at times, it was fun to sink into a book where magic exists. I enjoyed the multiple timelines as well as the chapters going back and forth to complete a full picture.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you for the ARC! I really loved Book of Doors, so I was comparing this book to that one throughout. The heart of the story was missing for me. The concept took over and the primary function of the story was to just explore more of the magic book world rather than engage with a deeper theme or meaning. I think this book was harder to swallow because the characters didn't feel as real. They felt a little hollow to me, making them difficult to connect with. For instance, I didn't get a good sense of one character (Will) until the final act, and other characters didn't feel important because they mostly just did what the main character did. I kept getting frustrated with the main character because she kept freezing in moments when she could have used a magic item in a creative way. Instead she comes off as helpless and inept. Imelda's second chapter was a bit pointless and didn't amount to much. Some scenes felt like filler scenes, full of peripheral descriptions. The villain felt one note, but his chapters were more interesting. If there is going to be a third book, I may still read it, but I hope it will be more meaningful.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I feel that I should preface that for some reason I did not read The Book of Doors before this, even though it's been sitting on my TBR for a while now. That said, I did still enjoy this book. I think that the premise was good, though I do wish there was more artifact hunting like we saw in the beginning with Imelda. I also wish that there was more character building - a lot of the characters felt very one dimensional to me and I didn't really feel connected to any of them.

I did like James and Magda together also, but it felt a little like their relationship was kind of thrown together. Obviously, romance was not the main plot point of this novel, nor should it have been, but it just felt a little funny because they met once and then we were supposed to believe there was a lot of chemistry between them. It more read to me like Magda thought James was attractive and was making a little bit of a fool of herself the whole time.

I don't regret the time I spent with this book, but to me it didn't hit the way I thought it would. I will still be picking up The Book of Doors, as Ive seen several reviews say there were little easter eggs in here that I didn't (and obviously couldn't) pick up.

Gareth Brown’s latest foray into magical realism delivers a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant exploration of how magic weaves its way through the fabric of our relationships, for better and for worse. With lyrical prose and a careful balance of wonder and warning, the book asks us to consider what happens when power goes unexamined, and what do we risk when magic begins to cloud our judgment?
At its heart, this novel is less about spells and incantations and more about the people caught in their orbit. Brown portrays magic not as an escape from reality but as a force that amplifies our deepest desires and fears, shaping, and sometimes warping, the bonds we share with others. The characters feel authentic, and their struggles with love, trust, and ambition are magnified through the novel’s shimmering magical lens.
While the pacing drags in places, especially through the middle chapters, the slower tempo allows room for rich atmosphere and character introspection. Still, some readers may find themselves wishing the plot would move a touch more briskly.
The real triumph is the ending with a deeply satisfying conclusion that not only ties the story together emotionally but also cleverly connects to Brown’s previous work. Fans will recognize familiar threads and hints of a larger magical world, leaving just enough mystery and intrigue to open the door for a potential sequel or companion novel.
To summarize, this is an enchanting and thoughtful read that is perfect for readers who enjoy magic with a moral backbone and stories that blur the lines between the fantastical and the human. Gareth Brown continues to prove himself a master of quiet magic and meaningful storytelling.

✨ARC REVIEW✨

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story after Gareth Brown’s debut novel The Book of Doors. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Much like The Book of Doors, The Society of Unknowable Objects explores magic in an otherwise ordinary world. Magical objects, each with their own capabilities, are kept safe (by the society) from those who might abuse their power. I thought the premise of the story was unique, but I found myself mostly disconnected from the characters—it felt a little one sided and lacked depth. I wholly enjoy Brown’s writing style and I’m hopeful that this ending may open up a crossing of paths for both Doors and Objects in further installments. While this story fell just a tad short for me, I look forward to future works.

Magic objects on the loose in the world but only a few people know and understand what a disaster it would be if unscrupulous people found out. This was a great premise and the opening chapters had lots of action and great lead in tension. Then it kind of fell flat for me. The main female character was a wuss who liked to lose it when the situations got tough. The supporting characters were mostly weak with little background for the reader to build on. There really were some terrific nature descriptions (“It was a dark and stormy night” was NOT one of them!) but since this wasn’t a nature documentary, they couldn’t lift the prose above mediocre.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC to read and review.

4.5 stars rounded up. Much like Gareth Brown's first novel, The Book of Doors, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story full of sci-fi and fantasy themes featuring magical realism and mystery.

The story takes place in London, where a group called “The Society of Unknowable Objects” exists to locate and safeguard magical artifacts that they believe are dangerous to the world due to the scale and depth of their power. The book features a cast of well-developed characters that contrast and interplay well with each other across the story, and a romantic subplot that adds a little bit of lightness to the story. The tone strikes a beautiful balance of optimism and darkness while exploring complexities of morality.

I do recommend reading The Book of Doors before diving in, as they are set in the same universe, and this book benefits from the background knowledge of the previous title. However, the book also lives in the shadow of the previous release that was an absolute 5 star pick for me. I’m really excited to see what comes next from the author, as he’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

Highly recommend! Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for an early copy. Opinions are my own. It’s out August 12th.

This book was so magical. I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype of the Book of Doors but it honestly surpassed it. This was so fun, gripping, magical, and just beautifully written. If you haven't read a Gareth Brown book then you're missing out.

Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I fell in love with the world Brown created in The Book of Doors, so when I saw his second book was available, I jumped at the chance to read it. Unfortunately, The Society of Unknowable Objects fell a bit flat. Maybe I set my expectations too high based on how much fun I had reading Doors. I was anticipating another high-stakes adventure, with characters you could love and with fun magical realism. And this one just didn't hit any of those marks.

The premise of a generations-old secret society that collects and protects magical objects sounds like the perfect start to a book, and it was, kind of. As I started to read, the book hooked me within the first few chapters, and I was excited to keep reading and learn more. Similar to Doors, Brown stays within the same type of setting, but it is not a sequel, so you can read either book independently. However, where Doors kept me engaged throughout the book with fully developed characters and thickening plot, Things did not. The characters were flat and their storylines sometimes felt rushed, not thoroughly flushed out. I had a hard time feeling connected to any of them. I wanted to love Magda, and I could have (maybe), but she was no Cassie from Doors. There is also a very small romance component here, and it felt like an afterthought, hardly any time was devoted to developing those feelings. That made it feel pointless to me. It didn't add anything to the story for me because it was so flat. I would've preferred that it had just been left out.

Also - Henry. Can we just call her Henrietta on Henry, but stick to one? Maybe this was just an issue for me? But I found myself asking "wait, who's Henry?" nearly every time.

The pacing was also an issue for me. The book is divided into different parts, and within those parts, separate themes and stories. But the timeline moves, and I had difficulty keeping track of where we were and when things were happening. Without spoiling anything, something big happens right away (the initial hook) and even the next few chapters are following up on that event and seeing what happens next. And then....it's like everything slowed WAY down. The characters are doing things and you're learning more about the society, but it's at such a slow pace. I think most of the middle of the book could have been condensed, because I was bored. Then when things finally get moving again, it's just weird. One character we've been following suddenly is done. A new character is introduced, and he never felt real to me, which is significant because he plays a major role in the last third of the book. The way he was introduced and described was a little cringey, as if Brown was trying to draw on a horror movie character but didn't quite pull it off. I will say that the story took a darker turn than I expected, but not to the extent that it's a horror story.

All that being said, Brown has a unique writing style, and I enjoyed it despite the issues I had with the story. His whimsical style creates unique settings and stories, and I think overall people will enjoy Things. But if you fell in love with Doors, don't expect this book to continue in that same vein.

I really enjoy magical realism and was excited to pick up the author’s
Sophomore novel!

I enjoyed this one. I was very interested in the plot and it was an easy read. However, at times the writing was so bad that it bordered on distracting. It was really repetitive and simple and the hints to what was going to happen in the plot were pretty obvious. Usually when a book is written so poorly I have to put it down or I don’t enjoy reading it but the plot kept this one going for me. I can’t say I noticed the writing being bad in the author’s first book so I’m not sure what happened here.

The characters felt pretty one dimensional and I think more character development could have made this book a lot better.

Overall though, I did enjoy the story. I am not sure if I’d recommend it or not- I suppose if you loved Book of Doors you could give this one a chance if you go in knowing the writing is simplistic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects shares much in common with his earlier novel The Book of Doors, which I thoroughly enjoyed. At its heart is a familiar dynamic- a young woman without family and an elderly man named Frank, who serves as her mentor, friend, and father figure. Their relationship unfolds within the cozy confines of Bell Street Books in London, echoing the bookstore setting of Brown’s previous work. Similarly, Frank plays a pivotal role in introducing her to a hidden world of magic; one that transforms her life and places her squarely in harm’s way.

The titular Society of Unknowable Objects is a secretive group traditionally composed of four members, with roles passed down through generations. At present, only three remain active: Frank, Will, and Magda. The fourth, Henrietta, known as “Henry”, has distanced herself from the group, frustrated by unanswered questions and Frank's closely-held secrets.

Magda, our protagonist, travels to Hong Kong to retrieve what may be the first magical artifact discovered in nearly four decades. There, she meets James Wei, an art curator for a bank who believes he’s uncovered a magical object within a recently inherited estate. Just as Magda begins to trust James and is introduced to a mysterious chess piece, a gaunt intruder attempts to steal the artifact and shoots James. Magda narrowly escapes with the object and her life.

Back in London, Magda grows increasingly disillusioned with Frank and his secretive stewardship of the Society’s archive, confined within the so-called Cabinet of Curiosities. Was Henry right in claiming the cabinet is actually empty? Will, a watchmaker who reluctantly inherited his father’s place in the Society, is similarly disenchanted. The discovery of the new artifact pushes him to reconsider his involvement in the Society altogether.

But danger has a way of drawing people together. The hitman who attacked Magda in Hong Kong has followed her to London, and the Society must rally to protect its members, recover stolen artifacts, and finally confront the secrets Frank has long kept hidden.

If this sounds like a lot to absorb in the opening chapters, you're not alone. I was initially slow to engage, as there were so many characters and a plot that took its time to coalesce. Despite the early tension and the presence of a clear villain, I struggled to connect until I realized it was set in the same universe as The Book of Doors. That knowledge helped the magical system click into place, and from that point on, I was fully invested.

Though The Society of Unknowable Objects takes its time to find its footing, the payoff is well worth the wait. Once the threads begin to weave together the story gains momentum, depth, and emotional resonance. Brown’s world-building is subtle but purposeful, and the final chapters of the story surprise the reader with twists you won't see coming until the last minute. While it may not immediately enchant every reader, those who stay the course will find themselves rewarded.

I really enjoyed Browns debut, The Book of Doors, and was excited to dive into his next magical realism adventure! This story was so creative - it was easy to envision the plausibility of this type of magic —hidden in plain sight in our everyday objects. I was immediately drawn into this story!

I appreciated the philosophical lens through which Brown approached this story. What are the ethics of creating and using magical items? How do you protect them from yourself and others? If you could turn back time, raise the dead, live forever — would you? There was a deep dive into good versus evil, but also an exploration of the many grey areas that exist as well.

I loved how the four members of the Society represented the full spectrum of thought on using the magical objects. From Henry, who believes the magic exists to be used, to Will, who would prefer to vehemently forget the existence of magical altogether. I enjoyed each of their unique perspectives on the subject - none wholly right or wrong.

This was such a thought-provoking story that had me questioning my own ethics and morals. I’m still not sure where I would lie on the spectrum if these same magical items existed in our reality. I would love to see Brown explore the Society and magical objects more in future novels!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Gareth Brown's first book "The Book of Doors,' so I was very excited to get approved for "The Society of Unknowable Objects." So a huge thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me. I did enjoyed the premise that everyday things can become magical and then wondering what happens when the magical item is used. Will it be for good or for bad? Will the outcome be wonderful or disastrous?
I also enjoyed that this book appears to be set in same world as the first book, which makes me hope that a potential third book may bring the characters together.

Where the book fell apart for me was that I wasn't invested in the characters. They seemed very flat and uninteresting, while the world building and magic system were developed well. They just didn't seem to fit together.

I am hoping that this may have just been a bit of a sophomore slump for Brown and that, hopefully, a third book in this world will be a gem.

After finding Gareth Brown’s compulsively readable Book of Doors last year, I had my bowl of popcorn ready for The Society of Unknowable Objects ARC from William Morrow!

On the sudden death of her mother, Magda was given a letter. Through her mother’s last message, Magda is introduced to a secret society that prevents the world’s most rare and powerful items from falling into the wrong hands. The small group has been mostly dormant for several years, in the absence of newly reported discoveries.

When Magda flys from London to Hong Kong, meeting up with a stranger and putting herself at risk to retrieve an item, she learns the reality of the society’s fragile rules.

Through the multi-POV narrative, we meet several characters who are guarding their duplicitous motives more intensely than the dangerous items.

Can anyone truly be trusted to carry power and not wield it for their own desires?

I personally look for a character-focused narrative in fantasy, and Gareth Brown has way more fun with the thriller (even horror) elements in his writing.

Although I leaned into The Book of Doors for its action-packed plot, I was hoping for a little bit more depth to our protagonists in this novel. Sadly, I didn’t find that to be the case. The emotional connections between characters were told, rather than shown and earned.

Like the previous book, every chapter seemed to end with a “gotcha” moment, but this time around I wasn’t as willing to grab the hand of that next chapter and keep running.

I’d recommend this book for readers who liked these: The Umbrella Academy, Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, and Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

I didn’t think it was possible to love a fantasy as much as I loved Book of Doors but Gareth Brown did it again! I am still amazed by how he is able to SEAMLESSLY blend the fantasy and thriller genres. I felt like I was in another world while simultaneously gripping the edge of my seat! Magda, James, Henry & even Frank. My heart resonated with this group and the non-linear timeline was the cherry on top! I would recommend going into this completely blind and buckling up for the ride!

4.5-5⭐️

Who knew there were objects out in the world that had magical properties. The members of the Society of Unknowable Objects are always on the look out for the next magical piece to come to their attention. After Magda’s mother dies the group has a meeting to discuss an object that has been found in Hong Kong. Someone needs to go and see if it’s the real thing. Magda takes the trip. She meets James and goes with him to retrieve the object only to come across a man with a gun. The adventure begins for Magna and the team across Hong Kong, London and into the United States. Long hidden secrets are brought to light on the true dark beginnings of the society and why hidden all these years from its current members. The story has a lot of action to keep you reading to see where it will all end. Can not wait till the authors next book.

Very well written. I really enjoyed the story line. My only complaint is that it was fairly predictable and a bit drawn out. We don’t need such in depth descriptions of everything.

All in all extremely enjoyable

After the success of The Book of Doors last year, Gareth Brown is back with The Society of Unknowable Objects, a fast-paced stand-alone fantasy novel about magic in normal objects and the group of people sworn to protect the world from those very objects.

I just polished off The Book of Doors a few months ago and was thrilled to read this one a little early as well. Overall, I liked the story and attention to detail in The Book of Doors more, but there are some great scenes and action throughout his sophomore effort. If you looked at the covers of each book, you might be tempted to think this is a sequel, but as of now both books are stand alone novels.

And after reading both, I had a feeling that kind of permeated through my reading experiences -- and that is the SyFy (formerly Sci-Fi) Channel, particularly from the mid-2000s to mid-2010s. There are a lot of terrible SyFy efforts like Sharknado and its many sequels, but there was a time when they actually tried to make quality shows. At the same time that Stargate SG-1 and Battlestar Galactica was airing, they made a miniseries called The Lost Room. As I worked through The Book of Doors, I was reminded of that miniseries. Now…they really don’t share a ton besides a cool concept, but the ideas and some of the feel permeated both. So with The Society of Unknowable Objects hit my email box, I was reminded again of another show - Warehouse 13. To be clear -- none of this is to say these are bad things -- I LOVED almost everything showing on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2006, so these comparisons just remind me of the fun I had loading them up on my Dish Network DVR and watching them when I was off work back then.

As for this book -- there is a lot of fun to be had. The Society of unknowable Objects does share some DNA with Warehouse 13, but the stakes are a little higher for this outing. There were times that I thought Brown about wrote himself into a corner with some of the magical properties of the objects in this world, but there were cleverly-written escape hatches for our characters that gave them a second (or sometimes third) life. The pacing is a little stilted, especially in the first quarter of the book, but I think Brown may have been trying to put the audience into a false sense of security before the danger really set in for Magda and the rest of the society.

Overall, I really liked The Society of Unknowable Objects and will happily line up for whatever Brown has up his sleeve next.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was very excited to read this because I loved The Book of Doors and it didn't disappoint. I liked how it took place in the same universe as The Book of Doors but was its own standalone story. I'm assuming, based on the ending, that the author is not done telling stories of this universe and I am looking forward to that.