The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown is an interesting book that dives into ideas about identity and memory. It mixes strange situations with deep thoughts, keeping you curious throughout. Though it can feel a bit slow at times, the story and characters are still worth the read. It’s a unique experience for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking fiction.

Gareth Brown's Book of Doors was one of my favorites last year, so this was a very anticipated follow-up. What a delight it was, and exceeded my expectations!! Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects takes readers on a thrilling ride through a hidden world of magical artifacts and danger. The story follows Magda Sparks, a dedicated member of a secret society tasked with protecting these extraordinary objects. As she embarks on a mission to Hong Kong to investigate a potential new “object,” she uncovers a web of intrigue that puts her in the crosshairs of a professional killer eager to claim it for himself.

Brown has a remarkable talent for infusing his magical objects with depth and personality, creating a vibrant universe where each item has its own story and significance. The narrative is packed with suspense, as Magda grapples with both the responsibilities of her role and the immediate threats she faces. The stakes escalate quickly, and the pacing keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The ending is particularly exhilarating, delivering a twist that will have you gasping and cheering, perfectly setting the stage for future adventures. Brown’s skillful storytelling and imaginative world-building make this an absolute must-read.

Thank you Net gallery for the ARC of this book for my honest review.

If you liked the previous book The Book of Doors you will love this book. It has the same adventure and magical realism.

There are magical objects that are spread apart and we have to find them and there is of course a villain or two.

The reason why I gave it a 4-star is because it didn't deviate much from his first book and at times I felt the book meandered.


Best reading 😉

Rating: 🙂/3.75
Review: I am so torn on this book. I love the writing style and Brown writes villains so well! This book was darker than his previous with more magical/fantastical elements. The story and characters were great (most of the characters), but at times I felt like it just wondered around with too many descriptions and not enough moving forward. It took me longer to read, but I think that was more my headspace issue than the book.
Format: 👩🏻‍💻
Source: #netgalley
Published on Goodreads 2/27/2025

A Thrilling, Otherworldly Mystery in the Vein of Control and Alan Wake*

By Connor Kelley

Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects is a pulse-pounding, mind-bending thriller that feels like it was plucked from the eerie, atmospheric worlds of Control and Alan Wake. Infused with an intoxicating mix of supernatural mystery, secret societies, and reality-warping artifacts, Brown’s latest novel is a gripping exploration of power, secrecy, and the dangerous allure of hidden knowledge.

The premise is deceptively simple: three seemingly ordinary individuals—bound together by an age-old mission—meet in the basement of a London bookshop every six months to ensure the world's most mysterious and dangerous objects remain locked away, unseen and unspoken of. But when Frank Simpson, the Society’s longest-standing member, gets wind of a new artifact surfacing in Hong Kong, he sends Magda Sparks—an unassuming author and the Society’s newest recruit—to investigate. What begins as a routine mission quickly spirals into something far more sinister, as Magda finds herself pursued by a relentless professional killer, fleeing for her life with an object so powerful, even the Society itself was unaware of its existence.

As Magda’s journey takes her from the shadowed alleyways of Hong Kong to the Deep South of the United States, Brown constructs a richly layered narrative that thrives on tension and unease. Secrets pile upon secrets, as Magda begins to realize that the Society’s true purpose may not be what it seems—and that the objects they safeguard may not be as unknowable as they were led to believe.

Brown excels at weaving a sense of creeping dread into his world-building, crafting a universe where reality itself feels tenuous, where objects hold impossible powers, and where truth is a force just as dangerous as magic. The novel’s supernatural elements never overwhelm its tight, character-driven core; instead, they add to its unnerving atmosphere, imbuing every interaction and revelation with an almost Lynchian strangeness. Like the best of Remedy Entertainment’s psychological thrillers, The Society of Unknowable Objects understands that the most terrifying mysteries aren’t just about what’s out there—but what’s been kept hidden, even from ourselves.

Fans of The Book of Doors will find much to love here, but The Society of Unknowable Objects is a beast of its own—more suspenseful, more relentless, more willing to peel back the veil between the known and the unknowable. Brown has crafted a novel that is equal parts supernatural noir, metaphysical horror, and high-stakes adventure. With prose that crackles with intelligence and intrigue, The Society of Unknowable Objects isn’t just about protecting secrets—it’s about the terrifying consequences of uncovering them.

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown is the action packed tale of a society dedicated to protecting magical objects. Frank, the head of the society, sends Magda to Hong Kong to investigate the reports of a new object. Magda finds herself in mortal peril when a dangerous man tries to intercept and steal the object. She soon discovers that the society is hiding many secrets and her life depends on finding the truth.

I recommend this book for fantasy and magical realism readers. Magda is the heroine we all inspire to be, willing to do what is necessary to protect the people she loves and courageous enough to step out of her comfort zone to get what she wants. Brown creates magical worlds that feel so real you can disappear for hours until you finish the story. You will be compelled to read furiously and ponder the story for days after. If you have read The Book of Doors, you will enjoy the cameo at the end.

Thank you William Morrow and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

i loved brown’s precious book, but after attempting this multiple times it simply doesn’t seem to be the book for me. i would still 100% recommend for sci-if/fantasy lovers out there! this is a me thing personally, and as such i will not post a public review for dnf’ing 💫

Engaging and immersive. A recommended purchase for collections where commercial speculative fic popular.

The loss of her mother Imelda Sparks brings her daughter Magda Sparks into full membership into the Society of Unknowable Objects. There is something about this story of a daughter grieving the loss of her mother, the way she is restless in her body and mind the way she tries to hold onto the parts of her mother that she did not know and becoming a member of this society helps her get to know about her mother in a capacity that she couldn't before. The acceptance into this society brings a danger that Magda did not anticipate and brings revelations about the origins of the society that are much darker than the benign objectives that they claim to hold in the present time.

WOW.
This book has it all - magic, intrigue, a really great villain, romance, and gorgeous prose. I was honestly nervous to read it because I loved the Book of Doors so much, but I needn’t have been because this book was brilliant.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 out of 5
Spice: None (a couple brief kisses)
⚠️ Pretty heavy on the graphic violent content. Content/trigger warnings at the bottom.

The Society of Unknowable Objects exists to keep magic safe; to keep it out of the wrong hands. But Magda finds out pretty quick that magic isn’t quite as contained as she thought. She sets off on an adventure to track down a magical chess piece, which launches a course of events that unravels the world she thought she knew. She also meets the handsome James and their romance is very sweet and adds a lightheartedness to an otherwise very dark and somber story.

This book has a wonderful cast of characters. I especially found the villain, Lukas, super intriguing. The characters are all a bit flawed, just like we all are, which makes a story filled with magic feel like it could really be happening.

I found myself rereading sentences over and over because they were just so beautiful. The story itself is super unique and captivating. I was up late a few nights just thinking about it.

Even though the book is about magic, it’s super relevant to the world today. One quote I loved (and hated) - “this was the American South—buying gun was way less suspicious than stealing one. He was just another guy on a day like any other, purchasing death as easily as he might buy a bag full of groceries or a tank full of gas…”

Why 4.5 stars rather than 5? I found the ending to be a bit unsatisfying, although I think it’s meant to be that way. It definitely left me thinking about it. Also, I know it can’t compare to the Book of Doors because that book was just so so special to me, but it didn’t hit quite as hard as that one, and it’s impossible to not feel a little let down by comparison.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc!










⚠️ Content/trigger warnings: Lots of graphic violence, both fantasy and real, including gun violence. Sudden death of a parent. Childhood illness. There are multiple scenes in the point of view of an assassin, and graphic descriptions of how he killed his victims.

Brilliant! I really enjoyed this and flew through it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I love the premise of this book. One of my favorite things in speculative fiction is secret organizations, and this one is fun and unique. Also, they meet in a bookshop? Even better. I appreciate the way magic is handled in this world. The characters were interesting and entertaining. I would get frustrated with them at times because of the choices they made, and that just made them feel more real to me. The plot took some surprise turns! I haven't read Gareth Brown's first novel, but now that I've read this one I plan to read that as well. I like what he's building here!

Well, I really enjoyed this second book by Gareth Brown! This story is in no way related to his first book other than the existence of magic.
The story centers around four characters who are members of a secret society whose purpose is to protect the world from having magical artifacts fall into the hands of people who would use them for nefarious purposes. Lots of adventure and intrigue. I would enjoy seeing these characters in another story. If you enjoyed his first book, I think you would probably like this one as well. Happy reading!

Thank you William Morrow Books and Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

In this book, Gareth Brown takes us on another magic adventure. We follow the Society of Unknowable Objects and their quest to find a new unknowable object. This quest takes you on many twists and turns as we find out just what the unknowable objects are really capable of.

I loved that this book has a unique magic system, found family, and a hint of romance. The characters were all different from one another but balanced each other well. I also loved the subtle nods to "The Book of Doors."

***Slight spoiler***
My only critique of this book is how much time was spent focused on Owen for him to end up only being a small piece of the overall plot.

Thank you, #Partner @williammorrowbooks @harpercollins and @netgalley, for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 8/12/25.

I read #garethbrown debut novel "The Book Of Doors" back in 2023, and it was one of my favorites of the year. The second I saw he had a new novel coming out, I immediately begged to read it early! OMG, this book was just as good if not better than TBOD. I am not a big fantasy reader, but Gareth is one of the best storytellers I have ever had the privilege to read. Anything he writes I will be reading, and I can guarantee it will be a five-star read. If you haven't read The Book Of Doors, I highly recommend reading it first. Although it's an entirely different cast of characters, there are many nods to TBOD in this novel. The ending was absolutely phenomenal, and I'm already ready for book 3!!! Pre-order and add to your WL and start reading #TheBookOfDoors in the meantime.

A magical world with magical secret everyday objects that nobody would know is magical unless you are looking for them. The four member society meets up twice a year to talk about the secret objects they are looking for, but unfortunately, it's been quite for some time. Then luck changes, and Frank, the leader, sends Magda on a journey to Honk Kong to collect the new magical object. The quest is not going as planned, and unfortunately, Magda may be bringing an unwanted visitor back to London with her, along with information about her past. Can she trust the other members in the society? 5 stars!

I absolutely loved The Book of Doors so I was so excited to read this one and it did not disappoint!
The Society of Unknowable Objects follows Magda, a writer who has recently lost her mother. Magda has inherited her mother's spot in the Society and learns of magical objects they collect and protect. It is usually quiet with meetings twice a year but when they learn of a magical object in Hong Kong Magda is sent to collect it. She soon learns that she is not the only one there for the object.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow in the beginning but once the action starts I feel like it kept going. The imagery in some scenes is phenomenal, the magic system is really cool, the dual villains, secrets and lies... Do we use the magic we are given, also how do we decide to use these magics? What really is good vs. evil? Lots of thoughts.
Would recommend to anyone who loved Warehouse 13, who wants a magical storyline with little romance (this one is very light), and anyone who loved The Book of Doors.
*Note this can be read as a stand alone but there are connections to The Book of Doors. I would highly recommend reading that first you'll be happy you did.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! This was an entertaining, whimsical read with easy to follow magical world building. It had the classic British style, straight to the point, writing but was also descriptive enough to set the beautiful scenes. Magda is a writer following in her deceased mother’s footsteps as a member of a secret society for magical objects; when a new object is discovered in Hong Kong, Magda takes off on an adventure for which she ends up seemingly unprepared and ends up in a world of danger, secrets, and of course—magic.

First and foremost, a huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own.

That being said, I enjoyed this! This follows three members of a secret society tasked with cataloging and protecting magical objects. The main focus is on Magda, a young woman and the group’s newest member, whose mother was once part of the organization. It follows her as she tries to apprehend a man willing to kill over these magical objects. At times, I was a bit confused and the pacing of this is pretty slow up until the halfway point. After that, a lot of action goes on and the plot absolutely ramps up. I liked the conclusion, but considering I have not yet read the author’s previous work, The Book of Doors, some of it was a tad lost on me. I’m sure I would have liked it more if I had read Brown’s previous novel. That being said, I think this is absolutely worth a read! It touches on friendship and wanting to belong in a very unique way.

Overall, I recommend this book for people who want a bit of magic in their novels (that isn’t super hard to understand), stories on belonging, and fans of atmospheric, cozy tales.

“The Society of Unknowable Objects” by Gareth Brown is a splendid magical fantasy about a secret society that has been tasked with keeping the public unaware and safe from magical objects. The story follows a woman author who is the newest member of the society, and whose deceased mother was a founding member. She is sent to Hong Kong to investigate the emergence of a rare and dangerous object and quickly finds herself caught up in a murder and fleeing for her life. The thrilling journey to capture the “unknowable objects” takes us from a book store in London to the southern states of the US with many unexpected twists and turns.This book blends mystery, fantasy and magic in an exciting and imaginative way and for me this book was even more enjoyable than the author’s first book and I’d say that is magical in itself! I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.