Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects is a dazzling and thought-provoking journey into the mysterious and the surreal. From the very first page, readers are transported into a world where the boundaries between the tangible and the abstract blur, and the pursuit of knowledge leads to unexpected, often unsettling discoveries. Brown’s mastery of prose creates a world that feels both familiar and entirely foreign, filled with characters whose emotional depth makes their experiences resonate long after the book is closed.

The plot centers around the enigmatic Society of Unknowable Objects, an organization that collects items that cannot be fully understood or explained—objects that defy logic, science, and reason. The concept itself is fascinating, and Brown expands on it in ways that are both intellectually stimulating and deeply imaginative. Each object in the society’s collection holds a mystery that reflects the characters' own internal struggles and desires.

The characters are beautifully complex, each with their own personal conflicts, and Brown excels in exploring the intersection of their relationships with the objects they study. There’s an emotional weight to the novel that goes beyond the intrigue of its fantastical premise. Themes of obsession, identity, and the limits of human understanding are explored with sensitivity and nuance, making this not just a book about strange objects but about the human condition itself.

The pacing of the novel is spot-on, keeping readers captivated with just the right balance of mystery, philosophical musings, and emotional depth. The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the way Brown integrates surreal elements into the narrative feels both organic and purposeful. The writing is eloquent yet accessible, drawing readers in and making them feel as though they are part of this strange and compelling world.

In conclusion, The Society of Unknowable Objects is an extraordinary work of fiction that blends speculative ideas with deep emotional exploration. Gareth Brown has crafted a novel that is as intellectually stimulating as it is profoundly moving, making it an unforgettable experience for anyone who enjoys literature that challenges the mind while tugging at the heartstrings. This book is a masterpiece, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for something truly unique and thought-provoking.

“The Book of Doors” was one of my favorite reads last year. When I saw that the author had a second book coming soon, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on a copy and I am so grateful I did!

Full disclosure, I didn’t love this as much as the Book of Doors but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I really loved the pace of the first half of the book, felt it got a little convoluted towards the ending but that epilogue was 🤯! I love this world he has created and I am so hopeful that we will get a third book with our favorite familiar faces in it. Some of the magic in this one was harder to follow than his first novel but that is super subjective to the reader. I don’t know why it didn’t fully click for me but it didn’t take away from enjoying the book. I will read anything by Gareth Brown at this point and I look forward to seeing what he does next!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great story! Thank you for the opportunity to read it in advance. The characters were very relatable and I felt like I got very caught up in each storyline.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

I enjoyed The Book of Doors, and so I was excited to read this one. I liked the premise, and the book started off being interesting, but as the story progressed, it just didn't work. The villain through the first half was just a generic, non-nuanced bad guy, so reading his part was a bit rough. And then the characters just kept making infuriatingly dumb decisions only to prolong the story. There were a few points where the book could have been way shorter had the characters done the thing that was obviously the thing they should have done, making the writing just feel lazy. Ironically, at the end, one character lightly calls out another character by asking if there could have been a more creative solution that would have fixed everything with a better outcome. But of course, this is just brushed off as nothing, even though, yes, more creativity would have fixed a lot. Instead, we just have this girl who can't control her emotions or think logically, and we're expected to think she's a good candidate to have control over magical items that could cause catastrophic harm? Literally, her only qualification is nepotism.

There were a few positives. I did like that it was set in the same world as Book of Doors. I prefer more subtlety, so I didn't really need the epilogue, but at least it was short. There were other reveals that I thought were pretty good, too, but they just didn't make up for the other stuff that I found lacking.

I really wanted this book to be better than it was.

I had read and absolutely loved Gareth Brown's debut novel, The Book of Doors, so I knew I had to read his next novel as well. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC!

The premise of this book feels very similar to his first. In The Book of Doors, books give their owners certain abilities. In The Society of Unknowable Objects, various objects give their owners magical abilities, including a chess piece. I could definitely see the similar themes between the books as I read through this one, but it didn't feel too similar to me.

If you enjoyed Brown's first, this one is definitely worth the read as well! I will be keeping my eyes open for his next!

As someone who enjoyed The Book of Doors, I was so excited to see the author come out with another book this year. This one has a very different vibe than Book of Doors, in my opinion, but if you were a reader who enjoyed the magical realism aspect of The Book of Doors, you will not be disappointed.

I adored this book. I loved Brown's first book, The Book of Doors. I"m so excited to say this one is just as excellent, if not more. A really entertaining, big-world read, and I adored the concept of these magical objects out there. Really loved every single character, which was drawn so well. Just so excited for everyone else to read this book and can't wait for more from Brown!

Thank you Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Magda is a member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, a society dedicated to the protection of wonderful magical things. The society is small and meets only twice a year and during her time no new object have surfaced, until now. And Frank, the head of the society has tasked Magda with tracking down the object!

The premise f this book is intriguing! Magic realism always get me. I think this book starts off really well and I was invested in hat was going on. However, I do feel like it was a little sluggish in a few areas before it really picked up again. But overall I really enjoyed this. I know that Gareth Brown is an author I will be following very closely!

Thanks for the ARC!

3.75 stars. Almost 4 for sure. I loved that this ended up being set in the Book of Doors world. Should I have known before?

This book was slowing going at first. The character interactions seemed fake and forced and I was tempted to DNF initially but it felt cozy and magical so I kept going. The characters did seem a little flat. They were each almost too specific, and made me think they were like puzzle pieces that were fit into place just to make it work. Finding out about "The Book" was very exciting though and gave me a second wind. I loved The Book of Doors. I will continue to read this series if more books about books keep coming.

i've had so much fun with this book. it's cozy and international and jaunty with a fun premise. i feel like the author has a great handle on story sequencing and world building and am excited to see him continue to hone his craft. looking forward to his next work.

Wow! 4.5 stars. I actually had not read The Book of Doors before reading this one and was attracted purely based on the book description. I was so pleasantly surprised with this book and devoured it in just about a day!

It read like a fun fantasy action movie - fast-paced, exciting twists, and compelling characters (good and bad). I often found myself so excited about what would happen next that my eyes would wander ahead a few lines. The magic system is fairly simple and easy to understand, but magic was used both creatively and judiciously. It was of course central to the plot, but not so complicated that it was hard to understand.

Gareth Brown has a compelling writing style that keeps you on your toes. I will admit that I'm not that type that usually picks up on too much foreshadowing, but I truly could not predict what was going to happen next - just twist after twist! The story concludes itself well without giving you so many clues along the way that it spoils the ending.

There were a few instances where the main character made decisions that frustrated me and a couple of convenient plot holes where it seemed like simpler solutions could've been employed by the characters, but nothing egregious to the point where I was annoyed. Overall, it was exactly what I wanted - a fun story with believable characters and creative use of magic. I'd highly recommend this if you like modern-world magic or need a thrilling palette cleanser.

This was such a unique and engaging story, I could not put it down! The characters are complex, the writing style pulls you in, and the ending was such a surprise! I always here good things about books by Gareth Brown and I am so glad I started with this bad boy.

This is a great mystery book with action and a different magic system! There's a secret society and multi-POV, good and evil and consequences! Add this to your TBR!

Absolutely amazing! I was entralled with the story from page one and couldnt put it down. I didn't expect any less from this author!

And yet again, another unputdownable book from Gareth Brown.

There’s something about his writing style that hooks me from the first sentence and his second book hit just like the first.

Engaging story, complex characters, a surprise ending, this has everything you need & love in a great book. Highly, highly recommended and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

Just stepping foot back into the world Gareth Brown has created, just feels like coming home. I was so excited for another book by the author of Book of Doors. Gareth writes magic in such a believable way I find myself nodding my head in agreement on how things play out in the book. Would I have ever thought that was the direction something was going? No. However, the way he writes it, I feel like, but of course, that’s how it is supposed to go. I enjoyed this book so much and it lived up to all the hype of his first for me. I cannot wait to read whatever Gareth has in store next.

"The Society of Unknowable Objects" is a thrilling globe-spanning adventure with a relatable and engaging cast of characters and a simple yet effective magic system. I enjoyed Garth Brown's writing style, and the story keeps me hooked until the end!

For people that want mystery and action tied together in a wonderful story!

I wanted to thank Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gareth Brown, and William Morrow for allowing me access to the e-arc.

4.75 stars

I devoured this book! It was such a fun and binge-able read. The magic system was not like anything I had read before. I’m a sucker for a secret society. I loved that we got different POVs that added to the story. The exploration of what truly is good and evil was very interesting. It showed that not everything is so cut and dry. We have to live with the consequences of the choices that we make. I would have loved more discussions of grief. But regardless I loved this book. I can’t wait to buy a copy. I highly recommend it!

I did not read the prequel (of sorts, the main character (I think) pops up in the end of the book) but this wasn't particularly well written. The main character is a Mary Sue cardboard cut out who lucks in and out of every situation. There was a lot of exposition for a world that could have been made a lot more interesting. Having characters provide letters that explain things is the laziest writing technique and I would not suggest this book to anyone. Also, the title is stupid. Eventually you KNOW what the object is.

High praise for the creativity the author used for the magical items in the book. They were unique and fun to read about. Unfortunately, the items were more interesting than the characters. It took longer than usual for me to finish this book, which tells me it did not grasp me the way other books have. I was looking for more depth from fewer characters. Also, some of the story came across as too dry for my tastes.

I think others may enjoy it more than I did, so I would recommend it.

Magda is in a secret society that protects powerful enchanted objects, each with unique magical abilities. When tasked with retrieving a rook from Hong Kong, she finds herself caught in a world of mystery, danger and hidden magic. Led by Frank, the society is determined to keep these artifacts out of the wrong hands.

Filled with intrigue, friendship, and wonder, this book proves to be an even more compelling read than its predecessor!