The extract on offer was painfully short- painful because I was desperate to keep reading more of what was a tantalising glimpse of Susanna Clarke’s new boo. It was just the perfect little high was followed by the desperate low of knowing it is more months to wait. I loved the extract- in just a few pages it reeled me in with wanting to explore the strange Halls of the House and its odd inhabitants. The sense of beauty and strangeness, the effortless language of the labyrinth.

I know where I will be headed when the full book is published in September.

Okay, I read an excerpt... but now I want the whole book!!!

These very short pages intrigued me right away and I can't wait to continue reading the book when it comes out.

It is true craftsmanship that Susanna Clarke demonstrates in packing so much world building in such short pages.
Most interestingly is that this World enthrals almost immediately.
There's a sense of longing for worlds lost and a mysterious past that needs exploring.
Truly, I cannot wait for the rest of the book.

It's so enchanting! I'm already curious, about the halls, about The Other, about the narrator. I sense there are so many stories to be told from this world. As extracts go, it's whetted my appetite enormously – especially having recently been enraptured by The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Starless Sea - both of which this reminded me of.

I was surprised to realise it is more than ten years since I read Susanna Clarke's first (and so far, only other) novel, 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell'. Despite the decade that has passed, I can still remember elements of the story and perhaps more importantly, the feelings it evoked in me, more vividly than I can for lesser books read only this year. So I was very keen to read this early extract of Clarke's next novel, due in September 2020..

Whilst you can't tell too much from a short extract that takes just five minutes to read, it's certainly left me even more eager than I already was to get my hands on the full novel. The extract is narrated in the first person by Piranesi, a man of around thirty years old, who believes himself to be one of only two living humans in the world. He and ''the Other' inhabit a vast house that seems to behave as a world in itself. One reference hints to this being some kind of post-apocalyptic scenario.

It is certainly well written - I was immediately drawn into the world and absorbed in its detail. I could visualise the house described by Piranesi and was intrigued to understand more about it and how Piranesi came to be there.. No matter how the plot unfolds, the style is easy to read and immersive so I am pretty sure it will be an enjoyable novel. There is capitalisation of seemingly random words, which was a bit annoying in this small sample, but I expect will quickly become unnoticeable once you get into reading the whole thing.

Certainly on the evidence of this sample, Clarke has written another excellent novel that will have been worth waiting for.

As a massive fan of Jonathan Strange, I adored this extract exactly as much as I hoped I would. I am very excited for the full book.

Intriguing concept. I want to know more about it and where it’s going. I think I need more of a plot/synopsis to tell if I would read it. Obviously can’t give it any real rankings but so far - ok. My 3 stars is because it’s not enough to make me pre-order the book but enough to make me want to know more. Great marketing strategy though.

An inventive works, transporting the reader into mythical world. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell was a monster hit and although the follow up novel was a long time in the making, judging by readers reaction ,Piranesi will be equally successful.

Thank you for this little snippet! I've heard many good things about Susanna Clarke, whose Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel I've not yet read yet, but will do so in the coming months before Piranesi is released.
These opening chapters were intriguing. Set in a house that may or may not represent the world, the writing is lush and vivid. However I did find it lacking in plot and was wondering what the story for this is. Nonetheless I was enchanted by the vivid descriptions.

Interesting and intriguing scene-setting. I can't wait to read this novel and was so excited when I saw that Ms Clarke had finally written another novel.

Susanna Clarke appears to have created a fascinating world for her next novel - having read this extract, I certainly want to know more about it! I did feel that there was a lot of information given in the first section of the extract. Whilst this made me curious to know more about the world, I also felt a little overloaded with the strange terminology of the Halls. The second section caught my attention more as I got a better sense of the world that Piranesi inhabit and felt like I could begin to connect with Piranesi as a narrator. I shall certainly look out for this title when it is released in September as I am curious to know more having read this short snippet!

This little excerpt has definitely whetted my appetite for more! I have already preordered a copy because I loved the author’s first book so much, and that was before I even knew what it was about.

From the first little sample we’ve been given, it feels very much like The Starless Sea by Erin Morganstern which I also adore and I’m incredibly excited to sit down with a pot of tea and devour this book!

I'm so intrigued by this. The introduction drops you straight into the world giving as much information as necessary, now I just want to know how the story continues.

I can't wait to read the whole novel!

Piranesi might be in many aspects quite different from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell but there is a similarity that's obvious even from this short teaser: Piranesi is very well-written, too.

So, this is only a teaser to the book and, honestly, I feel like I need to read this right now! It’s pulled me into its world and leaves me wanting more. I can’t explain the plot as it’s only the first chapter, however, i feel like I need to understand who/why the main protagonist is acting the way they are. Recommended.

This is my first time reading anything by this author and I was a little nervous going in as her pervious work has received such high praise but reading this short extract I can see why.

In just a matter of pages I was invested in knowing what was happening and hooked to find out more!

This is definitely one I will be picking up when it is released.

"Everything you can imagine is real." Picasso

I last read Susanna Clarke's work in 2005 and was absolutely enchanted. I love feeling thoroughly disoriented within the worlds she creates and then adapting to the new order of things. The opening here gave me the impression of being literally inside a piece of art - as though the main character is part of the frescos adorning the Sistine Chapel. As thoroughly inventive and transportive as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, I look forward to the release of the novel in full later this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing and Susanna Clarke for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s hard to give an accurate review, and indeed a rating, on an extract of a book. The story seems very intriguing...and I definitely want to read more. I want to learn more about Piranesi, about the Halls in which he roams, who “The Other” is and what is his relevance...and of course whether this land in which Piranesi roams, is in fact real or make believe?
I cannot wait to read this book, it has me intrigued, and the writing is good. It is descriptive, and filled with wonder...I just want to know more! I want to read more! What a teaser this is....

One of my most anticipated releases ! I love Susanna Clarke's writing , this short extract did not disappoint . I am eagerly waiting for the release date.

I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. So I was excited to read this extract of Piranesi, Susanna Clarke new novel. It's another masterpiece in the making! Beautifully written, I can't wait to read the full story.