A brilliant new tale from Susanna Clarke with just the right amount of creepy undertones. At times confusing,but in the best way possible and to show the confusion of Piranesi himself. This is a book that will really get under your skin and leave you wanting to know more.

The audio quality was excellent and I really enjoyed the voice of the narrator too, a good pairing for the character of Piranesi.

Piranesi begins without any answers. There are clues, but none of them seem to add up. Piranesi is a likeable yet innocent character. The way Susanna Clarke weaves in the copious mysteries within his supernatural setting does hold a sense of intrigue. Throughout the listening of this audiobook I have to admit that I supplemented my reading with the odd reference to a plot summary. This is the first novel by Clarke that I have ever read and due to the unique style I would definitely reach for Clarke again. I think Piranesi is definitely something I could reread again and again. In the future I could see this being studied and analysed by our A-level students.

Thank you NetGalley for my copy.

Piranesi was a shifting, mercurial delight of a story.
I was lucky enough to be granted access to an ARC of the audiobook narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and I found myself carried along by it. There were moments where I found meaning elusive, and we’d be given hints of what was happening but could never be quite certain. Normally this would frustrate me beyond belief but in this story it is a very necessary part of the experience.
Piranesi, our narrator, journals avidly and spends his days curating the house in which he lives. Twice a week he meets with The Other and discusses the things he observes within the many rooms he journeys to. There are allusions to a sixteenth person, and the perceived threat from an unwelcome visitor.
Suffice to say, nothing is quite as it seems.
Once I came to the end I found myself full of longing to return. This is a world that you will fall in love with.

I was given this an ARC about a month ago but when I tried to download it stated it was archived ... so... I purchased the book on Audible instead only to be given the ARC again 🤔 that aside it’s a book of wonder and magic that is narrated by one of my favourite actors, excellent

I started this book with no real expectations, was just excited to try something new. It's outside of my usual genre and style but I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. The story was fast paced, the main character was fascinating and the I was left guessing until the very end as to how it would turn out. Will definitely read more of Susanna Clarke's work after this!

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury UK audio for the ALC.

I loved this! I didn't really know much about it before reading other than of course Susanna Clarke is a pretty well respected author so didn't know at all what to expect but I think this actually made it all the better. It was a great mix of fantasy and mystery which is right up my street, but also very beautifully told through Piranesi's journal entries. The whole unravelling of the story is actually quite dark but it's told in such a way that it doesn't really feel too bad. I definitely didn't know what was going to happen, although everything falls into place nicely as we learn new things slowly so it doesn't really have that thriller big reveal, but is a more gentle mystery. I loved Piranesi as a character, he was so interesting and very likeable. The ending was a bit bittersweet and left a bit open, but I thought it worked well to end the story. Will definitely be recommending this to people!

"Piranesi" is a dark and atmospheric story of a mystical labyrinth enclosed in a grand house with many twists and turns. It's being inhabited by two people - Piranesi, who is the narrator, and the Other. I won't say anything else - it's definitely one of those books you need to go blind into.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. The summary is mysterious, to say the least, and does not give much away. I was completely blown away by the way the narrative is conducted. The unreliable narrator who questions their reliability themself was a genius move on the author's part. It results in a story that is a puzzle from the beginning to the end and it is on the part of the reader to figure it out.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to listen through the whole audiobook - I got accepted for review on the day it was getting archived. However, the short preview still available via NetGalley gave me a good sense of the narrator and the feel of the recording. I would gladly listen to the whole thing one day.

I absolutely adored Susanna Clarke’s debut novel but absolutely hated her second book of short stories, so I was really interested to see what I thought of this one.

In all honesty, I don’t think I would have enjoyed reading it as a book, I think it may have annoyed me a little bit or maybe it wouldn’t have kept my interest. However, as an audiobook, I found the narrator’s voice very soothing and incredibly easy to listen to. For me, he was perfect as Piranesi - absolutely perfect, so I found myself really enjoying listening to it.

It’s such a different story as well, I didn’t know where it was going to go, and I can’t remember if I read the blurb- I just wanted to pick up another of her books. I don’t think I’ve read a story like this one, it got me so intrigued. I really loved it...

My thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury UK Audio for the advance copy (and all the walks around the park to listen to it!)

Piranesi was a strange read, but one that thrives in its strangeness. When I first started listening to it, I didn’t understand what was going on, but I was intrigued. While I didn’t understand it, I was never confused, which is very different experience, and the slow unraveling of what Piranesi is about makes this incredibly unique. You have to go into this without a clue what it’s about, as the revelation of twists makes the experience worth it.

The book works like a riddle, where all the information is given to us by Piranesi, and trying to figure out what is happening is an interesting draw to the narrative. What is the labyrinth? Who is Piranesi? Why is he there and who are the Others? The world inside is absurd and nonsensical, but that’s the beauty of it. You go in not understanding, and come out with a dreamlike narrative that answers everything, but still leaves you wondering about what you’ve learned.

I did struggle with Clarke’s novel Strange and Norrell, but Piranesi showcased her talents better. She can create a vivid world with gorgeous writing, and the calls to mythology are astounding. I highly recommend this book, and the narrator was excellent. He had the perfect voice for Piranesi, and I hope he does more audiobook narration in the future.

Such an odd but fascinating book. I'll admit, initially I had no idea what was going on, but Clarke takes you on this journey in such a skilful way, it didn't matter. Outstanding.

I was granted this audio arc on the archive date and therefore it wouldn’t let me download it to listen. I cannot comment on the prose or narration as a result.

Apologies but I can't review this audiobook as it was archived shortly after I was offered it. I wanted to listen to it and review but can't. However without officially reviewing it my NetGalley rating has gone down so I have to review it here. Giving it a random 3 stars as I have no idea if I'd like it or not, sorry.

Once I started reading Piranesi I understood why so many reviewers disclosed very little about its story. The driving force in this novel is the not knowing what the hell is going on. The summary for Piranesi hints at the narrative's peculiarity: our narrator, Piranesi, lives in a house, which happens to be his entire world, with many many rooms and many many corridors, his only companions are the statues adorning this house and The Other, a man he meets twice a week to discuss A Great and Secret Knowledge.

“Piranesi lived among statues; silent presences that bought him comfort and enlightenment.”


Although the publisher recommends Piranesi to fans of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and Madeline Miller's Circe, I think it would appeal more to readers who enjoy metaphysical and absurd narratives, such as the one penned by the likes of Kafka or Samuel Beckett. Similarly to Beckett's Endgame, Piranesi's disorientating qualities are heightened by the repetitiveness of certain words or phrases. Piranesi, like Beckett's Clov and Hamm, offers no explanations for his peculiar environment or strange circumstances, leading readers to speculate whether the house truly is in another world.

Readers will probably be baffled by Piranesi's casual attitude towards his surroundings, his incomprehensible reasonings, his perception of time and death, and his devotion to his labyrinthine house.
Unlike Beckett however Clarke does eventually answer the reader's questions, but I was ultimately unconvinced by her novel's denouement. Nevertheless I enjoyed Piranesi's absurd narration as well the humour that livens his story. If you are the type of reader to find puzzling reads entertaining, this might the right book for you.

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury UK Audio, i really appreciate you approving my request for this audio book!

This book was possibly one of the strangest books I’ve read (I know I’ve said that a lot before) but the writing was amazing and I was so obsessed by this story 😍

The narrator did such a good job of keeping you intrigued throughout!

This was an interesting read. I liked how multi-layered and weaved in all elements of the story was. The character of Piranesi was written well and i was fascinated to find out what was happening and why he was in this aqua maze. The audio acting was done well and i liked the tone of voice the narrator used. It was so different to Jonathon Strange but in the best way possible.

I've been waiting years for another novel by Susanna Clarke and Piranesi was worth the wait. Its much shorter in length than than Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell but it certainly packs everything in that we expect from this author.

I did have doubts however with the opening chapters where The House is described in what seems like endless halls and vestibules but I was intrigued to find out what was going on. I was soon completely hooked and found that I had to keep on so I could solve the puzzle.

By the end of the book I still have questions, I'm still thinking about the subjects raised and trying to work out what it all means. I've read other reviews to glean theories from other readers. For me this is the mark of a truly great book and one that I will no doubt reread at some point in the future.

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator, Chiwetel Ejiofor gave a fantastic performance and brought Piranesi to life.

I read the book and found it enthralling and hypnotic. I love how Susanna Clarke use words and was happy to be able to lose myself into one of her book.
Piranesi is fascinating novel, atmospheric and well written.
The voice of the narrator add a layer and I followed the words like I was lost in a dream.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In a large house with endless halls and a variety of wonders and statues to gaze upon, a man called Piranesi wanders. He meticulously records his experiences in the Big House, and the tide that rises and falls within it, and the presents the house gives to him. Twice a week, he meets The Other and that's the only connection to another person he has. But soon, someone else appears in the house causing Piranesi to question everything, and possibly discover who he really is.

This is one of the most unique books I've ever read, and I loved it so much. It's the type of story that just makes you marvel at the wonder of the human mind that can create such a story and write it down in a manner that males (almost) complete sense.

I can't 100% explain what exactly happened in this story. and where or what the Big House was but I loved reading Piranesi's narration of his life, and the audio narration was superb.

The house itself almost reminded me of generation ships you hear about in sci-fi novels - a massive home almost too big to really comprehend, with different levels to provide what is needed for living - water, food, etc.

The way the story slowly revealed Piranesi's true identity, and what was really happening with the house was amazing and the writing was divine. The subtlety of the magic and wonder in this book, alongside an appreciation for art in all its forms whether it be through weather and nature (fish nibbling at bones) or a variety of minotaur statues (assuming man-made) was just gorgeous.

I definitely don't have the right analytical mind to review this book how it should be reviewed and point out the most likely amazing metaphors and bits in the book that had a greater meaning that I may have missed. But I loved it.

If anyone is on the fence about this one, I say to give it a chance, it may surprise and delight you!

YES. YES. YES.

What a brilliant book and also what a great narrator. It was my first time using Netgalley to listen to audiobooks and i would totally do it again! But, like usual with me, I didn't know what to expect since I hadn't read anything from this author before, but I saw some friends raving about this book so I though lets give it a go and see how it goes.

I think weirdly it's the perfect book during lockdown and a brilliant book to read at the moment since it's all about Piranesi and his house which is literally INFINITE, where corridors and rooms flood turning into ocean after ocean. With Piranesi constantly exploring his house discovering it's secrets and also discovering a darker truth to himself and his surroundings.

It's captivating and a short read which will give you food for though and will stay with you for a while afterwards. Some of the best elements of this book are it's mysteries and being able to keep the reading constantly wanting to find out the secrets and the book teasing each mystery on a stick and it's brilliant. Pick it up when you can, you really won't regret it!!

(4.5)

I read Piranesi before picking this book up as an audiobook. There's always this strange feeling where the voice you imagined in your head doesn't fully match what you're hearing, but Chiwetel Ejiofor was such a wonderful narrator I quickly fell back into it. Listening to this book has a magical feeling to it I can't quite describe in words: it's evocative, slow-paced, and a brilliantly unravelling of a mystery. The way Chiwetel narrated brought the characters to life with such excellence. I would recommend this audiobook to everyone who enjoys them.

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Today I’m talking about Piranesi, and, like the book’s release, the timing is very relevant. At this moment in time, the inside of my house is my entire world. It’s a feeling I’m sure a lot of us in places impacted by COVID-19 can understand. There are a lot of reasons someone’s world may be their house, and it’s not all linked to what’s going on right now. Piranesi was written by an author who, after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue, knows the inside of her house very well. Piranesi is a character who loves the house he lives in, he has a sense of belonging, and instead of longing for something else, he thanks the house for everything it brings. That feeling was very poignant and unlike anything I’d read before; Piranesi touched my soul in a way I can’t truly explain.

I have avoided talking about anything you don’t learn in the first section of the book. I discuss some of the themes of the novel, but I’m avoiding the plot completely as I can’t think of a way to discuss it without spoiling everything.

Piranesi’s house is not ordinary. With infinite rooms filled with thousands of statues, endless corridors, and even an ocean imprisoned within its walls, it’s a house of mystery. Piranesi is not afraid. He loves the house, and all it brings. There is someone else in the house, The Other. Piranesi visits him twice a week to help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. When the existence of another person is revealed the truth of the house begins to unravel.

Honestly, it’s difficult to describe what this book is about. I went in knowing it was about a person known as Piranesi who lives in a big house full of weird things. I had no idea where it was going or what was happening. The process of slowly unravelling the truth, and at a different speed than Piranesi himself, was one of the best experiences of the book. For that reason alone, I’m not going to touch on the plot at all; you should experience it for yourself.

Instead, I want to focus on Piranesi as a character, before everything happens. He spends his days exploring the house, cataloguing the statues, saying hello to the birds, keeping the dead company. Although he is mostly alone, he feels a sense of complete belonging, he is happy.

Piranesi wants to understand the house better, to explore its mysteries. The house is amazing, and it gives him many wonderful experiences.

What I loved most about Piranesi as a character is how well he belongs in the world. The idea of an enclosed labyrinth of a house, completely isolated and unable to leave, is one that terrifies a lot of people. Most books would focus on the feeling of being trapped, on the heavy loneliness, but not this one. Instead, Piranesi is filled with love.

I’d say a lot of people feel somewhat trapped at the moment. Even without having to stay in our houses, the world doesn’t feel like a pleasant place. It was refreshing to read about someone who is similarly trapped, which doesn’t focus on the negative. I want to be more like Piranesi. Someone who gets joy from the little things, someone who constantly seeks out the new in similar places, someone who loves the world for what it is and not what they think it should be.

It’s as if Piranesi was released at the perfect moment for me. I haven’t read Susanna Clarke’s other work, Jonathon Strange and Mr Norell, but I had heard great things about it which inspired me to pick this up when I saw it at the bookshop. I’m so glad I did.

There’s a strangeness to the book. Piranesi isn’t of this world, and he doesn’t speak as if he’s of this world. He lives by his own system, the name of the years based on his own experiences. We’re reading his journal, and his voice is so incredibly, oddly, unique. When I started reading, I was drawn into this eccentricity, but I wasn’t expecting it to be a book I loved so dearly. If you like books that are more straightforward this might not be the one for you, but I’d consider myself in that category and I still loved this, so who knows?

Piranesi contrasts against The Other heavily. The Other is the only other person in the house, and he’s using the house as a way to research A Great and Secret Knowledge, which he hopes will bring him great power. Piranesi helps, despite not believing in this goal, because he’s helpful, kind, and enjoys the company. The Other uses the house for what he can gain, Piranesi loves the house for what it is.

There’s a lot to think about even within this small comparison. We could talk about how humans so often only think something is important if we can use it. That can be even be applied to people; so much of our self worth is related to what we can and can’t do. Perhaps then, we, like The Other, are failing to find the intrinsic value in things. Perhaps Piranesi’s positive experience of his isolation might be because he doesn’t have those preconceptions, he can be who he is without it impacting his self-worth, the house can be what it is without impacting it’s worth. There’s a lot to say here about how we consider our world, how the way we have used it has affected it in terrible ways; Piranesi would definitely be an environmentalist.

This is an especially poignant perspective when considering that Susanna Clarke is a disabled writer. After completing her first book, she struggled to continue writing due to chronic fatigue. She’s spoken about how difficult that was, as her worth was tied to being able to write. It’s something we all feel to varying degrees, but in a world where you are what you do, what if you can’t do anything?

There’s a lot to say about disabled people who have always spent a lot of time in their houses, for a lot of people COVID-19 lockdowns are their entire life. Even Piranesi in his love for the house still wants and enjoys company. He’s still a person who desires friendship and connection. When things go back to ‘normal’ we can’t forget the people who are still inside, we need to continue to make the effort, we need to continue to have accessible alternatives. Even when you take joy in your everyday life, no one likes to be alone.