I was granted complimentary access to the audiobook edition of Piranesi by Susanna Clarke through the publisher, Bloomsbury UK Audio, in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. Thank you so much to Bloomsbury UK Audio for the opportunity! I've been trying to find the time to read Piranesi and audio is so much easier to fit into my day. This has not swayed my opinion. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Piranesi is the story of Piranesi, The Other, 13 mysterious dead, and the 16th who has yet to arrive in this world: A series of vestibules and corridors that contain the ocean. When an unexpected 17th person arrives, who Piranesi dubs The Prophet, Piranesi's reality is shifted irreparably and the mysteries of who he used to be, how he got here, where here is, and who The Other actually is all demand answers.

I must admit, I wasn't sure what to expect starting this book. Susanna Clarke is a well-beloved author by those who finished and enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell or enjoyed the BBC TV adaptation. I attempted to read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell when it was new, but I found it slow and wasn't particularly upset when I lost my copy before I finished it. Sometime in the last year, I came across a YouTuber who discovered it in her late 20s and now raves about how good it is, and this inspired me to buy another copy and give it a chance, only I haven't had the time to crack open such a long book just yet. Thus, Piranesi is the first Susanne Clarke book I have finished. Let's just say I'm now delighted by the thought of re-reading and finally finishing the former.

Clarke's writing in Piranesi reminds me of Morgenstern's in The Night Circus, and I couldn't help but think to myself repeatedly while enjoying Piranesi that this is what I was hoping to read when I read The Starless Sea. This is the mostly-linear, whimsical magical realism mystery that I thought the dollhouse world in The Starless Sea was meant to tell. I believe fans of either author will love Piranesi, and I think Piranesi is a great place to start for potential readers interested in Clarke's work who aren't yet ready to give into the much longer Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I hope Clarke writes more novels like this one, and hopefully with a shorter gap in between than between this one and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

The narrator's performance was excellent. Each character has a distinct way of speaking, and he's able to convey the relaxed, carefree atmosphere of the labyrinth world. I dare say it almost reminded me of listening to Gaiman narrating one of his own works, like The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I always listen at 1.5-2x speed when playing an audiobook, and I found 2x was the perfect listening speed for me for this particular book.

Blown away by how mesmerising and imaginative this book was. Loved the underlying puzzle, the world building and the imagery. Curious and quirky, I was enthralled from start to finish. Loved it!

TLDR: Nothing in this book is handed to you. Nothing is as it seems.

The narratives I’ve read which take place in a Labyrinth (and I’ll admit, there’s only two and both were Greek retellings) have been stories which start outside the maze. Susanna Clarke gives you no such warmup. There’s no familiar, tangible grip to a reality we can understand outside the halls which Piranesi, the narrator, “though that is not his name”, is describing. You are in the labyrinth with him, and you see and experience what he sees and experiences. Vast, grand halls, filled with stone rubble, statues, and the dead. Truthfully, I was 30% in before I had any idea what was going on.

So layered are the religious metaphors, the heavy symbolism and descriptions, that the story doesn’t really begin until that mark. It’s only as Piranesi begins to piece together the mystery that surrounds him, starts to realize that his memory is not as reliable as he thought it was, that the audience really understands what is going on.

I really enjoy character-driven narratives, and Piranesi is a very complex, interesting character. He’s compassionate, thoughtful, introspective. He is the complete opposite of his only friend, ‘The Other’, who is shallow, self-serving and vindictive. The reveal that ‘The Other’, or Catterly as he’s known in ‘our world’, trapped Piranesi (not his real name) in the labyrinth, to study him (and 13 other people) was a well-crafted, slow-burn mystery that allowed the audience to time to come to their own conclusions. To see more than Piranesi saw, as an unreliable – yet idealistic – narrator.

The novel looks at science vs religion, mental health and power. Mostly power. Piranesi understands the power of the tides, vast waters which can fill the halls at any moment, and respects them. Catterly, respects no power than his own. It’s the perfect book for people who enjoy the feel of a historical novel, with speculative themes, and fantastic descriptions. We are left in no doubt about what Piranesi’s home looked like. Felt like. I am not surprised to hear it has been shortlisted for the Costa award.

I did not find it the most ‘enjoyable’ read, it is not the sort of book I would recommend to someone who reads for fun, rather than to have their brain scrambled. But I will be talking about this book for a very long time.

I received the audiobook to review read by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Piranesi is a man who lives in a world which is basically a giant house full of infinite halls and rooms. The rooms can have sculptures, birds, skeletons or even the sea in them. The sea sweeps through the halls on tides . Piranesi lives in this world on his own but for one other man who visits once a week called the other . Things start to unravel when another person is seen in this world and Piranesi starts questioning his world. This book is so wonderfully unique and I loved every second. Definitely one of my favourite books this year

What. A. Novel.
I have never experienced a book the way I did this, it demands your full attention as every small detail is so meticulously thought out and everything (much like the house itself) is connected. It made me think of Plato’s world of forms while the characters of Piranesi and the Other made me think of the relationship between religions and its followers. It was a great read and Chiwetel Ejiofor narrated it beautifully. I could have listen all day.

4.5 stars
I was a bit sceptical about Piranesi from reading the blurb, nervous that i wouldn’t be able to keep up with it or understand it, and to start with I was a little that way, not really knowing what was going on. BUT. you settle into the labyrinth setting and Piranesi’s peculiar, whimsical life pretty quickly, he is an utterly charming character and a delight to immerse yourself with. This is a great lockdown read/listen,, it’s not very long, has a fantastic, likeable protagonist and the story is oddly comforting as Piranesi creates a world in a place he is trapped. I don’t find it happens very often but it’s worth the hype

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
I give this audiobook 4 stars
Narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor

Piranesi lives in the House.
In his notebooks he records its wonders: the halls, the statues, the tides, the clouds.On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other.But mostly, he is alone.
But then messages begin to appear,there is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want?
Lost texts must be found and secrets must be uncovered.

Journey along with Piranesi to find the pursuit of knowledge through this magical solitary world ,told in a diary format. This imaginative beautiful mystery is a puzzle that slowly unravels to reveal something far more sinister. Such amazing storytelling that had me completely captivated and feeling like l was right there with Piranesi..A highly recommended listen!
With thanks to Netgalley,Susanna Clarke and Bloomsbury UK Audio for my chance to listen to this fantastic book