It’s hard to know where to rank this, mainly because it is one I definitely feel needs a second read to truly grasp some things. Someday I may annotate the heck out of a physical copy. Even then, it does seem there’s some things in here that go unanswered. This book has different time periods and locations, going back and forth from the real world to the dreamy world of March. While it is a complaint that it is a bit hard to follow, I feel like the weirdness and dream quality here is done well, and does by its nature lead to some ambiguity. I’m also not mad at it that I missed some stuff, because it’s going to push for an interesting reread. In short, don’t go into this expecting fully clear cut answers to everything here, Just enjoy the ride.

Note: arc provided in exchange for honest review

I read March's End by Daniel Polansky as an ARC via Netgalley. I really didn't know what to expect with this one going in. The dream-like back and forth between the real world and the March and between different periods in time was a little disorienting at first, but I figured I'd go with it, eventually realizing it was a Narnia-like situation but without the heavy-handed religious overtones and a far more damaged family and a far more weird magical realm. There's really not a lot of exposition, and I have a lot of questions about things that I'm not sure if I just missed the first time through or if it's genuinely unclear. The dream-like quality never goes away. The language in this story, especially during passages that take place in the March, is insane. Filled with proper nouns and lesser-known nouns and alliteration and harkening back to an imagination that is much older than the current age. I had to look up a lot of words. I added quite a few words to my 'favourites' in my dictionary app. To be clear, I never felt overwhelmed, rather it created the atmosphere I think/hope the author was going for. Language is probably this book's biggest strength. There were whole passages where, even if I only got the gist of it, sounded <i>cool</i>.

Overall, it's hard to say where I rank this book. I definitely enjoyed it and I can't be too critical of a book that taught me so many interesting words and used them in neat ways. I am not entirely sure I'm satisfied with the ending but I'm not entirely sure I ever fully understood what the hell was going on or even if I was supposed to. I might actually read this book again when it comes out proper. People who really enjoyed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke may be interested in this, it's not totally the same vibe but comparison could be made, vaguely. If you twisted my arm for a rating, I might say 7/10, which I'll round up to 4/5 for Goodreads.

This is a very impressive book. Well written in every sense. The characters are so well drawn, the personalities of a wide range of characters distinct and clear, with a minimum of words used. The words themselves, perfect. This is written storytelling at its best. The tale itself is highly interesting and engaging, though dark, with the Harrow family transporting to an alternate magical world as they sleep. Each of the family members is deeply flawed, there is love but also great harm shared between them. The story is mainly told from the perspective of the three children of the matriarch and queen, Sophia, partly as adults, partly in flashbacks to their childhood. Sophia is not an entirely evil queen or mother, but her children are not thriving. Constance neglects her marriage over filial duty. Mary Ann is floundering in her career and relationship, and is on and off meds after being institutionalized after a suicide attempt. John is antisocial and nihilistic, after having his face terribly disfigured as a child. Sophia is verbally abusive and scornful of her husband, somehow causes the death of her brother, and does not demonstrate much caring for her estranged children. Though extremely gritty and grim, and far from uplifting, there is hope in the ending. The three children somehow pull together for each other in their broken ways, and you really want them each to be ok. Though half set in a magical land, this story feels very real.

Ominous feels from the opening page.
The Harrows, a family, charged with protecting a unique fantasy world. A tangible family with its own dysfunction, which gives the story line such an authentic feel.
Prophecies, incomparable creatures, personified animals, and soldier toys from a children's toy box, Oh My! This is a book that could have fan fiction spin offs, maps, and its own creature lore.

The Family dynamics, albeit dysfunctional, yet each one is connected through blood lineage and the same experience of guardianship of The March. Inside the fantasy world, the modpodge of creatures, have either a level of veneration and respect for the Harrows or the exact opposite, lending to further drama within the story plot.

The book has its comedic moments which breaks up the mystery, drama, and heroics. Quote: "We don't have jubjub birds in humanland." "Humanland sounds like an awfully boring place."

The different lands and cities described has your imagination reeling with excitement. Much like a kid in a fully stocked candy store.

As adults, the siblings, in one way or another, are trying to figure out their own generational curses, their emotional weaknesses, and personality quirks, all the while still being a brave and productive part of the Harrow family. Battling mundane, everyday life in their own time, and the possible collapse of the realm The March. Tension builds with war room negotiations for the realm's cities adding to gritty interactions.

The battles are enthralling, large or small. Danger here and there. Within the March and in their own world the peril mounts and stacks like stones and boulders.

Loyal companions inspire a literary sense of faith and hope. Each companion creation has a whimsical, and dreamlike feel which makes this book such an unorthodox horror intermingled with fantasy. This book has something for every emotion.

I give this book a five star rating as a unique, blended tale of fantasy. Thank you for my advanced reader copy. I throughly enjoyed this adventure.

Thank you Daniel Polansky, Netgalley, and Angry Robot for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get too far into the book, because of the lack of characterization, and the telling instead of showing.

If there ever has been an author whose works would undoubtedly qualify as its own genre of fantasy, it would probably be Polansky. Everything I've read of his so far is absolutely unique, and yet has one similarity - in that his imaginary worlds are never fluffy. They have magic and they have a staggering variety of characters and creatures, but it's never a fairy tale and it never reads as a simple moralizing parable or a mirror image of the reality we live in.

In March's End, the setup seems traditional: humans ruling over a magical world, a chosen family - what could go wrong? Well, the answer is 'everything', really, especially when the humans in question also have their own mundane lives and family troubles to think of. Ruling a different realm is tough work, especially in an apocalypse - and, for a change, this is the book that will truly show it. It will look at complicated family dynamics and raise the issues of expectations and duty, assuming responsibility, breaking down (and healing, in a way), and if you feel like all those trials and tribulations should resolve into a neat happy ending, well, think again.

At its core, Polansky's style is something I would call 'very adult fantasy' - complex and detail-rich (sometimes overly so, like with the number of fantastical races and creatures in this one), but with the events often taking place in deeply alien and occasionally creepy settings. It always seems like you're just catching a glimpse of a world so vast there is just no understanding it fully. There is no glossing over the harsh truths, in the 'real world' or the magical one, and there are many questions left unanswered, so this is definitely not the book for someone who is looking for an easy-to-process feel-good fantasy journey.

Thanks to #NetGalley for an advance copy of the book.

Received arc from Angry Robot and Netgalley for honest read and review,this review is my own.
I am an avid fantasy reader and when the chance came to read Daniel Polansky's book,I jumped at it. I have read his Low Town books and I loved them,especially writing and characters.
This centres around the Harrow family, parents and grown up kids and glitz between two deals ,ours and the far world(for want of a better word).
The blurb sounded interesting and I dived in expecting to be be gobsmacked and in a realm of unputdownable. I wasn't. This to me was so confusing and I struggled to get get any feelings for any of the characters.
As I have said I love Mr Polansky's books, but I could not get really into this one.I preferred the March storyline to the current daytime storyline, but not for me.
If you like fantasy books like me, then give it a go.It will not stop me reading more from author,I even have some more in my TBR like from him.

Thank you to Angry Robot for this opportunity to rate and review this arc which is available for purchase May 9,2023

This is a fantastical world building sci-fi/fantasy novel about a human family who rules The March, a secondary world populated with other beings. The pacing of the novel is steady. The characters are enjoyable. Mary Ann is my favorite. You see a family fracture then reconcile. Fight for the March as well as the human world. You watch three children grow up and learn exactly what the March is and their roles in it. Their mother struggle under the weight of it. It is a very human story with fantastical bits. Reminds me a wee bit of Neil Gaiman.

3.75/5 stars! The premise of this book was so creepy and gripping that I didn't quite know what to expect when reading it. Yes, this was an epic fantasy, but there was also more to it. There is this intricate and beautiful story about generational trauma and familial misunderstandings and their consequences. This book was shocking and I loved the time jumps and their different perspectives. Overall, I liked the book but it was a long, kind of exhausting read at times.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

A fun, highly imaginative, urban fantasy where a 'normal" suburban family with all the typical inter family squabbles and dramas at night are rulers of an entire fantasy kingdom. Well written and quite a ride,

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

3.5/5

In this stand-alone multi-generational portal fantasy, the Harrow family drama intertwines with upheaval in a fantasy world they’ve sworn to protect. As expected from Polansky, things get bleak. Fantastic land populated with animate antiquated toys and sentient lichen gets more terrifying than blissful.

Harrow siblings aren’t close. Their personalities clashed since childhood. An accident divided them even more, disfiguring one of them. Constance (Mama‘s golden girl) has a family and tries to keep things together, Mary Ann (a rebel) drifts through life with no goal, and Jonh... well, all of them are damaged but John most of all. Dark secrets and bitter quarrels fractured familial bonds, and each of them deals with trauma and other significant issues.

The premise is great - a typical suburban family leads a normal life (in various professions) but at night they also rule the March - a secondary world where giant snails carry cities on their backs. Polansky’s imagination shines - the March surprises (and terrifies) on every step. With its diverse and complex society and rules, it continues to surprise readers.

The story jumps in time between the present and past, allowing readers to understand the situation and reasons for the protagonists’ troubled relationships. It also shows how March becomes a dangerous place to be. While I appreciate Polansky’s imagination, I didn’t fully connect to the secondary world plot. I found Jonh and Mary Ann’s arcs much more interesting and personal.

I like antiheroes and morally grey protagonists. People here are complex and I appreciate it. Sadly, they lack the charisma, personality, or agency to make me really care. It’s deeply subjective and I’m sure other readers will identify with them more than I do.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about the book. It’s intelligent, well-thought-out, and hits all the right story beats to make readers care. The real-life arcs of siblings immersed me, however, I didn’t fall in love with the world of March. Yes, I found it fantastical but also tiring. Polansky’s craft is top-notch, so don’t let my review stop you from giving it a go!