Annihilation was one of the most incredible Sci fi that I've ever read. Its following two novels were good, but felt slightly weaker, and I feel like Absolution also falls into this second category. It didn't hold the same tension as I loved in Annihilation and the fourth instalment did not seem to add anything spectacular to the series.

I was so excited to read this unexpected addition to the Southern Reach trilogy (quartet now I suppose) but it was rather disappointing. The original trilogy had a weaker middle instalment, 'Authority', and unfortunately 'Absolution' has the same faults as that book and few of its saving graces.

The novel is divided into three sections. The first covers the first ever expedition into the area that was later called 'Area X', before it had transformed. This is the strongest section and is compelling to read, full of the sort of weirdness you expect from this series -think eldritch rabbits, subliminal messaging from a power generator, and a sinister ghostly presence. Then things go downhill in the second section, which is from the perspective of a secret agent known as 'Old Jim'. He's been sent into the precursor to Area X in the year before it became Area X, to oversee the 'Séance and Science Brigade' and investigate the truth behind what happened to the first mission. The final section is from the perspective of Lowry, a member of the first mission to enter the newly created Area X.

The second section is incredibly slow and overwritten, full of naval gazing and internal monologue, and the sort of political infighting that was so irritating in 'Authority'. I had to skim sections in the end, and reading felt like a chore. However there was kernel within it of a story I cared about - Jim's relationship with his 'fake daughter' Cass. The other thing that frustrated me was the lack of clarity - everything is weird and unreliable and no one can be trusted. A bit of that can be edgy and intriguing, but overdo it and I'm inclined to switch off. If you can't rely on anything you are told then why bother read at all - certainly you wouldn't for the quality of the writing I'm afraid. I felt like I never understood what was going on, and increasingly I didn't care that I didn't.

The weakest section though is the final one, which consists of stream-of-consciousness style monologues of utter tedium. Through this chaff you might try to sift out one or two facts about the fate of Old Jim and some of the other characters. But it really isn't worth it. I loathe stream of consciousness, and it's one of the few literary devices I've never found an exception and actually liked.

I really wouldn't recommend this book, to fans of the original series, or to new readers. 'Annihilation', first in the original Southern Reach series, is a great book and I'd certainly recommend that. But this fourth instalment confirms what I'd often felt about the second and third books - VanderMeer should have quit whilst he was ahead and stopping adding volumes.

I’m giving this a four…..I think it deserves it though this wasn’t a good read for me. Let me explain…this is the forth book in the Southern Reach series. I’ve not read the other three books (though X is on my tbr list), but as it goes back to before everything happened and answers some questions left unanswered, I thought it would be ok to start there.

It’s not….I enjoyed reading it but I constantly felt like I was missing something, and that I lacked context, so whilst the story and characters were fantastic, I did feel like I’d missed the reason why what was happening? Like I’d been dumped…well…slap bang in the middle of a series…

So, it’s a four from me because it’s excellent- I just need to actually start at the very beginning as they say.

My thanks to Netgalley and 4th Estate for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was the most abstract book in the Southern Reach series and also the most ambitious. I really enjoyed the three part structure. There were laugh out loud bits and moments that were gripping and harrowing. It was a great way to conclude a phenomenal series.

A great addition to the series that was needed. As atmospheric and horrific as the rest, VanderMeer has clung on to the story and boosted it to new heights.