#proof copy

Author: Susanna Clarke

Published by: Bloomsbury

Pages: 245

Format: Paperback (Proof Copy)

My Rating ★★★★

Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has. In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides which thunder up staircases, the clouds which move in slow procession through the upper halls.

On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food and waterlilies to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone. Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims?

Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous. The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

My thoughts:

Bloomsbury were kind enough to send me out an early proof copy of Piranesi a little while ago, and I went into it knowing almost nothing about the plot. The synopsis basically just says that Piranesi has always lived in the house. In hindsight I’m actually really glad I didn’t know anything more than that before I started reading.

I’d highly recommend going into this book without any prior knowledge about the premise. Things start out a little slow, but as more and more details begin to emerge, the pace quickens and becomes so intriguing. It’s a complicated story and the plot can be quite confusing, especially early on. The story is mystery-driven, and our protagonist knows very little. This is perhaps what is so immersive about the writing. It’s kind of a guessing game and a slow careful unravelling of information in order to figure out what exactly is the truth here.

If you can avoid reading any blurbs, do. I knew nothing about it and I enjoyed it so much because of this! It made the mystery that much more satisfying and allowed me to fully connect and empathise with the protagonist throughout.

The protagonist, Piranesi, is one of a kind, unforgettable, and the sort of character you are genuinely very sad to leave behind once you finish the book.

What else can I say? The book is glorious. I read it feverishly in a few hours and was blown away by this multi-layered little novel. It turned out to be far more emotionally touching than I anticipated. It’s so beautifully written, so strange, and I was instantly transported to the incredible world Susanna Clarke has created. Utterly unputdownable.

All in all, Piranesi is an intoxicating, hypnotic new novel set in a dreamlike alternative reality. I loved every second of it.

Overall reaction:

LOOK WHAT JUST CAME IN THE MAIL!!!! ✨✨

I'm so happy 😭❤️❤️❤️ the cover art came up really well (unlike with the first print of KK1 lol *cringes*)!!! ✨Djsjskskaksdjdjsi it's beautiful!! Dhsksksmsk *has to spend a minute or so processing the happiness*

Took 3 weeks to get here - during which I've already edited 11 chapters - but hey xD it's here -- the trap I have laid to ensnare them sneaky stray typos is here!! And it's such a relief to see that the cover art turned out well T.T

(re the KK1 cover art issue, I discovered that my laptop screen shows me an inaccurate rendition of colour and saturation - it's lighter and less saturated, so what I see in screen is actually darker and more saturated in printing and on other devices. Anyways, lesson learnt with that one!! And KK1 art is fixed now btw!)

We’re super excited to share with you these previews from the proof copy of our fully-colored 122-paged zine.

There are only 5 days left until pre-orders close. Don’t miss out on the zine and the exclusive Daiya no Arcana tarot pack!

It’s Beginning To Feel Real

I found a package on my doorstep when I got home from church. It is the proof copy of my novel A Cold Sort of Joy.

The Kindle edition will have a different picture that pal Eddy made for me. I just couldn’t figure out how to change the file for the print copy. I like Eddy’s  better.

So, it’s happening soon. Be aware! Soon you can buy my novel and judge my choices!