The Building That Wasn't

by Abigail Miles

This story only ever has one ending.

When Everly Tertium encounters a strange man in the park claiming to be her grandfather, she is invited to visit a mysterious apartment building. There, she finds herself in a constant state of déjà vu, impossibly certain that she’s already lived through these moments, already been introduced to these people, and already visited all of these rooms and floors. So why does she have no idea what’s happening to her?

The longer she stays in the building, the more Everly becomes convinced there is more going on than meets the eye. Something is off, time seems to pass differently, and the people living there seem trapped. Slowly, Everly begins to wonder if she is trapped too. But would she even want to leave, if she could?

For readers who enjoy Vicious by V. E. Schwab, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, and The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart.

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Audiobook, Thriller, Fantasy

368 pages, Hardcover

First published July 16, 2024

About the author

Abigail Miles decided to dedicate her life to stories from a young age, leading first to majoring in creative writing in college and now to spending far too much of her time attached to her computer, composing stories and books. Abigail currently lives in Boston, where all her time (or very nearly all her time) is spent in some combination of writing books, reading books, and making tea to drink while writing and/or reading said books. Sometimes she does actual work, too. The Building That Wasn’t is her first novel.

Keep up with her on abigailmilesbooks.com and follow her on Instagram @abigailmilesbooks.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Building That Wasn't
By Abigail Miles
If you like a weird twist to time travel or similar space/time plots, you might like this. It had its interesting streaks, but it had plenty of boring ones, too.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars


RTC ! Thoroughly enjoyed & entertained by this one, & it kept me guessing, well… until the very end of the book! Wonderful sci-fi thriller, & believe it or not, I think this short-n-sweet review is just perfect as is based on vibes & knowing you really need to go into this one knowing near to nothing about the book. So here, is where I’ll leave you friends; please do be wary of buildings that appear to you, but for seemingly, no one else.::

🖤🤍🖤

[Katie T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m calling it quits at 88%, I can’t bear to finish this. It’s not good.

[Lisa Lynch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally, she had control.
And she would do anything to keep it that way. (p.288)

I'm definitely joking about this, but Remedy Entertainment might be able to make a legitimate case for plagiarism or copyright infringement or something against this book. Abigail Miles' The Building That Wasn't is basically a less interesting, bloated fanfiction of the studio's 2019 video game Control.
 
I mean, this book doesn't have the magic powers, cool weapons, interesting bad guys, or creepy paranormal vibes that make the game engaging and unique. But the premise (among other things) is basically the same: a woman goes into a mysterious building looking for family and said building turns out to be like a weird other dimension and madness ensues.

This is one of those down-the-rabbit-hole stories where the reader is just as lost as the protagonist. But honestly, the length of time we spend not knowing what is going on in this book is damn near criminal. I'm not kidding, you have to clear at least 200 pages before "answers" start being introduced. And I won't spoil those "answers" but I will say they are disappointing and nonsensical.

It might have worked better as a short story, but as is, The Building That Wasn't had way too much going on, which made it feel overlong and endless. There's even a romance crammed in here ffs.

So my recommendation is to go play Control. Don't waste your time on this one.

2 out of 5 stars

[Bougie Black Girl Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

After reading this book, I feel that it was overly descriptive. Much of the text is describing what is being seeing instead of dialog with the characters. This made me unable to fully connect to characters. While I like to scene to be described, there were sometimes, multiple pages of just describing the room. This also made it a hard read for me. Not saying it's not a good book. Overall, the story itself, is good. It just could have been less wordy in the descriptive area. Kind of reminded me of early Stephen King books. Books are good just overly wordy.

[Roz Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everly Tertium is attending the funeral of her father when she sees a strange man. Soon, she realises that he appears to be her grandfather. But where has he been all of her life, and why is he only seeking her out now? Everly gets invited to a strange building, and the more she visits, the more questions she has.

Everly finds herself remembering events as if she has already lived them, but she is sure that these can't be her memories, so who's are they? Why do some of the people in the building appear to be familiar to her. She is sure she has never met them before.

This book is well written. The author creates a hidden world inside the building. I could imagine being within the long corridors and the descriptions added to the tension in parts. The story is full of twists and turns, and the plot unfolds gradually aa Everly finds some of the answers she is seeking. It kept me engaged, and I found myself caring about the characters. It is nice to read a story that feels new. The less you know going in, the better!

The only reason this was not five stars was that the pacing was slow in parts, but towards the last 100 or so pages, the pace does increase, and the author does a great job at creating tension.

I would recommend this book to those who love sci-fi thrillers.

Thanks to Book Sirens and Abigail Miles for an ARC copy. The book is released on the 16th of July 2024.

[Kailyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say that I did not pick up from the description of this book that it was a sci-fi/horror, so that was a bit of a surprise. While I do think the pacing could have been better, and some of the clunky writing smoothed out, I was intrigued enough to figure out what the hell was going on that I finished the book pretty quickly.

[Tiffany aka Chai Tea And Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good sci-fi x thriller mashup. The first scene had me hooked, honestly. It switched it up from that first scene to a slow burnish plot of what the heck is happening. I honestly had no idea where it was going or what was going to happen next most of the time, so I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

Everly noticed a strange man showing up randomly, starting at her father’s funeral. She eventually pins down that he seems to be her grandfather, but why is he just now showing up in her life? She gets invited to a building that triggers memories in her head that seem like she has already lived them. Why is this building triggering what feels like realistic past experiences?

Thank you to Henry Roi PR for the copy, all thoughts are my own.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's best to go into this book as blind as possible. Unfortunately, many of the reviews here contain spoilers, so I'd recommend avoiding them if you don’t want to be spoiled. This is a complex story that blends sci-fi and horror. The beginning is quite confusing, but things eventually become clearer. However, the story’s slow pace might not appeal to everyone.

In terms of the setting, the building itself is a character and plays a significant role in the story's development. The book is also quite dark at times. One of the characters is a sadistic monster and I could genuinely feel the despair the other characters were facing. While this book includes tropes we've all seen before, it handles them in a very unique way. I enjoyed the story as a whole, though I found the ending a bit abrupt and I was left wanting more from it. If you enjoy complex stories with a puzzle-like mystery, you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

[Roberta R. (Offbeat YA) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.

Pros: Merges a few sci-fi tropes and puts a clever and creative spin on them. Employs a peculiar writing style.
Cons: The pace is slow at times. There's an impalpable distance between the reader and the characters.
WARNING! Blood, torture (mostly off-screen), violence, domestic violence (off-screen), fires, claustrophobic spaces.
Will appeal to: Those who enjoy a creepy twist on the multiverse theory peppered with a generous dose of mad science, a sizeable amount of family secrets and a dash of romance.

First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to CamCat Books for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

THROWN FOR A LOOP

The Building That Wasn't is one of those books - the ones you can't review at length lest you reveal too much. One of the genre label I used for it is a spoiler in itself, though it doesn't even begin to encompass the...peculiarity...or madness...of the situation as a whole. By way of introduction, suffice to say that, while the plot relies on a few familiar sci-fi tropes and themes, it combines and twists them (along with some new, intriguing ideas) into a complex, claustrophobic, at times brutal, yet ultimately hopeful tale. In a way, The Building That Wasn't reads almost like a modern (and dark) fable, due to both the writing style and the fractured timeline. As a matter of fact, the narrative weaves back and forth in time, with different characters at the forefront (briefly but effectively including the building itself, which is really cool), and though I guess some of the event depicted will make more sense on a second read, Miles managed to create an engaging web of mystery while giving out a piece of the puzzle at a time, if you pay attention. I must admit I was fooled when it comes to the identity of the mysterious Warden, who runs the building, because there could have been at least another contender for that role (I mean, in my opinion...even if a certain detail should have alerted me, but I interpreted it in a different way), and I didn't expect the story to unfold the way it did; but even if I had, it would have been worth my time nevertheless. [...]

Whole review here.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the kind of book I try to find reasons not to put aside and go read something else. Hovering between fantasy and science fiction, with no feeling for characterization or sense of pacing, it ends with a wimper. The first half is really promising: chock-full of mystery, the lure of getting answers constantly invoked, it kept me reading to see where this was all going. The second half is a mess: the same people always shown trapped inside the same hallways and the same rooms, having the same thoughts, facing the same quandaries… for 200 pages! And the answers I was craving for were given in the last ten pages or so: the kind of answers anyone with some experience in soft science fiction would have come up with instantly. This shold have been a novella, not a novel: most of the flashbacks were unnecessary, and the visions had no effect at all. What a disappointment.

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

[Chuck Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was a bit of a mess if I’m being honest. The premise of the novel sounded really interesting: a mysterious building existing where it shouldn’t that's full of creepy peeps and creepy happenings. Sounds like a hit. But the story was really jumbled and the writing style was hard to follow. I think this novel could have been about 30-40 pages shorter and still got the point across. But it got very confusing to follow along with and the characters weren’t very interesting either. Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.

[Paige Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written with so many twists and it constantly had me guessing up until the very end!! The details were so vividly clear and made it a breeze to get through.

The Building That Wasn’t is a book that keeps you guessing and alert throughout the entire story. The building is a vessel and those who enter aren’t always free to leave. Some are more important than others.

Thank you Book Sirens and Abigail Miles for this ARC! This will be released on July 16th, 2024!

[Elysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like a cinematic Sci Fi that keeps you asking questions (think of the Lost TV series) and often leaves you with more questions than answers, you'll love this ambitious debut! This is well written, dystopian with a good dose of weird, and includes everything from a genetic anomaly to a thin space outside the space-time continuum and an unusual take on the idea of parallel universes.

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was mysterious & kept me invested the whole way through! I enjoyed the audiobook.

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Building That Wasn't" by Abigail Miles presents an intriguing promise of mystery and surrealism but it struggles to deliver.

The story follows Everly Tertium, who meets a strange man claiming to be her grandfather and is invited to a mysterious apartment building. Once there, she experiences a constant sense of déjà vu, feeling certain she has already lived through these moments, met these people, and explored these rooms. This setup initially piques curiosity, but the execution falls flat.

The novel's pace is its biggest downfall. The plot unfolds slowly, dragging through repetitive scenes that do little to advance the story or deepen the mystery. This lethargic pacing makes it difficult to stay engaged, and the sense of urgency that should accompany a tale of time loops and enigmatic buildings is notably absent.

The characters also fail to make a strong impact. Everly, while initially relatable in her confusion and curiosity, doesn't develop in a way that keeps the reader invested in her journey. The supporting characters, who should add layers to the mystery, instead come off as one-dimensional and unmemorable.

Moreover, the novel's attempts to build suspense and intrigue often result in frustration rather than excitement. The repetitive nature of Everly's experiences, without sufficient variation or deepening mystery, makes the narrative feel stuck in a loop, much like its protagonist.

While Miles's concept is interesting, the lack of dynamic storytelling and character development ultimately makes "The Building That Wasn't" a tedious read. For those looking for a gripping, page-turning mystery, this novel may not meet expectations. However, it could still appeal to readers who appreciate a slow-burn, introspective exploration of strange phenomena.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like a wild roller coaster ride and throughout the novel all I could think was how am I going to write a review for this? First of all, I loved this story even though I felt like I didn’t know whether I was coming or going.
At first, I was very confused but it all begins to make sense the further you read on and I began to really enjoy the craziness of it all. I really liked Everly’s character who is trying to figure out why she feels different and why she can feel the pull of the Eschartorologic and there is a complete sense of fear yet intrigue underneath it all.
When Everly first arrives at the building, she is pulled into a world of wonder and impossibilities as she discovers the same people in varying stages of their life which shouldn’t be possible and yet it is in this place that is everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Then things start to take a sinister turn when she finds out that she can never leave the building if she wants to live and it becomes a race against time and space to try and find a way out with the help of Luca.
There are so many twists and turns throughout the novel which keep you guessing right until the end and as the pieces start to fall into place you feel the pace of the story really start to pick up towards the end as we reach the conclusion.
The sense of deja vu throughout the novel really heightens the confusion but this only made me even more eager to carry on. The Building That Wasn’t is a fantastic novel that will certainly keep you up reading all night!

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is compelling and the book evokes a sense of mystery and déjà vu. The characters are so mysterious. The world building is complex and secretive. There is a world inside the building and it’s mysterious. On the day of her father’s funeral, Everly meets her grandfather for the first time. She could sense a strange kind of familiarity in his eyes but unable to fathom anything as her mother concealed the truth from her. Now, she has been introduced to Eschatorologic. The building brings back memories from the past and she feels oddly a connection to the place and people but she must get to the bottom of the mystery before she has to accept it.

Thanks to the Publisher and Author. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Sarabeth Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another instance of cool plot! but it really would've been even cooler condensed and edited down into a tidy novella or short story. So much of the plot and buildup and world development of the first third of the book had me going - the main character, Everly, stumbles across an old man in the park after her father's funeral claiming to be her grandfather who leads her into a building that doesn't quite exist. From there, this building and its multi-dimensional layers start unwinding along with a cast of side characters that are fun to meet, even if they fall flat later. But after a while the action gets repetitious and as the reader, you feel in a time loop for all the ways you read the same things unfold time and time again.

[booked.with.julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend going into this blind. I went in completely blind and I’m so glad I did.

Everly just lost her father and at his funeral she sees a man that looks oddly familiar but she doesn’t believe she’s met him before.

When she sees him again at the park, he says he is her grandfather. She gets invited to a strange building and starts remembers things that has happened but isn’t sure if it’s her own memory.

This book will leave you feeling unsettled and not sure which way it will take you with the twists and turns.

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

[David Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to a world where things are at once familiar and then new at the same time. A very intriguing concept that was delivered with heart and imagination. The mystery in this Sci-Fi thriller is a slow burn that keeps you guessing almost to the very end. It's well written with short chapters (which I love!) that keeps you turning the pages to find what happens next or some information to help in discovering the answers. There's a lot to like about this book and story and I hope you'll choose to read it. No spoilers here though!

Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.

[ems_booknook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I went in totally blind, I read this one as a recommendation because I enjoyed another book in the genre and this one hit the nail on the head!

I had this sense of eeriness the whole way through, and was questioning everything I knew and what was going to happen.

This was such a trip, and I am here for it!! Highly recommend for anyone who wants an eerie, keeps you guessing vibe with some torture and weirdness on the side! And that cover! Absolutely stunning.

Huge thanks to booksirens and the author for the opportunity to read this one!

[Heather Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I know this will sound silly but the title put me off a bit, it just seemed a bit on the nose for a horror/sci-fi. This is one of those rare new books that has a concept I haven’t seen 1001 times in multiple variations. So it was refreshing to not be able to guess what was going to happen. I liked this authors writing style as well, keeps you at the edge of your seat without being too drawn out.

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

[Erin Mary Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

respectfully, what the actual fuck? This is Divergent meets Death Stranding in the worst possible way.

DNF @ 64%

its called the Eschatalogical or however its spelled. Escha coming from Eschatology, the theological study of apocalypse / end of the world. Probably would have been a little more clueless if I hadn't studied theology.

When i looked at how far I had to go and audibly groaned, that's when I knew to call it.

[GiGi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been great.
It could have been the best thing ever.
But instead, it was nothing.
It contains the promise of something spectacular, but fails to deliver. The author has an uncanny way with words (in a good way). But was unable to use this ability to tell a compelling story. I fear many would experience this book as gimmicky, but I believe the main issue is the pacing. With character motivations a close second.

[Marie Wikle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to this author for me. I loved this book, well written full of twists.

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

[emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐

dnf'd @ 70 pgs. the synopsis was really interesting but i just couldn't get into it, and i have other books i want to read more and not a lot of time to read atm ://

[Chris Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard one to rate. I can't say that I really liked it, but I was interested enough to finish it.

[Collyn]

This just kept going back to the same things. I could never get into it.

[Jordan Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a mind-bending book. It plays with time, space, reality, and destiny in such a unique way. The intricacies of all the little woven threads were crafted with such care and precision. This is an unputdownable triumph.