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Strange Islands
290 pages, Hardcover
Published September 11, 2025
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 23, 2025
I honestly had such an enjoyable reading experience with this book. I could not believe the imagination that must have gone into creating such vibrant islands, the sheer number of which is incredible and extensive without feeling exhausting.
I bought my copy mostly to lend to other people so that I could have someone to talk about it with and that we could talk about our favourite islands of which I have far too many.
I would highly recommend this book for people looking for something a little bit different with whimsy and imagination whilst still being poignant and gripping.
I bought my copy mostly to lend to other people so that I could have someone to talk about it with and that we could talk about our favourite islands of which I have far too many.
I would highly recommend this book for people looking for something a little bit different with whimsy and imagination whilst still being poignant and gripping.
December 9, 2025
One of the most unique and interesting books Ive ever read.
RTC
RTC
November 25, 2025
It’s so difficult to review Strange Islands as I don’t feel like I’ve read anything like it before. So instead, I’m going to share the feelings, impressions and images which floated into my mind as I read to explain what Strange Islands is to me:
✨ It’s the taste of synaesthesia.
✨It’s the tumbling fractals of a kaleidoscope.
✨It’s looking into a mirror, and thinking that maybe your reflection is the real you, and you’re a mere refraction of light in the glass.
✨It’s creeping through a fun house when the floor is listing to the right and you’re leaning your body hard left to avoid tumbling.
✨It’s the momentary secret participation in someone’s life as you glance into their window while walking your dog.
✨It’s the hypnopompic fuzziness of seeing or hearing something that feels so real, and wondering if you actually experienced it at all.
✨It’s the millisecond of surprise as you sip a glass of something fizzy and the sparkles of tiny exploding bubbles hit your nose.✨
It’s writing words in the sand and watching as the sea snatches them greedily, leaving only blurred ghosted sentiments at your feet.
It’s a journey into the bizarre and fantastical, all shared in a calm, objective voice. I’m giving this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and recommend it as a gift for the fantasy, literary or dystopian book lover in your life.
✨ It’s the taste of synaesthesia.
✨It’s the tumbling fractals of a kaleidoscope.
✨It’s looking into a mirror, and thinking that maybe your reflection is the real you, and you’re a mere refraction of light in the glass.
✨It’s creeping through a fun house when the floor is listing to the right and you’re leaning your body hard left to avoid tumbling.
✨It’s the momentary secret participation in someone’s life as you glance into their window while walking your dog.
✨It’s the hypnopompic fuzziness of seeing or hearing something that feels so real, and wondering if you actually experienced it at all.
✨It’s the millisecond of surprise as you sip a glass of something fizzy and the sparkles of tiny exploding bubbles hit your nose.✨
It’s writing words in the sand and watching as the sea snatches them greedily, leaving only blurred ghosted sentiments at your feet.
It’s a journey into the bizarre and fantastical, all shared in a calm, objective voice. I’m giving this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and recommend it as a gift for the fantasy, literary or dystopian book lover in your life.
November 25, 2025
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book. The blurb was mysterious and intriguing, and introduction and first section drew me straight in. I couldn’t predict where this story would take me, but I felt a kind of childlike energy going into it, like I was about to set off on a big adventure.
A mysterious captain discovers the burning wreckage of a ship with one lone survivor, terribly injured, burned and blinded by the fire. The captain takes the survivor onboard and helps them heal, all while sharing stories about the many islands they have visited.
During the Captains stories it was so interesting to see the authors imagination shine, each island had its own unique and complex descriptions and features. The world building is amazing and you really can picture each island in great detail. I also felt the emotions and the atmosphere of the islands as the journey unfolded.
I especially enjoyed each time the story took us back to the captain and the survivor. Those parts kept me guessing, helped piece everything together and left me longing to know more.
Overall, Strange Islands felt like stepping into a dream you don’t fully understand, but don’t want to leave. I’m really glad I got the chance to experience it.
A mysterious captain discovers the burning wreckage of a ship with one lone survivor, terribly injured, burned and blinded by the fire. The captain takes the survivor onboard and helps them heal, all while sharing stories about the many islands they have visited.
During the Captains stories it was so interesting to see the authors imagination shine, each island had its own unique and complex descriptions and features. The world building is amazing and you really can picture each island in great detail. I also felt the emotions and the atmosphere of the islands as the journey unfolded.
I especially enjoyed each time the story took us back to the captain and the survivor. Those parts kept me guessing, helped piece everything together and left me longing to know more.
Overall, Strange Islands felt like stepping into a dream you don’t fully understand, but don’t want to leave. I’m really glad I got the chance to experience it.
November 26, 2025
I received a copy of "Strange Islands" which is a very creative book.There are so many Islands and they all so different and but described in a way that they come alive in your mind's eye, as is the purpose of the captain in describing them to the blind survivor of a boat fire. To be able to come up with a dozen vastly different Islands it's occupants is no mean feat. A whole book shows a very impressive creative mind. I started off thinking I would say which was my favourite island and why in my review, but there ended up being too many! Some of the islands are dark, menacing and unsettling, whereas others you feel they might actually be somewhere you'd like to live. This is a book that should be dipped rather than read covered cover so that savour each different island and reflect on them.
I'm unsure why all the Islands had been created in the first place and so this book warrants a re-read to pick up on the references and a self indulgent pleasure. I like books that refer to other books and authors that I've never heard of and in this case, I'd like to read Italio Calvino's " Invisible Cities".
I'm unsure why all the Islands had been created in the first place and so this book warrants a re-read to pick up on the references and a self indulgent pleasure. I like books that refer to other books and authors that I've never heard of and in this case, I'd like to read Italio Calvino's " Invisible Cities".
November 23, 2025
Huge thank you to the author and to LBT Tours for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review.
I’ve honestly haven’t really read a book like this before so I had no clue what to expect when I started it. This book definitely made me appreciate this author’s imagination. Reading about the different types of islands in this story, each with their own completely unique world building definitely brought on a whole new different type of reading experience. I personally felt like this was a “choose your own adventure” type of read as being the reader, it felt like I was given the choice when it came to exploring these islands. Whether it was to learn about life or finding an island that mostly spoke to you, this was a journey that I really enjoyed. I am really curious to know more of this author and to see what other readers feel about this read.
I’ve honestly haven’t really read a book like this before so I had no clue what to expect when I started it. This book definitely made me appreciate this author’s imagination. Reading about the different types of islands in this story, each with their own completely unique world building definitely brought on a whole new different type of reading experience. I personally felt like this was a “choose your own adventure” type of read as being the reader, it felt like I was given the choice when it came to exploring these islands. Whether it was to learn about life or finding an island that mostly spoke to you, this was a journey that I really enjoyed. I am really curious to know more of this author and to see what other readers feel about this read.
November 28, 2025
A quirky adventure to a mix of strange places. The islands in this are a mix of sad, quirky, functional, empty and scary.
The lighthouse stuck with me as it seemed desperately sad. Ultimately the keepers are doing a job but there's an inevitable end as a result of the elements they're exposed too. It's similar to the guardians in the tale about the island that poisons those that approach it. Not places you'd ever want to be and yet some venture that way to protect others.
The island with the monks and crocodiles stood out too. There's some kind of mutual respect although the rituals following the death of the crocodiles seems a little odd. They exist together in a strange kind of harmony though.
The chapters offer short trips to different islands. It keeps your attention as you can't guess what adventure you'll have next
The lighthouse stuck with me as it seemed desperately sad. Ultimately the keepers are doing a job but there's an inevitable end as a result of the elements they're exposed too. It's similar to the guardians in the tale about the island that poisons those that approach it. Not places you'd ever want to be and yet some venture that way to protect others.
The island with the monks and crocodiles stood out too. There's some kind of mutual respect although the rituals following the death of the crocodiles seems a little odd. They exist together in a strange kind of harmony though.
The chapters offer short trips to different islands. It keeps your attention as you can't guess what adventure you'll have next
November 26, 2025
Thank you to LBT for having me on this book tour. And for my gifted copy of this epub.
Ok so I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I was so surprised I don’t even know where to begin like holy crap the author who wrote this book did so good. The imagination they have is crazy. Like I thought my imagination was crazy this takes to whole new level.
I mean each island was so different and so fantastical I couldn’t even get over it I can’t stop thinking about it and how good this was.
The writing was so good I legit felt like I was in this book on the journey I highly recommend this book. Like the author did such a good job. This book makes you think and the twists and turns are crazy. Like this book I just devoured it.
Highly recommend this read !!!
Ok so I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I was so surprised I don’t even know where to begin like holy crap the author who wrote this book did so good. The imagination they have is crazy. Like I thought my imagination was crazy this takes to whole new level.
I mean each island was so different and so fantastical I couldn’t even get over it I can’t stop thinking about it and how good this was.
The writing was so good I legit felt like I was in this book on the journey I highly recommend this book. Like the author did such a good job. This book makes you think and the twists and turns are crazy. Like this book I just devoured it.
Highly recommend this read !!!
November 26, 2025
This book is a wonderful blend of poetry and prose that really captivated me. Set in 10 volumes a blind survivor of a ship fire is taken on an imaginatively descriptive journey of an archipelago by the Captain. Using other sensory clues such as touch, hearing and smell the cliffs, beaches and maelstrom come alive. There is a description in the book of a lighthouse having two rhythms - I felt the book read like that with the two styles of writing. The shoreline chapter at the end was absolutely beautiful. I let the imagery of the book wash over me like the waves. I loved it for its uniqueness and, for that, it will stay with me for some time.
November 26, 2025
Strange Islands is quite unlike anything I've read before.
It's full of imagination and creativity and will take you on a wild journey on the high seas through curious, odd, unusual islands, each one with its own quirks and idiosyncrasies.
It's a mixture of a fairy tale and mythological expedition with great metaphysical elements, poems throughout, and maps to help you visualise the islands as you voyage on.
The writing is wonderfully descriptive and vivid, allowing the reader to form the places, people and events clearly in the mind.
I read this in two sittings over a blustery winter weekend.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's full of imagination and creativity and will take you on a wild journey on the high seas through curious, odd, unusual islands, each one with its own quirks and idiosyncrasies.
It's a mixture of a fairy tale and mythological expedition with great metaphysical elements, poems throughout, and maps to help you visualise the islands as you voyage on.
The writing is wonderfully descriptive and vivid, allowing the reader to form the places, people and events clearly in the mind.
I read this in two sittings over a blustery winter weekend.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
November 26, 2025
This book was so cleverly written, the writing was exceptionally beautiful. I haven't read anything quite like it before, the was it was written made you feel transported into another realm going through the islands. I don't quite know how to describe it; as i don't think any words quite describe how beautiful this book is. But i would recommend anybody to read it, it was an excellent easy book to get lost in.
October 20, 2025
A fascinating book with phenomenal and immersive worldbuilding (islandbuilding?). The themes are woven in without being overpowering or forced, and it gave me really cool dreams after reading! B)
December 5, 2025
Strange Islands is not my usual kind of read, but I still found I couldn’t put it down.
The visions the world building created in my mind - I don’t know how/where the idea came from.
Wow.
I kept looking for the next page.
A reread is definitely on the books for this one!
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Philip Stanier for the ARC.
The visions the world building created in my mind - I don’t know how/where the idea came from.
Wow.
I kept looking for the next page.
A reread is definitely on the books for this one!
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Philip Stanier for the ARC.
December 6, 2025
The captain of a ship at sea finds the burning wreckage of another ship, with a lone survivor who has been seriously injured, burns cover their body, and they have been blinded due to facial burns. Every night the captain visits the Survivor and tells them all about the various islands that they come across during their journey. And my word what an array of islands they are. We find ourselves on a mind bending journey across a dystopian world that has clearly been through such a cataclysmic event that the world the inhabitants knew has come to a complete standstill.
This was a great book, I really enjoyed Phillips writing style and the ease with which he brought to life the different lives on each island. Each one is like its own little story, bringing to life the human ingenuity, survival instincts, and sheer doggedness of the survivors of this world altering event. This was a great four star read for me and I would definitely recommend.
This was a great book, I really enjoyed Phillips writing style and the ease with which he brought to life the different lives on each island. Each one is like its own little story, bringing to life the human ingenuity, survival instincts, and sheer doggedness of the survivors of this world altering event. This was a great four star read for me and I would definitely recommend.
November 25, 2025
I don't actually know what to say about this book, I didn't really know what to expect going into it, but, it was so much better than I expected it to be.
The book is so original and so imaginative with each island being completely unique and more fantastical than the last, I absolutely devoured this book.
The writing was so engaging and I actually felt like I was there on the journey and I was utterly captivated.
The level of world building for each island is insanely good too.
I don't think anything I say will do this book justice but I cannot recommend it enough. Please read it.
The book is so original and so imaginative with each island being completely unique and more fantastical than the last, I absolutely devoured this book.
The writing was so engaging and I actually felt like I was there on the journey and I was utterly captivated.
The level of world building for each island is insanely good too.
I don't think anything I say will do this book justice but I cannot recommend it enough. Please read it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews