2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Tell us what you thought of the book! You can leave your review here. Even if you read the book outside of the group, please feel free to let us know what you thought of it.

Please make sure to mark your spoilers by typing [spoiler] at the start and [/spoiler] at the end but replacing the [] with <>.

I read this book in 2023 and let me say I cannot wait to forget enough so I can read it again. I was OBSESSED. The amount of times I had to gasp, close the book, and process the shocking turn of events was insane. And may I say, a HUGE props to Stuart Turton because this could not have been an easy write. Every piece fits. The world-building is lawless - and it is definitely a tough world to build with SO many moving pieces.
Loved. Can't wait to see what other's think!

My reaction was opposite of Sara’s. While I can appreciate the talent and creativity that went into the writing of this story, I did not enjoy reading it. It was too far fetched for me to really get into. I contemplated not finishing, but I got through it.

I’m with Beth. I didn’t think I’d make it through the first few chapters but didn’t want to give up on my first book of 2024 😂 I am glad I finished it. I really didn’t see any of the twists and by the halfway mark I was really intrigued. It definitely was not an easy read but I feel accomplished making it through!

Unless I completely forget this book in 11 months time, it may be one of my favourite in 2024. I never read a mystery novel with such structure. I have been completely into it from beginning to end, happy the level of intensity didn't plummet. It took me the 1/4 of the book to start to capture what was going on there but it's worth it :)

I really enjoyed the book. Yes it was sometimes a bit too clever and convoluted for its own good, but I was captivated throughout and appreciated its originality and exuberance. A fresh new twist on an old idea - and lots of fun to read.

I have to say that I am glad that I stuck with it and finished. I struggled through the middle and almost gave up. However, the last quarter of the book really pulled everything together. I really enjoyed the twist.

I really liked it even though I got mixed up with some of the characters at times. It definitely kept me interested and very different from anything I've read before.

Wow…just wooooow. I read this book through the night and am still gasping for air!

Just completed this yesterday on audiobook and I truly have no idea what happened the entire time. This really did not hit for me and I should have DNF'd it instead of wasting my time. Too many characters that made it impossible to figure out who was who and how everyone related to each other. It could've been the narrator who made this experience horrendous but will definitely not be recommending this book to anyone.

Lots of characters to keep track of. Storyline was good. Did not become a favorite that I would recommend to any friends to read. It had been on my TBR list for awhile, so I'm glad I got it finished.

This story was unnecessarily long with too many characters. It's definitely not something I'll be reading again. Yet...

I really did enjoy reading it, despite its many flaws. I had a lot of fun keeping track of every single character in google keep; I made a list of the house staff, the Hardcastle family, the guests, etc. I even managed to remember minor details like (view spoiler)[ Michael mentioning something about rat poison earlier in the story... Chekhov's gun? (hide spoiler)]

The big revelation that (view spoiler)[ Blackheath is a prison designed to trap people in loops until their personalities change (hide spoiler)] didn't come as much as a surprise to me for some reason. I'm guessing that's because of the book's length- I was just glad it was over.

I did really love that (view spoiler)[ I have no clue what lies outside of Blackheath or why exactly the world hates Annabelle- it can't be just from killing Aiden's sister and husband. I love that I'm not even sure it takes place in the Victorian (?) age. I love that, despite them earning their freedom, Aiden and Anna will still be hunted. I just love how... pessimistic it was, I guess. (hide spoiler)]

There was a lot more I wanted to say, but I finished this book a couple of days ago, and I realize now that I still feel exhausted just from remembering everything that happened, almost like (view spoiler)[ I'm Aiden, stuck in some loop for thirty years (hide spoiler)]

It had been a long time since I found a book so soporific to the point that every time I picked up the tablet to continue reading it I fell asleep after a couple of pages, it really felt like torture to finish it.

I found the beginning a bit confusing, but I could follow the story once I set aside the hosts and their characters. A few points left me puzzled: was Bishop still Gold at the end, or did he revert to his original self? And what about his sister being tortured and murdered by the same person he was trying to free? However, for the plot, I would give it a 5.