The Society of Unknowable Objects

Immersive, spellbinding, and undeniably special, The Society of Unknowable Objects pulled me happily back into the world of The Book of Doors. From the evocative prose to the found family dynamic, there wasn’t a thing not to love about this genre-bending tale. Conjuring up the perfect mix of magical realism, mystery, adventure, fantasy, and just a dash of romance, there was a bit of everything in there to love. You see, with a heroes-versus-villains premise fast-paced as it was, packed full of thrills, the rich characterizations and equally vivid world-building spun a story that felt as real as could be. This was so true, in fact, that it seemed as if I was either a fly on the wall or watching the events take place on a screen.Speaking of the characters, I couldn’t get over how well-developed and moving they all were. From the root-for-able Magda, who was compelling and strong-willed, to the nefarious Owen, who was the absolutely perfect black-hat antagonist, they both came alive on the page. As for the rest of the Society’s motley crew, they were just as well-rounded and deep. Coming together slowly over the length of the novel, they left me with a big, huge grin on my face by the end. After all, the arc of their personas was simply divine. Alongside a plot that delivered a pulse-pounding game of cat-and-mouse complete with a series of truly unguessable twists, there simply wasn’t a thing not to love about this dynamite read. Bravo, Mr. Brown!All said and done, I was beyond blown away by this stand-alone novel. Taking me all over the world in a realistic yet fantastical flight of good vs. evil, there was heart, suspense, and even a bit of humor in these utterly thought-provoking scenes. You see, layered amongst the adrenaline-fueled action were plenty of moral dilemmas and ethical quandaries, which all added depth to the plot. Even if you don’t want to think while reading this book, however, the hypnotic storyline offered up a somewhat straightforward adventure that was addictive in the extreme. Sure to tie into The Book of Doors even more, given how this story concluded, I’m now on pins and needles waiting for whatever is going to come next in this mesmerizing saga. Rating of 5 stars.

A secret society of four-members has been meeting religiously every six-months to protect the unknowing world from dangerous magical items. But no items have been identified for quite some time. When Frank Simpson, longest standing member of The Society of Unknowable Objects, gets contacted by a man in Hong Kong with knowledge of such an item, he sends the newest member, Magda Sparks, to collect it.Shortly upon arrival in Hong Kong, Magda learns that the society members are not the only people who know, and are looking for these items, as she is attacked by a professional killer. Magda is able to evade him by using her own magical item and returns to London, where she learns more secrets and history about the society. Along her quest, Magda learns more about the impact of the magical items and the dangers that they may hold to the world.I loved reading The Book of Doors, which introduced magical realism as a genre to me last year. So, as soon as I saw this book on NetGalley I applied, and was excited to have been swiftly approved.This one took me a little longer to get into and really engage with, but the ending really brought it home. I love the way that Brown can create such fantastical experiences in his books. I enjoyed the complexity of the plot and the mix of mystery, adventure and the unknown. There were also quite a lot of similarities to the story in The Book of Doors which was interesting. And the epilogue was definitely a nice touch at the end. When Gareth Brown releases his next book, I will be in line to read it!I voluntarily reviewed a free advance reader copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Society of Unknowable Objects is dedicated to the recovery and protection of magical objects, which it considers too dangerous to be out in the world unsupervised. When Magda's mother died suddenly 10 years ago, Magda took her spot alongside the other 3 members: Will and Henrietta, who are closer to her age, and Frank, their elderly leader and the owner of the London bookshop where they meet twice a year. Now in her early 30s, Magda loves magic, but when she's sent to Hong Kong to retrieve an object - the first they've come across in years - it goes horribly wrong, and she discovers that her whole world rests on a foundation of lies.I'm a sucker for books about books, bookstores, writers, and so on. Magda makes her living as a mystery writer, and I really enjoyed her thoughts about how she might work this person or that situation into a story sometime in the future. Those thoughts fade as the story progresses, though, because the pace of events gets increasingly hectic. The 3rd-person narrative stays mostly with Magda, but we do occasionally jump to other characters to get a glimpse of the bigger picture. I'm often skeptical of men writing women characters, but Gareth Brown did an excellent job here. The audiobook is narrated by Olivia Vinall, who manages a large cast of characters with ease, shifting among British-, Welsh-, and American-accented English. And finally, although the book is a standalone, at the end there's a little nod to his first novel, The Book of Doors, and I immediately added it to my TBR list.

This author's imagination knows no bounds.I was first fascinated by his storytelling in The Book of Doors. Could he repeat the success of that book?In this latest release, he most definitely did.This book has a small common theme with his prior release, where an ordinary object holds power. But instead of various books, this story involves more random objects - where a chess piece can allow you to control others, or a necklace gives the wearer the ability to fly. What happens if these objects get into the wrong hands? That is precisely what the Society of Unknowable Objects is for, to project those objects. And one member, Magda Sparks is thrown into the thick of things when she attempts to secure an object and things go very wrong.Where things really get interesting is when not one, but two villains are revealed. As previously mentioned, the objects the society protects have immeasurable power, and these villains hold nothing back once they acquire an object. Can they be stopped? If so, how? Magda and her ragtag group (James Wei, Will Pinn, Henrietta Wiseman and Frank Simpson) have some tricks up their sleeves, aka their own special objects, and work together to fight back. Did I think they stood a chance against someone like Lukas (whose story I didn't see coming)? I had my doubts.I'm usually a quick reader and can finish a book in 2-3 days. This one almost took me a week due to me being in the process of moving. While I would rather have been reading this fascinating story than packing, I'm glad I didn't rush it. There is a lot going on in this book and it is one to be savored. So, if you are ready for a story unlike any other, a highly recommend you check it out!

🌅Although I was actively reading two books deep in my TBR pile, with six others lined up, when I saw that I was approved for this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC), I just knew it would be jumping up in the pile. And I am so glad I did! Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this advanced reader copy; it was worth the queue-jumping. Some stories dazzle with concept alone, but The Society of Unknowable Objects manages to deliver on both imagination and execution. Gareth Brown has crafted another smart, suspenseful adventure steeped in hidden magic, secret societies, and the murky morality of power—anchored by a conflicted, sometimes annoying protagonist you can’t help but root for.The plot centers on Magda Sparks, an author and the newest member of a clandestine group tasked with safeguarding magical artifacts disguised as ordinary items. When word surfaces that a new object has emerged in Hong Kong, Magda naively yet optimistically volunteers to investigate, only to find herself hunted, nearly killed, and forced to use a dangerous artifact that the rest of her Society doesn't even know exists. Her narrow escape sets off a chain of events that unravels long-buried secrets—not only about the Society itself, but about Magda’s past and the people she's come to trust. What begins as a simple retrieval becomes a globe-trotting quest that confronts the very question of whether magic can—or should—be controlled.What I loved most about this book was its momentum and the magical system Gareth Brown crafted. It is incredibly clever, with enchanted objects that are subtle but powerful, and always come with a cost. Brown’s writing includes characters who feel distinct, complex, and often unpredictable, the pacing is brisk without being overwhelming, and the worldbuilding is immersive without ever slowing the plot. I especially appreciated that while this story connects loosely to The Book of Doors, it stands entirely on its own—and rewards longtime readers with sly callbacks that feel earned rather than distracting.If I had one critique, it’s that a few of the villains border on caricature, lacking the nuance or redeeming traits that make the rest of the cast so engaging and believable. Still, their exaggerated menace fits the larger-than-life tone, and it doesn’t detract from the emotional core of the story, which lies squarely with Magda and her evolving understanding of truth, legacy, and choice.Content-wise, this is a relatively clean read, though there are scenes involving violence, grief, and some morally gray decision-making. This was a quick read and a joy to read—packed with thought-provoking themes, delightful twists, and an epilogue that will leave fans of The Book of Doors giggling with excitement. If you enjoy speculative fiction, magical realism, or secret histories, you will find plenty to devour here. I already can’t wait for whatever Gareth Brown writes next.