DNF ( )

Expect the Unexpected

Jeff VanderMeer explores the duology of word meanings in a world unlike our own filled with odd creatures, and even odder motivations. Jonathan Lambshead is due to inherit a mansion after his grandfather’s death, with one stipulation that he must catalogue all of its odd collections. With the mystery of his missing mother, he is determined find out his family’s secrets. With the help of his two friends, he finds himself exploring another world in search of answers from The Order.

Jeff VanderMeer is known for his play with words, and the interesting double meanings found in commonly used phrases. The plot of this story centers on Jonathan, who is an average American/English boy who has a lot of questions. His ability to accept the weird, allows him to understand the world he falls into. His various companions are comparatively ordinary as well. Except they all enjoy endless conversations involving wordplay. From his first experience in the world of Aurora, each location is more fanciful than the last. Involving talking animals, talking vegetables, and a lot of marmots. All living under an evil and irrational empire ruled by Crowley.

The other main character is the villainous Crowley who has various nonsensical motivations, and his familiar Wretch. Who both are currently ruling Aurora, and looking for spies from The Order. Which involves a lot of nonsensical conversations about spies, duplicity, beheading, and evil laws. The question is who is ruling who, and for what reason. Though they can all agree that they must stop the Golden Sphere, a Celestial Beast with a terrible purpose. The Golden Sphere is entirely chaotic and murderous, which is quite morbidly violent in this story. The Golden Sphere’s intentions are also not explained, except for self-preservation.

Including quite a few side characters who receive their own backstories, and the mysteries of The Builders. Unfortunately, Jonathan receives more questions than answers. What the readers do get is a lot of butt jokes, occasional swearing, randomness, blood, and unnecessarily morbid situations. A Peculiar Peril is the type of book to read for interesting nonsense, and peculiar events. ( )

This was very, very long, took such a long time to get interesting, then turned out to be a setup for a sequel without a satisfactory ending. The introduction of a mysterious, hidden, magical world at the beginning was disrupted and undermined by the alternating chapter focuses, which should have been introduced much later, or with different characters so they could be done with more subtlety—instead they acted as a drag on the speed of the story and a spoiler to the whole plot conceit. While there was a lot of fun stuff, and I liked so many of the characters, and I really wanted to like this book, it was so long, and at times, such a slog—and to add insult to injury, basically none of the umpteen mysteries were ultimately resolved. ( )

Most excellent. Exceedingly funny and strange. The novel reads like the best of Vandermeers short stories and novels with huge doses of familiar bits from the world of fantasy. Having some knowledge of fantasy stories will reward your reading experience. Further having some background in Vandermeer's novels and stories is great as the novel has tons of little easter eggs from his previous works, not in anyway that will make you 'have to read them' to understand the novel but for those who have read vandermeers books - it will be delightful. Regardless the novel is delightfully wacky and hilarious. The lead up and so forth, yeah lots of stuff happens, but not to much of a resolution. But - that said - its freaking fantasy - and it sold as the first in a two volume, essentially four novel series. So, there is ebb and there is flow and there are parts that are lull. But all of it is exceedingly good.

Super great fantasy read. The audio book is just stunningly good as well and for such a big book with a cast of characters the SINGLE reader made the book really come alive. ( )