The world of unknowable objects—magical items that most people have no idea possess powers—has been quiet for decades, but the three current members of a secret society have remained watchful, meeting every six months in the basement of a bookshop in London. They are pledged to protect their archive of magical items hidden away, safe from the outside world—and the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artifact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends Magda Sparks—author by day and newest member—to investigate.
Within hours of arriving in Hong Kong, Magda is facing death and danger, confronted by a professional killer who seems to know all about unknowable objects, specifically one that was stolen from him a decade before. Magda is forced to flee, using an artifact that not even the rest of the Society knows about.
Returning to London, Magda learns hers is not the only secret being kept from the other two members. And that the most pernicious secret is about the nature of the Society’s mission. Her discoveries will lead her on a perilous journey, across the Atlantic to the deep south of the United States, now in pursuit of not an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the professional killer she first faced in Hong Kong. In doing so, Magda begins to understand that there are even more in the world who are chasing these magical items, and that her own family’s legacy is tied up in keeping all these secrets under wraps.
Magic has always been too powerful to reveal to the world. But Magda will learn there might be something even more powerful:
The truth.
The Society of Unknowable Objects is a fantasy thriller in the same universe as Gareth Brown’s highly acclaimed debut novel, The Book of Doors. It’s not necessary to read The Book Of Doors before this book, but certain key references and the epilogue will resonate much better if you have already.
The story follows Magda Sparks, a novelist and newest member of a tightly knit secret society. This group—comprised of just four people—meets twice a year in a London bookshop basement to gather and safeguard everyday items imbued with magical powers. For decades, no new artifacts have surfaced—until one appears in Hong Kong. Magda is sent to retrieve it, setting off a globe-spanning thrilling adventure filled with magic, conspiracy, and buried secrets.
The story, although centered in London, takes Magda and the other main characters globe-trotting to Hong Kong, New York City, Washington State, and on a road trip to small-town Alabama on their quest to rescue magical items from dangerous hands. The story has a slow-burn start, but once Magda narrowly escapes a harrowing situation in Hong Kong, the pacing improves and remains that way until the end!
The story is mostly told from Magda’s POV, but there are also some chapters told from the perspectives of the other society members and villains to help move the story forward and provide readers a lot of information that Magda isn’t privy to. The POV of the main villain, Owen, makes him extremely unlikable and his psychopath tendencies really shine through—but these sections are also extremely entertaining and addictive! The story shifts through flashbacks and well-timed revelations—particularly regarding the origins of the artifacts and the motivations of the society and its adversaries. All of this, coupled with many chapters ending in mini-cliffhangers, makes for a very captivating read that is difficult to put down!
The central themes in this book are all thought-provoking—in particular the ethics of hoarding magical power are discussed at length by the society members. Magda initially believes that the magical artifacts will serve a greater good, but the unfolding of dangerous events and the unraveling of dark secrets ultimately have her agreeing with society leader Frank that the artifacts are too dangerous to be used freely and must be kept stored away in secret!
Magda is a relatable and compelling protagonist. Her inner monologues show how insightful she is at solving puzzles. She’s also very emotional and impulsive, especially during her time in Alabama. Some of her emotional rants feel repetitive and get her into unnecessary trouble, which may make her frustrating to some readers. There is a subtle romantic subplot between Magda and one of the side characters that adds personal stakes and another layer of intrigue to the story—and the romance is very sweet and a wonderful distraction from all the tension in the later chapters! Frank, the society’s wary leader, comes off as a man hiding secrets from the onset—and the extent of which he does will shock readers! The other society members, Will and Henrietta, are both very interesting characters and essential to the plot but are somewhat underdeveloped. It would be wonderful to see more of them in future books, with richer development and more page time!
What’s most appealing about this book is how it blends magical realism, cozy fantasy with high-stakes thrills! It’s very different from a typical fantasy or romantasy book and will appeal to a wider audience. The same can be said for the author’s debut novel, The Book Of Doors—and it’s highly recommended (but not necessary) to read that first for the best possible reading experience!
Overall, The Society of Unknowable Objects is a smart, genre-bending fantasy thriller with thought-provoking themes. It’s a novel that readers will need to be patient with to see its true entertainment value and worth—but it will linger afterwards and have readers craving for more! Readers who love stories about hidden libraries, mystical societies, fast-paced adventure plots, and magical realism will love this book!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of The Society of Unknowable Objects is a thrilling, immersive listen, voiced by seasoned actress and audiobook narrator Olivia Vinall.
Vinall’s narration is easy to follow and highly immersive from start to finish—you’ll feel like you’re right there with the characters as they chase clues across the globe and uncover secrets. She portrays protagonist Magda with an engaging and intelligent-sounding voice infused with lots of emotion and curiosity, perfectly capturing the character’s insightful nature and emotional vulnerability. Vinall’s performance makes it feel like Magda is always one step ahead of everyone—including listeners—and it’s exciting and challenging to keep up with her!
Vinall’s portrayal of villain Owen is particularly noteworthy—listeners will feel the character’s dark aura and psychopathic qualities oozing right into their headsets, making him incredibly unlikable and compelling at the same time! All the characters are given distinct, authentic-sounding voices that make them come alive—at times it almost feels like listening to the audio of a feature film as Vinall flexes her impressive voice acting skills in key scenes—especially in the high-stakes magical showdowns in Alabama!
Overall, Vinall’s performance elevates this highly original fantasy thriller and makes the audiobook the recommended format for binge reading and also a perfect companion to a physical copy! Readers who enjoy thrilling, emotionally driven fantasy audiobooks that make you feel you’re on the run with the characters will love this one! It’s also recommended to first listen to the author’s debut novel, The Book Of Doors (as there are some key connections to this book), for a fully satisfying and immersive listening experience!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of The Society of Unknowable Objects is a thrilling, immersive listen, voiced by seasoned actress and audiobook narrator Olivia Vinall.
Vinall’s narration is easy to follow and highly immersive from start to finish—you’ll feel like you’re right there with the characters as they chase clues across the globe and uncover secrets. She portrays protagonist Magda with an engaging and intelligent-sounding voice infused with lots of emotion and curiosity, perfectly capturing the character’s insightful nature and emotional vulnerability. Vinall’s performance makes it feel like Magda is always one step ahead of everyone—including listeners—and it’s exciting and challenging to keep up with her!
Vinall’s portrayal of villain Owen is particularly noteworthy—listeners will feel the character’s dark aura and psychopathic qualities oozing right into their headsets, making him incredibly unlikable and compelling at the same time! All the characters are given distinct, authentic-sounding voices that make them come alive—at times it almost feels like listening to the audio of a feature film as Vinall flexes her impressive voice acting skills in key scenes—especially in the high-stakes magical showdowns in Alabama!
Overall, Vinall’s performance elevates this highly original fantasy thriller and makes the audiobook the recommended format for binge reading and also a perfect companion to a physical copy! Readers who enjoy thrilling, emotionally driven fantasy audiobooks that make you feel you’re on the run with the characters will love this one! It’s also recommended to first listen to the author’s debut novel, The Book Of Doors (as there are some key connections to this book), for a fully satisfying and immersive listening experience!
The audiobook of The Society of Unknowable Objects is a thrilling, immersive listen, voiced by seasoned actress and audiobook narrator Olivia Vinall.
Vinall’s narration is easy to follow and highly immersive from start to finish—you’ll feel like you’re right there with the characters as they chase clues across the globe and uncover secrets. She portrays protagonist Magda with an engaging and intelligent-sounding voice infused with lots of emotion and curiosity, perfectly capturing the character’s insightful nature and emotional vulnerability. Vinall’s performance makes it feel like Magda is always one step ahead of everyone—including listeners—and it’s exciting and challenging to keep up with her!
Vinall’s portrayal of villain Owen is particularly noteworthy—listeners will feel the character’s dark aura and psychopathic qualities oozing right into their headsets, making him incredibly unlikable and compelling at the same time! All the characters are given distinct, authentic-sounding voices that make them come alive—at times it almost feels like listening to the audio of a feature film as Vinall flexes her impressive voice acting skills in key scenes—especially in the high-stakes magical showdowns in Alabama!
Overall, Vinall’s performance elevates this highly original fantasy thriller and makes the audiobook the recommended format for binge reading and also a perfect companion to a physical copy! Readers who enjoy thrilling, emotionally driven fantasy audiobooks that make you feel you’re on the run with the characters will love this one! It’s also recommended to first listen to the author’s debut novel, The Book Of Doors (as there are some key connections to this book), for a fully satisfying and immersive listening experience!
