It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I did I really enjoyed it. The ending really threw me for another loop, and I wish there had been more to it. I do think sci-fi fans will enjoy this, the writing was great as always from Cashore.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kristin Cashore's Graceling series and was delighted to be able to get an early copy of Jane Unlimited from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Jane Unlimited it turns out is nothing like the Graceling books. it is however a brilliantly weird story. A little slow in places and definitely not a linear start-to-end narrative it will appeal to those who loved 'choose your own adventure' stories as a kid and those who enjoy reading cross genre.

Although Jane's adventures get stranger and stranger, I thought this book was really fun. I couldnt wait to finish it.

Fantastic book in so many ways! Jane is a departure from Cashore's other work. Wasn't sure what to expect with a contemporary setting but was very pleasantly surprised. It took me a while to catch on to how the story is constructed; once I did, it felt like a wild ride! What feels like disorganization in the beginning turns into a masterfully executed story of multiple layers. It's the kind of book that compels you, once you've finished, to go back to the beginning to see what you missed. Well done!

I received a DRC in return for a fair review.

3.5 stars overall.

I'm not sure how to start with this one. I don't usually read too much of a book's synopsis when I pick something up to read, so I wasn't even sure where this one was going, but I knew I wanted to read it because FINALLY there is a new Kristin Cashore! And I did like it, but I'm just still not sure what actually happened in the end.

This book is about . . . This book is like . . . It's really hard to describe.

It kind of starts out with a Mary Higgins Clark/Phyllis A Whitney vibe where the poor orphaned young lady (Jane) is taken in by a rich benefactor (Kiran) and is scurried off to a remote location where strange things happen. We get to know a cast of characters, each with their own agendas and motives for doing what they do. And then the story takes a turn, and becomes a mystery full of intrigue and twists and turns. But it doesn't stop there as soon there are alternate "viewpoints" as Jane navigates her new surroundings through multiple dimensions, learning more about the household staff and family who live there. You would think that would be enough to happen in one book, but then there is one further twist and Jane is thrust into another world where she discovers even more about her aunt who raised her.

The writing in this is great, and the amount of forethought and planning that must have gone into this is overwhelming to think about for this mere mortal reader, but it was almost too much in one book for me for it to be a 5 star read. I think if the ending had tied it all together a little more, or settled things a bit more, I would have been happier with it. As it is, I was left with a "now what - what was the point" kind of feeling at the end.

One last note: I'm not a huge fan of this cover. While it is shiny and abstractly eye-catching, I don't really feel it's going to draw in new readers. It's probably supposed to be alternate dimension-y, but it doesn't really work for me. I would rather see something with a umbrella or a dog or I don't even know what, but this wasn't it.

Overall, a decent read, and one I will be purchasing for the collection.

Confusing for the most part. I finished it but the format of the book was just plain confusing! I loved Kristin Cashore's series Graceling and I think the writing, the characters and descriptions were good and that is why I kept reading but the plot wanders in such a way that I wasn't sure what was going on.

This is one of the weirdest books I've ever read, and I'm still not sure I understand what was going on half the time, but it was an absolute DELIGHT to read. The prose was stellar, Jane was a really fun and relatable protagonist, I loved her push and pull relationship with Ivy, and every time the book went back to the decision point and shifted genres, I was sad to leave the story I'd been reading but excited to see the story that was going to unfold. What other book is both a coming of age/exploring classism story about an impoverished girl let loose in a fabulously rich estate, an art heist mystery, a spy caper, an exploration of alternate universes, and a fantasy about bonding with a talking dog? Something for everyone! But, and I cannot stress this enough, it is WEIRD. Possibly A.S. King level weird. If you like that, you'll love this book!

This is definitely not your normal teen novel. People who read this book will either love it or be very irritated by the unusual storytelling skills of Kristin Cashore. I loved it. This book is one that will stay with you for days, continually making you think and ponder about the themes and issues that were brought up in this book. Not an easy read, at times disturbing and at times delightful, this book will take you to a new level of existence if you will let it.

I kept trying to read this book, but it's unusual strangeness got in my way - it appears not to be the kind of book I want to read at this time....perhaps I'll try again later, not this time.

I found the story to be quite confusing in that it seemed to leap through time, doubling back and sometimes never revisiting what was previously written. It reminded me of the old "choose your own adventure" books, but without previous knowledge that this was the author's intent. Personally, I would have enjoyed the story more had it flowed smoothly throughout.

This was generally a lovely story. Jane is a very likeable and interesting girl and her umbrella-making talent is very charming. I enjoyed the unraveling of her aunts secret. However, throwing in the gay thing was unnecessary and tedious. Why does every YA book lately Insist the lead character or her best friend be gay? Enough already. Overdoing it may result in readers choosing something else besides YA fiction. Nobody wants that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of “Jane, Unlimited” by Kristin Cashore. This book has an interesting premise but I am sad to report that I was not interested in the story. The characters felt two-dimensional. I was bothered by the use of the word “says”. The continual use of this word was distracting and made the book feel like a work in progress rather than close to publication. Using other descriptive words other than “says” would greatly enhance this work.

Wow, what a unique and wonderful story. Sequentially odd, weird, and completely engaging. As soon as I finished I felt like re-reading it feeling sure that I would get something new out of it after a second reading. Part philosophy, pure storytelling magic, and a mode of writing that I'd describe as an adult choose-your-own adventure where you get to read all the possible endings. Hard to define or describe, but well worth the effort to read. I definitely plan to recommend this to many people once it is published.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Kathy Dawson Books for the ARC, Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore. Cashore’s mystery novel uses fantasy, a whodunit, and a mourning but clear-headed protagonist, Jane, as she traverses in search of answers concerning her recently deceased, beloved, Aunt Magnolia in the strange mansion, Tu Reviens, she is visiting with her friend and mentor, rich girl, Kiran. I found myself consistently uncertain as I read this book with Jane’s adventures unfolding in five separate chapters (many repetitions such as Jane seeing her Aunt Magnolia’s framed photograph of the little yellow gobi fish in the mouth of a large gray fish & then seeing the matting being uneven in the frame). I think readers will struggle too. But, that being said, I love Kristin Cashore as an author; her characters (Jane, Ivy, Patrick, Ravi, Kiran and Mr. & Mrs. Vander) are so strong, authentic and mysterious. Cashore’s world building is breathtaking with strange, creaking, groaning Tu Reviens, parallel universes, and Zorsted as a marvel, especially with the likes of Steen, the strayhound as her guide. I rooted for Jane as she stridently asked questions, uncovered answers and marched toward becoming her own umbrella building person (loved those umbrellas!!!) searching for her place in the world. Recommended for those who love mystery and fantasy, building tension, thrilling plot twists and strong characters.

This is a mind-bender of a book, and will take some time to digest. Several stories in one, the stage is set with a rather Gothic tone as Jane begins a visit at her friend's family's mansion on a remote island. The place and its inhabitants are mysterious from the beginning, and it feels almost like an interactive board game as characters and subplots are introduced. Then quite suddenly the narrative backtracks, Jane makes a different decision at a certain point, and then the story moves in an alternate direction. I was reading an e-book galley, and I think a paper book would have been easier to follow from one narrative thread to another. It seemed that characters behaved differently from one thread to another, but the mysteries and disclosures intertwine to some extent, except for the horror venture. The mansion is a richly drawn character in this novel, and leaves a strong atmospheric and visual impression. Readers should not expect a Graceling-type of book, but the plot and characters will be very appealing to those who enjoy ambiguity and puzzles.

4.5 Stars - Kristin Cashore: I'm not worthy! All I can say about this book is that I loved every minute of it not only because of how twisty and turny and odd and totally weird it is but it is also so completely different than Cashore's "Graceling" books. I love when authors show their range and take chances in order to produce work that is captivating and compelling and so very different than the work that we as readers may be most familiar. This is such an excellent example of that and while it may take a minute for readers to adjust, particularly those who may be expecting a piece similar to the fantasy world of "Graceling," they won't be disappointed as Cashore delivers a well written, totally unique, and pretty damn weird reading experience. One that you'll want to experience again and again.

If you take a spy novel, a mystery, and throw them in a blender with some quantum physics, you have this book. Interestingly written, if at first a little confusing, it all makes sense in the end. The characters Jane, Ivy and Ravi kept me reading even when it seemed a little confusing.

This was an incredibly LONG book. Amongst my high school students, onlythe most dedicated readers are going to continue to read it. The premiss is geratr, but for me it got a littletedious, and will also do the same for most students. Still, there are a few readers I will share it with.

This is just a strange, strange book. I don't really know how I feel about it. It's sort of Choose Your Own Adventure, sort of science fiction, sort of horror, sort of mystery, sort of fantasy with shades of the gothic (tons of Rebecca allusions with hints of Jane Eyre and probably other gothic books that I haven't read).

I just don't even know what to think. Imagine a story in that is set up like a Choose Your Own Adventure, but in which you read all of the possibilities instead of picking just one path through the story. With the first choice, you end up with a mystery. Art theft and spies. Then you go back and make a different choice (or rather, the protagonist, Jane, goes back and makes a different choice). And each of those choices leads to different results and all of them are happening in one universe or another (hence the science fiction aspect...multiverse with portals and stuff). One of the possibilities is a horror story with a living, creepy house. One is a fantasy with a dog who can walk through paintings.

If you are hoping for a story like Cashore's other books, you will be greatly disappointed. If you like odd stories that are their own thing, especially if you've read a lot of gothic novels, you will likely enjoy this.

For me, it moved slowly because I had no clue what was going on. I spent most of the book feeling like I was missing something. I just...need more time to digest.

the book could be improved by restructuring and adding fantasy elements earlier