There is SO MUCH going on in this book--an art heist or two, a dash of romance, a mystery, and a sci-fi overlay. Rather than get all spoilery, I'll just say that I still can't make up my mind if I liked it, but it's fascinating and you should please read it so we can talk about it.

this is tough...

i received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

i saw kristin cashore had a new book and my heart went triple beat. i LOVE Graceling and Fire. (Bitterblue is my least favorite but also i have read it the least amount of times so i should probably give it another chance).

so i was very excited and not sure what to expect based on the cover and description but i really enjoyed the very particular detail of jane's umbrella making hobby. it's so specific and odd and interesting.

here's my own vague description of the book since i don't want to give any spoilers. jane is an orphan. jane is invited to a house party of rich people on an island. jane meets the residents of the island mansion and learns a lot of truths about her recently departed aunt and herself. and then a Sliding Doors moment happens and the reader goes down a multiverse rabbit hole to see the results of one decision jane makes.

i'm giving this 4 stars because it's kristin cashore and it really is quite good with the characters and strange idiosyncrasies and writing. HOWEVER. it also feels like 75% of a book. it doesn't CONCLUDE. it doesn't resolve issues. it just ends. is there going to be a sequel or a companion or something? my sense is no, but i'm not sure. i'm pretty sure when i read Graceling when it first came out i didn't know there was going to be a companion novel. i'll probably try reading it again sometime. maybe like with Fire it will take more than one reading for me to love it. but for now it's honestly a 3 star book with an extra star because i can't give kristin cashore less than 4 stars.

Jane, Unlimited is confusing and disorienting at first, but Kristin Cashore's writing is so lovely and intriguing that I stuck with it (also on the recommendation of some friends). Once certain aspects of the plot begin to click into place the novel goes from interesting to impressive. Cashore surprises with every page and leads you down a path that is exciting but never loses sight of her characters.

I had such high hopes for this book. I LOVED Graceling! I wanted to love this book, too. For me, the book kept getting weirder and weirder, then it became bizarre, and then it was over. I felt like I kept getting invested in the stories and they never quite finished, which left me highly unsatisfied. Maybe I would have liked it better if it were a true Choose Your Own Adventure, where I could have chosen?

This book is surrealism defined. It's like reading a Dali painting. It's disconcertingly disorienting, but wonderful as well. I'm going to hide the next bit, because even though it ins't a plot spoiler it's a format spoiler. And if thinking about what a format spoiler could be is a little mind bending and a totally captivating idea, then you should definitely read this book.
<spoiler>
Early on in our story, Jane makes a decision. The story plays out, almost reaches a resting point, and then the reader is jerked back in time. Jane makes the same decision, differently. The story plays out again, completely differently but also recognizably. And again. And again. Jane makes each decision, and each time we learn new and different things about the mysterious goings on in Tu Riviens. It's a really cool way to tell a story with an almost god-like panoramic view, but still from the limited viewpoint of only one character moving through time.
</spoiler>

The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I'm not totally sold on the way the book ends. But I still am left feeling I want to read it again, to see what else I can notice that I missed before, and if I can sell myself on the end. So I guess call this 4.3 stars and a definite re-read

Kudos to Kristin Cashore for creativity and for doing something that I've never seen done before. The format of this book, having a main storyline that branches into many different variations at one point during the book, I found intriguing but ultimately frustrating. I really wanted some cohesive ending, or at the very least a hint of it, that would tie all the knowledge gained in the different storylines together. I found the book to be well-written, but I fear that many will be discouraged by the slow pace and confused by the different storylines.

"If anyone ever invites to you to Tu Reviens, promise me that you'll go." At the time Aunt Magnolia had asked this of Jane, she thought it was an odd request but relented. Tu Reviens was one of the many places her former tutor, Kiran Thrash, called home. Now her beloved aunt was dead and Kiran has invited her to Tu Reviens. With nothing but her memories and her umbrellas, Jane accepts the invitation embarking on an adventure that only she can figure out where she wants it to end.

It has been a long wait for the next novel from Kristin Cashore and it has been well worth it. Once again Cashore's skill at world building and her ability to entwine everyday life within them shines. Her new book offers adventures for everyone, not just Jane. Is it a mystery, science fiction, fantasy, contemporary character/life story? Cashore's fans will either be completely satisfied or utterly disappointed. However, fans of true storytelling will extol the wonders of this new novel. There is something for everyone in this story and the ending is truly satisfying.

This is such an unusual book. I'd like to re-read it at some point to see what I think of it--it took me a long time to figure out what was going on, if I even did? The prose is beautiful and I loved the characters! I think I'm still mentally chewing on this for now.

Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley

I really enjoyed Kristin Cashore's Graceling books, and so I've been looking forward to seeing what she does next. First off, "Jane, Unlimited" is a completely different sort of book from Graceling. In fact, it's almost like several different sorts of books (none of which are anything close to the epic fantasy genre). The book starts off by introducing us to Jane, an orphan who has been feeling lost since her Aunt Magnolia died on a photography trip to Antarctica. Sometime after Magnolia's death Jane runs into Kiran Thrash, a slightly older girl--and very wealthy--girl who used to tutor Jane when she was younger. Kiran invites Jane to come stay with her at her family's island estate, and Jane remembers that her Aunt made her promise to always accept an invitation to the Thrash home if offered.

For awhile it seems like this book is going to be a throwback to older stories about high society where the lower class ladies companion is brought in to new social circles. It also feels a bit like something along the lines of Daphne Du Maurier's "Rebecca" (which Cashore cites as one of her influences). The first third of the book introduces us to the various players in the household as they get ready for the semi-annual Thrash Gala. There are mysterious servants, mysterious family members, and mysterious guests. There are art thieves, and missing children, and a sort of madwoman in the attic. Honestly, in the first part of the book I wasn't quite sure how I felt about everything. The story seems straightforward and had some reveals that I felt were a little bit too easy. Of course it is after this initial section that the book takes a clear turn towards the weird, and after that it just keeps going, becoming more strange and convoluted with each decision that Jane makes.

I don't want to give away too much about the latter two thirds of the story, since I think that it is probably best experienced without knowing too much beforehand. Without too many details, the story has scientists, spies, artists, thieves, pirates, dogs, horror, houses that are more then they seem, and a large number of umbrellas. There is also a rather cute but understated romance. I would suggest that anyone who starts this book and isn't quite sure what they think of it keep reading for awhile and give it a chance. While the story and characters start off relatively simply, each section of the book adds additional layers and by the end I was interested enough to wish that I could read more about the various people and plot threads. While there is plenty that is left open ended, the book also reaches a satisfying conclusion for Jane as she decides what to do next with her life. "Jane, Unlimited" is an entertaining and creative book that keeps the reader on their toes.

Cashore's latest is an homage to Daphne du Maurier, Winnie the Pooh, orphan girls, madwomen in the attics, and choose your adventure stories. Jane (aforementioned orphan), whose aunt just died (so, twice-orphaned), is invited to the annual gala at her former tutor's island mansion. Soon after arriving, she discovers that nothing--and no one--is as they seem. Sub-plots with spies, umbrellas, stolen art, missing children and a possessed house, all move in and out of focus. If you're not quite sure how all these fit together, you're not alone. Cashore makes it work, mostly through the idea of parallel universes. Rather than using the well-known structure of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series, Jane's different choices to a pivotal question about a third of the way through the book are all presented sequentially. Because of parallel universes, ALL of her choices are possible. The slow-building plot requires a patient and sophisticated reader, willing to untangle the many plot threads, then lay them aside as each subsequent choice reveals different layers. Each choice Jane makes takes the book in a completely different direction, even changing the tone and genre feel of the story--spy thriller adventure to horror to quirky science fiction, etc. The constant throughout is Jane, and ultimately, this is about Jane discovering who she is. While many teens will not likely have the stamina to stay with this slow and careful exploration of time and space, some will certainly appreciate the worlds of possibilities that come to light.

I'm not sure how to review this book without giving away too much. I will say that I was already completely drawn in by the story and felt pretty satisfied with it as a light, fun read when it seemed like everything was tied up in a neat little package. Except I knew the book wasn't over yet because I was only 30% done, so what else could possibly happen?? I can't tell you without the book being no fun. I will say that I was immediately drawn to the very likable, quirky main character, Jane. The exploration of all of the characters and their relationships was well written, interesting, and definitely drew me in. As I kept reading the story the timeline became more complex and thought provoking. I actually stood at the kitchen counter reading last night when my tablet died and I had to be near an outlet for it to charge so I could keep reading :-)

Wow, Kristin Cashore never fails! The plot was amazing, the writing style was incredible, and the characters were unique and likeable! I loved the family and friends dynamics! I highly recommend it!