This book might be for you if you like time travel novels. Strictly speaking, it’s not a time travel novel, but the crossings allow a person’s well, personhood, go into another body. The swap can be done without memory of what went before in the new body, or with those memories intact, along with those of the crossing person.

You can choose to read the novel straight through, in which case you are introduced to a bookbinder who says he’s come into possession of a manuscript that tells three different tales: one is supposed to be a lost story by Charles Baudelaire; a second is the tragic story of writer Walter Benjamin, a German Jewish refugee from the Nazis, and his lover, Madeleine Blanc; and the third is the story of two young lovers from a tropical island who lose each other because of two crossings that they shouldn’t have undertaken, and go through a century of crossings trying to find each other and avoid the retribution of one of their original crossing targets.

The second way to read the novel is via the so-called “Baroness sequence.” The book tells you which chapters to jump to in order to read this sequence. The Baroness sequence, which I read, can be confusing. It requires a lot of concentration, but it adds something to the story because it makes more of the crossings and what they bring with them.

This is certainly an intriguing and original novel, but for me it was more clever than affecting. A book to be admired more than loved.

This was a really weird book, but in a good way! I was a little confused by the whole reading out of order thing, but once I got the hang of it I enjoyed it! Good characters and storyline and definitely a unique way to read a book! Although made it a bit difficult to know how much time you had left to finish the book!

Crossings is an amazing find. It's inventive and captivating and the first book that I've come across that you can read in two different ways. I personally decided to read the work in the back-and-forth approach and I really enjoyed seeing how the stories within the three separate works intertwined with one another. I applaud the author for the way that he planned this book, because it must have taken a lot of planning. It's very in-depth and interesting. The characters are well-developed and the plots are intriguing and well-defined. I really enjoyed the way that the author incorporated historical persons and events and how he wove them through his narrative. I plan on re-reading this book in the traditional manner, to see how it compares to the way that I originally read it. I find this to be a work of incredible imagination and such an excellent and satisfying read.

I would like to thank Alex Landragin, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.

“Crossings” is definitely a unique novel. It is a series of three interconnected stories, ranging in time and place from a Pacific island in the 1790s to Paris in 1940. Although basically a romance, it is also a supernatural mystery with a lot of mysticism thrown in. The novel’s title reflects its underlying premise: a “crossing” is the ability to inhabit another’s body and thus to live different lives and to “cross” through time and space.

At the beginning, the author notes that the novel can be read in the “Baroness sequence,” one which has you flipping pages and moving across the novel in a very unconventional manor, or that it can be read conventionally page by page in chronological sequence. I opted for the Baroness sequence. Although I could definitely follow what exists of a storyline and see how the three stories being told in the novel interconnect, I found that the plot was very convoluted, albeit filled with plenty of interesting history and mysticism, and that it took a lot to merely follow along.

This is not the type of novel that I usually read, but I was intrigued by it. I did finish it, basically because I was fascinated by the inventiveness of its suggested reading order, but I did not go back to read it again in traditional page-by-page order. Maybe that would have helped. Overall, this novel was a laborious exercise and at the end fell flat for me. I admire it for its sheer originality and creativeness, but I did not really enjoy it that much.

This type of genre was one of the first I read, It felt like a choose your own adventure in some way. I really was engrossed in the book from start to finish. It was so well written while remaining so accessible and easy to read. My only wish was the book was maybe shorter by a 50 - 80 pages shorter. If not, it is a really really long book. The other part was more around the book layout. I think the Baroness sequence is far superior than go section by section. I kinda wanted the book to be just laid out like that.

Uh, is this a new favorite of the year? and maybe of all time? why, yes!

This book ticks all my boxes, there's fantasy/magical realism, there's two different ways to read it, it's like a saga spanning so many years, and lifetimes!

This book starts as the bind-up of 3 manuscripts a baroness left to a book binder to make them into one book, and he prefaces the story of the baroness and tells us that there are two ways to read this book or "manuscript". The book is clearly divided into 3 parts: "The Education of a Monster" is a story supposedly written by Charles Baudelaire, "City of Ghosts" is a noir thriller in Paris during the 1940s and it's heavily related to the 1st story, and "Tale of the Albatross" is as they described it "an autobiography of a deathless enchantress" and truly it is! It's almost where all the magic happens!

In its essence this novel is a historical love story of two star-crossed lovers, with a unique look and approach to immortality. With a touch of a loose retelling of Frankenstein or the making of a monster. The writing is lush and surprising fr a debut author, and though the author is a man, I didn't feel his female characters were jarring. It's truly genre-bending, as you can't truly say it's historical fiction, or fantasy, or a war story, or a retelling.

I think it's best not to go into this book knowing any more, as it was such a fun ride!! and I'll definitely buy the book when it's released to reread it in the other sequence! I highly recommend it and I'll be keeping my eye on this author's future releases.

Truly original in concept and execution, this tour de force took me right out of the negativity of today and into another universe. Part Scherezade, a bit of Cloud Atlas, even a little 1Q84. Not my usual choice, but I found it a great escape.

What a unique concept and story. Crossings deals with a rare manuscript, supposedly written, in his own hand, by Charles Baudelaire. Tragedy follows anyone who has had hands on the manuscript. One of the wild concepts of this tale, is the fact that it can be read in two different formats. From the first to the last page, or as I read it, jumping around in an alternate manner. Of course, if you read it one way, you might be tempted (as I am) to read it the other way as well. Apparently it will be an entirely different story.

The reading while jumping around can be challenging, as you have to keep the threads of many years and multiple characters from unraveling in your brain. Reading from beginning to end, though, felt more difficult, as the story reads more slowly, in my opinion, that way.

There are famous characters in this novel, and well-known themes. Coco Chanel makes an appearance as the head of The Baudelaire Society, as well as Baudelaire’s real life muse, Jeanne Duval. The story visits the deep south with a French artist and the invasion of Paris during World War II.

It is a fascinating read, thoughtful and beautifully written.

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved that there were multiple stories within this book that were just as breathtaking as the last one and my heart could not stop pounding throughout the entire book. The only critique I have for this book is that the book can also be read through an alternate chapter sequence and for me that is when it became confusing. It will be hard for the reader to follow through unless you have read the description prior or an advanced reader that could figure it out fast. However, the book can be read straight through but a huge chunk of time must be reserved for it and that might turn people away as well.

This is why we gave this book 3.5 stars.

This book is absolutely brilliant and the fact that it is a debut makes it even more so! It is actually two books in one in that it can be read either straight through (thereby making the book three separate but related short stories) or by reading the chapters out of order (but according to a plan referred to as the Baroness' sequence and thereby making the book a complete novel). Because many of the already existing reviews were based on reading the book according to the Baroness' sequence, I chose to read it straight through as three separate short stories.

Though the structure of this book is truly unique, and the language used is exquisitely beautiful, the story is what makes it worth reading. Whether read as three short stories or as one complete novel, this book ingeniously combines elements of historical fiction, romance, science-fiction, and myth to make one phenomenal read. Though it is a lengthy book, my complete attention was captured from the first page and I put everything else in my life on hold until I could finish it. I rarely read books twice, but I can't wait to dive back into this one and read it according tot he Baroness' sequence!

An intriguing story that began on a small island where the ability to cross identities with another created lifetimes that for some, lasted 3 lifetimes. Sound strange.....well yes it is. Just as the book is strange. You can decide to read it as 3 short stories or as 1 novel. I chose 1 novel this time, but as time permits, I will read it again as 3 short stories, which I believe will be easier, nevertheless an intriguing idea. On the Kindle, reading it randomly became a problem towards the end, but just after the preface, the sequence is detailed.
A fascinating tale, extremely well written, a ‘stolen story’ finished at the end of the book!! Well worth reading.

Well written, intriguing, and doesn't underestimate the intelligence of the reader. My favorite kind of story - history, intrigue, complex characters. Very interesting the way the author gives you a choice as to how to navigate the story.

Really enjoyed this. Thank you.

Felt like an adult choose your own adventure while I both liked and felt confusing. But if you’re into that. It’s definitely for you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this free ARC.

Another "story within a story" that I absolutely loved. A very unique idea from Alex Landragin. You can read this book like any other; three short stories that are connected but stand apart. Or you can read it by following page numbers found at the end of each section, much like a "choose your own adventure book". I highly recommend reading it by following the section numbers and then going back and reading the book all the way through. It makes for a hunting story on lost love and consequence.

CROSSINGS by Alex Landragin is such a unique debut novel! This book tells the story of a book within a book which all bibliophiles would love and has a couple very famous characters including Charles Baudelaire. I really loved the way the story unfolds and you learn about all the characters throughout their entire lives. The timeline is quite expansive and really helps to make this book feel epic. I also really enjoyed the strong tension built by a rivalry between two characters. This book blends historical fiction, fantasy and fan fiction together in a fun way. I just really applaud the unique storytelling which I have never encountered before! I’m so curious what Landragin will come up with next!

I enjoyed this book. Not really in the conventional sense of, “gee, what a joy to read”, but in the terrific way it is laid out and the flow of this guy’s writing. I wanted to drink it.
This book can be read two different ways. One is the normal, turn-to-the-next-page. The other is kind of like following a map. You are instructed to “go here” and read where the link takes you (the ebook version, obviously). I decided to start out with the latter because I was intrigued by the set up and reminded of the choose your own mystery books of the 70s and 80s. So I was taken on an adventure. And I loved it. And then I read it AGAIN using the next-page method. And wow.
I devoured it a second time and, while it seemed familiar, it did not seem like something I’d just finished a couple weeks ago. I’ve never read a book twice in such quick succession. But I highly recommend it. Alex Landragin has a way with words and I want to read more. I believe I’ll be buying this one in hard copy as well so I can add to my read-again book collection.

I was selected to read this book before it’s official publication in return for an honest review. Go read this book. Then read it again.

I took a long time to finish this book. It was not because I was not enjoying it, but because I read it twice. There are two ways to read the book a)the normal way from front to back and b) the Baroness sequence - a sequence that changes the narrative.

I enjoyed the book anyway I read it. There is mystery, there is a romance and there is the unexplained . The story spans 150 years and seven generations.it is about a manuscript written by Charles Baudelaire and the journey to find it. I love books about books specially when they are at the heart of the matter.

Highly recommended. My thanks to Netgalley that gave me this book to read and review.

I received an advanced electronic copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I started this book with so much hope. It has two ways the reader can consume the book: straightforward as a series of essays, or a hop around order that provides a different story. I chose the latter, which did not work so well. I’m glad I had bookmarked the table of contents for the alternate order in an attempt to save the technical glitches (each chapter had a “go here” link to tap that was supposed to take the reader through the alternate route of reading the book) however the last 4-6 chapters would be stuck in a loop, linking back to a chapter I had just read. This made it frustrating and caused delay in the continuity of this alternate perspective, which had so much promise. I thought about just reading it from cover to cover to see if I could understand the original route I tried to read it but I’m just burnt out from the glitches.

Crossings was a very unusual book and a very pleasant surprise. The reader has the option of reading the usual way from page one to the end or they can follow instructions at the end of certain chapters and “jump ahead” to a different part of the book. Being a type A person, who does not like to deviate from the norm, I decided to read this novel from beginning to end.
What drew me to request this book from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley was the story of people’s souls being able to “cross” over and enter another physical body. An exchange of one body for another. It can be by mutual consent or it can be taken dishonestly. The time frame is over 150 years with different souls living on for multiple generations. I found I was totally engrossed in the story and I was looking forward to getting back to reading when I put the book down. For me this is a sign of a good book. The only issue I had was momentarily trying to keep track of each of the initial souls and the multiple bodies they had inhabited. Possibly that could have been avoided if I kept an outline of each soul and the body they took over. The expression of calling someone “an old soul” has now taken on a new meaning for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Crossings is a very interesting book that isn't seen often. It is designed to be read 2 ways: normally and following a 'Baroness sequence',named after the Baroness who owned this book. I went into it not quite knowing what it was about and I was pleasantly surprised. I decided to read it normally and at the end,if I felt like it,re-read it following the Baroness sequence.
It explored this very intriguing idea of switching souls and bodies by just looking into one's eyes for a few minutes. Once I realized this,I started paying much more attention to the details and dialogues,hoping I would discover something untold. I enjoyed connecting the dots and realizing who was who and what was going on.It is a captivating story spanning ages and ages designed to make you wonder about the soul and what can be done with it. I really enjoyed the writing style and will include a couple of my favourite quotes.

"In the hush of the early morning,the mist that laced the streets might have been mistaken for ghosts risen from the catacombs under my feet,piled floor to ceiling with the bones of millions of the city's dearly departed."
"I was frightened too,but I'd been frightened so long fear had become a part of me,twisting its way around and through me like a vine,sustained by the same sap that kept the rest of me alive."
"Could it really be that Madeleine had chosen me as the target of her elaborate scheme?Had she deliberately led me to Jacquenet's bookstore to entice me into her murderous game? Or had it been more intuitive,less calculated than that,the spell she cast over me? Whatever the explanation,how I could I have fallen for it so completely? And if her love was counterfeit,why was my heart still aching?"