Wow an unexpected experience. Took a bit of time to get use to the writing style but at the same time a fascinating tale that I couldn’t put down. Or when I did I’d find myself thinking of this book.

Oh, Keanu. I love you but this book was not for me. I also really loved Perdido Street Station!

But this one was so hard for me to read. It was too much on every level and so hard to get even the slightest grasp of the narrative. I have a hard time with sci-fi as it is, but there was nothing to hold onto to try and make this enjoyable for me. I just tried to go along with the ride.

I bet this would make a killer movie, though.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Ultimately, I'm not certain what I wanted out of this book, but what I knew was that I was curious. The book didn't necessarily do much for me. It was fun, but I wanted less and more at the same time. By which I mean there was a lot here but it didn't give me what I wanted. A more streamlined concept/narrative would have served the whole more. If that makes sense.

So I want to say that I had a solid understanding of what was going on in this book but I didn't. Having never read any of the graphics, I had no clue, and I felt that I was stumbling around blind.

Surprisingly weird narrative for a celebrity "vanity" project, but not for Mieville novel. Not really sure who this book is for, as it falls somewhere inbetween, but I really enjoyed the mix of high octane action and the mythology/worldbuilding.

This book was good. I had to go back and read the earlier graphic novels to really understand the story though.

I can't pretend that I really understood this. It's more of a collection of stories in the same universe and I'd classify it as weird fiction. I didn't dislike it but it was hard to stay focused. My favorite parts, though, were the ones that felt like Keanu Reeves being cool on screen.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

2⭐️

I wanted to like this, but unfortunately I don’t. The writing was interesting, but the story wasn’t particularly great and I often got lost and had no idea what was going on. I even tried listening to the audio book, and despite the large cast, it still wasn’t enjoyable.

"The Book of Elsewhere" by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville is an ambitious fusion of action and speculative fiction that delves into the life of an immortal warrior on a millennia-long quest to understand his existence. The collaboration between Reeves and Miéville brings together cinematic flair and intricate world-building, resulting in a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
Readers have praised the novel's well-developed characters and intriguing setting. The protagonist's journey is depicted with depth, capturing the weariness and complexity of immortality. The book's descriptive language and vivid imagery further enhance the immersive experience.
However, opinions on the story's structure and coherence vary. Some readers find the narrative intricate and engaging, while others feel it reads as a collection of loosely connected stories, leading to moments of confusion. The writing style, characterized by its descriptive nature, is appreciated by some but considered challenging by others.
Critics have noted that the novel's violence is presented in a matter-of-fact manner, aligning with its graphic novel roots. While this approach suits the context, some readers may find it excessive.
In summary, "The Book of Elsewhere" offers a unique and immersive exploration of immortality, enriched by the combined talents of its authors. While it may not resonate with all readers due to its complex narrative and stylistic choices, those interested in a genre-blending tale that challenges conventional storytelling may find it a rewarding read.

This was better than I expected, but honestly, was nothing to write home about. Maybe I was missing the lore from BRZRKR comics, but I feel like it should marketed as part of that if it is required reading to understand.

Seeing Keanu as a co-author pulled me in.

This book definitely came off more descriptive, more screenwriter level versus novel and I appreciated that. I felt like the time line was well thought out along with the depth within these characters.

I will say this wasn’t the easiest book to read and I wouldn’t say this was a casual read either where I had to actually pay attention and understand what I was reading. Compared to other books that I can breeze through, shrug and move on with my day.

This witty, smart and complex read definitely gave my brain a good deal exercise.

I wanted to read this because Keanu is a co-author. This was so much better than I expected, and I think it reads somewhat like a screenplay. It is more descriptive than other novels I've read. I enjoy the descriptive nature because it helped me truly imagine the setting and characters. I felt the character arcs were well thought out, and I enjoyed it.

This book was incredibly difficult to get into. I love sci fi and dystopian novels, but the opening lines served to set the read apart. There was no familiarity in which to ground oneself—besides the fact that the words were technically readable if you know the English language.

I think ultimately, this is such a conceptual novel & it should be briefed as such in the description.

I struggled with this, first it isn't what I would normally be drawn to. I read just about everything (except romence) I had not heard of China Mieville so I did a little research, still not a style that I would normally choose. So here's my take on this story I couldn't finish no matter how much I forced myself through it. Sorry Keanu, I am a fan of you as a human. Kill - Die - Resurrect. Lots of shooting and some gore, (i like gory) this just didn't get it for me. The plot seemed something out of a DOOM video gameplay. Although I did appreciate the freed read. Thank you Netgally.

I really enjoyed previous books by China Miéville and I love Keanu Reeves so I was very excited to check this book out. I sadly ended up DNF after 30%, I gave it a good attempt but really was not enjoying it. I read some reviews and decided to cut my losses. I am sure there are readers out there for this story, but it is not me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Absolutely riveting ride, loved the blend of visceral action and philosophical introspection. Loved diving deeper into the world that the graphic novel introduced.

couldn't ever get the epub to work or download so unfortunately wasn't able to read it even with support help but have to leave a star rating regardless!

It was alright. Not my favorite, but also not the worst. A good introduction to the author for new readers of the books.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. This book was confusing at the best of times! I felt like I got the gist of it but there was so much detail and so many characters and settings it all felt very scrambled to me. It was still a very beautifully written book, I just wish it was pieced together more coherently. I would recommend if you like science fiction with very different narratives and characters!

I'll be honest, Keanu Reeves as an author is what drew me to this book initially. I'm familiar enough with the "BRZRKR" universe (courtesy of my husband) that I could appreciate the alternate universe in which this book was set. However, it just wasn't my best cup of tea. It wasn't horrible, written terribly, or anything of the sorts. It just wasn't appealing for me enough to rave about. This is definitely a book that has an acquired taste.