Weird and expansive without being inaccessible. Really liked the way the backstory was weaved in with different perspectives and stories without being overly explicit about what to take away from each story. That vagueness might offput some, but lead to an overall mysterious and philosophical vibe that worked for this story to make it more than just an action comic book.

If you like military thrillers and science fiction, then The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville may be the book for you. Legends tell of a warrior who can’t be killed. But "B" as he is known in this story wants more than to kill, die and come back to life repeatedly.

Stylistically different, poetic at times, with excellent worldbuilding this book has a great premise and is definitely thought-provoking.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

I loved the idea of this book from the very start. I love the synopsis. I love the story arch that they were building on. I just could not finish it. It's just not my favorite type of storytelling. I'm going to attempt the audiobook and see if it helps.

I love Keanu Reeves. I would hang with that dude any day, just hang out and drink coffee and probably watch him smoke a bunch of cigarettes. However, I am not in love with China Mieville. In fact, I find him to be a bit boring. I knew going in that this was going to be a book that was written by Mieville and thought of by Reeves and I was okay with that. And while it was very exciting and violent and fun I found it sort of dry and boring and took a long time to get through. I dig the world and the characters, I just wish there wasn't so much exposition, and there was a lot, like too much. Anyway, Keanu, you're a national treasure. Love you.

"The Book of Elsewhere" by Keanu Reeves, China Miéville was a dark, yet creative novel. Full of mystery, tragedy and unexpected beings, this book examines emotional impacts and other possibilities of existence. Thank you NetGalley, the authors and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy!
It took me a while to understand what was going on but once I had a grasp on it, this book was really interesting and unique. The characters were interesting and I loved their relationships with each other. I was smiling so big at the end with the final chapter. I think I struggled the most with the vocabulary. There were a lot of words I didn't know which threw me off a bit. That aside though this story was so interesting and kind of inspiring. If I gave this another read I'd probably love it even more the 2nd time around.

Bitter dregs of disappointment.

I need to stay much more in the head of "no comic books" and I'll be happier, and make better reading choices for myself. This kind of pseudoprofound character, like The Ancient Mariner, or the Highlander, whose wisdom is aperçus strung together on worn-out fibers of fraying plot-ropes unbundled to make them stretch farther, just does not work for me.

Not my favorite style of storytelling. Too much info dump too quickly with way too much vague stylization of characters. Maybe I'll get into it another time, but right now, it felt like if Neo decided to try his hand at pretentious fiction writing.

There are three things you need to know about this story before you read it. The first is that, unless you have already read the BRZRKR comics, this will more than likely not make any sense to you and you will DNF within the first couple of chapters. In my opinion, it’s absolutely necessary to at least read a couple of them. The second is that, yes Unute speaks in second person for part of this story. These are small sections and are limited only to Unute’s deeper perspective, his past self. The vast majority of the story is written in third past. The third thing you need to know is that this book is written very much like a comic adaption. So, imagine yourself reading the panels of a comic, then imagine a much more explained and drawn out version, panel by panel. If you don’t like comics/graphic novels, you will absolutely hate this book.

This is a great adaption of Unute’s story, and while it differs in some respect to the later comics, it still gives the reader a much better understanding of his past and what drives him. I can say that the format will not be to a lot of people’s liking, and I really believe it is because they’ve never read the comics. Again, in my opinion, they are vital to understanding this book. And yes, it is cerebral. I found it to be an incredibly deep view of a very complex character. A fantastic view into the BRZRKR world, and I will absolutely be reading it if a sequel is written!

Huge thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Eight years after his last novel and reputedly, a year before his magnum opus lands — China Miéville has added a new type of genre to the mind bendingly varied list of books in his oeuvre — the tie-in. In 2020, movie star Keanu Reeves originated and co-wrote the BRZRKR comic series about an immortal warrior named Unute, loosely affiliated with a secret division of the U.S. Army under the codename B. Although there’s no way of compelling him to do anything, he accedes to most orders in return for specific scientific help that he cannot do himself.

I’ve never read China Miéville before, though he’s on my radar, and when I learned he wrote a book with Keanu Reeves, I was so curious to read it. Unfortunately, it really didn’t work for me. I bailed at about 30% in. I thought the idea of an immortal being (or one who keeps being reborn) was interesting, but not much seemed to be happening other than introducing this character and when an immortal pig then entered the picture, it just got too weird for me.

"The Book of Elsewhere" by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville is a novel that’s as intriguing as it is challenging. The concept is undeniably unique, blending military sci-fi with a deep philosophical exploration of immortality. The story of "B," an immortal warrior weary of life, promises a fascinating journey through time, violence, and existential dread.

However, the execution may not appeal to everyone. The narrative style, with its non-linear timeline and complex prose, can feel disjointed and difficult to follow. While the collaboration between Reeves and Miéville results in some thought-provoking moments, the uneven pacing and occasionally pretentious writing make it hard to stay fully engaged. The characters, though interesting, lack depth beyond the central figure, making it challenging to connect with the broader cast.

The book does have its merits, particularly in its world-building and the intriguing, if sometimes muddled, plot twists. Fans of experimental fiction and those who enjoy a challenge may find this novel rewarding, but it’s not an easy read and may not satisfy everyone. A solid 3 stars for an ambitious but uneven effort.

The Book of Elsewhere merges a unique concept with a distinctive writing style, but its execution proves to be a mixed bag. The novel's premise—following an immortal warrior named Unute who grapples with the meaning of life and death—offers an intriguing foundation, blending military thriller and sci-fi elements. The worldbuilding is commendable, with a poetic and imaginative prose that evokes a sense of grandeur. However, the narrative's non-linear structure and experimental style, including odd descriptors and a third-person present tense perspective, may leave readers feeling detached and confused. The novel's stylistic choices can come across as overly complex and pretentious, making it a challenging read for those expecting a more straightforward experience.

Despite the novel's ambitious themes and depth, it struggles with pacing and character development. While some readers might appreciate its cerebral approach and layered symbolism, others may find the execution uneven and the story hard to follow. The graphic violence and numerous characters lacking depth further detract from its appeal. Overall, The Book of Elsewhere might captivate fans of experimental fiction and those curious about Keanu Reeves' literary venture, but it may not be for everyone, especially those seeking a more conventional narrative.

A speculative fiction novel that blends elements of fantasy, horror, and surrealism together. Co-authored by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville, it explores themes of reality, perception, and the boundaries between worlds. We follows our protagonist, Ethan, a reclusive artist who discovers an ancient, mysterious book in a dilapidated bookstore. This book is titled... you guessed it: The Book of Elsewhere. As Ethan begins to read, he realizes that the book is not just a collection of stories, but a portal to another dimension known as "Elsewhere."

Elsewhere is a bizarre and haunting world where the rules of physics, time, and space are distorted. The landscapes shift unpredictably, creatures of unimaginable forms roam, and the environment seems to be alive, constantly changing in response to the fears and desires of those who enter it. Ethan is drawn into this world, both fascinated and terrified by its strange allure.

As he delves deeper into the book and explores Elsewhere, Ethan encounters other individuals who have been trapped in this realm, each with their own stories of how they arrived and what they seek. Some are adventurers, others are lost souls, and a few are malevolent entities who thrive in the chaos of Elsewhere.

The Book of Elsewhere combines introspective and philosophical elements typical of China Miéville's work with the cinematic, emotional depth that Keanu Reeves is known for in his performances. The result is a unique and immersive reading experience that challenges you to question the nature of reality and the power of the imagination.

Recommended.

You ever see a skull and know exactly what it belonged to? It was mostly for anatomy courses for me, but in this case I used to work with babirusa.

Keanu Reeves and China Miéville worked to bring "The Book of Elsewhere" to us. A story pulled from the pages of the BRZRKR comics. B/Unute/Child of Lightning/Death is a nigh unstoppable killing machine who really just wants to be able to die. Since he has walked the earth for eons he hasn't figured out a way to stay dead. So he is taking a crack at working with a US black ops group in the hopes they can make that a reality. Except things start happening that surprise the man who has seen it all. And the pig finds him again.

Reasons to read:
-Babirusa representation! And a really tragic set up for them
-Well I didn't see that change at the end coming that changed the context
-B's appearance in the stories of people throughout history
-It gets weird in a way I haven't seen often
-The MC's world views and snippets of how he spent eternity

Cons:
-Well now I have to track down some volume of BRZRKR to get more

If you like the comic this is based on and extreme violence, you'll love this book! If not, skip it. I picked up the book out of curiosity, but it wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Unite is an 80,000 year old immortal who occasionally goes into a berserker state and gets reborn in a giant egg if he becomes injured beyond repair. His only other companion in his long life is a similarly immortal deerpig, who holds a strange enmity for him. Unute desires to be able to die for real, and he agrees to cooperate with the US military so they can study him.

Yes. That is the set-up. Even expecting a lot of weirdness from China Miéville, a favorite author, I found this to be an odd one. I found the first two-thirds fairly flat and hard to get into with the exception of the absorbing vignettes from Unute’s past. I wonder if it would be more enjoyable if I was familiar with the related comic books. That said, it’s more substantive than other military sci-fi I’ve read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for the complimentary digital ARC.

I honestly requested this book when I learned Keanu Reeves was the author. Even though I enjoy science fiction, I do not typically read military thrillers and I'm not familiar with the BRZRKR series. I'm typically drawn to stories with various POV characters and flashbacks or multiple timelines but I almost DNF. I lost interest during the second-person sections in the beginning but decided to stick with it after Diana was introduced. I got some Altered Carbon and Witcher vibes from B. As other reviewers have said, this is not a quick and easy read having to contend with the cerebral elements. I'm glad I finished it and kind of wish I had picked up one of the $100 autographed copies at SDCC. I would check out the film/TV version if this ever gets adapted.

It can't be weird just for the sake of bei"How do you know what questions to spend your time on, when every sliver of information, every history-shattering revelation he drops over vending-machine coffee or idly while you draw his blood, throws up its own infinite library of further questions?"

The Book of Elsewhere is about Unute. Or B. Both names are used interchangeably to refer to our protagonist. For the rest of this review I'm going to call him B, because it's shorter and I'm lazy. So anyway, in The Book of Elsewhere, the reader finds out that B is immortal. Woah! I mean, he has been killed before, but he always comes back after being birthed from an egg-thing. But the thing is, B is kinda over this whole being reborn again and again thing. "I don't want to die. What I want is mortality, and that's not the same thing." So there's this secret government agency thing that knows about B and want to help him gain mortality. Maybe. At least that's what they say. But what if people within the government are lying to B? Okay, so there's an immortal pig-like thing called a babirusa that has crossed paths with B over the millennia, and he thinks maybe piggy can help crack the case as to make him mortal. So poor piggy gets studied by the government. But then one dude from the government is all sad because his husband died, so he goes to a self help group. That seems kinda... off. Somehow? But then there's this kid who wants to be a stowaway on a ship, but he watches his stowaway buddy get beat up and kicked off by an evil guy, so he's afraid to make himself seen because he doesn't want to be beat up... or worse. But then a scarecrow brings him food and all is well. And then one of the special government guy says:

"I admit not see you this is a matter chance or make a sense of has would grateful help I don't I'm thinking clearly as I to think maybe I and came back and frightening to can help think you can stand against time is now help afraid."

Look. I like weird books. Chuck Palahniuk and Philip K Dick are two of my favorite authors. I mean, The City & the City isn't exactly normal, so I thought I knew what I was getting into with China Miéville and his writing style. But the weird needs to have a point. A purpose. It can't try too hard to be weird, because then the magic of the weirdness is ruined. It can't be weird just for the sake of being weird.

The Book of Elsewhere tried to hard and was weird for the sake of being weird.

Or the other possibility is that I just didn't get it. There's a non-zero chance that's what my problem was. But whether the book was trying to hard to be weird or if I didn't get it, the end results are the same: I didn't really dig this book.

I will admit I requested this ARC simply because Keanu Reeves' name is on it. I am not familiar with his BRZRKR comics and think if I had read them first I would have grasped this book a bit more. That being said, this is a very intense book that is full of action and a lot of imagery. This is definitely a book you need to pay attention to or you will get lost and confused. Overall, this was a good read, especially if you like books about warriors.