I didn’t love this as much as the book of doors but I did still really love it! The first half of the book was a little slow but the second half made up for it! This author is really talented and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

thank you to net galley and harper collins for the arc!! i was so excited to receive this one because I really enjoyed the book of doors. it’s hard to recapture the magic of a really great debut, but the society of unknowable objects does a pretty good job. this was another fun and easy fantasy read with lovable characters, some weirdness, and lots of magical objects. the plot was a lot less straightforward than the book of doors. I felt like some of the middle was just filler. I also think that this book’s true villain was weaker as a character than the villain in brown’s debut. regardless, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the book of doors & i’m excited to continue reading books in this little universe!!

What would you do if you discovered than an every day object - a chess piece, a pair of cufflinks, a coin, a necklace - was actually magical and allowed you to do incredible things? Would you use it for good? For bad? Or would you hide it away to protect it from anyone using it, for good or evil?

That is the very purpose of the Society of Unknowable Objects - to collect and protect magical objects to keep them from people who may want to use them for good. When a new item potentially appears after decades of no new items being discovered, a member of the society sets out to confirm if its is a real magical object. Things go very wrong when a mysterious man shows up to claim the magical object that sets off a chain of events that spans across three continents.

I was so excited to have an opportunity to read this new book from Gareth Brown. His first book, The Book of Doors, was my top read of 2024 and this book didn't disappointment.

Thank you to Gareth Brown, William Morrow, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get the ARC for this one because I had enjoyed Gareth Brown's first book, The Book of Doors, so much. I love how unique his magic systems feel to me, and the unknowable objects were no exception. Magda felt real, despite her living with this extraordinary knowledge of a magical world.

I fully enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Gareth Brown as soon as he writes them.

When I saw this book on NetGalley I requested it immediately. I read The Book of Doors Last Year, also by Gareth Brown, and I loved it so much I gave it to a bunch of people for Christmas. I loved his new book just as much. It is equally magical, touching, and exciting. The characters are lovable and fun, getting to know them was a delight.

A decade ago, Magda received a mysterious letter from her mother, Imelda, shortly after her funeral. The letter explains Imelda is part of a secret organization called The Society of Unknowable Objects. Along with three other members, Imelda keeps magical objects safe from the general public and has done so Magda’s entire life. The group meets two times per year and Imelda goes on to explain the ins and outs of the Society. Now that her mother is dead, her membership is passed on to Magda.

For the past ten years, Magda has shown up at the twice yearly meetings, nothing exciting happening, and no new objects acquired. Then Frank, the group’s leader, receives correspondence from an unknown man in Hong Kong, informing Frank he has a magical object to share with the Society. This kicks off a set of magical events that changes the four of them forever.

The Society of Unknowable Objects is a fun, world spanning tale of magic and mystery. The plot surprised me and kept me guessing. When I thought I figured out where it was going, something else extraordinary would happen. Magda is such a fun person to follow along on the journey. She’s someone I’d like to be friends with. I loved it and I look forward to more captivating books from Gareth Brown in the future.

You can get your own copy of this amazing book August 12, 2025.

This author is the best. He does it all. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It was marvelous. Highly recommend it to anyone. 10/10

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in return for my unbiased review.

If you loved "The Book of Doors" (and I LOVED it), this is a fantastic 2nd book from Brown. It is about a society that collects, well, "unknowable" objects. I don't think you should know anything else going into this book. But much like BoD, it has great characters, great villains, wild originality, and a touch of romance/friendship connections that humanize it. I can't recommend this author's work highly enough.

I loved his first book so much. The second was not as great, but still good. I really liked how it tied into the first book and cannot wait for there to be more. Easily one of my favorite new authors.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me an ARC of The Society of Unknowable Objects in exchange for an honest review.

The Goodreads description of this book tells you every you need to know about the plot, so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts.

The Society of Unknowable Objects can be read as a standalone novel, though it is loosely connected to Mr. Browns debut novel, The Book of Doors. There’s a cameo by Cassie, and the ending definitely implies a third book featuring characters from both books.

The Society of Unknowable Objects is a good story, though I have to admit I didn’t love it the way I loved The Book of Doors. Maybe it hit a few too many similar beats, or maybe I just didn’t like the villains as much, but the book didn’t grab me as much as the first one did. And I wonder if the ending will come back to haunt Magda and the rest of the Society. Still, I certainly recommend The Society of Unknowable Objects, and I’m looking forward to the next book by Gareth Brown.

this was magical and so good. i love the mystery and seeing how much the love of books was shown. the books by this author are so good

I really wanted to like this, I loved Gareths first book, but I’m going to DNF. I got about half way, and truly am not engaged. The concept is good, and maybe I’ll give it another go later on. But sadly I found myself extremely bored 😭 I really wanted to like it, and I very rarely DNF a book, but I just couldn’t force my way!
Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

Another 5-star read from Gareth Brown, who has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy authors. Brown's magic systems are complex yet involve ordinary, simple objects. The idea that you could be picking up a book, a piece of jewelry, or a hairbrush and it could contain unforeseeable and unknowable magical capabilities is such an interesting concept. Similar to his first book, I adored the cast of characters and their relationships with each other. The age-old line "with great power comes great responsibility" is a major theme of Brown's work. What would you do if you had all of this power at your fingertips? And that ending?? I had a huge smile on my face as I read the last chapter.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and 1,000 times thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book after wishing for it. I loved every minute of it.

I was so happy to see that Brown had a new book coming! This was such a unique and fun story with a wonderful group of characters. The ending does have me hopeful that we’ll see more of the Society….

*contains spoiler*

Another FANTASTIC book from Gareth Brown that makes you feel like you are in another world. Like Harry potter but for an adult audience and without the (what's so popular now) smut. This book had me at the edge of my seat at the end and just to finish and feel like it will potentially connect to the book of doors is SO EXCITING. I can not wait for his next book already i am so sad this one is over.

3.5 stars ⭐️

A big Thank You to the publishers and author who gave me this ARC to review. It was a refreshing read overall.

The story is full of twists and turns as you are taken deeper into the world of seemingly mundane but magical objects. The mystery behind society and the lore of the objects was what grabbed and kept my attention through out the book. The pacing was well done as well.
However I would have liked to see more character development… it felt as though despite the events of this book the characters took away nothing towards the end. Additionally the book spends quite a bit of time on the mundane activities of the characters, it could be tightened up to focus more on the constantly moving plot line.
Overall I enjoyed this face paced book which leans more towards mystery/suspense than fantasy. It’s a great quick read. Thank you!

The story immediately captivates you with questions about the initial incident. It was exciting when more was revealed later in the book which tied it all together. This was an exciting story of a young woman who is determined to understand the magical world and secret society that her mom was involved in. The author created thoughtful, magical objects and powers for the characters to move through the story. The ending was the best, but some may appreciate it more than others! Thank you for another exciting book!! Well done!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects carries the same sense of mystery and magic as *The Book of Doors*, but instead of books, the magic is hidden within everyday objects. The Society exists to protect these artifacts, ensuring they don’t fall into the wrong hands. For years, their work has been largely uneventful—until Magda is sent to Hong Kong to investigate a rumored new object. What should have been a routine discovery turns into a dangerous chase, forcing Magda to question everything she thought she knew about the Society, magic, and even her own past.

This book is an adventure from start to finish, blending action, mystery, and philosophical questions about power. Brown’s worldbuilding is immersive, making the idea of magic hidden in plain sight feel eerily plausible. Magda is a compelling protagonist—flawed yet determined, willing to risk everything to protect what she loves. The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, from the enigmatic and dangerous Lukas to the charming and sweet James, whose romance with Magda adds a welcome lightness to the story.

The first half of the book takes its time establishing the history of the Society, which slows the pacing at times, but once the action kicks in, it’s completely gripping. Brown’s prose is beautiful, with moments that had me pausing just to absorb them. And that ending? I almost screamed—it was both shocking and deeply satisfying.

For fans of The Book of Doors, there’s even a fun cameo to appreciate. While this story didn’t hit quite as hard as its predecessor for me, it’s still a compelling, unique read that lingers long after the final page. If you love fantasy with a touch of magical realism, The Society of Unknowable Objects is well worth picking up.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged from start to end. So many twists and turns. The magic was so cool. It was dark at times and there were many obstacles and decisions made wisely. I will definitely recommend to others.

A lovely novel about a woman in London who is part of very small, very secret society of people who know of and protect magical objects. The plot thickens when she goes to Hong Kong to retrieve a magical object for the collection, and runs into a professional killer that wants what she is trying desperately to prevent land in the wrong hands.

I would describe this as modern, magical fiction laced with fantasy and thriller (with a teensy drop of romance). If you read Brown’s previous novel, this one is similar in plot build and story (slow at first, but holds your attention). My favorite part of his novels are the creativity in his storytelling (specifically the magic and fantasy elements).

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy!

I would highly suggest reading Brown’s first novel, The Book of Doors, prior to reading The Society of Unknowable Objects.y

Last year Gareth Brown demonstrated his immense talent at creating stories with the book of doors, and I’m pleased to say his upcoming release only cements this fact for me.

Immediately engaging, the first several chapters draw readers in with events that illicit strong reactions I exclaimed multiple times throughout just the first few chapters alone. The narrative keeps readers hooked and made me eager to read on with dozens of questions swirling in the back of my mind

Although she did end up growing on me in the end, for the first quarter of the book the main character annoyed me with her naïveté – though I suspect this was partly intentional in order to firmly demonstrate her character change/growth as the story and events unfolded.

Around halfway through the pace picks up quite substantially. I must also confess for the last 25% or so I was fully locked in. While finishing up the book I was lounging casually, but I had to sit up because the events were stressing me out that much.

With this work Gareth Brown has fully established himself as an auto-buy author for me. I highly recommend picking this book up when it comes out this summer.