The Society of Unknowable Objects
A Novel
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4.3 • 47 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
From the author of the internationally bestselling The Book of Doors, another fantastical, stand-alone novel in which a trio of seemingly everyday people are members of a secret society tasked with finding and protecting hidden magical objects—ordinary items with extraordinary properties.
The world of unknowable objects—magical items that most people have no idea possess powers—has been quiet for decades, but the three current members of a secret society have remained watchful, meeting every six months in the basement of a bookshop in London. They are pledged to protect their archive of magical items hidden away, safe from the outside world—and the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artifact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends Magda Sparks—author by day and newest member—to investigate.
Within hours of arriving in Hong Kong, Magda is facing death and danger, confronted by a professional killer who seems to know all about unknowable objects, specifically one that was stolen from him a decade before. Magda is forced to flee, using an artifact that not even the rest of the Society knows about.
Returning to London, Magda learns hers is not the only secret being kept from the other two members. And that the most pernicious secret is about the nature of the Society’s mission. Her discoveries will lead her on a perilous journey, across the Atlantic to the deep south of the United States, now in pursuit of not an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the professional killer she first faced in Hong Kong. In doing so, Magda begins to understand that there are even more in the world who are chasing these magical items, and that her own family’s legacy is tied up in keeping all these secrets under wraps.
Magic has always been too powerful to reveal to the world. But Magda will learn there might be something even more powerful:
The truth.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This entertaining standalone fantasy from Brown (The Book of Doors) centers on objects of power, or "unknowable objects," which are secured and guarded by the eponymous top secret group. Magda Sparks, the newest member of the Society, which numbers only four, is a novelist by trade and a lawyer by training. When the Society's chair, Frank Simpson, is alerted that James Wei, the son of a previous member's friend whose knowledge of magic represents a security breach, has discovered a new unknowable object in Hong Kong, he tasks Magda with retrieving the item. Magda meets up with James, who takes her to his skyscraper office to hand off a magical chess piece—but, while they are talking, an armed man busts in and shoots James. Magda is only able to escape by using a necklace that allows her to fly. Tracking the mystery assailant forces Magda to confront the true history of the Society and how the unknowable objects come into existence. Seasoned fantasy and mystery readers may guess some of the twists ahead of time, but, after an exposition-heavy start, Brown's propulsive plot and plucky heroine keep the pages turning. It's good fun.
Customer Reviews
Pure Magic
The Society of Unknowable Objects was the title of a book I would’ve picked up to peruse even if I hadn’t already read The Book of Doors. It was a very good sophomore novel for a great author. The author did a wonderful job of introducing me to the people essential to the story while leaving out the stories of the other 8 billion of us. I appreciated his work at keeping the characters minimal and developing them and telling well the stories that connected them to each other. Both books promise further adventures in his world and I look heartily forward to going along for them. By all means buy the books, read them, enjoy them, appreciate them, they are very good! I am delighted to add them to my library. I will undoubtedly explore them further when I need a “friend”. I will definitely reread them and enjoy them again as do.
Average
Book of Doors was much more original and well-written. Disappointed in this one from Gareth.