piranesi is one of those books that completely immerses the reader into the world. a surreal dreamscape of unnerving mystery & unanswered questions, the setting is what i loved most about this book. the descriptions & world building are beautifully crafted while being both distant & homely. it reminded me of a darker version of perhaps narnia or wonderland, something from a nightmare that entices you to stay. the characters are incredibly intriguing, with the narrator having me question his validity & reliability while trying to figure out what would help him. i found it fascinating in discussing the madness of each character, driven by external forces (that i won’t spoil) & as the mystery unravels, clarity appears for both the narrator & the reader. it’s such a rewarding read & one that you can’t talk much without giving much away. unfortunately i listened to it as an audiobook & although i loved the work Samuel Anderson narrating it as well as the sound effects to completely immerse me, i think i missed a lot of the experiencing because i was listening instead of physically reading. i may give it a year or so before i revisit this book just so i can get again dive deep into the world of piranesi, but meanwhile i’ll be seeking fantastical mysteries such as this one.