This was just a sample but it’s extremely Illumicrate and intriguing and draws the reader in - I have my copy pre-ordered

This is very unusual and strange. I can't decide whether I want to read the book or not. Probably not.

This was really short to form an opinion but definitely intriguing. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read whole book.

I am so ridiculously excited for this book to come out.  The preview shows a slightly different style to JS&MN, but I love the idea of going further into Susanna Clarke's glorious imagination!

A very interesting excerpt that left me wondering what or where The House is and are there other inhabitants apart from the two we meet. Is it set in this world or another world?  Very intriguing and it will be good to read the whole book!

This is going to be as strange and immersive as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell was, judging by the tantalising opener. Clarke is like an angler and this fish is caught. I have no idea where this book, its lonely narrator and its deserted, flooded world may be heading, but I really want to find out!

Having waited for so long for more of Susanna Clarke's beautiful writing, I was thrilled to be offered the chance to read an early extract of her forthcoming novel, Piranesi. 

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel remains one of my all-time favourite books, but Piranesi is nothing like it. That is not a bad thing. in the slightest. 

The excerpt offers a glimpse into a strange and otherworldly place which is far removed from historical England or the lands of faerie. It made me think of an "in-between" place: the depths of a haunted mind or some place between heaven and hell. Enchanting, eerie and strange. 

I long to learn the identity of the other "inhabitant" of this strange place!

This is such an odd little book. The exert starts with the narrator talking about the house they live - the house they never leave and which encompasses the whole world of the book. There are three floors, each with different dangers and attractions. But there are only 15 people to have ever existed in this world. You don't get much more information in this small extract, but it's enough. It's weird enough, and there are plenty of questions, and the writing is enticing and mesmerising and makes it seem like all these weird things are just the norm. I can't wait to read the whole thing!

This little sneak peek confused me more than anything. What drew me to this book initially was how it gave off Greek mythology vibes but as I finished the preview... I just felt lost and a little dizzy. I get that this is magical realism (I think?) but it just isn't for me. It felt jumbled, erratic and desultory; I honestly had no idea what was going on. I'm not sure if it's just something to do with it being an ARC preview, but the constant capitalisation of what seemed to be random words, was also jarring. Now I know it's unfair to say all this when I have only read a few pages, but if it continues in such a way then I know it's not for me. Maybe it's just me and the ideas and writing just whizzed past my head and I didn't grasp what was being described, but it's clear that Piranesi is not the book for me.

While this early extract of Piranesi is brief, it speaks volumes to the beauty and imagination of the novel to come. I am already enraptured by the descriptions of the mysterious house and its roaring waters and strange statues, and fascinated by the mystery of the skeletons. Who is Piranesi? Who is Other? How did they come to be in this strange and liminal place? I am thrilled to continue reading this lyrical, magical novel when it is released.

I absolutely LOVED Jonathan Norell and Mr Strange, I read it around 13 years ago and I still recommend it today. However Clarke’s second book was really hard to get into so I approached this extract with trepidation. I can honestly say I do look forward to this being released. The love I have for her first book will hopefully be found in this!

I find this a very difficult review to write as it is based on such a short extract. As such, I cannot say whether I would recommend it to my students or not.

The last part of the extract was the most intriguing; the list of people who have ever lived. This part of the extract made me interested in the book. It made me question what kind of world (or house!) 'Piranesi' lives in 

The extract does not make it really clear what the main story is in the book so I am unable to say whether I would like to read more or not yet.

It was difficult to get a real understanding of what Piranesi is about, as it is an early extract. But what I did read, fascinated me. Obviously there is some sort of shifting, impossible architecture (hence, Piranesi) involved in the world the character(s) live in. There is some sort of 'there's only a few of us left' narrative - so what happened to the rest? - which is always a plot driver. 
Can't wait to get my hands on the whole novel!

Thanks to Netgalley for a digital sample in exchange for an honest review :) I find it really hard to rate a sample. This sounded very interesting and I am excited for another book by Susanna Clarke. I loved reading "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" and I was very excited to hear the author is coming with a new book. This little extract/sample left me with a lot of questions and I am quite curious about how the story is going to go.

OK, I've only read the abstract that NetGalley have put out, but on the strength of those few pages, I've pre-ordered the book! Its intriguing  - they've given me just enough to read that I really want to know what on earth is going on! I can only give this 5 stars so far, but I'll be back with a full review after I've read the whole book.

Wow
Wow
Wow!
What an opening chapter! I can’t wait to read the rest of this book! Such wonderful
imagery and intrigue to pack into a few pages, and very reminiscent of ‘The Night Circus’ for me. 
I’ve already pre-ordered the book based on this sample, I am so excited to find out more!

This early extract for Piranesi is intriguing, beautifully written and infuriatingly short. 

We meet Piranesi in a house that is the world, which is inhabited by himself and only another - The Other.  The house is seemingly unending; a labyrinth of stairs, vestibules, windows and corridors, where the tides wash through and the clouds linger. With more than a hint of mystery and magic, this carefully crafted introduction revels in mystery; raising more questions than answers and spinning secrets which beg for discovery. 

Fifteen years after I first read the beautiful and captivating Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, the release of Piranesi cannot come soon enough.

Oh wow! I hadn't read Jonathon Strange but I've heard countless praise on Clarke's writing, and now I see why! Within a small extract, I fell enchanted and desperate to read more, I feel strange giving a review for only an extract of the book, but if the rest of the novel is on the same wavelength, then this would definitely become a favourite.

Loving the sound of this book. Beautifully written as expected and wonderful characters. Would love to read the whole book

I am really looking forward to reading the full novel.  The short (too short!) introduction has left me eager to read more.  In a few pages Ms Clarke has conjured up a world full of mystery and promise which just begs to be explored further.