Set in the same world as The Book of Doors, the story follows Magda, an author-turned-researcher for the society, who is sent to Hong Kong to retrieve an artefact. However, she quickly finds herself being pursued by ruthless individuals who will stop at nothing to claim these objects for themselves.

I found this to be a thrilling, imaginative story with great characters and an exciting plot. Perfect for fans of magical realism and adventure!

The Book of Doors was my favourite book of last year! The Society of Unknowable Objects, although not a sequel, follows the same pattern and links in perfectly with the first book. It starts a little slower than the first book, but actually this is important in setting the scene.
This is a dark story, a secret society who seek to find magical objects and keep them safe. But what happens if they fall into the wrong hands?? The characters are fabulous and I felt like I got to know them all! Almost like a band of quirky superheroes!!
Like the first book, Brown explores death and grief. Here examining what would happen if we brought our loved ones back.

A captivating, magical and powerful read. The Society of Unknowable Objects has a brilliant cast of characters, fascinating objects, mystery and plenty of high stakes. I hope there’s a sequel because I’d love to see more of Magda and the society. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Drawing inspiration from Frankenstein, a fun story about a society searching for magical objects, to prevent people from misusing them and creating a similar monster to one already made. In the same world as the Book of Doors, but sadly I didn’t find the characters nor the society as compelling and couldn’t help comparing the two. As magical as the worldbuilding is, there was a spark of interest missing

From the author of the Book of Doors another tale of good and bad actors in the world of magic. The Society of Unknowable Objects exists to safeguard a collection of magic devices and keep them out of the hands of bad actors. Frank, the society's leader, hears of a new Object in Hong Kong, and sends Magda, the newest member of the group to check it out. She immediately finds that the object has attracted another seeker, who will kill to get hold of it. She escapes and returns to London but quickly finds that she will never be free that she will never befree of the assailant. She goes on the offensive and travels to America to follow him into the deep south where she finds there is more than one person desiring the Object and a fast action thriller is set up. Gareth Brown has great imagination and writes well - I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Chock full of weird, and often disturbing, magic is Gareth Brown’s follow up to the Book of Doors. The Society of Unknowable Objects is largely set in an old bookshop, Bell Street Books, in London’s Marylebone. The Society comprises four members: Frank who runs both the bookshop and the Society; Magda, a novelist; Will, a watchmaker and the often absent Henrietta who is a thief. It reads like a thriller but gets a bit bog downed by domestic trivia. Their mission is to safeguard the magical objects they hold so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands but, of course there are more objects out there and in the wrong hands! All the characters are well rounded even the rather annoying and over emotional Magda. I can see a sequel here, and a TV series or film too, especially with the nod to The Book of Doors at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for the eARC.

Magda is one of the four members of a society of unknowable objects.
She is also a writer and a nice human.
She suddenly finds herself in the midst of danger and mystery when she travels to Hong Kong on a mission.
Gareth’s writing is clear and rich, often unexpected from a book of such mystery and fantasy elements.
Plot 3.5
Characterisation 3
Prose 3.5
Pacing 3
Setting and premise 4
Rounded up to 4.
Overall, enjoyable read that takes your mind off from reality,
I can’t wait to see what Brown does next because his concept, world building and writing have immense potential.

This is another brilliantly original fantasy fiction idea from Gareth Brown, who has really stepped up to the plate with his second book. This story starts pretty slow, gradually building momentum until towards the end, when it ramps up further with lots of action, tension and suspense - plus a bit of mild horror and a sprinkle of romance in the mix too. I would say if you like magical realism and books about books and bookshops you will probably enjoy this one too. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, so a huge thanks go to Transworld, Penguin Random House for the widget/early copy of the book, which I highly recommend picking up a copy of when it is out on 12 August 2025. Likewise, if you haven't read The Book Of Doors, I highly recommend reading that book in the meantime (I loved that one even more!)

Loved this.

Magda is one of the four members of the Society of Unknowable Objects, magical objects that exist in the world.

When a new object comes to the Society's attention, Magda heads to Hong Kong to retrieve it.

The killer also on the hunt for Unknowable Objects inexplicably appears as Magda meets James to collect the object.

So starts the journey from Hong Kong to America to England while Magda and the Society struggle to stop the killer and later the unknown man.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Another fabulous book about magic and a magic book.
Gareth Brown's prose flows so well and he creates both sympathetic and horribly evil people so vividly you're immediately drawn into his world.

Magda, the main character, writes books and is involved in a secret society of 4 that searches for magical objects ( a tiny bit like The Librarians if you've ever watched that series) in order to keep them safe. I loved Magda and her resourcefulness, kindness and mostly, her red hair. In the story she gets involved in retrieving the first magical object to be discovered in years, when the society is contacted by a young man in Hong Kong. And so begin Magda's adventures involving travelling round the world, meeting James and uncovering secrets about her mother and the magical objects.

A must for lovers of magical realism, books and bookshops and romance.

A worthy follow up to the enthralling The Book of Doors.
Thanks to Gareth and Netflix for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved The Book of Doors so was pleased to be an early reader of Gareth Brown's latest novel.
This story flits from London, to Hong Kong and then the rural America south, and all locations were described in detail which really added to the atmosphere and flavour of this fantasy novel.
The narrative centres around Magda, one of four members of The Society of Unknowable Objects, and follows her adventures as she attempts to secure the future of the society and the magical objects it is meant to protect from the forces of darkness.
A great villain, with a tender side, a slightly annoying protagonist in Magda and a bit of a forced romance but, all-in-all, a most enjoyable and magical romp, with great set pieces which were very visual. I can see this group of characters as ordinary people with super human powers would make a great film franchise.
Thank you NetGally and the publishers for an advance review copy of this novel.

If you liked The Book of Doors, you're definitely gonna adore this. Gareth Brown has written another beautiful atmospheric story that pulses with magic and mystery, ensuring there's never a dull moment to be had.

Magda is a member of a 'secret society,' a group of people who look for (and protect) specific magical items all over the world. It's not altogether apparent at first what these objects do, and many secrets are brewing under the surface; questions that also need answers.

She's tasked with visiting Hong Kong in order to track down one of the unknowable objects, that a man called James had reached out in regards to. It is from that point when things start to get a little pear-shaped, and Magda is left with far more questions than she had arrived with, as well as the realization that she is caught up in a far more dangerous situation than she had anticipated...

I think- no, I know, that I enjoyed this book more than The Book of Doors, though Gareth Brown's debut book certainly had it's charm. This one definitely felt a bit more geared towards my tastes, with a touch of mystery, magic and mayhem. Funnily enough, Brown does seem to love using magical books as plot devices lol.

I guess this could be described as a close cousin of The Book of Doors, but I won't give too much away as it certainly is much more exciting just blindly delving into these books.

I'm kind of glad that the magic and mystery is the real catalyst of the story, though the slight romance is still sweet. The characters were interesting, perhaps even more so because they all seemed to have their own flaws and beliefs, and I loved that about them.

As a side note I also absolutely have to applaud Gareth Brown for that little Easter egg at the end; a certain nod to The Book of Doors, which was an unexpected twist that rounded things off rather nicely.
I certainly felt justified in my feeling that the books were very similar in vibe and atmosphere.

It goes without saying that I'll absolutely be reading anything else Gareth Brown writes from here on out.

This is a very different genre for me, as fantasy books I've tried before have all descended into silliness. So thank you so much for allowing me to read what I would term a sensible book about magic.
I liked the range of well written characters who actually were anchored in reality, despite dabbling in magic.
There were times that I wondered what on earth was going to happen next, but for me, that is the nature of a good book. Nobody can live their whole life magically - not even Lukas - so it was good to see the characters eating , drinking, sleeping and travelling (even if at times that involved their own wings!)
The solution reached to deal with Lukas is so simple that I, as a reader, had one of those 'why didn't I think of that' moments and gave me a logic lacking in other fantasy books.
This book has also introduced me to a new author, so I will be seeking out The Book of Doors with interest.

I like Gareth Brown books. They are the right side of fantasy and magic for me. Based in everyday normal life, if you let your imagination go, you could believe what you are reading is true! Set in the same universe as "The Book of Doors", "The Society of Unknowable Objects" is about 4 people who head up a society that discovers, tracks and protects special magical objects. Looking forward to more to come from Gareth Brown.

Upon the death of her mother, Magda takes her place as one of only four members of the secretive Society of Unknowable Objects. When she is sent to Hong Kong to retrieve a new Object, she finds that others already know about them and will stop at nothing to possess those objects and wield their power for themselves.
I really enjoyed the Book of Doors so when I had the chance to read Gareth Brown’s next book I didn’t hesitate to dive straight in and soon found myself in the same magical world but with a different set of characters. This book has it all: heroes, villains, monsters, a quest, a battle, long-held secrets, beautiful storytelling and interesting characters. The only (small) negative was at times I found Magda to be very irritating. The Society of Unknowable Objects can be read as a stand alone but if you read The Book of Doors first, there are extra little references that improve the reading experience. I can’t wait for the next book from this world.

This book is so fantastic. I loved it so much. All the way through, I was thinking well this book just feels exactly like Book of Doors, which I also really liked, but instead of books, it's every day random items.

I also appreciate Brown's ability to write strong, independent yet flawed female characters. A lot of authors struggle to characterise female characters, but Magda and Henry are both very well written female characters. I did also like Will, James and Frank, and I think all five of the main characters were well written. They all feel like individual characters with their own voices, and it's fantastic.

And that ending, I almost screamed. I was so happy.

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

This novel is about mystery, magic, sci-fi elements, suspense and murder. Having read another book by this author, I was looking forward to his new book. If you want to be transported and entertained, you will want to read this book. The writing is wonderful, magical and scary. There are fabulous descriptions throughout this busy and fast moving book.

The story begins with Imelda Sparks, a member of the Society on a mission in USA searching for unknowable objects, who has trouble retrieving an object she is seeking to make safe. I was intrigued from the very first chapter by the writing style and fabulous descriptions are imprinted in your head as you read. The protagonist, Madga Sparks, (daughter of Imelda) is a dedicated member of the Society and adores everything about magic. She is also curious as to what each object can achieve and what their use is. There are four members of the Society, Madga, Henrietta (Henry), Frank and Will. As Society members, it is their task to travel the world and retrieve artefacts (objects) and keep them safe from people who wish to use such objects to harm…. everyone and anything.

Be prepared to read well into the night with the plot. There are wonderful adventures ahead.

I would recommend this novel and give it a 4-star rating.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND TRANSWORLD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. ALL MY OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC!

When Magda is thrust into a world of magic and everyday objects imbued with unknown powers, she finds it an exhilarating escape from mundane life. However, her thrilling adventure takes a perilous turn as the secrets of The Society of Unknowable Objects begin to unravel, forcing her to flee with a psychopathic hitman hot on her trail. As Magda and her companions embark on a perilous quest to recover stolen artefacts, she must confront her family’s past and her own legacy in pursuit of the truth. But the assassin isn’t the only danger drawn to the magical objects; something more sinister awaits Magda and her friends, something which has the power to change everything if not stopped…

I loved The Book of Doors and was so excited to be immersed in the same world once again! Gareth Brown is a master storyteller, his unique voice weaves humour and sinister foreboding into a thrilling fantasy adventure.

I’m a big reader of high fantasy, so I always look forward to the world-building in low-fantasy novels. TSOUO does this brilliantly! The landscapes and cities are vivid and recognisable, but they’re seen through a fresh and exciting lens.

The characters are well developed; I found Lukas intriguing, like ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ it was difficult not to feel sympathy for them.

The plot really kept me guessing until the end. As a follow-up to the Book of Doors, it didn’t disappoint and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure in Brown’s magical world!

This novel is fabulous, in the same way as his last novel 'The Book of Doors'. The characters are equally well drawn and all different, the way characters should be in fiction. Frank, Magda, Will, Imelda, James and Henry all add something to this novel, as do the villains Owen and Lukas. Very well done Gareth, and an amazing story.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.