The Book of M

This is one of the most unusual dystopian novels I’ve ever read, reminiscent in style to Emily St John Mandel’s Station Eleven but very much its own creature. Across the world, people are losing their shadows. Once the shadow is gone, memories start to disappear too with a frightening collorary whereby the person afflicted gains greater and greater power to shape and twist reality. I’m not sure if this is in some ways a reflection of degenerative mental states such as altzeimers or dementia (or possibly even depression!) whereby the world becomes a strange and frightening place for the sufferer as all that is familiar and safe is siphoned away. Taken a step further the rising ability to affect reality could be reflective of the unwitting power a sufferer exacts over carers and loved ones? Either way this was beautifully written, evocative and compelling. A truly unusual and heart rending book.

This is a very well thought out and thrilling dystopian novel. Hauntingly written and thought provoking.

The Book of M is a twist on the more common dystopian story, drawing together elements of science fiction and fantasy to craft a rich narrative of twists and turns that make it difficult to predict the outcome - as a good story should. I found it to be quite a stressful read on the whole, which meant I ultimately struggled to get through it the further into the story I got. This is not to say that The Book of M crafts a poor narrative, but quite the opposite. Dark, often frightening and thought-provoking, it's not an easy read because it's not meant to be, its exploration of memory, love and reality one that cannot help but make the reader consider the world around them.

With apocalyptic fiction, it's easy to get caught up in the thrill of survival, of fighting whatever menace is plaguing the planet. There's a certain escapism in killing zombies or running from climate catastrophes. That high-octane brand of adventure serves many novels well. It's more rare we get a novel that just explores the in-between moments and lives within the tragedy without conquering it, but that's what Peng Shepherd has pulled off in her wonderful debut. In The Book of M, no amount of government funding, scientific genius or combat prowess can alleviate the simple human quality turned inevitable apocalypse: Forgetting.

In brief, this is an incredible novel. Weaving enough fast-paced twists to satisfy our escapist urges with insightful considerations of what it means to live in a disintegrating world, The Book of M juggles multiple storylines with different chronologies without ever becoming confusing. It raises just the right number of questions to keep you on your toes but not frustrated--What causes the shadowless to lose their shadows? Is there a cure for shadowlessness? Who is the eponymous M, and what is the book the title refers to? Not all of these questions are answered. Leaving on a hopeful note, Shepherd's satisfyingly open ending provides sufficient closure for ease of mind but still leaves much to the imagination.

The loss of shadows and, subsequently, memory is a quietly brilliant premise that befits the best of speculative fiction. Captivating and imaginative, it suggests at every turn without explicitly asking us what we would do in such a world. An answer is perhaps provided in the form of central characters Orlando Zhang, or Ory, and his wife Max. Ory is an everyman audience surrogate sort of character; his need to be universally sympathetic means that on some level, he has slightly less depth than expected for a lead. Similarly, Max feels stringently defined by her role as the wife Ory loves. Little is revealed about her life before the Forgetting, and the slow loss of her memories would feel more poignant if her personality had received greater development.

However, Naz and the amnesiac, whose true name remains one of the novel's big mysteries, make up for Ory and Max's vague backstories. Both have intriguing stories that benefit from spanning longer timelines that begin before the Forgetting. From the hectic streets of Pune to a Heathrow Airport gripped by terror as the world falls apart, we see the full scope of the apocalypse through their eyes. By combining all four arcs, Shepherd ambitiously shows both the large scale, worldwide catastrophe of the Forgetting and the small scale, intimate human story of a couple whose love is redefined amidst tragedy.

Beyond characters, who are drawn from distinctly diverse backgrounds, The Book of M's world building is sublime. The shadowless's powers to warp reality result in macabre, beautiful creations of the subconscious that too often turn deadly when someone is no longer able to differentiate between fear and reality. What manifests is a world straight out of Inception--a nightmare version of Inception. When a shadowless forgets that the Statue of Liberty isn't an automaton hell-bent on exterminating humans, New York City is decimated. Such is the strange and horrifying future that this book vividly explores, from Boston to New Orleans and everywhere in between.

Yet for all the fantastical elements, The Book of M hits achingly close to home. No fantasy, no science fiction is needed to fuel the fear of forgetting. Alzheimer's may not bring about apocalyptic reality warping, but the terror of witnessing a loved one slowly slip away is no less potent. Ironically, it's when Shepherd addresses the heartbreak of forgetting that her writing feels most lucid--whether it's love, loss or hope, few things are the same when characters don't know what they're missing anymore.

The Book of M is a thought-provoking premise addressed with powerful insights, and will stay with me for quite a while. I wholeheartedly look forward to whatever Peng Shepherd writes next.

When I had requested this book on NetGalley, I had a rough idea as to what it contained. I thought, you know, a maybe post apocalypse world and people forget their memories in this one. It sounded intriguing, people just randomly losing their memories soon after they lose their shadows? Why wouldn't it sound interesting? I thought, well, this could be entertaining.

Peng Shepherd changed my idea of what a post apocalyptic genre should be, her writing is so vivid and gripping that I literally could put down the book. I really loved that there are different povs, different symbols for each of them and you can really see the desperation and love and the very humane wish to still be alive after losing their shadow. The really good thing about the book? Can I pick one? I doubt it but let's say, one of the best things about the book was its pace, it never really lagged. There was always something happening and all the action had some meaning, some hidden plot that would unfold later.

The main characters, Max and Ory, they broke my heart, they truly did. Their love and and devotion towards each other shone throughout the story. Max and Ory have been married for a while when the story starts, they have been hiding in the woods for almost two years without losing their shadows. This blessing doesn't last long, one day, Max's shadow is gone and Ory desperately tries to prepare them both for the eventual loss of Max's memories. This section was fraught with heartbreak, terror and love, Ory forces Max to follow some basic rules and they work for a while.

There comes a day when they are finally separated. They each go through their own journeys and reading it makes everything feel very, very real. As they both travel through a vastly different America than the one we know of, they meet with many secondary characters who have voices of their own and whose personalities shine through without overwhelming us.

It's almost like music, this book. It starts out slow and quietly, slowly building up it's pace and near the end, it is frankly phenomenal. I know, I would be hard pressed to be find a book like this one in the same vein. This book seriously makes us wonder if this really is a debut novel, the sheer control with which Shepherd writes, the way she wrapped up lose points and the ending itself. Goodness. There were a few moments when I genuinely cried because I was just moved so. This will remain in my heart for a long, long while and once I start losing my memories of it, I will re-read it again, just to feel all this again.

This is quite a surreal book, though the other book I think I have described as 'surreal' on this blog was Paris Adrift and this book is not at all similar to that. What I mean is that, where most dystopian stories tend to feel quite real, they are scenarios in which we can imagine the world or imagine ourselves, I didn't feel that I could in this case. I think this is largely down to the fact that the 'shadowless-ness' is never explained. I'm not criticising that fact, I actually think to have found a way to scientifically rationalise this process would have taken away from the tone of the book, but it does make it feel less of a dystopian novel and more fantasy? But that still isn't quite the right genre for this book. I'm not sure there is a genre this book fits into, which is pretty neat when you think about it.

This is a multiple POV story, the main focus being on Ory's attempts to find Max and Max's attempts to go South. I thought that Max's parts were a little stronger, perhaps because it was interesting reading the experience of someone losing their shadow and then progressively losing their memory? I still thought Ory's role in the story was important, but Max was a preferable character in my opinion. There are other POVs in this book, including an Olympic level archer and a man with amnesia. The way in which these people fit together in the story was very interesting, I liked that it wasn't too predictable, but it also didn't feel like a huge reveal, as I think that would have taken away from the tone of the book.

What is the tone of this book? I actually found this book quite quiet and gentle, which is odd given that some of the things that happen within the story are quite high action. I'm not sure that the writing of those moments was powerful enough to create a contrast, this feels quite one level. Having said that, I thought that the more quiet tone suited some parts of the story more, the idea that people slip away gradually, not suddenly, this isn't a violent occurrence, it is something quiet. That fact simultaneously makes this process so much kinder and so much more terrifying.

What I will say is that this book has quite a lot of (what I have referred to in my notes as) pontificating. There's a lot of examples of people telling stories from mythology or people using quite in-depth metaphors to try to explain various situations. For the most part, this works and is cleverly used but there are a few occasions where it feels like this book is trying to sound very clever, I personally don't respond particularly well to that.

Overall, I thought that this was a good example of adult fantasy/dystopian fiction. I think that it has some incredibly powerful moments within the story and that the characters are, for the most part, interesting people. The only things that made me not adore this book was the lack of contrast within the storytelling and the moments where I felt like I was being talked at through the book rather than being taken on a journey.

My rating: 4/5

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love books that are not easily classifiable - and this is just that. It is speculative fiction but also incorporates a feeling of magical realism, it is a romance (and it is really not), it is just absolutely lovely. I adore the premise above all else: at some point in the not so distant future people start losing their shadows and with them, slowly but inexorably, their memories. First the small things but then bigger and bigger things until they forget to breath. With the loss of memories come weird powers: if a person without a shadow remembers something wrong, that thing becomes just so. Peng Shepherd uses this to create achingly beautiful scenes that edge on unsettling.

The book is told from four perspectives:

Orlando Zhang (Ory), whose wife has just lost her shadow and left him behind, is single-minded in his pursuit of his wife,
Max, his wife, is losing her memories and keeps recording herself speaking to her husband to make sure she does not remember him wrong,
Mahnaz Ahmadi, an Iranian archer, is stuck in Boston, far away from her family and most importantly her younger sister.
The Amnesiac has lost his memory in an accident and as such has a unique understanding of memory loss and its effects on sense of self.

My favourite parts by far were those concerned with Max - her journey into forgetting is mesmerizing and her resilience is wonderful. Spending time in her head made what was happening on a grander scale much more personal and affecting. I also loved spending time with Ahmadi - I love sibling relationships anyways and hers just made me weepy. The Amnesiac's story at point had a feel of fairy tale, which obviously I adored. My problem lay with Ory (and his perspective encompasses the bulk of this book) - he did not feel like a fully formed person to me. For most of the book he is single-minded in his pursuit of Max, never pausing, never considering her as a person in her own right, to be honest. I have some spoilery thoughts that might explain this but even so, I never really got along with his point of view - even though some of the most stunning scenes were from his perspective.

Overall, I adore the way Peng Shepherd structured her book - I am often a huge fan of multiple perspectives and here they are handled expertly and with a brilliant sense of timing. I thought her language flowed beautifully and her imagination is just breathtaking, many scenes unfolding cinematically in the best possible way. Her use of imagery and colour really added to this already wonderfully layered story.

Ory and Max are holed up in a hotel resort as the Forgetting commences; worldwide, people are losing their shadows and also their memories. As Max loses her shadow, can Ory and Max ever find one another again? Can New Orleans remain a haven to gather those who wish to remember, or will the mysterious Transcendence conquer all? Intriguing and clever, I enjoyed this book a great deal.

**I have received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback**

Wow, what a unique subject for a book!! I accidentally came across the author on twitter if i am not mistaken mentioning her book so i was really happy that i was approved for an early copy through netgalley!

The theme was quite unusual but very interesting and intriguing, at least for me! :D a great combination of genres which can create very different feelings to the reader!! better though dive into this book without knowing a lot of things about it!

Definitely give it a go!!

This book was so good and so creepy. It already started out giving me the creeps. That we could lose our shadows at any time and with that our memories is such a scary thought that I think will reach everyone on such a deep and jarring level.

It features different POVs, that truly enhance the experience and give you so many different ways to experience this crazy apocalyptic world, in which only the imagination of the crazed shadowless seems to be the limit. The Characters featured are so diverse, in fact only one of the four people who tell this story is white. Not that the colour of your skin still matters in this crazy world, but it's still amazing to see such diversity in books. 

The characters are very well fleshed out, at no point I felt like their decisions didn't make sense or I couldn't understand them. They were amazing and reasonable and I their interactions and the developing relationships between them were very realistic. 

The Book of M is a perfekt blend of characters and world-building. While the characters drive the story, the world gets revealed piece by piece and it left me wondering what could be possible at every corner. 

Some plot twists weren't super surprising to me, the end still made me gasp out loud though, and that is not something that happens a lot. The only negative remark I have is, that it took the story quite some time to get started and at points it moved a bit slow. I understand that it had to take some time to take flight, especially to explain the rules of the world and what happened to make it this way, it was just hard at times to move forwards for me. I still enjoyed this book so much and would recommend it to anyone, who is interested in this genre or wants to branch out.

For an apocalyptic novel, I found The Book of M innovative and surreal. The story has several points of view about the events going on during the worldwide happening where forgetting occurs after losing your shadow followed by magical powers that pull to continue using until all is forgotten. Only one patient who Is referred to as the Amnesiac is the only one untouched by the shadowless epidemic and the most likely to save all that’ remains of humanity. Almost along the lines of Alzheimer’s or dementia related I thought, but I was disappointed that the cause of what makes one person loose a shadow and not the other was never mentioned. It does drag somewhat in the middle where the storylines of Ory & Max, Naz, and The Amneisiac, also known as The One Who Gathers, finally comes together after Ory meets the Red King and teams up with Naz to find Max leading everyone to Louisiana, where The Amnesiac brings the shadowed and shadowless together to find the cure to returning shadows to people again. The end was shocking to me because through all the trials and persevering that Ory endures making it a love story where at the end you want him to find Max, his wife and driving force of his quest.. Ory does find what he is looking for but not as the reader had hoped for.

Wow, this book was a ride! It was such a well-crafted apocalypse with a terrifying premise. Forgetting oneself is a horrible thought, but add onto that the magic in this book and it's all the more scary. But it's also brilliantly done.

The cast of characters and different perspectives always keep you interested and drive you to read on, and the relationships built between characters are so investing. I absolutely loved how multicultural this book was - so many people of colour and even some gay representation.

I'm so happy I got to read this book because I loved it. At times it could be a little predictable but not in a bad way (but in a heartbreaking way) - and there were definitely twists I did not see coming. Also, this book made me cry, which I very much applaud Peng Shepherd for doing. This book is so worth checking out and I'm definitely going to be buying a copy to have on my shelf.

I am really into apocalyptic novels of late and this is an innovative and extraordinary one. It is a truly outstanding debut for an author that I will be putting on my "ones to watch" list. Peng Shepherd, I salute you!

After reading the synopsis, I got unbelievably excited about the prospect of diving into this, having that amount of pure anticipation is a rarity for me. I'm usually cool, calm, and collected. I knew then that it was going to either - live up to my uber-high expectations and blow me away, or disappoint me beyond belief. There are such a lot of writers who create a highly original concept, but fail miserably in their execution, meaning that the unique premise is wasted. Luckily, that was far from the case here.

"The Book of M" is set in the not-too-distant future and tells the story of a mysterious natural disaster that causes people's shadows to disappear, shortly followed by their memories. This phenomenon gives the individual the use of a strange type of magic, but it comes at a high price - each time they use it they will be robbed of a memory. Many try to resist the urge to use this magic power, but for most the temptation is too great. As the victims forget more and more of who they are, reality begins to bend to reflect their fractured recollections, plunging the world into a terrifying, ever-shifting alternate landscape.

This is a surreal and rather creepy read that I enjoyed immensely, although I did find that the pace in the middle section of the book was a little slower than I would've ideally liked. The language flowed beautifully and naturally and I appreciated the multiple points of view. The way Shepherd has structured the novel around these varying perspectives gives you a look at what each character is thinking/feeling at the time. There are some stunning twists involved in the plot too, which caught me off guard! For a debut author the worldbuilding is exquisite and I appreciated that the characters were drawn from diverse backgrounds and were developed well. All in all, this is a superb dystopian thrill ride following the characters as they fight for survival, a haunting and thought-provoking read!

Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The Book of M is a one of the best post-apocalyptic fiction I have read in recent years, and it’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel. It’s a poignant examination of human memories and connection, filled with powerful and surrealistic imageries. The last pages of the novel still haunt me, and I keep catching myself thinking about the book’s shadowless world. I did have some issues with the book which I will discuss below, but overall, this book marks Peng Shepherd as an author to be watched – I can’t wait to see what she will come up with next.

A strange and impossible event has flipped the world upside down. People all over the began losing their shadows, and with it, their memories. They fill in the gaps in their memories with imaginings that takes literal form, filling cities with warped streets, strange buildings, and extraordinary creatures. The forgetting starts small, the name of a street or a household object. It then spreads to encompass the memories of loved ones, the ability to speak or breathe. The entire spectrum of the Shadowless’ inexplicable condition is showcased in The Book of M to great effect, it’s simultaneously frightening and mesmerising.

The Shadowless and their disappearing memories was inspired by Zero Shadow Day, an astronomical phenomenon restricted to a few geographical locations in India. Twice a year, during a few precious moments, shadows disappear due to an alignment of sun and earth. I loved seeing how the author took this idea and transformed it into an expansive and imaginative post-apocalyptic landscape. The writing is descriptive and vivid, creating a foreboding and surrealistic atmosphere. While the book switches constantly between four different point of views, they each provided a different perspective on the world and meshed together seamlessly. Each point of view also narrated the plot at slightly different timeline, so the book felt like a puzzle that readers had to put together.

Of all the different viewpoints, I particularly enjoyed Max’s chapters. She lost her shadow at the beginning of the novel, and seeing her thoughts and transformation was an incredibly emotional experience. If you have the chance, I highly recommend the audiobook. Max’s chapters were narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, who’s voice and performance enriched Max’s character. I also enjoyed the Ory and Naz’s chapters immensely, although I felt they were quite similar in tone. The remaining narrator is the mysterious One Who Gathers, and their chapter shed a completely different light on the unfolding situation. Their chapter included one of my favourite relationships within this book, shared between two men who are learning to live with the loss of their memories.

I found the pacing of this book to be good, I got through the 17 hours audiobook in a matter of days. The mystery of the Shadowless and Max’s journey kept me digging for more. However, I have heard from other reviewers that they found the book slow – and I admit I would have found it difficult to finish the book so fast without the aid of my audiobook, there is a large section in the middle that felt largely repetitive.

The book has a very diverse cast of characters coming from a multitude of ethnic backgrounds, and I appreciated the inclusivity of the various cultures in the books. However, I had a major issue with The Book of M due to the tragic deaths of the only gay characters in the book. While I understand that this book takes place in a post-apocalyptic landscape where there are numerous deaths – seeing the only two gay characters die while heterosexual characters managed to survive worse odds felt uncomfortable. The death of one of the gay characters were also a catalyst to advance a main character’s storyline and set him on the ‘correct’ path. It’s 2018, the book is released during Pride Month, having a tired and hurtful trope rear its head really affected my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, The Book of M was a memorable debut with a haunting ending. However, I have some reservations about the book due to the pacing and the appearance of the hurtful ‘bury your gays’ trope.

Across the world people start losing their shadows, and with that their memories. 'The Forgetting' causes chaos as governments fall and societies descend into anarchy. The shadowless seem to experience a strange pull which causes them to forget faster but in exchange for some magical power.

This post apocalyptic tale is in a similar vein to some of my favourite books over the last few years - 'Station 11', 'The Girl with all the Gifts' and 'The End of the World Running Club'. That does make me sound like a lover of science fiction which I am not, but I do love a tale which explores new possibilities and challenges me to think in a different way, as well as being set in what could realistically be next week, I suppose a bit like 'The Handmaid's Tale'. There is a human interest with the main characters all coming together for an ending which was not quite as I expected.

A great read!

This is a puzzle of a book for me. A slow burn, with ideas that linger in the brain long after reading. Beautiful pieces of prose, infused with emotional depth. But it almost feels unfinished, perhaps needing a sequel, or prequel.

Yet this is somehow part of its charm.

It tells the story of a world that has descended into chaos after people start losing their shadows, and along with them, their memories and sense of self.

Through the eyes of Ory, Naz, Max, and The One Who Gathers, we’re thrown into this disordered world, trying to make sense of it, trying to find some sort of light in the darkness.

It raises lots of questions about what makes us who we are, what memories are, the importance of memories, and can we lead meaningful lives without the memories of the person we once were.

Shepherd truly knows how to build a world and create characters that leap off the page and into your heart. Max, dealing with the loss of her shadow and what it means to her and Ory. Ory himself, whose determination may yet save everyone. Naz, who has lost everyone she loves, but still has hope. And The One Who Gathers, the mysterious amnesiac, who calls both shadowed and shadowless to create his new world.

The one issue I have with the book is the lack of explanation of the shadowless phenomenon, which leads to what feels like a slightly rushed ending (although I love the book idea) that left me a feeling a teensy bit unsatisfied.

While I don’t like everything to be spelled out, it almost feels like the author had no explanation for the origin of the shadowless, but this might just be me projecting.

Is the origin of the shadowless and the magic they have even important? Can’t they just be? Just do?

I’m left with a niggling feeling that something is missing. Perhaps that is the point. It makes me feel like there’s something I should know, almost like I’ve forgotten.

While I’d like an explanatory sequel/prequel, it’s unnecessary.

It was a great read, thrilling and heartbreaking in turns.

Looking forward to reading more from Peng Shepherd.

(4 stars)

Wow. I have to process this book first before writing a comprehensive review. This book was so good and I might need to reread it soon.

Inmitten einer verheerenden Epidemie, dem Großen Vergessen, leben Ory und Max seit zwei Jahren in einem abgeschiedenen Hotel. Sie verstecken sich dort und schaffen gerade so das Überleben. Es beginnt damit, dass die Menschen ihre Schatten und dann nach und nach ihre Erinnerungen verlieren. Aber es geht nicht darum, dass man nur seinen Einkaufszettel oder die Schlüssel nicht mehr finden kann, sondern schnell werden daraus existenzielle Probleme. Die Menschen verlassen das Haus und finden den Rückweg nicht mehr, sie vergessen das Essen oder Trinken, erkennen sich nicht mehr, verlieren die Sprache, vergessen das Atmen.

Je mehr Menschen betroffen sind, desto zerstörerischer wird das „Großen Vergessen“. Ory und Max sind schon fast alleine, leben in einem verlassenen Umfeld, müssen für Nahrung verlassene Geschäfte und leerstehende Häuser plündern. Doch dann verliert auch Max ihren Schatten. Verzweifelt versuchen sie dem fortschreitenden Prozess ein Schnippchen zu schlagen, doch Ory muss dringend ausziehen, um neue Lebensmittel zu besorgen.

Überraschenderweise trifft er auf eine Gruppe von Menschen in Arlington. Sie berichten, dass es viele Gerüchte gibt, dass es in New Orleans Hoffnung geben soll. Alle pilgern nun dorthin. Wogegen in Washington DC etwas Schlimmes vor sich gehen soll, das sich ausbreitet. Aber Ory bleibt skeptisch und will lieber bleiben. Auf dem Heimweg wird er niedergeschlagen und völlig ausgeraubt. Mit einer schweren Kopfwunde schafft er es kaum in den Unterschlupf. Dort muss er geschockt erkennen, dass Max verschwunden ist. Ory macht sich verzweifelt auf die Suche nach ihr. Er ist sich sicher, dass sie nach DC, zu ihrem früheren Appartement aufgebrochen ist.

Dann wechselt die Perspektive von Ory zu Naz aus Boston. Sie berichtet von den Anfängen. Zunächst hielt man das erste Verschwinden eines Schattens für ein Wunder, aber nach vier Tagen fiel dann das Vergessen auf. Das erste Opfer wurde orientierungslos und aufgeregt gefunden. Er erkannte schon seine Brüder nicht mehr. Das Vergessen weitete sich dann schnell ohne jedes Muster aus. Unabhängig von Alter, Geschlecht, oder Abstammung. Die Wissenschaftler übernahmen das Thema mit Erklärungsversuchen, Tests und Experimenten. Dann griff es auch auf andere Länder und Kontinente über. Man sperrte Betroffene zunächst in Quarantäne. Aber das half auch nicht. Nur vier Wochen nach dem ersten Fall erreicht es auch Amerika. Ory und Max wurden damit am Ende einer Hochzeitsfeier konfrontiert.

Das Buch springt direkt ins Geschehen, fesselt gleich von Beginn. Die Erzählung wechselt zwischen diesen verschiedenen Sichten und immer wieder Aufnahmestücken von Max, die sie auf einen mitgenommenen Rekorder spricht, den ihr Ory gegen das Vergessen gegeben hat. Ory und Max sind spontan sympathisch. Man spürt sofort die große Liebe, die zwischen den beiden existiert. Gleich zu Anfang hatte ich aber schon Schwierigkeiten zu verstehen, wie das Ganze auf magische Weise auch die Realität verändert.

Mit ihren Sprüngen und Perspektivenwechseln ist es keine geradlinige Erzählung, aber die Autorin baut sie so geschickt auf, dass die Geschichte schnell dahin fließt, mitreißt. Man will unbedingt wissen, wie es weitergeht und wie das alles passieren konnte. Man klebt an den Seiten, inhaliert die Worte.

In der Mitte entwickelt die Geschichte jedoch Längen. Immer mehr Kämpfe, immer mehr Vergessen, immer mehr scheinbar magische Entwicklungen. Eine dystopische, trübe, verzweifelte Welt. Das Ende kann dann schließlich überraschen. Mich hat das Buch nachdenklich zurückgelassen. Irgendwie eine Mischung aus Zombie Apokalypse und dem Buch „Der Anschlag“ von Stephen King. Definitiv außergewöhnlich.

4 von 5 Punkten.

I really enjoyed this book.

The overall plot is original, clever and just complex enough.

The characters are wonderful and beautifully written.

The pacing is mostly spot on, but i found it got a bit gooey in the middle.

Some of the reveals I thought were too obviously foreshadowed (like the identity of the Red King) but the ending was perfect (I didn't even come close to guessing that)

This will be high on my recommend list for a long time to come and I'm looking forward to reading future work by the author.

ARC via netgalley.

In The Book of M, One afternoon at an outdoor market in India, a man’s shadow disappears—an occurrence science cannot explain. He is only the first. The phenomenon spreads like a plague, and while those afflicted gain a strange new power, it comes at a horrible price: the loss of all their memories.

Ory and his wife Max have escaped the Forgetting so far by hiding in an abandoned hotel deep in the woods. Their new life feels almost normal, until one day Max’s shadow disappears too.

Knowing that the more she forgets, the more dangerous she will become to Ory, Max runs away. But Ory refuses to give up the time they have left together. Desperate to find Max before her memory disappears completely, he follows her trail across a perilous, unrecognizable world, braving the threat of roaming bandits, the call to a new war being waged on the ruins of the capital, and the rise of a sinister cult that worships the shadowless.

As they journey, each searches for answers: for Ory, about love, about survival, about hope; and for Max, about a new force growing in the south that may hold the cure. (Via Goodreads)

I RECEIVED AN EARC OF THE BOOK OF M FROM NETGALLEY, COURTESY OF WILLIAM MORROW, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
The Book of M Threw me for so many loops that I'm pretty sure I need to read it again. This near future post-apocalyptic novel was absolutely stunning, and here's all the reasons why.

I was hooked from the first page. Shepherd uses a couple of different mediums inThe Book of M which really made the book pop. The inclusion of the tape recorder was really unusual, but it really worked for Max's perspective as she continued to forget things throughout the book.

The plot twist in this really messed me up. I listened to it and got to the big twist at the end RIGHT as I got to hang out with some friends. It was traumatizing in a way.

The keeping of memories tied in with shadows was honestly awesome. I loved the way that Shepherd tied these two concepts together for The Book of M. It made it the perfect realistic science fantasy novel for me. It also has an awesomely diverse cast from top to bottom.

The only thing that bothered me was the ending and the way that romance was treated. I won't go into more detail because of spoilers, but it bugged me. Feel free to DM me on twitter or email me with discussion points cause I would love to talk about it!

If I haven't convinced you to read this yet, then I'm disappointed in myself. I adored this book. I hope you'll read it and come talk to me. You can pick up a copy on Amazon or Indiebound. It's also available on Hoopla, if you have access through your library!



DISCLAIMER: ALL LINKS TO INDIEBOUND AND AMAZON ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. IF YOU BUY THROUGH THOSE LINKS, I WILL MAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF OF THE SALE.

Thank you to Netgalley, Peng Shepherd & Harper Collins for my ARC of The Book of M.
This is a really hard book for me to review because there were parts I really liked and parts I found quite disappointing. So I'll do my best!

The Book of M sees a post apocalyptic world where people's shadows have disappeared, a bit Peter Pan you may think, but trust me, it's a lot darker than that.
Along with their shadows, the shadowless also lose their memories but I'm not just talking about memories they've made in their life but also memories of what things should look like or how they operate. Cue deers with wings instead of antlers, cutlery changing colours, jewellery disappearing and houses jumping around, stairs disappearing and guns creating thunderstorms. In terms of ideas and creativity I cannot applaud this author enough.

The story focuses on 3 PoVs, to begin with it is the POV of Ory Zhang who has been hiding out in a cabin with his wife until her shadow disappears and everything starts to change. Later on we also get the POV of Nhaz a young woman who was training for the olympics, also the POV of Max wife of Ory and then of the mysterious amnesiac.

Overall the story had a great concept, it was interesting, engaging and mysterious which kept me reading. It's not like anything else I've ever read and that's always a good thing! But I found the ending quite flat and anti climatic which was the only thing that really disappointed me and made me dislike it. I'm not sure if it has been left like that for a sequel in which case perhaps it will work, who knows. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Gripping, intriguing, fantastic! Three words to describe this book. This book was seriously amazing! I loved how it was very intriguing from the very beginning and draws you into the unknown and unfathomable, into a world where nothing is at it seems and the in-seemingly possible is possible. It was beautifully written and I loved Shepherd's style of writing. The pages turned themselves and I found myself not wanting to put it down as I wanted to know what would happen next. Full of mystery and surprises, you can't help but feel a whole bunch of emotions for all the characters in the book. And can I mention that cover! Oh my gosh the cover to this book is simply amazing!! I love it.

This book takes place in a futuristic world and mostly follows the two main characters, married couple Ory and his wife Max. One day on the news it is reported that a man in India has lost his shadow. No one knows why or how it happened, or what it means, but it is a strange phenomenon that mystifies everyone. Slowly the news spreads around the world, leaving most people scared and confused. Until the phenomenon spreads and countries begin shutting down their borders, leaving inhabitants quarantined. No one is allowed to enter or leave the country. The people who have lost their shadows have strange things happen to them that cannot be explained. They seems to gain powers, but it comes at an unthinkable cost. Their memories start to fade. Some people touched by this plague and lose their shadow lose their memories quite quickly, while others seem to lose their memories more slowly, and are desperate to hold onto their memories. If you realized one day that your shadow had suddenly disappeared, what would you do? What would you be willing to give up to remember and hold onto your precious memories?

The world as they know it is no more. Chaos erupts and people are scared and more and more lose their shadows and their memories. No one knows how to help. No one knows how to stop others from losing their memories or their shadows and people are frightened. Buildings are destroyed, homes are wiped out, electricity is wiped out and food is becoming scarce. People are robbing and killing others for food and shelter. The whole world is chaotic.

Ory and Max both have their shadows. Then one day Max loses her shadow. They both know that once her memories start to fade away she will become more and more dangerous; But so far she has all of her memories. How long will she have until her memories begin to fade? One day while Ory is out gathering supplies, Max runs away to try to save Ory from herself and sparing him from having to watch her deteriorate like this. When Ory returns home he is devastated to learn that Max has run away. How could she do this to him. They promised one another to not abandon the other.

You will experience many emotions reading this book. I know I certainly did. I had hopes that Ory would be able to find Max one day and they would both be ok. The story continues from both Ory and Max's points of view. Max as she has run away and her journey to where she is running, and Ory on his path to try to find Max, the love of his life. 

Will Max manage to get where she is going with her memories intact? Will Ory be able to find Max before she forget him and it is too late?

This book was incredible! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an eARC copy of this book.

The Book of M

Peng Shepherd

4/5

Near future chiller - thriller with plenty of twists and turns

In the near future, at a market in India, a man’s shadow disappears. He’s not alone with this phenomenon, as others around the world lose their shadows as well. Science has no answers. Strange powers come with the affliction, with a terrible price. Ory and Max have managed to survive in a rundown old hotel, away from the others, hiding their days away.
Then Max loses her shadow.
Knowing she is dangerous, she leaves Ory. But her husband is unwilling to give up on her, and chases after her, hoping to catch her before her memory of him fades away forever.

Well, this cheery little number kept me occupied for some time and happily, too. It is a big book and feels like a big book but in a good way. It has an epic like feel to it along the lines of The Stand,The Road and Station 11

Although the story spans multiple countries and time lines the world the
author has built does seem small. This doesn’t detract from the impressive world building which is rich and unsettling although, at times, a little confusing. We have a dystopian end of days scenario, with elements of magical realism and a thriller thrown in. They all combine well to make this a real page turner.

The story works well told from a four character perspective which helps to keep the pace zipping along, mostly. The first third of the book sets the scene for what is to follow nicely but the pace of the book in the middle third slowed and became a little heavy. It was a little bit repetitive and matters didn’t need re-emphasis or exploration. The final third when the story hits the road and nears resolution whizzes along, finishing strongly. Without any spoilers, an ending that made me gasp.

The cast of characters in this novel
Is massively diverse and handled with care. It concentrates on the four main characters where we see each one affected by the shadowless curse in different ways.
Ory just wants to keep his wife Max safe; Max is the one who loses her shadow and begins developing strange magic powers; Naz finds herself leading a war to save what she thinks is the key to a possible cure; and last is someone called “the amnesiac”, who also has no memories, but for a very different reason than the rest of the shadowless, and who might understand them better than anyone.

The development of the lead characters is excellent.
The relationship between Ory and Max really drives this novel. Max is by far the most interesting character showcased by her strong, fierce determination and her journey is the most compelling. Their love for each other is beautifully showcased by the lengths they are driven to, to ensure they come together. The mysterious character of ‘the amnesiac’ could have been explored in a little more depth and thought he was al little wasted. Although there are decent ‘baddies’ i would have liked a single ‘big bad to keep the threat level up.

I really enjoyed this book, a massively impressive debut novel full of twists and turns and some really gasp out loud moments that I very rarely get.

The Book of Magnificence

Startlingly original - The Book Of M really is something special. Awe-inspiring in its scope it literally transported me into another world, a world so richly and imaginatively created that it is hard to believe that this is a debut. This world is our world yet altered beyond all comprehension, a world where humanity is divided into those who have shadows and those that don’t - The Shadowed and The Shadowless. It’s a world where your life can be irrevocably changed in an instant as when your shadow disappears it steals your memories along with it.

The prose is stunning - the narratives melding together seamlessly to tell a story that is overflowing with desolation, love, hope and magic. The parallels with Station Eleven and The Passage are wholly deserved - this book is equally as impressive.

The Book Of M will leave you spellbound as you ask yourself - What would you give up to remember?