About the book
BOOK SUMMARY
Piranesi lives in an endless, labyrinth of statues and flooding tides, visited only by a man called The Other who enlists him to pursue mysterious “Great and Secret Knowledge.” As Piranesi explores, clues suggest someone else is-or was-there, and a disturbing truth about the house and his world begins to emerge.
Published 2020
Fantasy
272 pages
I adored Piranesi’s voice
January 15, 2026
I adored this book. I went in with no real idea of what I was about to read, which made I think made me appreciate it even more. I tend to have fairly low expectations for fantasy novels, but Piranesi had such unique sci-fi mystery vibes, it feels strange to even classify it as fantasy. It did take me a little time to fully settle into the story; some of the early passages give boring biblical vibes, but that doesn’t last the entire book.
Piranesi is a delightful protagonist. He is earnest and naïve in the most sincere and endearing way. Whether or not you enjoy this book will depend heavily on whether you enjoy Piranesi’s voice and his antiquated, formal manner of writing. I can understand how some readers might find innocence grating, but I found it to be charming and wholesome.
It took me a while to piece together what was actually happening in the story. There were certain elements I initially thought were lazy writing that turned out to be well-placed clues. The way information is withheld and then carefully, deliberately unveiled felt masterful.
On a more intellectual level, I loved the novel’s themes of identity, meaning, and perception. It speaks to questions about who we are when stripped of context, and how we find beauty and purpose in the worlds we inhabit. A rare book I might read a second time.
kelsi’s reading diary 