This was a pretty light and easy read that is probably my first exposure the genre of “romantasy”. With some more ruthless editing, it probably would have made a good young adult novel, but as it is, comes across a bit simplistic for adult readers. 

• Published: 2025
• Completed: 3/12/2025
• Pages: 336

“The Society of Unknowable Objects” by Gareth Brown is about a group of four people, tasked with the care and use of magical objects. These magical objects endow their holders with various abilities like flying and control of the elements. It’s not an entirely original idea and like similar works, fails to 1) limit the scope of an object’s power and 2) give the characters using them a proper sense for how wide reaching these powers are. It really gave me an appreciation for how this was masterfully achieved in the Harry Potter series. 

Brown does depicts some very beautiful scenes, but especially towards the end, these became quite repetitive and clichéd. In particular, the way Magda, the main character, fawns over James, the male love interest, was pretty uninspired. 

It is probably more a reflection of my own tastes, but this novel was strongest when it diverged from the central story and dwelled on the back histories of each object and its use. These hinted at a bigger world more befitting of such powerful magic. 

Having said all this though, overall this was a simple and enjoyable read – even if I won’t be in a rush to follow up on the open ending that clearly leaves scope for a sequel. 

Quotes

• “He had gone out with many different women (never more than one at the same time)” P161
• “I hope whatever you choose to do with all that I leave you, you do for the other good people in the world. The poets and the musicians and the book readers. The kind one and the carers, the people who pursue the happiness of others over the accumulation of wealth and power. Do it for them and make the world a little bit better.” P184

Questions & Thoughts

• Doesn’t collecting all of the magical objects into one place pose a security risk?
• Having just finished a “An Exciting and Vivid Inner Life” this novel feels like it’s full of unnecessary details. It’s traditional and familiar world building.
• Why would you leave a map leading to you with someone who wants to kill you?
• If you could literally make any kind of magical object, why would you make something so banal and under powered?

New Words

• Susurrating
• Azan

Restaurant

Europa at the Bay