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Entanglement #1
Entanglement
Entanglement is a quirky mystery with a sci-fi twist which reviews say "blends the wit of Douglas Adams with the sci-fi genius of Terry Pratchett" and "If you’re a fan of Douglas Adams, Issac Asimov, Kurt Vonnegut or Haruki Murakami you’ll definitely love this book too".
David’s fiancée worries when he drops out of contact. MI5 panics when a secret airbase vanishes. Liz doesn’t understand when her research subjects go missing. Nigel is confused when he finds an ordinary house brick floating in thin air. And a woman spends her life shifting between parallel worlds. But how can all these things be connected? And why are cakes so important?
Entanglement is a warm, funny, and original tale about friendship, loss and coping when you’re out of your depth which also invites readers to ask, “What if?” What if you hadn’t answered that voicemail? And what if grass that never needs cutting wasn't being kept secret by the lawnmower companies?
David’s fiancée worries when he drops out of contact. MI5 panics when a secret airbase vanishes. Liz doesn’t understand when her research subjects go missing. Nigel is confused when he finds an ordinary house brick floating in thin air. And a woman spends her life shifting between parallel worlds. But how can all these things be connected? And why are cakes so important?
Entanglement is a warm, funny, and original tale about friendship, loss and coping when you’re out of your depth which also invites readers to ask, “What if?” What if you hadn’t answered that voicemail? And what if grass that never needs cutting wasn't being kept secret by the lawnmower companies?
- GenresMysteryScience Fiction
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2019
4 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 30, 2019
There’s a lot to like about Entanglement, though it has to be read with a few reservations, which I will come back to.
In this first novel by Andrew Thomas, we have a humorous science fiction thriller, with a love story or two thrown in. A top-secret government research station in the Scottish highlands disappears, a colony of moles are mysteriously transported from Cambridgeshire to Lundy Island, and a brick starts behaving very strangely. The main thread of the story is interspersed with the story of another character who repeatedly finds herself in parallel worlds - initially terrifying, over the years it becomes a way of life.
Thomas has some really clever ideas and pulls them together in an unexpected way that echoes the book’s title. Although what happens is downright weird, sometimes feeling closer to fantasy than SF, Thomas grounds what is happening in some of the more outré aspects of quantum physics. I found myself wanting to read on to discover how it would all turn out, and there are a couple of enjoyable plot twists.
However, I do need to highlight three issues. One is the humour. Early on there is a real feeling of a Douglas Adams pastiche, without Adams’ deft hand at humour. One of the main characters is an Arthur Dent clone, though the humour is probably closer to the less hilarious Dirk Gently series, but lacking a strong Gently-like character to carry it. The humour, supported by a lot of footnotes (mostly informative rather than funny in the Terry Pratchett style) rarely works well and thankfully tails off to a degree later in the book. Secondly, there is a lack of focus as point of view flies between many different characters. This is partly required by the book’s outcome, but it makes it hard to identify with any main character. Those characters, incidentally are mostly from central casting - Adams gets away with this using irony, but we don’t feel it here, particularly with an RAF character straight from W. E. Johns. Equally, the author seems to want the book to be too many things - a science fiction adventure, a comedy and a romance (going on the tagline ‘What if the love of your life disappeared?’) - a clearer focus would have helped.
Finally, Entanglement really could do with a professional edit. It is relatively free of typos (though there are some), but it’s more a case of clumsy phrasing and uninspiring prose that could have been so much better with a polish throughout. I enjoyed it despite this, but it would have been a lot better after a good work over. I ought also to say (as the author of a book on quantum entanglement) that there is no real connection between the many worlds interpretation, which is central to this story, and entanglement - it’s too much to expect science fiction to be scientifically accurate - it is fiction after all - but this is claimed as if it were fact.
So, there are some issues to contend with - a bit like a movie with a so-so soundtrack, but that shouldn’t get in the way of the fact that Thomas gives us an intriguing SF hypothesis and some genuinely clever twists. I’m looking forward to see what he does with the sequel.
In this first novel by Andrew Thomas, we have a humorous science fiction thriller, with a love story or two thrown in. A top-secret government research station in the Scottish highlands disappears, a colony of moles are mysteriously transported from Cambridgeshire to Lundy Island, and a brick starts behaving very strangely. The main thread of the story is interspersed with the story of another character who repeatedly finds herself in parallel worlds - initially terrifying, over the years it becomes a way of life.
Thomas has some really clever ideas and pulls them together in an unexpected way that echoes the book’s title. Although what happens is downright weird, sometimes feeling closer to fantasy than SF, Thomas grounds what is happening in some of the more outré aspects of quantum physics. I found myself wanting to read on to discover how it would all turn out, and there are a couple of enjoyable plot twists.
However, I do need to highlight three issues. One is the humour. Early on there is a real feeling of a Douglas Adams pastiche, without Adams’ deft hand at humour. One of the main characters is an Arthur Dent clone, though the humour is probably closer to the less hilarious Dirk Gently series, but lacking a strong Gently-like character to carry it. The humour, supported by a lot of footnotes (mostly informative rather than funny in the Terry Pratchett style) rarely works well and thankfully tails off to a degree later in the book. Secondly, there is a lack of focus as point of view flies between many different characters. This is partly required by the book’s outcome, but it makes it hard to identify with any main character. Those characters, incidentally are mostly from central casting - Adams gets away with this using irony, but we don’t feel it here, particularly with an RAF character straight from W. E. Johns. Equally, the author seems to want the book to be too many things - a science fiction adventure, a comedy and a romance (going on the tagline ‘What if the love of your life disappeared?’) - a clearer focus would have helped.
Finally, Entanglement really could do with a professional edit. It is relatively free of typos (though there are some), but it’s more a case of clumsy phrasing and uninspiring prose that could have been so much better with a polish throughout. I enjoyed it despite this, but it would have been a lot better after a good work over. I ought also to say (as the author of a book on quantum entanglement) that there is no real connection between the many worlds interpretation, which is central to this story, and entanglement - it’s too much to expect science fiction to be scientifically accurate - it is fiction after all - but this is claimed as if it were fact.
So, there are some issues to contend with - a bit like a movie with a so-so soundtrack, but that shouldn’t get in the way of the fact that Thomas gives us an intriguing SF hypothesis and some genuinely clever twists. I’m looking forward to see what he does with the sequel.
November 8, 2019
4.5 stars
Loveable characters, an offbeat mystery and cake.
Entanglement is a quirky yet heart-felt novel with a sci-fi twist bubbling with humour and engaging characters. The mystery at the heart of the book will keep you engrossed from the get-go as you join the characters to uncover the reasoning behind the disappearance of their friends, the arrival of a colony of moles in Lundy Island, and the appearance of a strange floating brick on Nigel’s doorstep. If that isn’t enough, the story of TC, a cake-loving college student who finds herself suddenly travelling between parallel worlds, is interspersed throughout the primary peculiar narrative thread.
Echoing the novel’s title, Thomas has tangled together an abundance of witty ideas while ensuring the plot isn’t lacking in twists. The prose isn’t perfect, but my lack of knowledge of Quantum Physics and the complex theories threaded throughout didn’t stifle my enjoyment. Thomas simplifies and makes the complicated concepts accessible for the reader, so much so that considering I’m not usually a sci-fan, I was eager to know more.
The novel’s often subtle and sarcastic humour is supported by witty footnotes, comprising some bizarre facts and even a couple of cake recipes. Amid the comical cultural references, there was also a Liverpudlian milkman who needed an interpreter so the others could decipher what he was saying. Being from Liverpool myself, I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel offended.
Finally, with the bizarre plot and laugh-out-loud dialogue, I never anticipated feeling as emotional as I did at the end. There were some questions left unanswered, but knowing that book two, ‘Transference’, is on its way, I’m delighted to learn that the loose ends will be tied and that I’ll be reunited with Thomas's loveable characters.
Thank you to Cameron Publicity & Marketing for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Loveable characters, an offbeat mystery and cake.
Entanglement is a quirky yet heart-felt novel with a sci-fi twist bubbling with humour and engaging characters. The mystery at the heart of the book will keep you engrossed from the get-go as you join the characters to uncover the reasoning behind the disappearance of their friends, the arrival of a colony of moles in Lundy Island, and the appearance of a strange floating brick on Nigel’s doorstep. If that isn’t enough, the story of TC, a cake-loving college student who finds herself suddenly travelling between parallel worlds, is interspersed throughout the primary peculiar narrative thread.
Echoing the novel’s title, Thomas has tangled together an abundance of witty ideas while ensuring the plot isn’t lacking in twists. The prose isn’t perfect, but my lack of knowledge of Quantum Physics and the complex theories threaded throughout didn’t stifle my enjoyment. Thomas simplifies and makes the complicated concepts accessible for the reader, so much so that considering I’m not usually a sci-fan, I was eager to know more.
The novel’s often subtle and sarcastic humour is supported by witty footnotes, comprising some bizarre facts and even a couple of cake recipes. Amid the comical cultural references, there was also a Liverpudlian milkman who needed an interpreter so the others could decipher what he was saying. Being from Liverpool myself, I didn’t know whether to laugh or feel offended.
Finally, with the bizarre plot and laugh-out-loud dialogue, I never anticipated feeling as emotional as I did at the end. There were some questions left unanswered, but knowing that book two, ‘Transference’, is on its way, I’m delighted to learn that the loose ends will be tied and that I’ll be reunited with Thomas's loveable characters.
Thank you to Cameron Publicity & Marketing for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2019
Pity Andrew J Thomas, whose novel Entanglement was published on the same day as Stephen King's latest and Margaret Atwood's hotly anticipated The Handmaid's Tale sequel. Entanglement deserves some attention from fans of sci-fi and fantasy. Thomas claims to be influenced by Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. In the first few chapters of Entanglement, it appears that Thomas is trying very hard to replicate their styles. But when he finds his own rhythm, Entanglement takes flight.
Several mysterious things happen in Great Britain on September 10. A secret military base disappears off the face of the Earth. A colony of moles is somehow instantly transported overseas. A brick is floating in mid-air. A small group of bright, curious people comes together to figure out what's going on, becoming good friends in the process. As if this isn't enough, Thomas also tells us about a nice young woman who loves cake and accidentally travels across parallel universes.
All of this comes together, and comes together well. Entanglement rewards close reading and attention to detail. It is at least as much about relationships, old and new, as it is about weird phenomena and parallel universes. Cake is pretty important, too! (And here I am more of a pie and ice cream woman.)
Thomas provides a fantastic ending. However, Entanglement is the first book in a trilogy. There are definitely some questions remaining to be answered, and potential for new adventures for the group of friends introduced here.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Several mysterious things happen in Great Britain on September 10. A secret military base disappears off the face of the Earth. A colony of moles is somehow instantly transported overseas. A brick is floating in mid-air. A small group of bright, curious people comes together to figure out what's going on, becoming good friends in the process. As if this isn't enough, Thomas also tells us about a nice young woman who loves cake and accidentally travels across parallel universes.
All of this comes together, and comes together well. Entanglement rewards close reading and attention to detail. It is at least as much about relationships, old and new, as it is about weird phenomena and parallel universes. Cake is pretty important, too! (And here I am more of a pie and ice cream woman.)
Thomas provides a fantastic ending. However, Entanglement is the first book in a trilogy. There are definitely some questions remaining to be answered, and potential for new adventures for the group of friends introduced here.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 23, 2019
Entanglement by Andrew J Thomas is a highly recommended, funny, quirky, science fiction mystery and the first volume of a new trilogy.
Fate was bored, and then odd things began to happen. A secret research station vanished, as did a colony of moles. A brick began to do some odd things. And a young woman called TC began to shift from one alternate universe to another. These four mysteries occur and set into motion a series of entanglements, resulting in road trips, intertwining relationships, and cake. Entanglement can occur in relationships and in physics. In relationships, entanglement occurs when people are deeply involved with each other. In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed on one affect the other, even when separated by great distances.
This quirky story takes the threads of several different odd occurrences, explored in alternating chapters, and follows the various story lines along until everything coalesces into a single plot. The writing is very good. It starts out a wee bit too derivative of Douglas Adams, but then, once the narrative begins to explore relationships and the entanglement between people, it takes off and holds its own in a delightful, comedic, touching story about friendships, relationships, and fate.
Part of my enjoyment was in the characters, who are all well developed and unique individuals. Another delight was found in closely noting the details. While science certainly plays a role, this novel is more about relationships, and it is the characters set in this plot that makes it a special start to a new series. This is a novel that got better as it went along and by the end I was a fan and wanted the next two in the series.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Cameron Publicity.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/0...
Fate was bored, and then odd things began to happen. A secret research station vanished, as did a colony of moles. A brick began to do some odd things. And a young woman called TC began to shift from one alternate universe to another. These four mysteries occur and set into motion a series of entanglements, resulting in road trips, intertwining relationships, and cake. Entanglement can occur in relationships and in physics. In relationships, entanglement occurs when people are deeply involved with each other. In quantum physics, entangled particles remain connected so that actions performed on one affect the other, even when separated by great distances.
This quirky story takes the threads of several different odd occurrences, explored in alternating chapters, and follows the various story lines along until everything coalesces into a single plot. The writing is very good. It starts out a wee bit too derivative of Douglas Adams, but then, once the narrative begins to explore relationships and the entanglement between people, it takes off and holds its own in a delightful, comedic, touching story about friendships, relationships, and fate.
Part of my enjoyment was in the characters, who are all well developed and unique individuals. Another delight was found in closely noting the details. While science certainly plays a role, this novel is more about relationships, and it is the characters set in this plot that makes it a special start to a new series. This is a novel that got better as it went along and by the end I was a fan and wanted the next two in the series.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Cameron Publicity.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/0...
October 6, 2019
I love time travel books and whilst this isn't strictly time travel, it's time displacement! As the travel is from one parallel world to another. Now, apparently something has to exist in all parallel worlds in exactly the same form and it's CAKE! Which I was very pleased about!
The book is written very much in the style of Douglas Adams and at times I almost felt the lines had been lifted and reworded from THHGTTG. It also reminded me of the Jasper Fforde novels, so needless to say if you've enjoyed either of those writers, you will enjoy this book. If you are more serious minded and don't like frivolity, or seemingly senseless ideas then this is not the book for you. For instance in the library Three Little Pigs is filed under Construction and Project planning not nursery rhymes, as it's seen as construction best practices!
I have a slight criticism regarding the dialogue, as at times it read more like it was written by Enid Blyton for The Famous Five, slighty too formal and staged for the 21st century to my liking. Also the footnotes. On a kindle it is a little annoying to try to keep going backwards and forwards, not like a paperback where you can just flip to the end.
What kept the book afloat was the fabulous mystery and the documentation of travel between the parallel worlds. I was certainly kept entertained and when the little twist came ( I hadn't seen it coming) it was certainly an "ah ha" moment the author can be proud of.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.
The book is written very much in the style of Douglas Adams and at times I almost felt the lines had been lifted and reworded from THHGTTG. It also reminded me of the Jasper Fforde novels, so needless to say if you've enjoyed either of those writers, you will enjoy this book. If you are more serious minded and don't like frivolity, or seemingly senseless ideas then this is not the book for you. For instance in the library Three Little Pigs is filed under Construction and Project planning not nursery rhymes, as it's seen as construction best practices!
I have a slight criticism regarding the dialogue, as at times it read more like it was written by Enid Blyton for The Famous Five, slighty too formal and staged for the 21st century to my liking. Also the footnotes. On a kindle it is a little annoying to try to keep going backwards and forwards, not like a paperback where you can just flip to the end.
What kept the book afloat was the fabulous mystery and the documentation of travel between the parallel worlds. I was certainly kept entertained and when the little twist came ( I hadn't seen it coming) it was certainly an "ah ha" moment the author can be proud of.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars.
October 26, 2019
This is a quirky, fun tale of part Sci-fi and part fantasy.
A secret ‘weather research’ facility disappears in a green flash….moles disappeared from their homes and a brick can’t decide whether it’s there or not, and TC has moved through different realities….
How are these events linked ? Five people, all linked may have the answer ?
I love this book, it’s full of great characters, gentle humour, weird events and ultimately a tale of friendship, fate and a rather heartwarming love story. With moles, bricks and lots of little pop culture references that appeal to the geek in me I read this in one sitting. Totally original and utterly absorbing. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
A secret ‘weather research’ facility disappears in a green flash….moles disappeared from their homes and a brick can’t decide whether it’s there or not, and TC has moved through different realities….
How are these events linked ? Five people, all linked may have the answer ?
I love this book, it’s full of great characters, gentle humour, weird events and ultimately a tale of friendship, fate and a rather heartwarming love story. With moles, bricks and lots of little pop culture references that appeal to the geek in me I read this in one sitting. Totally original and utterly absorbing. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
October 26, 2019
This is a quirky, fun tale of part Sci-fi and part fantasy.
A secret ‘weather research’ facility disappears in a green flash….moles disappeared from their homes and a brick can’t decide whether it’s there or not, and TC has moved through different realities….
How are these events linked ? Five people, all linked may have the answer ?
I love this book, it’s full of great characters, gentle humour, weird events and ultimately a tale of friendship, fate and a rather heartwarming love story. With moles, bricks and lots of little pop culture references that appeal to the geek in me I read this in one sitting. Totally original and utterly absorbing. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Cameron Publicity & Marketing for a free copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
A secret ‘weather research’ facility disappears in a green flash….moles disappeared from their homes and a brick can’t decide whether it’s there or not, and TC has moved through different realities….
How are these events linked ? Five people, all linked may have the answer ?
I love this book, it’s full of great characters, gentle humour, weird events and ultimately a tale of friendship, fate and a rather heartwarming love story. With moles, bricks and lots of little pop culture references that appeal to the geek in me I read this in one sitting. Totally original and utterly absorbing. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Cameron Publicity & Marketing for a free copy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
September 23, 2019
Entanglement is a warm quirky read that lifts entanglement theory out of quantum physics and says what if??? Mr. Thomas constructs a wonderfully entangled story that contains just the right amount of facts that leaves one wondering if this tale is in fact within the plane of possibility. The “actual” plane of possibility exists within the world of quantum physics and there at least theoretically everything is possible.
I will leave plot synopsis to other reviewers and instead will give you my thoughts. I am a fan of time traveling books, the fact that two exist on my tiny “forever” shelf would have given you a clue. Add a little bit of physics and science—this book hooks me even more.
I love authors with a dry, sly, sarcastic sense of humor with a gift of a good turn of phrase. Such as when Mr. Thomas tells us that TC learned to play the piano and at best one could describe her playing as accurate—or when he describes the sky as not having quite enough energy to commit to blue.
I love all the footnotes, the cake, and the recipes. However, I can only attribute the following to the author’s evil dry sense of humor but the recipe for Lemon Drizzle Cake instructs one to use 1-1/2 eggs. I won't rant but this type of nonsense is a personal baking pet peeve.
A missing underground military base, a transported colony of moles, a floating brick and the engaging group of people trying to figure all this out on all of the various fronts quickly entangle themselves together in an increasingly page turning (finger swiping) manner.
A tale that is told in the 3rd person. The author is the disembodied narrator for all of these characters (including the moles) as he takes us through their various doings and what happens to them along the way.
We are treated to a bird’s eye view as Mr. Thomas often gives the readers insight that his characters aren’t privy to, but he also lets us peak into his main character’s thoughts and feelings about what’s going on.
Then there is TC, seemingly out in left field, whose story is told as a parallel to the above tale. She is a cake loving girl who finds herself accidentally traveling between parallel worlds. How the author melds this altogether is one of the true delights of this book.
I cannot wait until Transference (2nd book) hits the shelves.
I seldom give a book 5 stars but this one truly deserves all of the stars, it is reading time very well spent.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I will leave plot synopsis to other reviewers and instead will give you my thoughts. I am a fan of time traveling books, the fact that two exist on my tiny “forever” shelf would have given you a clue. Add a little bit of physics and science—this book hooks me even more.
I love authors with a dry, sly, sarcastic sense of humor with a gift of a good turn of phrase. Such as when Mr. Thomas tells us that TC learned to play the piano and at best one could describe her playing as accurate—or when he describes the sky as not having quite enough energy to commit to blue.
I love all the footnotes, the cake, and the recipes. However, I can only attribute the following to the author’s evil dry sense of humor but the recipe for Lemon Drizzle Cake instructs one to use 1-1/2 eggs. I won't rant but this type of nonsense is a personal baking pet peeve.
A missing underground military base, a transported colony of moles, a floating brick and the engaging group of people trying to figure all this out on all of the various fronts quickly entangle themselves together in an increasingly page turning (finger swiping) manner.
A tale that is told in the 3rd person. The author is the disembodied narrator for all of these characters (including the moles) as he takes us through their various doings and what happens to them along the way.
We are treated to a bird’s eye view as Mr. Thomas often gives the readers insight that his characters aren’t privy to, but he also lets us peak into his main character’s thoughts and feelings about what’s going on.
Then there is TC, seemingly out in left field, whose story is told as a parallel to the above tale. She is a cake loving girl who finds herself accidentally traveling between parallel worlds. How the author melds this altogether is one of the true delights of this book.
I cannot wait until Transference (2nd book) hits the shelves.
I seldom give a book 5 stars but this one truly deserves all of the stars, it is reading time very well spent.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 28, 2019
3.5 stars out of 5
This is a sci-fi, mystery fantasy type novel with a really interesting premise. Lots of different plot points and characters all "entangling" togther. It looks at how one moment can change a lot of peoples lives and how they can all end up coming together from one event.
It was a bit confusing to start with as it's introducing us to a lot of charactersand their different stories rather quickly but I really liked the characters but wasn't necerssarily invested in them or the mystery they were trying to solve but the book still held my attention (although I was reading in a cafe when a twist happened and I gasped oh my god out loud when I figured a main plot point out so I guess I was more invested than I thought
Loved the writing style of this book - has a really lovely flow. The book is narrated rather than being told by the character so it can be a bit disoncerting at times to read but once you get going it's enjoyable.
Think it would be great to listen to as an audio book because of this - as the book feels as though it is chatting to you about what's happening with snide little comments rather than from the characters POV.
I liked the footnotes - but dont know whether I only enjoyed them because it was on kindle and they "popped up" rather than having to flick your eyes to the bottom of the page.
Such a nice ending - still some untied bits but apparently there's a sequel so will be looking out for that.
The book finishes kinda like the end of a TV episode with the narration just petering off as the whole book was kind of like one big voice over - this was something I actually enjoyed once I got used to it.
I can't tell how I really feel about this book, I really enjoyed it, but I didn't 100% want to shout about it from the rooftops either. I don't know whether I didn't enjoy it as much as other reviewers because I'm useless at picking up small details and putting two and two together in mystery books
Thanks netgalley for providing me with a readers copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
This is a sci-fi, mystery fantasy type novel with a really interesting premise. Lots of different plot points and characters all "entangling" togther. It looks at how one moment can change a lot of peoples lives and how they can all end up coming together from one event.
It was a bit confusing to start with as it's introducing us to a lot of charactersand their different stories rather quickly but I really liked the characters but wasn't necerssarily invested in them or the mystery they were trying to solve but the book still held my attention (although I was reading in a cafe when a twist happened and I gasped oh my god out loud when I figured a main plot point out so I guess I was more invested than I thought
Loved the writing style of this book - has a really lovely flow. The book is narrated rather than being told by the character so it can be a bit disoncerting at times to read but once you get going it's enjoyable.
Think it would be great to listen to as an audio book because of this - as the book feels as though it is chatting to you about what's happening with snide little comments rather than from the characters POV.
I liked the footnotes - but dont know whether I only enjoyed them because it was on kindle and they "popped up" rather than having to flick your eyes to the bottom of the page.
Such a nice ending - still some untied bits but apparently there's a sequel so will be looking out for that.
The book finishes kinda like the end of a TV episode with the narration just petering off as the whole book was kind of like one big voice over - this was something I actually enjoyed once I got used to it.
I can't tell how I really feel about this book, I really enjoyed it, but I didn't 100% want to shout about it from the rooftops either. I don't know whether I didn't enjoy it as much as other reviewers because I'm useless at picking up small details and putting two and two together in mystery books
Thanks netgalley for providing me with a readers copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
October 4, 2019
Things I learned from Entanglement:
1. There are moles and then there are “true moles”
2. U.K. geography
3. Cake is very important.
I randomly picked this book up as an eARC from NetGalley the other day. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Entanglement.
I requested the book purely on the title and the promise it had vibes of Douglas Adams in the book. At the time of me writing this review, I confess my knowledge of Douglas Adams is limited to his work on Doctor Who. Not a bad thing, mind you, but I’ve yet to read his books.
I immediately loved the quirky writing style of Entanglement, which made it very easy to read. It was confusing at first, sorting out what exactly was happening, but I’m pretty sure that was the point. After all, it’s not every day that parallel worlds collide.
Essentially, a science experiment gone wrong makes crazy things happen to a group of people whose lives seem inexplicably, shall we say, entangled. Moles mysteriously vanish, then reappear in a completely different location, there is the case of the extraordinary brick, and of course, the girl who loves cakes who can’t find peace.
One of the things Entanglement does well is makes quantum physics and the theory of multiple universes seem approachable. I am a science fiction lover, so I’ve picked up quite a bit about quantum physics along the way, but science fiction is not a very approachable genre unless you already read science fiction. I say this because Andrew J, Thomas does well to make quantum physics approachable and easy to understand.
It’s a wonderful read, and a sequel was teased at the end, so I’m very excited for that as well. Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC of Entanglement.
1. There are moles and then there are “true moles”
2. U.K. geography
3. Cake is very important.
I randomly picked this book up as an eARC from NetGalley the other day. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Entanglement.
I requested the book purely on the title and the promise it had vibes of Douglas Adams in the book. At the time of me writing this review, I confess my knowledge of Douglas Adams is limited to his work on Doctor Who. Not a bad thing, mind you, but I’ve yet to read his books.
I immediately loved the quirky writing style of Entanglement, which made it very easy to read. It was confusing at first, sorting out what exactly was happening, but I’m pretty sure that was the point. After all, it’s not every day that parallel worlds collide.
Essentially, a science experiment gone wrong makes crazy things happen to a group of people whose lives seem inexplicably, shall we say, entangled. Moles mysteriously vanish, then reappear in a completely different location, there is the case of the extraordinary brick, and of course, the girl who loves cakes who can’t find peace.
One of the things Entanglement does well is makes quantum physics and the theory of multiple universes seem approachable. I am a science fiction lover, so I’ve picked up quite a bit about quantum physics along the way, but science fiction is not a very approachable genre unless you already read science fiction. I say this because Andrew J, Thomas does well to make quantum physics approachable and easy to understand.
It’s a wonderful read, and a sequel was teased at the end, so I’m very excited for that as well. Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC of Entanglement.
November 8, 2019
I was in two minds before starting this, I love fantasy/sci-fi/quirky books, but struggle with some so-called humorous stories.
I was pleasantly surprised.
A secret research station disappearing, moles moving en masse, parallel worlds that are like ours but not quite (and the all have cake), and a group of likeable real characters trying to cope with what is thrown at them, with a lot of gentle humour and a few laugh-out-loud moments.
“Entanglement” is a term in physics, but it well describes how the seemingly unrelated characters and stories become mixed together before reaching a very satisfying conclusion.
To say any more would spoil the story, so, suspend your disbelief, and dive in!
(My only complaint was about the footnotes, which were all at the end of the book, hard to reference, especially in the Kindle edition. I read them all though – they were worth it.)
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity for the opportunity to read this book.
I was pleasantly surprised.
A secret research station disappearing, moles moving en masse, parallel worlds that are like ours but not quite (and the all have cake), and a group of likeable real characters trying to cope with what is thrown at them, with a lot of gentle humour and a few laugh-out-loud moments.
“Entanglement” is a term in physics, but it well describes how the seemingly unrelated characters and stories become mixed together before reaching a very satisfying conclusion.
To say any more would spoil the story, so, suspend your disbelief, and dive in!
(My only complaint was about the footnotes, which were all at the end of the book, hard to reference, especially in the Kindle edition. I read them all though – they were worth it.)
Thanks to Netgalley and Cameron Publicity for the opportunity to read this book.
November 1, 2019
When I first started reading Entanglement, I wasn’t sure if it was my kind of book. I enjoy sci-fi as a genre, but there was a lot going on, and I struggled to keep up.
However, I stuck with it because I found the concept behind the plot fascinating. Imagine that for every decision you make, a parallel world is created. There may be a world out there where you decided to get a cat instead of a dog. Or where you never went to university. There may even be worlds out there where you don’t exist. It reminded me of the Doctor Who episode where The Doctor and Rose Tyler found themselves in a parallel world where Rose’s father never died.
The author lists Terry Pratchett as one of his influences, and I caught glimpses of this in his writing style (it's been a while since I read a fiction novel with footnotes!) It was challenging to get used to, but I’m glad I stuck with it as I did enjoy the ending.
It wasn’t until I got around a third of the way through that I finally started to get into the story. I raced through the last half because I really wanted to see how all the seemingly random events were connected.
I still have questions (e.g. what happened to the other “TCs” while she was moving from universe to universe?) but as this is book one in a trilogy, I’m hoping these will be answered further down the line.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, I stuck with it because I found the concept behind the plot fascinating. Imagine that for every decision you make, a parallel world is created. There may be a world out there where you decided to get a cat instead of a dog. Or where you never went to university. There may even be worlds out there where you don’t exist. It reminded me of the Doctor Who episode where The Doctor and Rose Tyler found themselves in a parallel world where Rose’s father never died.
The author lists Terry Pratchett as one of his influences, and I caught glimpses of this in his writing style (it's been a while since I read a fiction novel with footnotes!) It was challenging to get used to, but I’m glad I stuck with it as I did enjoy the ending.
It wasn’t until I got around a third of the way through that I finally started to get into the story. I raced through the last half because I really wanted to see how all the seemingly random events were connected.
I still have questions (e.g. what happened to the other “TCs” while she was moving from universe to universe?) but as this is book one in a trilogy, I’m hoping these will be answered further down the line.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I can honestly say that I haven't read a book in quite a while that I have enjoyed more than Entanglement. The author says he is influenced by the like of Pratchett, Gaiman and Adams. It shows, in a good way. If I had to choose I would say his writing style is closer to Douglas Adams than the others. There is humour (sometimes subtle and sarcastic) all the way through the story.
The first of 3 books (yay!) so questions are left unanswered but maybe they will be addressed in the following books. While it doesn't have all the answers this book does have lots of character interaction, relationships of all types, science theories, parallel universes, moles and cake.
I found myself reading faster just to find out what was going to happen and read this book almost in one sitting (started at midday and finished it that evening)
The 'entanglement' of the characters were brilliantly, and surprisingly done. I shall say no more but will leave you to discover the links.
This book has the potential to be a modern day classic. It certainly deserves it in my opinion.
I can honestly say that I haven't read a book in quite a while that I have enjoyed more than Entanglement. The author says he is influenced by the like of Pratchett, Gaiman and Adams. It shows, in a good way. If I had to choose I would say his writing style is closer to Douglas Adams than the others. There is humour (sometimes subtle and sarcastic) all the way through the story.
The first of 3 books (yay!) so questions are left unanswered but maybe they will be addressed in the following books. While it doesn't have all the answers this book does have lots of character interaction, relationships of all types, science theories, parallel universes, moles and cake.
I found myself reading faster just to find out what was going to happen and read this book almost in one sitting (started at midday and finished it that evening)
The 'entanglement' of the characters were brilliantly, and surprisingly done. I shall say no more but will leave you to discover the links.
This book has the potential to be a modern day classic. It certainly deserves it in my opinion.
October 21, 2019
I received an ARC of Entanglement by Andrew J. Thomas.
The book opens with a secret government building just disappearing. Why did it disappear? Is it related to other odd things going on? The author says he was inspired by Douglas Adams who famously wrote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There was definitely some whimsy and absurd humor reminiscent of Adams which I liked. However, in the beginning, there are 5-6 main characters whose stories have not yet converged. Because the author chose to focus on so many characters, I felt they were one dimensional and I had trouble connecting with them. Additionally, the "mystery" of the disappeared building took too long to resolve. There wasn't enough intrigue and I felt the story only really got going in the last 20-25%. The last part was very enjoyable and Thomas set up the ending to have a sequel or two. I feel I'm unlikely to pick up the sequel but I haven't completely ruled it out. I gave the book 3 stars. I would definitely recommend for people who enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and want another absurd sci-fi romp.
This book was released on September 10, 2019. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
The book opens with a secret government building just disappearing. Why did it disappear? Is it related to other odd things going on? The author says he was inspired by Douglas Adams who famously wrote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. There was definitely some whimsy and absurd humor reminiscent of Adams which I liked. However, in the beginning, there are 5-6 main characters whose stories have not yet converged. Because the author chose to focus on so many characters, I felt they were one dimensional and I had trouble connecting with them. Additionally, the "mystery" of the disappeared building took too long to resolve. There wasn't enough intrigue and I felt the story only really got going in the last 20-25%. The last part was very enjoyable and Thomas set up the ending to have a sequel or two. I feel I'm unlikely to pick up the sequel but I haven't completely ruled it out. I gave the book 3 stars. I would definitely recommend for people who enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and want another absurd sci-fi romp.
This book was released on September 10, 2019. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
December 19, 2019
A quirky and enjoyable book. A woman keeps waking up in parallel universes, where everything seems mostly the same except for weird quirks, like root beer at McDonald's or no contactless payments. A Cambridge professor studying moles discovers that they have somehow shifted hundreds of miles away, and a mysterious RAF base in Scotland has disappeared. A light-hearted read with a happy ending, but based more on time travel and light sci fi novels than usual romance or chick lit. It was pacey and intriguing but there was no real sense of danger or worry. The characters find out what they need to and make friends instantly, and I sometimes found it hard to remember which of the three female characters was speaking, as the dialogue was all very similar. However, it was a fun read.
October 7, 2019
I have lost count of the novels that have promised me a read in the vein of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett but then have shown none of their love for language, absurdity, or character. Entanglement is the book I have been longing for all this time.
Part Twilight Zone, part buddy road trip, all affectionate, and thoroughly enjoyable, this tale kept me turning the pages past bedtime. The plot isn't particularly intense, but the characters are so nicely drawn and the tale so engagingly told it kept me engaged enough to be sorry when it ended. I want to see what TC does next.
This would make a great cosy read for those who love genre and romantic fiction: a real feel-good read.
Part Twilight Zone, part buddy road trip, all affectionate, and thoroughly enjoyable, this tale kept me turning the pages past bedtime. The plot isn't particularly intense, but the characters are so nicely drawn and the tale so engagingly told it kept me engaged enough to be sorry when it ended. I want to see what TC does next.
This would make a great cosy read for those who love genre and romantic fiction: a real feel-good read.
October 27, 2019
I absolutely adored Entanglement. Science fiction is not my usual genre, yet I feel this is a good introductory book to science fiction for beginners like myself, and it will also be enjoyed by sci-fi lovers alike. I found the writing style to be a little like Neil Gaiman; I loved the introduction of Fate as almost a character. Entanglement is set all over Britain, particularly in Crianloch in the Scottish highlands. It follows numerous characters, yet never got confusing; and each character was lovable in their own way. The ending cleared up the mystery in a satisfactory way, but I was delighted to learn this is the first book in a trilogy. I highly recommend.
November 2, 2019
A truly bizarre novel. It involves a bored Fate, vanishing moles, physics, parallel worlds, time displacement, top secret 'weather stations' and cake. Cake is very very important. There are even two recipes included in the footnotes, and that just warms my little pastry chef heart. Even though I predicted one character's end story (it's my curse), I found this novel incredibly entertaining. I look forward to the second installment.
December 3, 2019
Excellent
I'm wary of books that cite 'Hitchhiker...' as a comparison; there are some dodgy lookalikes, but this one is a peach. I loved the characters, and the plot, although distinctly improbable, isn't completely impossible if you can suspend a certain natural cynicism for long enough. I enjoyed it very much.
I'm wary of books that cite 'Hitchhiker...' as a comparison; there are some dodgy lookalikes, but this one is a peach. I loved the characters, and the plot, although distinctly improbable, isn't completely impossible if you can suspend a certain natural cynicism for long enough. I enjoyed it very much.
October 5, 2019
This was a fascinating story which really stimulated my imagination. What if? The characters were interesting and helped move the story along. Great descriptions so that you could feel you were actually there. Loved the conclusion.
October 20, 2019
Good stuff! This author has a great sense of humor/humour and imagination, and I would venture to guess very intelligent. Really nice mix of science and story that includes fun characters and plot points. Recommended.
I really appreciate the NetGalley copy for review!!
I really appreciate the NetGalley copy for review!!
November 25, 2019
A great, fun, fantasy story, echoes of the classic Gaiman/Pratchett Good Omens vibe, but totally terrestrial in setting. I like the subversion of classic British environments, particularly when the locals react , not with outrage but merely a raised eyebrow or mute acceptance (a pint).
December 6, 2019
A uniquely satisfying tale in the vein of a Douglas Adams. There are novels that are hidden like gems in the publishing world. Mr Thomas delivers us one of these gems in the form of his novel, “Entanglement”. Enjoy the story, it’s well worth the read!
January 1, 2020
Entanglement by Andrew J. Thomas (2019) – Something is happening. Bricks float. A secret MI5 base disappears. A young woman shifts between parallel realities then shifts back. Research subjects disappear. Finding the connections between these events will take five people through a series of explorations that will see several people die. The answer is a secret that might change the world.
An eyebrow was raised when I saw the book names the company of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman as the inspirations for its style. That is setting the bar high for a first-time novelist. The bar might have quivered a bit as he went over it, but over it he went indeed.
The story takes into a world where humanity has been messing around with powerful science, only to have it get a little away from them. The science Thomas bases the story on could easily swamp a non-scientist reader. Instead, he finds a way to make it clear even to a Liberal Arts graduate like your humble reviewer. Better still, the science is contained to those parts of the storytelling where it is required. Too often authors will try to show off off their research/knowledge by information dumping more background than the story requires.
As for the three inspirations, they are invoked through the slightly off-center story here, and the refusal to take themselves too seriously. Thomas has fun and lets his characters have some fun too. There are footnotes that include various bits of information that range from physics to baking. The baking is important because cakes have a significant role in one storyline. That last sentence, all by itself, tells you that the three magnificent amigos have left their impression here.
Like “The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” and “The Return of the Incredible Exploding Man” this book blurs the lines between genres. Part mystery story, part science fiction, it provides a wonderfully twisted story that always has another surprise waiting for the reader. All of it surrounding characters that feel and react like everyday folk. The first of a three book series, I look forward to seeing where the author takes us next.
This review is consistent with our Review Policy. It was based on an ARC from the publisher Cameron Publicity and Marketing Ltd.
An eyebrow was raised when I saw the book names the company of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman as the inspirations for its style. That is setting the bar high for a first-time novelist. The bar might have quivered a bit as he went over it, but over it he went indeed.
The story takes into a world where humanity has been messing around with powerful science, only to have it get a little away from them. The science Thomas bases the story on could easily swamp a non-scientist reader. Instead, he finds a way to make it clear even to a Liberal Arts graduate like your humble reviewer. Better still, the science is contained to those parts of the storytelling where it is required. Too often authors will try to show off off their research/knowledge by information dumping more background than the story requires.
As for the three inspirations, they are invoked through the slightly off-center story here, and the refusal to take themselves too seriously. Thomas has fun and lets his characters have some fun too. There are footnotes that include various bits of information that range from physics to baking. The baking is important because cakes have a significant role in one storyline. That last sentence, all by itself, tells you that the three magnificent amigos have left their impression here.
Like “The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” and “The Return of the Incredible Exploding Man” this book blurs the lines between genres. Part mystery story, part science fiction, it provides a wonderfully twisted story that always has another surprise waiting for the reader. All of it surrounding characters that feel and react like everyday folk. The first of a three book series, I look forward to seeing where the author takes us next.
This review is consistent with our Review Policy. It was based on an ARC from the publisher Cameron Publicity and Marketing Ltd.
December 3, 2024
On the outskirts of a remote Scottish village, an entire secret MI5 airbase disappears. On the same day, a colony of moles suddenly relocates from mainland England to the small island of Lundy, and Nigel finds a house brick floating in mid-air. Are these things all connected? It will take a small group of unusual friends to find out.
I found Entanglement highly enjoyable and entertaining, but the writing felt a little bit juvenile, and it came across 1000% as a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy-wannabe, particularly regarding the characters and the humour.
Having said that, Hitchhiker’s Guide is an excellent book, so some similarities aren’t necessarily a bad thing, and the plot is entirely different. Speaking of the plot, for a story about parallel worlds, it was surprisingly simple and really worked! Every aspect made sense and was well thought through, which I found pretty impressive.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I found Entanglement highly enjoyable and entertaining, but the writing felt a little bit juvenile, and it came across 1000% as a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy-wannabe, particularly regarding the characters and the humour.
Having said that, Hitchhiker’s Guide is an excellent book, so some similarities aren’t necessarily a bad thing, and the plot is entirely different. Speaking of the plot, for a story about parallel worlds, it was surprisingly simple and really worked! Every aspect made sense and was well thought through, which I found pretty impressive.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2020
Entanglement is a fun, quirky sci-fi read. It combines the stories of several different characters which are all brought together due to some odd occurrences. I loved this book and the characters. It took me awhile to get into it but once I hit TC's twist I was hooked and couldn't pull myself away until I'd finished it. One thought I had whilst reading the author's thanks was the idea that there was a parallel universe that included the character that was taken out. I'm so intrigued about the "disappearing" character. Part of me hopes that the character will be introduced in the second book. I'm really looking forward to the sequel! Also, it is definitely worth reading all the notes - so funny!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
December 31, 2019
Good story, poor execution. Riddled with typos, missing words, and just poor grammar. Too many pop culture references that keep it dated, lots of repetition "mind you", and the fact that it's written from all characters' view points (even very minor ones) means there's no mystery or nuance between them. On top of this, Thomas is clearly trying to replicate the styles of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and co, but he doesn't pull it off. I persevered because I wanted the answers but I lost count of how many times I rolled my eyes while reading this book.
January 16, 2026
Entanglement is a delightfully quirky and humorous sci-fi mystery that blends wit, charm, and imagination. Andrew J. Thomas creates a world of floating bricks, vanishing bases, and parallel universes, all tied together with clever humor and sharp observations about human relationships. The characters are quirky, lovable, and vividly realized, and the story keeps you laughing while asking “What if?” at every turn. A fun, original read that sci-fi fans and fans of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett will adore.
October 22, 2022
I have a hard time finding comedic science fiction that appeals to me. I don't mind trying different things but here again, I just didn't find it funny. References to Adams and Pratchett are made in the blurb, of course, because they're the only SF humorists people talk about. It's hard to pull it off, though. Maybe someone needs to reference Connie Willis instead.
January 2, 2020
I gave up on this one after getting a quarter of the way through. It was a cool sounding premise and should have been a fun read. But there was such little progression that I couldn't be bothered continuing.
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