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The Briar Archive #5
The Book of Briars
"No one remembered the books but her."
Alistair Mead only remembers one thing from the year she went missing as a child: A series of books that don’t exist. After years of searching, she stumbles on a clue that proves the books were real but were somehow erased from existence.
Desperate for answers, Alistair is drawn into an ancient literary underworld whose members believe she might be the key to unraveling the books, and the altered history of the world.
Ben Kriminger hasn’t written in a year. Traumatized by the fanatical reaction to his novel about unsolved disappearances, Ben is still trying to undo the bloody damage caused by his writing and the unhinged reader who couldn’t tell fiction from fact.
When book pages about a young woman named Alistair begin showing up on Ben’s doorstep, he finds that her story mirrors events in his own ill-fated novel. Still unsure if what he’s reading is fiction, Ben can’t help but act when the pages depict the same people who destroyed his life turning their twisted attention on Alistair.
As their parallel paths spiral toward an impossible revelation, Ben and Alistair learn that seeing this story through may damn the world to darkness before the final page is turned.
The Book of Briars is a reality-smashing tale of fiction and fate, a story that explores what happens when the lines that separate memory, magic, and the mundane world are shattered beyond repair.
Alistair Mead only remembers one thing from the year she went missing as a child: A series of books that don’t exist. After years of searching, she stumbles on a clue that proves the books were real but were somehow erased from existence.
Desperate for answers, Alistair is drawn into an ancient literary underworld whose members believe she might be the key to unraveling the books, and the altered history of the world.
Ben Kriminger hasn’t written in a year. Traumatized by the fanatical reaction to his novel about unsolved disappearances, Ben is still trying to undo the bloody damage caused by his writing and the unhinged reader who couldn’t tell fiction from fact.
When book pages about a young woman named Alistair begin showing up on Ben’s doorstep, he finds that her story mirrors events in his own ill-fated novel. Still unsure if what he’s reading is fiction, Ben can’t help but act when the pages depict the same people who destroyed his life turning their twisted attention on Alistair.
As their parallel paths spiral toward an impossible revelation, Ben and Alistair learn that seeing this story through may damn the world to darkness before the final page is turned.
The Book of Briars is a reality-smashing tale of fiction and fate, a story that explores what happens when the lines that separate memory, magic, and the mundane world are shattered beyond repair.
- GenresFiction
525 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 19, 2021
I got emotionally invested, and though I'm pretty sure I understand why it ends the way it does (and can appreciate it), I was unhappy in an "I was enjoying this, how very dare you" sort of way.
Definitely recommend.
Edit 4/19/21: I previously reviewed based on four of the five segments in which this book had been pre-released, foolishly thinking that because The Monarch Papers was four segments, that this would have been as well.
The "how very dare you" bit was resolved, with there being more to the story since then. Still invested in the characters, and loved the TMP Easter eggs thrown in during the last bit.
Things were answered, I am mostly satisfied with how things turned out (particularly if we get to hear about some of the characters again), and would still definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
Edit 4/19/21: I previously reviewed based on four of the five segments in which this book had been pre-released, foolishly thinking that because The Monarch Papers was four segments, that this would have been as well.
The "how very dare you" bit was resolved, with there being more to the story since then. Still invested in the characters, and loved the TMP Easter eggs thrown in during the last bit.
Things were answered, I am mostly satisfied with how things turned out (particularly if we get to hear about some of the characters again), and would still definitely recommend.
April 16, 2021
Okay, I read this book as each part was released, but then I re-read the whole book cover-to-cover when it was finished.
This book, like the other Briar Archive books, provided everything I want in a book. As much as I love the high fantasy of writers like Tolkien and Eddings, my other favourite authors are Austen and the Brontes, Romantic(ish) novelists writing emotionally realistic characters in contemporary places and situations. But the Briar Archive isn't exactly magical realism as you get a sense that there's something deeper behind the story you're reading, something within that epic high fantasy tradition that is driving the plot.
And The Book of Briars, is, unsurprisingly to me anyway, our first glimpse into that deeper, epic story-behind-all-the stories. But I'm left with questions, am worried about the status of some of the characters, am trying to piece all of the mysteries together. You don't need to have read the other books in the Archive to read BoB, but you may be compelled to read them after.
This book, like the other Briar Archive books, provided everything I want in a book. As much as I love the high fantasy of writers like Tolkien and Eddings, my other favourite authors are Austen and the Brontes, Romantic(ish) novelists writing emotionally realistic characters in contemporary places and situations. But the Briar Archive isn't exactly magical realism as you get a sense that there's something deeper behind the story you're reading, something within that epic high fantasy tradition that is driving the plot.
And The Book of Briars, is, unsurprisingly to me anyway, our first glimpse into that deeper, epic story-behind-all-the stories. But I'm left with questions, am worried about the status of some of the characters, am trying to piece all of the mysteries together. You don't need to have read the other books in the Archive to read BoB, but you may be compelled to read them after.
April 17, 2021
Magic is real! Or rather, magic *was* real until our world was altered right under our noses. The Book of Briars is the fifth installment in the immersive Briarverse series, but it can stand on its own as a character-driven fantasy novel exploring an alternate history where the world was once filled with magic but lost it under mysterious circumstances. It is the most intriguing, entertaining series I have read. To learn more about the interactive experience and the novels that came before The Book of Briars, go to the Ackerly Green website.
May 9, 2021
Alistair Mead’s memories disappeared the day she returned; leaving a void inside she could never fill. All she can remember is The Briar Books. Years later, Alistair has convinced herself that she is past her childhood trauma. Then, her old hallucinations start to return; dragging her on a quest to find the books only she can remember. Meanwhile, writer Ben Kriminger is living in a self-imposed exile after his first novel had unexpectedly tore his life apart. Unable to bring himself to write, Ben struggles to make ends meet when chapters of a novel start mysteriously appearing on his doorstep. Chapters about a young woman named Alistair Mead looking for books only she can remember.
I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish! The ever-present feeling that things were more than they appeared made me anxious to discover what would be revealed next. I was honestly surprised by many of the novel’s twists and turns.
As my first experience with The Briar Archive series, I was in awe with how all of the stories, both past and present, were weaved together. In its own mind-bending way, the book manages to make you part of the story and, by extension, part of the magic. The magic is often poetic in its use but hard to understand as a system. However, that did not bother me given the context of the story. Neither Alistair nor Ben uses magic and are discovering/re-discovering it after it is already fading from the world. Ultimately, the ambiguity only adds to the feeling of wonder when magic appears.
Even though this book is the 5th entry in The Briar Archive series, it is intended as another ‘entry’ point and I had no trouble jumping right in. That being said, the experience is probably very different for those who have read the series and/or participate in the interactive community. The story is a continuation of previous books despite focusing on different characters and there are plenty of tie-ins that would likely delight experienced readers. Returning readers might also be more familiar with the magic system and complex writing style that makes this book so unique and refreshing for new readers.
Overall, this is a phenomenal book that anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling will enjoy. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series and see where it goes next!
Special thanks to Reedsy Discovery for providing this ARC.
I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish! The ever-present feeling that things were more than they appeared made me anxious to discover what would be revealed next. I was honestly surprised by many of the novel’s twists and turns.
As my first experience with The Briar Archive series, I was in awe with how all of the stories, both past and present, were weaved together. In its own mind-bending way, the book manages to make you part of the story and, by extension, part of the magic. The magic is often poetic in its use but hard to understand as a system. However, that did not bother me given the context of the story. Neither Alistair nor Ben uses magic and are discovering/re-discovering it after it is already fading from the world. Ultimately, the ambiguity only adds to the feeling of wonder when magic appears.
Even though this book is the 5th entry in The Briar Archive series, it is intended as another ‘entry’ point and I had no trouble jumping right in. That being said, the experience is probably very different for those who have read the series and/or participate in the interactive community. The story is a continuation of previous books despite focusing on different characters and there are plenty of tie-ins that would likely delight experienced readers. Returning readers might also be more familiar with the magic system and complex writing style that makes this book so unique and refreshing for new readers.
Overall, this is a phenomenal book that anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling will enjoy. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series and see where it goes next!
Special thanks to Reedsy Discovery for providing this ARC.
April 21, 2021
This is a must read for any fan of modern/urban fantasy! It was really wonderful seeing CJ Bernstein's talent in full force in this novel. This is not to discount the narrative beauty in his prior, epistolary works (Monarch Papers 1&2, Ackerly Green's Secret Society, and Search for Magiq), though. In the Book of Briars, Mr. Bernstein effectively weaves together the stories of several characters whose lives are touched by magic(q), leading them through some strange and wonderful locations, and into an exhilarating finale. Like others who have posted here, I read this in sections as it was released, and enjoyed it so much that it got a second, full, cover-to-cover read immediately after it was released in full!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews