Absolution is three novellas in one: Dead Town, The False Daughter, and The First and the Last. Each novella is its own full-on fever dream, loaded with mystery and death. Dead Town is a failed-experiment horror story. The False Daughter is a neo-noir narrative. The First and the Last is a gonzo-style perspective straight from the mind of a grade-A asshole. In all three, VanderMeer has recaptured and amplified the elements that made the original Southern Reach novels so successful. I'm talking unreliable narrators, hypnosis, cosmic terrors, increasing dread, and inexplicable transformation. I was absolutely spellbound by Absolution to the point where this 439 page book became my obsession; a true page-turner until the very end.

Even though Absolution answered many of my questions after reading the initial three books, I think I finished this installment with even more questions! Honestly, though, that's fine by me - the most enchanting aspect of this series has always been its sheer unknowability. Now I can't wait to re-read each of the four Area X books again.

Thank you so much to @fsgbooks & @mcdbooks for the advanced reader copy of Absolution in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Absolution is out now and can be found at a store or library near you!