Early Review: The Society of Unknowable Objects

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown

Published By: Bantam Books
Publication Date: August 7, 2025
Date Read: August 2, 2025
Genre: Adult – Magical Realism
Source: ARC from Bantam Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352

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The world of unknowable objects – magical items that most people have no idea possess powers – has been quiet for decades . . .

But three current members of a secret society have remained watchful, meeting every six months in the basement of a bookshop in London. They are pledged to protect their archive of magical items hidden away, safe from the outside world – and keep the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artefact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends the Society’s newest member, author Magda Sparks, to investigate.

Within hours of arriving in Hong Kong, Magda is facing death and danger, confronted by a professional killer who seems to know all about unknowable objects, specifically one that was stolen from him a decade before. Magda is forced to flee, using an artefact that not even the rest of the Society knows about.

Returning to London, Magda learns hers is not the only secret being kept from the other two members. And that the most pernicious secret is about the nature of the Society’s mission. Her discoveries will lead her on a perilous journey, across the Atlantic to the deep south of the United States – not in pursuit of an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the killer she first faced in Hong Kong. In doing so, Magda begins to understand that there are even more in the world who are chasing these magical items, and that her own family’s legacy is tied up in keeping all these secrets under wraps.

Magic has always been too powerful to reveal to the world. But Magda will learn there might be something even more powerful: the truth.

“Where did the magical book come from? I don’t know but I have heard stories of other magical books over the years, and rumours of a library in Scotland full of such books.”

Gareth Brown was my breakout author of 2024, after I absolutely devoured his debut, The Book of Doors, which ended up being my favourite read of 2024. From the moment The Society of Unknowable Objects was announced, I couldn’t wait to dive into this new magical story from him. I was so excited to see whether it would live up to The Book of Doors for me. I went into this book with sky high expectations and he smashed each and every one. This book was absolute perfection and I am absolutely obsessed with it. I absolutely raced through it as I couldn’t put it down.

The Society of Unknowable Objects is a magical realism novel set in modern Britain but where there is magical items, such as books, necklaces and such. In this novel we are following the story of Magda, a member of The Society of Unknowable Objects, a secret society who are tasked with finding magical items and storing them somewhere safe, so they do not fall into the wrong hands. I loved learning about all of the different magical items that has been created and Magda and co’s hunt to finding them. It was so fascinating to see what sort of items people were using and what powers they would hold. I loved the idea of just a random household item being magical. I really adore books where it’s just normal life but where magic exists, it’s just that not everyone knows it.

This book is fast paced and action packed and really high stakes for a magical realism book. I don’t know if it’s just me but I tend to consider magical realism books as whimsical and really just slow paced and here for the vibes. The storyline in this book is so strong and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as I was dying to know what was going to happen. When Magda is on the hunt for a magical item, she ends up being chased by an assassin who is also after the magical items. It’s a definite race against time and I was flipping pages as fast as I possibly could. It was action packed and just honestly fantastic. The Society of Unknowable Objects is filled with secrets and twists and turns around every corner. I was gobsmacked by how incredible this book was. I couldn’t wait to see what all the secrets were when they came to light, some I guessed and some I definitely didn’t. I remember at one point messaging Gareth via Instagram to express all of my ‘what the fuck’ reactions to some of the revelations. It really was a fantastic ride reading this book.

Gareth Brown has cemented himself as a favourite author and I cannot wait to see what he writes next. While this is definitely not a series, there were little hints throughout the book that there was going to be more with these characters and I am desperate for him to turn it into a fully blown series. I loved the little nods to his first novel, The Book of Doors, and I really hope that we do end up in an interconnected series sort of situation. I’m obsessed with both books and I definitely need more. I honestly cannot recommend Gareth’s work enough. The Society of Unknowable Objects was everything I was wanting and more. I loved every word of this fantastic novel. If you’re a fan of magical realism with high stakes and a fantastic diverse cast of multi-dimensional characters, this this is a must-read. You won’t be disappointed.

“Why shouldn’t a book be magical! Some might say they already are.”