...outstanding and unforgettable ... Shepherd has constructed an exceedingly thoughtful and clever story that is perfectly paced and intricately plotted, producing a narrative filled with a genuine sense of urgency, thrilling twists and jaw-dropping revelations. Instantly absorbing, The Book of M is a scary, surprising, sad and sentimental story that will be deeply felt by readers while capturing their imaginations and hearts.
Peng Shepherd's first novel ticks off the familiar conventions of post-apocalyptic tales ... What distinguishes The Book of M, apart from Shepherd's graceful language and skilled pacing, is the nature of the apocalypse itself ... Strong characters and almost surreal imagery more than make up for what is familiar in the plot.
In her first novel Peng Shepherd stays on what is mostly familiar ground, telling a story reminiscent of books like Stephen King’s The Stand, Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven, and Michael Tolkin’s NK3. It’s a testament to her talent, however, that she keeps the journey interesting, makes us care about her characters, and invites us to think about how we are all the stuff of dreams.
...this is a deeply layered book ... Those who love brain puzzles will find much enjoyment in The Book of M, which is impeccably well-written ... Alas, the book eventually does not succeed in holding one’s interest because, at almost 500 pages, it is overlong and, by the mid-way point, things start getting sillier and sillier. Peng Shepherd, the book’s author (making her debut here), has a penchant for writing her characters into corners that are inescapable ... There are plot twists that you don’t see coming, but they, too, may make your eyeballs roll ... All in all, I found The Book of M to have a crackling good start, a ponderous mid-section and an unintentionally hilarious finale ... It is an entertaining book.
Beautifully written, Peng Shepherd delivers an extraordinary story about love, hope, the unquenchable search for answers that may never come, and, ultimately, survival. While comparable to Joe Hill’s The Fireman (2016), Shepherd’s universe is bolder and better developed, rich with vivid descriptions and unsettling realities ... Powerful, chilling, and expertly written, The Book of M balances thrills with honest, thought-provoking questions, and has plenty of raw emotion for readers to relate to. Peng Shepherd’s masterful debut is one for the ages.
She cleverly intertwines Indian mythology and the effects of her imaginary disease, with its eerie overtones of Alzheimer's, into a story filled with love, longing and the perception of the self ... Shepherd's tale pushes the post-apocalyptic story in a new and exciting direction, making readers ponder questions about reality, self-perception and relationships.
...[an] exciting debut ... Though its characters sometimes slide into tropes, Shepherd’s debut is graceful and riveting, slowly peeling back layers of an intricately constructed and unsettling alternate future.
