The Quiet Room

Twisty, twisty, twisty, The Quiet Room by Terry Miles takes you on another strange path down the Rabbit hole.

The “Rabbits” series by podcaster and storyteller Terry Miles is based on the world created by his podcast of the same name with the titular catchphrase, “R U Playing.” So again, we are faced with the question, “What is Rabbits?” And frankly, there is no way for me to illuminate that, but I can tell you what I know.

The series idea of Rabbits is a swirling collection of chapters and stories hinting at an underground game called Rabbits. It's characters and us readers following clues and seeing patterns in multiple dimensions. In The Quiet Room, the second novel in the series, Rowan Chess is starting to see patterns; the idea of Rabbits is popping up around him. So many it is getting hard to ignore them. On the flip side, Emily Connors suddenly finds herself trapped in a dimensional stream where the game does not exist. But nothing feels right.

While the story had me in the first pages, this is a dark and complicated read; it is the type of story that would be difficult to wade through if you are not thoroughly familiar with the first book. Even then, because of the complexity, you may have had to reread the first book recently to familiarize yourself. The Quiet Room hops from area to area, dimension to dimension, and person to person. It is not a narrative that moves in a straight line, jagged line, or anything resembling a line, more like a yarn knot. That is one of the positives and detractors of a story like this. Some folks who read it, myself, included love puzzles and piecing together the story bits together. But compared to the first book, The Quiet Room has an even faster pacing. I got lost a few times, and that is saying something because I had to keep notes in the first book to keep it all straight. Some of it is too much, and I wish Miles had developed things further in a couple of areas to solidify characters so I had a general feel for them, but maybe this is him setting the series up for a grand crescendo. Honestly, anything with this story is possible.

If you like your stories with traditional storytelling, characters, plot arcs, or narrative structure, this book will not be for you. But if you want to walk on the wild side and try something different, possibly cult-worthy, I suggest giving this a go.

The Door is Open...

I've been a fan of Rabbits and Terry Miles since the Podcast first aired in 2017. If you're not familiar with it, it's a pseudo-documentary style series about a mysterious Alternate Reality Game (ARG) appropriately named “Rabbits”. And while the Rabbits novels are a stand-alone addition to this series, I would still recommend listening to the podcast episodes if you'd like to have a better understanding of what's going on. You won't regret it.

The Quiet Room is the second book in the Rabbits series of novels. It does feel like a slight departure from the rest of Rabbits since it primarily focuses on the inner workings and origin of the ARG rather than participation in the ARG. However, like all things Rabbits, there are still plot twists, multidimensional characters (no pun intended), details that could be better explained, and an abundance of deus ex machina moments that keep the story moving along at a nice pace.

Overall, I think this is a good addition to the Rabbits series and a quick, fun read that I would absolutely recommend to anyone that enjoyed the first book or the podcast. Do be sure to read Rabbits (Book 1) prior to reading The Quiet Room though.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Ray Publishing for the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy of the book.

‘The Quiet Room', the follow-up to ‘Rabbits', plunges deeper into the mystery of an underground game that stitches the multiverse together with a tapestry of astounding clues and coincidences.

This sequel races forward at breakneck speed, darting into a compelling narrative. The shifting perspectives between Emily and Rowan add a layer of complexity, each character adeptly competing for the reader's attention, providing an immersive, if somewhat dizzying, reading experience.

The narrative, however, moves perhaps a bit too quickly at times. The relentless pace of events, while exhilarating, scarcely allows moments of respite for the tension to breathe. Consequently, the story can feel like an unending chase from one predicament to the next.

Moreover, the continual introduction of new concepts and characters appears to change the game's rules mid-play, which risks invalidating prior understanding and may leave some readers disoriented.

In spite of not reaching the compelling heights of ‘Rabbits', ‘The Quiet Room' manages to hold its ground, thanks to the sheer urgency of the narrative and an ending that teases an exciting continuation.

Despite its share of shortcomings, I found ‘The Quiet Room' to be an intriguing sequel. Although it may prove slightly bewildering at times, it still promises a unique adventure that fans of ‘Rabbits' shouldn't miss.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.