Piranesi

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

Liminal space fantasy

Piranesi (the protagonist, not the book) has a simple life as one of two people left alive in the world, and one of 15 confirmed to have ever lived. He and The Other are scientists, searching for signs of some nebulous 'Ultimate Power' in a series of endless, statue-filled halls which stretch from the sea to the clouds. Despite our only POV being Piranesi's religious reverence for The House, attentive readers will notice things are not as they seem to our protagonist. Eventually he joins us in noticing these discrepancies, setting in motion a chain of events which could destroy his idyllic life.

The book is paced exceptionally, giving hints which make you feel clever for picking up on them while not dragging out its reveals. Every page serves a purpose, be it moving the plot forward or providing essential background. Above all it was fun to read, felt well written and ran for exactly the right length in my opinion. A tight, enjoyable story I'd recommend to anyone.