Jane, Unlimited

By: Kristin Cashore

Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Length: 14 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

The highly anticipated standalone from the award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of the Graceling Realm series - a kaleidoscopic novel about grief, adventure, storytelling, and finding yourself in a world of seemingly infinite choices.

Jane has lived an ordinary life, raised by her aunt Magnolia - an adjunct professor and deep sea photographer. Jane counted on Magnolia to make the world feel expansive and to turn life into an adventure. But Aunt Magnolia was lost a few months ago in Antarctica on one of her expeditions.

Now, with no direction, a year out of high school, and obsessed with making umbrellas that look like her own dreams (but mostly just mourning her aunt), she is easily swept away by Kiran Thrash - a glamorous, capricious acquaintance who shows up and asks Jane to accompany her to a gala at her family's island mansion called Tu Reviens.

Jane remembers her aunt telling her: "If anyone ever invites to you to Tu Reviens, promise me that you'll go." With nothing but a trunkful of umbrella parts to her name, Jane ventures out to the Thrash estate. Then her story takes a turn, or, rather, five turns. What Jane doesn't know is that Tu Reviens will offer her choices that can ultimately determine the course of her untethered life. But at Tu Reviens, every choice comes with a reward, or a price.

Listen to Jane, Unlimited and remember why the New York Times has raved, "Some authors can tell a good story; some can write well. Cashore is one of the rare novelists who do both."

©2017 Kristin Cashore (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

An Instant New York Times Best Seller
An IndieNext Top Ten Pick

"As soon as I'd finished the first page of Jane, Unlimited, I was hooked, and the minute I finished the novel, I wanted to begin it again. The story held me enthralled with its unexpected twists, hidden identities, and secrets revealed. Once again, the brilliant Kristin Cashore has created a mesmerizing, unforgettable world." (Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of Better Than Before)

"Absolutely addictive and fascinating, Jane, Unlimited is storytelling at its best. Filled with spies, stolen artwork, cute dinosaurs, new worlds, and delicious romance, this book is everything you could hope for and more than you can imagine." (Marie Rutkoski, author of The Winner's Curse)

Like, not love

I liked this book but didn’t love it. I’d describe it as unique, interesting, quirky, experimental—not moving, heartbreaking, fascinating, or immersive, which are all words I’d use for Cashore’s Fire and Bitterblue. To be honest I would never have guessed the author of this book had also written the Graceling trilogy, if her name wasn’t on the book; it has SUCH a different voice and structure.

I assume Cashore is trying something new here, and I liked it okay. It won’t be joining Fire and Bitterblue on my list of perennial re-reads, because it did have some glaring issues (a couple times it dragged pretty badly, and more than a couple times it fell into kitsch or cliche). But I’m still giving it 4 stars overall because even with those issues, there’s something about it that I can’t quite get out of my mind. I finished it days ago and I’m still thinking about Jane’s umbrellas, and frog rain, and Jasper the Bassett hound, and the rest. From a writing perspective, it’s an imperfect but impressive feat, wildly creative and intricately knit together. I doubt I’ll re-read it for pleasure, but I will still be thinking about Jane, Unlimited for a long time to come.

I wish there were more!

I love Kristin Cashore. I follow her blog. I love her journeys she goes on while writing these stories for us to enjoy, and I know these are her babies. She and I are around the same age and think very similarly in a lot of ways, and I’m sad that I can’t respond to her blog posts.

That being said... this felt incomplete. Each story left me wanting more, and wondering what would happen next. The only one with a solid ending was the horror story, which was truly horrific and actually kind of gave me nightmares. Girlfriend can write some horror. The last story was the most fulfilling of them all, but I was genuinely bothered that she didn’t stop the art thieves, or find out if Octavian Thrash ever joined Charlotte, etc. it seems like the spy story fulfilled itself in the fantasy story as well, which was mildly gratifying. I also really want a pet velociraptor now. But I wanted more. It felt like tapas—a taste of each journey she could experience based on her choice and no real resolution, which left me feeling a little dissatisfied.

The audiobook was initially confusing as well because it didn’t really format itself like a choose your own adventure book, so when it cycled back to the second choice I was literally rewinding and saying, “What on earth!?” Then Kristin came out with her blog about the story and it all made sense. If I had the hardback it perhaps wouldn’t have been as confusing.

Needless to say, it was an intriguing format, with a character who was complex and a cast of characters that I liked a lot. Except for Charlotte. I didn’t like her.

Don't waste your time!

Book started off great. I noticed several grammatical errors, but thought they were just mistakes; as most books have some. However, the author kept changing tense and utilizing the same words over and over AND over again! Poor description.

That is just the beginning of the terribleness related to this book. The story line is hard to follow with the many plots. The idea of the book was great, but all the twists and turns could have really been better utilized in a book series rather then edited poorly in one book.

never captivated me

I loved cashore's previous trilogy but I found this a little hard to get into. the five different narratives were a bit repetitive and, although interesting and unique on their own, my attention wasn't focused on the book enough. I struggle to finish this book when I normally would want to devour it. I will still buy any book that Kristin cashore writes in the future however. Maybe you would like this more than me. ivy, jasper and Ravi were the best. and umbrellas are something new for sure.

Not what I was hoping for

The story was slow and then exceedingly strange with a disjointed and off-putting narrative line, not at all the Calibre of Cashore's Graceling trilogy. On top of that, I found the narrator's voice to be grating. The way she swallowed her R's every single time kept pulling me out of the flow, and she is not very facike with different voices for different characters.

excellent

this book was delightful. I really enjoyed the different tracks that takes depending on Jane's decisions. I'm not sure which one was my favorite, I'll have to listen to it again and will do so happily.

Pay attention! Intrigue and twists

Read the synopsis! I didn’t and about 1/5th through the book I (1) thought the book was over and (2) couldn’t figure out why parts were repeating themselves. After I figured it out, the book is super intriguing how the multiple mysteries unfold and the author maintains a continuous thread while exploring several realities. Nothing like the other series if that is what you’re looking for. Oddly placed f-bombs if you’re concerned about language. 8th grade and above would be my guesstimate.

very happy I picked this one!

I loved all the separate stories and that they all tired together. All the characters were very strong and interesting.

Spoilers




Jane and Ivy finally!!!! I was very happy that Jasper/Steen stayed with Jane in the end and in his world where he can talk to her. Overall a great story!

Not what I thought...

I honestly couldn't get my head around this book. Even when all I was doing was listening, I couldn't focus and clearly understand what was happening. It dragged...which made it hard for me to get through and finish.

I wanted to love it.

I had high hopes for this book and it didn't deliver, for me. The characters are shallow and the story became repetitive and predictable. The idea is interesting but I had to slog through the last 3 sections. This author is creative so this won't dissuade me from reading another of her books.