The prose of Piranesi is captivating in a way I have never experienced. Immediately drawn in to the flow of writing that somehow feels like how the House is described in its labyrinthian quietness. 

I had to read slowly. I wanted to devour this book as I do most other books I read, but I felt like the House itself was imploring me to go slow and wander through the pages, taking care to pay attention to the plot points like Piranesi catalogues the statues. 

The plot picks up in the second half, and it's a good plot, but I would have read an entire book of the main character exploring the halls and talking to the birds.