I'm so torn about this book, and this series as a whole. On the one hand, the writing is *beautiful*. VanderMeer is an incredible writer, and his prose is lush, verdant, and atmospheric. He doesn't just describe Area X, he takes you there-- the sights and sounds and smells, but also the awe and uneasiness of it. It's easy to get lost in his words because they are so gorgeous and perfectly chosen. I'm NOT VanderMeer, so I can't adequately describe it, but trust me-- it's an experience. He could describe any pointless, mundane thing and make it sound exotic... and therein lies the problem with this book, and the entire Area X series. To me, it felt like all style and no substance. Scientists go to Area X, bad stuff happens, there's a government conspiracy, bad stuff continues to happen, the end-- not exactly a mind-blowing story. If you were hoping for a neat and tidy conclusion to the series that ties up all the loose ends and delivers a significant payoff, you'll be disappointed. There's very little action in this book, and although a few of the questions I had about Area X were answered, it wasn't what I would call a satisfying ending. If you're a person who reads for the experience instead of the story, you might very well love this series-- lots of people have. For me, though, not even the beautiful writing could make up for the fact that there just wasn't enough meat to this story.