Reviews

El Test by Sylvain Neuvel

laurarhds's review against another edition

Go to review page

tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

kurtain's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

vante's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jayarna's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Fast paced and full of subtle social commentary. This was really interesting and horrifying to read

ihateprozac's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This was a short novel but it packs such a punch! Through the lens of a seemingly innocuous British citizenship test, it offers up food for thought on racism and racial profiling, immigration, homogeneity and assimilation, sexism and misogyny, fatphobia, selfishness and selflessness, diversity, and how we assign perceived value to people.

But of course it's not just a British citizenship test, as the novel soon descends into something far more chaotic, lingering at the intersection of science fiction and psychological thriller. The story explores the human psyche and the hundreds of environmental factors that cause someone to choose the red pill or blue pill when put in a traumatic situation. It also explores the after-effects of traumatic situations, and whether you can live with your choices afterwards.

If you've ever seen the film The Killing Room, you'll love this.

jennc's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book was intense. It definitely got me thinking. It’s one that’s hard to explain other than to say intense and psychologically creepy. A short book that leaves an impact.

martydah's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

meganlee96's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A genuinely fascinating story.
This book packs immense feelings of support, fear and heart ache all in only 104 pages.
This is definately a story that will stay with me for a long time.

manglitter's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

0.25 Stars.
This was an awful reading experience.

cassie_thehuman's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark fast-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5