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theoceanrose's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Gaslighting
sleepyshelves's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I went into this unbelievably excited. Like read-the-synopsis-turned-to-my-mom-and-cackled excited. About 60% of the way through I was feeling let down because it wasn't what I had anticipated it to be. Now that I've finished, I'm glad I pushed through that 60-75% mark.
I never thought when I was younger that my favorite part of the book would be the author's note or acknowledgements at the end, but Kiersten White's finak thoughts really made this whole book for me. There were so many choices that I couldn't quite understand, and reading her parting words, everything just...clicked.
This is a great book. It is a wonderful experience, and it draws so beautifully from its inspiration - though that's dark, bizarre, and even unexpectedly classical. I really feel as though the book suffered from its marketing and copy. The book design itself is gorgeous (shout out to books that tell you about the typeface used, you're the real ones!), BUT the jacket copy lends itself to a different narrative. One that sets readers up for a bit of a strange ride.
White's voice in this book is just so cinematic. I found myself reading passages aloud to my gf because they were just so cleverly rendered.
Ultimately, mixed feelings about it but generally very positive.
I never thought when I was younger that my favorite part of the book would be the author's note or acknowledgements at the end, but Kiersten White's finak thoughts really made this whole book for me. There were so many choices that I couldn't quite understand, and reading her parting words, everything just...clicked.
This is a great book. It is a wonderful experience, and it draws so beautifully from its inspiration - though that's dark, bizarre, and even unexpectedly classical. I really feel as though the book suffered from its marketing and copy. The book design itself is gorgeous (shout out to books that tell you about the typeface used, you're the real ones!), BUT the jacket copy lends itself to a different narrative. One that sets readers up for a bit of a strange ride.
White's voice in this book is just so cinematic. I found myself reading passages aloud to my gf because they were just so cleverly rendered.
Ultimately, mixed feelings about it but generally very positive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Abandonment, and War
hauntedantiqueshop's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book really had me in the first half, can’t even lie. Once it became clear that it was just a different take on The Cabin in the Woods (and after they killed off the sweet baby), it lost the majority of my interest. It just started falling flat for me. Not to mention that it reads like a YA novel, really not for me. I don’t like when horror adds love story subplots and this one happened so fast. It also didn’t make sense in the context of the story so it really didn’t work for me. Overall though, I did enjoy a lot of what was going on.
I’ll die mad about Brandon. He was so genuinely sweet and kind. AND FOR NOTHING????? NOTHING!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Stalking, Death of parent, Outing, and War
Homelessness, PTSD, minimal war flashbacks (more like survival flashbacks I guess?), cultteaandtalesink's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Classism
ktdakotareads's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
cpratreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was surprised by just how much I loved this book. It caught me off guard how quickly I started to love the characters and more than half of my highlights are Brandon talking about his friends.
Honestly I think I have to buy a physical version of this book (I borrowed it from the library) so I can have it and share it and read it again. A really big surprise favoruite!
Honestly I think I have to buy a physical version of this book (I borrowed it from the library) so I can have it and share it and read it again. A really big surprise favoruite!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
bxnnny's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i enjoyed the story and the characters, though it was hard not to see the similarities to another book by this author called mister magic. i'm definitely seeing a bit of a pattern here!
it was fairly obvious right away what was going on but i was kind of hoping it would go in a different direction, though i'm not sure where. the ending was very quickly wrapped up though, which sucked, and i was deeply upset about a certain character's demise (if you know, you know...). still, it was an enjoyable, fairly quick read, though i don't think i'll read any more by this author as her books are just too similar to one another!
it was fairly obvious right away what was going on but i was kind of hoping it would go in a different direction, though i'm not sure where. the ending was very quickly wrapped up though, which sucked, and i was deeply upset about a certain character's demise (if you know, you know...). still, it was an enjoyable, fairly quick read, though i don't think i'll read any more by this author as her books are just too similar to one another!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Child abuse
peppypenguin's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
In the acknowledgments, the author writes that this book is a “scream of rage”. In hindsight, you can glean that from the writing. There are many injustices in the story and in the characters’ pasts, and all the emotions that come along with this. I think the characters were archetypical but great to follow nonetheless. Villains are doing their villain thing, but while only one is given depth, the point is that they represent an overarching wrong, and while you can understand how it got to that point I don’t think there’s meant to be room for sympathizing.
The mystery reveal was well-paced, as was the overall plot. I really liked the characters, though sometimes they felt a little hollow. The author did do a solid job giving background and motivation where needed.
Overall, really enjoyed this. Kept me on my toes and anxious for the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Lesbophobia
smalltowncreepy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Hide is Kiersten White’s artistic commentary and response to the issues we see prevalent in the United States (specifically but also elsewhere in the world): School shootings and gun violence Racism Classism All those issues that cause those white, cis, het people with money to claim they obtained it by hard work and pulling themselves up by their bootstraps in honor of the sacrifices their parents made when times were hard. Their willingness to sacrifice those that are “other” that are “outliers” to continue their own comfort.
All those issues that those who are marginalized by poverty, race, sexuality, and more struggle against every day. Its a horror story that comments on the real horrors of our world – the monsters are real but they’re not what you think.
This book was an emotional gut punch. I knew this was a survival game (very much like Escape Room or Squid Game) so I went in like Mack – determined not to get attached to anyone but the main character. I knew they were all going to die some horrible death and the last thing I wanted was to cry over a horror story. Well Kiersten didn’t allow me or Mack to stay aloof. Characters like Ava, Brandon, and LeGrande worm their way into your heart and you find yourself cheering them on even when you know its hopeless. I cried. I admit it. It was brutal. I can’t get into my favorite parts of this book without major spoilers. I’ll simply say the twists and turns not only in the story but also in Mack’s mind are INTENSE.
Speaking of intense, while this game is easily relatable to survival game horror shows and cultist stories like Archive81 (see my review here), Mack actually made me think of one of my favorite thriller characters – China from Koontz’ Intensity. Her trauma, determination, and cleverness were spot on and made me love Mack as much as I love China. Great work.
My only issue with this book is the monster could have been scarier BUT I understand why it is the way it is. I also felt like the end could have had more punch after the final twist. It was ok, but after all that adrenaline reading…I was like “and then?”
A great book. Highly recommended reading Hide by Kiersten White for fans of Escape Room, Squid Game, Archive81, Intensity, and other twisted, fucked up horrors with characters you love even as you fully expect them to die.
All those issues that those who are marginalized by poverty, race, sexuality, and more struggle against every day. Its a horror story that comments on the real horrors of our world – the monsters are real but they’re not what you think.
This book was an emotional gut punch. I knew this was a survival game (very much like Escape Room or Squid Game) so I went in like Mack – determined not to get attached to anyone but the main character. I knew they were all going to die some horrible death and the last thing I wanted was to cry over a horror story. Well Kiersten didn’t allow me or Mack to stay aloof. Characters like Ava, Brandon, and LeGrande worm their way into your heart and you find yourself cheering them on even when you know its hopeless. I cried. I admit it. It was brutal. I can’t get into my favorite parts of this book without major spoilers. I’ll simply say the twists and turns not only in the story but also in Mack’s mind are INTENSE.
Speaking of intense, while this game is easily relatable to survival game horror shows and cultist stories like Archive81 (see my review here), Mack actually made me think of one of my favorite thriller characters – China from Koontz’ Intensity. Her trauma, determination, and cleverness were spot on and made me love Mack as much as I love China. Great work.
My only issue with this book is the monster could have been scarier BUT I understand why it is the way it is. I also felt like the end could have had more punch after the final twist. It was ok, but after all that adrenaline reading…I was like “and then?”
A great book. Highly recommended reading Hide by Kiersten White for fans of Escape Room, Squid Game, Archive81, Intensity, and other twisted, fucked up horrors with characters you love even as you fully expect them to die.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
boombaeyah's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was locked in for the first half-3/4th of this book but it kinda lost the plot toward the end. The concept of a survival hide and seek game in an abandoned theme park plus the bonus of having lesbians is right up my alley! Unfortunately, I just didn’t find the /reveal/ to be satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death