nat1577's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book immensely. My introduction to the works of S.L Grey wasn’t the best — the first book I read, ‘The Apartment’ was quite average — but I’m glad I didn’t stop there. Ever since reading ‘The Mall’ I’ve been craving more works by this author, and this book certainly didn’t disappoint. The book was paced nicely — it didn’t feel too drawn out, or too rushed.
This was a follow up to ‘The Mall’ and I recommend you check that out first. While I don’t think you NEED to read that first to understand this, it’d definitely help understand how the Downside world works. Overall, I think this had a darker feel compared to The Mall. While reading the Mall, it had a whacky, Twilight Zone feel to it. I didn’t find it scary at all, but I still loved it because of it’s creativity and quirkiness. This book didn’t scare me, but it was definitely darker and gorier. It still had those quirky elements, but they were less apparent in the hospital setting.
About a third of the way through, there was a twist that I absolutely LOVED, and did not see coming at all. I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, but for those of you who have read the book — the scene in the toilet stalls. You’ll probably (hopefully) know what I’m talking about. But yeah, I never saw that coming at all, but it was just so good.
Anyway yeah, this was definitely a creative, well-written book. It’s a very unique idea, and I haven’t come across anything else like this. It’s definitely something I’d recommend.
This was a follow up to ‘The Mall’ and I recommend you check that out first. While I don’t think you NEED to read that first to understand this, it’d definitely help understand how the Downside world works. Overall, I think this had a darker feel compared to The Mall. While reading the Mall, it had a whacky, Twilight Zone feel to it. I didn’t find it scary at all, but I still loved it because of it’s creativity and quirkiness. This book didn’t scare me, but it was definitely darker and gorier. It still had those quirky elements, but they were less apparent in the hospital setting.
About a third of the way through, there was a twist that I absolutely LOVED, and did not see coming at all. I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, but for those of you who have read the book — the scene in the toilet stalls. You’ll probably (hopefully) know what I’m talking about. But yeah, I never saw that coming at all, but it was just so good.
Anyway yeah, this was definitely a creative, well-written book. It’s a very unique idea, and I haven’t come across anything else like this. It’s definitely something I’d recommend.
hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
Overall this is much better than the first book. This series has a lot of Clive Barker vibes which is what drew me to the series in the first place. The biggest downside with the trilogy so far is the fact that pretty much every character is completely unlikable. The first book 'The Mall' has a much better setting and the characters are slightly more likable but everything else is much better in 'The Ward'. The book is split up into two parts, the first part starts great and has a fast pace and a really creepy vibe. The second part is a step-down and the pacing falters quite a bit. It's the second part where the unlikable characters really start to drag the story down as nothing really works if you can't connect with any of them.
ziwxbhld's review against another edition
1.0
Another load of drawn-out, pointless drivel masquerading as horror. Page after page of minutiae build up to a great big zero, and it's not even well-written. This is the Twilight equivalent of horror stories: a big, glittery and glamorous waste of time. Don't even bother.
lynn_k's review against another edition
4.0
This book takes place, for the most part, in the Modification Ward of the Downside that is only mentioned briefly in the first book. I liked that we got to see a little more of how the Downside works, and I loved the references to The Mall. It wasn't as creepy and gross as the first book, but it was just as enjoyable.
sarah1984's review
4.0
11/2 - I'm already getting a disturbing feeling from the idea of this hospital. Full of gruesome patients, nurses who could care less and might kill you if you annoy them and the underlying feeling that something evil is going to happen to you at any moment - just my kind of horror hospital story. To be continued...
12/2 - This would be a great horror movie. It's definitely creeping me out as a horror book. The idea of a disgusting hospital where you go in for a procedure or an emergency and something goes wrong and you end up as an unwilling body part donor to the rich and famous is not a rational fear, but it's hidden deep down at the bottom of my psyche - enough that anything featuring this kind of storyline is quite disturbing. The whole situation really plays into my fears of what can happen while you're under anaesthetic and unaware of what the doctors are doing. South Africa is a perfect setting for this kind of hospital, I think it would be less believable in a city the world sees as more modern and civilised like New York or London or Sydney. I wouldn't be able to suspend my disbelief at the idea of a hospital like this hidden away in a back alley that the media, if not the government, had exposed and closed down. To be continued...
SPOILER ALERT
14/2 - I was surprised by the revelation that aliens were the bad guys as opposed to humans with evil intent or ghosts (sort of House on Haunted Hill style). I was surprised when Lisa and Farrell managed to escape the hospital and there was still 100 or so pages of the book left to go. I expected the final climax of the book to be one escaping and not the other, and so the ending was different to the usual horror-have-to-escape-book/movie that you see in the average storyline. Other reviewers have said that this wasn't quite as good as the author's first book, so since I'm giving The Ward 4 stars, I'm really looking forward to reading their previous book - I'm expecting big things from it now.
12/2 - This would be a great horror movie. It's definitely creeping me out as a horror book. The idea of a disgusting hospital where you go in for a procedure or an emergency and something goes wrong and you end up as an unwilling body part donor to the rich and famous is not a rational fear, but it's hidden deep down at the bottom of my psyche - enough that anything featuring this kind of storyline is quite disturbing. The whole situation really plays into my fears of what can happen while you're under anaesthetic and unaware of what the doctors are doing. South Africa is a perfect setting for this kind of hospital, I think it would be less believable in a city the world sees as more modern and civilised like New York or London or Sydney. I wouldn't be able to suspend my disbelief at the idea of a hospital like this hidden away in a back alley that the media, if not the government, had exposed and closed down. To be continued...
SPOILER ALERT
14/2 - I was surprised by the revelation that aliens were the bad guys as opposed to humans with evil intent or ghosts (sort of House on Haunted Hill style). I was surprised when Lisa and Farrell managed to escape the hospital and there was still 100 or so pages of the book left to go. I expected the final climax of the book to be one escaping and not the other, and so the ending was different to the usual horror-have-to-escape-book/movie that you see in the average storyline. Other reviewers have said that this wasn't quite as good as the author's first book, so since I'm giving The Ward 4 stars, I'm really looking forward to reading their previous book - I'm expecting big things from it now.
More...