nat1577's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this novel overall. It was very fast-paced and I found it hard to put down once I had started. I thought the story was interesting and unique, and the conclusion was actually really surprising. I also loved the setting - a horror novel set in an abandoned amusement park already has my attention from that aspect alone, and I thought the author did a great job at really using that setting to its full capacity. The descriptions of the ride were detailed and vivid, and I could easily picture what was happening in my head. The only parts of this I thought could have been improved further were the characters - I liked them for the most part, but aside from the main character, I thought that most of them seemed a bit bland. Also, while I really enjoyed the story line, I didn't find this particularly scary.
Those things aside, I thought that this was a great read and I would definitely recommend it.
Those things aside, I thought that this was a great read and I would definitely recommend it.
kimily's review
3.0
Dark Ride is, to me, a legitimately scary book. The idea of animatronics moving on their own is horrifying to me. I've never related harder to anyone than when Patty in Ghostbusters referred to a storage area of mannequins as a "room full of nightmares". This book played right into my fears for about the first 75%, but pretty much lost me in the end. The whole "men are here to keep the women safe" trope is pretty old-fashioned and unrelatable to me. I will still read Mr. Wright's writing, because I feel he has a firm grasp on what is scary, but I won't be recommending this book.
readlikelasagna's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
amia's review
5.0
WOW! Dark Ride is so much darker than the architects and builders intended. Perhaps, the darkest ride ever created, I certainly hope so, anyway. Iain Rob Wright's imagination has no limits and no boundaries and this story proves that written words can have terrifying power. My heart pounded through most of this horrific tale but do not doubt that I absolutely enjoyed the terror. I feel confident that you will be able to see it on the big screen in the future. Don't punish yourself bu waiting though. Go get it and any of Wright's other works. I recommend them all.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
loram's review
3.0
The prologue depicts a disaster at an amusement park, centered in a scary ride called Frenzy. Jump ahead and the amusement park has been closed down for many years, leaving an eerie atmosphere as abandoned amusement parks often do.
A group of young people, one of them who works as a professional wrestler, go to break into the property for their own amusement, but a series of things go wrong before they even get there. Circumstances bring them into the jaws of the structure for Frenzy.
At this early stage, the story was well done and each event was nicely fleshed out. However, in the last third of the book when another reader might say it was just getting to the good part, I felt my attention waning. I worked out why.
Up to that point, events had happened within general believability. Even wild animals acting strangely can be easily swallowed. However, when things escalated, it jumped to impossible events. I can enjoy Horror stories that delve into impossibility or strange monsters earlier on, but the switch threw me off.
The closer to the end it got, the more it moved from doubtful believability to 'Give me a break!' Let's just say some injuries stop the body from functioning in the ways depicted. The author gets some points for having a disabled character, but loses some for depicting Woden as some mindless murderous god demanding sacrifices for no apparent reason. Learn your mythology dude!
Overall I enjoyed the read, but I didn't really relate to any of the characters and couldn't help noticing the inconsistencies towards the end.
A group of young people, one of them who works as a professional wrestler, go to break into the property for their own amusement, but a series of things go wrong before they even get there. Circumstances bring them into the jaws of the structure for Frenzy.
At this early stage, the story was well done and each event was nicely fleshed out. However, in the last third of the book when another reader might say it was just getting to the good part, I felt my attention waning. I worked out why.
Up to that point, events had happened within general believability. Even wild animals acting strangely can be easily swallowed. However, when things escalated, it jumped to impossible events. I can enjoy Horror stories that delve into impossibility or strange monsters earlier on, but the switch threw me off.
The closer to the end it got, the more it moved from doubtful believability to 'Give me a break!' Let's just say some injuries stop the body from functioning in the ways depicted. The author gets some points for having a disabled character, but loses some for depicting Woden as some mindless murderous god demanding sacrifices for no apparent reason. Learn your mythology dude!
Overall I enjoyed the read, but I didn't really relate to any of the characters and couldn't help noticing the inconsistencies towards the end.
More...