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annie_bordeaux's review against another edition
4.0
I may be a bit biased bc I relate to the mc (not the trauma just... everything else) and get every single reference but I liked this a lot more than I expected. it was a wonderfully written look at abuse, different types in different relationships and how that can make safe relationships so much more beautiful when theres someone that understands. the writing is filled with personality and the characters are lovable (except for Anthony
mitskacir's review against another edition
4.0
This was sooo perfectly creepy! I loved how goosebumpy I felt reading this and how that feeling managed to persist for quite a long time into the book (sometimes horror novels get less spooky as more is revealed - the same was true for this one, but it was a slow burn). This was also a great YA level examination of trauma and abusive relationships and I loved how the horror was rooted in it. Enough was explained that I was satisfied at the end, but there were some bits that were creepily-in-a-good-way left unexplained (the sheep anyone?).
sshabein's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
Absolutely LOVED this. I'm not a regular reader of YA — not for any snobby reasons; it's just not where my attention usually takes me — but I'd read and enjoyed Sarah Hollowell's previous book (A Dark And Starless Forest), so I knew I was in for a good time. Well... a tense time!
And WOW does Hollowell keep up the tension! Two high school seniors encounter a mysterious corn maze in springtime Indiana and soon find themselves trapped, unsure of the new rules for their environment, and also... is that a dead body that looks just like one of them? What a beginning!
The story also deals with the lingering effects of emotional abuse and other toxic relationships in a way that intertwines with their current circumstances, but never feels predictable or cliché. I genuinely did not know how the story would shake out until the main characters did. I also very much appreciated that the main characters are just friends. No shoehorned romance here! There's too much to deal with!
If you enjoy psychological horror with characters who feel very true to life, do pick this up.
And WOW does Hollowell keep up the tension! Two high school seniors encounter a mysterious corn maze in springtime Indiana and soon find themselves trapped, unsure of the new rules for their environment, and also... is that a dead body that looks just like one of them? What a beginning!
The story also deals with the lingering effects of emotional abuse and other toxic relationships in a way that intertwines with their current circumstances, but never feels predictable or cliché. I genuinely did not know how the story would shake out until the main characters did. I also very much appreciated that the main characters are just friends. No shoehorned romance here! There's too much to deal with!
If you enjoy psychological horror with characters who feel very true to life, do pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence
the_agog_nog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide
renee_3011's review against another edition
4.25
listen, at the end of the day there's only so much story you can tell against a maze as your single location and it's bound to get a little repetitive.
big fan of the adhd/autism rep in this and the characters felt very authentic, which truly ended up being the book's saving grace. the friendship between the two main characters was also just really fucking beautiful and this is as much their story, that leaves so much room for personal development, as it is the corn maze's story.
really loved how you are just immediately dropped into the story and get to know the characters along the way, it's used very well here!
the magic system was a little underdeveloped, which made for some pretty easy and lackluster resolutions in the end.
big fan of the adhd/autism rep in this and the characters felt very authentic, which truly ended up being the book's saving grace. the friendship between the two main characters was also just really fucking beautiful and this is as much their story, that leaves so much room for personal development, as it is the corn maze's story.
really loved how you are just immediately dropped into the story and get to know the characters along the way, it's used very well here!
the magic system was a little underdeveloped, which made for some pretty easy and lackluster resolutions in the end.
chaosandbooks's review against another edition
The repetitiveness was grating and continuous lack of discernment from the characters made me give up.
madiswanreads's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.5
cassiebartelme's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I put this one on my list after hearing about it on the Reading Glasses podcast. Middle grade speculative thriller is not typically my go-to read but I really liked it. It was creepy and gave good atmosphere. I was really rooting the characters to figure out what the hell was going on and the ending was satisfying.