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theaceofpages's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think this book can best be described as a horror in two (connected) parts: the horror Riley experiences with her grief and apparitions and the horror that the Antennas (dehumanised people that are part of a government experiment) face on a daily basis. And Joe, Riley's dad and a higher up in an antenna facility, is caught in the middle.
This book was... horrifying. Right from the start. And somehow it just managed to get worse and worse as it went on. The ways everyone's minds were being messed with and the ways that the line between reality and lies was blurred was done so well (okay, there was one scene where I was just confused about its inclusion (I literally started glancing around my room with my hands raised because it just came out of nowhere) but that's one of many).
As the book went on and everything kept getting worse as everything ramped up again and again. I just kept feeling more and more for Riley who was innocent in it all and was just going through an all around bad time. Joes should have been there for her. She deserves so much live and therapy. Everyone else? Yeah, they kind of sucked. Some understandably so, but I am still shocked by the amount of messed up things that happened in this book. Maybe some events were a little too convenient, but not so much that they veer into unbelievable territory. And the whole concept? Maybe the outcome of the experimentation isn't all that believable but the cruelty that lead to them actually happening is far too real.
And the ending... (not much of a spoiler but just in case)As things started heading towards the conclusion my mind kept racing ahead due to a niggling little horrible thought in the back of my mind about where it could be going. Overall it was so well executed. It's been a little while since I read this (I'm behind on reviews) and this one has definitely stuck with me. There are several ideas and moments that have stuck with me as if I read this yesterday. I'll be keeping an eye out for more books by this author!
This book was... horrifying. Right from the start. And somehow it just managed to get worse and worse as it went on. The ways everyone's minds were being messed with and the ways that the line between reality and lies was blurred was done so well (okay, there was one scene where I was just confused about its inclusion (I literally started glancing around my room with my hands raised because it just came out of nowhere) but that's one of many).
As the book went on and everything kept getting worse as everything ramped up again and again. I just kept feeling more and more for Riley who was innocent in it all and was just going through an all around bad time. Joes should have been there for her. She deserves so much live and therapy. Everyone else? Yeah, they kind of sucked. Some understandably so, but I am still shocked by the amount of messed up things that happened in this book. Maybe some events were a little too convenient, but not so much that they veer into unbelievable territory. And the whole concept? Maybe the outcome of the experimentation isn't all that believable but the cruelty that lead to them actually happening is far too real.
And the ending... (not much of a spoiler but just in case)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual content
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