coleyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
The first half of this book was exciting, mysterious, tense and thrilling! I got to the end of the first half and it felt like an ending… but I still had half a book left? The next half was the weirdest storyline and a total 180 from where we had just been. I don’t know what it added for me, or if it was the right thing to do for the book but I enjoyed the very end with our main character.
The first half of the story took a long time to tell and we only spanned about 3 days, although it was still enjoyable. The last half felt rushed, yet took ages, spanning well over a week.
The writing style was very descriptive and flowery, although not in a pleasant storytelling way. It’s set in a scary forest with malevolent forces at play, so what can you expect. This was my first Nevill so I’m unsure if I enjoyed his writing and think I need to give another book a go!
I ended up watching the film right away and it’s quite different. I get you don’t have as long in films to lay out the backstory of the characters and play out all the intense descriptions. But, I think I enjoyed the book more.
Overall, I’m giving Adam Nevill another chance to impress me even more. This one had a lot of potential but took too long and had me drifting at parts.
The first half of the story took a long time to tell and we only spanned about 3 days, although it was still enjoyable. The last half felt rushed, yet took ages, spanning well over a week.
The writing style was very descriptive and flowery, although not in a pleasant storytelling way. It’s set in a scary forest with malevolent forces at play, so what can you expect. This was my first Nevill so I’m unsure if I enjoyed his writing and think I need to give another book a go!
I ended up watching the film right away and it’s quite different. I get you don’t have as long in films to lay out the backstory of the characters and play out all the intense descriptions. But, I think I enjoyed the book more.
Overall, I’m giving Adam Nevill another chance to impress me even more. This one had a lot of potential but took too long and had me drifting at parts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Cursing, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
owenglasgow's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Sexism
jellybean_gene's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Disclaimer: I had already seen the movie version of this and the story is different enough that nothing was spoiled.
Wow. This book was fantastic. It was terrifying and claustrophobic, it tap-danced on the fence between "natural or supernatural?".
That and it dove into and humanized the main characters so much that you really care for them. Enough so that it ratchets up the tension all the moreso when they continue to get shit on by the universe.
Great ending as well. Beautifully done horror. Fantastic.
Wow. This book was fantastic. It was terrifying and claustrophobic, it tap-danced on the fence between "natural or supernatural?".
That and it dove into and humanized the main characters so much that you really care for them. Enough so that it ratchets up the tension all the moreso when they continue to get shit on by the universe.
Great ending as well. Beautifully done horror. Fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
saintghost's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Vomit, Fatphobia, Murder, and Body shaming
Minor: Addiction, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This is a book about 4 bros who get lost in the woods. The bros, especially the main bro, is fat phobic and hates women. The best way to survive this horror story? Embrace your primal self and toxic masculinity. . I’m so disappointed my book club picked this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Excrement, and Gore
Minor: Homophobia, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Murder, and Religious bigotry
erikaretia's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, and Violence
elijah9715's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Homophobia and Fatphobia
hofsten's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
there are two parts in this book, the first part is 5 stars but the second is 2 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Vomit, and Violence
asaintsheaint's review against another edition
adventurous
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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, and Violence
chloeknight's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This book should have ended after the first half; the second half was stilted and repetitive in nature.
Honestly, save yourself the pain and just watch the film which is far superior in my opinion.
Honestly, save yourself the pain and just watch the film which is far superior in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Minor: Animal death