goreimm's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - interesting and extreme, but felt unfinished in a way
adamyeti's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a tough time getting into the first half of this book for some reason. The world-building was fantastic, and I really like the concept. However, it felt a bit more like a horror adventure for a while, which didn't work as well for me.
About halfway in, though, things really started to pop off. Every chapter started to be more suspenseful than the previous. By the last 20%, it had completely transformed into a page turner for me.
Overall, it was definitely worth the read, even if it felt like a bit of a slow start for me.
About halfway in, though, things really started to pop off. Every chapter started to be more suspenseful than the previous. By the last 20%, it had completely transformed into a page turner for me.
Overall, it was definitely worth the read, even if it felt like a bit of a slow start for me.
kit666's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Not going to lie, this book did make me gasp and cringe at times. Towards the end it felt a bit rushed but all in all it was a decent book!
Though I would find a sequ l from Danny's perspective interesting.
That being said: this book was an absolute sausage fest. It frustrated me that so much time was wasted on male characters that barely mattered rather than actually have Jess be part of the plot (at least). Let her talk about what happened in the temple! Show her POV.
I also hated that she was the one that was expected to comfort Kevin on the raft.
There are so many unanswered questions. When Nick went up the mountain, I thought we'd get answers for everything. Instead it just felt like a half arsed device to show more cannibalism. Same thing with Pudge. And Kevin and Trent. And the Keepers. And the Temple. Even Muck and the Needle Fields. So many elements over so little pages. Make it a series or focus on a few horror devices. Or at least make them all tie together at the end again. Once Nick escaped a place it was like it seized to exist. But the combination of all of that on top of the new goal would've been such a great looming presence.
Towards the end it just felt like the author was trying to trigger as many phobias as possible. Which I'm sure would've worked well if it wasn't so rushed.
It is definitely a decent horror book. Many flaws, but it definitely had an effect on me!
Spoiler
I found the beginning quite intense and Muck's torture was especially horrific. I will have the image of Nick squirming around like a worm with screws for teeth for a long while... I liked how fast paced the book was, but thought that the Eyes of the World were introduced too quickly and ended too quickly at the same time. Everything happened so quickly at the end, it felt too rushed. I would've been content with them never trying to get past the Keepers or no Temple being there. In hindsight the entire existence of the Hooves of the Pig seems a bit pointless in relation to the plot. Other than showing the lengths that Nick would go for? There were a lot of elements introduced that it just started to overwhelm the horror of the farm. By the end it felt more like a gory fantasy.Though I would find a sequ l from Danny's perspective interesting.
That being said: this book was an absolute sausage fest. It frustrated me that so much time was wasted on male characters that barely mattered rather than actually have Jess be part of the plot (at least). Let her talk about what happened in the temple! Show her POV.
I also hated that she was the one that was expected to comfort Kevin on the raft.
There are so many unanswered questions. When Nick went up the mountain, I thought we'd get answers for everything. Instead it just felt like a half arsed device to show more cannibalism. Same thing with Pudge. And Kevin and Trent. And the Keepers. And the Temple. Even Muck and the Needle Fields. So many elements over so little pages. Make it a series or focus on a few horror devices. Or at least make them all tie together at the end again. Once Nick escaped a place it was like it seized to exist. But the combination of all of that on top of the new goal would've been such a great looming presence.
Towards the end it just felt like the author was trying to trigger as many phobias as possible. Which I'm sure would've worked well if it wasn't so rushed.
It is definitely a decent horror book. Many flaws, but it definitely had an effect on me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Suicide, Confinement, Grief, Violence, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
holly__94's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.75
lindielou's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wyabook234's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Gore, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, and Rape
Minor: Fatphobia and Miscarriage
isaacww_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
gnarlybuttah's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Not my cup of tea only read this because I’m in a book club… it was very hard to read the first 5 chapters because it was so gruesome and very uncomfortable to read but after that it did get a bit better for sure. I couldn’t even imagine going through that.
necrabelle's review
dark
tense
medium-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
1.5
kleeble's review
2.0
I feel like this author has some interesting ideas, but they are diminished by his poor writing. I never really felt like I was immersed in the world he had created because the writing was so bland and simple. I think with some more thought and a decent editor this book could have been better.