kkehoe's review against another edition
2.0
A fairly average creature feature plot with decent monsters and barely-sketched characters who are difficult to keep separate. The ending leaves something to be desired with it's abruptness.
neencohen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What a rush.
A whole bunch of people on their way to a reality tv show only to have their plane crash. But of course things aren’t always what they seem … the cover really does tell you a lot!
I laughed throughout this book, in between the total eye shutting, turning my head away from the page gore fest.
This is definitely not a book for the sensitive souls.
The writing is fast paced with multiple point of views and some seriously twisted shit to get the heart pounding. Both with the expected drop bears (is it really a spoiler?! You did see the cover yeah? Lol) and with unexpected and realistic insights into the nastier sides of human nature.
Great work by the author. Can’t wait to read book 2 … yep, there’s a book 2!
melbsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
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
2.0
Trigger warnings: blood, gore, body horror, gun violence, animal death, SO MUCH EYEBALL TRAUMA HOLY HELL.
Okay, look. I pretty much knew going in that this wasn't going to be good. But at the same time, it's giving drop bear vibes, so obviously it was my patriotic duty as an Australian to read it. The premise - the cast of a Survivor-esque TV show are stranded on a remote island when their plane crashes, and the island is full of killer beasties that promptly start eating their way through the cast - was a lot of fun, but if you're going to give me this many characters, you need to actually give me half a chance of giving a shit about them before you start killing them off. People were dying so fast and so frequently that I had no idea who half of them were, so the deaths had very little impact.
The ending was a little rushed, and I was mostly left with the feeling that if this had been more like 200-250 pages, it could have been a lot less frantic and a lot more fun.
Okay, look. I pretty much knew going in that this wasn't going to be good. But at the same time, it's giving drop bear vibes, so obviously it was my patriotic duty as an Australian to read it. The premise - the cast of a Survivor-esque TV show are stranded on a remote island when their plane crashes, and the island is full of killer beasties that promptly start eating their way through the cast - was a lot of fun, but if you're going to give me this many characters, you need to actually give me half a chance of giving a shit about them before you start killing them off. People were dying so fast and so frequently that I had no idea who half of them were, so the deaths had very little impact.
The ending was a little rushed, and I was mostly left with the feeling that if this had been more like 200-250 pages, it could have been a lot less frantic and a lot more fun.
n0rmann's review against another edition
3.0
Violent from start to finish. Not a lot there other than the violence, but it's still fun. I wish they had 1/2 stars, because this is definitely better than a 3 star book, but not a 4 star book for me.
inciminci's review against another edition
4.0
This is "Sole Survivor", only it is nothing like the reality shows you know! Participants don't get eliminated here, they are being killed!!!
A group of ten people are dropped off on a lonely pacific island and are expected to survive hunger, thirst, dangerous tides and each other. But they are not alone; an uninvited guest and the murderous drop-bears are lurking in the heart of the jungle, waiting to get them... Guess who will be the last one standing? Even if it wasn't my favorite who ultimately turned out to be the sole survivor, I still can't wait to read "Sole Survivor 2" and I'm expecting an origin story for those aggressive koalas... Where did they come from and what made them like that? Questions worth exploring...
A group of ten people are dropped off on a lonely pacific island and are expected to survive hunger, thirst, dangerous tides and each other. But they are not alone; an uninvited guest and the murderous drop-bears are lurking in the heart of the jungle, waiting to get them... Guess who will be the last one standing? Even if it wasn't my favorite who ultimately turned out to be the sole survivor, I still can't wait to read "Sole Survivor 2" and I'm expecting an origin story for those aggressive koalas... Where did they come from and what made them like that? Questions worth exploring...
blatdriver's review against another edition
4.0
This book is reminiscent of the 80s and 90s classic slasher movies, but with a modern twist from the characters from the reality TV show.
I found the start a bit slow, but it picked up, and a fun read, with lots of gore and a few surprises to keep you entertained.
I found the start a bit slow, but it picked up, and a fun read, with lots of gore and a few surprises to keep you entertained.
catsluvcoffee's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a fan of reality television. It's too ridiculous and conspired for me to enjoy it. However, I am a fan of B-movie killer creature free-for-alls, and this installment of the Rewind or Die series doesn't shy away from blood and guts. When you have killer creatures, does it really matter how ludicrous it is? I don't think so.
When a plane full of wannabe famous reality contestants crashes on their way to an uninhabited tropical destination, the survivors discover that it's not so uninhabited after all...and the locals are hungry. This gore-fest rejects all pretentious attempts at suspense building and immediately goes for the throat. Sole Survivor seemed a little overwhelming at first with all the different characters. Who are all these people? What are their backstories? Who cares! They're dead!! Don't get too attached—not that you would given the scarcity of setup but the lack of character building works in the story's favor.
In fact, it's easy to find yourself rooting for the other team. The "drop bears" aren't exactly cute and cuddly koala cousins and therefore have no problem with ripping off your face! The only thing bigger than these furry muscles is the body count as they rip and tear and gnaw their way through the contestants. Eventually, some of group wise up to what's lurking in the canopy above and actually manage to knock off a few of the creatures, but don't fear, there's still plenty of teeth and claws to go around—not to mention the other contestants!
Sole Survivor is a quick read bursting with all the best mangled and macerated demises. No two deaths are alike! Snappy dialogue and tongue-in-cheek humor made this marsupial murder fete another Rewind or Die win.
Website | Twitter | Pinterest
When a plane full of wannabe famous reality contestants crashes on their way to an uninhabited tropical destination, the survivors discover that it's not so uninhabited after all...and the locals are hungry. This gore-fest rejects all pretentious attempts at suspense building and immediately goes for the throat. Sole Survivor seemed a little overwhelming at first with all the different characters. Who are all these people? What are their backstories? Who cares! They're dead!! Don't get too attached—not that you would given the scarcity of setup but the lack of character building works in the story's favor.
In fact, it's easy to find yourself rooting for the other team. The "drop bears" aren't exactly cute and cuddly koala cousins and therefore have no problem with ripping off your face! The only thing bigger than these furry muscles is the body count as they rip and tear and gnaw their way through the contestants. Eventually, some of group wise up to what's lurking in the canopy above and actually manage to knock off a few of the creatures, but don't fear, there's still plenty of teeth and claws to go around—not to mention the other contestants!
Sole Survivor is a quick read bursting with all the best mangled and macerated demises. No two deaths are alike! Snappy dialogue and tongue-in-cheek humor made this marsupial murder fete another Rewind or Die win.
Website | Twitter | Pinterest
voidedlux's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This novella is full of gore, insanity and reality TV?? A group of Australians have signed up for a survival television show. While flying to the show’s set, the plane crashes and everyone is to parachute onto a remote island. Yes, the crash is supposed to happen. Reality TV, remember?
This island is laced with deadly, koala bear-esque, monsters called “Drop Bears,” and they’re starving.
Sole Survivor contains intense action scenes, which don’t suit my reading style, but the reality tv and personalities of each contestant kept me reading, Plus, koala bears! This would be good for readers who enjoy action, gore, and unlikeable characters.
kkehoe's review
2.0
A fairly average creature feature plot with decent monsters and barely-sketched characters who are difficult to keep separate. The ending leaves something to be desired with it's abruptness.
leahrosereads's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
I was thoroughly enjoying this story until about the last third, and then it went downhill. A slur for who the characters believe is an Indigenous person on the island is repeated over and over to the point that it pulled me out of the story entirely. Had this just been the creature feature horror that it started out as, I'd have given it an easy 4 stars.
The writing is good. It was a gory, twisted good time for a long while.
The writing is good. It was a gory, twisted good time for a long while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Excrement and Bullying