owlsreads's review against another edition
3.75
This just in: people are rotten!
I really couldn't put FantasticLand down. I loved the format and how it was used and the overall story was so engrossing to me despite not being anything all that original. It was, personally, so entertaining reading the interviews and how people tried to spin certain things that they did in the park and then putting the pieces together of what happened. I did expect more from the ending, though, but this was still a pretty solid read for me.
I really couldn't put FantasticLand down. I loved the format and how it was used and the overall story was so engrossing to me despite not being anything all that original. It was, personally, so entertaining reading the interviews and how people tried to spin certain things that they did in the park and then putting the pieces together of what happened. I did expect more from the ending, though, but this was still a pretty solid read for me.
juliebruzon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Torture
allyreadabook's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A really fun, tense read. This story descends into chaos in the best way. A bit heavy on the “young people are addicted to technology” but but still a solid read. I was sucked in almost instantly and as the dread mounted I found it impossible to put the story down. It’s definitely something I’ll come back to again!
beaksmeep's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, there were some typos missed in editing. That usually irritates me, but they were so scattered out it was almost unnoticeable.
I found this book to be a little long winded at times. I set the book down multiple times because I was starting to get bored with the current chapter I was on but would immediately pick it back up because I really wanted to know what happened next.
This is definitely one I wish I could watch. Though I don't think anyone could truly convey it properly on screen.
I wouldn't consider it a thriller. Maybe some subcategory of horror.
I found this book to be a little long winded at times. I set the book down multiple times because I was starting to get bored with the current chapter I was on but would immediately pick it back up because I really wanted to know what happened next.
This is definitely one I wish I could watch. Though I don't think anyone could truly convey it properly on screen.
I wouldn't consider it a thriller. Maybe some subcategory of horror.
sssmoser's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
adamyeti's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
The audiobook is fantastic, and I would highly recommend that version. I think I would have enjoyed it less in a regular book format due to the way the characters speak and the long informational sections that would probably feel like reading a book report. This honestly felt like it was intended to be an audiobook. It just fits the format that well.
Things that I loved:
Throughout the book we hear from around 20 people who were in the park, all with wildly different perspectives based on where they were, who they were with, etc. Mike did a great job of shining a light on lots of different angles of this event, and I loved the way that some of the stories would intertwine and even clarify events from other interviews.
The initial discussion of the storm and its effects outside of Fantasticland really made it feel immersive to me, almost like listening to a news bulletin. Early on, I would nearly forget that I was listening to fiction.
Overall, I think the author did a great job with the concept. It's hard to make such a crazy event like this seem believable, but for the most part, I think he did.
Things that I didn't like:
Many of the characters spoke in very similar ways. Not their voices but their words and speech patterns. Notably, there were two characters who were very different ages but both referenced Starship Troopers, which did not make sense to me. As different as most of these characters should have been from one another, it often felt like the same person telling each story.
Despite most of the events feeling reasonably explained and believable, there were a few key escalation moments that still felt a bit unbelievable. Depending on the level of your suspension of disbelief, however, your opinion may vary.
One thing that really irked me at several points in the book was when some plot serving unlikely/unexplainable event would happen or some key object that shouldn't have been in the park would be found and the character being interviewed would basically say "That doesn't make any sense. There's no reason for that to happen," and then we would move on as if that acknowledgement should justify the event/object's existence. This felt like a cheap way to skirt around limitations to introduce key plot elements, which bothered me.
Overall, I would definitely recommend giving the audiobook a listen if you think the concept sounds interesting. I think it's very well executed and perfectly written for audio. It's not perfect, but its strengths certainly outweigh its weaknesses.
Things that I loved:
Throughout the book we hear from around 20 people who were in the park, all with wildly different perspectives based on where they were, who they were with, etc. Mike did a great job of shining a light on lots of different angles of this event, and I loved the way that some of the stories would intertwine and even clarify events from other interviews.
The initial discussion of the storm and its effects outside of Fantasticland really made it feel immersive to me, almost like listening to a news bulletin. Early on, I would nearly forget that I was listening to fiction.
Overall, I think the author did a great job with the concept. It's hard to make such a crazy event like this seem believable, but for the most part, I think he did.
Things that I didn't like:
Many of the characters spoke in very similar ways. Not their voices but their words and speech patterns. Notably, there were two characters who were very different ages but both referenced Starship Troopers, which did not make sense to me. As different as most of these characters should have been from one another, it often felt like the same person telling each story.
Despite most of the events feeling reasonably explained and believable, there were a few key escalation moments that still felt a bit unbelievable. Depending on the level of your suspension of disbelief, however, your opinion may vary.
One thing that really irked me at several points in the book was when some plot serving unlikely/unexplainable event would happen or some key object that shouldn't have been in the park would be found and the character being interviewed would basically say "That doesn't make any sense. There's no reason for that to happen," and then we would move on as if that acknowledgement should justify the event/object's existence. This felt like a cheap way to skirt around limitations to introduce key plot elements, which bothered me.
Overall, I would definitely recommend giving the audiobook a listen if you think the concept sounds interesting. I think it's very well executed and perfectly written for audio. It's not perfect, but its strengths certainly outweigh its weaknesses.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
3.75
Finished reading: November 3rd 2023
“To think our young people are capable of what we saw chills the blood for a very long time.”
It's true that I don't tend to read a lot of proper horror titles, but I saw Fantasticland mentioned and I couldn't resist adding it to my TBR. I have a weak spot for an amusement park setting, and there was just something about this premise that sounded both terrifying and absolutely fascinating. I have to say this before I continue though: this book isn't for everyone and you definitely have to suspend your disbelief to be able to get a positive reading experience. If you are able to do that, make sure to brace yourself for a extremely twisted ride! Seriously, this basically reads like Lord Of The Flies on acid, but set in an amusement park after a hurricane hits. I wasn't expecting the non fiction vibe of this story though; Fantasticland is written in a way that makes you feel like you are reading the result of an investigation by a journalist. This journalist helps narrate the story, although the plot mainly consists in first-person accounts of people present at the park. The interviews are presented in a way that slowly reveals just how bad things got before they were finally rescued... And boy, things get properly twisted and graphic long before that final page. Torture, mutilation and even cannibalism; nothing is too much in this story. What I did find a bit lacking was the explanation of how things escalated so quickly after the hurricane hit... I was expecting something more elaborated, or at least more of an answer to that question. That said, I can't deny that this was a perfect Halloween read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death, Stalking, Violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Bullying, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, War, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and Torture
dinoreader84's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
The book itself is 4 star.
The audiobook? It’s amazingly well done. Brings me back to World War Z with the interview format and the multiple narrators. Well worth a listen vs the book format IMO.
The audiobook? It’s amazingly well done. Brings me back to World War Z with the interview format and the multiple narrators. Well worth a listen vs the book format IMO.
catiaacribeiro's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aa_nderson7218's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0