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A review by ethapagesofwonder
Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Fantasticland was a unique reading experience for me, as I'd never encountered a book told entirely through interviews with survivors. The unconventional format, while intriguing, took me a while to get used to. The slow start made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story early on, but once the tension ramped up, I found myself hooked.
The multiple points of view added depth to the plot, but at the same time, the sheer number of characters made it hard to keep track of who belonged to which tribe. This often made the plot feel muddled and detached, which dampened the intensity of the survival story.
One aspect that I struggled with was the idea that the absence of internet or media access was enough to push the kids into acts of violence, torture, and even murder. I didn’t find this motive entirely convincing, and it didn’t seem like a strong enough catalyst to explain the extreme behavior the characters exhibited. The author seems to stress this point rather than focusing more on the failure of management authority and the fear of being trapped, which feel like more plausible reasons for the kids' descent into violence.
Overall, while the interview format and scattered character perspectives were disorienting at times, Fantasticland did manage to deliver a gripping survival tale once it found its stride. I suggest if you want to read this book, just go with the audiobook.
The multiple points of view added depth to the plot, but at the same time, the sheer number of characters made it hard to keep track of who belonged to which tribe. This often made the plot feel muddled and detached, which dampened the intensity of the survival story.
One aspect that I struggled with was the idea that the absence of internet or media access was enough to push the kids into acts of violence, torture, and even murder. I didn’t find this motive entirely convincing, and it didn’t seem like a strong enough catalyst to explain the extreme behavior the characters exhibited. The author seems to stress this point rather than focusing more on the failure of management authority and the fear of being trapped, which feel like more plausible reasons for the kids' descent into violence.
Overall, while the interview format and scattered character perspectives were disorienting at times, Fantasticland did manage to deliver a gripping survival tale once it found its stride. I suggest if you want to read this book, just go with the audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore