A review by a_picara
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

Those book is a slow burn that packs a lot in. It's funny and self-aware, while also being a genuinely good narrative. It subverts the thriller genre by holding off on physical violence for a prolonged period, which fits with the all female cast. The biggest failing is the text/protagonist's naivety about just how evil

rich people can be / what they can accomplish

. I personally disliked some of the syntax throughout, but it wasn't distracting.

the part of the book leading to the climax lulled a bit-- the author wrote herself into a corner, because when Alex finds the security system, she will face consequences, and that means being locked up, which removes the main character from any of the main action. Using that time to get filled in on back story worked,  but once all the characters were imprisoned, the story stalled a bit

. However, this novel did a great job at ensuring the protagonist's agency-- she did a lot, and her actions were informed by her perspective, and her actions had realistic consequences. Really solid book and enjoyable!