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celtic67's review
4.0
This book is set against a background of a reality TV show. Throughout the book alliances and emnities are forged and then are forever in flux. The unreality of the reality show and the reality of outside life begin to converge and intercect with each other and what is real and unreal becomes blurred. It is a book that keeps you guessing and forever changing your mind about what you agree or disagree with. It is a book populated with well fleshed characters. A harrowing and intense read that grips and keeps you turning the pages. Thanks to Lovereading . co. uk and the publishers for the ARC.
lorikim63's review
adventurous
tense
slow-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? No
jenhurst's review
4.0
I can see why a lot of people would hate this. The things I loved about it, are things most people would hate.
This is a post apocalyptic novel involving a reality tv show. If you’ve heard of the little eye, which is a British horror film about the world ending while some people live in the BB house. This is a similar concept, but the game show is more survivor or Naked and Afraid. I love reality tv and post apocalyptic novels so I was here for this. They also have Reddit posts talking about the show. I spend a lot of time talking about reality tv shows on Reddit, so this made me really happy.
I liked the main character and her figuring out how to survive. I do think we could’ve got more explanation or a deeper story but it worked for me.
This is a post apocalyptic novel involving a reality tv show. If you’ve heard of the little eye, which is a British horror film about the world ending while some people live in the BB house. This is a similar concept, but the game show is more survivor or Naked and Afraid. I love reality tv and post apocalyptic novels so I was here for this. They also have Reddit posts talking about the show. I spend a lot of time talking about reality tv shows on Reddit, so this made me really happy.
I liked the main character and her figuring out how to survive. I do think we could’ve got more explanation or a deeper story but it worked for me.
khuggs's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Violence, Grief, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Gore
Moderate: Child death
A trigger warning I wish I’d known, but that this the app won’t let me add is Rabies (in an animal)bibliobrandie's review
2.0
Eeh, I dunno. The plug "For readers of Station Eleven" got me and it has an interesting premise. It kept me engaged and wondering what would happen next, but I didn't care much for the characters or the writing. The use of multiple names for the characters had me confused in places. I am still not sure of the real name of some of the characters. And the overuse of the "blue cottage" got really old for me. It's just not my kind of book, I thought Station Eleven was great and it's hard not to compare the two.
ttodd86's review
2.0
The quality of the writing, in terms of the author's voice, is fine and it is a pretty smooth read so I'll give it an extra star for that. Otherwise, this is a one star book -- one of those where you feel like the other books waiting on your nightstand are mocking you because they are better reads and you are wasting your time here.
The characters are just not interesting. Most of them are intentionally thinly drawn. The premise here of a Survivor-esque TV show participant literally ending up in a real world post-apocalypse situation seemed interesting, but I don't think the combination worked. Either one of these plot lines -- either the TV show world or the real world -- might actually be a better story than the combination of the two here. Instead, you are left with a back and forth situation where it feels like none of it really matters. Also, Zoo, or Mae or whatever she wants to call herself, seems a little bit too willingly ignorant in the real world storyline.
The characters are just not interesting. Most of them are intentionally thinly drawn. The premise here of a Survivor-esque TV show participant literally ending up in a real world post-apocalypse situation seemed interesting, but I don't think the combination worked. Either one of these plot lines -- either the TV show world or the real world -- might actually be a better story than the combination of the two here. Instead, you are left with a back and forth situation where it feels like none of it really matters. Also, Zoo, or Mae or whatever she wants to call herself, seems a little bit too willingly ignorant in the real world storyline.
makiichin's review against another edition
Her character in the flashbacks and the present seem like two different people, she’s so blind and stupid in the current chapters and refusing to believe that anything around her is real. I am sure there is an explanation, but i thought this book was going to reveal the truth to her much earlier than it did and then we’d have a semblance of a plot
kdahlo's review
3.0
I can't say this book is good exactly, but it is a fine little entertainment nugget. It's about reality TV and that was the level I found it on - a bit unsubtle but overall good entertainment. Also there's a pandemic. I thought the writing was more functional than inspired, and I kept thinking to myself that it was kind of trashy, and then I just kept reading. Finished in two days. So, I guess basically I liked it! I don't know why the author made certain decisions, like, why do I know the exact ethnic background, height, hair color and breast size of every character we meet, even minor ones? But I can't say it didn't work out as I read it all. There you go.
daxie's review
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
3.75
setaugher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5