Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - Horrorstor

It was fine, entertaining enough, but kind of felt sometimes run of the mill horror and sometime gratuitous violence. I guess it was kind of a slasher novel, but then tried to be more sometimes? I did enjoy the design of the book, like an IKEA catalogue!

Content Warnings

ricksilva's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A solid four-star horror story that gains a star for it's ridiculous (in the best possibly way) design/layout and it's total dedication to sticking to it's gimmick.

Strange things are afoot at the local Orsk, a big-box retailer of Swedish-style furniture that is absolutely not just a knockoff of it's better-known competitor, Ikea.

Amy, an employee stuck in the retail grind, is offered double-overtime for an overnight shift with her manager, Basil, and longtime cashier Ruth Anne. It seems there has been a series of vandalism incidents overnight, and Basil has a team from corporate showing up the next morning expecting answers.

No problem, just a night in a giant maze-like furniture store full of doors to nowhere and stocked with the latest in fashionable home design. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything does, of course. The story hits a bunch of standard horror beats while never losing its central metaphor of retail work as prison. The characters have enough complexity to each pull off a few surprises, and the author does a nice job mixing the creepiness and overall absurdity of the setting.

The book is laid out like a furniture catalogue, and it's done with delightful attention to detail (why yes, I did notice that every furniture piece has 666 somewhere in its item number). The Orsk corporate-speak and slogans, lovingly quoted by Basil, get more and more disturbing as the story moves on. And I particularly loved how all of the characters referred to the furniture pieces by their Swedish names no matter how stressful the situation was.

This is a harrowing story (avoid if you're bothered by claustrophobia, bondage, and/or drowning) that is loaded with dark humor in a wonderfully absurd package.

Content Warnings

justwordsandink's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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kalira's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

What a very well-written horror (story? experience? yes?); it was also a well-done slope that had me cringily anticipating Bad Things, easing up and even laughing, thinking it wouldn't be so horrific after all, and then . . . hooboy.

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cameronaverwhy's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This book was actually so thrilling and hilarious I read it in basically one sitting. The characters are all realistic, the whole concept is brilliant and the whole book just WORKS. Not to mention it’s printed like an Ikea catalogue and looks like one too. Well done, Grady Hendrix, well done.

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aechpea's review against another edition

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dark hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

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emmonsannae's review against another edition

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dark funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was PERFECT! The haunted-ikea vibe is impeccable, the haunting is scary and well executed, the plot is the perfect length, the characters are lovable and develop beautifully, and it’s funny! Not to mention the ikea catalog graphics. The entire thing is inventive and a delight to explore. Such a great reading experience!!

Content Warnings

inakar's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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