Reviews with content warning for Body horror - Horrorstor

I feel really frustrated with this book. I enjoy the concept of paranormal IKEA, but felt the story could have taken a more interesting direction at almost every turn. It built little suspense and catapults the reader into a never-ending series of traumas (which can be enjoyable but it became boring quickly in this context).
Even though the story revolves around the paranormal and the unbelievable, I was constantly fixated on how unrealistic certain aspects were (like retail workers being set to the task of staying overnight in a store when possible criminal activity is going on.. I can't imagine any company risking the liability; also, the main character's motives didn't feel believable and seemed forced). I think I would have been able to suspend disbelief if the tone was more "campy."
I did appreciate the commentary about corporations motivated by capitalism and greed, while selling false ideals that some buy and others resist (but remain stuck regardless).

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librarymouse's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I'm glad I got this book in print to read, but now, I'm unsettled by it.

Ruth Anne's snoopy😭. Twice, when he came up, first in Amy's thoughts right after Ruth Anne succumbing to the pennetants, and again at Ruth Anne's memorial, I nearly cried. Grady Hendrix has a neat trick of characterizing his characters with little, branded quirks, like Ruth Anne's religious attachment to Blistex and Amy specifically stopping at the Speedway for coffee that somewhat break the suspension disbelief while making them a bit more interesting. Ruth Anne's Snoopy waiting for her on the couch at a home she'll never return to takes that almost comical brand name dropping and turns it on it's head. Making the thought of a mass produced toy waiting for it's loving owner to return home such a deeply gut wrenching thing in the slog of gore and terror in this book makes upsetting and gorgeous space for grief. Ruth Anne gouging out her own eyes to avoid seeing the things that terrified her, with the childlike belief that if she can't see them, they can't see her is equally upsetting.

Matt and Trinity are interesting characters, but they don't get as much space in the book to be known. The focus is on Amy, Basil, and Ruth Anne. Ruth Anne does a great job personalizing Basil to Amy, beyond the archetype of ineffective middle manager. He believes in her as a person. It just takes a while for the two of them to understand each other.

This book really takes the concept of the real evil being capitalism to the furthest degree possible beg it would fall into a spoof/satire category. Orsk is a corporate, bureaucratic nightmare.

The gradual shifting of the images from possible furniture pieces to torture equipment is honestly funny. I like how each item is showcased in the chapter. In some scenes, this book reads a bit like a fanfiction, which isn't a bad thing. It provides much needed moments of levity.

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hellokatya's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.25

i really enjoyed this book!
the beginning was very lighthearted, and even funny, making it nice to ease into.
as it went on, the horror was very prevalent and caught me off guard! i was not expecting it to be genuinely scary, but there were many times that i was physically recoiling with what was happening.
very very good and engaging book, highly recommend!

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chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition

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tense fast-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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chemistrychick68's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

4.75

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frmeden's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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joscelynhe's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Much scarier than his other books I’ve read, but still very entertaining. Hendrix knows how to do tension and suspense well.

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mburnsides's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Hendrix’s novels tend to start slow and end fast as the action begins. The characters in this book are constantly being thrown into a new and life threatening situation that fails to allow the reader to breathe. Overall, I liked the book (and the formatting of the physical editions) but disliked the characters.

They are so dumb and make infuriating decisions. No one cares that much about coworkers they aren’t friends with to endure torture, injury, and almost death, when given the chance to leave.

Amy could have left and gotten help when she had escaped and the whole thing would have been over quicker. There was no reason Amy, of all characters, would have gone back so determined to save everyone on her own because some asshat ghost tortured her. She didn't even succeed in saving most of the cast!

And Basil *insert eye-rolling emoji* got on my nerves so bad. Despite the contrary, he continued and continued to deny the reality of their situation until he could no longer “logic brain” Amy and the others. And his d*ckriding of Orsk… I hate that there was any attempt to justify his desperation to be loyal to the company.

Other than the annoying characters, the horror was decent. I wasn’t a fan of the Warden and his torture of the cast because it felt so cheesy and took me out of the scariness of the body horror. The rest of the ghost stuff was scary though.

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