Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Compound

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Compound by Aisling Rawle, Aisling Rawle

84 reviews

maggieparedesauthor's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

Content Warnings

dblue236's review against another edition

4.0

dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book doesn't so much end as just stop, and usually that's a thing that leaves me feeling frustrated and let down even if I had enjoyed the book up to that point. With this one, I didn't feel very much like it detracted from the overall story, because I think the point was that everything leading up to the ending was what was important. I was interested in the characters even if I didn't necessarily like most of them, and I found the whole premise to be unique and entertaining- it was a little bit reality TV, a little bit survival of the fittest, a little bit psychological horror. The ending, such as it was, left me feeling unsettled and unresolved in the best possible way, and I can't really explain what I liked so much about the book as a whole, but I'm still thinking about it the next day.

Content Warnings

katbhw's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book has such a bleak and eerie tone to it, almost dystopian at moments.
But, just like good reality tv, even when there was nothing happening - I couldn’t look away, I was hooked, I was addicted
This book feels like it’s verging on a psychological thriller but it doesnt quite tip over into its full potential, but I liked what it had to say about needs vs wants, and how with very little prompting, humans turn into their basest selves and will do horrible things to each other to survive. All in the name of winning.

I think Lilly was a bland protagonist, but also the perfect voice to tell this story - she truly believes that the Compound is a positive experience, that winning this reality show will change her life. And she sticks to that belief the whole time, no matter what challenge or horrible thing she finds herself doing

And I want to know what’s going on with the wars and out in the desert, but I kept getting distracted by the drama and sparkle of the compound, which definitely made me reflect on how easily we get distracted from real world issues by entertainment.

Content Warnings

uncreative_username's review against another edition

4.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What a page-turner! FINALLY, something that made me want to keep reading! 👏🏼 The plot was pretty unique. Kind of a Big Brother meets Hunger Games vibe. I don’t watch a ton of reality competition shows, so there may be a better fit, but you get the idea. I loved the challenges and rewards set up. I kinda thought there would’ve been more to those at times, but overall, still a great story. I would definitely read another “season” of the show. I’m already wanting to seek out similar books to read, so if anyone has some recommendations, feel free to comment! It was a nice change of pace from all the “romantasy” books I’ve been talked into reading. Definitely much needed.

Content Warnings

rosejorden's review against another edition

5.0

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

anenome's review against another edition

4.75

fast-paced

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

The group dynamics were gripping and exciting. Rawle really expertly observes undercurrents of feelings that guide our behaviour in times when valued things, be they material or abstract, are scarce.

I loved how the book explored Lily's feelings about the life she was escaping from. We generally hear so much about the evils of things like reality TV and consumerism but here we see the grinding sadness and exhaustion of being a worker bee trapped in pressure, monotony and dismissal that makes these things appealing.

I thought it would ramp up at the end but it kind of petered out.

Content Warnings