Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Compound

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Compound by Aisling Rawle, Aisling Rawle

89 reviews

britloveslit's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

bookedinthebakery's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was first drawn to this book for its comparison to Love Island meets Lord of the Flies. The book is set on a reality tv compound where 10 people compete to be the last one standing, completing tasks and earning rewards along the way (all while being watched by viewers at home). I ultimately felt like it was more like Big Brother with a hint of Hunger Games. It honestly didn’t get as dark and twisted as I was expecting, but I was fascinated by its comments on consumerism, greed, and backstabbing. How far would you go to win branded rewards? It seems to take place in a world slightly beyond our own, but it doesn’t seem all that far away.

Content Warnings

theconniefox's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

gemshep's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A suspenseful and thrilling story which combines the atmospheres of Love Island, Big Brother and Lord of the Flies. The story explores the issues of modern society, in particular the issues of capitalism, consumerism and personal image. Aisling is a great writer who keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to guess what the contestants will do next. She is able to present some complex ideas and questions in a way which reflects modern society and entertainment whilst remaining accessible. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the story and the character arcs within the overall plot; which ultimately leaves you question what would happen next in the characters lives.
The story itself is set in a secluded compound, placed in the middle of the desert. Whilst the female contestants arrive immediately after the last group leave, the men have to travel across the desert to meet them. Once all the group has arrived, a series of tasks are set, both communally and personal, and result to material rewards; as time goes on, these gifts become more and more expensive and luxurious. All the while, the contestants must form opposite sex partnerships to stay within the compound. As time goes on and they build an idyllic compound there appears to be something sinister lying beneath the surface and questions how much should you sacrifice for material gain and luxury?

Content Warnings

orla_h's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In the desert, there's a compound. Ten women are there, waiting for ten men to arrive. When the men arrive (late and less one of their number), the game is afoot. Every person who is not sharing a bed with a member of the opposite sex when the sun rises is banished.
Everything is filmed, everything must be earned through tasks (communal or personal), and the contestants are punished for breaking any of the rules.
The Compound really doesn't read like a debut novel. It's assured and propulsive, and uses its premise to examine all kinds of social issues without losing any of its pace or bite.
The contestants are mostly interesting and well drawn, Lily especially so. She's hyperaware of how she looks, how she'll look on camera, the effect she's having on the men, and initially seems pretty shallow. Another blonde who lives and dies by her fashion magazines, who likes to be dolled up to the nines, and wants shiny things. She's not just that, though - people seldom really are what they seem on the surface.
Most of the contestants are morally grey and are nudged one way or another by the unseen producers. It's fun to see the manipulation, until it suddenly isn't and the tension ratchets up several gears.
The last third of the book is genuinely scary in places - it earns its comparison to Lord of the Flies.
I stayed up way too late (on a school night!) to finish this, and had trouble sleeping afterwards (complimentary). By rights, The Compound should be one of the buzziest books of the summer.

Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Content Warnings

lauren_lovestoread's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

OMG what a book! This was such a unique story! I read the majority of it in one day.
Following the contestants of this dystopian-esque Love Island-meets-Lord-of-the-Flies reality show through the narrator, Lily’s, POV is incredibly gripping. The author keeps you guessing with what is happening next, and the tension between the characters builds so quickly and only made me read faster. The lengths some of them go to in order to win were horrifying and I could not look away. My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed, and somewhat anticlimactic. Really solid sci-fi horror novel!

Content Warnings

anniekaisa's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A Love Island-Lord of the Flies-Traitors-Survivors mashup set in a dystopian world? I’m in. Contestants on the reality series in The Compound compete to team up with a partner of the opposite sex, stay in the house, win increasingly fancy prizes, and slowly eliminate their rivals. I wouldn’t necessarily classify the contestants as likable but I wanted to keep reading to see how things would play out for them either way. Like all good reality shows, there was a good mix of suspense, emotion, and drama. The novel’s central themes about the corruption caused by consumerism and influencer culture have given me lots to think about.

I wanted more world building outside of the compound especially around the ideas of climate destruction and war, but I thought this was really solid for a debut novel. I’m excited to see what this author creates in the future. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Content Warnings