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Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
it was fairly obvious right away what was going on but i was kind of hoping it would go in a different direction, though i'm not sure where. the ending was very quickly wrapped up though, which sucked, and i was deeply upset about a certain character's demise (if you know, you know...). still, it was an enjoyable, fairly quick read, though i don't think i'll read any more by this author as her books are just too similar to one another!
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Child abuse
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Lesbophobia
All those issues that those who are marginalized by poverty, race, sexuality, and more struggle against every day. Its a horror story that comments on the real horrors of our world – the monsters are real but they’re not what you think.
This book was an emotional gut punch. I knew this was a survival game (very much like Escape Room or Squid Game) so I went in like Mack – determined not to get attached to anyone but the main character. I knew they were all going to die some horrible death and the last thing I wanted was to cry over a horror story. Well Kiersten didn’t allow me or Mack to stay aloof. Characters like Ava, Brandon, and LeGrande worm their way into your heart and you find yourself cheering them on even when you know its hopeless. I cried. I admit it. It was brutal. I can’t get into my favorite parts of this book without major spoilers. I’ll simply say the twists and turns not only in the story but also in Mack’s mind are INTENSE.
Speaking of intense, while this game is easily relatable to survival game horror shows and cultist stories like Archive81 (see my review here), Mack actually made me think of one of my favorite thriller characters – China from Koontz’ Intensity. Her trauma, determination, and cleverness were spot on and made me love Mack as much as I love China. Great work.
My only issue with this book is the monster could have been scarier BUT I understand why it is the way it is. I also felt like the end could have had more punch after the final twist. It was ok, but after all that adrenaline reading…I was like “and then?”
A great book. Highly recommended reading Hide by Kiersten White for fans of Escape Room, Squid Game, Archive81, Intensity, and other twisted, fucked up horrors with characters you love even as you fully expect them to die.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Lesbophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, War
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: War
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexism, Lesbophobia
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Rape, War
My only struggle with this was that the author writes in third person omniscient and switches perspectives without chapter or page breaks. So on the same page, you'll get the thoughts and feelings of multiple different characters. Especially when first being introduced to the characters, being in one person's thoughts and then suddenly another's was a bit of whiplash and just generally confusing because there were so many characters to get to know.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Racism, Grief, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail