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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I only read this because I heard A TON about it. In my head I was honestly scared to read it because I made it out to be absolutely disgusting and disturbing and something I wouldn’t be able to handle just from what I heard. While there were some absolutely gross parts this was not as bad as I was expecting it to be. Maybe it is because horror is my life, maybe it’s because it actually isn’t as hardcore as some people are making it out to be, or maybe I am just desensitized to most things. I don’t know. This was wild though. Some crazy fucking shit happens.
So first things first for the positives, this is actually well written for the genre it is and Aron is a talented writer. He has such a great way of writing about tough topics and has some really profound lines and passages in this. I was not expecting a book like this to tackle child abuse, neglect, trauma, and the cycle of abuse, but the way Aron writes about it is very sad. I didn’t think I would get emotional about some of the parts of this.
Second, this was so intense. From the moments the kids get to the playground to the end I was on edge. The stakes were literally life or death and my heart was racing. While this wasn’t scary, it was a thrill ride, and I was locked in.
Third, the “games” were so creative. Each one was different from the last and I had no idea what was coming next and how he was going to make something normal in a playground to fucked up.
Now while I liked the majority of this, my negatives did weigh this down a decent amount. Chapters 6 and 7 were disgusting. They were by far the grossest part of the whole book and felt so out of place. Nothing that happened in them added anything to the story and could have been cut out completely. Everything said in them could have been added to the story in like two sentences without the need for the fucking gross stuff. It really felt like Aron added this in just to disturb people and for people to talk about it. If these weren’t in the book this would have honestly just been a normal horror novel and I honestly feel like the notoriety for this book wouldn’t have even happened.
Second, even though while reading this you know the characters are kids, they don’t act or sound like kids. And since they don’t act or sound like kids, you aren’t exactly horrified or disturbed when they start dying. If it wasn’t for the book mentioning that they are kids my brain would just think they are like teenagers or young adults. Like I just can’t believe a like eight year old would be able formulate plans to get them through these traps and it doesn’t help when they are having discussions with vocabulary far beyond their years. These kids are supposed to be like 6-13 and they are acting like they are excited to see their 401k returns when they get out.
But overall I really enjoyed this despite the adult kids and the gross two chapters. The violence I didn’t think was that bad except for a scene near the beginning and the final fights at the end. This wasn’t as extreme as I was expecting, but I don’t think I’m going to branch out any further in the extreme horror genre. I just know everything else is gonna be worse, so my journey is stopping here.
So first things first for the positives, this is actually well written for the genre it is and Aron is a talented writer. He has such a great way of writing about tough topics and has some really profound lines and passages in this. I was not expecting a book like this to tackle child abuse, neglect, trauma, and the cycle of abuse, but the way Aron writes about it is very sad. I didn’t think I would get emotional about some of the parts of this.
Second, this was so intense. From the moments the kids get to the playground to the end I was on edge. The stakes were literally life or death and my heart was racing. While this wasn’t scary, it was a thrill ride, and I was locked in.
Third, the “games” were so creative. Each one was different from the last and I had no idea what was coming next and how he was going to make something normal in a playground to fucked up.
Now while I liked the majority of this, my negatives did weigh this down a decent amount. Chapters 6 and 7 were disgusting. They were by far the grossest part of the whole book and felt so out of place. Nothing that happened in them added anything to the story and could have been cut out completely. Everything said in them could have been added to the story in like two sentences without the need for the fucking gross stuff. It really felt like Aron added this in just to disturb people and for people to talk about it. If these weren’t in the book this would have honestly just been a normal horror novel and I honestly feel like the notoriety for this book wouldn’t have even happened.
Second, even though while reading this you know the characters are kids, they don’t act or sound like kids. And since they don’t act or sound like kids, you aren’t exactly horrified or disturbed when they start dying. If it wasn’t for the book mentioning that they are kids my brain would just think they are like teenagers or young adults. Like I just can’t believe a like eight year old would be able formulate plans to get them through these traps and it doesn’t help when they are having discussions with vocabulary far beyond their years. These kids are supposed to be like 6-13 and they are acting like they are excited to see their 401k returns when they get out.
But overall I really enjoyed this despite the adult kids and the gross two chapters. The violence I didn’t think was that bad except for a scene near the beginning and the final fights at the end. This wasn’t as extreme as I was expecting, but I don’t think I’m going to branch out any further in the extreme horror genre. I just know everything else is gonna be worse, so my journey is stopping here.
I found this book through tiktok, and while it was entertaining, i wouldn't read it again. Yhe premise was similar to saw but with children and a fucked up old lady instead of john kramer. I had a good snicker at fermented beaver, but over all, the book was just a little lack luster for me
Review:
This book was extremely gruesome. Think of the hunger games meets saw in a sickening kind of way.
The atmosphere of this book leaves you with a sick feeling in your stomach, it’s too horrible to read but to intriguing to put down.
The book its self has very dark scenes that are definitely not suitable for younger viewers.
In the book a group of 8 children are challenged with surviving different “playground”, with each play apparatus much dangerous and deadly than the last.
This book definitely isn’t for the faint hearted and personally even though I enjoyed the horror aspect , the plot wasn’t for me and I wouldn’t reread it.
Characters. 5/10
Atmosphere. 3/10
Writing 5/10
Plot. 5 /10
Intrigue 7 /10
Logic/relationship. 2/10
Enjoyment 5/10
Cawpile Rating 4.5 = 2 stars
Warning: paedophilia and coprophilia, and it felt very genuine. This was the worst written book I've read. The author was incredibly immature and had such a limited vocabulary the kills were confusing and nonsensical. They tried to increase the drama and horror by drawing them out which only made them more confusing. The design of the puzzles were also that of a toddler. None of it made sense and the writing was so poor it wasn't even fun. The slurs were also unnecessary and edgelordy. The author clearly hates women and is extremely vulgar towards them. I'm really shocked I didn't see the n word but I guess there were no black characters.
I've read well written splatterpunk before that wasn't homophobic, mysogyny or paedophilia. I feel like contacting the bookstore I bought it from to recommend not buying the author again for the paedophilia. I don't want them associated with it.
The book also had illustrations but they didn't match anything in the story, they were entirely wrong. The writing was so confusing I at least wanted a visual of the death traps and there was nothing. They were very poorly drawn and simplistic.
I've read well written splatterpunk before that wasn't homophobic, mysogyny or paedophilia. I feel like contacting the bookstore I bought it from to recommend not buying the author again for the paedophilia. I don't want them associated with it.
The book also had illustrations but they didn't match anything in the story, they were entirely wrong. The writing was so confusing I at least wanted a visual of the death traps and there was nothing. They were very poorly drawn and simplistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
No
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Insists a little too much on certain topics throughout the whole book
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Found my threshold on a couple of topics. It was not dull, but it could have been 100 pages shorter.