Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

96 reviews

bladebailey's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Six friends have borrowed an RV for a roadtrip when they find themselves stranded on a remote road with no cell service, shot-out tires, and a sniper threatening their lives unless one of them steps forward with a secret he wants. 

Five Survive comes together as an exciting thriller with sordid secrets and fracturing relationships, but it does drag its feet for the first 50% or so. I found myself bored and yearning for the constant bickering to stop so that the actual storyline could move forward but, once it did, Five Survive moves fast and has all of Jackson's trademark twists and last minute reveals. I still prefer the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series but Five Survive stands solidly as a standalone thriller with summer slasher vibes, untrustworthy characters, and a narrator who feels unreliable at times. A buried romance subplot helps provide some levity. I definitely recommend Five Survive, my only two criticisms that it can feel painfully slow and I think we're meant to want everyone to survive the night but Jackson succeeds a little too well at making one particular character so repugnant that I was actively begging to see him take a bullet by the end of the story. 

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jessboyd05's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5


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olliejp2004's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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kcohrs19's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0


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aklovekorn's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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icedlemonade's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.75


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mickcou's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5


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inkysplodge's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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jbt1234's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I tried the Five Survive challenge and read this within 8 hours. What a ride?

The writing is fantastic in a really modest way. Descriptions never drew attention to themselves but I always knew exactly what was going on with the perfect amount of metaphor.

The pacing was incredible, though I think I was expecting a bit more slasher thriller vibe than strictly secrets and psychological thriller vibe which is maybe one of the only major negative critiques. 

It was a fantastic read and a great way to spend a Saturday!

Also, Oliver got what he damn well deserved.

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carrielensing584's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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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