Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twists: ⭐️⭐️
Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, so for the most part this book was bloody brilliant and had me glued to it.
In-fact, it was almost a 5 star book until it got to "book two" where for a little while it just turned into a completely different book.
"Book One" was so full of suspense and made my imagination go crazy, and my heart was genuinely thumping. "Book Two" was rather mild in comparison and dealt with the "situation" at a completely different angle.
The world building was fantastic and I had no trouble at all imaging what I was being told.
The downfall is, I was left with many, many unanswered questions after finishing this book.
I do know that this is a "trilogy", even though I suspect it is actually just three companion novels. I'm hoping that as the books go on, my questions become answered.
I would however, completely recommend this book!
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twists: ⭐️⭐️
Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, so for the most part this book was bloody brilliant and had me glued to it.
In-fact, it was almost a 5 star book until it got to "book two" where for a little while it just turned into a completely different book.
"Book One" was so full of suspense and made my imagination go crazy, and my heart was genuinely thumping. "Book Two" was rather mild in comparison and dealt with the "situation" at a completely different angle.
The world building was fantastic and I had no trouble at all imaging what I was being told.
The downfall is, I was left with many, many unanswered questions after finishing this book.
I do know that this is a "trilogy", even though I suspect it is actually just three companion novels. I'm hoping that as the books go on, my questions become answered.
I would however, completely recommend this book!
I decided to read this because my library ebook collection said to read it if you liked black mirror.
It was just bizarre. I don’t really like the idea of alternative universes where they may or may not be imagined. I found it frustrating and odd.
It was just bizarre. I don’t really like the idea of alternative universes where they may or may not be imagined. I found it frustrating and odd.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
confused, in a good way?
Not normally my style. Creepy / gross yet fun. However, as somebody who likes 1984 I thought I'd give it a go. Read it on the Kindle while travelling on various airplanes. A much safer place to read it than a home with stairs. . .
Great horror novel! I wish more horror books kept that amazing, surreal environment.
See my other reviews at Never Enough Books
Dan is your typical angsty emo kid working in a bookstore inside a dull shopping mall.
Rhoda is your typical junkie, always looking for her next score; her next hit.
When the kid Rhoda is supposed to be looking after runs off while she’s scoring some cocaine, she bullies the hapless Dan in to helping her look for the child. Dan is less than eager to help but as they search more of the closed mall, they both begin receiving strange text messages that draw them in to the lower levels of the building. Where old mannequins are stored in grave like piles and raw sewage drips from the ceiling…and where the only way out is down.
Taking the only elevator, they enter a gruesome underworld where their worst fears are brought to life. Making it to the other side, the two find themselves back in the mall but things are not quite right. And soon they both realize their nightmare has only just begun.
The Mall is very much your typical survival horror type of story; and yet it isn’t. Readers familiar with the Silent Hill video games – specifically the third one – will recognize the descent of the characters from a normal looking mall to a darker, flip-side type of mall. They will recognize the puzzles the characters must solve in order to move on as well as the horrifying obstacles they must face.
Certainly not a book for the squeamish, I found The Mall to be a quick and entertaining read. It’s obvious this is the first of a series as it leaves a good deal of questions unanswered. Horror fans should definitely give this one a read and I’ll be looking for the next book in the series.
Dan is your typical angsty emo kid working in a bookstore inside a dull shopping mall.
Rhoda is your typical junkie, always looking for her next score; her next hit.
When the kid Rhoda is supposed to be looking after runs off while she’s scoring some cocaine, she bullies the hapless Dan in to helping her look for the child. Dan is less than eager to help but as they search more of the closed mall, they both begin receiving strange text messages that draw them in to the lower levels of the building. Where old mannequins are stored in grave like piles and raw sewage drips from the ceiling…and where the only way out is down.
Taking the only elevator, they enter a gruesome underworld where their worst fears are brought to life. Making it to the other side, the two find themselves back in the mall but things are not quite right. And soon they both realize their nightmare has only just begun.
The Mall is very much your typical survival horror type of story; and yet it isn’t. Readers familiar with the Silent Hill video games – specifically the third one – will recognize the descent of the characters from a normal looking mall to a darker, flip-side type of mall. They will recognize the puzzles the characters must solve in order to move on as well as the horrifying obstacles they must face.
Certainly not a book for the squeamish, I found The Mall to be a quick and entertaining read. It’s obvious this is the first of a series as it leaves a good deal of questions unanswered. Horror fans should definitely give this one a read and I’ll be looking for the next book in the series.
DNF twice (just to be sure.) First time, DNF at page 60, second time at page 149.
The cover of this one caught my eye at the library so I picked it up. It's an interesting concept, but it just didn't quite get there for me. I definitely wouldn't call it horror. There were a couple tense moments, but they were buried under what could mostly be called dark humor/satire. It's ok. Not great. Not terrible.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No