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pagesinkedinshadows's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was interesting and intense. I don’t know if I would have finished it if it wasn’t for bookclub. It had some definite slow parts & then a FUCK this shit moment too.
I have a lot of feelings but don’t want to have any spoilers.
I have a lot of feelings but don’t want to have any spoilers.
horizonous's review against another edition
This read like a general fiction with.. "down on her luck white woman going into the jungle with her Bolivian lover to find herself" vibes and after reading some reviews that pretty much confirm my assumptions, I decided to DNF this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Cancer, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
crystalbrutlag's review
This is marketed as a thriller, but it’s not so much a mystery thriller as it is a survival story that creates the thrills. While I was totally up for a mystery thriller, I’ve always been a big fan of survival stories. Ferencik’s writing is absolutely beautiful and I felt like I was there with them. I don’t have too much to say about this, other than I’ve been obsessed with the jungle, so this was the perfect book to read.
klb_2's review
Very heavy on the fact that the MC is pregnant. And is just not for me.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
3.0
This was a weird book. It's not a "thriller" or a mystery, which is how it's kind of framed in the description. It's an interesting story and I liked reading about tribal life in the Bolivian jungle. It's a weird book, for sure.
mckennedy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
cozylittlebrownhouse's review
5.0
pub date 5/25/19
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Lily's teaching position abroad falls through, she realizes that hustling to scrape together money and hostel living isn't what she had dreamed of when she fled the foster care and group home system of the United States. Enter Omar, a handsome local who is trying out city living after leaving his small jungle home in remote Ayachero with whom she falls quickly and madly in love. When he decides to return to assist in hunting the jaguar that killed his nephew, Lily decides to embark on a journey to the desolate Bolivian jungle to be with him.
The terrors and trials of jungle-living are a new challenge for Lily, and as readers we join her for her time in Ayachero. She learns how to survive the oppressive and unrelenting nature that surrounds her, facing deadly predators, massive insects, vengeful shamans, and poachers.
Thoughts:
I enjoyed Ferencik's novel, The River at Night, but was COMPLETELY engrossed by Into the Jungle. In some ways, it was reminiscent (for me) of The Poisonwood Bible, one of my all-time favorite reads because it spurred the same fascination of how people adapt to such a foreign environment and the challenges that meet them there, which is something I loved about TPB. The foreshadowing really propels you forward as you get glimpses into Lily's future and wonder how she will arrive to that moment, and with each scenario faced, it was easy to wonder I would fare in her shoes. (Not well.) I was surprised when I finished to see that this is marketed as a thriller, because I found it to read like literary fiction with elements of suspense - it did not feel like traditional thrillers I have read, so keep that in mind when picking this one up.
This was a five-star read for me, and I feel confident that it will be on my top ten list of the year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Lily's teaching position abroad falls through, she realizes that hustling to scrape together money and hostel living isn't what she had dreamed of when she fled the foster care and group home system of the United States. Enter Omar, a handsome local who is trying out city living after leaving his small jungle home in remote Ayachero with whom she falls quickly and madly in love. When he decides to return to assist in hunting the jaguar that killed his nephew, Lily decides to embark on a journey to the desolate Bolivian jungle to be with him.
The terrors and trials of jungle-living are a new challenge for Lily, and as readers we join her for her time in Ayachero. She learns how to survive the oppressive and unrelenting nature that surrounds her, facing deadly predators, massive insects, vengeful shamans, and poachers.
Thoughts:
I enjoyed Ferencik's novel, The River at Night, but was COMPLETELY engrossed by Into the Jungle. In some ways, it was reminiscent (for me) of The Poisonwood Bible, one of my all-time favorite reads because it spurred the same fascination of how people adapt to such a foreign environment and the challenges that meet them there, which is something I loved about TPB. The foreshadowing really propels you forward as you get glimpses into Lily's future and wonder how she will arrive to that moment, and with each scenario faced, it was easy to wonder I would fare in her shoes. (Not well.) I was surprised when I finished to see that this is marketed as a thriller, because I found it to read like literary fiction with elements of suspense - it did not feel like traditional thrillers I have read, so keep that in mind when picking this one up.
This was a five-star read for me, and I feel confident that it will be on my top ten list of the year.
reneebkreviews's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
3.0
_soraya_pl's review against another edition
3.0
The story itself is written well warranting 3 stars. But the story is just a young American girl Lily finding herself living in the jungle with her new Bolivian lover Omar and the terrors, tribulations and struggles that come with living a remote life.
tkayaeve's review against another edition
2.0
I was pretty disappointed with this one. I wanted to stop reading early on & I wish I had. It was boring, definitely not thrilling, at parts unrealistic & other parts sad and depressing.