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mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
Notes when I read this book the first time (2012):
This book was just awesome. It had mystery, love, thriller and it kept me guessing. I had some guesses, and in the end I could guess who it was, but there were lots of false hints given. :)
I would recommend this book to everyone who likes mysteries, being stuck on an island, storms, mysterious deaths (in gruesome ways).
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Review when I re-read this book in 2015:
Doing a re-read. My edition is the hardcover, but we all know how re-reading works on GR. :)
So did I love this book as I did back almost 3 years ago? Yes, yes I did. I only remembered some stuff, and at times I felt like I knew more than I wanted, but most of it has luckily faded away. Phew!
Most of my old review still applies, but I want to update and write a new one with updated feelings and thoughts.
I absolutely adored Meg, she seemed to be the only normal girl in the house at times, she also seemed like the only one not really fitting in with the crowd. Everyone else is pretty much popular or is known, she is not popular, she isn't known that much. But later we find out why she also got an invite. What her purpose is in this bloody game of death.
I loved that Meg tried to keep cool, tried to keep her calm, but you could just see cracks appearing with each person dying, with each bloody murder. Add to that how her bitchy best friend was treating her, and it amazes me that Meg didn't crack earlier. She is an incredibly strong and determined person. While the rest was just trying to flee, or try to hide, she tried to figure out what the hell was going on. She tried to figure out who did everything, who the murderer really was. And sure, later on someone else helped out too, but it was mostly her.
I didn't like how she was so friendly with Minnie. It was just a bit creepy, it was less of friendship and more of a parent/child relationship. She took care of her friend, she did everything that her friend wanted, she followed her everywhere. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get a life. To tell Minnie the honest truth, to tell her that Minnie wasn't a good friend.
Another thing that seemed odd (and something that happens more often in books) is that Meg took her journal with her to the party. Why would you do that? It is bound to happen that someone stumbles upon it, or you leave it open (or in this case... someone else did). You care so much about your friend, yet you don't care that she might see the journals? See the truth that you have written down there?
Minnie, bleh, I really disliked her. She was one of the worst characters, she did prove herself near the end, but that was just a short moment, and I don't know if she genuinely cared or it was due to all the stuff that happened.
I think Minnie was pretty heartless. And sure, she is bipolar, she has some problems, but come on. Demanding all that stuff from your friend? Asking her to comply to all your wishes and means? And get angry when she shows a bit of emotion to guy you want, but who clearly said no to you. Shouldn't you support your friend? Why should it always be about you and what you want?
Minnie is an enormously selfish girl, she was frustrating and I didn't like how she acted when people started dying.
We got a big cast of people, some we got to know more than others. Most of them were pretty stereotypical characters, but a few had a bit more than that and it was fun to learn more about them.
Though I would recommend you don't get too attached to them. This book is pretty gruesome and people will get killed, who, I won't tell as that is a spoiler, but let me just tell you this, don't get too close to these people.
The deaths were pretty gruesome and horrific, but they fitted with the story. I think if we just read about someone dying and no details that the book would have been pretty boring. But yeah, some parts just had me shivering and turning away a bit. But even gory, they weren't super gory, just gruesome.
The story itself was pretty awesome, I really loved all the little references and stuff you see happening in the story, things that you will recognize from other movies or books. Some stuff is so stereotypical for this kind of genre. Teens coming for a party to an island, a storm is raging, power dies and people start dying. And don't forget revenge.
The diary and why people died was (as soon as the diary was found) pretty easy to see, though who did it, that one was a nice speculation. Was it that one? Or was it that person? Or is there another person, not in the house, not invited. Or is it one of them? It was fun to read about it.
Other than the main story of revenge + gruesome deaths, we also have another story. One about a boy and girl, who both love/like each other but can't be together, and it was great fun that this was added to the story, it just gave that extra spark that made the book extra awesome. Especially with the whole, who is the killer part? it was just gave that edge to it. What would we do if it turns out it is that guy? Or that girl?
The ending was epic, and I really loved how everything went down. However, there was one tiny thing I didn't particularly like. I would have loved to know how it went with *insert name*. Some sort of epilogue, something to let us know the after effects.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This book was just awesome. It had mystery, love, thriller and it kept me guessing. I had some guesses, and in the end I could guess who it was, but there were lots of false hints given. :)
I would recommend this book to everyone who likes mysteries, being stuck on an island, storms, mysterious deaths (in gruesome ways).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review when I re-read this book in 2015:
Doing a re-read. My edition is the hardcover, but we all know how re-reading works on GR. :)
So did I love this book as I did back almost 3 years ago? Yes, yes I did. I only remembered some stuff, and at times I felt like I knew more than I wanted, but most of it has luckily faded away. Phew!
Most of my old review still applies, but I want to update and write a new one with updated feelings and thoughts.
I absolutely adored Meg, she seemed to be the only normal girl in the house at times, she also seemed like the only one not really fitting in with the crowd. Everyone else is pretty much popular or is known, she is not popular, she isn't known that much. But later we find out why she also got an invite. What her purpose is in this bloody game of death.
I loved that Meg tried to keep cool, tried to keep her calm, but you could just see cracks appearing with each person dying, with each bloody murder. Add to that how her bitchy best friend was treating her, and it amazes me that Meg didn't crack earlier. She is an incredibly strong and determined person. While the rest was just trying to flee, or try to hide, she tried to figure out what the hell was going on. She tried to figure out who did everything, who the murderer really was. And sure, later on someone else helped out too, but it was mostly her.
I didn't like how she was so friendly with Minnie. It was just a bit creepy, it was less of friendship and more of a parent/child relationship. She took care of her friend, she did everything that her friend wanted, she followed her everywhere. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get a life. To tell Minnie the honest truth, to tell her that Minnie wasn't a good friend.
Another thing that seemed odd (and something that happens more often in books) is that Meg took her journal with her to the party. Why would you do that? It is bound to happen that someone stumbles upon it, or you leave it open (or in this case... someone else did). You care so much about your friend, yet you don't care that she might see the journals? See the truth that you have written down there?
Minnie, bleh, I really disliked her. She was one of the worst characters, she did prove herself near the end, but that was just a short moment, and I don't know if she genuinely cared or it was due to all the stuff that happened.
I think Minnie was pretty heartless. And sure, she is bipolar, she has some problems, but come on. Demanding all that stuff from your friend? Asking her to comply to all your wishes and means? And get angry when she shows a bit of emotion to guy you want, but who clearly said no to you. Shouldn't you support your friend? Why should it always be about you and what you want?
Minnie is an enormously selfish girl, she was frustrating and I didn't like how she acted when people started dying.
We got a big cast of people, some we got to know more than others. Most of them were pretty stereotypical characters, but a few had a bit more than that and it was fun to learn more about them.
Though I would recommend you don't get too attached to them. This book is pretty gruesome and people will get killed, who, I won't tell as that is a spoiler, but let me just tell you this, don't get too close to these people.
The deaths were pretty gruesome and horrific, but they fitted with the story. I think if we just read about someone dying and no details that the book would have been pretty boring. But yeah, some parts just had me shivering and turning away a bit. But even gory, they weren't super gory, just gruesome.
The story itself was pretty awesome, I really loved all the little references and stuff you see happening in the story, things that you will recognize from other movies or books. Some stuff is so stereotypical for this kind of genre. Teens coming for a party to an island, a storm is raging, power dies and people start dying. And don't forget revenge.
The diary and why people died was (as soon as the diary was found) pretty easy to see, though who did it, that one was a nice speculation. Was it that one? Or was it that person? Or is there another person, not in the house, not invited. Or is it one of them? It was fun to read about it.
Other than the main story of revenge + gruesome deaths, we also have another story. One about a boy and girl, who both love/like each other but can't be together, and it was great fun that this was added to the story, it just gave that extra spark that made the book extra awesome. Especially with the whole, who is the killer part? it was just gave that edge to it. What would we do if it turns out it is that guy? Or that girl?
The ending was epic, and I really loved how everything went down. However, there was one tiny thing I didn't particularly like. I would have loved to know how it went with *insert name*. Some sort of epilogue, something to let us know the after effects.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
aclopez6's review against another edition
4.0
It was fine for a YA thriller/mystery , and once you get past the first~7 chapters, the book moves quick.
akookieforyou's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5*
Spookathon 2018
This book had some flaws, but I still enjoyed it. It was a fun little who-dun-it mystery that actually had me surprised at who the killer was.
Spookathon 2018
This book had some flaws, but I still enjoyed it. It was a fun little who-dun-it mystery that actually had me surprised at who the killer was.
quercine's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Did I solve it within the first approximately 75 pages? Yes. Did I have an unprecedented amount of fun getting there? Absolutely. Maybe it’s because this is written and set around the time I was a senior in high school. Maybe it’s because I liked Meg so much. Maybe it’s because Meg and Minnie’s toxic friendship was like a terrifying funhouse mirror of my own toxic high school friendship/love triangle. It doesn’t matter I just had fun reading it. The clues pointing to TJ were so fun because my original theory was right but I was starting to doubt myself in the same way Meg was. I thought he was maybe a Billy Loomis type, but really it was a Derek Feldman situation (right down to her shooting him). Honestly, I think this book is pretty much a perfect mashup of And Then There Were None, Clue (1985 movie), and Scream 2 which are two of my favorite movies and a novel I only know the premise of but is on my TBR for the year. Anyway.
Part way though the audio book I went crazy and ended up finding a physically copy so I could annotate it with notes about my theories and 2010s teen slang. Which is just to say I loved this so much I had to dissect it along the way.
Part way though the audio book I went crazy and ended up finding a physically copy so I could annotate it with notes about my theories and 2010s teen slang. Which is just to say I loved this so much I had to dissect it along the way.
emrodav's review against another edition
1.0
Maybe if you're going to write a book with a character who's bipolar you should do a little research? As someone living with bipolar disorder, I was disheartened and annoyed by how the author characterized Minnie. It's like the author thought "Oh bipolar = two moods and craziness right? This character will have too moods: crazy happy and crazy sad/angry. And she'll just switch between the two on a dime." That's....not really how bipolar works. Literally a single Google search or one (1) conversation with a bipolar person would've made that pretty clear.
Honestly, that was just one of the major issues I had with this book. I would list them all out, but why bother, to be honest. Let's just say it was pretty bad.
Honestly, that was just one of the major issues I had with this book. I would list them all out, but why bother, to be honest. Let's just say it was pretty bad.
harleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
Going into this I had no idea it was a retelling of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None."Once i figured that out I was a little disappointed in the book. I felt it didn't live up to the original. I also found the characters to be incredibly annoying. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters or feeling sorry for when one might have died. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, I knew what she was going for but it didn't convey well to me.
Like the original though, I did enjoy trying to figure out who was the murderer and who was going to murdered next.
All in all I'm a little disappointed in this book as a whole, but I did enjoy reading it.
Like the original though, I did enjoy trying to figure out who was the murderer and who was going to murdered next.
All in all I'm a little disappointed in this book as a whole, but I did enjoy reading it.
eduardtatomir's review against another edition
2.0
Ehh...(No Spoilers)
It was...okay. I can't say it was bad, but it wasn't heart-pumping amazing either. A few moments had me by the ropes, but most of the book was just average at best.
It was true what people said, that I would never guess who the killer is because that was a total shock that the author knew no one would ever guess that person. But it seemed that this whole story centered around this Homecoming thing and honestly, I got so sick of hearing about Minnie's love for T.J. and what Meg did to him at Homecoming and blah blah blah.
This book was clearly meant for 8th graders in the way that it's written and the storyline on the book. Sadly, I'm in the 11th grade, thinking this would be a short and enjoyable read. I had to stop reading for about a month because it lost my interest for moment there, then when I really got into it, took my 2-3 days to finish.
Overall, interesting story, done before many times. Many, many times. Cool little murder mystery for a short vacation or something, won't blow your mind or anything. Enjoy.
It was...okay. I can't say it was bad, but it wasn't heart-pumping amazing either. A few moments had me by the ropes, but most of the book was just average at best.
It was true what people said, that I would never guess who the killer is because that was a total shock that the author knew no one would ever guess that person. But it seemed that this whole story centered around this Homecoming thing and honestly, I got so sick of hearing about Minnie's love for T.J. and what Meg did to him at Homecoming and blah blah blah.
This book was clearly meant for 8th graders in the way that it's written and the storyline on the book. Sadly, I'm in the 11th grade, thinking this would be a short and enjoyable read. I had to stop reading for about a month because it lost my interest for moment there, then when I really got into it, took my 2-3 days to finish.
Overall, interesting story, done before many times. Many, many times. Cool little murder mystery for a short vacation or something, won't blow your mind or anything. Enjoy.
dembury's review against another edition
3.0
If you have read "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie, then you can pretty easily tell what will happen in this novel! The setting and main idea is the same: a group of people are invited to an island, and one by one, they start getting killed. In this case 10 teens come expecting a party but things turn sour pretty quickly.
Despite the fact that I was able to predict the main occurrences (a large part of this is surely because I have read the similar Agatha Christie novel) this was an entertaining, suspenseful, and crafty little read. Meg, the main character, is very likable: she defends her friend even when it's not easy, is pretty quick to piece things together, and makes really none of your "predictable horror film female" choices (like going off to make-out in the woods or something similarly stupid).
The writing style is good, although there are a few cliches scattered among the more well-crafted pieces. McNeil is good with really drawing the reader into the story and presenting clues, characters, and happenings in an effective way.
While "Ten" is nothing super-duper-spectacular (and could use a better title), I found it a great read for a story day and will certainly be reading another Gretchen McNeil book in the future.
Despite the fact that I was able to predict the main occurrences (a large part of this is surely because I have read the similar Agatha Christie novel) this was an entertaining, suspenseful, and crafty little read. Meg, the main character, is very likable: she defends her friend even when it's not easy, is pretty quick to piece things together, and makes really none of your "predictable horror film female" choices (like going off to make-out in the woods or something similarly stupid).
The writing style is good, although there are a few cliches scattered among the more well-crafted pieces. McNeil is good with really drawing the reader into the story and presenting clues, characters, and happenings in an effective way.
While "Ten" is nothing super-duper-spectacular (and could use a better title), I found it a great read for a story day and will certainly be reading another Gretchen McNeil book in the future.
inook_u's review against another edition
5.0
WHAT A GREAT HALLOWEEN READ GUYS!!!
OMG!!! VIDEO REVIEW TO COME UP ON MY CHANNEL!!
OMG!!! VIDEO REVIEW TO COME UP ON MY CHANNEL!!
protoman21's review against another edition
5.0
This book was made for me! I love stories like "And Then There Were None," and this book was certainly a direct homage to the Agatha Christie classic. Although the characters might have been a bit underdeveloped, the pace and tension were perfect and made for quite a thrill ride! When I picked up the book at midnight to read a chapter before bed, little did I know I'd still be up at 4:30am finishing the book! I loved the fact that there was a red herring twist to trick anyone who thought they were clever enough to guess the ending. I'd love to see this made into a movie. Wild teen party, spooky setting, scary DVD to set the mood and crazy diary to keep the audience guessing. Sounds like a blockbuster to me!