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bookishbabe93's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I read a majority of this book during an ice storm. As the wind howled, upended trees, downed power lines and sent my world into a chilly darkness this book kept me warm. It isn’t perfect a diamond in the rough and its story is one that’s not entirely original it’s been perfected over hundreds of novels.
A secluded beautiful home, a storm, a mystery, and the tantalizing struggle to survive.
Yet it felt new to me… felt fresh and ripe and brimming with sweet acidic prose. Like a dark poisonous flower. At its heart this book was an homage to writers so I am well aware that won’t translate to every reader…but it translated to me. This book speaks to me fluently. With its complicated relationships and nuanced female characters… it speaks and speaks and speaks.
I finished this book cocooned in the bubbles of a soothing hot bath a month after the ice melted and the lights turned on again. I spent the final hours deeply engaged as the novel hit its crescendo and entered the final few chapters. The once steamy water had grown tepid the bubbles faded… I didn’t care. I had to finish it…I had to know the end of Alex’s story.
That’s what this book was, a story about stories. A love letter to characters and the manic process of creation…of writing worlds and people and plots. Not only did this book cure my reading slump brought on from an overly prosed 700 page fantasy it also stoked the spark of my muse…coaxing her back to life and igniting that desire once more to write.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Drug use, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Violence
porshainielsen's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
2.75 rounded up. The protagonist of this novel is a bit too much of a pushover for me. I also should’ve guessed that this would have the book within a book trope as it is about writers at a retreat. I would check out more from this author, but at this time I am a little burned out on thrillers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
bookishmillennial's review
challenging
dark
funny
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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This was a wild ride, but ultimately it made me laugh and I had a good time with these shamelessly messy, unhinged, overly competitive, toxic women 😂
This felt to me like if June and Athena from Yellowface went to a writing retreat before they both published novels. The angst, jealousy, and obsession with success and notoriety in the publishing industry was so entertaining, and I enjoyed the (extremely toxic but) sapphic denial between Wren and Alex, former friends who are now writing rivals.
Roza, the successful horror novelist that hosts this writing retreat, was every bit conniving, pretentious, and mischievous that you would imagine a renowned literary genius would be. She ate up the groveling of the five women who aspired to achieve even an ounce of the success she found, and she knew what she was doing in every single moment. The way that she revealed it would be a competition among the five attendees had me howling; I was like THIS IS ABOUT TO BE MAYHEM 🫣
I thought this was a fun novel because it provided a sinister but goofy enough commentary on the life of a writer, and how far someone would go to ensure a global bestseller! It brings you into the darkest, greediest, most menacing thoughts of someone who eats, lives, and breathes writing and wants so desperately to be recognized for their work. This book made me happy to be a reader and not a writer 😂
This was a wild ride, but ultimately it made me laugh and I had a good time with these shamelessly messy, unhinged, overly competitive, toxic women 😂
This felt to me like if June and Athena from Yellowface went to a writing retreat before they both published novels. The angst, jealousy, and obsession with success and notoriety in the publishing industry was so entertaining, and I enjoyed the (extremely toxic but) sapphic denial between Wren and Alex, former friends who are now writing rivals.
Roza, the successful horror novelist that hosts this writing retreat, was every bit conniving, pretentious, and mischievous that you would imagine a renowned literary genius would be. She ate up the groveling of the five women who aspired to achieve even an ounce of the success she found, and she knew what she was doing in every single moment. The way that she revealed it would be a competition among the five attendees had me howling; I was like THIS IS ABOUT TO BE MAYHEM 🫣
I thought this was a fun novel because it provided a sinister but goofy enough commentary on the life of a writer, and how far someone would go to ensure a global bestseller! It brings you into the darkest, greediest, most menacing thoughts of someone who eats, lives, and breathes writing and wants so desperately to be recognized for their work. This book made me happy to be a reader and not a writer 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Murder, Homophobia, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
thehannahclaire's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Blood, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Biphobia, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Drug abuse
jelkebooks's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have been really curious about this book because it has gotten such mixed reactions. I'm very glad to report that I had a great time reading this book. The beginning is a bit slow, but still very captivating. There's just quite a lot of flashbacks, and character's backstory at the start that kind of feel pointless. However, there's this undertone that makes you keep reading because it can't be that all this info was for nothing. I think this book does a great job at that, keeping you curious about what's going on. Therefore this was an incredibly quick read as well.
I have been really curious about this book because it has gotten such mixed reactions. I'm very glad to report that I had a great time reading this book. The beginning is a bit slow, but still very captivating. There's just quite a lot of flashbacks, and character's backstory at the start that kind of feel pointless. However, there's this undertone that makes you keep reading because it can't be that all this info was for nothing. I think this book does a great job at that, keeping you curious about what's going on. Therefore this was an incredibly quick read as well.
I quite liked our cast of characters. They were incredibly interesting. All of them were a bit fucked, and not really the best people but such compelling characters to follow, and I think the author did a great job at still making you root for all of them, even the "bad guys". I can't help but say I totally understand all of these characters and their actions, and not to say that the bad guys weren't actually doing bad things (they 100% were, and this book doesn't shy away from how horrific the things they do are) but there's just something about these characters you can't help but be absolutely captivated, and enamoured by.
Plot wise, this book does go a bit over the rails. I honestly thought, the many sudden twists and turns were extremely entertaining, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. I couldn't put it down because I just couldn't wait to figure out what else was going to happen. Although, I do completely understand why other people could be put of by that, as it is truly unhinged at times, and that isn't for everyone. I honestly thought this was a great read, and I'm really glad I decided to pick it up. I'm definitely reading more by this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny, Suicide, and Child abuse
There is a scene were the characters get drugged. Roza’s backstory involves discussions of world war 2 and the holocaust.jamiee_f's review
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Main character Alex is a struggling writer, stuck at a soul sucking publishing job. She just had a major falling out with her ex BFF Wren, a literary darling. They both idolize eccentric author Roza Vallo, and now they are both headed to an exclusive writing retreat at her secluded home. However...Roza is more eccentric than anyone seems to have realized, and seems to be putting the women at the retreat in increasingly dangerous situations 'for the sake of their writing'
While the first part of this book is more quiet lit thriller, delving into the Alex/Wren relationship (that fell apart because Wren couldn't stay out of roommate Alex's bed!), while the women throw themselves into the newly revealed writing contest. Roza demands they all write a new novel from scratch, and turn in 3000 words per day to her for feedback. The cutthroat atmosphere has Alex having aggressive sex dreams about Wren, and she ends up telling Roza about their fight. Things accelerate rapidly after Roza drugs them all with LSD, and they wake up to find one of the writers missing. It quickly becomes apparent that Roza is lying about contacting the police, and the remaining women hatch a plan to find out what's going on.
Surprise--the missing girl isn't lost in the snow, she's IMPRISONED BY ROZA. It turns out that Roza has stolen every successful novel she's written, and this retreat was an excuse to get 5 more stories from the participants. The women all end up imprisoned, and Roza continues to escalate, trying to force the participants to kill each other. Eventually everyone dies/is murdered by Roza and her lackies, and it comes down to Wren vs. Alex. Alex refuses to kill Wren, and it seems like Roza is going to take drastic measures when--BAM, one of the women we thought was dead returns and conks Roza in the head. Flash forward to the epilogue, all the writers that survived are now published.
This was reminiscent of Lianne Moriarty's book about the wellness retreat in the desert, I think it was The Nine? But this was a bit darker and much gayer.
Surprise--the missing girl isn't lost in the snow, she's IMPRISONED BY ROZA. It turns out that Roza has stolen every successful novel she's written, and this retreat was an excuse to get 5 more stories from the participants. The women all end up imprisoned, and Roza continues to escalate, trying to force the participants to kill each other. Eventually everyone dies/is murdered by Roza and her lackies, and it comes down to Wren vs. Alex. Alex refuses to kill Wren, and it seems like Roza is going to take drastic measures when--BAM, one of the women we thought was dead returns and conks Roza in the head. Flash forward to the epilogue, all the writers that survived are now published.
This was reminiscent of Lianne Moriarty's book about the wellness retreat in the desert, I think it was The Nine? But this was a bit darker and much gayer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Slavery, Murder, Torture, Homophobia, Gun violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
violetvulptex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Blood, Drug use, Alcohol, Murder, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Antisemitism, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Transphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Gore
itsheyfay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, Outing, Drug use, Sexual content, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Abandonment, Confinement, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Suicide, Vomit, Racism, Torture, Religious bigotry, and Pedophilia
ecn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I can definitely say this book got me out of a reading slump!
It’s a thriller so the writing isn’t as flowery/deep as I usually like to read, but this one was still 😘👌🏻 chefs kiss
There were so many twists and so many different factors that actually kept me entertained and hooked into what would happen. So aspects were predictable (how different can you possibly make a thriller?) but still fun to watch it play out and keep guessing
It’s a thriller so the writing isn’t as flowery/deep as I usually like to read, but this one was still 😘👌🏻 chefs kiss
There were so many twists and so many different factors that actually kept me entertained and hooked into what would happen. So aspects were predictable (how different can you possibly make a thriller?) but still fun to watch it play out and keep guessing
I’m a HUGE sucker for anything involving writers retreats/trapped bc of a blizzard/mirrored symbols/suspense/paranormal and this one had almost all of that!
Perfect amazing brilliant choice for either a cabin retreat (duh) OR a beach read imo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Alcohol, Confinement, Torture, Violence, Abandonment, Drug use, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Outing, Racism, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Body horror, and Lesbophobia
displacedcactus's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
A slightly trashy sapphic thriller, but the characters were well-developed enough to ground the over-the-top story. Pretty well-paced. You just have to suspend your disbelief that an author who came from poverty and only published 4-5 books over 40 years would somehow be incredibly famous and fabulously wealthy.
I only read maybe 1-2 thrillers a year, and this one kept me guessing. The fact that it's set in an isolated manor house, with a dark past, in February, gives it a definite Gothic feeling, so I was always wondering if there might be a supernatural or at least occult/cultish thing going on, or if it would prove to just be good ol' fashioned human depravity. You'll have to read to find out!
I only read maybe 1-2 thrillers a year, and this one kept me guessing. The fact that it's set in an isolated manor house, with a dark past, in February, gives it a definite Gothic feeling, so I was always wondering if there might be a supernatural or at least occult/cultish thing going on, or if it would prove to just be good ol' fashioned human depravity. You'll have to read to find out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Cursing, and Violence
Minor: Vomit and Homophobia