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babs_reviews's review against another edition
3.0
First, I much prefer the red cover opposed to the one pictured now.
This book was a bit of a head scratcher for me. I couldn't quite figure out the point. There wasn't much of a plot other than murder.
It felt like the author tried to give us a subplot with the main character's love story - which was really only a weak back story ending in current sex. I STILL don't understand the point of their story being told.
The killer(s)- there was NO plot. They killed. Period. There weren't any reasons why, we never found out who they were. Nothing.
The reason I gave this 3 stars was because I actually enjoyed the unique pov and the way the story was told. I'm still a bit confused if there will be another book or this is it....
** I received an ecopy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
This book was a bit of a head scratcher for me. I couldn't quite figure out the point. There wasn't much of a plot other than murder.
It felt like the author tried to give us a subplot with the main character's love story - which was really only a weak back story ending in current sex. I STILL don't understand the point of their story being told.
The killer(s)- there was NO plot. They killed. Period. There weren't any reasons why, we never found out who they were. Nothing.
The reason I gave this 3 stars was because I actually enjoyed the unique pov and the way the story was told. I'm still a bit confused if there will be another book or this is it....
** I received an ecopy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review **
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
2.0
Creative POV and some very clever twists. But the writing and characters were otherwise pretty flat and the gratuitous violence (like in an action movie....didn't move the plot, just violence for its own sake...ugh) and sex/violence juxtapositions were disconcerting/unpleasant for me.
authoraugust's review against another edition
4.0
Raw and clinical, hilarious and gruesome, dry and deeply emotional - this book is ruthless, dogged, and, above all, not without a bright beam of hope. Fastest read of 2018, and both immensely satisfying and achingly unsatisfying at its end.
tjharry765's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
madkatrob's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
thestarkening's review against another edition
4.0
So in a lot of ways, I liked the book, and a lot of ways I disliked it.
Basically, you have this swank hotel with the highest of the high tech security systems and a day before its lavish opening, all of the people working inside are getting systematically and graphically murdered, all the while the person narrating this is some unnamed person.
The characters are underdeveloped so they are hard to like, but that’s the point. It reads a little bit like a B Horror movie script might. There are some good moments of introspective thoughts but then they start to ramble on like a disorganized stream of consciousness.
Having said that, what I did like was that the book was set from the perspective of an unknown narrator and you don’t find out this person’s circumstances until well into the book, that alone kept me reading. There was also an interesting juxtaposition between graphic sex and graphic violence, showing how closely one can mirror the other.
If you’re looking for some deep, philosophical novel with a little murder thrown in, this is not the right book. If you’re after a fun, slasher movie turned book to add a little of something different into your usual thing, then I definitely recommend this.
Also, based on some of the other reviews, I get the impression that this book was hard to follow in the physical form. I read this as an e-book and I didn’t have any trouble following the story line.
See a more in depth review at my website, www.amstark.com
Basically, you have this swank hotel with the highest of the high tech security systems and a day before its lavish opening, all of the people working inside are getting systematically and graphically murdered, all the while the person narrating this is some unnamed person.
The characters are underdeveloped so they are hard to like, but that’s the point. It reads a little bit like a B Horror movie script might. There are some good moments of introspective thoughts but then they start to ramble on like a disorganized stream of consciousness.
Having said that, what I did like was that the book was set from the perspective of an unknown narrator and you don’t find out this person’s circumstances until well into the book, that alone kept me reading. There was also an interesting juxtaposition between graphic sex and graphic violence, showing how closely one can mirror the other.
If you’re looking for some deep, philosophical novel with a little murder thrown in, this is not the right book. If you’re after a fun, slasher movie turned book to add a little of something different into your usual thing, then I definitely recommend this.
Also, based on some of the other reviews, I get the impression that this book was hard to follow in the physical form. I read this as an e-book and I didn’t have any trouble following the story line.
See a more in depth review at my website, www.amstark.com
oliveandsweetnp's review against another edition
3.5
Not terribly well written but pretty entertaining with an interesting POV. I think a movie adaptation would be a cool watch.
ciciwilkie's review against another edition
3.0
This was different. Not bad but definitely took me awhile to really get into.
Honestly I am not sure it was meant to be comedic but I found it darkly funny. I read this because people said it was scary, and maybe I'm just used to scarier novels. A guy bleeding out while the killer savors a meal, and the Slip 'n Slide of blood were too much. It's senseless violence, super bloody, but there were so many ridiculous things you would only see in a cheesy horror movie. I understand why we don't get a resolution/explanation about why the killings occurred but with this much violence I feel like it makes it even more absurd we don't even have a glimpse into the reason.
I did enjoy the POV and narrarator. It takes awhile to understand why the story jumps around so much, that there is a specific narrarator. The Tessa and Brian storyline is ok. Honestly the Security Guy is the best part and the 90s slasher feel. I give this a solid 3 stars.
Honestly I am not sure it was meant to be comedic but I found it darkly funny. I read this because people said it was scary, and maybe I'm just used to scarier novels. A guy bleeding out while the killer savors a meal, and the Slip 'n Slide of blood were too much. It's senseless violence, super bloody, but there were so many ridiculous things you would only see in a cheesy horror movie. I understand why we don't get a resolution/explanation about why the killings occurred but with this much violence I feel like it makes it even more absurd we don't even have a glimpse into the reason.
I did enjoy the POV and narrarator. It takes awhile to understand why the story jumps around so much, that there is a specific narrarator. The Tessa and Brian storyline is ok. Honestly the Security Guy is the best part and the 90s slasher feel. I give this a solid 3 stars.
alehahandrita's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A slasher book with an interesting writing structure that kept me hooked in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
gimmiiie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0