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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
A seriously well-written gore fest framed within back and forth post-island military reviews and reports about the incidents on the island.
More than once or twice (okay, seriously every other page) I found myself making some audible noise of disgust and shock at the descriptions of what was happening. Perhaps the worst part wasn't even the all-consuming, never stopping, genetically modified military grade weaponized tapeworms. Nope. It's the people on the island. It's the children. The tapeworms only play a minor role, one that exists to bring out the true character of these children.
Yup. This was everything I wanted: gore, terror, isolation....it's no piece of classic literature for sure, but it gets your pulse racing and for me, that was all I wanted.
More than once or twice (okay, seriously every other page) I found myself making some audible noise of disgust and shock at the descriptions of what was happening. Perhaps the worst part wasn't even the all-consuming, never stopping, genetically modified military grade weaponized tapeworms. Nope. It's the people on the island. It's the children. The tapeworms only play a minor role, one that exists to bring out the true character of these children.
Yup. This was everything I wanted: gore, terror, isolation....it's no piece of classic literature for sure, but it gets your pulse racing and for me, that was all I wanted.
Powered through after the first instance of animal violence, only to be bombarded by more. The level and detail of the animal violence was completely unnecessary to the overall plot of the book. Really only one decent scary portion towards the end.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I really really struggled with this. I think because my son is 14 it was too real or possible. It was hard going. But it was descriptive and very visual. Also could very quite possibly happen with modern warfare. I have rounded up just because it wasn't my fav.
1 Star . DNF27%. So overly convoluted and very descriptive it distracts from what is essentially a basic bitch horror story. I find this a lot with Male Horror writers. Look at me I know lots of words
Grossed out.
Angry.
Sad.
Terrified.
You know that feeling when you’re a kid, and you cover your eyes when the music is building up tension in a horror movie, and you know there’s going to be something terrifying, maybe a jump scare, maybe gore, who knows…. but you can’t help but peek through your fingers because you HAVE to know what happens next.
The whole book was that.
Angry.
Sad.
Terrified.
You know that feeling when you’re a kid, and you cover your eyes when the music is building up tension in a horror movie, and you know there’s going to be something terrifying, maybe a jump scare, maybe gore, who knows…. but you can’t help but peek through your fingers because you HAVE to know what happens next.
The whole book was that.
DNF at 60%. To be clear, the writing and storytelling itself is great. I’m actually interested in reading Nick Cutter’s other (less graphic) work. My problem is that I was unprepared for the content. I get that body horror was always going to be a big part of this story, but it wandered into areas of horror that I’m super uncomfortable with. This rating reflects my experience reading the story, not the story’s objective quality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore
i… i just…. idk man
if the whole book was like the last 90 pages, it would be five stars hands down. but the majority of this book was filled with needless animal torture porn that just didn’t sit right with me. the minute animals stopped being cruelly slaughtered was when the book actually got good, in fact.
also, i feel like in the beginning every character was just a caricature… like they all had one defining personality or character trait and that’s it. it wasn’t until, again, that last 90 pages where you see the remaining survivors have some depth to the characters.
really it just felt like i read two completely different books. one was 260 pages of shit and the other one was 90 pages of actual good fucking horror. so was it worth it?
idk man…
if the whole book was like the last 90 pages, it would be five stars hands down. but the majority of this book was filled with needless animal torture porn that just didn’t sit right with me. the minute animals stopped being cruelly slaughtered was when the book actually got good, in fact.
also, i feel like in the beginning every character was just a caricature… like they all had one defining personality or character trait and that’s it. it wasn’t until, again, that last 90 pages where you see the remaining survivors have some depth to the characters.
really it just felt like i read two completely different books. one was 260 pages of shit and the other one was 90 pages of actual good fucking horror. so was it worth it?
idk man…
I love a good horror book. This one even got to me... I am leaving it at a 3.5, but maybe it should be a 5 because it creeped me out and I can't get some of it out of my head...
The premise of the book is excellent albeit overdone. A Boy Scout troop goes out to an island only to encounter an emaciated, hungry, and fragrant man who is barging into their camp. The nightmare that happens after encountering this man is something that I am still dwelling on. Do I think that Cutter came up with something that is unique and never been done before no, but he does have writing skill.
Cutter's descriptions are excellent, maybe too excellent. I may have had to skip some of the descriptions of Shelley and his cat... and Shelley and Ephraim... and Shelley... I just had to skip a bit for my own sanity. I skimmed because I literally became a bit nauseous!
Overall, I think I would recommend this book to horror fans with strong stomachs, who don't mind body horror or animal abuse/death. It's disturbing. I'm disturbed by it so I guess it's a success.
I will note much of this was very reminiscent of Lord of the Flies mixed with some Dreamcatcher, but that is not a bad thing.
3 strong stars from my weak stomach.
The premise of the book is excellent albeit overdone. A Boy Scout troop goes out to an island only to encounter an emaciated, hungry, and fragrant man who is barging into their camp. The nightmare that happens after encountering this man is something that I am still dwelling on. Do I think that Cutter came up with something that is unique and never been done before no, but he does have writing skill.
Cutter's descriptions are excellent, maybe too excellent. I may have had to skip some of the descriptions of Shelley and his cat... and Shelley and Ephraim... and Shelley... I just had to skip a bit for my own sanity. I skimmed because I literally became a bit nauseous!
Overall, I think I would recommend this book to horror fans with strong stomachs, who don't mind body horror or animal abuse/death. It's disturbing. I'm disturbed by it so I guess it's a success.
I will note much of this was very reminiscent of Lord of the Flies mixed with some Dreamcatcher, but that is not a bad thing.
3 strong stars from my weak stomach.
DISCLAIMER. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE CREEPY CRAWLY THINGS, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU, IF YOU DO NOT LIKE GORE, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU. ALSO, THIS BOOK DOES INCLUDE ANIMAL ABUSE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Ok, so, take a bunch of Boy Scout kids and their leader and dump them on a deserted island where they're going to toast marshmallows and sing "Kumbya" and all that good stuff.
Then introduce a man infected with an unknown contagion arriving on the island.
Then let all hell break loose!
I read this book in 5 hours because I could not put it down. Holy snikes Batman! This was a roller coaster and a half. I love the character building, the way the author explained the science behind the nasty contagion (and the two competing reasons the contagion was created), how he carefully orchestrated the story after all hell breaks loose and I love how he leaves the ending, kind of, open to interpretation.
This book also hit me in the feels because man, it's KIDS! All the boys are only 14. That made the ride rougher. To watch these boys struggle with decisions that will further their own survival (I'm looking at you Mr, Turtle) was just so heartbreaking at times but yet, so realistic too,
All in all a fabulous, book. I HIGHLY recommend!
Ok, so, take a bunch of Boy Scout kids and their leader and dump them on a deserted island where they're going to toast marshmallows and sing "Kumbya" and all that good stuff.
Then introduce a man infected with an unknown contagion arriving on the island.
Then let all hell break loose!
I read this book in 5 hours because I could not put it down. Holy snikes Batman! This was a roller coaster and a half. I love the character building, the way the author explained the science behind the nasty contagion (and the two competing reasons the contagion was created), how he carefully orchestrated the story after all hell breaks loose and I love how he leaves the ending, kind of, open to interpretation.
This book also hit me in the feels because man, it's KIDS! All the boys are only 14. That made the ride rougher. To watch these boys struggle with decisions that will further their own survival (I'm looking at you Mr, Turtle) was just so heartbreaking at times but yet, so realistic too,
All in all a fabulous, book. I HIGHLY recommend!