Reviews

The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray

tysuckz's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Immense. What a wild book from start to finish. I absolutely did not anticipate the twist at the end. 

I loved the way it was written. I saw a lot of reviews mentioning how it was slow at the beginning, but I enjoyed it. It kind of felt like the calm before the storm because once it gets going, it never stops. 

Fantastic writing, beautiful imagery. Loved it. 

Only thing I wish: a longer ending. I would’ve loved to have had a short epilogue detailing briefly what happened next. That being said, the open ended-ness of it is somewhat fun and I feel like it leaves it open to interpretation? 

jwrites1991's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

l00by_loo's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious tense slow-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? No

2.5

bethfishreads's review against another edition

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3.5

As climate collapse starts to reach the breaking point, the world's wealthiest man moves to an island, where he has a built a paradise, which he hopes will be the seedbed for a better future.

When Ben's longtime girlfriend, Cara, stops communicating with him, he finds a way to get to the island where she's been working as a temporary consultant to John, the richest man in the world. Despite tight security and dangerous waters, Ben makes it to Sanctuary Rock, where he finds a peaceful society run by a charming man, who appears think only of the well-being of the people he's invited to the island.

Ben expected to hate John and is initially suspicious when he learns he won't be able to see Cara for a few days. Yet the more time Ben spends with John, the more his doubts fade into the background. 

Yet, whenever Ben is about to be completely won over by John, he is confronted with something that raises questions no one will answer. For example, he asks: Where is Cara? What happened to the person who used to live in the room he's been assigned? What's the meaning of puzzling conversations he's overheard? How did John make his money?

The action is slow to develop, and sometimes I wanted to shake Ben to wake him up. But overall the novel prompts us to reflect on several relevant issues: how humans treat each other and the natural world, the economic divide and wealthy people's obligations to the less well off, ageism, isolationism, and genetic engineering.

All in all a solid, entertaining read.

The audiobook was read by the author, who is an experienced audiobook narrator. He did a fine job keeping me engaged and connecting me to Ben's shifting moods and loyalties.

Thanks to the audiobook publishers and libro.fm for the review copy.

bethreedreads's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

Eh.

tillyholland's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

charlottethebookharlot's review against another edition

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4.0

In the future there are cramped poor living conditions in cities and the rich living in 'villages' where the poor are only allowed entrance in order to serve the rich. Ben Parr is a artist who makes a living painting portraits of the rich in the villages; however, when Cara his girlfriend tells him that she won't return to the city and will instead stay on the island where she has been working alongside the mysterious Sir John the creator of this new utopia he decides to travel there himself and find her at all costs. However, instead of Cara what he does discover is nothing that he ever could have predicted.

This was a fast paced and interesting dystopian thriller. I loved Ben's journey to the island and then his slowly facilitating feelings towards Sir John as his suspicions grew and then were allayed as this brought a sense of paranoia and questioning of what was really happening. A gripping and exciting read that kept me hooked until the very last second.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

hannah55's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

emoi21's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

weyensl's review against another edition

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4.0

I heard of this book in the No Such Thing As A Fish podcast. The premise was interesting, so I picked it up.
It's a great book, I would recommend it. You really get swept in the narrative and the mind of Pemberley is really interestingly portrayed. I was constantly trying to work out how Pemberley would react in this or that given situation.
I didn't really resonate with any character in the book, but I did want to keep on reading, knowing where the story would go.