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adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book reads like an episode of Black Mirror. You're never sure where it's headed, who to trust, or what's coming next. There were a couple jaw-drop moments for me that I didn't see coming.
I did feel like it started a bit slow, and didn't really pick up until about page 130. After that things moved pretty quickly, but I feel like overall, the book could have been 50-80 pages shorter. Also, I found that despite some of the characters being American, they spoke with British vocabulary and diction, making it very noticeable that they were being written by a British author.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and it kept me guessing to the very end.
I did feel like it started a bit slow, and didn't really pick up until about page 130. After that things moved pretty quickly, but I feel like overall, the book could have been 50-80 pages shorter. Also, I found that despite some of the characters being American, they spoke with British vocabulary and diction, making it very noticeable that they were being written by a British author.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and it kept me guessing to the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Drug use, Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, Death of parent, Classism
Everyone wants to be The Langoliers, but clearly, not many can pull it off.
Hermetic stories can either be utterly gripping and devoured in one sitting or tediously drawn out (like this one).
Hermetic stories can either be utterly gripping and devoured in one sitting or tediously drawn out (like this one).
With a limited cast of characters, you’d expect some depth and nuance, but instead, they come across as flat as cardboard. The book barely made me care about their fates, even though we’re supposed to believe their lives are in grave danger (and let’s talk about the whole 'tell, don’t show' thing while we’re at it, yeah?).
And the plot, geez. So much planning, all that money, and all that coordination for a reality show with literally two real participants? A whole cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic just to watch four people run around for a week (a week! Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a week-long show?). And we’re not even touching the moral (and legal) dumpster fire of this entire shitshow. The book could’ve packed so much more into the plot, but instead, it spends endless pages on Caz’s constant reminiscing and internal wailing.
Then there are the dogs. What’s the point of the dogs even being there? Are they just there to manipulate readers' emotions because the author couldn’t manage it any other way? Honestly, this alone ruined whatever shred of enjoyment the book might’ve had left.
Then there are the dogs. What’s the point of the dogs even being there? Are they just there to manipulate readers' emotions because the author couldn’t manage it any other way?
And don’t even get me started on that fuckass ending.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book was really great and the premise was very unique. However I give it one star less than I would, just because of the last couple of paragraphs. The author apparently decided to turn it into a comedy in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Dementia, Grief
I have never been so mad at a book the way I am at this book, and the fact that people have been recommending it "without spoiling" is irresponsible. This is not a thriller - this is a book of thinly veiled psychological torture porn with the most basic critique of social media and reality TV.
I'm mad I spent hours being anxious and upset for a cheap last page twist. I'm mad that this book had the audacity to inflict such pain on characters and not grapple with the absolute moral failings of the world it presents. To suggests that a scenario like the one in this book would be brushed aside by the world at large - by friends, loved ones, even strangers - is disgusting and angering.
This is essentially The Truman Show meets the dark web. The main character (and some others) is confined on a ship against her will, tricked into staying, forced to complete life-threatening tasks, not allowed to leave, and forced to think multiple people died. All in the name of a "new, bold reality show".
I do not reccomend. In fact, I don't think I'll ever read another book by this author.
I'm so mad that the vague premise made me intrigued and hid all this evilness, and that there wasn't a single trigger warning provided up front.
Trigger warnings for: confinement, kidnapoing, starvation, psychological torture, (apparent) suicide, violence, gore, (apparent) murder, drugging, gaslighting, past parental emotional abuse, addiction, past teen pregnancy.
I'm mad I spent hours being anxious and upset for a cheap last page twist. I'm mad that this book had the audacity to inflict such pain on characters and not grapple with the absolute moral failings of the world it presents. To suggests that a scenario like the one in this book would be brushed aside by the world at large - by friends, loved ones, even strangers - is disgusting and angering.
This is essentially The Truman Show meets the dark web. The main character (and some others) is confined on a ship against her will, tricked into staying, forced to complete life-threatening tasks, not allowed to leave, and forced to think multiple people died. All in the name of a "new, bold reality show".
I do not reccomend. In fact, I don't think I'll ever read another book by this author.
I'm so mad that the vague premise made me intrigued and hid all this evilness, and that there wasn't a single trigger warning provided up front.
Trigger warnings for: confinement, kidnapoing, starvation, psychological torture, (apparent) suicide, violence, gore, (apparent) murder, drugging, gaslighting, past parental emotional abuse, addiction, past teen pregnancy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Dementia, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Phenomenal. Most gripping thriller I’ve read for a long time. The last sentence has me shook and I cannot believe it’s over. I need a sequel. I need more. It’s brilliant and I have recommended now to three other people!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail