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bobbiejowoo's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
britttobegorey94's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Body horror, Gore, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Cursing
shawn_of_the_read's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookcadaver's review
3.0
I’ve been meaning to read this for the last few weeks and I’m glad I finally picked it up!
Welcome to Smileyland is a fast paced, twists galore novel which focuses around a group of friends who decide to spend the night exploring an abandoned theme park, which, you guessed it, is called Smileyland. I obviously don’t have to explain why it’s a bad idea to visit a deserted theme park.
I found the book to be entertaining & it was written well.
I think my only opinion would be that I wasn’t entirely fond of some of the dialogue choices in the book, it felt a little off, but the gore & plot twists made up for it!
3.5
Welcome to Smileyland is a fast paced, twists galore novel which focuses around a group of friends who decide to spend the night exploring an abandoned theme park, which, you guessed it, is called Smileyland. I obviously don’t have to explain why it’s a bad idea to visit a deserted theme park.
I found the book to be entertaining & it was written well.
I think my only opinion would be that I wasn’t entirely fond of some of the dialogue choices in the book, it felt a little off, but the gore & plot twists made up for it!
3.5
edith_emily_reads's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
electrobyte's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
honeyreads1066's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.25
So I love slashers and this does not disappoint.
This book follows Ramirez who with their new friends decides to go on a trip to an amusement park called smiley land. All seems well with the resident ass of the group playing a prank or two. But once the group get separated and Ramirez starts to see things, it looks like there's a lot more going on with this park.
Okay so first of all, trying to make all these characters likeable when you have a plot that's a slasher is hard enough and then in a short story, it's harder. I felt like for a couple of the characters it wasn't done well but for the most part, I was happy.
The setting was great. Honestly, slashers are cliche in the best way but I loved the fact that it was set in an amusement park. I do wish there was a map though. I get it's an amusement park but I found it hard to visualise how far and in what direction things were from each other.
I love the fact that these characters also weren't dumb, they were aware of the situation they were in, (coming to an abandoned amusement park) and acted accordingly for the most part. There were no oop you're gonna die next moments for me.
Also, I love the fact that it was an actual slasher like nobody was safe, there was no sense of oh this character is not gonna die for whatever reason. I was pleasantly surprised.
Just wish there was more depth put into some bits of the story so there was a little more background.
Overall this was fun, would recommend it if you want a good short slasher.
This book follows Ramirez who with their new friends decides to go on a trip to an amusement park called smiley land. All seems well with the resident ass of the group playing a prank or two. But once the group get separated and Ramirez starts to see things, it looks like there's a lot more going on with this park.
Okay so first of all, trying to make all these characters likeable when you have a plot that's a slasher is hard enough and then in a short story, it's harder. I felt like for a couple of the characters it wasn't done well but for the most part, I was happy.
The setting was great. Honestly, slashers are cliche in the best way but I loved the fact that it was set in an amusement park. I do wish there was a map though. I get it's an amusement park but I found it hard to visualise how far and in what direction things were from each other.
I love the fact that these characters also weren't dumb, they were aware of the situation they were in, (coming to an abandoned amusement park) and acted accordingly for the most part. There were no oop you're gonna die next moments for me.
Also, I love the fact that it was an actual slasher like nobody was safe, there was no sense of oh this character is not gonna die for whatever reason. I was pleasantly surprised.
Just wish there was more depth put into some bits of the story so there was a little more background.
Overall this was fun, would recommend it if you want a good short slasher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse
bozzi1's review
dark
fast-paced
4.5
🙂Spoiler Free Novella Review🙂
•
Slasher style horror, gimme🔪
Carnival vibes, I’m in🎢
Nonbinary and queer inclusion, YAAAASSSS🏳️🌈
•
Welcome to Smileyland checks all the boxes for what I love to see in a horror novella✅
•
The fun is just getting started when a group of high school kids, a suburban family, and an escaped convict all converge on a closed down theme park. What ensues is a mad fight for their lives.
•
Spencer Hamilton has created a world of terror around Smileyland, a once popular amusement park that’s been abandoned for years, but still has some ‘life’ left in it. Welcome to Smileyland is the first glimpse into that world🙂
•
Fast-paced and gripping, I read this in one sitting. I absolutely love the diverse cast of characters, the hint of backstory, and the violence in this story. The ending was the cherry on top👌🏼
•
While reading from a nonbinary character’s POV was a bit of a challenge, and the queer representation sometimes felt as though it were fighting for space against the flow of the horror plot, I think it worked out well in the end and I can’t wait to go back to Smileyland!
•
PS-LGBTQIA+ representation is so important and needs to become more prevalent in all genres. I’m super fucking proud of Spencer for helping make this happen👏👏👏
•
Slasher style horror, gimme🔪
Carnival vibes, I’m in🎢
Nonbinary and queer inclusion, YAAAASSSS🏳️🌈
•
Welcome to Smileyland checks all the boxes for what I love to see in a horror novella✅
•
The fun is just getting started when a group of high school kids, a suburban family, and an escaped convict all converge on a closed down theme park. What ensues is a mad fight for their lives.
•
Spencer Hamilton has created a world of terror around Smileyland, a once popular amusement park that’s been abandoned for years, but still has some ‘life’ left in it. Welcome to Smileyland is the first glimpse into that world🙂
•
Fast-paced and gripping, I read this in one sitting. I absolutely love the diverse cast of characters, the hint of backstory, and the violence in this story. The ending was the cherry on top👌🏼
•
While reading from a nonbinary character’s POV was a bit of a challenge, and the queer representation sometimes felt as though it were fighting for space against the flow of the horror plot, I think it worked out well in the end and I can’t wait to go back to Smileyland!
•
PS-LGBTQIA+ representation is so important and needs to become more prevalent in all genres. I’m super fucking proud of Spencer for helping make this happen👏👏👏
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