Reviews with content warning for Body horror - Small Game

I was really excited about this book and feel unfortunately let down. Overall the story was a solid concept. But I found the execution poor. I do not feel like I got resolution at the end of the book, or at least it felt very rushed. The writing was poor as well and the characters were not well developed. Mostly of the time I was very confused why the author chose to narrate the book from this characters point of view.

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hnagarne's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced

4.0

i have a lot of questions but had a good time??? contrary to other reviews i think i like the ending and it didn't feel super rushed to me. i wish it had been a little more satisfying, sure, but i liked it.

yeah, we don't find out what happened to the camera crew, but i think i'm okay with that? maybe i am simply an outlier.

i think my favorite bit in the book is when everyone agrees mara should go back to release the caught fish. it's so simple and maybe it's a little heavy-handed, but here it is -
“We’re not running out of time?”
“There’s always time to rescue fish.”
“Shut up.”
“I’m serious,” he said. “No reason to leave them there, if we can help it.”
“They would die anyway.” Mara didn’t mean it. She wanted to see what he said.
“Maybe, but not today.”
for a group of people who got abandoned in the woods... the fact they'll risk their survival to go back and save some fish is just a nice thought. that despite how cruel the production team was -- and how much they've endured since -- they still had a bit of kindness in them.

anyway i loved seeing flem in the dedications & the whole team in the acknowledgments. what good dogs.

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sbswindle's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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charles237's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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knkoch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I’ve been eagerly waiting for this book on hold from the library, and it far exceeded my expectations. I found it gripping, fascinating, intense, and thoughtful. I’ve had a (casual, television viewer) interest in wilderness survival shows this past year or two, and this was a grounded and nuanced look at a believable fictional version of what could happen, as well as a necessary critique of the genre. I loved the examination of ethics, personal morality, and group dynamics explored here.

Again, this felt like a responsible thriller, something I’ve been looking for: drama and tension with deep respect for its characters’ humanity and set within real-world restraints. I couldn’t put this down, but it was because I was so invested in the characters I needed to know the conclusion of the conflict, not because I was waiting for an impossible-to-guess twist. I guess I’m anti-twist! Can’t say enough good things about this quick read, and I look forward to more from Blair Braverman, a real expert in this area.

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