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2kerrymehome's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
Below is a spoiler you may want to read before picking up this book:
they never explain what went wrong
I wish I had known that when the book started. I spent so much of my time wondering if the events were supernatural or part of the game or someone's deception. I also think the despair was elaborated so much, but not the relief. And I didn't feel like I had a reason to like or trust Ashley. But the writing was well done, the plot moved, I enjoyed the read, and I couldn't put it down.
I wish I had known that when the book started. I spent so much of my time wondering if the events were supernatural or part of the game or someone's deception. I also think the despair was elaborated so much, but not the relief. And I didn't feel like I had a reason to like or trust Ashley. But the writing was well done, the plot moved, I enjoyed the read, and I couldn't put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
kassy182's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I think that a lot of people that found fault in this book found it in the ending. It feels rushed and almost like the story of the survivors isn’t wrapped up, it’s just barely grazed over in a final paragraph.
Almost— but honestly, I think it was a perfect ending. Reading about survival is hard and tense and there’s a lot of introspection as you could expect. And ultimately, when the main characters find the strength, physical and mental, to move forward— that’s when the story ends because you know that their survival is the meaning of this book and that we aren’t supposed to see too much of the closure or the future because that’s not a part of their journey— that’s a separate space and world for the characters. We got to accompany them and know that, they do have an ending and the ending is just enough without overshadowing the intensity of their time in the woods.
I will say, this is a tense read. It’s hard to swallow and sticks with you but it also shows a side of humanity communing with and battling nature in a way that feels entirely separate from our world, or at least my world. Also— never realized how much an entry about eating a worm would traumatize me and that’s not even the biggest trigger.
Almost— but honestly, I think it was a perfect ending. Reading about survival is hard and tense and there’s a lot of introspection as you could expect. And ultimately, when the main characters find the strength, physical and mental, to move forward— that’s when the story ends because you know that their survival is the meaning of this book and that we aren’t supposed to see too much of the closure or the future because that’s not a part of their journey— that’s a separate space and world for the characters. We got to accompany them and know that, they do have an ending and the ending is just enough without overshadowing the intensity of their time in the woods.
I will say, this is a tense read. It’s hard to swallow and sticks with you but it also shows a side of humanity communing with and battling nature in a way that feels entirely separate from our world, or at least my world. Also— never realized how much an entry about eating a worm would traumatize me and that’s not even the biggest trigger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Vomit
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