A review by mandas_bookcorner
The Compound by Aisling Rawle

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? Yes

3.75

The Compound follows Lilly, a young woman waking up in a remote desert compound with nineteen strangers, all competing in a high-stakes reality competition. As the game progresses, seemingly simple tasks evolve into dangerous, morally questionable situations, and Lilly must decide how far she’s willing to go to win. 
Overall, the book started strong and gave me major Love Island meets Big Brother vibes, with a touch of Nerve. I was hooked until chapters 15/16 when the plot took a chaotic turn that lessened my enjoyment, ultimately dropping my rating to 3.75 stars. It’s a great fit for reality TV fans who enjoy suspense, but even I—an avid reality TV viewer—found the chaos a bit overwhelming. 

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