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A review by savvyrosereads
Small Game by Blair Braverman
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 4/5 stars
Mara is a survival instructor who agrees to take part in a reality television survival show—but when something goes terribly wrong, she and the other survivors may be forced to face much more than they signed up for.
This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting—the synopsis reads to me like a fairly straightforward thriller, and instead this book ended up being more literary suspense (bordering on horror in some instances) with a touch of a dystopian/apocalyptic feel.
That said, once I realized the kind of book I was reading and stopped judging it based on what it wasn’t, I really enjoyed it. It’s fairly character-driven and I really enjoyed the characters. The setting also really kept me on edge and I could feel the tension and the high stakes as the plot built. I particularly appreciated the ending, which I thought hit exactly the right note for this kind of story!
In short, if you’re a lit fic fan who enjoys thriller/suspense/horror elements, you should definitely pick this up!
CW: Animal harm/death (graphic and on-page); some mentions of suicidal thoughts; death/blood/injury (graphic)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Mara is a survival instructor who agrees to take part in a reality television survival show—but when something goes terribly wrong, she and the other survivors may be forced to face much more than they signed up for.
This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting—the synopsis reads to me like a fairly straightforward thriller, and instead this book ended up being more literary suspense (bordering on horror in some instances) with a touch of a dystopian/apocalyptic feel.
That said, once I realized the kind of book I was reading and stopped judging it based on what it wasn’t, I really enjoyed it. It’s fairly character-driven and I really enjoyed the characters. The setting also really kept me on edge and I could feel the tension and the high stakes as the plot built. I particularly appreciated the ending, which I thought hit exactly the right note for this kind of story!
In short, if you’re a lit fic fan who enjoys thriller/suspense/horror elements, you should definitely pick this up!
CW: Animal harm/death (graphic and on-page); some mentions of suicidal thoughts; death/blood/injury (graphic)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, and Death