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A review by hollowspine
The Compound by Aisling Rawle
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Readers are dropped directly into the action in this dystopian story focus on the contestants of a reality television show similar to Big Brother. Those who enjoyed Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis or Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen. While the setting is limited to the Compound, a resort style house including a pool and hedge maze, surrounded by a desert, hints are given throughout the story that all is not right with the outside world. Just like the reality television it skewers the book is a compulsive page turner, and will keep readers progressing quickly to see who makes it to the end.
On the surface level it doesn't sound so different from reality, characters hold jobs like project managers, financial analysts and students, but as the story progresses readers get some sense of the outside world through the thoughts and conversations of the characters. There are mentions of an ongoing war, anxiety about the future, some brief mentions of politics, and the willingness of the contestants to do increasingly outrageous and dangerous things to stay in the compound. Also, the willingness of the show runners to allow the contestants to do increasingly dangerous and potentially harmful acts, seemingly at the encouragement of viewers. Readers are left wondering in what kind of world entertainment like this is possible...and how close our reality is to it already. This will appeal to fans of reality television, but also to those who are interested in speculative fiction with social/political messages.
On the surface level it doesn't sound so different from reality, characters hold jobs like project managers, financial analysts and students, but as the story progresses readers get some sense of the outside world through the thoughts and conversations of the characters. There are mentions of an ongoing war, anxiety about the future, some brief mentions of politics, and the willingness of the contestants to do increasingly outrageous and dangerous things to stay in the compound. Also, the willingness of the show runners to allow the contestants to do increasingly dangerous and potentially harmful acts, seemingly at the encouragement of viewers. Readers are left wondering in what kind of world entertainment like this is possible...and how close our reality is to it already. This will appeal to fans of reality television, but also to those who are interested in speculative fiction with social/political messages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Sexism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Stalking