A review by savvylit
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Billed as horror, The Cabin at the End of the World is indeed very horrifying. The home invasion narrative is deeply disturbing and the story is absolutely loaded with gore. However, I'd say that this story is less of a horror novel and more of a pure thriller. It has all of the hallmarks of a good thriller. The Cabin at the End of the World is mysterious, perfectly paced, cinematic, and page-turning. I couldn't put this book down even as I was increasingly uncomfortable with the violence and gore.

Overall, this book has been divisive - it seems that many folks either enjoy it or don't. Much of the dislike seems to be geared towards the ambiguity woven throughout this thriller, particularly at the ending. Personally, I think the ambiguity is what makes this novel work so well. Being kept in the dark about key elements of the story is what makes this story so scary. Violence without a knowable purpose is perhaps one of the most terrifying things that a human can experience.

I'd highly recommend this to thriller fans who don't mind gory descriptions. If you're squeamish at all, I'd say you will probably want to skip this novel. (Be sure to check the content warnings!)
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