I gave Survivor's Song a begrudging 3 stars because I did finish it and I liked Cabin at the End... enough to give 4 stars....but I really liked this. I read some conflicting reviews but I think if you like horror and are a trope junkie, you could do a lot worse, even amongst his own books. I ripped thru it in a few hours and I might reread it to see how the story changes on a 2nd reading.

I didn't think the blogger was annoying; I think the blogger captured the essence of a pop culture nerd typing away on Reddit. I know people who write this way. The unique viewpoint of the blogger was compelling, especially after we find Merry is the possessed. So the demon is bragging about what happened in the house thru this energetic, spirited blog? Is the demon emulating what he assumes is a woman's voice? "Hello, fellow young people, I too am young and hip."

Was Marjorie ever possessed? I don't think so. But why did she go so fecklessly into her spaghetti? Why did she tell Merry about the basement shrine? Why did she ask Merry about her sauce aversion so openly?

I thought the story would be predictable--it was cribbing The Exorcist and House of Leaves pretty hard. Ultimately at the end, I felt satisfied which really doesn't happen that much for me. I enjoy reading most books but it comes down to the ending of how a writer ties things up: not too neat, not too much of a non sequitur, there's a very Goldilocks zone for endings and this fit snugly. Five stars.

I liked that the cafe got cold at the end (was the barista in on it, he seemed kind of winky and hyuk-hyuk-ing her, offering her more coffee and scones, hailing her power). Sometimes it seems like you get beaten over the head with the concept but this just tipped the cards a little so you could make out what was going on. I loved that the demon used the signs to avoid his voice and the demon made the decision (the same way Marjorie says, the idea is just there and it's like it was never not-there) about the spaghetti. The demon acknowledges Merry will never have a lunch with Rachel where they don't talk about this history.

I don't think it would work as a movie but I'd still probably watch it they do make one.