Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(review written nearly 3 months after finishing the book, so bear with me here)
I think I loved this!?
"Reprieve" is a real-life, full contact, escape-room-haunted-house experience. And, if you make it through, there's money waiting for you on the other side.
I love a good multi-timeline story with excellent foreshadowing. In one timeline, we share the terror of our handful of protagonists as they travel through the six rooms of the haunted house. These rooms are Weird and the descriptions of the Weird were very good and creepy. Think living dolls coming at you with weapons, sensory deprivation, unseen things that squelch, and body horror galore.
And then we had flashbacks which told the backstory of our protagonists. I have a soft spot for the trope of seemingly unconnected narratives coming together in surprising ways, so I absolutely enjoyed this ride. A story of love (obsession? crush?), culture clashes/culture shock, adolescent follies, and desperation.
To top it off, we were teased with court transcripts. Those are always fun.
Recommended if you like imperfect characters who make each other's lives a little worse, good descriptions of body horror, and a quick paced page turner that packs in many Themes. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I think I loved this!?
"Reprieve" is a real-life, full contact, escape-room-haunted-house experience. And, if you make it through, there's money waiting for you on the other side.
I love a good multi-timeline story with excellent foreshadowing. In one timeline, we share the terror of our handful of protagonists as they travel through the six rooms of the haunted house. These rooms are Weird and the descriptions of the Weird were very good and creepy. Think living dolls coming at you with weapons, sensory deprivation, unseen things that squelch, and body horror galore.
And then we had flashbacks which told the backstory of our protagonists. I have a soft spot for the trope of seemingly unconnected narratives coming together in surprising ways, so I absolutely enjoyed this ride. A story of love (obsession? crush?), culture clashes/culture shock, adolescent follies, and desperation.
To top it off, we were teased with court transcripts. Those are always fun.
Recommended if you like imperfect characters who make each other's lives a little worse, good descriptions of body horror, and a quick paced page turner that packs in many Themes. 4.5 stars rounded up.