Scan barcode
telurin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Four self absorbed, idiotic white people go to try and find their German friends brother and encounter a
As others have said, there are no ruins.
You can tell the author is a man. The women are useless and even in the horrific situation they find themselves in, there is excessive lingering on their bodies.
Would have been better as a movie, and it wouldn't be a good movie.
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Excrement, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Excrement, Vomit, and Cannibalism
rissasreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The ending was exactly what I expected unfortunately but it still had great twists and I didn't really know how it was going to end but I was so engrossed in the story I needed to know and it kept me reading.
Would recommend!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Details:
Narrated by Patrick Wilson
Unabridged
I really wanted to take part in this group read so for the first time, I purchased more credits!
This was a fun read. Once we got into the meat of the horror, it had me in mind of the Day of the Triffids. I think I'd be interested in reading more plant based horror.
The body horror was quite grim (in a good way), but I didn't find that it made my stomach turn or had me feeling nauseated.
There were no distinct chapters, which made it hard to pause but helped to amplify the blurred lines of time as terror set in for the characters.
The characters themselves weren't very likeable but felt believable for the most part, though some feeling more 2D (or more caricatures of a person) than others. I think my favourites were Matthias and Pablo.
I don't think this will be a strong story that would be very memorable long term, for me, but it was fun for whilst I was listening, I'd recommend it to others and I'd be interested in giving the movie adaptation a go.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Cannibalism
traa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Excrement, Vomit, and Cannibalism
Minor: Drug use, Racism, Rape, and Sexual content
hannanni41's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
bookishpriest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The writing is good. Clear, readable narrative does not get in the way of the story. If only there were more story to share.
The characters are a study in shallow, overplayed tropes: young Americans on vacation making stupid decisions; goofy "foreigners" (Greek, in this case) who are unintelligible to the main characters; inscrutable "locals" (Mayans, in this case) who endanger the main characters without explanation or any development beyond being hostile; male characters who are trying very hard to organize things and save everyone; female characters who are inexplicably selfish, silly, and remarkably horny.
The "horror" in the book seems mostly to be detailed descriptions of bodily functions - both human and animal - that don't add much to the story or sense of foreboding from a slowly encroaching threat that I think the author was trying to build. The conclusion of the book is foregone within the first 30% or so and the rest felt like a long and painful wait to get there.
This felt very much like an excellent novella that was stretched with a great deal of unnecessary filler.
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Racism