Reviews

Cruel Castle by Bryony Pearce

aestheticroxie's review

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

keira4's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.5

mxbluet18's review

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. But after saying that, I don't know quite what to think or fully say about it. I guess somewhat I expected the sequel to be less violent amd gruesome than the first, though with no basis as to why. And in some ways it both was and wasn't. There were more 'on-screen' deaths in Cruel Castle. And to me, the plot and characters felt more complex than the previous book. A very enjoyable read, but not one for younger readers with a strong warning for violence, and language.l

ailsa_reads's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rubyyy191's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

outsmartyourshelf's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Ben & Lizzie survived Savage Island but they are having to hide from their families just to keep the Machiavellian psychopath, Gold, ignorant of their whereabouts. Grady is working for Gold & secretly helping his former friends but when he is suddenly sent on a team-building exercise to a remote castle. Grady is suspicious of Gold's motives & he reaches out to Ben & Lizzie for help. Soon they are locked inside the castle with three other employees of Gold, & they have to navigate a series of lethal escape rooms to survive.

The follow-up to Savage Island is even better than the first book in my opinion as the plot & pace are tighter & keep the reader's interest fully engaged . I loved the deadly escape rooms theme & it was nice to catch up with some of the characters from the original. There are plenty of twists & turns as well as well as cut-throat betrayal , & as the violence quota is again quite high, I would definitely recommend both books for older teens. This is another thrilling read from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, White Tiger Group/Stripes Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence