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katiedegrey01's review
dark
medium-paced
2.5
This book just was not the best writing. I love the premise of this book but it could’ve been so much better! I predicted every twist and turn. The names of the killers were over the top which was probably on purpose, but… meh. Not my favorite book for sure. Put me in quite the slump, I almost didn’t finish it.
lunytuni's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? N/A
4.5
bwray1's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
8bitreader's review
5.0
I could say a lot about the flaws of this book. I could talk about how the only two queer characters had giant targets on their backs since they were both introduced, or how the social commentary is a clear swing and a miss. But you know what? That's irrelevant because I had fun.
I know it's a lame excuse to say that "oh some things were bad but I had fun," but that's what it comes down to. It was a quick, enjoyable ride with an interesting plot, and it was fun. The characters bounced off of each other well. The banter was entertaining. The backstory was interesting, and the way that so many elements were drip-fed really fed into the rising tension well. The climax was a blast to read. The twist at the end had just enough substance that it didn't feel utterly predictable.
I also just loved the Twitter/Reddit thread forums that sometimes popped up between chapters. It was such a nice bit of worldbuilding to see what society is like outside of Alcatraz and made the whole bit about hashtags and catchy names seem a little less hokey. Though, don't get me wrong. The hokeyness is sometimes the best part of the book. The entire climax is carried by its hokeyness (special shotout to the exploding Frisbees and the 1 brain cell the Painiacs share).
Most importantly, though, there was never a time while reading this that I stopped and said to myself, "I'm bored." In fact, I read this book over the span of two days. Not only was it a quick read, but it also is very easy to put down and pick back up because of the short chapters. It also easily feeds into the "just one more chapter" syndrome.
I think the best way to go into this book is to go into it fully aware that you are not reading the next Hunger Games . Just admit that you're reading Fun, Kitschy but Self-Aware Murder Island and you'll have a blast.
I know it's a lame excuse to say that "oh some things were bad but I had fun," but that's what it comes down to. It was a quick, enjoyable ride with an interesting plot, and it was fun. The characters bounced off of each other well. The banter was entertaining. The backstory was interesting, and the way that so many elements were drip-fed really fed into the rising tension well. The climax was a blast to read. The twist at the end had just enough substance that it didn't feel utterly predictable.
I also just loved the Twitter/Reddit thread forums that sometimes popped up between chapters. It was such a nice bit of worldbuilding to see what society is like outside of Alcatraz and made the whole bit about hashtags and catchy names seem a little less hokey. Though, don't get me wrong. The hokeyness is sometimes the best part of the book. The entire climax is carried by its hokeyness (special shotout to the exploding Frisbees and the 1 brain cell the Painiacs share).
Most importantly, though, there was never a time while reading this that I stopped and said to myself, "I'm bored." In fact, I read this book over the span of two days. Not only was it a quick read, but it also is very easy to put down and pick back up because of the short chapters. It also easily feeds into the "just one more chapter" syndrome.
I think the best way to go into this book is to go into it fully aware that you are not reading the next Hunger Games . Just admit that you're reading Fun, Kitschy but Self-Aware Murder Island and you'll have a blast.
aclopez6's review
4.0
This book reminded me of the movie Death Race, but with a YA spin. I borrowed it on Hoopla for a flight, and was invested enough to finish the book, but also wouldn't necessarily purchase it for my classroom or personal library.
dashaadu's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
ambrose_7's review
1.0
I find it hard to give this book any leg-ups besides the fact that it is action-packed and reads quickly. It's written like a YA book would be, with all the classic parts of it being there. Basic characters that stick to their two personality traits like glue, dialogue that's borderline cringy most of the time. But with this one, you have themes of extreme violence along with very adult language seemingly out of nowhere. I felt like I was reading an author who SHOULD be writing adult fiction but instead decided to make it YA. I didn't like the result of that one bit. It feels very offputting to me and I can't figure out what the target audience is. For someone like me who's into adult horror, the YA aspect of it was silly and took away from the meaningful ways the themes of this novel could have been portrayed. If you typically read YA, I can't help but feel the scenes of violence would feel shockingly out of place.
The whole novel is completely unrealistic and faulty. There was plothole upon plothole, and the focus of the novel was not on the parts of this that it should have been. It feels like McNeil wanted another Hunger Games but didn't put in any of the work to make it convincing and instead decided to put out some silly and unrealistic version of the United States where everyone in the general population is braindead. (You notice I'm not arguing that the politicians are corrupt, although even that is so grossly out of proportion it takes away from EVEN THAT message.)
This novel disgusts me. I don't understand how her editors let this go into publication as it was. And how anybody gained anything meaningful from reading this. I don't go after books often but this should not have been published. The end product is lazy, silly, and irreverent.
The whole novel is completely unrealistic and faulty. There was plothole upon plothole, and the focus of the novel was not on the parts of this that it should have been. It feels like McNeil wanted another Hunger Games but didn't put in any of the work to make it convincing and instead decided to put out some silly and unrealistic version of the United States where everyone in the general population is braindead. (You notice I'm not arguing that the politicians are corrupt, although even that is so grossly out of proportion it takes away from EVEN THAT message.)
This novel disgusts me. I don't understand how her editors let this go into publication as it was. And how anybody gained anything meaningful from reading this. I don't go after books often but this should not have been published. The end product is lazy, silly, and irreverent.
jadedandylions's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0