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quetzi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4lphabet's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Cannibalism
Minor: Cancer
diziet_sma's review
challenging
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tashva's review
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
catsbooks_uk's review against another edition
2.0
First of all, the Good: the writing of this is very interesting. Multiple voices, but easy to follow who is speaking (mostly), and I liked the varied perspectives.
Unfortunately, though, this was a DNF for me.
I'm a pagan lady who's been to events such as those satirised in this book, and I fully see where the author is coming from (in a fun way)! It's a soft target but shows how those different personality types are drawn to attend and run such events (before we get to the fantastic story aspects, of course).
What made me frustrated was how basic each character was. I assumed they'd develop as we moved forward, but nope - all remained unlikeable stereotypes. Yes, they're damaged and vulnerable, but being the caricatures that are being literally lampshaded in the story was a bit much!
I stopped at about 1/3 because the frustration was overcoming the enjoyment. Apologies.
Early ARC kindly sent via NetGalley.
Unfortunately, though, this was a DNF for me.
I'm a pagan lady who's been to events such as those satirised in this book, and I fully see where the author is coming from (in a fun way)! It's a soft target but shows how those different personality types are drawn to attend and run such events (before we get to the fantastic story aspects, of course).
What made me frustrated was how basic each character was. I assumed they'd develop as we moved forward, but nope - all remained unlikeable stereotypes. Yes, they're damaged and vulnerable, but being the caricatures that are being literally lampshaded in the story was a bit much!
I stopped at about 1/3 because the frustration was overcoming the enjoyment. Apologies.
Early ARC kindly sent via NetGalley.
spoerk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I devoured this.
I felt the magic (?) it talked about.
But perhaps I was just bewitched by the author
I felt the magic (?) it talked about.
But perhaps I was just bewitched by the author
friendofgosig's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this exploration of what it is like to be in a cult, and I enjoyed the ambiguity about what it really going on.
Narratively, I thought it was well done - we follow the voices of three characters, and a fourth narrative strand that comes from the Bastion as a group, or as a collective. Other parts of the story - the viewpoints from those on the outside - come from the media - social and otherwise.
The characterisation of a social media pile on works well, and I love how the author follows that through to reflect the mob mentality that arises at the climax of the book, not dissimilar to the frenzy that the Bastion find themselves experiencing.
I like a book that leaves plenty of questions unanswered, when done well it certainly makes you think, and that is what this book has done for me.
Narratively, I thought it was well done - we follow the voices of three characters, and a fourth narrative strand that comes from the Bastion as a group, or as a collective. Other parts of the story - the viewpoints from those on the outside - come from the media - social and otherwise.
I like a book that leaves plenty of questions unanswered, when done well it certainly makes you think, and that is what this book has done for me.
olivee's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
This book is a perfect study in psychology. It is about how easy it is to be preyed upon by a cult, and which type of person are most likely to fall for the manipulative strategies used by cults. It is terrifying and facinating, and the book itself had a lot to say about what it means to be human in our day and age. I especially enjoyed the Covid aspect of the story. A large part of the cult's message is about the end of the world, which was fitting for what the world experienced during those years. I liked the deniability and open ending of the story. Was there every any magic, or was it drugs and collective hallucinations? What happended to Charlie in the end? I also REALLY enjoyed the narrative style, switching between the character in an office-like fashion, and also including a "we" narrator, which was a good way to showcase the cult-mentality which formed between the members. Overall I think this has the potential to become the next big thing, a mordern classic, and I am devestated to not have heard anybody talk about it! Definetly something I could see myself teaching from as an english teacher, if not for all the sex lol.