Welcome to Litsy!

Once I figured out where this story was going, I slowed down because I didn't want to read it. It's a good story but very uncomfortable and sad and hits many of the ways that the culture we live in (at least in the US; I can't speak for other cultures) screws with our individual values, choices, beliefs. The ending is a little heavy handed, but overall this novel is well done. (And yes, this cat should not be on the table.)

Book, cat, slippers, beverage (not pictured). This is how I like to do Sunday afternoon.

Finally, a day off! After the day I had yesterday, which involved managing the VERY BIG EMOTIONS of a seven-year-old student (on my birthday, no less), I think I've earned some time with this aptly named novel.

(It wasn't all intense stuff...my morning class sang Happy Birthday to me, and my family made me dinner and took me to a play. I'm still glad to have a free afternoon, though.)

It‘s 1997 and four contestants have made it to the final room of a full-contact haunted escape room. If they make it without shouting the safe word “Reprieve”, they‘ll win a big cash prize.

I‘m currently reading this novel of “classic horror with searing social criticism” and wondering where it‘s going. At the halfway point I‘m not feeling much horror although I‘m invested enough in a few of the characters to see how it pans out.

At the Quigley House, a full-contact haunted house contestants must make their way through a series of progressively more terrifying & challenging cells in order to claim a cash prize. During one such challenge, one of the contestants is killed. The backstory of the contestants & what led to the murder is slowly revealed in a book that I thought was working very well until the ending. Every once in awhile when people ask people to reply with the👇

I rly need to wait longer to post reviews, rather than finish a book and tell everyone abt it 😂 this is one that needs extra reflection time, there‘s just so much good stuff there. But also, as you‘re reading it, the story is so gripping that it‘s hard to rly ponder on the more serious matters bc you just wanna know what‘s gonna happen and confirm your guesses. Few proper scary bits, but the book has a dark aura altogether, so def 🔥horror vibes!

A full-contact haunted house escape room becomes the site of a shocking murder. The novel explores the experiences of the three surviving contestants and others involved in the incident and how their beliefs, actions, and inaction led to the death of their fellow contestant. A really excellent thriller with equal parts intrigue and social commentary.

☠️🖤☠️🖤☠️🖤☠️🖤

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this one. It takes place at a haunted house/escape room where four people try to find clues to advance in order to win money. Unfortunately, something goes wrong.

We get backstories on the four witnesses present when the incident occurs, and court testimonies mixed in with the story of what happened. The flipping back and forth didn't work so well with this story.

Entertaining, but not memorable.

Continuation of my earlier post - I love the narrator's voice, however it does not match or do this novel justice. It quickly becomes monotonous & bland.

I also don't care for any of the characters, which is intentional & most of the time I can look past those flaws.

I've seen so many mixed reviews about this book, some stating it's a fantastic read and others saying it's a waste of time.
Has anyone else read this one?

#mystery #dnf #october

I'm really struggling with this book. The audio version is just awful. This is the first book in several years where I'm considering not finishing. I'm about 2 hours in and listening to this is making me tense and slightly irritable.

When dialogue is made up of "he said," "she said" and "they said," over and over again, I can't really enjoy any of the story.

Pt. 1

#mystery #dnf #fiction #october #scary #audiobook

I went to The Dog Eared Book to pick up my preordered copy of Reprieve tonight and the amazing bookstore owner hooked me up with an ARC of Kendare Blake‘s upcoming novel!!!

Nothing about this one worked for me. The story is boring and lackluster. The characters are flat and unlikable. The editing was missing entirely. Too many unnecessary characters with incredibly slow pacing. I wish I‘d bailed. The premise is decent though, and this still counts as a #Screamathon read. @4thhouseontheleft

#ARC pub date 10/5 (today!)

It‘s here!!!!!! Trying not to drop everything and start this, so I‘m going to workout THEN I will start it. 😂

I don‘t read a lot of horror. This book had a lot going on - it was more than just shock value. It‘s nuanced and fascinating and uncomfortable. A solid read. Comes out in October.