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This book was a complete surprise for me. When I had to put it down, I was thinking about what would happen next. The writing was very addictive. The story was very addictive.
I really enjoyed the way the author wrote about the reality show's backstage. All the stuff that was happening and the viewers didn't know. But most of all I loved the duology of the storylines: the past alongside the present; our main character being completely oblivious to what was evident (completely in denial); the ending - I loved the ending.
This is definitely not a “summer read,” but it was the best read I did all summer.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Homophobia, Excrement, Vomit
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death
The story transitions between Zoo’s travels in the present and flashbacks to the filming of the survival competition. It’s a bit confusing regarding the other characters at first, as the filming chapters names characters by the narrative being told about them (Tracker, Rancher, Banker, Exorcist, Waitress, etc), while Zoo calls them by their actual names. After a couple chapters it makes more sense, it just took me a few to get into it.
I actually tried to start this book earlier this year and couldn’t get into it. I’m glad I gave it another shot but it’s not something I’d read again or look for something similar. I felt that there was a lot that I wanted expanded on and a lot of boring stuff I had to power through. It’s definitely an interesting concept, but I’m not totally sold on the execution.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Animal death
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Blood
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail