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Generation Annihilation
Generation Annihilation <> Hardcover <> racyHewittMeyer, <> BHCPress
- GenresHorrorYoung AdultMystery
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 5, 2023
Let's start with my favorite part of this book which was the idea of a new generation of human beings that start with how we handle teenagers in the present time. The whole concept for this possible look into a future with less violence and less crimes was truly interesting and at the same time disturbing.
At the beginning I was really invested with Shaun's story and to find out how he was going to get out of the situation he was in. Then he discovered the asylum and I do love myself a creepy mysterious asylum where potentially some dodgy experiments are taking place. But, this is also where the writing style started to be repetitive for me and made the pacing slow down even though a lot of things were happening.
For being a YA book I did find the story to be really dark and there were many trigger warnings so I feel that this is more for the older spectrum of YA readers.
And even though the story is told from different points of view, the characters lacked depth and I wanted to see more of their personalities and understand their motivations better.
CW: Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse, Drug use
At the beginning I was really invested with Shaun's story and to find out how he was going to get out of the situation he was in. Then he discovered the asylum and I do love myself a creepy mysterious asylum where potentially some dodgy experiments are taking place. But, this is also where the writing style started to be repetitive for me and made the pacing slow down even though a lot of things were happening.
For being a YA book I did find the story to be really dark and there were many trigger warnings so I feel that this is more for the older spectrum of YA readers.
And even though the story is told from different points of view, the characters lacked depth and I wanted to see more of their personalities and understand their motivations better.
CW: Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse, Drug use
May 9, 2023
I thought the premise of this book sounded unique and promising and it didn't dissapoint I thought it was executed great, the pacing and characters kept me hooked, any book with an old creepy abandoned asylum will get my attention, the ending was slightly disappointing but I'm hoping for a sequel?
April 22, 2023
Addictive, intoxicating read this was. Once I started it I couldn't stop reading. The atmosphere was so dark and eerie. The concept of an old insane asylum, just does it for me.
The concept was so original, so well done. I just needed to know the outcome. It was extremely fast paced and will suck you right in. Sometimes the writing in these super atmospheric reads is overbearing, but Meyer's writing is easy, flowy and gripping.
The characters felt real with all their issues and reasons. The way their reactions were depicted felt just right.
I do not want to reveal too much, the ending was a bit of a let down as it did have a lot of openness for me, the pieces were not all tied up, which left me wondering. Apart from that this was a solid read !
If you're looking for a fast paced, dark, eerie, atmospheric YA action packed book pick this one up !
The concept was so original, so well done. I just needed to know the outcome. It was extremely fast paced and will suck you right in. Sometimes the writing in these super atmospheric reads is overbearing, but Meyer's writing is easy, flowy and gripping.
The characters felt real with all their issues and reasons. The way their reactions were depicted felt just right.
I do not want to reveal too much, the ending was a bit of a let down as it did have a lot of openness for me, the pieces were not all tied up, which left me wondering. Apart from that this was a solid read !
If you're looking for a fast paced, dark, eerie, atmospheric YA action packed book pick this one up !
November 1, 2023
I almost gave up on this one a few times – it just wasn’t drawing me in. Finishing it didn’t make it any better. I found Shaun annoying (anyone who keeps asking why instead of just doing what someone asks always annoys me). The premise was interesting but the execution wasn’t really there. The tension that should be there doesn’t build as much as it should and the reasoning for the experiments didn’t really work.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
August 16, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This book really missed the mark for me. When looking up books, this one was sold as a psychological thriller & it was absolutely not that. Maybe a mystery? Maybe??
Overall, I felt like this book had so much potential! I was so sold on old, abandoned, creepy asylum & annihilating a whole generation. BUT I felt like this book was the same thing again & again & again & again (you understand my point). I was hooked in the beginning, I mean those first few chapters had me INVESTED. Then it seemed like once the book moved into the asylum, it was like how many times can we retell this story? I felt like for 30 chapters, these characters just sat at a table chatting & slipped in & out of consciousness. Im going to be very honest, if this wasn't an ARC, I would have dnfd at multiple points. I powered through for the ending & well, let's just not even talk about the disappointment that was. Also, this book was supposed to be about the "spark" that existed between Shaun & Cass & let's be real, it was as dry as a desert. About a quarter of the way through I looked up if this was the author's first book, it wasn't!
This book really missed the mark for me. When looking up books, this one was sold as a psychological thriller & it was absolutely not that. Maybe a mystery? Maybe??
Overall, I felt like this book had so much potential! I was so sold on old, abandoned, creepy asylum & annihilating a whole generation. BUT I felt like this book was the same thing again & again & again & again (you understand my point). I was hooked in the beginning, I mean those first few chapters had me INVESTED. Then it seemed like once the book moved into the asylum, it was like how many times can we retell this story? I felt like for 30 chapters, these characters just sat at a table chatting & slipped in & out of consciousness. Im going to be very honest, if this wasn't an ARC, I would have dnfd at multiple points. I powered through for the ending & well, let's just not even talk about the disappointment that was. Also, this book was supposed to be about the "spark" that existed between Shaun & Cass & let's be real, it was as dry as a desert. About a quarter of the way through I looked up if this was the author's first book, it wasn't!
September 10, 2023
*I got a free copy through Netgalley, this in no way affected my review*
This book had such a strong start and then went downhill along the way. The ending was so dark and scary; nothing happened in the middle and the ending was frankly just disappointing.
I liked the main character fine, but he could have been fleshed out way more. The author sets up a pretty strong base at the beginning, but then forgets about it until the near end of the book, which is a pity. The side characters were forgettable and could definitely use some more personality.
I really think the idea and concept of the book was there, but the author seemed to be done with it by the 50% mark and that’s a pity.
Also, you know when you come up with like the most basic ending you can think of and say to yourself ‘the author would never do that, that’s way too simple?’
Yeah…
So, this one might be a good start to get into YA thrillers, but it definitely wasn’t something new in the genre.
This book had such a strong start and then went downhill along the way. The ending was so dark and scary; nothing happened in the middle and the ending was frankly just disappointing.
I liked the main character fine, but he could have been fleshed out way more. The author sets up a pretty strong base at the beginning, but then forgets about it until the near end of the book, which is a pity. The side characters were forgettable and could definitely use some more personality.
I really think the idea and concept of the book was there, but the author seemed to be done with it by the 50% mark and that’s a pity.
Also, you know when you come up with like the most basic ending you can think of and say to yourself ‘the author would never do that, that’s way too simple?’
Yeah…
So, this one might be a good start to get into YA thrillers, but it definitely wasn’t something new in the genre.
April 17, 2023
CW: Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse, Drug use
This book was ‘Sucker Punch’ meets ‘Divergent’. . I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading. I had to know what was going to happen. Starting the book in-medias-res allowed the author to play with the chronological events of the story and kept me hooked to find out more about shaun and the choices that led to his current situation. The flashbacks provided some information in understanding Shaun’s actions but felt very surface level. The characters lacked depth and I wanted to see more of their personalities and understand their motivations. The ending was a bit of a let down as it left a lot of open ends but would definitely work for a sequel.
This book was ‘Sucker Punch’ meets ‘Divergent’. . I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading. I had to know what was going to happen. Starting the book in-medias-res allowed the author to play with the chronological events of the story and kept me hooked to find out more about shaun and the choices that led to his current situation. The flashbacks provided some information in understanding Shaun’s actions but felt very surface level. The characters lacked depth and I wanted to see more of their personalities and understand their motivations. The ending was a bit of a let down as it left a lot of open ends but would definitely work for a sequel.
December 4, 2023
Oh boy. Where do I start?
Let’s go with the obvious answer and say the beginning.
The beginning is strong. Our protagonist, Shaun, has just committed murder via arson. Shaun does this in a bid to protect his mother, who has been abused by her husband for over a decade; despite severely injuring and almost killing her a few times, he's gotten away with the abuse due to being a cop. After burning the family home down with his sleeping stepfather inside, Shaun flees to his grandfather’s old hunting cabin to lay low.
I liked this beginning! The stakes are high, and Shaun quickly becomes a protagonist I’m rooting for. I especially liked the way Shaun handles his mental health, as he used breathing exercises and other coping skills to handle the stress. The tension in this section was good, too—Shaun’s personal life was a focus and the setting, an almost completely abandoned town, was eerily intriguing. Honestly, the only reason this book reaches two stars for me is because of this decent beginning.
However, once the actual plot of the book began, the book nosedived for me. The pacing and plot are a mess.
Shaun is kidnapped by a doctor, drugged, and kept tied up in a room. Most of the plot is delivered via either people monologuing at Shaun, telling him things that, quite frankly, they have no reason to tell him. The villain is way too willing to explain what she's doing and why for absolutely no reason, and at a certain point, it gets very repetitive. Like, yes, I get it--the bad guy is doing lobotomies because her grandfather did them and she's mad she got bullied in med school.
Eventually, Shaun gets moved to a table where he sits, paralyzed, with three other teens. The plot is then continued to be delivered via conversations around a table, which is marginally better, but still a struggle to get through after a while. Another reviewer (brittanylee0302 on Storygraph) described the plot as being "characters just [sitting] at a table chatting [and] slipp[ing] in [and] out of consciousness." I can't put it into better words, because, yeah. That's pretty much all it is.
There are a few chapters where we POV hop into another character's head (usually into the evil doctor's head or into the girl, Cassidy's, head), but these chapters usually just re-iterate information we already know. Honestly, I don't know why Shaun is the main character, not Cassidy; she's got a way more interesting backstory than him (her father being involved with the study, her having been used to lure people in, and thus being directly involved with the plot). If we'd followed her, we wouldn't be sitting at a table for most of the plot.
Once the kid's table finally decide to escape and there's actually some action, the plot gets a little better, but then takes an unfortunate left into "Very Outdated YA Vibes" zone with the introduction of the other escapees, who have all named themselves after the medications they used to take. I get the attempted vibes, but these characters feel like teens from a very different era of YA than the current one.
Speaking of outdated YA vibes, the whole book reads like something that was written in the early 2000s, and not in a good way, especially considering the villains.
One of the villains, the man in charge of administering medicine and menial labor, falls directly into one of my most disliked tropes:
Meanwhile, while most of our protagonists deal with some form of mental illness, none of them are disabled, and it is heavily hinted at several times that these mental illnesses are entirely misdiagnosed.
For all my issues with YA, the push for better representation and sensitivity isn't one of them. This books reads like one that was written before conversations about representation in YA became what it is today.
I won't get into the ending because, frankly, it's boring and predictable and it hints at a sequel I seriously doubt anyone wants.
The main plot that is revealed is that
The author is a social worker, and I presume that has something to do with the themes and writing of this book. I'm not the expert on the topic that she is, so I'm not going to make any statements about the real world situation of teens in the system. In terms of Generation Annihilation, however, I felt the handling of mental health, physical difference, disability, and commentary on the system and wilderness programs were not well-executed.
Let’s go with the obvious answer and say the beginning.
The beginning is strong. Our protagonist, Shaun, has just committed murder via arson. Shaun does this in a bid to protect his mother, who has been abused by her husband for over a decade; despite severely injuring and almost killing her a few times, he's gotten away with the abuse due to being a cop. After burning the family home down with his sleeping stepfather inside, Shaun flees to his grandfather’s old hunting cabin to lay low.
I liked this beginning! The stakes are high, and Shaun quickly becomes a protagonist I’m rooting for. I especially liked the way Shaun handles his mental health, as he used breathing exercises and other coping skills to handle the stress. The tension in this section was good, too—Shaun’s personal life was a focus and the setting, an almost completely abandoned town, was eerily intriguing. Honestly, the only reason this book reaches two stars for me is because of this decent beginning.
However, once the actual plot of the book began, the book nosedived for me. The pacing and plot are a mess.
Shaun is kidnapped by a doctor, drugged, and kept tied up in a room. Most of the plot is delivered via either people monologuing at Shaun, telling him things that, quite frankly, they have no reason to tell him. The villain is way too willing to explain what she's doing and why for absolutely no reason, and at a certain point, it gets very repetitive. Like, yes, I get it--the bad guy is doing lobotomies because her grandfather did them and she's mad she got bullied in med school.
Eventually, Shaun gets moved to a table where he sits, paralyzed, with three other teens. The plot is then continued to be delivered via conversations around a table, which is marginally better, but still a struggle to get through after a while. Another reviewer (brittanylee0302 on Storygraph) described the plot as being "characters just [sitting] at a table chatting [and] slipp[ing] in [and] out of consciousness." I can't put it into better words, because, yeah. That's pretty much all it is.
There are a few chapters where we POV hop into another character's head (usually into the evil doctor's head or into the girl, Cassidy's, head), but these chapters usually just re-iterate information we already know. Honestly, I don't know why Shaun is the main character, not Cassidy; she's got a way more interesting backstory than him (her father being involved with the study, her having been used to lure people in, and thus being directly involved with the plot). If we'd followed her, we wouldn't be sitting at a table for most of the plot.
Once the kid's table finally decide to escape and there's actually some action, the plot gets a little better, but then takes an unfortunate left into "Very Outdated YA Vibes" zone with the introduction of the other escapees, who have all named themselves after the medications they used to take. I get the attempted vibes, but these characters feel like teens from a very different era of YA than the current one.
Speaking of outdated YA vibes, the whole book reads like something that was written in the early 2000s, and not in a good way, especially considering the villains.
One of the villains, the man in charge of administering medicine and menial labor, falls directly into one of my most disliked tropes:
Meanwhile, while most of our protagonists deal with some form of mental illness, none of them are disabled, and it is heavily hinted at several times that these mental illnesses are entirely misdiagnosed.
For all my issues with YA, the push for better representation and sensitivity isn't one of them. This books reads like one that was written before conversations about representation in YA became what it is today.
I won't get into the ending because, frankly, it's boring and predictable and it hints at a sequel I seriously doubt anyone wants.
The main plot that is revealed is that
The author is a social worker, and I presume that has something to do with the themes and writing of this book. I'm not the expert on the topic that she is, so I'm not going to make any statements about the real world situation of teens in the system. In terms of Generation Annihilation, however, I felt the handling of mental health, physical difference, disability, and commentary on the system and wilderness programs were not well-executed.
May 10, 2023
**ARC provided by NetGalley, BHC Press, and Tracy Hewitt Meyer in exchange for an honest written review.**
The summary intrigued me straight away, as I always like to read about MC’s getting revenge (pre-emptive or otherwise) on their personal bad guy, but also as a native Marylander (who has spent a fair amount of time in Baltimore) and lover of abandoned places as well as urban exploring videos on YouTube.
Immediately, readers are introduced to the aforementioned bad guy (and first) of the story: Rodger, Shaun’s stepfather. Shaun has just set his family home ablaze, along with his stepfather sleeping inside it. Part of me wanted a bit more of an introduction (why and how did we get here/what were the events leading up to that moment in time, etc.) but another part of me feels like that character would not have been worth the extra words, especially as we’re given more information regarding Shaun’s mother’s injuries and are subsequently given more information regarding Rodger in way of flashbacks as the story progresses. He does eventually go into detail with the doctor about what he did and why, and present-me was glad that past-me’s wishes of more page-time for the lead up weren’t granted. Mainly because at this point in the book, I was getting a bit bored with that aspect of the story and after he speaks with Dr. Richter about it, it’s not consuming his inner monologue anymore.
Navigating through the book didn’t feel as unreliable as I was anticipating. To expand on this, Shaun reveals that he takes medication to treat his diagnosis of bipolar disorder (like his mother). To use modern terminology, it felt like Shaun was making the need for his medication one of his only personality traits, alongside his (warranted) hatred for his stepfather. I was interested to see if the repeated mentioning of his medication was going to transform into him being an unreliable narrator, but that wasn’t the case. I think that would have amplified the Thriller and Mystery classification. Asylums are pretty notorious for being wells of paranormal activity, and I think that could have played a role in the (desired) unreliability, coupled with the fact that Shaun repeatedly asked himself if he had remembered his medication and there were moments where he thought he heard noises within the asylum. And if the asylum in the book is based off of the asylum I’m thinking about, the activity definitely could have been used here.
There was a fair amount that I think was done well in this book and a fair amount that fell flat for me. I think that the world building was off to a decent start, given the fact that the town surrounding the asylum was abandoned (which we don’t learn the reason for until the last half of the book), I didn’t expect much in that regard. However, the scene descriptions were alright for what readers were given in my book.
With everything that was good about this book, I do want to be transparent and say that this felt slow to start. As well as slow to finish. I struggled to get through more than a couple chapters a night for about a week and a half; I was more or less put to sleep by what I was reading, and this made me deeply sad, if I’m being completely honest. I *wanted* to devour this book, but the intrigue just wasn’t there for me after a few chapters. A lot of the chapters felt repetitive, and I didn’t start getting an antsy feeling until after Chapter 30. In a 40-chapter book (that’s about an abandoned asylum where they’re doing lobotomies on “troubled” teens), I want to spend at least 75% of the time it takes to read it with that antsy feeling. That’s why I’m reading it, I want to feel disturbed and watched and a little frightened. This just wasn’t that for me. I did enjoy the premise, but I feel like the execution could have been done in less chapters. I think some of the characters that were introduced throughout the book could have been given a bit more detail and backstory, but that’s just my inquisitive nature coming out and wanting to know everything about everyone mentioned.
The dialogue at times felt almost disjointed in that it didn’t feel like teens were talking. There was little use of contractions and slang terms, which surprised me to be honest. A fair amount of other YA books I’ve read have used at least some degree of slang terminology, so not having any in GA kind of threw me. As well as the almost sterile way everyone spoke, even when cuss words were being thrown around. It didn’t feel natural, and I think that was a huge proponent in why it took me so long to get through. The writing felt too clinical and made me feel like I was back in college trying to read research studies for a class I didn’t need to take for my degree but needed to take in order to graduate, if that makes sense.
Some takeaways that I would hope could be explored by the author: I would like to see if the author uses the ending as a way to transition into a sequel, that way some questions could get answered/tie up some loose ends. I also think that there are a few characters that could benefit from having novellas written for them as stand-alones, my main point of interest would be Dr. Richter and her “research”. Something else that would be interesting would be a short work on the kids that we saw introduced, including the kids in the woods. I think their building blocks are too interesting to have the novel end the way it did.
Again, I would like to thank NetGalley, BHC Press, and Tracy Hewitt Meyer for allowing me the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication. I am extremely grateful and look forward to future opportunities.
The summary intrigued me straight away, as I always like to read about MC’s getting revenge (pre-emptive or otherwise) on their personal bad guy, but also as a native Marylander (who has spent a fair amount of time in Baltimore) and lover of abandoned places as well as urban exploring videos on YouTube.
Immediately, readers are introduced to the aforementioned bad guy (and first) of the story: Rodger, Shaun’s stepfather. Shaun has just set his family home ablaze, along with his stepfather sleeping inside it. Part of me wanted a bit more of an introduction (why and how did we get here/what were the events leading up to that moment in time, etc.) but another part of me feels like that character would not have been worth the extra words, especially as we’re given more information regarding Shaun’s mother’s injuries and are subsequently given more information regarding Rodger in way of flashbacks as the story progresses. He does eventually go into detail with the doctor about what he did and why, and present-me was glad that past-me’s wishes of more page-time for the lead up weren’t granted. Mainly because at this point in the book, I was getting a bit bored with that aspect of the story and after he speaks with Dr. Richter about it, it’s not consuming his inner monologue anymore.
Navigating through the book didn’t feel as unreliable as I was anticipating. To expand on this, Shaun reveals that he takes medication to treat his diagnosis of bipolar disorder (like his mother). To use modern terminology, it felt like Shaun was making the need for his medication one of his only personality traits, alongside his (warranted) hatred for his stepfather. I was interested to see if the repeated mentioning of his medication was going to transform into him being an unreliable narrator, but that wasn’t the case. I think that would have amplified the Thriller and Mystery classification. Asylums are pretty notorious for being wells of paranormal activity, and I think that could have played a role in the (desired) unreliability, coupled with the fact that Shaun repeatedly asked himself if he had remembered his medication and there were moments where he thought he heard noises within the asylum. And if the asylum in the book is based off of the asylum I’m thinking about, the activity definitely could have been used here.
There was a fair amount that I think was done well in this book and a fair amount that fell flat for me. I think that the world building was off to a decent start, given the fact that the town surrounding the asylum was abandoned (which we don’t learn the reason for until the last half of the book), I didn’t expect much in that regard. However, the scene descriptions were alright for what readers were given in my book.
With everything that was good about this book, I do want to be transparent and say that this felt slow to start. As well as slow to finish. I struggled to get through more than a couple chapters a night for about a week and a half; I was more or less put to sleep by what I was reading, and this made me deeply sad, if I’m being completely honest. I *wanted* to devour this book, but the intrigue just wasn’t there for me after a few chapters. A lot of the chapters felt repetitive, and I didn’t start getting an antsy feeling until after Chapter 30. In a 40-chapter book (that’s about an abandoned asylum where they’re doing lobotomies on “troubled” teens), I want to spend at least 75% of the time it takes to read it with that antsy feeling. That’s why I’m reading it, I want to feel disturbed and watched and a little frightened. This just wasn’t that for me. I did enjoy the premise, but I feel like the execution could have been done in less chapters. I think some of the characters that were introduced throughout the book could have been given a bit more detail and backstory, but that’s just my inquisitive nature coming out and wanting to know everything about everyone mentioned.
The dialogue at times felt almost disjointed in that it didn’t feel like teens were talking. There was little use of contractions and slang terms, which surprised me to be honest. A fair amount of other YA books I’ve read have used at least some degree of slang terminology, so not having any in GA kind of threw me. As well as the almost sterile way everyone spoke, even when cuss words were being thrown around. It didn’t feel natural, and I think that was a huge proponent in why it took me so long to get through. The writing felt too clinical and made me feel like I was back in college trying to read research studies for a class I didn’t need to take for my degree but needed to take in order to graduate, if that makes sense.
Some takeaways that I would hope could be explored by the author: I would like to see if the author uses the ending as a way to transition into a sequel, that way some questions could get answered/tie up some loose ends. I also think that there are a few characters that could benefit from having novellas written for them as stand-alones, my main point of interest would be Dr. Richter and her “research”. Something else that would be interesting would be a short work on the kids that we saw introduced, including the kids in the woods. I think their building blocks are too interesting to have the novel end the way it did.
Again, I would like to thank NetGalley, BHC Press, and Tracy Hewitt Meyer for allowing me the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication. I am extremely grateful and look forward to future opportunities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2024
“Generation Annihilation” written by Tracey Hewitt Meyer is marketed as a mystery-horror book. Main character, Shaun Treadway, runs away from home after murdering his stepfather and runs off to an empty town of Blackthorn Peak where his grandfather once lived—where he wanders to the ever so creepy “haunted” Asylum where he meets a strange and lonely girl, Cassidy. There, he and the few other people try to work together to figure out what’s going on in the isolated town. Generation Annihilation was a very good book to read; it was a bit slow at times, however, it was a pretty interesting read.
I really liked the descriptive imagery, I felt like I was able to fully immerse myself into the town of Blackthorn Peak, like I was beside Shaun and the other narrators. I thought the multiple POV’s were an interesting idea for this kind of book, and it could have been executed well if one of the villains of the story wasn’t also featured as a main narrator. I felt like the story would’ve held up better if she (Esther Richter) didn’t have her own dedicated chapters as it just laid all of the dramatics out there and spoiled all the mystery from the reading experience.
Other things I didn’t really care for was the super rushed conclusion we were given for the “happy ending” for the teens and how the last chapter was told through Dr. Esther Richter’s mind. I would have much preferred an open ending where the readers could wonder and make their own conclusions to where she was/went to during the destruction of the Asylum. Also, we don’t ever find out why Gibbon was so keen on rescuing Shaun from the Asylum and not his own children—in fact, I didn’t like how Gibbon was this creepy dude that always asked for “favors” to get some weird special treatment from Richter. That just seemed too weird to put into this kind of book. And what was with Cassidy’s dad just blurting how Shaun’s step dad was his cousin? I felt like that was just forced at the last minute to make things harder for Shaun to escape the Asylum.
Overall, the book was interesting to read, very drawn out in some parts (like when Shaun and the other teens were in The Room, drugged and just forced to sit there like statues because their body was literally frozen for several chapters). I suppose I would read another book from this author (although probably nothing from the rest of this books series as it wasn’t really for me) just because I love the vivid descriptions. I’d give this book three stars.
** eARC provided by LibraryThing and BHC Press in exchange for an honest review **
I really liked the descriptive imagery, I felt like I was able to fully immerse myself into the town of Blackthorn Peak, like I was beside Shaun and the other narrators. I thought the multiple POV’s were an interesting idea for this kind of book, and it could have been executed well if one of the villains of the story wasn’t also featured as a main narrator. I felt like the story would’ve held up better if she (Esther Richter) didn’t have her own dedicated chapters as it just laid all of the dramatics out there and spoiled all the mystery from the reading experience.
Other things I didn’t really care for was the super rushed conclusion we were given for the “happy ending” for the teens and how the last chapter was told through Dr. Esther Richter’s mind. I would have much preferred an open ending where the readers could wonder and make their own conclusions to where she was/went to during the destruction of the Asylum. Also, we don’t ever find out why Gibbon was so keen on rescuing Shaun from the Asylum and not his own children—in fact, I didn’t like how Gibbon was this creepy dude that always asked for “favors” to get some weird special treatment from Richter. That just seemed too weird to put into this kind of book. And what was with Cassidy’s dad just blurting how Shaun’s step dad was his cousin? I felt like that was just forced at the last minute to make things harder for Shaun to escape the Asylum.
Overall, the book was interesting to read, very drawn out in some parts (like when Shaun and the other teens were in The Room, drugged and just forced to sit there like statues because their body was literally frozen for several chapters). I suppose I would read another book from this author (although probably nothing from the rest of this books series as it wasn’t really for me) just because I love the vivid descriptions. I’d give this book three stars.
** eARC provided by LibraryThing and BHC Press in exchange for an honest review **
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2023
not to be DRAMATIC but what actually was this. i stuck with this because i so badly was looking for something i could enjoy about this book and i have come up empty handed unfortunately.
i had many problems with this book. firstly, the premise was just a bit messed up tbh. it poses the question, what if we killed all teenagers that have a slight indication of violent or aggressive tendencies? would this lead to a utopia of sorts? you might think this sounds interesting and brings up many further questions about the nature of punishment, nature vs nurture, or is a utopia even possible. unfortunately that’s not what happens. what we get is a bunch of adults who all say “maybe we could do this tho” which feels like a much more sinister and off-putting sentiment to be putting forward and it made me feel very weird.
it all made me wonder what the author was hoping to achieve with this? maybe it was just trying to be a fast-paced thriller that wasn’t meant to be too deep. but even still it would’ve missed the mark on that. it wasn’t particularly fast-paced and the topic matter felt a bit too heavy to be ‘not that deep’.
also, the characters were just so flat. the teens had no more depth beyond the allegedly violent or aggressive things they had done to be recommended for the program in the beginning. one in particular said that when he was 18 he had sex with a 15 year old, and only got in trouble because of someone on a power trip, and then ended up “doomed because of consensual sex”. now i didn’t realise this was a controversial take, but an 18 year old having sex with a 15 year old is an adult having sex with a child and is inappropriate. in australia at least it’s very illegal. now i do agree that he and everyone else in the group should not have been sent to the program, but i didn’t need to downplay having sex with a minor in order to hold that opinion.
there are several other equally twisted examples of inappropriate behaviour that was passed off as not a big deal, but i do not have the energy or space to write about them all. my point is that none of it felt necessary, and only left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
i had many problems with this book. firstly, the premise was just a bit messed up tbh. it poses the question, what if we killed all teenagers that have a slight indication of violent or aggressive tendencies? would this lead to a utopia of sorts? you might think this sounds interesting and brings up many further questions about the nature of punishment, nature vs nurture, or is a utopia even possible. unfortunately that’s not what happens. what we get is a bunch of adults who all say “maybe we could do this tho” which feels like a much more sinister and off-putting sentiment to be putting forward and it made me feel very weird.
it all made me wonder what the author was hoping to achieve with this? maybe it was just trying to be a fast-paced thriller that wasn’t meant to be too deep. but even still it would’ve missed the mark on that. it wasn’t particularly fast-paced and the topic matter felt a bit too heavy to be ‘not that deep’.
also, the characters were just so flat. the teens had no more depth beyond the allegedly violent or aggressive things they had done to be recommended for the program in the beginning. one in particular said that when he was 18 he had sex with a 15 year old, and only got in trouble because of someone on a power trip, and then ended up “doomed because of consensual sex”. now i didn’t realise this was a controversial take, but an 18 year old having sex with a 15 year old is an adult having sex with a child and is inappropriate. in australia at least it’s very illegal. now i do agree that he and everyone else in the group should not have been sent to the program, but i didn’t need to downplay having sex with a minor in order to hold that opinion.
there are several other equally twisted examples of inappropriate behaviour that was passed off as not a big deal, but i do not have the energy or space to write about them all. my point is that none of it felt necessary, and only left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
May 10, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
“Generation Annihilation” by Tracy Hewitt Meyer is a young adult thriller that delves into the dark and twisted corridors of Blackthorn Peak Lunatic Asylum. The story follows seventeen-year-old Shaun Treadway, who, in a desperate act to protect his mother, kills his abusive stepfather and flees to his family’s isolated cabin in West Virginia. However, the small town of Blackthorn Peak is far from the safe haven he hoped for, and the looming presence of the abandoned asylum beckons with secrets Shaun cannot resist.
Meyer crafts a narrative that is as much about the horrors that lie within the human psyche as it is about the physical terror of the asylum. The protagonist, Shaun, is a complex character whose red hair is as fiery as his spirit, and his journey is one of survival, not just against external threats but also against his own inner demons. The introduction of Cass, a girl with her own set of familial nightmares, adds depth to the plot, as their relationship oscillates between ally and adversary.
The setting of the asylum is a character in itself, with its dilapidated walls and sinister history casting a shadow over the entire story. Meyer’s writing successfully creates an atmosphere of suspense and dread, making the asylum’s corridors come alive with the echoes of the past. The narrative is propelled by an urgency that keeps the reader engaged, wondering what lies around the next corner for Shaun and Cass.
However, the book is not without its flaws. The villains aren't portrayed realistically and sensitive subjects are not as carefully as they should be. It goes of course in areas.
Despite these criticisms, “Generation Annihilation” offers a gripping tale that explores themes of redemption, morality, and the lengths one will go to escape the past. Meyer’s portrayal of the troubled teens is raw and unflinching, providing a stark look at the impact of trauma and the struggle for identity.
“Generation Annihilation” by Tracy Hewitt Meyer is a young adult thriller that delves into the dark and twisted corridors of Blackthorn Peak Lunatic Asylum. The story follows seventeen-year-old Shaun Treadway, who, in a desperate act to protect his mother, kills his abusive stepfather and flees to his family’s isolated cabin in West Virginia. However, the small town of Blackthorn Peak is far from the safe haven he hoped for, and the looming presence of the abandoned asylum beckons with secrets Shaun cannot resist.
Meyer crafts a narrative that is as much about the horrors that lie within the human psyche as it is about the physical terror of the asylum. The protagonist, Shaun, is a complex character whose red hair is as fiery as his spirit, and his journey is one of survival, not just against external threats but also against his own inner demons. The introduction of Cass, a girl with her own set of familial nightmares, adds depth to the plot, as their relationship oscillates between ally and adversary.
The setting of the asylum is a character in itself, with its dilapidated walls and sinister history casting a shadow over the entire story. Meyer’s writing successfully creates an atmosphere of suspense and dread, making the asylum’s corridors come alive with the echoes of the past. The narrative is propelled by an urgency that keeps the reader engaged, wondering what lies around the next corner for Shaun and Cass.
However, the book is not without its flaws. The villains aren't portrayed realistically and sensitive subjects are not as carefully as they should be. It goes of course in areas.
Despite these criticisms, “Generation Annihilation” offers a gripping tale that explores themes of redemption, morality, and the lengths one will go to escape the past. Meyer’s portrayal of the troubled teens is raw and unflinching, providing a stark look at the impact of trauma and the struggle for identity.
May 21, 2023
{thanks to NetGalley, I received a free kindle version in exchange for an honest review}
I love horror. I love extreme horror. It takes a lot for this girl to cringe. Generation Annihilation was, if you’re into extreme horror + gore galore, so much fun! An absolute bloody disgusting thrill ride from start to finish. It takes no prisoners and doesn’t let go. For such a disgusting (in the best way) book, the emotional attachment I felt toward the kids was surprising, and the emotional development between some of the children had me boo-hooing when one would die.
The ONLY thing I truly had a problem with was the (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER)…………………….. way in which the author wrote the old woman and her sexual appetite. I suppose the only line I really have is reading—in extreme and unnecessary detail—about an elderly sexual sadist and how much little children turn her in (again, in WAY too much detail.) I understand that GA is an extreme horror book and the idea of a sexual sadist who’s also a pedophile is pretty disturbing in and of itself so, extreme horror or not, I really just didn’t appreciate reading about detailed pedophilia for pages among pages. Without that, this would’ve been a 5 star book. My advice is to enjoy the book in all its bloody glory and skip those passages that go just a bit too far, ever for the kind of book this is. All this said, I’m looking forward to reading more by this author!
I love horror. I love extreme horror. It takes a lot for this girl to cringe. Generation Annihilation was, if you’re into extreme horror + gore galore, so much fun! An absolute bloody disgusting thrill ride from start to finish. It takes no prisoners and doesn’t let go. For such a disgusting (in the best way) book, the emotional attachment I felt toward the kids was surprising, and the emotional development between some of the children had me boo-hooing when one would die.
The ONLY thing I truly had a problem with was the (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER)…………………….. way in which the author wrote the old woman and her sexual appetite. I suppose the only line I really have is reading—in extreme and unnecessary detail—about an elderly sexual sadist and how much little children turn her in (again, in WAY too much detail.) I understand that GA is an extreme horror book and the idea of a sexual sadist who’s also a pedophile is pretty disturbing in and of itself so, extreme horror or not, I really just didn’t appreciate reading about detailed pedophilia for pages among pages. Without that, this would’ve been a 5 star book. My advice is to enjoy the book in all its bloody glory and skip those passages that go just a bit too far, ever for the kind of book this is. All this said, I’m looking forward to reading more by this author!
August 28, 2023
I won an ARC of this title from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
Using multiple points of view, Meyer has created a dark, eerie world that grabs the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go. The story’s premise is violent and its implementation is horrifyingly believable. Although spare in details, the story’s opening lets the reader know from the beginning that this is not going to be a light hearted tale. The atmosphere is created in layers with the author beginning with an arson set by a troubled teen named Shaun to hide an intended murder and then his escape to the small town of Blackthorn Peak, West Virginia in an attempt to hide from the authorities. The first building Shaun encounters upon his arrival in West Virginia is a gothic, apparently vacant, asylum. Meyer uses a multiple point of view approach to build the relationships between the troubled teens, their families, and the adults working in the asylum. Flashbacks show character motivation, particularly Dr. Esther Richter and the Rutherford family. Dr. Richter’s plan to salvage her family’s name and remove an entire generation of teens using a type of lobotomy procedure is gradually revealed along with the asylum’s past and its association with the Rutherfords. Fans of Alexander Gordon Smith’s Escape from furnace series and Neal Shusterman’s Unwind series will love this book!
Using multiple points of view, Meyer has created a dark, eerie world that grabs the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go. The story’s premise is violent and its implementation is horrifyingly believable. Although spare in details, the story’s opening lets the reader know from the beginning that this is not going to be a light hearted tale. The atmosphere is created in layers with the author beginning with an arson set by a troubled teen named Shaun to hide an intended murder and then his escape to the small town of Blackthorn Peak, West Virginia in an attempt to hide from the authorities. The first building Shaun encounters upon his arrival in West Virginia is a gothic, apparently vacant, asylum. Meyer uses a multiple point of view approach to build the relationships between the troubled teens, their families, and the adults working in the asylum. Flashbacks show character motivation, particularly Dr. Esther Richter and the Rutherford family. Dr. Richter’s plan to salvage her family’s name and remove an entire generation of teens using a type of lobotomy procedure is gradually revealed along with the asylum’s past and its association with the Rutherfords. Fans of Alexander Gordon Smith’s Escape from furnace series and Neal Shusterman’s Unwind series will love this book!
October 26, 2023
2.5 Stars ~
Shaun is on the run after lighting his house on fire with his step father inside. Shaun goes to a cabin in an abandoned town but can’t help but be intrigued by an abandoned asylum, or so he thought.
After meeting a girl name Cass, he makes the mistake of running after her right into the asylum and into the mayhem that follows.
I feel like the author was really trying to give mental health representation in this book but it just fell flat.
And I just feel like the whole concept is a little off. You have a ‘doctor’ who is part of a movement to “annihilate” an entire generation, for the betterment of future generations. But if you get rid of a generation how are you going to have a future generation? Unless the adults who brought up the teenage generation are going to have more children, which than makes the whole thing pointless.?
The ending was a bit lack lustre and rushed, but clearly setting up for a sequel.
This was a difficult one for me to rate. Because there were parts of this book that really drove me but at the same time, it took me so long to read because I was just picking up other things and I felt myself very bored and distracted most of the time while reading this.
Shaun is on the run after lighting his house on fire with his step father inside. Shaun goes to a cabin in an abandoned town but can’t help but be intrigued by an abandoned asylum, or so he thought.
After meeting a girl name Cass, he makes the mistake of running after her right into the asylum and into the mayhem that follows.
I feel like the author was really trying to give mental health representation in this book but it just fell flat.
And I just feel like the whole concept is a little off. You have a ‘doctor’ who is part of a movement to “annihilate” an entire generation, for the betterment of future generations. But if you get rid of a generation how are you going to have a future generation? Unless the adults who brought up the teenage generation are going to have more children, which than makes the whole thing pointless.?
The ending was a bit lack lustre and rushed, but clearly setting up for a sequel.
This was a difficult one for me to rate. Because there were parts of this book that really drove me but at the same time, it took me so long to read because I was just picking up other things and I felt myself very bored and distracted most of the time while reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2023
The writing was really good and I was hooked on the story. I definitely thought it was very creepy and psychological, it made me feel uneasy. There was a lot of tension and fear especially near the end when the kids were in the forest after escaping the first time. I did however wish the interrogation scene with dr richter was a little more than a q and a because all the answers came very quickly and it was more like an info dump. Also I think there should’ve been a bigger standoff with dr richter at the end instead of her being away from everyone when the final chapters happened. It made me a little disappointed that she didn’t get to see the kids escape and was uncaring watching the whole place burn down; I think she should’ve been more angry and upset since her whole goal was to take her family name out of the dumpster but she didn’t seem very bothered at all. Overall though I think it was a very well written and suspenseful story with pretty well fleshed out if not very complex characters and good setting, it’s just some parts felt a little rushed and the suspense not reaching its full potential.
July 2, 2023
Rated Down. My Rating 3.5
The premise of this book is very intriguing. I mean, who doesn’t love a good horror story with an abandoned asylum? Right from the start, Generation Annihilation jumps into the thick of it with little to no backstory but gives enough along the way to fill in the holes. Meyer does a great job creating an atmosphere that’s full of suspense, unease, and mystery surrounding not only the asylum but the characters as well.
I was excited to jump into this after reading the synopsis. This being the first book I’ve read from Tracy Hewitt Meyer I went in without expectation. Although I am fairly satisfied with it...Read the full Review on my site
I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Tracy Hewitt Meyer, and BHC Press for providing me with the advance copy. Please be assured that my review is entirely honest and voluntary.
The premise of this book is very intriguing. I mean, who doesn’t love a good horror story with an abandoned asylum? Right from the start, Generation Annihilation jumps into the thick of it with little to no backstory but gives enough along the way to fill in the holes. Meyer does a great job creating an atmosphere that’s full of suspense, unease, and mystery surrounding not only the asylum but the characters as well.
I was excited to jump into this after reading the synopsis. This being the first book I’ve read from Tracy Hewitt Meyer I went in without expectation. Although I am fairly satisfied with it...Read the full Review on my site
I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Tracy Hewitt Meyer, and BHC Press for providing me with the advance copy. Please be assured that my review is entirely honest and voluntary.
October 11, 2023
For 17 years Shaun has lived in fear of his step-father was going to kill him and his mother, so he decided to kill him before he had the chance. Fleeing the scene of the burning house, he hides out in his family’s cabin in West Virginia, but the small town really isn’t very warm to outsiders. There he meets Cass and wants to know her better, but she tells him he needs to leave the town behind. A warning of impending danger and town for good. As soon as he starts to leave, he’s brought right back after he hears Cass’s screaming.
This is a very dark YA Mystery/Thriller. The story and plot were very different from stories I’ve read in the past. It definitely craves something of the imagination. My only downfall for me was my lack to connect with the characters. It is told in different points of view, but no one really reached me.
There also some triggers in this book that I didn’t see coming. But all in all it was a very fast read and perfect for spooky season!
This is a very dark YA Mystery/Thriller. The story and plot were very different from stories I’ve read in the past. It definitely craves something of the imagination. My only downfall for me was my lack to connect with the characters. It is told in different points of view, but no one really reached me.
There also some triggers in this book that I didn’t see coming. But all in all it was a very fast read and perfect for spooky season!
October 12, 2023
Ohhhh this book, starts with a bang *(no pun intended and it never slows down. From abandoned asylums to cabins in the woods that seem to be one gust of wind away from falling this book is just dark and creepy and I for one want more of it.
The premise of this one sucked me in but the story, well it was original and had me thinking about what was going on, I've never read anything like this one and that's saying a lot.
The only thing that kept this from being a five-star for me was that ending, I'm hoping it was setting up something, but I don't want to give anything away.
If you're looking for dark and creepy with a twist of evil and revenge this is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for providing a copy of this e-book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The premise of this one sucked me in but the story, well it was original and had me thinking about what was going on, I've never read anything like this one and that's saying a lot.
The only thing that kept this from being a five-star for me was that ending, I'm hoping it was setting up something, but I don't want to give anything away.
If you're looking for dark and creepy with a twist of evil and revenge this is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for providing a copy of this e-book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 21, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for this opportunity to read,rate and review this arc which will be available October 10,2023!
Sean is a troubled teen who sets his extremely abusive stepfather and his house on fire for nearly killing his mom. Then runs away to his mom’s home town of Blackthorn Peak West Virginia. There he sees a creepy asylum and meets a girl named Cass who tells him to leave. Naturally he doesn’t. What ensues is a twisty, creepy story of troubled teens, a shadowy Agency, missing kids and experiments. I actually dig this story. It would honestly make an epic horror movie. The creep factor was a 3.5. The writing lagged in certain areas but overall was pretty good. I recommend this book to teens 15 and over.
Sean is a troubled teen who sets his extremely abusive stepfather and his house on fire for nearly killing his mom. Then runs away to his mom’s home town of Blackthorn Peak West Virginia. There he sees a creepy asylum and meets a girl named Cass who tells him to leave. Naturally he doesn’t. What ensues is a twisty, creepy story of troubled teens, a shadowy Agency, missing kids and experiments. I actually dig this story. It would honestly make an epic horror movie. The creep factor was a 3.5. The writing lagged in certain areas but overall was pretty good. I recommend this book to teens 15 and over.
September 22, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a free ebook ARC to read. This is my honest review, and I am trying my best to avoid spoilers.
Generation Annihilation is an interesting young adult novel with a gripping plot hook. Starting with the concept of a teenager murderer with self-justifying motives makes this book a true blend of horror, mystery, and thriller/suspense. The story goes to some dark places for a young adult read, but I feel it is justified through the character development. I always enjoy books that make me think, and this one poses some good thematic topics for that.
I recommend this book to fans of horror, mystery, and especially to those who enjoy young adult novels.
Generation Annihilation is an interesting young adult novel with a gripping plot hook. Starting with the concept of a teenager murderer with self-justifying motives makes this book a true blend of horror, mystery, and thriller/suspense. The story goes to some dark places for a young adult read, but I feel it is justified through the character development. I always enjoy books that make me think, and this one poses some good thematic topics for that.
I recommend this book to fans of horror, mystery, and especially to those who enjoy young adult novels.
September 11, 2024
I like a good mystery dystopian style novel. Generation Annihilation is the start to a new series and this book ended and had me wanting the second book to know what happens. This book does discuss violence, depression, murder, and other sensitive topics.
I always wonder with these books of something like this could ever happen in real life. It makes me think about how we could end up or what j would do in this type of situation. I think that kind of thought coming from just reading means the book did a good job hooking me.
I did really love the characters as much as I wish I would have and maybe they will grow on me in the coming book.
I always wonder with these books of something like this could ever happen in real life. It makes me think about how we could end up or what j would do in this type of situation. I think that kind of thought coming from just reading means the book did a good job hooking me.
I did really love the characters as much as I wish I would have and maybe they will grow on me in the coming book.
October 4, 2023
Generation Annihilation was a really enjoyable read, starting off with an intriguing storyline of a young killer, that too of his step dad. The character of Shaun was well written but the side characters could have definitely had more development. The concept of the novel was captivating but halfway through the novel the story began to go downhill as it started to seem repetitive and a bit dragged. The ending was good but a little basic. Overall, it was a dark yet fun read and a good book to get into the genre of horror mystery.
February 4, 2025
This was a crazy book. I love how it starte, esp when the MC rolls into the creepy, seemingly-ghost town. I loved the build-up to the story, and the atmosphere felt just right. The towering psych building, the fog, the mysterious girl that disappears on and off.
The craziness came on real fast. And I could see it turned into one of those teen horror flicks like House of Wax or Wrong Turn. You really have to suspend your disbelief about what parents and this secret organization is doing to this younger generation. A really crazy start to the series.
The craziness came on real fast. And I could see it turned into one of those teen horror flicks like House of Wax or Wrong Turn. You really have to suspend your disbelief about what parents and this secret organization is doing to this younger generation. A really crazy start to the series.
June 10, 2023
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Honestly, I really did not enjoy this read. Something about having it all happen in an asylum gave me mixed feelings. And the random asylum worker being a…child predator… just felt like an unnecessary means of obtaining some shock value. The characters felt dull and 2-dimensional, and I just was not invested in the story. It was a great concept that was just executed poorly, in my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2023
Us against them. Teens against adults. Shaun Treadway finds himself at the mercy of an evil plan being conducted at an abandoned lunatic asylum. It’s up to him and some other teens to stop what is happening before others like them are consumed. Lots of twists and turns. Memorable characters. I hope there is a sequel.
October 1, 2023
Reading this dark book is like riding a very fast roller coaster; it leaves you out of breath and at times wanting to scream. I found myself wanting to shake Shaun and later, Renee. It also had me craving a drink of water (you’ll get it the further along you read). When I finished, I left the roller coaster with my heart pounding. In fact, it pounded throughout most of the book.
October 13, 2023
This book started off kind of slow. Character development took some time to build and I never felt as though I really knew Sean or any of the others. The plot was a bit out there, and I felt the storyline jump between the past and present was hard to adjust to. Not knowing who exactly provided the names to The Agency was disappointing. Overall, I felt this book was just meh.
May 4, 2024
I really really really wanted to fully like this book, as I love thriller, spookish books. But this one was just a bit harder to get into. I just felt this book was not a me style book and it is what it is. I know some people like it and others dont. So just give it a read and you can see how you feel about it.
May 8, 2023
This didn't really work for me, unfortunately. I was expecting something more scary like, spooky, and instead, it was more scary like, sad. Dystopic. It was also too repetitive for me and the ending just kind of puttered out.
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