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The Way Up is Death
When a mysterious tower appears in the skies over England, thirteen strangers are pulled from their lives to stand before it as a countdown begins. Above the doorway is one word: ASCEND.
As a grieving teacher, a reclusive artist, and a narcissistic celebrity children’s author lead the others in trying to understand why they’ve been chosen and what the tower is, it soon becomes clear the only way out of this for everyone… is up.
And so begins a race to the top, through sinking ships, haunted houses and other waking nightmares, as the group fights to hold onto its humanity, while the twisted horror of why they’re here grows ever more apparent – and death stalks their every move.
As a grieving teacher, a reclusive artist, and a narcissistic celebrity children’s author lead the others in trying to understand why they’ve been chosen and what the tower is, it soon becomes clear the only way out of this for everyone… is up.
And so begins a race to the top, through sinking ships, haunted houses and other waking nightmares, as the group fights to hold onto its humanity, while the twisted horror of why they’re here grows ever more apparent – and death stalks their every move.
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2025
57 people are currently reading
2182 people want to read
About the author
Dan Hanks
6 books120 followersHi, I'm Dan, author of Swashbucklers and Captain Moxley and the Embers of the Empire. I write books about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, usually involving archaeology, mythology, sarcastic quips, and a little bit of travelling between worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
February 15, 2025
Cool idea, decent execution....I suppose?
Regurgitation to the extreme. For the love of God (or "Aliens", or Ancient ones, in the book, etc); the "DELETE" button is your friend!
Cut out 100 pages at least. Shame on these editors! I probably should have included some of the good aspects. But I'm too exhausted from reading a drawn-out soliloquy. Unfortunately, after finally getting to the end. The truth is, I'm so relieved it's over. I just don't care about the book anymore.
Yep
Regurgitation to the extreme. For the love of God (or "Aliens", or Ancient ones, in the book, etc); the "DELETE" button is your friend!
Cut out 100 pages at least. Shame on these editors! I probably should have included some of the good aspects. But I'm too exhausted from reading a drawn-out soliloquy. Unfortunately, after finally getting to the end. The truth is, I'm so relieved it's over. I just don't care about the book anymore.
Yep
January 14, 2025
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
If you thought Stephen King had conjured up the weirdest and darkest tower in existence, then Dan Hanks is here to prove you wrong in The Way Up is Death. In turns brutally disturbing, hysterically funny and soul-stirringly poignant, this extraordinarily bizarre acid trip of a survival adventure will melt your brain and crush your soul without remorse, and I love it all the more for it.
What would you do if one day, out of nowhere, you are mercilessly pulled out of your daily life and dropped along with 12 other strangers before a mysterious floating tower that demands you ASCEND. That, my friends, is just a tiny glimpse of the stupendously intriguing premise of The Way Up is Death. And as you can maybe guess from the title, it doesn’t take long for things to get disturbingly dark and absolutely batshit crazy in the best way possible.
Through the eyes of Alden, a lonely and grief-stricken teacher by day/singer by night, Nia, a weary and angry concept artist, and Dirk, a self-obsessed walking red flag of a celebrity children’s author, we get to experience the nightmarish madness contained within the tower from the front-row seat. While I sometimes had a hard time visualising the increasingly weird and mystifying settings that the tower contained, I never felt lost because these characters’ strong voices kept me so grounded throughout all the madness. Their virtues and vices are truly on full display (for better or worse; looking at you, Dirk), and I loved exploring how they each reacted in such an authentically unique way to the horrors that they were faced with over the course of the single day that they spend in this tower of terror (if they even make it that long).
See, on the surface this story might seem like just another brutal thrill fest of a race against death, but at its core it’s a deeply emotional and beautifully human story that just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways. The Way Up is Death is honestly more multi-layered than the twisted labyrinthine tower it’s set in, and I loved how with each new level the characters ascended, another layer of complexity and emotional depth was peeled back. Heavy themes such as grief, sexism, female rage, loneliness, sacrifice, morality, memory, love, humanity, and, naturally, mortality are all explored in surprisingly deep though often darkly entertaining ways without ever detracting from the addictive thrill factor of the narrative, which is exactly what makes this story stand out from the crowd to me.
Now, I do have to admit that I found some of the (side) characters to be little more than obvious cannon fodder or a mere vessel for the theme they were supposed to represent, which not only made some of the thematic messaging feel a bit on the nose, but also took away some of the stakes and unpredictability of the story for me. The slightly caricaturish character work combined with the break-neck speed pacing somewhat hindered my emotional investment in the wider cast of characters, and that ultimately made some of the supposedly hard-hitting moments fall a bit flat for me.
However, the key characters of the narrative absolutely carried the story for me (Rakie is the MVP, just saying), and I can’t deny that all the emotional gut punches just hurt oh so good in the end. For the longest time I was just along for the crazy ride, uncertain if or how we would get any satisfying answers to the deeper purpose behind the inexplicable mysteries and challenges of the tower, but Hanks managed to surprise me in all the best (or worst?) ways with the shocking revelations. The brutally bittersweet conclusion to The Way Up is Death was more satisfying than I could ever have hoped for, leaving me with only one big unresolved mystery in the end: how in the hell did Hanks manage to write a story that is simultaneously so bizarrely alien yet beautifully and relatably human?
Regardless of what your typical reading preferences are, The Way Up is Death is guaranteed to lure you in with its dangerously addictive storytelling, darkly alluring mysteries, visceral emotions, and scarily evocative imagery that will haunt your mind for days and nights to come. It’s got a bit of fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and arguably even a sick and twisted version of LitRPG, but ultimately it’s a powerfully moving and truly transcendental story that just speaks to the soul and showcases the incredible resilience of the human spirit. This is one of those stories that you simply can’t do justice to in a review, so please do yourself a favour and go experience its brilliant madness for yourself, if you dare.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you thought Stephen King had conjured up the weirdest and darkest tower in existence, then Dan Hanks is here to prove you wrong in The Way Up is Death. In turns brutally disturbing, hysterically funny and soul-stirringly poignant, this extraordinarily bizarre acid trip of a survival adventure will melt your brain and crush your soul without remorse, and I love it all the more for it.
What would you do if one day, out of nowhere, you are mercilessly pulled out of your daily life and dropped along with 12 other strangers before a mysterious floating tower that demands you ASCEND. That, my friends, is just a tiny glimpse of the stupendously intriguing premise of The Way Up is Death. And as you can maybe guess from the title, it doesn’t take long for things to get disturbingly dark and absolutely batshit crazy in the best way possible.
Through the eyes of Alden, a lonely and grief-stricken teacher by day/singer by night, Nia, a weary and angry concept artist, and Dirk, a self-obsessed walking red flag of a celebrity children’s author, we get to experience the nightmarish madness contained within the tower from the front-row seat. While I sometimes had a hard time visualising the increasingly weird and mystifying settings that the tower contained, I never felt lost because these characters’ strong voices kept me so grounded throughout all the madness. Their virtues and vices are truly on full display (for better or worse; looking at you, Dirk), and I loved exploring how they each reacted in such an authentically unique way to the horrors that they were faced with over the course of the single day that they spend in this tower of terror (if they even make it that long).
See, on the surface this story might seem like just another brutal thrill fest of a race against death, but at its core it’s a deeply emotional and beautifully human story that just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways. The Way Up is Death is honestly more multi-layered than the twisted labyrinthine tower it’s set in, and I loved how with each new level the characters ascended, another layer of complexity and emotional depth was peeled back. Heavy themes such as grief, sexism, female rage, loneliness, sacrifice, morality, memory, love, humanity, and, naturally, mortality are all explored in surprisingly deep though often darkly entertaining ways without ever detracting from the addictive thrill factor of the narrative, which is exactly what makes this story stand out from the crowd to me.
Now, I do have to admit that I found some of the (side) characters to be little more than obvious cannon fodder or a mere vessel for the theme they were supposed to represent, which not only made some of the thematic messaging feel a bit on the nose, but also took away some of the stakes and unpredictability of the story for me. The slightly caricaturish character work combined with the break-neck speed pacing somewhat hindered my emotional investment in the wider cast of characters, and that ultimately made some of the supposedly hard-hitting moments fall a bit flat for me.
However, the key characters of the narrative absolutely carried the story for me (Rakie is the MVP, just saying), and I can’t deny that all the emotional gut punches just hurt oh so good in the end. For the longest time I was just along for the crazy ride, uncertain if or how we would get any satisfying answers to the deeper purpose behind the inexplicable mysteries and challenges of the tower, but Hanks managed to surprise me in all the best (or worst?) ways with the shocking revelations. The brutally bittersweet conclusion to The Way Up is Death was more satisfying than I could ever have hoped for, leaving me with only one big unresolved mystery in the end: how in the hell did Hanks manage to write a story that is simultaneously so bizarrely alien yet beautifully and relatably human?
Regardless of what your typical reading preferences are, The Way Up is Death is guaranteed to lure you in with its dangerously addictive storytelling, darkly alluring mysteries, visceral emotions, and scarily evocative imagery that will haunt your mind for days and nights to come. It’s got a bit of fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and arguably even a sick and twisted version of LitRPG, but ultimately it’s a powerfully moving and truly transcendental story that just speaks to the soul and showcases the incredible resilience of the human spirit. This is one of those stories that you simply can’t do justice to in a review, so please do yourself a favour and go experience its brilliant madness for yourself, if you dare.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2024
Squid Game controlled by a sentient tower in the sky meets Matt Haig existential emotional analysis.
The tower appeared in the skies above the UK on an otherwise unremarkable Saturday afternoon in the middle of May. Then 13 people are transported to the entrance, a timer counting down two days with the instruction ASCEND.
The 13 individuals are forced to master each level, facing different challenges with death chasing them in gruesome ways.
Is there a golden-egg-laying goose at the top or a giant?
We have three main POVs.
Alden, a primary school teacher by day and a local band member by night dealing with grief.
Nia, a designer who is timid and always being pushed around.
Dirk, a famous influencer who thinks the world revolves around him. THE WORST.
Whilst this is fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat, this also deals with deep character motivations and fears. Feeling like just another insignificant person who had made no impact, no difference. Dealing with a world that seems designed to push you aside, under, away. Balancing perceptions and expectations with a real self.
Alden knew the shroud of grief was thick and little anybody said in these moments ever helped. It was often just noise, and you were so saturated with grief there was no room for anything else to sink into you. Words, feelings, music, emotions, real-life responsibilities. None of it seemed to matter anymore. It all became droplets in a flood.
I loved the light humour throughout as well. It is a really easy book to get addicted to. The humour and topics are very on the nose and relevant to our current climate (mentions of Covid).
To give you a flavour of what convinced me I would have a good time within the first few pages:
For the entirety of Thursday night, the UK was leaderless. Some said it was the most stable the country had been in some decades. Others put together a petition for Larry the Downing Street cat to take over. It reached forty million signatures by three in the morning.
The ending definitely brought down my enjoyment. It became more existential and too optimistic and philosophical. Compared to the rest of the book with squid game vibes, this felt like a complete tonal change.
If you like book by Matt Haig but want it in video game, thriller format; this is for you!
Arc gifted by Angry Robot.
Bookstagram
The tower appeared in the skies above the UK on an otherwise unremarkable Saturday afternoon in the middle of May. Then 13 people are transported to the entrance, a timer counting down two days with the instruction ASCEND.
The 13 individuals are forced to master each level, facing different challenges with death chasing them in gruesome ways.
Is there a golden-egg-laying goose at the top or a giant?
We have three main POVs.
Alden, a primary school teacher by day and a local band member by night dealing with grief.
Nia, a designer who is timid and always being pushed around.
Dirk, a famous influencer who thinks the world revolves around him. THE WORST.
Whilst this is fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat, this also deals with deep character motivations and fears. Feeling like just another insignificant person who had made no impact, no difference. Dealing with a world that seems designed to push you aside, under, away. Balancing perceptions and expectations with a real self.
Alden knew the shroud of grief was thick and little anybody said in these moments ever helped. It was often just noise, and you were so saturated with grief there was no room for anything else to sink into you. Words, feelings, music, emotions, real-life responsibilities. None of it seemed to matter anymore. It all became droplets in a flood.
I loved the light humour throughout as well. It is a really easy book to get addicted to. The humour and topics are very on the nose and relevant to our current climate (mentions of Covid).
To give you a flavour of what convinced me I would have a good time within the first few pages:
For the entirety of Thursday night, the UK was leaderless. Some said it was the most stable the country had been in some decades. Others put together a petition for Larry the Downing Street cat to take over. It reached forty million signatures by three in the morning.
The ending definitely brought down my enjoyment. It became more existential and too optimistic and philosophical. Compared to the rest of the book with squid game vibes, this felt like a complete tonal change.
If you like book by Matt Haig but want it in video game, thriller format; this is for you!
Arc gifted by Angry Robot.
Bookstagram
September 6, 2024
On an ordinary day, an extraordinary event occurs which irrevocably changes the lives of thirteen people. On the hills of the Peak District an ominous floating island appears with a tower placed in its centre. For a period of time the government, the conspiracy theorists and the social media influencers try to either make contact with the tower or create panic over its existence, until the tower just becomes another unsolved mystery. Thirteen people go about their lives when suddenly they feel their bodies fading away. Upon awakening they find themselves on the island, close to the entrance of the tower. A countdown begins. One word appears at the top of the tower: ascend.
The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks is the author’s third novel and wow, what a journey it takes you on. A surreal puzzle-box that will have you saying ‘just one more chapter’ all the way through to the end.
“Was it a call, though? Or a hungered yearning? She could almost feel the tower salivating, its mouth gaping wide, drawing them in with each breath. It wanted them.”
We begin by meeting our thirteen characters, each from different backgrounds, different ages and have seemingly nothing in common. Immediately, many characters began to stand out and became those I would cheer for to succeed. Alden was a lonely musician by night and teacher by day. He was wrapped in grief and feeling lost as the effects of the pandemic had left their scars. Yet underneath he had a heart of gold, a willingness to care for others, a desire to reach out and make connections. There was Nia, a concept artist struggling to make her mark in a male dominated industry, and Earl, an endearing, loving father to his daughter, Rakie, a budding writer, who was the gem of them all. Rakie may have been the youngest but her strength, courage and intelligence spoke volumes. On the other hand we had Dirk, an American celebrity children’s author who never failed to rile everyone up in the wrong way and more often than not make my blood boil. He was all bravado and ego with no real substance, and Dirk was by far the easiest to wish the worst things the tower had to offer upon. Each of Hanks’ excellently crafted characters brought different dynamics to the novel, even those whose appearance was brief. The tower puts each of them to the test of discovering who they really are and how far they will go to survive or help the others survive.
So what is this tower and what did the characters discover inside? That’s something I’ll leave to readers to find out, but just know this, each level within the tower held fresh new horrors. Hanks forewarns of what’s to come though, each chapter title foreshadows something significant about each level, which I found a great way of adding intrigue and suspense before the chapter had even begun. I loved the way each level was filled with puzzlement, a quest of sorts and then ended with dread, bloodshed and all out chaos. Hanks certainly kept me on my toes, his pace was relentless and I could never predict what would happen next. In between the action scenes we have moments of discussion on contemporary issues, which is something I don’t usually enjoy as I’m an escapist reader, but in this novel it works. Topics included loss and loneliness from the aftermath of the pandemic, the use of AI in any form of art (something I feel quite strongly against) and the fakeness of some types of influencers who participate in certain trends just for likes and clicks. The Way Up is Death unapologetically showcases the worst and the best of human nature and those kinds of issues shape who each person is and therefore felt fitting to explore.
I particularly loved the philosophical discussions throughout too as the characters speculated on what the tower was there for and what their purpose inside was. This ultimately led them to considering the meaning of life, which if you’ve read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you’ll know the answer to! I found this kind of reflection upon life came as the novel began to reach its climax and the tone shifted to a poignant and profound one. There was an almost overwhelming sense of sadness, we knew that heartbreaking moments were to come, but it also paved the way for hope for the future too.
“Maybe it was just about being born into this blip of a life and simply allowing yourself to experience the wonder of it all, while doing your best with what you had. If that was the meaning of life, he felt it a good one.”
The Way Up is Death offers readers gripping action coupled with a quest of survival. A mindfuckery that blends scifi, fantasy and horror together to create a heart-pounding and unexpectedly emotional story.
ARC provided by Dan Hanks in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy. All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
The Way Up is Death will be released will be released 14th January 2025
The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks is the author’s third novel and wow, what a journey it takes you on. A surreal puzzle-box that will have you saying ‘just one more chapter’ all the way through to the end.
“Was it a call, though? Or a hungered yearning? She could almost feel the tower salivating, its mouth gaping wide, drawing them in with each breath. It wanted them.”
We begin by meeting our thirteen characters, each from different backgrounds, different ages and have seemingly nothing in common. Immediately, many characters began to stand out and became those I would cheer for to succeed. Alden was a lonely musician by night and teacher by day. He was wrapped in grief and feeling lost as the effects of the pandemic had left their scars. Yet underneath he had a heart of gold, a willingness to care for others, a desire to reach out and make connections. There was Nia, a concept artist struggling to make her mark in a male dominated industry, and Earl, an endearing, loving father to his daughter, Rakie, a budding writer, who was the gem of them all. Rakie may have been the youngest but her strength, courage and intelligence spoke volumes. On the other hand we had Dirk, an American celebrity children’s author who never failed to rile everyone up in the wrong way and more often than not make my blood boil. He was all bravado and ego with no real substance, and Dirk was by far the easiest to wish the worst things the tower had to offer upon. Each of Hanks’ excellently crafted characters brought different dynamics to the novel, even those whose appearance was brief. The tower puts each of them to the test of discovering who they really are and how far they will go to survive or help the others survive.
So what is this tower and what did the characters discover inside? That’s something I’ll leave to readers to find out, but just know this, each level within the tower held fresh new horrors. Hanks forewarns of what’s to come though, each chapter title foreshadows something significant about each level, which I found a great way of adding intrigue and suspense before the chapter had even begun. I loved the way each level was filled with puzzlement, a quest of sorts and then ended with dread, bloodshed and all out chaos. Hanks certainly kept me on my toes, his pace was relentless and I could never predict what would happen next. In between the action scenes we have moments of discussion on contemporary issues, which is something I don’t usually enjoy as I’m an escapist reader, but in this novel it works. Topics included loss and loneliness from the aftermath of the pandemic, the use of AI in any form of art (something I feel quite strongly against) and the fakeness of some types of influencers who participate in certain trends just for likes and clicks. The Way Up is Death unapologetically showcases the worst and the best of human nature and those kinds of issues shape who each person is and therefore felt fitting to explore.
I particularly loved the philosophical discussions throughout too as the characters speculated on what the tower was there for and what their purpose inside was. This ultimately led them to considering the meaning of life, which if you’ve read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you’ll know the answer to! I found this kind of reflection upon life came as the novel began to reach its climax and the tone shifted to a poignant and profound one. There was an almost overwhelming sense of sadness, we knew that heartbreaking moments were to come, but it also paved the way for hope for the future too.
“Maybe it was just about being born into this blip of a life and simply allowing yourself to experience the wonder of it all, while doing your best with what you had. If that was the meaning of life, he felt it a good one.”
The Way Up is Death offers readers gripping action coupled with a quest of survival. A mindfuckery that blends scifi, fantasy and horror together to create a heart-pounding and unexpectedly emotional story.
ARC provided by Dan Hanks in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy. All quotes used are taken from an early ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
The Way Up is Death will be released will be released 14th January 2025
January 11, 2025
3.5 Stars
This is a thrilling piece of speculative fiction. I liked the suspenseful setup as we have these individuals put together in this situation.
As for the characters themselves, I found them to feel a touch flat. They felt more like archetypes than fully fleshed out individuals. I wish they had been more complex since I feel like engaging characters are key to making these types of stories memorable.
I previously read and enjoyed this author's previous book, Swashbucklers, so I anticipated this one would again blend genres together. The plot itself is familiar in its basic structure but the blend of genres made this one feel fresh and potentially unexpected.
Overall I had fun and enjoyed this one and would recommend it to other readers looking for a suspenseful ride.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a thrilling piece of speculative fiction. I liked the suspenseful setup as we have these individuals put together in this situation.
As for the characters themselves, I found them to feel a touch flat. They felt more like archetypes than fully fleshed out individuals. I wish they had been more complex since I feel like engaging characters are key to making these types of stories memorable.
I previously read and enjoyed this author's previous book, Swashbucklers, so I anticipated this one would again blend genres together. The plot itself is familiar in its basic structure but the blend of genres made this one feel fresh and potentially unexpected.
Overall I had fun and enjoyed this one and would recommend it to other readers looking for a suspenseful ride.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 11, 2025
You always protect the young.
Well, time for me to catch up on other books from Dan Hanks!
Such an intriguing premise could only resolve into a book that delves deep into human behaviour, philosophy, and the fate of humanity - sprinkled with some fantasy, sci-fi, and of course, graphic depiction of death and monsters. Do I need to say more?
Actually, I would, but I'm not sure to what degree. This book was surely fantastical, but it also reads like a thriller. You come to understand and discover the mysteries of this tower appearing from nowhere, alongside our characters. The POV changes throughout the book, too.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! It's not only fun to read, but the relevant themes it explores are worth diving into. Just make sure you have some tissues on hand, and take a peak at these trigger warnings: graphic depiction of death and torture.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Quotes:
February 9, 2025
Story blurs the lines between horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and even a bit of mythology. Thirteenth people are mysteriously placed at the base of a giant tower floating in sky and are lead to ascend the tower. The levels of the tower are symbolically created towards each of the individuals and survival to the next floor is not easy. None of them
no why they were chosen or what the purpose of the game is. Action starts right away and continues all the way to the end. Great group of characters with the primary focus on about 5, in which story is told through changing point of views. There is a fair amount of gore and scary settings pushing it towards the horror spectrum. The story addresses some meaningful issues: loneliness, relationships, questions about the meaning of life, human purpose, significance, authenticity and ultimately what humanity is about. Highly recommend this book.
no why they were chosen or what the purpose of the game is. Action starts right away and continues all the way to the end. Great group of characters with the primary focus on about 5, in which story is told through changing point of views. There is a fair amount of gore and scary settings pushing it towards the horror spectrum. The story addresses some meaningful issues: loneliness, relationships, questions about the meaning of life, human purpose, significance, authenticity and ultimately what humanity is about. Highly recommend this book.
May 7, 2025
This was insipid but fine for the first 2/3, then it just gave in to self-indulgence and devolved into the insufferably saccharine, for the last part.
First, the characters are extremely caricatural, especially the ones we're meant to dislike. Subtlety died in the tower. Subtle-what?
The "good" characters get a nice and clean evolution arc where they solve all their troubles and get to understand the beauty of life and kumbaya and all that. On the other hand, the meanies get laughed at, die deaths that are more lonely and/or painful than the others, etc. Look, if you are going to preach at me about how all those individualistic, power hungry, angry people are missing the point of life (which btw, what a novel take, mind blown)... so if you are going to bash me over the head with those illuminated takes, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I will, in fact, find the total lack of compassion for those the book has cast as antagonists all the more distasteful. Those were assholes for sure. Dehumanizing assholes still happens to be an asshole behavior though.
So, am I glad to see those they made to feel small or took advantage of eventually manage to stand up to them? Of course!
Now, am I glad to then have to witness all the "good" guys pile up on the meanies, really dig in once they find where it pains them most, and finally, once they have died their scheduled disgusting, lonely deaths, dismiss the very thought of them with lines like "But don't worry about him now, Rakie. He's gone and doesn't matter."? Absolutely not. Wtf...
Second, the characters are on the dumb side. Or maybe that's because they are so caricatural. Or maybe that's because the author is convinced the whole readership is dumb and really need to be explained concepts as challenging as "grief is love too" and "the meaning of life is in our connection to others". I know, it's a lot. It would have been a shame if dumb readers like us had managed to miss all relentless repetitions and heavy handed metaphors on the subject. We really needed to put reader's noses in it, so to speak, for example by making sure that the characters would regularly start stilted dialogues and ask each other clarifications that implied the tower likely had forgotten to teleport their brains along.
As I was reading, I was increasingly reminded of my experience with The Reading List: vapid moral takes, delivered in ham-fisted tell-don't-show demonstrations with nothing of actual substance or meaningful impact to back any of that up.
Finally, what's up with books striving to read like average movies/series these days? Not sure if "coded for TV" is a current, unfortunate trend (is the publishing industry driving that in the greedy hopes of getting adaptation deals more easily down the line?) or if that's because I have been picking up more newly published books this year, which means that there are fewer available reviews for me to efficiently pre-filter... In any case, why would an author ever want to forego the complexity a novel can afford and instead constrain themselves to such simplified characters with simplified dynamics, simplified messages, etc? That's really the only mind bending thing to be found here.
At least it's a fast read, since it asked nothing of the reader.
First, the characters are extremely caricatural, especially the ones we're meant to dislike. Subtlety died in the tower. Subtle-what?
The "good" characters get a nice and clean evolution arc where they solve all their troubles and get to understand the beauty of life and kumbaya and all that. On the other hand, the meanies get laughed at, die deaths that are more lonely and/or painful than the others, etc. Look, if you are going to preach at me about how all those individualistic, power hungry, angry people are missing the point of life (which btw, what a novel take, mind blown)... so if you are going to bash me over the head with those illuminated takes, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I will, in fact, find the total lack of compassion for those the book has cast as antagonists all the more distasteful. Those were assholes for sure. Dehumanizing assholes still happens to be an asshole behavior though.
So, am I glad to see those they made to feel small or took advantage of eventually manage to stand up to them? Of course!
Now, am I glad to then have to witness all the "good" guys pile up on the meanies, really dig in once they find where it pains them most, and finally, once they have died their scheduled disgusting, lonely deaths, dismiss the very thought of them with lines like "But don't worry about him now, Rakie. He's gone and doesn't matter."? Absolutely not. Wtf...
Second, the characters are on the dumb side. Or maybe that's because they are so caricatural. Or maybe that's because the author is convinced the whole readership is dumb and really need to be explained concepts as challenging as "grief is love too" and "the meaning of life is in our connection to others". I know, it's a lot. It would have been a shame if dumb readers like us had managed to miss all relentless repetitions and heavy handed metaphors on the subject. We really needed to put reader's noses in it, so to speak, for example by making sure that the characters would regularly start stilted dialogues and ask each other clarifications that implied the tower likely had forgotten to teleport their brains along.
As I was reading, I was increasingly reminded of my experience with The Reading List: vapid moral takes, delivered in ham-fisted tell-don't-show demonstrations with nothing of actual substance or meaningful impact to back any of that up.
Finally, what's up with books striving to read like average movies/series these days? Not sure if "coded for TV" is a current, unfortunate trend (is the publishing industry driving that in the greedy hopes of getting adaptation deals more easily down the line?) or if that's because I have been picking up more newly published books this year, which means that there are fewer available reviews for me to efficiently pre-filter... In any case, why would an author ever want to forego the complexity a novel can afford and instead constrain themselves to such simplified characters with simplified dynamics, simplified messages, etc? That's really the only mind bending thing to be found here.
At least it's a fast read, since it asked nothing of the reader.
May 3, 2025
I hate books where it feels like the author is pulling ideas out of a hat. To go from a dungeon crawler style video game level to the set of the 1972 movie The Poseidon Adventure was jarring, and the characters were so uninteresting I found myself bored quite quickly.
February 5, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Way Up Is Death is a sci-fi horror novel written by Dan Hanks, and published by Angry Robot Books. A bizarre survival adventure that will explore the hopes and the lows of humanity through our group of thirteen characters that will be pulled before an ominous tower with a single word: ASCEND; a brutal journey that will keep you hooked until the last page.
A story that is kickstarted by introducing us to our thirteen characters, all from different backgrounds and with nothing in common; soon some of them will outshine over the others. There's a great effort in developing these characters: Alden, a lonely musician and teacher, consumed by grief after those lost in the pandemic, but a great person after all; Nia, a concept artist who is struggling to get a place in a male dominated industry; Earl and Rakie, a loving father and the smart and strong daughter; and in the other extreme, we have Dirk, a celebrity whose own ego and bravado easily represent the worst parts of humanity. Even those that have a brief presence, such as Kim, left me a great impression; as long as they ascend in the tower, more will be revealed about themselves.
Ascending the tower is a really effective narrative element, exposing our group to new horrors on each level, in a really intriguing way that keeps the reader wondering what will happen in the next chapter; many are reference to pop culture elements. Each level puts you in tension, making you try to guess what is the key to it, with a gripping pace that contributes to a certain amount of chaos; between the action scenes, the narration takes the opportunity to discuss current themes and even has a philosophical approach to the big questions, in a way that excellently complements the dreadful situation our characters are experiencing. All while the mystery around the tower remains until the end, bringing us towards a bittersweet ending, which fits perfectly with the whole book.
Hanks manages to balance the gravity of the situation with the action, weaving all together around the mysterious purpose of the tower; having such well-layered characters only makes more emotionally impactful the inevitable heartbreaking moments. The more we ascend in the tower, the darker and more profound the tone becomes, letting a small glimpse of hope in the end.
The Way Up Is Death is an excellent blend between science fiction and horror, a brutal adventure which will keep you hooked reading, just with the excuse of one more chapter, until you inevitably reach the end. A great book by an author that has shown the amplitude of his writing registry.
The Way Up Is Death is a sci-fi horror novel written by Dan Hanks, and published by Angry Robot Books. A bizarre survival adventure that will explore the hopes and the lows of humanity through our group of thirteen characters that will be pulled before an ominous tower with a single word: ASCEND; a brutal journey that will keep you hooked until the last page.
A story that is kickstarted by introducing us to our thirteen characters, all from different backgrounds and with nothing in common; soon some of them will outshine over the others. There's a great effort in developing these characters: Alden, a lonely musician and teacher, consumed by grief after those lost in the pandemic, but a great person after all; Nia, a concept artist who is struggling to get a place in a male dominated industry; Earl and Rakie, a loving father and the smart and strong daughter; and in the other extreme, we have Dirk, a celebrity whose own ego and bravado easily represent the worst parts of humanity. Even those that have a brief presence, such as Kim, left me a great impression; as long as they ascend in the tower, more will be revealed about themselves.
Ascending the tower is a really effective narrative element, exposing our group to new horrors on each level, in a really intriguing way that keeps the reader wondering what will happen in the next chapter; many are reference to pop culture elements. Each level puts you in tension, making you try to guess what is the key to it, with a gripping pace that contributes to a certain amount of chaos; between the action scenes, the narration takes the opportunity to discuss current themes and even has a philosophical approach to the big questions, in a way that excellently complements the dreadful situation our characters are experiencing. All while the mystery around the tower remains until the end, bringing us towards a bittersweet ending, which fits perfectly with the whole book.
Hanks manages to balance the gravity of the situation with the action, weaving all together around the mysterious purpose of the tower; having such well-layered characters only makes more emotionally impactful the inevitable heartbreaking moments. The more we ascend in the tower, the darker and more profound the tone becomes, letting a small glimpse of hope in the end.
The Way Up Is Death is an excellent blend between science fiction and horror, a brutal adventure which will keep you hooked reading, just with the excuse of one more chapter, until you inevitably reach the end. A great book by an author that has shown the amplitude of his writing registry.
January 13, 2025
Okay The Way Up Is Death was great and I am going to tell you why: It's obviously dark, as the title and synopsis implies. But. It isn't just dark. It is funny and quirky and even hopeful. And it brings so much to the table in terms of character development and excitement! The world-building itself is fabulous- often it is hard for me to imagine what a fantastical place looks like, but not so here- the author uses just the right of detail for me to imagine it, but not too much to be overkill. The plot, of course, is exciting- what the heck is this thing, and why do these particular people happen to be trapped here?
Which brings us to the characters! Oh, they were a motley bunch indeed, which made for such fun dynamics and interaction. It also provided a ton of thought provoking reflection- what would you do, how would you react, if locked in hell with some of these folks? Some of the characters we get closer to than others, and I really enjoyed each of their stories. I also really found the ending to be fitting, too, and certainly enough to answer your questions. I may have wanted a wee bit more background knowledge, but I think that is just me being picky, honestly. And because I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to know all the things!
Bottom Line: Very exciting and high stakes, but also delivered on the characters and relationships, too!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
February 16, 2025
It's hard to describe this book without spoiling anything but I'm almost tempted to anyway, since I would never recommend anyone read this.
A mysterious tower appears in the sky above London and 13 random strangers are magically teleported to its entrance and given no explanation or greeting, just a sign that says, ASCEND. There's the elevator pitch that I allowed to ensnare me, and I recommend you instead get off at your floor and let the doors close behind you.
The most efficient way I can sum up my qualms with this book is, "it felt like a detailed outline." First of all, there was no character development except maybe a little for one guy, and it wasn't organic--the author just spells it out for us. Unearned, and unsatisfying.
It feels like Hanks wanted to write a fable about loving the earth, OR representing humanity, OR protecting the young, OR the importance of nature, or half a dozen other moral philosophies that Hanks pummels us with throughout. Instead of focusing on one reason for the events of the story, it felt like the message kept changing. And then at its conclusion, none of those messages seemed to matter. There was no throughline guiding this story.
I'm fine with vague and mysterious, but doing it well requires a clear vision of the feeling you want to leave your readers with. To me, this lacked vision--like I said, it feels like an outline (or at best a first draft).
If that doesn't sound like your jam, save yourself 4 hours and just watch Circle on Netflix instead.
A mysterious tower appears in the sky above London and 13 random strangers are magically teleported to its entrance and given no explanation or greeting, just a sign that says, ASCEND. There's the elevator pitch that I allowed to ensnare me, and I recommend you instead get off at your floor and let the doors close behind you.
The most efficient way I can sum up my qualms with this book is, "it felt like a detailed outline." First of all, there was no character development except maybe a little for one guy, and it wasn't organic--the author just spells it out for us. Unearned, and unsatisfying.
It feels like Hanks wanted to write a fable about loving the earth, OR representing humanity, OR protecting the young, OR the importance of nature, or half a dozen other moral philosophies that Hanks pummels us with throughout. Instead of focusing on one reason for the events of the story, it felt like the message kept changing. And then at its conclusion, none of those messages seemed to matter. There was no throughline guiding this story.
I'm fine with vague and mysterious, but doing it well requires a clear vision of the feeling you want to leave your readers with. To me, this lacked vision--like I said, it feels like an outline (or at best a first draft).
If that doesn't sound like your jam, save yourself 4 hours and just watch Circle on Netflix instead.
February 18, 2025
Squid game style wired
April 15, 2025
Full review on SFF Insiders! https://www.sffinsiders.com/
What would you be willing to do for the sake of humanity? That’s the question posed to Alden, a burnt-out teacher in England when he and 12 others are mysteriously pulled out of their everyday lives and transported to the entrance of a tower. Unfortunately for them all, the tower appeared in the clouds, so simply walking away just won’t do the trick.
The group of people chosen to ascend ranges from a seemingly normal father and daughter, to a middle-aged social media star, and everywhere in between. They all bring their own baggage on the way up, and the Tower is determined to see them shed it once they enter. The only message given once they’re at the entrance is “Ascend”, and traveling upwards is quickly realized as their only option.
As the group travels up and up the Tower, each floor (or level) takes the form of one of their deepest fears. Each one of them becomes more surreal and horrifying than the last, and the group has to work together, even while certain individuals are more focused on winning the “game” they believe they’re taking part in, or die. The trials and tribulations that they face on each level can either make or break them, and to be honest I’d have probably died on level 2. Dan does an incredible job at not just showing the issues at a surface level, but has so many intricacies in each underlying aspect of the challenge that it takes more than 1 person alone is capable of. It quickly becomes a work together, or die alone type of story but it’s really much more than that. And as the book reaches its climax, that first question comes roaring back into the forefront.
I think the biggest positive for the book was the characters themselves. Especially two of the main POVs, the aforementioned Alden and Nia, who’s a conceptual artist who has also helped work on video games, which really comes in handy. The main comparison I have to this book is prime Stephen King; on the surface it seems like a bloody labyrinth, full of horrors and death but it really hits home harder in other areas that Alden and Nia are keen to let us view. Existential grief, sexism, inner turmoil and the pain of suffering are all themes that linger beneath the upper layer of horror, and those stuck with me long after reading.
Another aspect of the novel that was incredibly well done was the descriptions of each of the challenges on the levels the group had to face. At face value, it seemed easy to go “oh, well let’s just do this and move on” when in actuality, the answer (and survival) was much deeper. I think that is a perfect analogy for life; where so many things can come up that challenge us, the nuances of each situation can appear differently to every individual person. What I see as the biggest obstacle would probably be different from what 5 other people see, and so on. The ways that Dan goes about putting this theory into words and acting on that idea is so incredible in its thoughtfulness, and it makes each paragraph, not just page, interesting to see how it gets resolved.
Overall, this is a great book. The only downside I have is that one of the characters, Dirk (the social-media star) is so brazen in being an asshole it comes off cartoonish. We all know (for the most part) how obnoxious social media can be in the world and he was a flawless portrayal of that, which can get a bit tiresome but otherwise I have no complaints and only praise. One of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in years, and I cannot recommend it enough!
What would you be willing to do for the sake of humanity? That’s the question posed to Alden, a burnt-out teacher in England when he and 12 others are mysteriously pulled out of their everyday lives and transported to the entrance of a tower. Unfortunately for them all, the tower appeared in the clouds, so simply walking away just won’t do the trick.
The group of people chosen to ascend ranges from a seemingly normal father and daughter, to a middle-aged social media star, and everywhere in between. They all bring their own baggage on the way up, and the Tower is determined to see them shed it once they enter. The only message given once they’re at the entrance is “Ascend”, and traveling upwards is quickly realized as their only option.
As the group travels up and up the Tower, each floor (or level) takes the form of one of their deepest fears. Each one of them becomes more surreal and horrifying than the last, and the group has to work together, even while certain individuals are more focused on winning the “game” they believe they’re taking part in, or die. The trials and tribulations that they face on each level can either make or break them, and to be honest I’d have probably died on level 2. Dan does an incredible job at not just showing the issues at a surface level, but has so many intricacies in each underlying aspect of the challenge that it takes more than 1 person alone is capable of. It quickly becomes a work together, or die alone type of story but it’s really much more than that. And as the book reaches its climax, that first question comes roaring back into the forefront.
I think the biggest positive for the book was the characters themselves. Especially two of the main POVs, the aforementioned Alden and Nia, who’s a conceptual artist who has also helped work on video games, which really comes in handy. The main comparison I have to this book is prime Stephen King; on the surface it seems like a bloody labyrinth, full of horrors and death but it really hits home harder in other areas that Alden and Nia are keen to let us view. Existential grief, sexism, inner turmoil and the pain of suffering are all themes that linger beneath the upper layer of horror, and those stuck with me long after reading.
Another aspect of the novel that was incredibly well done was the descriptions of each of the challenges on the levels the group had to face. At face value, it seemed easy to go “oh, well let’s just do this and move on” when in actuality, the answer (and survival) was much deeper. I think that is a perfect analogy for life; where so many things can come up that challenge us, the nuances of each situation can appear differently to every individual person. What I see as the biggest obstacle would probably be different from what 5 other people see, and so on. The ways that Dan goes about putting this theory into words and acting on that idea is so incredible in its thoughtfulness, and it makes each paragraph, not just page, interesting to see how it gets resolved.
Overall, this is a great book. The only downside I have is that one of the characters, Dirk (the social-media star) is so brazen in being an asshole it comes off cartoonish. We all know (for the most part) how obnoxious social media can be in the world and he was a flawless portrayal of that, which can get a bit tiresome but otherwise I have no complaints and only praise. One of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in years, and I cannot recommend it enough!
January 14, 2025
Rated 4.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Inventive and cinematic; hard-hitting yet moving and ultimately hopeful.
Cons: Given the large cast of characters (and the very nature of the story), not all of them get to be sufficiently developed.
WARNING! Blood and gore, dismemberment, torture, near-drowning, human combustion/explosion, body horror, eye horror, rat horror, death of a loved one.
Will appeal to: Those who are in for a wild, brutal yet poetical adventure/mystery that doubles as a reflection on humanity, life and the future.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Angry Robot for providing an ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
MORE TO IT
This book's premise is impossible to resist if you're the kind of reader whose mantra is "the weirder the better", but I'm here to confirm that, if you take a chance on TWUID, you won't regret being lured in, and you'll end up getting more than you bargained for. The short-and-sweet version of such premise: thirteen everymen and women from the UK (or just passing through) are pulled from their lives and forced to ascend an impossible tower in the skies, all while trying to fathom the how and (especially) the why in the process. From videogame settings to spaceships, from haunted houses to tropical beaches, a series of equally impossible locations (but ones that are somehow tailored to the travellers' past experiences) have the characters play a deadly game of escape rooms, of which they have to figure out the rules as they go. Exciting, isn't it? But if you tend to need a little more meat on your stories' bones, or if the cosmic horror premise and the content warning list left you on the fence about giving TWUID a chance, there are a couple more things you need to know. One: for a book that sheds so much blood and put its characters through the wringer, Hank's latest is surprisingly comforting and life-affirming. Two: for a book that relies so much on nightmarish experiences and frantic escapes, and even comes close to jumping the shark a couple of times (one of which quite literally 😂), TWUID is (also) surprisingly deep, so that you end up forgiving it for not making you care more for its characters (more of that below) or not giving you all the answers (if you're the type of reader who needs them, because to be honest, they're NOT the point here). [...]
Whole review here.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Inventive and cinematic; hard-hitting yet moving and ultimately hopeful.
Cons: Given the large cast of characters (and the very nature of the story), not all of them get to be sufficiently developed.
WARNING! Blood and gore, dismemberment, torture, near-drowning, human combustion/explosion, body horror, eye horror, rat horror, death of a loved one.
Will appeal to: Those who are in for a wild, brutal yet poetical adventure/mystery that doubles as a reflection on humanity, life and the future.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Angry Robot for providing an ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
MORE TO IT
This book's premise is impossible to resist if you're the kind of reader whose mantra is "the weirder the better", but I'm here to confirm that, if you take a chance on TWUID, you won't regret being lured in, and you'll end up getting more than you bargained for. The short-and-sweet version of such premise: thirteen everymen and women from the UK (or just passing through) are pulled from their lives and forced to ascend an impossible tower in the skies, all while trying to fathom the how and (especially) the why in the process. From videogame settings to spaceships, from haunted houses to tropical beaches, a series of equally impossible locations (but ones that are somehow tailored to the travellers' past experiences) have the characters play a deadly game of escape rooms, of which they have to figure out the rules as they go. Exciting, isn't it? But if you tend to need a little more meat on your stories' bones, or if the cosmic horror premise and the content warning list left you on the fence about giving TWUID a chance, there are a couple more things you need to know. One: for a book that sheds so much blood and put its characters through the wringer, Hank's latest is surprisingly comforting and life-affirming. Two: for a book that relies so much on nightmarish experiences and frantic escapes, and even comes close to jumping the shark a couple of times (one of which quite literally 😂), TWUID is (also) surprisingly deep, so that you end up forgiving it for not making you care more for its characters (more of that below) or not giving you all the answers (if you're the type of reader who needs them, because to be honest, they're NOT the point here). [...]
Whole review here.
June 22, 2025
5/10 stars. This book gets most of its kudos from me for its fun concept, but as far as execution goes it leaves quite a bit to be desired. The character work specifically came off a bit amateurish, and unfortunately in order to pull off a story like this with really high stakes the characters need to be more compelling and realistic in order for the reader to form emotional connections with them so that the sad/shocking scenes hit as hard as they’re intended to.
Keep writing books, Dan; you have some good ideas and some very fixable shortcomings. I’d think about firing your editing team though.
Keep writing books, Dan; you have some good ideas and some very fixable shortcomings. I’d think about firing your editing team though.
April 26, 2025
A tower appears in the sky above the UK. 13 random people get plucked out of their lives by unknown forces, and told to “ascend”. At each level of the tower there are mysterious challenges awaiting them. This book gives the vibes of a deadly escape room mixed in with “and then there were none” by Agatha Christie.
As for characters, this book handles a big cast well! It’s easy to start distinguishing each character pretty early on. Though some didn’t have a lot of depth. There were plenty to root for, and then there was Dirk. Dirk is so punchable, truly one of the most dislikable characters I’ve ever read. Which most definitely was the intent.
It was exciting and entertaining to read and was well paced. I found the ending to be a little anticlimactic. I expected just a tad more from both the plot and the message. I’ve seen this classified as horror and I would disagree. This is isn’t scary but rather suspenseful.
The audiobook was well narrated and easy to follow. The narrator does a good job at the characters voices and accents.
Overall a very engaging book that you don’t want to put down, but also a little disappointing toward the end.
3.5⭐️
Thank you netgalley for this audiobook ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
As for characters, this book handles a big cast well! It’s easy to start distinguishing each character pretty early on. Though some didn’t have a lot of depth. There were plenty to root for, and then there was Dirk. Dirk is so punchable, truly one of the most dislikable characters I’ve ever read. Which most definitely was the intent.
It was exciting and entertaining to read and was well paced. I found the ending to be a little anticlimactic. I expected just a tad more from both the plot and the message. I’ve seen this classified as horror and I would disagree. This is isn’t scary but rather suspenseful.
The audiobook was well narrated and easy to follow. The narrator does a good job at the characters voices and accents.
Overall a very engaging book that you don’t want to put down, but also a little disappointing toward the end.
3.5⭐️
Thank you netgalley for this audiobook ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 19, 2025
Thirteen people are whisked off to a tower that had appeared in the English landscape, far overhead, a few weeks earlier. The tower, without support, hangs in the sky. The group has no knowledge of what they are to do. But the tower makes things easier by herding it through its various levels, killing individuals as they go from one floor to another as they try to decode the mystery of each level. The purpose of this is unknown until the last few pages. I particularly liked chapters thirteen and fourteen of its thirty chapters. They were both hilarious and terrorizing. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.
February 3, 2025
4.5 / 5
Sci-fi / horror / reverse dungeon crawl adventure about thirteen Brits transported to a floating tower in the sky and given one direction: ASCEND.
This story packs a ton of themes into its relatively short length: the nature of humanity, the values we place on ourselves, the right vs wrong thing to do. These are intercut with humor, heart, and vicious explosions of violence.
A cinematic novel that makes the pages fly by.
Sci-fi / horror / reverse dungeon crawl adventure about thirteen Brits transported to a floating tower in the sky and given one direction: ASCEND.
This story packs a ton of themes into its relatively short length: the nature of humanity, the values we place on ourselves, the right vs wrong thing to do. These are intercut with humor, heart, and vicious explosions of violence.
A cinematic novel that makes the pages fly by.
October 17, 2025
I loved this book as much as I hated the character of Dirk. Which is a lot. Lol.
Super cool, fascinating, trippy, and tragic.
Super cool, fascinating, trippy, and tragic.
Read
May 26, 2025DNF 20%
کانسپت داستان: جالب و هیجان انگیز
نوشتهی کتاب: افتضااااح! منی که اگه موضوع جالب باشه میتونم هر قلمی رو تحمل کنم هم نتونستم ادامه بدم
کانسپت داستان: جالب و هیجان انگیز
نوشتهی کتاب: افتضااااح! منی که اگه موضوع جالب باشه میتونم هر قلمی رو تحمل کنم هم نتونستم ادامه بدم
October 11, 2025
Thirteenth people. One tower. One winner.... or is it?
The Way Up is Death starts when thirteen random individuals are teleported into an ominous tower with a chilling order: Ascend. At first, it all seems to be a game of survival with a prize waiting for them, but as our protagonists go through each level filled with nightmare fuel, they realize that the tower has sent them there for a reason. But finding it out before reaching the finish line might cost their lives---and the whole of humanity.
I've not consumed a lot of media in the same vein as this book to give it comps for the ordinary reader, but I think the book's plot is refreshing. It gives 'Pixels' but with a sentient tower meets existential crisis vibes. While some of the characters I can relate to, I didn't feel that much attached to them, only that I wanted to see them survive and return safely. (except for that guy who rhymes with the D word lmao) But with a title like 'The Way Up is Death', that was just a big of an ask. Despite that, I enjoyed the characters' journey through the tower, how they interacted along the way, and ultimately found answers to the greatest question of their lives.
I'm not much of a horror or sci-fi junkie, but I give this one a solid 4-stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robots for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Way Up is Death starts when thirteen random individuals are teleported into an ominous tower with a chilling order: Ascend. At first, it all seems to be a game of survival with a prize waiting for them, but as our protagonists go through each level filled with nightmare fuel, they realize that the tower has sent them there for a reason. But finding it out before reaching the finish line might cost their lives---and the whole of humanity.
I've not consumed a lot of media in the same vein as this book to give it comps for the ordinary reader, but I think the book's plot is refreshing. It gives 'Pixels' but with a sentient tower meets existential crisis vibes. While some of the characters I can relate to, I didn't feel that much attached to them, only that I wanted to see them survive and return safely. (except for that guy who rhymes with the D word lmao) But with a title like 'The Way Up is Death', that was just a big of an ask. Despite that, I enjoyed the characters' journey through the tower, how they interacted along the way, and ultimately found answers to the greatest question of their lives.
I'm not much of a horror or sci-fi junkie, but I give this one a solid 4-stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robots for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2024
3.75 rounded up
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book.
This book is about a mysterious tower (kind of reminds me of tartarus) that appears in the middle of England and thirteen random people are teleported inside one day with the word ASCEND showing on the entrance door and two days to discover what in the world they need to do to get out of this tower, and what it all means...or die trying.
The book really started out with a bang and continued to surprise me throughout it. The deaths were very gory and well described. The characters were interesting, though a little one-dimensiomal at times. It was interesting to see the different levels of the tower and how it morphed itself to a particular person and their struggles. The creatures that were created by the tower were wild as well!
The story had notes of social issues of today that were brought up well throughout the story and helped to contribute to it instead of like some books that throw social/political beliefs in just to do. There are also notes of dealing with grief and finding meaning in life to move on when things don't go as we expect. I wish there was a little more to the ending as it seemed a little lackluster and sudden with no real explanation though.
I really would be interested in seeing this adapted into a movie, even if it was B rated, because it feels like something you'd watch on sci-fi. I really enjoyed this book and am interested in seeing what else the author has in store.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book.
This book is about a mysterious tower (kind of reminds me of tartarus) that appears in the middle of England and thirteen random people are teleported inside one day with the word ASCEND showing on the entrance door and two days to discover what in the world they need to do to get out of this tower, and what it all means...or die trying.
The book really started out with a bang and continued to surprise me throughout it. The deaths were very gory and well described. The characters were interesting, though a little one-dimensiomal at times. It was interesting to see the different levels of the tower and how it morphed itself to a particular person and their struggles. The creatures that were created by the tower were wild as well!
The story had notes of social issues of today that were brought up well throughout the story and helped to contribute to it instead of like some books that throw social/political beliefs in just to do. There are also notes of dealing with grief and finding meaning in life to move on when things don't go as we expect. I wish there was a little more to the ending as it seemed a little lackluster and sudden with no real explanation though.
I really would be interested in seeing this adapted into a movie, even if it was B rated, because it feels like something you'd watch on sci-fi. I really enjoyed this book and am interested in seeing what else the author has in store.
January 26, 2025
This book!!!!
It kicks off with a prologue that is both hilarious and takes an immediate jab at streaming services and the government and the book continues to pull not a single punch throughout!
This book is Lost meets Cube by way of Jumanji. It's horror and fantasy and sci fi, all blended together seamlessly
The myriad settings are so vividly portrayed and the characters just pop right off the page.
I know a Bryan. We all know a Bryan. Fucking Bryan.
The book is at times a bleak commentary on feminine rage, AI, celebrity authors, and shit you can get up to under the cover of fame, without ever breaking immersion.
It definitely has the same nostalgic feel of Swashbucklers and I love this book so much!
Absolutely, without a doubt one of the best books I've read in years and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!!
It kicks off with a prologue that is both hilarious and takes an immediate jab at streaming services and the government and the book continues to pull not a single punch throughout!
This book is Lost meets Cube by way of Jumanji. It's horror and fantasy and sci fi, all blended together seamlessly
The myriad settings are so vividly portrayed and the characters just pop right off the page.
I know a Bryan. We all know a Bryan. Fucking Bryan.
The book is at times a bleak commentary on feminine rage, AI, celebrity authors, and shit you can get up to under the cover of fame, without ever breaking immersion.
It definitely has the same nostalgic feel of Swashbucklers and I love this book so much!
Absolutely, without a doubt one of the best books I've read in years and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!!
January 30, 2025
3.5 rounded up because I recognize this isn’t my kind of book, but that it IS good and I think people who enjoy horror, grit, and art mimicking real life will enjoy this more than I.
I appreciate it though and I’m so glad I read it.
I really wish I had something more profound to say, because I’m feeling all kinds of ways because of the ending. If you’re curious about this book, I recommend giving it a try, read like 3 chapters before making up your mind.
I appreciate it though and I’m so glad I read it.
I really wish I had something more profound to say, because I’m feeling all kinds of ways because of the ending. If you’re curious about this book, I recommend giving it a try, read like 3 chapters before making up your mind.
April 25, 2025
A giant appears in the sky, 13 people are beamed to it and have to ascend. This was like squid game in full sci fi glory. I loved how each level was different, we have 3 main character POVs. Alden a grief stricken teacher, Nia a concept artist for tv/games /movies and Dirk an influencer who "writes" kids books. I loved each of these characters as the add real dimension to the story and omg Dirk is the worst but you need that in a story like this. I think this is a great sci-fi that will keep you engaged all the way through it. I stayed up till midnight to finish it as I needed to know what was on the next level. I don't wanna give anything away as this book is best with minimal information beforehand. But you will have a fun, creepy, emotional time.
July 14, 2025
This was so fun and surprisingly touching! I’m a little offended that the only American character was also a psychopath, but I’m willing to let it go. This book was the perfect blend of horror and sci-fi. And I loved the diversity of the characters. So glad I stumbled across this.
April 20, 2025
4.5⭐️
A lovely, terrifying, heartwarming, infuriating romp through an otherworldly, sentient tower. With elements of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and thrillers, each new level reveals something new about the characters, the tower, and the meaning of life.
Hanks creates whole people in the smallest of interactions and somehow makes you empathize with the worst of them. At times, I felt as if the exposition were dragging on, which was the only thing that docked a 5 point rating.
A lovely, terrifying, heartwarming, infuriating romp through an otherworldly, sentient tower. With elements of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and thrillers, each new level reveals something new about the characters, the tower, and the meaning of life.
Hanks creates whole people in the smallest of interactions and somehow makes you empathize with the worst of them. At times, I felt as if the exposition were dragging on, which was the only thing that docked a 5 point rating.
December 14, 2024
This was a great horror fantasy book. I had a great time reading it, and really enjoyed the whole death game aspect of it.
I thought the tower was highly inventive, the characters were well written. Some you love, some you just hate, and can’t wait for them to get their comeuppance even though you’re rooting for them all to make it through this death maze.
Fast paced and exciting, this book is full of twists and turns and will keep you at the edge of your seat as the characters make their way through this death tower, trying to survive and figure out just what the heck is going on.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work!
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
I thought the tower was highly inventive, the characters were well written. Some you love, some you just hate, and can’t wait for them to get their comeuppance even though you’re rooting for them all to make it through this death maze.
Fast paced and exciting, this book is full of twists and turns and will keep you at the edge of your seat as the characters make their way through this death tower, trying to survive and figure out just what the heck is going on.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work!
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
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