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Exit 8
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 07:48:27
50 copies available
U.S. only
ゲームクリエイター、KOTAKE CREATE氏によって2023年に制作され、累計180万ダウンロードを記録した世界的大ヒットゲーム「８番出口」。本作をもとにした小説と映画を、この夏、相次いで刊行、公開することとなりました。
小説『８番出口』は、映画の監督と脚本を務めた川村元気氏による書き下ろし。『告白』『悪人』『君の名は。』『怪物』などの企画・プロデュースを始め、自身の小説をみずから監督した『百花』など、数々の世界的ヒット映画を製作。小説家としても35の国と地域で翻訳され累計270万部を突破した『世界から猫が消えたなら』や『億男』『四月になれば彼女は』『神曲』『私の馬』など話題作を発表。映画と小説で、数々のヒット作を生み出してきた氏による最新作です。
地下通路という閉鎖的な空間のなかで、行くか引き返すかの無限の2択を繰り返すというゲームをもとに、驚嘆さえ覚える深みと広がりでその世界を解釈し物語を生み出した川村氏。人生観、死生観、現代人に共通する罪の意識を、読むもの観るものに深く突きつけます。
「グローバルで闘っていくためには、国籍やジェンダーや人種など、自らのアイデンティティを全部背負ったユニークな作品をつくらねばならない。では自分のアイデンティティは何かと考え、日本というゲーム大国でビデオゲーム世代として生まれ育ったこと、映画人としてずっと携わってきたアニメーション映画の表現、小説家としてのストーリーテリングとテーマ性、この全キャリア・全得意技を投入してみようとチャレンジしました。結果、カンヌ映画祭においても、よく物語のないゲームからあのような物語を創出した、と驚かれ、同時に面白がってもらえました」
映画監督業と並行し執筆された小説は、映画では表現しえない主人公たちの進行形の頭の中、心の動きがすべて描かれ、更には、映画ではカットされたいくつかの【異変】も小説で読むことが出来る、双子のような作品です。
そして、8月29日（金）には、実写映画『８番出口』が全国東宝系で公開されます。主演を務めるのは二宮和也氏。今年のカンヌ国際映画祭では、オフィシャルセレクションに選出され「ミッドナイト・スクリーニング部門」で上映されました。日本での公開に先駆け世界で注目の作品となり、既にアジアやヨーロッパの30以上の国と地域で上映が決定しています。
小説だけでも楽しめ、更に映画を観るとエピソードの裏付けを確認するために再び小説を手に取りたくなる、映画と小説でもループに迷い込むこと必至の極上エンターテインメント作品！
小説『８番出口』【ご案内 Information】
異変を見逃さないこと
Do not overlook any anomalies.
映画を先に楽しみたければ、すぐに引き返すこと
If you would like to experience the film first, turn back immediately.
小説を先に楽しみたければ、引き返さないこと
If you would like to experience the novel first, do not turn back.
小説で明かされる秘密を、決して他人には言わないこと
Do not reveal the secret unveiled in the novel.
８番出口から外に出ること
Go out from Exit 8.
小説『８番出口』は、映画の監督と脚本を務めた川村元気氏による書き下ろし。『告白』『悪人』『君の名は。』『怪物』などの企画・プロデュースを始め、自身の小説をみずから監督した『百花』など、数々の世界的ヒット映画を製作。小説家としても35の国と地域で翻訳され累計270万部を突破した『世界から猫が消えたなら』や『億男』『四月になれば彼女は』『神曲』『私の馬』など話題作を発表。映画と小説で、数々のヒット作を生み出してきた氏による最新作です。
地下通路という閉鎖的な空間のなかで、行くか引き返すかの無限の2択を繰り返すというゲームをもとに、驚嘆さえ覚える深みと広がりでその世界を解釈し物語を生み出した川村氏。人生観、死生観、現代人に共通する罪の意識を、読むもの観るものに深く突きつけます。
「グローバルで闘っていくためには、国籍やジェンダーや人種など、自らのアイデンティティを全部背負ったユニークな作品をつくらねばならない。では自分のアイデンティティは何かと考え、日本というゲーム大国でビデオゲーム世代として生まれ育ったこと、映画人としてずっと携わってきたアニメーション映画の表現、小説家としてのストーリーテリングとテーマ性、この全キャリア・全得意技を投入してみようとチャレンジしました。結果、カンヌ映画祭においても、よく物語のないゲームからあのような物語を創出した、と驚かれ、同時に面白がってもらえました」
映画監督業と並行し執筆された小説は、映画では表現しえない主人公たちの進行形の頭の中、心の動きがすべて描かれ、更には、映画ではカットされたいくつかの【異変】も小説で読むことが出来る、双子のような作品です。
そして、8月29日（金）には、実写映画『８番出口』が全国東宝系で公開されます。主演を務めるのは二宮和也氏。今年のカンヌ国際映画祭では、オフィシャルセレクションに選出され「ミッドナイト・スクリーニング部門」で上映されました。日本での公開に先駆け世界で注目の作品となり、既にアジアやヨーロッパの30以上の国と地域で上映が決定しています。
小説だけでも楽しめ、更に映画を観るとエピソードの裏付けを確認するために再び小説を手に取りたくなる、映画と小説でもループに迷い込むこと必至の極上エンターテインメント作品！
小説『８番出口』【ご案内 Information】
異変を見逃さないこと
Do not overlook any anomalies.
映画を先に楽しみたければ、すぐに引き返すこと
If you would like to experience the film first, turn back immediately.
小説を先に楽しみたければ、引き返さないこと
If you would like to experience the novel first, do not turn back.
小説で明かされる秘密を、決して他人には言わないこと
Do not reveal the secret unveiled in the novel.
８番出口から外に出ること
Go out from Exit 8.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2025
About the author
Genki Kawamura
27 books836 followersAssociated Names:
* Genki Kawamura (English)
* 川村元気 (Japanese)
* คาวามูระ เก็งกิ (Thai)
Genki Kawamura (川村元気) is a Japanese film producer, writer, screenwriter.
中文 >> 川村元氣.
Genki Kawamura is an internationally bestselling author. If Cats Disappeared from the World was his first novel and has sold over two million copies in Japan and has been translated into over fourteen different languages. His other novels are Million Dollar Man and April Come She Will. He has also written children's picture books including Tinny & The Balloon, MOOM, and Patissier Monster. Kawamura occasionally produces, directs, and writes movies, and is a showrunner. He was a producer of the blockbuster anime film Your Name, which is currently being developed into an live-action film by J. J. Abrams.
* Genki Kawamura (English)
* 川村元気 (Japanese)
* คาวามูระ เก็งกิ (Thai)
Genki Kawamura (川村元気) is a Japanese film producer, writer, screenwriter.
中文 >> 川村元氣.
Genki Kawamura is an internationally bestselling author. If Cats Disappeared from the World was his first novel and has sold over two million copies in Japan and has been translated into over fourteen different languages. His other novels are Million Dollar Man and April Come She Will. He has also written children's picture books including Tinny & The Balloon, MOOM, and Patissier Monster. Kawamura occasionally produces, directs, and writes movies, and is a showrunner. He was a producer of the blockbuster anime film Your Name, which is currently being developed into an live-action film by J. J. Abrams.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
June 15, 2026
short, creepy, fun and very gripping mentally
August 4, 2026
It's 2026 and liminal horror has become a mainstream hit with the movie Backroom smashing multiple box office records and became the highest-grossing film of everyone's favourite cinephile hipster "independent" studio, A24.
Liminal horror itself is nothing new, especially within literature. Novels like House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and the novella A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck were published a decade or two prior, and even older works such as Lovecraft's short stories like the well known The Dreams in the Witch House or Arthur Machen, who was doing cosmic horror pre-Lovecraft and his novella The Great God Pan encapsulated liminal horror in the late 19th century. These work captures the horror-ness of liminal spaces and plays with the concept. The liminal aspect itself is the existential threat and dread as the psychological aspect with the story dealt with the creeping, alien, liminality of a certain places.
The 2026's film, Backrooms by a young twenty year-old Kane Parsons deal with liminal horror in a different way. Parsons' take on the Backrooms concept deal less with the place as this dreaded existential dimension, rather explores what humanity would fill these empty spaces in-between. Instead of being just a physical labyrinth, the backrooms function as a collective, shifting dream space that beams back the demons of those that went into the backrooms. While Parsons' take seem to be the most cerebral out of all the Backrooms concept, its most basic idea, in that the backroom holds something more ala monsters is very much the common execution style of the Backrooms story. In essence, the horror of the place's liminality becomes secondary to the externalized manifestation of human trauma, grief, and personal demons brought by those that found themselves in the backrooms.
Enter Exit 8, a 2023 indie horror walking simulator that brought liminal horror to the mainstream in Japan, so much so that a movie adaptation was made.
This novelization is written by Genki Kawamura, the director and co-writer of the movie adaptation. While there are a few exceptions, I do find that novelization done by the actual creative behind the movie a rare occurrences. Directing movies and writing novels are such radically different disciplines that few creators cross the streams but Kawamura himself is an accomplished author making the transition to the medium less awkward or gaudy.
The story is simple and minimalistic, even if there were more added to a barebones mystery-box puzzle game. Written in first person, the novel follows an unnamed narrator who found himself stuck in a loop while walking through a metro station passageway. Similar to the Backrooms movie, this weird little location that the unnamed narrator found himself in, while projects some creepy and downright sinister atmosphere and phenomenon, was more about the psychological aspect of the narrator's mental state was in and the examination of Japanese culture in the modern climate. Prior to finding himself stuck in the loop, the narrator received the news that his ex is pregnant and she is in a crossroad of wanting to keep the baby or abort.
Despite the small page count, the novel is anything but simple. It's minimalistic but dense with multilayered imagery, symbolism and subtext. After watching the movie and seeing the discussion around it, many (from the West) interpreted the subtext and symbolism from westerner point of view like the number 8 referencing the months or stages of pregnancy before childbirth on the 9th month or this was about fatherhood while there were criticism about the "pro-choice" message. Even with "Death of the Author", horror stories are uniquely tied to the anxieties of a certain culture or society. Japan’s historical and legal landscape regarding abortion is vastly different. Abortion is legal and the norm. The unnamed narrator was in the situation where abortion made most sense as it wasn’t even with his wife but his ex while knowing too well the Japanese society is unkind to single mothers. The 8 refers to the Eightfold Path in Buddhism, a direct means to nirvana and brings a release from the cycle of life and death in the realms of samsara. There were a lot more imagery and references to Japanese society like baby dumping into coin lockers, the legacy of Samurai stoicism and wartime imperial culture that still permeates within the salaryman culture. There are a lot to unpack from the story that uses pregnancy as a narrative catalyst for an entirely different theme of male emotional cowardice and apathy that leads to social alienation.
The novel is a work of translation so it's hard to really judge the prose and the writing's atmosphere. There are writers like Akane Tanaka or Mieko Kawakami who called the english translation of their works to be the works of their translator more than their books because the translator had to adjust for it to make sense or flow better in English. Similarly, there are authors like Keigo Higashino and Yume Aso who works closely with their translator in the hopes for a 1:1 translation. Where Exit 8 falls in that category is unknown to me but Sameeha Anwar did a great job on the translation because the novel's writing aesthetic matches well to what was aesthetically on the screen. There's a cold and emotionally muted aspect to the narration that became more and more phantasmagoric while also becoming more and more claustrophobic and oppressive. The prose are understated and precise. The coldness and detached narration created a deadpan precise observation that paints clear pictures of the metro station but it became a lot more strip down and less clinical. The story jumps perspectives, starting with the unnamed narrator, then jumping to the Walking Man and, finally, the Boy. If there's one aspect I didn't like, it's the addition of images like the floor plan, tiled walls and scenery to spot where the anomalies are. In my opinion, it was just not need at all.
In Japan, the craft of writing fiction is hold up in high regard, no matter if it's literary fiction or genre fiction. The craft of writing a genre fiction novel is not seen as lower on the totem pole or dismissed by readers. It's why the Naoki Prize, a prize explicitly awarded for popular fiction or genre fiction or entertainment literature is seen just as prestigious as the one for literary fiction in Akutagawa Prize. Exit 8 by Genki Kawamura and Sameeha Anwar is a novelization that stood on such high level.
Liminal horror itself is nothing new, especially within literature. Novels like House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and the novella A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck were published a decade or two prior, and even older works such as Lovecraft's short stories like the well known The Dreams in the Witch House or Arthur Machen, who was doing cosmic horror pre-Lovecraft and his novella The Great God Pan encapsulated liminal horror in the late 19th century. These work captures the horror-ness of liminal spaces and plays with the concept. The liminal aspect itself is the existential threat and dread as the psychological aspect with the story dealt with the creeping, alien, liminality of a certain places.
The 2026's film, Backrooms by a young twenty year-old Kane Parsons deal with liminal horror in a different way. Parsons' take on the Backrooms concept deal less with the place as this dreaded existential dimension, rather explores what humanity would fill these empty spaces in-between. Instead of being just a physical labyrinth, the backrooms function as a collective, shifting dream space that beams back the demons of those that went into the backrooms. While Parsons' take seem to be the most cerebral out of all the Backrooms concept, its most basic idea, in that the backroom holds something more ala monsters is very much the common execution style of the Backrooms story. In essence, the horror of the place's liminality becomes secondary to the externalized manifestation of human trauma, grief, and personal demons brought by those that found themselves in the backrooms.
Enter Exit 8, a 2023 indie horror walking simulator that brought liminal horror to the mainstream in Japan, so much so that a movie adaptation was made.
This novelization is written by Genki Kawamura, the director and co-writer of the movie adaptation. While there are a few exceptions, I do find that novelization done by the actual creative behind the movie a rare occurrences. Directing movies and writing novels are such radically different disciplines that few creators cross the streams but Kawamura himself is an accomplished author making the transition to the medium less awkward or gaudy.
The story is simple and minimalistic, even if there were more added to a barebones mystery-box puzzle game. Written in first person, the novel follows an unnamed narrator who found himself stuck in a loop while walking through a metro station passageway. Similar to the Backrooms movie, this weird little location that the unnamed narrator found himself in, while projects some creepy and downright sinister atmosphere and phenomenon, was more about the psychological aspect of the narrator's mental state was in and the examination of Japanese culture in the modern climate. Prior to finding himself stuck in the loop, the narrator received the news that his ex is pregnant and she is in a crossroad of wanting to keep the baby or abort.
Despite the small page count, the novel is anything but simple. It's minimalistic but dense with multilayered imagery, symbolism and subtext. After watching the movie and seeing the discussion around it, many (from the West) interpreted the subtext and symbolism from westerner point of view like the number 8 referencing the months or stages of pregnancy before childbirth on the 9th month or this was about fatherhood while there were criticism about the "pro-choice" message. Even with "Death of the Author", horror stories are uniquely tied to the anxieties of a certain culture or society. Japan’s historical and legal landscape regarding abortion is vastly different. Abortion is legal and the norm. The unnamed narrator was in the situation where abortion made most sense as it wasn’t even with his wife but his ex while knowing too well the Japanese society is unkind to single mothers. The 8 refers to the Eightfold Path in Buddhism, a direct means to nirvana and brings a release from the cycle of life and death in the realms of samsara. There were a lot more imagery and references to Japanese society like baby dumping into coin lockers, the legacy of Samurai stoicism and wartime imperial culture that still permeates within the salaryman culture. There are a lot to unpack from the story that uses pregnancy as a narrative catalyst for an entirely different theme of male emotional cowardice and apathy that leads to social alienation.
The novel is a work of translation so it's hard to really judge the prose and the writing's atmosphere. There are writers like Akane Tanaka or Mieko Kawakami who called the english translation of their works to be the works of their translator more than their books because the translator had to adjust for it to make sense or flow better in English. Similarly, there are authors like Keigo Higashino and Yume Aso who works closely with their translator in the hopes for a 1:1 translation. Where Exit 8 falls in that category is unknown to me but Sameeha Anwar did a great job on the translation because the novel's writing aesthetic matches well to what was aesthetically on the screen. There's a cold and emotionally muted aspect to the narration that became more and more phantasmagoric while also becoming more and more claustrophobic and oppressive. The prose are understated and precise. The coldness and detached narration created a deadpan precise observation that paints clear pictures of the metro station but it became a lot more strip down and less clinical. The story jumps perspectives, starting with the unnamed narrator, then jumping to the Walking Man and, finally, the Boy. If there's one aspect I didn't like, it's the addition of images like the floor plan, tiled walls and scenery to spot where the anomalies are. In my opinion, it was just not need at all.
In Japan, the craft of writing fiction is hold up in high regard, no matter if it's literary fiction or genre fiction. The craft of writing a genre fiction novel is not seen as lower on the totem pole or dismissed by readers. It's why the Naoki Prize, a prize explicitly awarded for popular fiction or genre fiction or entertainment literature is seen just as prestigious as the one for literary fiction in Akutagawa Prize. Exit 8 by Genki Kawamura and Sameeha Anwar is a novelization that stood on such high level.
August 1, 2026
A one sitting read that made me forget about my phone, sounds like a five star to me.
Was absolutely not expecting a 125 page book to pack such an emotional gut punch, as well as being scared and thrilled. The parallels to Dante’s Inferno really inspired me to put it on my tbr.
“Which was better? To keep walking, lost in a dream of happiness? Or to stumble through reality, never knowing what happiness was?”
Was absolutely not expecting a 125 page book to pack such an emotional gut punch, as well as being scared and thrilled. The parallels to Dante’s Inferno really inspired me to put it on my tbr.
“Which was better? To keep walking, lost in a dream of happiness? Or to stumble through reality, never knowing what happiness was?”
January 31, 2026
jakbym była niemiła to powiedziałabym, że ta książka jest anomalią, bo nie widzę za bardzo sensu przenoszenia gry, która tak mocno bazuje na aspekcie wizualnym, na powieść. Cały myk w tym, że to my dostajemy pierdolca przechodząc ten sam korytarz na zapętleniu i przestajemy ufać swoim oczom. Nie potrzebuję do tego dodatkowego loru jakiegoś astmatyka, który boi się powiedzieć swojej byłej, żeby zrobiła aborcję (xd), właściwie próba dopisania do tego jakiejś umoralniającej historii zabija horror imho, ale w sumie czego oczekiwałam od a gdyby ze świata zniknęły koty guy
Plus: na okładce „anomalie” a w środku „nieprawidłowości”, trochę lazy
Plus: na okładce „anomalie” a w środku „nieprawidłowości”, trochę lazy
May 25, 2026
*ไม่เคยเล่นเกม
*ไม่เคยดูหนัง
*เคยอ่านหนังสือของเก็งกิมาแล้วสามเล่ม (ไม่รู้จะบอกทำไม)
สารภาพบาปเลยว่าไม่เคยชอบอ่านงานเก็งกิ อ่านทีไรได้แต่หงุดหงิด ทั้งเอพริลชีวิว ทั้งดอกไม้ ทั้งบิลเลียนแนร์ไรสักอย่าง ไม่เหงาก็ล้น ตัวละครของเก็งกิน่ารำคาญมาก การดำเนินเรื่องก็ slow เหลือเกิน แวะนู้นแวะนี้
แต่ทั้งหมดที่กล่าวมาไม่มีในเล่มนี้!! ยะฮู้ ยกเว้นตัวละครน่ารำคาญ อันนี้เป็นเอกลักษณ์ว่าไม่ได้
ทางออกหมายเลขแปด ในเกมเหมือนได้ยินมาว่าเป็น horror game ที่ดังมาก ส่วนหนังได้นิโนะมาเล่น เหมาะสม ไม่เกี่ยวกะหนังสือ อะ หนังสือ เออ ด้วยความที่มันมีเส้นเรื่องชัดเจนอะเนอะ ติดลูปในสถานีรถไฟ ต้องหาทางออก มันเลยไม่ได้แวะไปไหนเยอะ มีย้อนอดีตบ้าง เห็นนิมิต? บ้างเป็นคำใบ้ในการหาทางออก
การหาทางออกไม่เจอก็ความหมายตรงตัว ว่าคิดไม่ตกกับปัญหาชีวิต การจะหาทางออกได้ก็คือต้อง realize ว่าปัญหาหรือควผิดปกติคืออะไร ก็จะย้อนมาถามว่าแล้วความปกติอะไร อะ ก็ไปอ่านกันว่านังพระเอกจะหาได้มั้ย ทั้งทางออกจากรถไฟและปัญหาชีวิต (เฉลย หาได้) เอาหน่ะ ความสนุกคือหายังไงต่างหาก
รูปเล่มทำสวยมาก มีการใส่รูปประกอบเป็นระยะ ตัวอักษรในเล่มก็มีการเล่นคำ, สี เพื่อให้คนอ่านสนุกไปกับการหารายละเอียดความผิดปกติว่าคืออะไร ตอนอ่านก็ไม่ค่อยกลัวเท่าไร แต่คิดว่าถ้าเล่นเป็นเกมหรือดูหนัง ไอ้จังหวะตุ้งแช่แบบนี้เราสะดุ้งตัวลอยอยู่
*ไม่เคยดูหนัง
*เคยอ่านหนังสือของเก็งกิมาแล้วสามเล่ม (ไม่รู้จะบอกทำไม)
สารภาพบาปเลยว่าไม่เคยชอบอ่านงานเก็งกิ อ่านทีไรได้แต่หงุดหงิด ทั้งเอพริลชีวิว ทั้งดอกไม้ ทั้งบิลเลียนแนร์ไรสักอย่าง ไม่เหงาก็ล้น ตัวละครของเก็งกิน่ารำคาญมาก การดำเนินเรื่องก็ slow เหลือเกิน แวะนู้นแวะนี้
แต่ทั้งหมดที่กล่าวมาไม่มีในเล่มนี้!! ยะฮู้ ยกเว้นตัวละครน่ารำคาญ อันนี้เป็นเอกลักษณ์ว่าไม่ได้
ทางออกหมายเลขแปด ในเกมเหมือนได้ยินมาว่าเป็น horror game ที่ดังมาก ส่วนหนังได้นิโนะมาเล่น เหมาะสม ไม่เกี่ยวกะหนังสือ อะ หนังสือ เออ ด้วยความที่มันมีเส้นเรื่องชัดเจนอะเนอะ ติดลูปในสถานีรถไฟ ต้องหาทางออก มันเลยไม่ได้แวะไปไหนเยอะ มีย้อนอดีตบ้าง เห็นนิมิต? บ้างเป็นคำใบ้ในการหาทางออก
การหาทางออกไม่เจอก็ความหมายตรงตัว ว่าคิดไม่ตกกับปัญหาชีวิต การจะหาทางออกได้ก็คือต้อง realize ว่าปัญหาหรือควผิดปกติคืออะไร ก็จะย้อนมาถามว่าแล้วความปกติอะไร อะ ก็ไปอ่านกันว่านังพระเอกจะหาได้มั้ย ทั้งทางออกจากรถไฟและปัญหาชีวิต (เฉลย หาได้) เอาหน่ะ ความสนุกคือหายังไงต่างหาก
รูปเล่มทำสวยมาก มีการใส่รูปประกอบเป็นระยะ ตัวอักษรในเล่มก็มีการเล่นคำ, สี เพื่อให้คนอ่านสนุกไปกับการหารายละเอียดความผิดปกติว่าคืออะไร ตอนอ่านก็ไม่ค่อยกลัวเท่าไร แต่คิดว่าถ้าเล่นเป็นเกมหรือดูหนัง ไอ้จังหวะตุ้งแช่แบบนี้เราสะดุ้งตัวลอยอยู่
April 1, 2026
I picked this book up because I saw a movie poster at the cinema. This book is highly entertaining and creepy that I enjoyed it very much, to the point that I finished it in a day! I went to the cinema the next day so that I could compare it to the book. The movie actually did the book justice. If you like eerie and creepy atmospheres, I would suggest you to try this book.
July 31, 2026
I really like the idea of liminal space horror and I enjoy watching anomaly horror games, so I was interested to see how this would work in written form. It was fun, maybe a little too rushed at times. I think these ideas work better visually, but I appreciated the attempt!
Thank you netgalley for the copy to read and review!
Thank you netgalley for the copy to read and review!
July 4, 2026
a short, quick read novella and i finished it in a sitting: so exhilaratingly absurd, fastpaced and i kind of love its repetitive running in a loop plot though it makes me super anxious like i was stuck along through the mysterious passage under the panel of Exit 8 signboard
of question on identity and regret, and how the endless loop mirroring one’s choices to make in life, a slow suspense for its psycho horror yet it leaves me with a creepy feel on the after-read. 5/5*
of question on identity and regret, and how the endless loop mirroring one’s choices to make in life, a slow suspense for its psycho horror yet it leaves me with a creepy feel on the after-read. 5/5*
August 3, 2026
♾️ Exit 8 by Genki Kawamura ♾️
Step off the subway and into a liminal hellscape of Exit 8. I was such a huge fan of both the game and the movie, so was excited to see a novel as well!
The book follows the plot of the movie while adding a bit more insight inside the character’s minds. Our main character must spot Anomalies that pop up in the never ending subway station. Get eight turns right in a row and your exit may appear.
I only wish this varied from the novel and added more depth to the world. When I requested this, I didn’t realize it was purely a novelization of the movie. While I still had a good time reading it, I was just looking for something more.
Regardless, I highly recommend all forms of Exit 8! It’s a blast and perfect for fans of Observation Duty and PT!
Step off the subway and into a liminal hellscape of Exit 8. I was such a huge fan of both the game and the movie, so was excited to see a novel as well!
The book follows the plot of the movie while adding a bit more insight inside the character’s minds. Our main character must spot Anomalies that pop up in the never ending subway station. Get eight turns right in a row and your exit may appear.
I only wish this varied from the novel and added more depth to the world. When I requested this, I didn’t realize it was purely a novelization of the movie. While I still had a good time reading it, I was just looking for something more.
Regardless, I highly recommend all forms of Exit 8! It’s a blast and perfect for fans of Observation Duty and PT!
July 3, 2026
I didn’t know this was a film or a game before being a book but chose it because I’ve read from this author before and enjoyed his books.
Aa a short horror novel, i quite enjoyed it. Felt it could have been a bit fleshed out - liminal horror like this kind of needs the build up and suspense and sense of creeping horror - but i assume he was limited by the pre-existing story.
Definitely would like to see the movie now though! See how it compares.
Aa a short horror novel, i quite enjoyed it. Felt it could have been a bit fleshed out - liminal horror like this kind of needs the build up and suspense and sense of creeping horror - but i assume he was limited by the pre-existing story.
Definitely would like to see the movie now though! See how it compares.
June 27, 2026
4 stars. super spoilers ahead!!! this is really short so best to read it blind :-)
i’m always quite wary of how abortion is portrayed, especially if it’s brought up as “killing a child”, but then again we are not in america and this is different. i think it’s not so much commentary on whether abortion is killing the child but more about his choice to become a father or not.
his sin is his inaction in his daily life, and in this case, from choosing to shirk responsibility from committing to raise the child with his ex, he may have caused her to choose abortion.
he needs to face the fact that no matter what stage of life he is, from inaction or even when he moves forward in life, he will still feel lost. nobody knows where their life will take them. how could we?
even the ending wasn’t a clear cut one, like i believe (hopefully) that the boy had a good ending because he’s not that evil, but the main character omg he didn’t make it to exit 8 and instead went back to the train. but i guess by “going back in time” to when he stood with inaction he had the chance to change and be a better person, so it’s an analogy. because of course it is. analogy for life. we will only exit the endless cycle of inaction when we (literally) actively choose to make a difference. there’s no point wishing and wishing we’d change, no point feeling bad but doing nothing. only by truly 改过自新 can we improve and stop feeling bad
i was genuinely creeped out at times and i felt bad for the big man omg :( he did not find enlightenment but i guess according to what the MC said he lives the rest of his life(?) seeing beautiful things, the birds outside, like in ignorance.
actually not sure if the boy is real i guess he has a conscience but he was also there to remind the big man of his own son and then the MC of his yet to be born son. ok la i think he is real because he has his own “sins”
overall this was a quick, creepy read and it’s made me very interested in the game! and movie! also i didn’t know it was based on the titular Exit 8 game, as the synopsis reminded me of Chilla Art’s Shinkansen 0, which is also about finding anomalies, but from walking through the cars of a Shinkansen train and turning back when you see one.
i’m always quite wary of how abortion is portrayed, especially if it’s brought up as “killing a child”, but then again we are not in america and this is different. i think it’s not so much commentary on whether abortion is killing the child but more about his choice to become a father or not.
his sin is his inaction in his daily life, and in this case, from choosing to shirk responsibility from committing to raise the child with his ex, he may have caused her to choose abortion.
he needs to face the fact that no matter what stage of life he is, from inaction or even when he moves forward in life, he will still feel lost. nobody knows where their life will take them. how could we?
even the ending wasn’t a clear cut one, like i believe (hopefully) that the boy had a good ending because he’s not that evil, but the main character omg he didn’t make it to exit 8 and instead went back to the train. but i guess by “going back in time” to when he stood with inaction he had the chance to change and be a better person, so it’s an analogy. because of course it is. analogy for life. we will only exit the endless cycle of inaction when we (literally) actively choose to make a difference. there’s no point wishing and wishing we’d change, no point feeling bad but doing nothing. only by truly 改过自新 can we improve and stop feeling bad
i was genuinely creeped out at times and i felt bad for the big man omg :( he did not find enlightenment but i guess according to what the MC said he lives the rest of his life(?) seeing beautiful things, the birds outside, like in ignorance.
actually not sure if the boy is real i guess he has a conscience but he was also there to remind the big man of his own son and then the MC of his yet to be born son. ok la i think he is real because he has his own “sins”
overall this was a quick, creepy read and it’s made me very interested in the game! and movie! also i didn’t know it was based on the titular Exit 8 game, as the synopsis reminded me of Chilla Art’s Shinkansen 0, which is also about finding anomalies, but from walking through the cars of a Shinkansen train and turning back when you see one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2026
Underwhelming horror with no real bite and flat characters. At least it was short.
July 23, 2026
Today I saw my best friend again after her holiday to Japan, and we went to the big bookstore we always visit together. Neither of us had ever seen Exit 8 on the shelves before, so she couldn’t help herself and bought us both a copy.
We had already played the game together, or, more accurately, My partner and I watched her play while being completely useless at spotting anything, as I usually am with these kinds of games. I did yell “EEP” a lot during tense moments, though, which I am VERY good at. We’d also planned to see the movie in theatres but never got around to it. She gifted me the book, and I started and finished it the same day.
My thoughts are pretty simple: I loved it.
That might be slightly coloured by her gesture and the fun memories of watching her play both Exit 8 and Platform 8, but I genuinely had a great time with it. Where the game gives you almost no real story or characters, the book turns the idea into a much more structured narrative about purgatory, regret and being unable to move forward.
It was also a very visual read for me because I already knew those endlessly repeating corridors so well. The book opens by warning you to turn back if you want to experience the film first, so I suspect this is closer to the movie than the original game. That only makes me more excited to finally watch it.
A fun, quick read that I’ll probably always associate with a very lovely day.
Thanks for getting me this ❤️
We had already played the game together, or, more accurately, My partner and I watched her play while being completely useless at spotting anything, as I usually am with these kinds of games. I did yell “EEP” a lot during tense moments, though, which I am VERY good at. We’d also planned to see the movie in theatres but never got around to it. She gifted me the book, and I started and finished it the same day.
My thoughts are pretty simple: I loved it.
That might be slightly coloured by her gesture and the fun memories of watching her play both Exit 8 and Platform 8, but I genuinely had a great time with it. Where the game gives you almost no real story or characters, the book turns the idea into a much more structured narrative about purgatory, regret and being unable to move forward.
It was also a very visual read for me because I already knew those endlessly repeating corridors so well. The book opens by warning you to turn back if you want to experience the film first, so I suspect this is closer to the movie than the original game. That only makes me more excited to finally watch it.
A fun, quick read that I’ll probably always associate with a very lovely day.
Thanks for getting me this ❤️
January 28, 2026
A ver, no puedo ser muy objetivo porque soy un fan fatal del videojuego, pero es que menuda maravilla. Amplía el lore del juego y la película, convirtiéndose en el tercer vértice de la experiencia EXIT 8. Además, me ha tocado la patata. Quién me iba a decir que se me iban a saltar las lágrimas con un señor japonés que se pierde en el metro de Tokio. ¿Es muy pronto para decir que es mi mejor lectura de 2026? Quizás sí, pero quién sabe...
July 18, 2026
I listened to Exit 8 as an audiobook in one sitting while I was really sick and feeling a bit delirious. This might just be the optimal way to experience this strange book!
This is a taut horror novel about an unnamed man trapped in a liminal space: an endlessly looping subway tunnel. To escape, he must identify and respond to randomly occurring ‘anomalies’ in the loop. These range from overt, deadly horrors to subtle, almost imperceptible variations in the environment. Each correct response moves him forward to the next exit, while a mistake sends him back to square one. The result is a twisted supernatural puzzle that is rigged against him.
Exit 8 is also an excellent adaptation of a viral indie game of the same name. In the game, the protagonist was a blank slate, a faceless avatar for the player. The horror was mostly random and circumstantial. In this novel, it becomes more personal and sometimes specific, closer to the tone of Silent Hill 2 or Jacob’s Ladder.
The novel adds lots of necessary context to strengthen the themes and give the story more weight. Surprisingly, this new characterisation is entirely additive, improving the framework established by the game significantly. The protagonist is at a major crossroads in his life and can no longer avoid making a difficult decision. But before he can do this and escape the purgatory created by his own indecision, he must confront the trauma he has spent his whole adult life running from.
The character work isn’t groundbreaking or anything, but it’s effective. As someone who struggles a lot with fear, doubt and inertia, I found the personal story at the heart of this novel unexpectedly moving and inspiring.
I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to checking out the movie.
This is a taut horror novel about an unnamed man trapped in a liminal space: an endlessly looping subway tunnel. To escape, he must identify and respond to randomly occurring ‘anomalies’ in the loop. These range from overt, deadly horrors to subtle, almost imperceptible variations in the environment. Each correct response moves him forward to the next exit, while a mistake sends him back to square one. The result is a twisted supernatural puzzle that is rigged against him.
Exit 8 is also an excellent adaptation of a viral indie game of the same name. In the game, the protagonist was a blank slate, a faceless avatar for the player. The horror was mostly random and circumstantial. In this novel, it becomes more personal and sometimes specific, closer to the tone of Silent Hill 2 or Jacob’s Ladder.
The novel adds lots of necessary context to strengthen the themes and give the story more weight. Surprisingly, this new characterisation is entirely additive, improving the framework established by the game significantly. The protagonist is at a major crossroads in his life and can no longer avoid making a difficult decision. But before he can do this and escape the purgatory created by his own indecision, he must confront the trauma he has spent his whole adult life running from.
The character work isn’t groundbreaking or anything, but it’s effective. As someone who struggles a lot with fear, doubt and inertia, I found the personal story at the heart of this novel unexpectedly moving and inspiring.
I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to checking out the movie.
August 2, 2026
Exit 8 had an interesting concept and some creepy ideas, but I found the story surprisingly confusing even though I was already familiar with the game. I liked the idea behind some of the anomalies, but the ending didn't really land for me. Overall, it was an okay read, but nothing that really stood out. 3 stars.
June 18, 2026
I'm too much of a scaredy cat to play Exit 8, so it was a nice surprise to find there was a novel! There's also a movie on the making, but that might also be a bit too spooky for me lmao.
Anyway, this was a nice, short read. I think there was too much packed into a small story, but nevertheless it was fun to see this universe into a brand new shape. Bunch of characters were added too, so it gave it a different twist to what we already know. The lil kid was so sweet, I really enjoyed his part in all of this.
Wish the ending wasn't as open too, but it was still a fulfilling one. I definitely recommend it this for a quick bite of horror.
Anyway, this was a nice, short read. I think there was too much packed into a small story, but nevertheless it was fun to see this universe into a brand new shape. Bunch of characters were added too, so it gave it a different twist to what we already know. The lil kid was so sweet, I really enjoyed his part in all of this.
Wish the ending wasn't as open too, but it was still a fulfilling one. I definitely recommend it this for a quick bite of horror.
July 12, 2026
Really great concept, interesting metaphors on purgatory, sin and guilt. I like the game, I’m excited for the movie but this did not work in a book format unfortunately.
June 1, 2026
This was a very interesting reading experience. The concept of a temporal and spatial loop is incredibly engaging. Watching the protagonist search for anomalies while constantly doubting his own perceptions creates the effect of an unreliable narrator, which, in turn, makes the story even more immersive.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. For such a short novel based on a game, it is remarkably well written.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. For such a short novel based on a game, it is remarkably well written.
July 29, 2026
As a fan of the original video game, I couldn't wait to experience both the book and the movie. My only regret is that I didn't read the novel first, because the film is an incredibly faithful adaptation. Scene for scene and beat for beat, it's about as close to a direct translation from page to screen as you can get.
That said, I still had a great time with it. Genki Kawamura captures the same unsettling atmosphere that made the game so memorable, turning an ordinary underground passage into a place of mounting paranoia and existential dread. The tension builds with each repetition, creating that nagging feeling that something is deeply, fundamentally wrong.
Despite its brevity, Exit 8 packs a surprising punch. It's eerie, thought provoking, and quietly terrifying. Whether you're already a fan of the game or coming to the story for the first time, this is a creepy little read that delivers exactly the kind of unsettling experience I was hoping for.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Genki Kawamura for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
That said, I still had a great time with it. Genki Kawamura captures the same unsettling atmosphere that made the game so memorable, turning an ordinary underground passage into a place of mounting paranoia and existential dread. The tension builds with each repetition, creating that nagging feeling that something is deeply, fundamentally wrong.
Despite its brevity, Exit 8 packs a surprising punch. It's eerie, thought provoking, and quietly terrifying. Whether you're already a fan of the game or coming to the story for the first time, this is a creepy little read that delivers exactly the kind of unsettling experience I was hoping for.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Genki Kawamura for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2026
Finished this one in an evening, after finding it in a bookstore. The movie trailer had me intrigued, so I thought "Why not try the book"?
Overall, it was the perfect read for the evening. Things never get quite stale, owing to the rather short size I assume, and the climax felt satisfying.
Very high chance I'll be picking up this booking often to reread.
Overall, it was the perfect read for the evening. Things never get quite stale, owing to the rather short size I assume, and the climax felt satisfying.
Very high chance I'll be picking up this booking often to reread.
August 6, 2026
A really quick, really quirky book that I really enjoyed! It’s a tiny bit horror but mostly introspective. I liked the idea it was telling us: to not ignore things that are wrong in this world.
And I also really liked that it was so short! It didn’t need more pages to tell the story and I appreciated that it was succinct.
And I also really liked that it was so short! It didn’t need more pages to tell the story and I appreciated that it was succinct.
July 5, 2026
Spooky little 100 pager, inspired by an indie game with a simple concept but given a deeper meaning by following the trials and tribulations of a fleshed out protagonist.
The looped, inescapable setting is by no means revolutionary but Exit 8 brings its own creepy and existential twist to it, making this a thought provoking experience wrapped into a neat little package.
Movie adaptation released recently is firmly on the to do list.
The looped, inescapable setting is by no means revolutionary but Exit 8 brings its own creepy and existential twist to it, making this a thought provoking experience wrapped into a neat little package.
Movie adaptation released recently is firmly on the to do list.
July 22, 2026
If you’re a big fan of the game and movie you’ll enjoy this book. Quick read!
July 29, 2026
convoluted anti-abortion propaganda?
March 1, 2026
Współpraca recenzencka z @wydawnictwokirin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nie przeocz żadnych anomalii.
Jeśli znajdziesz anomalię, natychmiast zawróć.
Jeśli nie znajdziesz anomalii, nie zawracaj.
Kieruj się do wyjścia numer 8.
Bezimienny mężczyzna spędzał dzień jak każdy inny. Jechał metrem do pracy, gdy nagle otrzymał SMS od swojej byłej dziewczyny z informacją, że jest w ciąży. W tym samym czasie w wagonie dochodzi do sytuacji, w której mężczyzna krzyczy na matkę z płaczącym dzieckiem. Mimo to bohater, podobnie jak pozostali pasażerowie, ignoruje całe zdarzenie. Wysiada na swojej stacji, odbiera telefon od byłej partnerki i wchodząc po schodach w kierunku wyjścia, trafia do miejsca, z którego nie ma wyjścia. Jaki był powód jego obecności w tym miejscu? I czy uda mu się odnaleźć drogę na zewnątrz?
Zgłosiłam się do recenzji książki, nie znając wcześniej gry „The Exit 8”. Miałam pewne obawy, czy na pewno wszystko właściwie zrozumiem, jednak szybko okazało się, że nawet bez znajomości gry można się świetnie bawić podczas lektury.
„Wyjście nr 8” jest thrillerem psychologicznym i muszę przyznać, że momentami odczuwałam autentyczny niepokój. Nie jest to książka straszna w kontekście samych anomalii, lecz raczej niepokojąca na poziomie psychologicznym. Bohater musi się naprawdę wysilić, aby je odnaleźć, ponieważ nie zawsze są widoczne na pierwszy rzut oka. Z czasem zaczyna się na nich tak bardzo koncentrować, że sam gubi się w ocenie, czy coś jest anomalią, czy nie. Doskonale ukazano, jak ludzki umysł potrafi płatać figle.
Motyw powtarzającego się, klaustrofobicznego korytarza oraz poszukiwania w nim anomalii i wyjścia bardzo przypadł mi do gustu. Książka jest bardzo krótka i liczy zaledwie 120 stron, jednak zawarta w niej fabuła i akcja tworzą w pełni kompletną całość. Nie czułam, aby czegokolwiek w tej historii brakowało.
Szczególnie zachwycił mnie fakt, że nie jest to „bezduszna” opowieść wyłącznie o szukaniu anomalii i próbie wydostania się z nieskończonego korytarza. Wraz z rozwojem historii poznawałam coraz więcej szczegółów dotyczących życia bezimiennego mężczyzny, błędów, które popełnił, oraz powodów, przez które to właśnie jego spotkała ta sytuacja. Z czasem bohater zaczyna dostrzegać rzeczy, na które wcześniej nie zwracał uwagi. Nie chodzi już o same anomalie, ale o jego życie prywatne i wydarzenia, które mogły potoczyć się zupełnie inaczej.
Uważam, że książka zdecydowanie zasługuje na przeczytanie. Jest krótka, dlatego czyta się ją bardzo szybko. Skrywa głębszy sens, a jednocześnie wzbudza subtelne, lecz wyraźne poczucie niepokoju. Zakończenie tej książki nie jest jednoznaczne i pozostawia przestrzeń do własnych interpretacji. Zazwyczaj nie przepadam za takimi zabiegami, jednak w przypadku „Wyjścia nr 8” otwarte zakończenie zupełnie mi nie przeszkadza. Uważam, że jest jest na plus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nie przeocz żadnych anomalii.
Jeśli znajdziesz anomalię, natychmiast zawróć.
Jeśli nie znajdziesz anomalii, nie zawracaj.
Kieruj się do wyjścia numer 8.
Bezimienny mężczyzna spędzał dzień jak każdy inny. Jechał metrem do pracy, gdy nagle otrzymał SMS od swojej byłej dziewczyny z informacją, że jest w ciąży. W tym samym czasie w wagonie dochodzi do sytuacji, w której mężczyzna krzyczy na matkę z płaczącym dzieckiem. Mimo to bohater, podobnie jak pozostali pasażerowie, ignoruje całe zdarzenie. Wysiada na swojej stacji, odbiera telefon od byłej partnerki i wchodząc po schodach w kierunku wyjścia, trafia do miejsca, z którego nie ma wyjścia. Jaki był powód jego obecności w tym miejscu? I czy uda mu się odnaleźć drogę na zewnątrz?
Zgłosiłam się do recenzji książki, nie znając wcześniej gry „The Exit 8”. Miałam pewne obawy, czy na pewno wszystko właściwie zrozumiem, jednak szybko okazało się, że nawet bez znajomości gry można się świetnie bawić podczas lektury.
„Wyjście nr 8” jest thrillerem psychologicznym i muszę przyznać, że momentami odczuwałam autentyczny niepokój. Nie jest to książka straszna w kontekście samych anomalii, lecz raczej niepokojąca na poziomie psychologicznym. Bohater musi się naprawdę wysilić, aby je odnaleźć, ponieważ nie zawsze są widoczne na pierwszy rzut oka. Z czasem zaczyna się na nich tak bardzo koncentrować, że sam gubi się w ocenie, czy coś jest anomalią, czy nie. Doskonale ukazano, jak ludzki umysł potrafi płatać figle.
Motyw powtarzającego się, klaustrofobicznego korytarza oraz poszukiwania w nim anomalii i wyjścia bardzo przypadł mi do gustu. Książka jest bardzo krótka i liczy zaledwie 120 stron, jednak zawarta w niej fabuła i akcja tworzą w pełni kompletną całość. Nie czułam, aby czegokolwiek w tej historii brakowało.
Szczególnie zachwycił mnie fakt, że nie jest to „bezduszna” opowieść wyłącznie o szukaniu anomalii i próbie wydostania się z nieskończonego korytarza. Wraz z rozwojem historii poznawałam coraz więcej szczegółów dotyczących życia bezimiennego mężczyzny, błędów, które popełnił, oraz powodów, przez które to właśnie jego spotkała ta sytuacja. Z czasem bohater zaczyna dostrzegać rzeczy, na które wcześniej nie zwracał uwagi. Nie chodzi już o same anomalie, ale o jego życie prywatne i wydarzenia, które mogły potoczyć się zupełnie inaczej.
Uważam, że książka zdecydowanie zasługuje na przeczytanie. Jest krótka, dlatego czyta się ją bardzo szybko. Skrywa głębszy sens, a jednocześnie wzbudza subtelne, lecz wyraźne poczucie niepokoju. Zakończenie tej książki nie jest jednoznaczne i pozostawia przestrzeń do własnych interpretacji. Zazwyczaj nie przepadam za takimi zabiegami, jednak w przypadku „Wyjścia nr 8” otwarte zakończenie zupełnie mi nie przeszkadza. Uważam, że jest jest na plus.
May 29, 2026
Lubicie "Opowieść wigilijną"? Jeśli nie to co powiecie na przeniesienie tej historii do świata rodem z popularnej gry komputerowej i zmienienie jej w thriller?
Książkę "Wyjście nr 8" przeczytałam dzięki wydawnictwu Kirin [współpraca reklamowa] i jej niezaprzeczalnym minusem jest długość w stosunku do ceny okładkowej - od razu wolę was uprzedzić, że książka ma tylko 112 stron, żebyśmy mogli skupić się na innych aspektach. Książka zainteresowała mnie ze względu na autora, Genkiego Kawamurę, którego historia o kotach znikających z tego świata zainteresowała już wcześniej. Tym razem napisał on jednocześnie książkę i scenariusz filmu kinowego umieszczonego w uniwersum gry "Exit no 8". Oszczędna w środkach książka jest trochę jak scenariusz - mam wrażenie, że film, który planuje obejrzeć już dziś po zapostowaniu recenzji, będzie bardziej wizualny.
Historia głównego bohatera książki zdaje się na wskroś japońska - zmęczony człowiek, który codziennie chodzi do nudnej pracy, potem patrzy w komórkę, nie reaguje na wydarzenia dziejące się wokół niego nagle dowiaduje się, że jego była dziewczyna, z którą dopiero co zerwał jest w ciąży. Zanim jednak odpowie na jej pytanie co zrobić z dzieckiem (ab0rcja w Japonii jest legalna) wpada w dziwne zakrzywienie przestrzeni, gdzie aby się wydostać z zapętlonej przez korytarz drogi musi zawrócić, jeśli dostrzeże coś nietypowego, albo iść dalej, jeśli będzie normalnie. Nic nie jest jednak takie proste, bo czasem ciężko sobie zaufać - czy rzeczywiście coś nie jest typowe dla tej sceny, czy tylko sobie wmawiam? Bohater spotyka też dziwne uśmiechnięte postacie z absolutną pustką w oczach próbując dotrzeć do wyjścia 8, które w teorii ma być równocześnie wyjścien z pętli. Zaczyna też widzieć korytarz niczym czyściec, w który wpada się z powodu jakiejś przewiny..
Książkę "Wyjście nr 8" przeczytałam dzięki wydawnictwu Kirin [współpraca reklamowa] i jej niezaprzeczalnym minusem jest długość w stosunku do ceny okładkowej - od razu wolę was uprzedzić, że książka ma tylko 112 stron, żebyśmy mogli skupić się na innych aspektach. Książka zainteresowała mnie ze względu na autora, Genkiego Kawamurę, którego historia o kotach znikających z tego świata zainteresowała już wcześniej. Tym razem napisał on jednocześnie książkę i scenariusz filmu kinowego umieszczonego w uniwersum gry "Exit no 8". Oszczędna w środkach książka jest trochę jak scenariusz - mam wrażenie, że film, który planuje obejrzeć już dziś po zapostowaniu recenzji, będzie bardziej wizualny.
Historia głównego bohatera książki zdaje się na wskroś japońska - zmęczony człowiek, który codziennie chodzi do nudnej pracy, potem patrzy w komórkę, nie reaguje na wydarzenia dziejące się wokół niego nagle dowiaduje się, że jego była dziewczyna, z którą dopiero co zerwał jest w ciąży. Zanim jednak odpowie na jej pytanie co zrobić z dzieckiem (ab0rcja w Japonii jest legalna) wpada w dziwne zakrzywienie przestrzeni, gdzie aby się wydostać z zapętlonej przez korytarz drogi musi zawrócić, jeśli dostrzeże coś nietypowego, albo iść dalej, jeśli będzie normalnie. Nic nie jest jednak takie proste, bo czasem ciężko sobie zaufać - czy rzeczywiście coś nie jest typowe dla tej sceny, czy tylko sobie wmawiam? Bohater spotyka też dziwne uśmiechnięte postacie z absolutną pustką w oczach próbując dotrzeć do wyjścia 8, które w teorii ma być równocześnie wyjścien z pętli. Zaczyna też widzieć korytarz niczym czyściec, w który wpada się z powodu jakiejś przewiny..
July 9, 2026
2.75⭐
Even though I did not enjoy the tale being told here the audiobook production was top notch and needs to be applauded. The narrator did a truly fantastic job bringing each of the characters to life going as far as to add realistic sound effects to things like breathing and coughing to add even more depth. Other background elements like the distorted audio for the phone calls made a massive difference as well.
As for the actual plot itself wow what a massive letdown. I was honestly bored out of my mind to be completely truthful. I get the overarching theme the author was going for by building an alternate reality for a man who had many personal demons he needed to work through. Being trapped in an underground subway station where you have to overcome several intense obstacles in order to reach the exit was highly creative and made you deeply ponder if what he was experiencing was real or all in his head. The ultimate execution of everything just left way too much to be desired.
There was a distinct sense of creepiness to the setting that I did appreciate but anything eerie or supernatural that occurred throughout the journey totally failed to elevate the narrative in any meaningful way. I constantly found my mind wandering far too much for a listen this short. I really did not care for the final outcome once my initial interest faded away and at a certain point I just wanted to get to the bottom of why this bizarre event happened to the main player and what vital lesson was learned from the ordeal. This book had the perfect chance to really stand out within the horror genre but a great premise does not always lead to a great book and this title is the perfect example of that.
Even though I did not enjoy the tale being told here the audiobook production was top notch and needs to be applauded. The narrator did a truly fantastic job bringing each of the characters to life going as far as to add realistic sound effects to things like breathing and coughing to add even more depth. Other background elements like the distorted audio for the phone calls made a massive difference as well.
As for the actual plot itself wow what a massive letdown. I was honestly bored out of my mind to be completely truthful. I get the overarching theme the author was going for by building an alternate reality for a man who had many personal demons he needed to work through. Being trapped in an underground subway station where you have to overcome several intense obstacles in order to reach the exit was highly creative and made you deeply ponder if what he was experiencing was real or all in his head. The ultimate execution of everything just left way too much to be desired.
There was a distinct sense of creepiness to the setting that I did appreciate but anything eerie or supernatural that occurred throughout the journey totally failed to elevate the narrative in any meaningful way. I constantly found my mind wandering far too much for a listen this short. I really did not care for the final outcome once my initial interest faded away and at a certain point I just wanted to get to the bottom of why this bizarre event happened to the main player and what vital lesson was learned from the ordeal. This book had the perfect chance to really stand out within the horror genre but a great premise does not always lead to a great book and this title is the perfect example of that.
August 3, 2026
4.5 stars rounded to 4
This was such a good, quick read. I’m familiar with the game, but I’ve never actually played it, so most of the story was still completely new to me. I really enjoyed the storyline and all the references to Dante’s Purgatory. The parallels between being trapped in the loop and the main character’s inability to make a decision or take action were especially well done.
The addition of the little boy in Pre-K absolutely destroyed me. As a mom to a little boy in Pre-K, I most definitely did cry while reading.
I also really liked the ending. I thought it fit the character’s mindset perfectly and felt like the right way for the story to end.
This was such a good, quick read. I’m familiar with the game, but I’ve never actually played it, so most of the story was still completely new to me. I really enjoyed the storyline and all the references to Dante’s Purgatory. The parallels between being trapped in the loop and the main character’s inability to make a decision or take action were especially well done.
The addition of the little boy in Pre-K absolutely destroyed me. As a mom to a little boy in Pre-K, I most definitely did cry while reading.
I also really liked the ending. I thought it fit the character’s mindset perfectly and felt like the right way for the story to end.
August 7, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
In the age of Backrooms, liminal space horror is in. This story follows our MC as he gets trapped in Exit 8, basically a walking simulator, but he must look for anomalies. This was a quick, interesting read. The horror was minor and obviously depended on the setting. I do wish it was fleshed out more, with a bit more creeping horror of the liminal space that is Exit 8. At times it was very surface-level. Before requesting this book, I was unaware it was just going to follow the movie/game. So if you're deep into Exit 8's lore, you should read this! I'm interested in watching the movie to see how it compares
In the age of Backrooms, liminal space horror is in. This story follows our MC as he gets trapped in Exit 8, basically a walking simulator, but he must look for anomalies. This was a quick, interesting read. The horror was minor and obviously depended on the setting. I do wish it was fleshed out more, with a bit more creeping horror of the liminal space that is Exit 8. At times it was very surface-level. Before requesting this book, I was unaware it was just going to follow the movie/game. So if you're deep into Exit 8's lore, you should read this! I'm interested in watching the movie to see how it compares
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