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Unboxed
Greg Zipper is a paranormal vlogger whose livelihood relies on his online popularity. When a fight between him and his girlfriend goes viral for all the wrong reasons, Greg purchases a dark web mystery box in hopes of restoring his audience's faith in him and hitting one million subscribers. But when Greg opens the box, he gets much more than he bargained for, including a Boxer who's determined to stop him from taking his loved ones for granted. Now Greg must do all he can to stop the Boxer, or else he'll lose his livelihood - along with the woman he loves.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2020
23 people are currently reading
2023 people want to read
About the author
Briana Morgan
26 books337 followersBriana Morgan is a horror writer, editor, and author of The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories, which won a Godless 666 Award for Best Audiobook. With more than a decade of experience scaring herself and others, Briana has a fresh voice that shines through in her latest book, The Reyes Incident, which has sold more than 16,000 copies to date. Her other books include Mouth Full of Ashes, Unboxed: A Play, and more.
Briana has a BA in English and Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University. She is also an active member of the Horror Writers Association. When not writing, Briana loves reading disturbing fiction, playing video games, and traveling with her husband.
Briana has a BA in English and Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University. She is also an active member of the Horror Writers Association. When not writing, Briana loves reading disturbing fiction, playing video games, and traveling with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
October 19, 2021
I've been so excited for this, as someone who adores technology-themed horror, and it did not disappoint! The play format was so interesting — I've never read a play outside of classics, and it created such a rich atmosphere that I felt like I was watching a movie in my head (which isn't something I can say about many books, personally!).
I loved the idea of this dark web mystery box unboxing because it's something I could so easily see becoming an IRL trend, and I enjoyed how authentic the vlogger celeb aspects felt — Zipper's relationship suffering, doing everything for the views, and needing to find a balance or make a decision between his career and his life.
The only thing I would have changed is that I wish this story had been longer so we could have had more back story on the Boxer, because I was so intrigued by his presence in the story and think he would've been a really creepy villain with more screen time! That said, I still really enjoyed this short and highly recommend it.
I loved the idea of this dark web mystery box unboxing because it's something I could so easily see becoming an IRL trend, and I enjoyed how authentic the vlogger celeb aspects felt — Zipper's relationship suffering, doing everything for the views, and needing to find a balance or make a decision between his career and his life.
The only thing I would have changed is that I wish this story had been longer so we could have had more back story on the Boxer, because I was so intrigued by his presence in the story and think he would've been a really creepy villain with more screen time! That said, I still really enjoyed this short and highly recommend it.
July 15, 2020
SCREAM Review coming!!
October 28, 2020
When I picked up Briana Morgan’s UNBOXED, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I went in completely blind because I love surprises and this one knocked my socks off!
Greg Zipper is a paranormal internet vlogger whose ultimate goal is to hit one million subscribers. However, when he accidentally posts an argument between himself and his girlfriend, his subscribers drop. He decides to go the extra mile and hit the dark web to purchase a Mystery Box. When he shares the unboxing with his followers, what comes out is more than he could ever have imagined.
This brilliant book was written in play format which was unexpected and worked incredibly well. The premise of internet fame is especially relevant these days - oh the things we do to hit a milestone follower count. Morgan couldn’t have written this book any better if she tried. It’s one of the more exceptional novellas I’ve read this year.
No joke, this story is truly creepy. Sometimes writers write about the dark web or internet influencers and it’s cheesy. But Morgan does a stellar job with this story! The play format is immersive as I visualized everything as intended. UNBOXED is spooky-goodness and I highly recommend if you are looking for a horror-ific good time!
Greg Zipper is a paranormal internet vlogger whose ultimate goal is to hit one million subscribers. However, when he accidentally posts an argument between himself and his girlfriend, his subscribers drop. He decides to go the extra mile and hit the dark web to purchase a Mystery Box. When he shares the unboxing with his followers, what comes out is more than he could ever have imagined.
This brilliant book was written in play format which was unexpected and worked incredibly well. The premise of internet fame is especially relevant these days - oh the things we do to hit a milestone follower count. Morgan couldn’t have written this book any better if she tried. It’s one of the more exceptional novellas I’ve read this year.
No joke, this story is truly creepy. Sometimes writers write about the dark web or internet influencers and it’s cheesy. But Morgan does a stellar job with this story! The play format is immersive as I visualized everything as intended. UNBOXED is spooky-goodness and I highly recommend if you are looking for a horror-ific good time!
September 9, 2020
I never thought I would end a horror story by going "Awwwwww." But I did!! This is written in play format and personally, I love reading formats like these - you get straight to the point, lots of dialogue and no chance of any overly descriptive paragraphs to slog through. Morgan brings us an amazing short play that hits hard in less than 100 pages.
I've always been fascinated with the Dark Web - I mean, if you're morbid like I am, how could you not be? Would I ever dabble there? 99% likely NOT... but never underestimate that 1%. *wink* Greg is a vlogger who really wants to meet that million subscriber mark and will do anything to get there. What I love is that this is all true for us on platforms - as much as we say quality over quantity, let's face it, we love hitting those follower count mark if it happens - even if it's something you're not striving for. Greg definitely goes the extra mile and decides to do an unboxing of a random box from the Dark Web... and as you may guess - it's not the greatest idea.
What happens next? You'll have to read to find out.... and be careful where you dabble on the internet.
I've always been fascinated with the Dark Web - I mean, if you're morbid like I am, how could you not be? Would I ever dabble there? 99% likely NOT... but never underestimate that 1%. *wink* Greg is a vlogger who really wants to meet that million subscriber mark and will do anything to get there. What I love is that this is all true for us on platforms - as much as we say quality over quantity, let's face it, we love hitting those follower count mark if it happens - even if it's something you're not striving for. Greg definitely goes the extra mile and decides to do an unboxing of a random box from the Dark Web... and as you may guess - it's not the greatest idea.
What happens next? You'll have to read to find out.... and be careful where you dabble on the internet.
August 5, 2020
Let talk about plays... How do you feel about reading plays?!
I’ve never read a play before but this book makes me want more! Okay... I know I read one in school but I was uninterested. I’m not even sure I was mentally present that day. Briana makes me want to change all that. She wrights plays like a fast paced novella that makes you want to envision all the details. As I was reading, I was setting the stage and visualizing what each room would look like. I had the control of imagination and I loved it!
This story revolves around my favorite scary subject... the dark web! A secret place in the inter web that contains only your deepest darkest desires. Greg Zipper is a paranormal vlogger who wants to hit one million subscribers and he knows just how to make that happen. Zipper orders a box for an unboxing video off of the dark web. The Boxer has a few lessons to teach Zipper though.
What will it cost Zipper to get what he always desired and in the end is it worth losing everyone he loves?
This story reminded me of the box and wish upon, when your deepest desires come with a price to pay. I was really impressed with how only using dialogue Briana could still convey the characters emotions and underlying meanings.
There was also one scene in particular that really scared me and I can’t stop thinking about it! I gave this book 4/5 ⭐️ only because I saw the ending coming. I was really hoping to be surprised but it was still a fun story and everyone should experience it! I can’t wait to read more of Briana’s work. I already bought two more books!!!
I’ve never read a play before but this book makes me want more! Okay... I know I read one in school but I was uninterested. I’m not even sure I was mentally present that day. Briana makes me want to change all that. She wrights plays like a fast paced novella that makes you want to envision all the details. As I was reading, I was setting the stage and visualizing what each room would look like. I had the control of imagination and I loved it!
This story revolves around my favorite scary subject... the dark web! A secret place in the inter web that contains only your deepest darkest desires. Greg Zipper is a paranormal vlogger who wants to hit one million subscribers and he knows just how to make that happen. Zipper orders a box for an unboxing video off of the dark web. The Boxer has a few lessons to teach Zipper though.
What will it cost Zipper to get what he always desired and in the end is it worth losing everyone he loves?
This story reminded me of the box and wish upon, when your deepest desires come with a price to pay. I was really impressed with how only using dialogue Briana could still convey the characters emotions and underlying meanings.
There was also one scene in particular that really scared me and I can’t stop thinking about it! I gave this book 4/5 ⭐️ only because I saw the ending coming. I was really hoping to be surprised but it was still a fun story and everyone should experience it! I can’t wait to read more of Briana’s work. I already bought two more books!!!
July 25, 2020
Honestly, the dark web scares the heck out of me.
But I love love love films and books that dive into the scarier parts of the internet (& technology, in general).
When I saw the cover of Unboxed I was like, yes. I'm here. And then, I saw that it was a play & I was like ... I'm still here. & then, here's the kicker, I saw the synopsis & I was like YES. THIS IS THE ONE. And, my dear reader, I was not disappointed.
Unboxed, in only 68-pages, really packs a punch.
Unboxed dives into how Zipper's YouTube-sensation determination is destroying his relationship with his girlfriend, Alice. Things seem rocky between the two right-off-the-bat, but it gets worse as the play progresses. Then, Zipper decides that in order to skyrocket his follower count, he'll do an unboxing of a box he purchased from the dark web. Needless to say, things get wild for the two following the unboxing.
Although this takes place with a paranormal background, it gives a realistic glance at just how technology & obsessiveness of growing an internet following can really go to your head and destroy your most personal relationships. I absolutely love Unboxed for both the paranormal aspects and the in-depth dive into the characters. Zipper is forced to learn a lesson, otherwise, he might just lose the person he loves.
But I love love love films and books that dive into the scarier parts of the internet (& technology, in general).
When I saw the cover of Unboxed I was like, yes. I'm here. And then, I saw that it was a play & I was like ... I'm still here. & then, here's the kicker, I saw the synopsis & I was like YES. THIS IS THE ONE. And, my dear reader, I was not disappointed.
Unboxed, in only 68-pages, really packs a punch.
Unboxed dives into how Zipper's YouTube-sensation determination is destroying his relationship with his girlfriend, Alice. Things seem rocky between the two right-off-the-bat, but it gets worse as the play progresses. Then, Zipper decides that in order to skyrocket his follower count, he'll do an unboxing of a box he purchased from the dark web. Needless to say, things get wild for the two following the unboxing.
Although this takes place with a paranormal background, it gives a realistic glance at just how technology & obsessiveness of growing an internet following can really go to your head and destroy your most personal relationships. I absolutely love Unboxed for both the paranormal aspects and the in-depth dive into the characters. Zipper is forced to learn a lesson, otherwise, he might just lose the person he loves.
August 10, 2020
I can't remember the last time that I read a play, but if Briana Morgan's UNBOXED is any indication of the fun experience I have been missing then I have to rectify that! I am blown away by how great this play is and how much was told and conveyed in less than 100 pages. When we first settle in, I immediately sense some toxicity in the relationship between our two main characters, Greg and Alice. I thought, "There is no way I will end up liking this guy or thinking that Alice is smart for loving him." But Morgan totally flipped it on me and I found myself rooting for them both before the end of the play! It's great when an author can set you up with certain emotions from the beginning while knowing the end result and your potential feelings by that last page/line. Morgan did a superb job keeping my anxiety on pins and needles and I never, EVER, want to explore the dark web. There is not a single fiber in my being that has any desire to go there, even if the results we experience in UNBOXED only have a .001% chance of even happening to me. This twisted little play is fast paced, well-written, and eerily intoxicating. It is a must-read! 5 stars!
August 3, 2020
Short and spookier than expected Unboxed was a creepy little delight!
There's love, loss and a sense of leeriness in this horror play and it all played out perfectly, while leaving some pieces for me to puzzle over.
If you're looking for a short unique spooky story that explores the dangers of the dark web as well as love in the time of internet popularity...this is for you!
There's love, loss and a sense of leeriness in this horror play and it all played out perfectly, while leaving some pieces for me to puzzle over.
If you're looking for a short unique spooky story that explores the dangers of the dark web as well as love in the time of internet popularity...this is for you!
September 24, 2020
3.5⭐
It's been a while since I read a play, and I had fun with Unboxed! The story worked well in this format. There was one part that really creeped me out even though I guessed it was coming, and I liked that. I wasn't wild about the direction it went in at the end, and I was hoping it would have gone darker, but I still enjoyed the book. I could have done without the animal death, though. There was a good amount of content for a tiny book, and it was an entertaining read.
CW - animal death
It's been a while since I read a play, and I had fun with Unboxed! The story worked well in this format. There was one part that really creeped me out even though I guessed it was coming, and I liked that. I wasn't wild about the direction it went in at the end, and I was hoping it would have gone darker, but I still enjoyed the book. I could have done without the animal death, though. There was a good amount of content for a tiny book, and it was an entertaining read.
CW - animal death
August 21, 2020
i told you, i will rate something way down for unnecessary animal death
August 13, 2022
This was my first Briana Morgan read and I am in love! So creepy, so haunting. It’ll make you want to delete all your social media instantly.
April 2, 2021
This was only my second time reading a play, or in this case listening to it on audiobook. I have had the opportunity on numerous occasions to see a play performed live on stage in a theater. From The Lion King on Broadway in New York City to different performances at the local high school where I live. Theater going (that makes me sound more posh than I really am) has always been a fun experience for me.
After seeing a lot of positive reviews for UNBOXED by Briana Morgan I was excited for a more horror-centric play. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me as it has for others, I thought it was just okay. My opinion on this is completely subjective. There wasn’t anything from a technical aspect on the authors part that I can point to and say, yea the pacing was bad or it was full or typos. Nothing like that. It was more things that I personally either didn’t connect with or things I’ve found I don’t much care for. Let me try and explain.
First is the format this story was told in. It is a play, and yes I knew it was a play going in, but it being a script for a play the majority of it was dialogue between characters with the occasional scene setup (this scene takes place in the bedroom, there is a computer on a desk and it is night outside). This didn’t give the author really any chance to infuse the story with those bits of prose magic that I have really come to enjoy and appreciate. Those bits that when you read them make you sit back and say wow, that’s some damn good writing. It isn’t that the author doesn’t possess that talent, the format just didn’t allow the opportunity for those magical moments to happen.
Second was the characters. For me I felt either indifferent towards them or thought they were unlikeable, the main character Greg I think is supposed to be unlikable, at least at the beginning. Greg is a paranormal vlogger who becomes obsessed with his goal of achieving a following of one million subscribers to his channel. (Having a million subs, wouldn’t that be nice). The problem is he is so focused on reaching this milestone that he becomes obsessive to the point where he starts to ignore other parts of his life, especially his girlfriend Alice. They have a bad fight on one of his streams and he comes across looking like a complete douche, which he sort of is in my opinion and he never really redeemed himself in my eyes. So when bad things started to happen to Greg and Alice I found myself just not caring what happened to them. I didn’t have any sort of emotional connection to either character which sucked a lot of the possible tension out of the story.
Lastly, I think I have come to realize that I am not a big fan of horror where modern technology, cell phones, the internet, camera, etc. play a large role in the story. For me that just isn’t as scary as horror from say the 80’s where if you get lost in the woods you are truly lost. That feeling of isolation. You can’t just pull out your cell and phone a friend or GPS your way out. Yes there are ways around that, dead battery, having no service, but it just doesn’t feel the same. Maybe it is that nostalgia factor creeping in, I am not sure. With Greg being a vlogger and being on streams and worried about social media numbers just pulled me out of the story, and it wasn’t as scary as it could have been, but that’s just my personal tastes.
I feel like I have come across as way more negative in this review than I was meaning to. UNBOXED wasn’t a bad story by any means, just one that didn’t work out for me. I think if I would have gone to a theater and actually watched this performed live on stage with actors and sets and props and music and sound effects I would have had a more enjoyable experience, watching a visual medium as opposed to reading it. I definitely want to read something else by Briana Morgan, something in a longer form that does give her the chance to flex those writing muscles and showcase her prose. She has a short story collection titled THE TRICKER-TREATER that looks right up my alley. If UNBOXED sounds interesting to you don’t just take my word on it, pick it up for yourself and form your own opinion.
I received an audiobook code from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/S3JYmgv6rPA
After seeing a lot of positive reviews for UNBOXED by Briana Morgan I was excited for a more horror-centric play. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me as it has for others, I thought it was just okay. My opinion on this is completely subjective. There wasn’t anything from a technical aspect on the authors part that I can point to and say, yea the pacing was bad or it was full or typos. Nothing like that. It was more things that I personally either didn’t connect with or things I’ve found I don’t much care for. Let me try and explain.
First is the format this story was told in. It is a play, and yes I knew it was a play going in, but it being a script for a play the majority of it was dialogue between characters with the occasional scene setup (this scene takes place in the bedroom, there is a computer on a desk and it is night outside). This didn’t give the author really any chance to infuse the story with those bits of prose magic that I have really come to enjoy and appreciate. Those bits that when you read them make you sit back and say wow, that’s some damn good writing. It isn’t that the author doesn’t possess that talent, the format just didn’t allow the opportunity for those magical moments to happen.
Second was the characters. For me I felt either indifferent towards them or thought they were unlikeable, the main character Greg I think is supposed to be unlikable, at least at the beginning. Greg is a paranormal vlogger who becomes obsessed with his goal of achieving a following of one million subscribers to his channel. (Having a million subs, wouldn’t that be nice). The problem is he is so focused on reaching this milestone that he becomes obsessive to the point where he starts to ignore other parts of his life, especially his girlfriend Alice. They have a bad fight on one of his streams and he comes across looking like a complete douche, which he sort of is in my opinion and he never really redeemed himself in my eyes. So when bad things started to happen to Greg and Alice I found myself just not caring what happened to them. I didn’t have any sort of emotional connection to either character which sucked a lot of the possible tension out of the story.
Lastly, I think I have come to realize that I am not a big fan of horror where modern technology, cell phones, the internet, camera, etc. play a large role in the story. For me that just isn’t as scary as horror from say the 80’s where if you get lost in the woods you are truly lost. That feeling of isolation. You can’t just pull out your cell and phone a friend or GPS your way out. Yes there are ways around that, dead battery, having no service, but it just doesn’t feel the same. Maybe it is that nostalgia factor creeping in, I am not sure. With Greg being a vlogger and being on streams and worried about social media numbers just pulled me out of the story, and it wasn’t as scary as it could have been, but that’s just my personal tastes.
I feel like I have come across as way more negative in this review than I was meaning to. UNBOXED wasn’t a bad story by any means, just one that didn’t work out for me. I think if I would have gone to a theater and actually watched this performed live on stage with actors and sets and props and music and sound effects I would have had a more enjoyable experience, watching a visual medium as opposed to reading it. I definitely want to read something else by Briana Morgan, something in a longer form that does give her the chance to flex those writing muscles and showcase her prose. She has a short story collection titled THE TRICKER-TREATER that looks right up my alley. If UNBOXED sounds interesting to you don’t just take my word on it, pick it up for yourself and form your own opinion.
I received an audiobook code from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/S3JYmgv6rPA
August 29, 2022
I absolutely love Briana Morgan’s writing, and when I found out she was releasing a new horror story written in the form of a play, I knew I had to have it – even without knowing the summary yet. Once more details were released and I realized this was a story involving a paranormal vlogger (I love modern technology in horror so much!) who gets a little in over his head with a ‘dark web mystery box’, I started counting down the days to its release. I’m super happy to say that the day is finally here – UNBOXED comes out tomorrow, July 25th!!
I’ll admit that this was my first time outside of a school setting where I decided to read a book as a play, but I wasn’t worried at all due to both Briana’s experience with the format, and her strength as a writer. I dove in without a second thought as soon as the book arrived, and sped through it with the sort of attention that I’d imagine you’d give to the act of diffusing a live bomb: I was so absorbed by the story!
Our main characters are Greg Zipper, of Zipper Paranormal, and his girlfriend Alice. Greg spends his days on the internet, vlogging spooky stuff, and catering to his fanbase of nearly one million followers at the start of the story. Despite the love from his fans, the relationship between Greg & Alice has gotten a bit rocky, leading to a terrible fight that Greg accidentally livestreams to his entire audience, going viral in an unfortunate turn of events. As Greg’s subscriber count starts to plummet, he desperately reaches for something to solidify his place in the e-spotlight once more, as well as within the heart of the girl he loves.
Enter: the Mystery Box. Purchased off the dark web for an exorbitant amount of money, Greg expects his live unboxing video will offer some fun gross-out moments, or spooky things to share with his audience and boost him back into stardom. When he discovers that what he’s paid for with the Mystery Box is much more dangerous than expected, he realizes that the loss of his internet fame may not really be the worst thing that could happen after all.
I love ‘dark web’ type stories, and this one did not disappoint! The play formatting allows the reader to see the scene exactly as the author intended, while also leaving enough freedom for a few specifics to be made up individually by each person visiting the story. I found the format to be both accessible and engaging, which added to a story that’s already very rich with a foreboding atmosphere and sense of dread, bumping this one high on the ratings scale for me.
Featuring a couple struggling with real-life personal issues as well as more paranormal ones added a layer of depth that can only come from someone skilled at writing relationships, and I found myself able to relate with and feel for the characters and their troubles while also being totally horrified by the things happening around them. This duality of themes flows smoothly throughout the story, and it’s amazing how much the author is able to pack into less than 70 pages.
I am SO HERE for anything Briana writes in the future, and can’t wait to see where her creativity leads her next. If you’re a fan of horror, check this one out – even if (especially if?!) you’re not used to the play format, ’cause this is such a great introduction to them!
I’ll admit that this was my first time outside of a school setting where I decided to read a book as a play, but I wasn’t worried at all due to both Briana’s experience with the format, and her strength as a writer. I dove in without a second thought as soon as the book arrived, and sped through it with the sort of attention that I’d imagine you’d give to the act of diffusing a live bomb: I was so absorbed by the story!
Our main characters are Greg Zipper, of Zipper Paranormal, and his girlfriend Alice. Greg spends his days on the internet, vlogging spooky stuff, and catering to his fanbase of nearly one million followers at the start of the story. Despite the love from his fans, the relationship between Greg & Alice has gotten a bit rocky, leading to a terrible fight that Greg accidentally livestreams to his entire audience, going viral in an unfortunate turn of events. As Greg’s subscriber count starts to plummet, he desperately reaches for something to solidify his place in the e-spotlight once more, as well as within the heart of the girl he loves.
Enter: the Mystery Box. Purchased off the dark web for an exorbitant amount of money, Greg expects his live unboxing video will offer some fun gross-out moments, or spooky things to share with his audience and boost him back into stardom. When he discovers that what he’s paid for with the Mystery Box is much more dangerous than expected, he realizes that the loss of his internet fame may not really be the worst thing that could happen after all.
I love ‘dark web’ type stories, and this one did not disappoint! The play formatting allows the reader to see the scene exactly as the author intended, while also leaving enough freedom for a few specifics to be made up individually by each person visiting the story. I found the format to be both accessible and engaging, which added to a story that’s already very rich with a foreboding atmosphere and sense of dread, bumping this one high on the ratings scale for me.
Featuring a couple struggling with real-life personal issues as well as more paranormal ones added a layer of depth that can only come from someone skilled at writing relationships, and I found myself able to relate with and feel for the characters and their troubles while also being totally horrified by the things happening around them. This duality of themes flows smoothly throughout the story, and it’s amazing how much the author is able to pack into less than 70 pages.
I am SO HERE for anything Briana writes in the future, and can’t wait to see where her creativity leads her next. If you’re a fan of horror, check this one out – even if (especially if?!) you’re not used to the play format, ’cause this is such a great introduction to them!
October 24, 2020
Unboxed
Briana Morgan
⭐⭐⭐⭐
After a domestic fight is uploaded accidentally, subscribers start to abandon ship. Greg does the only thing he can think of to repair this hole. He gets on the dark web and orders an anonymous box of unknown. He will open the box live and everyone will see how edgy he is.
But when the box arrives he has to make a choice he never thought he would.
Written as a play, Unboxed brings fast paced action to readers. This will be beautiful done as a drama, but as solely reading material, it leaves a lot to dialogue. For me, that is difficult to get emotionally invested in. Characters are clear and balanced, but they require actors for the nuances necessary for true development. For this reason, I rated 3.5 stars rounded up. I feel that Briana has a great idea, its wonderfully written, but now I can only think of someone bringing this fully to life. I will definitely be reading Briana's other works.
October 27, 2020
I have watched plays on the stage and the big screen. I have read plays. I have even performed in and had a hand in play writing (many moons ago) so to say plays have played a large role in my life is a fair statement. I adore them on many levels- listening to them, this was a first for me.
There is an opening act followed by a character and setting track. Once you get through those short intros, the story is broken down into 2 Acts, each with 6 scenes.
The repetition of listening to a play is hearing the name of the character each time there is a shift in dialogue. I expected an explanation of setting based on my experience with plays, so I feel if you can some how drown out the repetition the story becomes palatable in audio form.
The story itself is a modern setting. Greg Zipper and his Girlfriend Alice and their dog Rocko find themselves moving into a new house which becomes the stage for the novella as well as the scene for the vlog space Greg runs a paranormal Podcast Platform. His ultimate goal is to reach 1M subscribers and becomes an obsession of sorts. In this quest he looks for a way to push him to that next level and purchases a Mystery Box off the dark web to unbox for his viewers. The story evolves and revolves around the mysteries this box hold and the havoc it wreaks.
The concept is cool. The execution is solid through to its end. It will definitely have you sucked in and engaged. The narrator (Jeremy Reid) is fluid and entertaining, but again he's reading a play so prepare for literal reading and repetition. I just wasn't sold on the ending. In the world of theater this may work as a playlet or a skit but for me the ending was lacking a bit.
This will definitely provide you with some haunting believable scenes and leave you with an author you'll want to place on your radar.
Total listen time 1hr 36min.
Thank you to the author for providing an audible copy in exchange for my honest review.
There is an opening act followed by a character and setting track. Once you get through those short intros, the story is broken down into 2 Acts, each with 6 scenes.
The repetition of listening to a play is hearing the name of the character each time there is a shift in dialogue. I expected an explanation of setting based on my experience with plays, so I feel if you can some how drown out the repetition the story becomes palatable in audio form.
The story itself is a modern setting. Greg Zipper and his Girlfriend Alice and their dog Rocko find themselves moving into a new house which becomes the stage for the novella as well as the scene for the vlog space Greg runs a paranormal Podcast Platform. His ultimate goal is to reach 1M subscribers and becomes an obsession of sorts. In this quest he looks for a way to push him to that next level and purchases a Mystery Box off the dark web to unbox for his viewers. The story evolves and revolves around the mysteries this box hold and the havoc it wreaks.
The concept is cool. The execution is solid through to its end. It will definitely have you sucked in and engaged. The narrator (Jeremy Reid) is fluid and entertaining, but again he's reading a play so prepare for literal reading and repetition. I just wasn't sold on the ending. In the world of theater this may work as a playlet or a skit but for me the ending was lacking a bit.
This will definitely provide you with some haunting believable scenes and leave you with an author you'll want to place on your radar.
Total listen time 1hr 36min.
Thank you to the author for providing an audible copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 5, 2020
Unboxed takes a very original approach to how it's presented, or maybe I just haven't seen it done before, but I really enjoyed the formatting of the book. It's set out as a screenplay and we are basically reading the script, watching the stage act play out in front of us and I found it really enjoyable.
and Can we just talk about THAT scene for a minute? You know the scene I am talking about. It was genuinely super fucking creepy and had me almost shitting my pants. Huge props for that. It's very rare that a book gives me the creeps anymore. Overall I enjoyed Unboxed but the dialogue (some of it fairly repetitive) and a few plot holes stopped it from being really good/ more memorable. I will definitely be reading all other books that Briana releases in the future and look forward to seeing what she can do.
and Can we just talk about THAT scene for a minute? You know the scene I am talking about. It was genuinely super fucking creepy and had me almost shitting my pants. Huge props for that. It's very rare that a book gives me the creeps anymore. Overall I enjoyed Unboxed but the dialogue (some of it fairly repetitive) and a few plot holes stopped it from being really good/ more memorable. I will definitely be reading all other books that Briana releases in the future and look forward to seeing what she can do.
April 15, 2022
This was such a hollow and disappointing reading experience. The characters were unremarkable and the main character was the worst in every single way and honestly he didn’t deserve the ending he got. The ending was also the definition of lackluster, there was build up and then literal flatline. Also; I’m sorry but unnecessary animal death is such a bad trope, I almost stopped reading right there. This was a cool premise which is why I finished it but the execution had a lot to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2025
well, this was a tad disappointing lol. i probably should’ve listened to the low reviews on goodreads. for a horror short story, this wasn’t at all scary or anything whatsoever.
the characters were mid. i did find alice annoying sometimes, i get why she was complaining but it soon got old.
i didn’t mind the writing style but sometimes it was repetitive and took me out of the story because of it. i did absolutely love how short the chapters were though!
the plot was my biggest issue. it was supposed to be about an entity that came with dark web box but this was the least interesting supernatural book i’ve ever read in my life. i wouldn’t call it horror at all. i wasn’t scared nor unsettled and there was no climax in the story either. it ended so abruptly. i wasn’t a huge fan overall, so you won’t see me recommending this lol.
the characters were mid. i did find alice annoying sometimes, i get why she was complaining but it soon got old.
i didn’t mind the writing style but sometimes it was repetitive and took me out of the story because of it. i did absolutely love how short the chapters were though!
the plot was my biggest issue. it was supposed to be about an entity that came with dark web box but this was the least interesting supernatural book i’ve ever read in my life. i wouldn’t call it horror at all. i wasn’t scared nor unsettled and there was no climax in the story either. it ended so abruptly. i wasn’t a huge fan overall, so you won’t see me recommending this lol.
November 23, 2024
Why does nobody ever learn from the cautionary horror stories about the dark web? It exists and just that fact alone terrifies me. The things you can access, see and experience should deter anyone but alas humans are fucking dumb.
Greg is almost at a million subscribers on his channel specialising on paranormal investigations and abandoned buildings. Nothing matters to him as much as getting to that one million mark. Nothing.
He decides to purchase a mystery box from the dark web. Little does he know that it will unleash an entity that wishes to teach him a lesson.
Greg is almost at a million subscribers on his channel specialising on paranormal investigations and abandoned buildings. Nothing matters to him as much as getting to that one million mark. Nothing.
He decides to purchase a mystery box from the dark web. Little does he know that it will unleash an entity that wishes to teach him a lesson.
June 18, 2022
I’ve been super excited about reading this book. I love horror around technology. Getting a mystery box off the dark web is even better. The play format made it easy to jump right in and get to the action. A great, fast read.
August 15, 2020
I’ve got a confession to make. I’ve never read a play before. You might ask yourself how is that possible, some of them are basically required reading in highschool, to you I would ask, do I look like someone who did ANYTHING they were supposed to in highschool? Do I look like I even showed up? So, like I said, Unboxed is my first and thanks to the skill at which author Briana Morgan pulled this off, I don’t believe it’s going to be my last.
First off, I really appreciate the setup. I like the descriptions of what the setup of the scene should look like, and how it describes the characters. So, how is the writing? It’s great. Morgan did an excellent job in a short amount of space to make you feel like you know Greg and Alice. The dialogue, which is an area I find many times to be lacking in books, felt completely real here. The back and forth between Greg and Alice was on point and it all helped to build the picture of the “Arc” of Greg Zipper and his girlfriend Alice. Morgan achieves better character and world building in a 68 page play than many authors do in 300 page novels.
So, how is the story? Glad you asked. That too, I found to be a lot of fun. It felt like a creepy pasta, or a campfire tale to me. Something you might have enjoyed on are you afraid of the dark, but a bit more adult. I mean that in the most absolutely positive way. I really don’t want to go anything into the story as this is a brisk read, but I will say that Morgan absolutely pulled off what she was attempting to do.
Initially, I was skeptical of reading a play from an author I wasn’t familiar with at the time. I’m glad I did, and I’m glad that Briana Morgan proved my skepticism to be unwarranted. In fact, I enjoyed this read so much I immediately backed her Kickstarter for her next project, and would gladly pick up anything else she writes.
First off, I really appreciate the setup. I like the descriptions of what the setup of the scene should look like, and how it describes the characters. So, how is the writing? It’s great. Morgan did an excellent job in a short amount of space to make you feel like you know Greg and Alice. The dialogue, which is an area I find many times to be lacking in books, felt completely real here. The back and forth between Greg and Alice was on point and it all helped to build the picture of the “Arc” of Greg Zipper and his girlfriend Alice. Morgan achieves better character and world building in a 68 page play than many authors do in 300 page novels.
So, how is the story? Glad you asked. That too, I found to be a lot of fun. It felt like a creepy pasta, or a campfire tale to me. Something you might have enjoyed on are you afraid of the dark, but a bit more adult. I mean that in the most absolutely positive way. I really don’t want to go anything into the story as this is a brisk read, but I will say that Morgan absolutely pulled off what she was attempting to do.
Initially, I was skeptical of reading a play from an author I wasn’t familiar with at the time. I’m glad I did, and I’m glad that Briana Morgan proved my skepticism to be unwarranted. In fact, I enjoyed this read so much I immediately backed her Kickstarter for her next project, and would gladly pick up anything else she writes.
July 22, 2020
Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
note: the book is formatted as a play.
Wow. I fell in love with Briana Morgan's work after reading her kick-ass witchy YA Livingston Girls earlier this year. When I found out about this play, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I've always loved theatre, and reading scripts can be a different type of magic.
Unboxed is creepy, entertaining, dark, and kept me turning the pages until I was finished the entire story in one-sitting. I refused to get off the couch until I knew how everything ended. The atmosphere of this play alone is worth 5 stars in itself.
I really loved the plot. Paranormal vlogger unboxing a box from the dark web? YES PLEASE. I haven't read anything like that before, and I think seeing this live in a play would be absolutely chilling. I would also read this as a full-length book, mainly because I loved this story so much and would devour 300+ pages easily.
If you're a fan of thrillers, horror and suspense or the movie Paranormal Acitivity, I highly suggest picking it up for a quick read that will become a staple for spooky season!
note: the book is formatted as a play.
Wow. I fell in love with Briana Morgan's work after reading her kick-ass witchy YA Livingston Girls earlier this year. When I found out about this play, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I've always loved theatre, and reading scripts can be a different type of magic.
Unboxed is creepy, entertaining, dark, and kept me turning the pages until I was finished the entire story in one-sitting. I refused to get off the couch until I knew how everything ended. The atmosphere of this play alone is worth 5 stars in itself.
I really loved the plot. Paranormal vlogger unboxing a box from the dark web? YES PLEASE. I haven't read anything like that before, and I think seeing this live in a play would be absolutely chilling. I would also read this as a full-length book, mainly because I loved this story so much and would devour 300+ pages easily.
If you're a fan of thrillers, horror and suspense or the movie Paranormal Acitivity, I highly suggest picking it up for a quick read that will become a staple for spooky season!
April 12, 2022
Don’t waste your time.
September 27, 2024
Interesting plot, and I was excited to read a play that was horror-centric, but I don't think this was truly executed how I was expecting.
⚠️ Trigger warning: Animal death discussion
⚠️ Trigger warning: Animal death discussion
November 1, 2022
3 1/2 stars.
I really enjoyed the play format for this story but it all felt a bit rushed.
I really enjoyed the play format for this story but it all felt a bit rushed.
October 29, 2024
Greg lever på sociala medier - live streaming och vloggar är hans främsta inkomstkälla. Han är nära att nå målet en miljon prenumeranter när något går snett. Han råkar livesända ett bråk med sin flickvän och fansen rasar. För att försöka vinna tillbaka deras förtroende och återigen närma sig det gyllene numret en miljon beställer han en "dark web mystery box" för att packa upp den live på sin kanal. Vad han inte räknat med är att det som kommer i boxen kanske inte endast är fysiska föremål: och att den som skickat lådan kanske har en baktanke med det.
Oooooh! Vi har något här! Unboxed är skriven som en pjäs - spännande! Scenerna presenteras och karaktärerna har sina roller. Vi vet redan från första sidan vilka som kommer att göra entré - men inte när. Historien kan liknas vid "En hjärtformad ask" av Joe Hill - något hemsökt som klickas hem från internet och visar sig vara så mycket värre än man någonsin kunnat hoppas.
Boken är dock typ 200 sidor för kort? Varför går allt så fort? Jag vill ha mer! Mer spökerier, mer upptrappning, fler incidenter och längre upplösning. Det kan omöjligt bli full pott för berättelsen hinner aldrig befästas eller skrämmas ordentligt - det rusar helt enkelt förbi i för hög hastighet. Ändå föräras den med fyra mystiska lådor av fem möjliga. Synd att jag inte kunde få ge den fem.
Oooooh! Vi har något här! Unboxed är skriven som en pjäs - spännande! Scenerna presenteras och karaktärerna har sina roller. Vi vet redan från första sidan vilka som kommer att göra entré - men inte när. Historien kan liknas vid "En hjärtformad ask" av Joe Hill - något hemsökt som klickas hem från internet och visar sig vara så mycket värre än man någonsin kunnat hoppas.
Boken är dock typ 200 sidor för kort? Varför går allt så fort? Jag vill ha mer! Mer spökerier, mer upptrappning, fler incidenter och längre upplösning. Det kan omöjligt bli full pott för berättelsen hinner aldrig befästas eller skrämmas ordentligt - det rusar helt enkelt förbi i för hög hastighet. Ändå föräras den med fyra mystiska lådor av fem möjliga. Synd att jag inte kunde få ge den fem.
January 17, 2022
I have read a few books in play format. They are unique and can add an element to a story. I was drawn to this book first by the book cover and second by the concept of the story. I got both the audio and ebook versions of this book. Which I started out with the audio version.
When I got to the halfway point of the audio book, I realized that I could not remember a thing that had happened. Therefore, I read the ebook as I thought maybe it was the narrator that might have been the issue. No, it was not the narrator.
Both Alice and Greg were not very likable. Greg more than Alice. The events that transpired after Greg opened the mystery box were not goosebump worthy to me. In fact, I found myself at times re-reading passages as I was like that is it. Overall, I liked the concept and the play format but not very scary to me.
When I got to the halfway point of the audio book, I realized that I could not remember a thing that had happened. Therefore, I read the ebook as I thought maybe it was the narrator that might have been the issue. No, it was not the narrator.
Both Alice and Greg were not very likable. Greg more than Alice. The events that transpired after Greg opened the mystery box were not goosebump worthy to me. In fact, I found myself at times re-reading passages as I was like that is it. Overall, I liked the concept and the play format but not very scary to me.
July 27, 2020
The new play from Briana Morgan is a fast paced, edge of the seat supernatural thriller that I couldn't put down. Much like her last play, Touch - a one act play, I read it in one sitting. As the play starts we are presented with Gred Zipper, a paranormal vlogger who is immediately unlikeable, but as the play progresses, we get a glimpse into Greg's past, and what he really wants from his future. There are some really great creepy moments in this play with a masterful build in tension.
I could easily see this play being expanded on and being turned into a James Wan style film. (Coincidentally, James Wan is actually talked about in the play). Briana Morgan has quickly become an author that I am excited to read and I have a few more of her books ready to go!
I could easily see this play being expanded on and being turned into a James Wan style film. (Coincidentally, James Wan is actually talked about in the play). Briana Morgan has quickly become an author that I am excited to read and I have a few more of her books ready to go!
Read
February 6, 20213.5
I read this for women in horror month and had a lot of fun with it! I went into it not knowing it was a play. This fast-paced story follows a paranormal vlogger who buys a mystery box off the dark web and does an unboxing that has disastrous consequences. As a play, I thought the dialogue did a great job of being realistic and giving us a sense of the characters and bringing a cinematic quality to it. Would definitely pick up more by Briana Morgan
I read this for women in horror month and had a lot of fun with it! I went into it not knowing it was a play. This fast-paced story follows a paranormal vlogger who buys a mystery box off the dark web and does an unboxing that has disastrous consequences. As a play, I thought the dialogue did a great job of being realistic and giving us a sense of the characters and bringing a cinematic quality to it. Would definitely pick up more by Briana Morgan
February 26, 2024
the main character was sympathetic to Logan Paul, that should have told me all that I needed to know
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