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Down World
As the site of a former military base, there have always been rumors that East Township High School was the site of experiments with space and time. For years, students have whispered in the hallways of a doorway created within the school, one that can access multiple timelines and realities, a place known as the Down World.
As the new kid in school and still reeling from the unexplained death of her brother Robbie, Marina O'Connell is only interested in one thing: leaving the past behind. But a chance encounter with handsome Brady Picelli changes everything. He will lead Marina to a startling discovery. The Down World is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance.
Brady is determined to help Marina discover what really happened to her brother. However, what is taken from one world, must be repaid by another. And Marina is about to discover that even a realm of infinite possibilities has rules that must be obeyed.
As the new kid in school and still reeling from the unexplained death of her brother Robbie, Marina O'Connell is only interested in one thing: leaving the past behind. But a chance encounter with handsome Brady Picelli changes everything. He will lead Marina to a startling discovery. The Down World is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance.
Brady is determined to help Marina discover what really happened to her brother. However, what is taken from one world, must be repaid by another. And Marina is about to discover that even a realm of infinite possibilities has rules that must be obeyed.
376 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2021
48 people are currently reading
4618 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
November 17, 2025
It's been four years but Marina O'Connell is still grieving the loss of her older brother.
Her new high school (East Township High) is on the grounds of an old military base and it hurts just a little every time she does something that her brother should have been by her side for.
While she may be "the new kid", she isn't blind. There's graffiti all over the school about the "DW" or the "Down World" and...she doesn't know what is up with it but it is weird.
Brady - the cute guy at her school - decides to help her out and brings her to the boiler room of the school.
There's three doors.
One labeled Yesterday. One labeled Today. One labeled Tomorrow.
She opens all three.
Yesterday and Tomorrow are bricked over...but Today?
Today opens a door into another world and her brother is in it.
Whewwwww! This was a weird one but a good one.
The characters well well-fleshed-out and interesting. I really liked Marina and the side characters held their ground.
The development worked really well in this book - it really felt like the characters grew from where they started.
The plot overshadowed all else and there were a few times that my heart was racing. There were areas that were confusing to me but the book rounded it out well.
The ending fit really well for the story.
With thanks to Netgalley for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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June 30, 2021
A portal to a parallel universe!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛
Heat/Steam: N/A
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤
The setting: East Township High
The heroine: Marina O’Connell - her brother Robbie died when he was 14 and she was 12 years old. He was hit by a train. Their mother has been depressed ever since and blames Kieren who was Robbie’s best friend. He was also Marina’s friend until Robbie and Kieren got too old to hang out with his younger sister.
The Hero(s): Brady - Senior at East Township High, his girlfriend disappeared after leaving on a train. It had something to do with DW.
Kieren Senior at East Township and Robbie’s best friend. Robbie and Marina’s mother blames him for pushing Robbie in front of the train. Kieren wants forgiveness from Marina and maybe something else.
The Love Story: Marina meets Brady Picelli on her first day at East Township High. She develops a crush on him. Days later she sees some strange things and is led to a place in the basement of the school which leads to an alternate reality. Eventually Brady and Kieren begin helping her find out what really happened to Robbie.
This is a very weird story. It is tragic and crazy and all kinds of creepy. Though I don’t really want to give anything about the plot away. I went into this after only reading the blurb, so I want others to have the same experience. The blurb says it is stranger things meets the Netflix series Dark. I haven’t seen Dark but I have seen stranger things and it is similar in that they both kind of deal with an alternate reality.
Down world seems like a traditional alternate reality (where it is the same people as on earth, but possibly their path through life might be different based on choices or timing, or all the minute little things that can happen). Either way it differs from the alternate reality in Stranger Things which is like a world where alien beings exist. Though I can see why they are compared. It seems closer to the 90’s TV show Sliders in many ways though.
This was certainly interesting and would make for an awesome movie! It isn’t just that these people can go into an alternate reality but there are rules and mysteries and a dilemma to figure out. So there is plenty going on that needs to be resolved. I was definitely fascinated throughout the story. It got very involved and complex but never boring!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛
Heat/Steam: N/A
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤
The setting: East Township High
The heroine: Marina O’Connell - her brother Robbie died when he was 14 and she was 12 years old. He was hit by a train. Their mother has been depressed ever since and blames Kieren who was Robbie’s best friend. He was also Marina’s friend until Robbie and Kieren got too old to hang out with his younger sister.
The Hero(s): Brady - Senior at East Township High, his girlfriend disappeared after leaving on a train. It had something to do with DW.
Kieren Senior at East Township and Robbie’s best friend. Robbie and Marina’s mother blames him for pushing Robbie in front of the train. Kieren wants forgiveness from Marina and maybe something else.
The Love Story: Marina meets Brady Picelli on her first day at East Township High. She develops a crush on him. Days later she sees some strange things and is led to a place in the basement of the school which leads to an alternate reality. Eventually Brady and Kieren begin helping her find out what really happened to Robbie.
This is a very weird story. It is tragic and crazy and all kinds of creepy. Though I don’t really want to give anything about the plot away. I went into this after only reading the blurb, so I want others to have the same experience. The blurb says it is stranger things meets the Netflix series Dark. I haven’t seen Dark but I have seen stranger things and it is similar in that they both kind of deal with an alternate reality.
Down world seems like a traditional alternate reality (where it is the same people as on earth, but possibly their path through life might be different based on choices or timing, or all the minute little things that can happen). Either way it differs from the alternate reality in Stranger Things which is like a world where alien beings exist. Though I can see why they are compared. It seems closer to the 90’s TV show Sliders in many ways though.
This was certainly interesting and would make for an awesome movie! It isn’t just that these people can go into an alternate reality but there are rules and mysteries and a dilemma to figure out. So there is plenty going on that needs to be resolved. I was definitely fascinated throughout the story. It got very involved and complex but never boring!
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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Want to read
August 19, 2021You comp a book to Stranger Things and you know I am going to read it! Plus, this cover? Yes, please!
Thank you so much, Wattpad Books, for the ARC copy. I am looking forward to this one!
Thank you so much, Wattpad Books, for the ARC copy. I am looking forward to this one!
November 12, 2020
I received an ARC ebook copy for review, my rating and review honest, unbiased, etc.,
My very first NetGalley review! 😎
Down World is the debut novel by Rebecca Phelps.
It can be described as a YA coming-of-age science-fiction thriller in the vein of Netflix series Dark with a few elements reminiscent of Stranger Things.
I enjoyed Down World from beginning to end and though it had a few moments that felt exactly like what it is - a debut novel - I've decided on a 4.
I like the characters, the setting and the mystery this first book set up, and want to read the rest of the series (-- which should say a lot because I have so many books to read already!).
Down World centers on Marina O'Connell, the new kid in town. Her new high school a former military base with rumors of experiments with space and time.
3 Doors:
Door 1: Yesterday
Door 2: Today
Door 3: Tomorrow
Door 4: The Bathroom (naw just kidding!, but maybe!? :)
So, Marina and a couple guys she might like and a gal or two and a few adult peers get caught up in a time-travel version of the chicken and the egg story with a focused narrative on plot threads and teen romance.
I like Marina and her friends. They were all just likeable and frustrating enough to really believe they are teens. Their motivations, understandings and experiences age-appropriate.
This is not a straight Horror novel. It has a dark tone and though the science-fiction aspects are pretty frightening it reads more like a paranormal YA mystery-thriller in tone than Horror or Sci-fi.
Rebecca Phelps is a writer to watch. Her passion for her characters and for telling her story are her driving strengths here. I think her storytelling future looks even more promising.
Thanks NetGalley and Rebecca Phelps for the ARC. I look forward to obtaining the paperback edition when I can. The official release date is March 30, 2021.
Should go without saying, Recommended to fans of the Dark television series as well as the more YA-audience side of Stranger Things fans of teens and adults!
My very first NetGalley review! 😎
Down World is the debut novel by Rebecca Phelps.
It can be described as a YA coming-of-age science-fiction thriller in the vein of Netflix series Dark with a few elements reminiscent of Stranger Things.
I enjoyed Down World from beginning to end and though it had a few moments that felt exactly like what it is - a debut novel - I've decided on a 4.
I like the characters, the setting and the mystery this first book set up, and want to read the rest of the series (-- which should say a lot because I have so many books to read already!).
Down World centers on Marina O'Connell, the new kid in town. Her new high school a former military base with rumors of experiments with space and time.
3 Doors:
Door 1: Yesterday
Door 2: Today
Door 3: Tomorrow
Door 4: The Bathroom (naw just kidding!, but maybe!? :)
So, Marina and a couple guys she might like and a gal or two and a few adult peers get caught up in a time-travel version of the chicken and the egg story with a focused narrative on plot threads and teen romance.
I like Marina and her friends. They were all just likeable and frustrating enough to really believe they are teens. Their motivations, understandings and experiences age-appropriate.
This is not a straight Horror novel. It has a dark tone and though the science-fiction aspects are pretty frightening it reads more like a paranormal YA mystery-thriller in tone than Horror or Sci-fi.
Rebecca Phelps is a writer to watch. Her passion for her characters and for telling her story are her driving strengths here. I think her storytelling future looks even more promising.
Thanks NetGalley and Rebecca Phelps for the ARC. I look forward to obtaining the paperback edition when I can. The official release date is March 30, 2021.
Should go without saying, Recommended to fans of the Dark television series as well as the more YA-audience side of Stranger Things fans of teens and adults!
December 30, 2020
Down World is a highly engaging thriller with a dynamic cast of High Schoolers on the edge of discovering a long-kept secret by local officials and those who already knew!
Marina is changing schools. No longer is the tuition for the private school affordable and her parents are sending her to Town Ship High. Leaving behind her friends, she runs into kids she has not seen in years since her elementary years and the fateful accident of her brother Robbie.
Town Ship High was once a military facility to house scientific developments years ago and Brady is the first she runs into on her first day at school and also the one who will open new realms of a secret world to her. With a glimmer of hope of making new friends, she does not expect what is to come.
There have been rumors about a doorway in the school that would lead to multiple timelines to a place called Down World. When Marina’s mother disappears, she discovers that there is a possibility to find her brother in a different timeline, so she lies to her father to follow rumors of a mystical hotel that should give her the answers she seeks and perhaps solve the disappearance of her mother as well. What she can’t imagine is that more portals to these parallel worlds have been opened and before she knows it, she’s on the path that descends deeply into other timelines.
But everything has its price and certain rules must be obeyed or like a ripple effect, her actions will change the past, present, and future.
*
This is a fast-paced, high-interest ride for those with a knack for the paranormal. The school setting and cult-like discoveries imbue the feel of recent shows made with an 80’s vibe. Not a minute to rest, there is action around most corners in this novel fueled with mystery and a dash of angst and heart.
I loved the concept of the old military abandoned building used in a school setting and though the premise isn’t new perhaps, this novel drew from many different aspects of paranormal stances and combined them into one very readable nugget perfect for teen / young adult readers.
When looking for the next read for those reluctant readers or you enjoy rebel characters and a bit of that metaphysical, give this a try.
For fast reading, a definite recommend.
I received a digital copy of this novel for review from Netgalley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. All opinions are my own.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Marina is changing schools. No longer is the tuition for the private school affordable and her parents are sending her to Town Ship High. Leaving behind her friends, she runs into kids she has not seen in years since her elementary years and the fateful accident of her brother Robbie.
Town Ship High was once a military facility to house scientific developments years ago and Brady is the first she runs into on her first day at school and also the one who will open new realms of a secret world to her. With a glimmer of hope of making new friends, she does not expect what is to come.
There have been rumors about a doorway in the school that would lead to multiple timelines to a place called Down World. When Marina’s mother disappears, she discovers that there is a possibility to find her brother in a different timeline, so she lies to her father to follow rumors of a mystical hotel that should give her the answers she seeks and perhaps solve the disappearance of her mother as well. What she can’t imagine is that more portals to these parallel worlds have been opened and before she knows it, she’s on the path that descends deeply into other timelines.
But everything has its price and certain rules must be obeyed or like a ripple effect, her actions will change the past, present, and future.
*
This is a fast-paced, high-interest ride for those with a knack for the paranormal. The school setting and cult-like discoveries imbue the feel of recent shows made with an 80’s vibe. Not a minute to rest, there is action around most corners in this novel fueled with mystery and a dash of angst and heart.
I loved the concept of the old military abandoned building used in a school setting and though the premise isn’t new perhaps, this novel drew from many different aspects of paranormal stances and combined them into one very readable nugget perfect for teen / young adult readers.
When looking for the next read for those reluctant readers or you enjoy rebel characters and a bit of that metaphysical, give this a try.
For fast reading, a definite recommend.
I received a digital copy of this novel for review from Netgalley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. All opinions are my own.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
August 14, 2020
I rarely read sci-fi (and almost never watch it) but I was too tempted by the summary to let this one go. It had elements of Stranger Things and Coraline and more traditional YA contemporary, all of which are good things. Reading Down World reminded of what it felt like picking up Delirium for the first time as a teen and being completely sucked into the world it created. My heart was literally racing at certain points reading it and I emotionally responded to the characters in an entirely organic way, my feelings happening before I could remind myself that it was just a book.
I loved this. Maybe it's because I don't usually read sci-fi, maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a book that I felt like I lived in every time I picked it up, maybe it's because this is just a really good novel. I'm not really sure, but I stand by it being one of my favorite reads of 2020 so far.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Smith Publicity for the eARC! (I'm about to put in my pre-order now so I can have this on my bookshelf.)
I loved this. Maybe it's because I don't usually read sci-fi, maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a book that I felt like I lived in every time I picked it up, maybe it's because this is just a really good novel. I'm not really sure, but I stand by it being one of my favorite reads of 2020 so far.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Smith Publicity for the eARC! (I'm about to put in my pre-order now so I can have this on my bookshelf.)
April 8, 2021
*Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC for review*
I REALLY wanted to love this. The premise was fantastic and really reminded me of a YA Dark Matter, but sadly it kind of fell flat.
The first half was really weak and I almost DNFed the book. We follow Marina, and literally in the first 5 pages she is " in love" with a guy she just met. The first part of this book is SO choppy and jumpy and I honestly didn't connect with any characters. We span almost a year I think in the course of a few pages and we are supposed to relate to Marina and care about her weird love triangle but I just didn't.
The 2nd half was better, but it was still a bit convoluted and left too many questions unanswered. The science of it all didn't fully make sense to me, but that could be because I am not a science minded person so I give that a pass.
I did appreciate the ending, even though the resolution seemed a bit too simple and some of the conflict didn't feel developed enough.
All in all, this is a good story that was fast paced and had so much potential. It just felt like a rough draft to me though
I REALLY wanted to love this. The premise was fantastic and really reminded me of a YA Dark Matter, but sadly it kind of fell flat.
The first half was really weak and I almost DNFed the book. We follow Marina, and literally in the first 5 pages she is " in love" with a guy she just met. The first part of this book is SO choppy and jumpy and I honestly didn't connect with any characters. We span almost a year I think in the course of a few pages and we are supposed to relate to Marina and care about her weird love triangle but I just didn't.
The 2nd half was better, but it was still a bit convoluted and left too many questions unanswered. The science of it all didn't fully make sense to me, but that could be because I am not a science minded person so I give that a pass.
I did appreciate the ending, even though the resolution seemed a bit too simple and some of the conflict didn't feel developed enough.
All in all, this is a good story that was fast paced and had so much potential. It just felt like a rough draft to me though
Want to read
February 6, 2021This is being compared to the Netflix series Dark??! I NEED IT.
September 30, 2024
First of all, this wasn't scary at all so I wouldn't tag it as horror. Second of all, when I saw the publisher was "Wattpad Books" I was not surprised... Honestly, this book is all over the place.
Things just happen for no reason, characters seem to know exactly what's going on without any investigation/ clue whatsoever, the plot moves at a weird pace, and I felt like the ending was rushed. There were some loose ends.
I absolutely loved the premise when I first read it, but the execution was disappointing. I can't believe I'm gonna say it, but it has too many plot twists. The book is filled with just those, and you don't get much time to get to know the character or at least time to think about the last plot twist. In one chapter you learn one thing, in the next one, it's completely twisted upside down and doesn't make sense anymore. Basically, whatever you read you can't trust because it can just get canceled in the next few minutes.
Things just happen for no reason, characters seem to know exactly what's going on without any investigation/ clue whatsoever, the plot moves at a weird pace, and I felt like the ending was rushed. There were some loose ends.
I absolutely loved the premise when I first read it, but the execution was disappointing. I can't believe I'm gonna say it, but it has too many plot twists. The book is filled with just those, and you don't get much time to get to know the character or at least time to think about the last plot twist. In one chapter you learn one thing, in the next one, it's completely twisted upside down and doesn't make sense anymore. Basically, whatever you read you can't trust because it can just get canceled in the next few minutes.
August 6, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Down World in exchange for an honest review.
Down World is so cool in concept, but in execution, it's too underdeveloped. The world here is complex and mind bending but instead of letting us revel in it, we're quickly thrown from plot point to plot point. We learn our protagonist's brother is 'dead'. She starts high school, thinking about how he should be there with her and potential to examine her relationship with him is quickly side tracked to introduce a love interest. We find out something mysterious. We learn about that mystery via exposition the next chapter.
Down World never quite trusts itself enough to let the reader revel in its plot, world, or characters and it really is a shame, because there's just so much potential here.
Down World is so cool in concept, but in execution, it's too underdeveloped. The world here is complex and mind bending but instead of letting us revel in it, we're quickly thrown from plot point to plot point. We learn our protagonist's brother is 'dead'. She starts high school, thinking about how he should be there with her and potential to examine her relationship with him is quickly side tracked to introduce a love interest. We find out something mysterious. We learn about that mystery via exposition the next chapter.
Down World never quite trusts itself enough to let the reader revel in its plot, world, or characters and it really is a shame, because there's just so much potential here.
December 8, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Just no.
Down World is a novel that wants to be an interesting, convoluted story full of twists and turns. But by wanting to be that, the novel forgot that you need some growth, otherwise the twists and turns just end up being a rollercoaster that just deposits you where you started from.
In Down World we follow a teenage girl called Marina who is just returning to her local school after spending some time at a private school after her brother died. On her first day at school, she meets a handsome young boy. She is also faced with the memories of her life from before everything changed. We also see that her family has been suffering in the years since the accident.
One day while at school she sort of sees something and then ends up investigating the things, e voilà she is told that there is a portal to another world on the school grounds. And somehow all of this is connected to her brother.
What follows is a twist after a twist, followed by a turn, and then a loophole, and then “we’re not really here” moments and there’s even a “he’s not his son!” revelation… Just no. This book has entirely too many things happen in the span of fewer than 370 pages! The author needed a clear plan and she just needed to stick to it.
In the description it says it’s for the fans of Stranger Things and Dark. As I haven’t watched Stranger Things, I can’t speak for them, but as a MASSIVE fan of Dark, I gotta say no, this is not for us. The reason why we LOVED Dark was not the fact that the story was convoluted, but that the convoluted story had a plan, a point, a clear direction, and was done in a very smart way. If you want something like Dark, just go on Netflix and watch the original once more.
Now, I don’t want to go into spoilers, but I need to rant a little bit here.
1) Her brother supposedly died after running in front of a train. They buried an empty coffin because “there was nothing left to bury.” How freakin’ fast are those trains going for the impact to be strong enough to vaporize a body?
2) Marina thinking things like these: “This was the moment I had been waiting for, and I didn’t know if I was strong enough to hear it.” Trust me, you’re 16 or 17, you’re not strong enough, it’s just that your author doesn’t really realize that and has superimposed her own age onto you. Do you honestly know any 16-year-olds who think that? Or behave like this one? I don’t and I spend my time surrounded by teenagers as I teach in a high school.
3) Marina has been planning a trip to Oregon for weeks now, setting up a fake story for her dad, setting up her assistant… but she never considered the fact that she would need to sleep somewhere or that she would need to find the people she was going to visit. Can you say, “dumb teenager much?”
4) At one point Marina’s mum has disappeared, her father is in “detention” because his wife is gone and his daughter was missing, a strange military installation has miraculously replaced the school but she’s “happy” because she’s lying next to a boy who is kissing her? Really? Priorities! Also, 10 pages before and 10 pages after she is making googly eyes at another boy.
5) Piper decides she will tell Marina what happened, but of course she has to do it “ab ovo” starting with the accident that claimed the lives of her parents, even though Marina, her brother and us all know the story. Just get to the point.
6) Every single woman is gorgeous, beautiful, moveiw star beautiful,..... we get it.
7) Random flashbacks! Especially the 4page one involving Marina, Robbie and her father visiting the mine as tourists. No!
8) Random statements: “skeletal eyes,” “Robbie saw our hands holding and he turned away.” HOLDING WHAT?
9) SHE. POKES. THE. GUARD. IN. THE. EYES!
10) “it’s a natural process with radioactive material. The nuclei are unstable. Proteins escaping and being repelled.” he says while looking at a beaker of pink glowy liquid. The fuck is this guy on about?
So, all in all, it’s a no from me I’m sad to say. I wanted to like this book, after all the blurb promised smart intrigue and parallel worlds, but it seems that this year when it comes to that I’m 0 for 2. Better luck with next book.
Just no.
Down World is a novel that wants to be an interesting, convoluted story full of twists and turns. But by wanting to be that, the novel forgot that you need some growth, otherwise the twists and turns just end up being a rollercoaster that just deposits you where you started from.
In Down World we follow a teenage girl called Marina who is just returning to her local school after spending some time at a private school after her brother died. On her first day at school, she meets a handsome young boy. She is also faced with the memories of her life from before everything changed. We also see that her family has been suffering in the years since the accident.
One day while at school she sort of sees something and then ends up investigating the things, e voilà she is told that there is a portal to another world on the school grounds. And somehow all of this is connected to her brother.
What follows is a twist after a twist, followed by a turn, and then a loophole, and then “we’re not really here” moments and there’s even a “he’s not his son!” revelation… Just no. This book has entirely too many things happen in the span of fewer than 370 pages! The author needed a clear plan and she just needed to stick to it.
In the description it says it’s for the fans of Stranger Things and Dark. As I haven’t watched Stranger Things, I can’t speak for them, but as a MASSIVE fan of Dark, I gotta say no, this is not for us. The reason why we LOVED Dark was not the fact that the story was convoluted, but that the convoluted story had a plan, a point, a clear direction, and was done in a very smart way. If you want something like Dark, just go on Netflix and watch the original once more.
Now, I don’t want to go into spoilers, but I need to rant a little bit here.
1) Her brother supposedly died after running in front of a train. They buried an empty coffin because “there was nothing left to bury.” How freakin’ fast are those trains going for the impact to be strong enough to vaporize a body?
2) Marina thinking things like these: “This was the moment I had been waiting for, and I didn’t know if I was strong enough to hear it.” Trust me, you’re 16 or 17, you’re not strong enough, it’s just that your author doesn’t really realize that and has superimposed her own age onto you. Do you honestly know any 16-year-olds who think that? Or behave like this one? I don’t and I spend my time surrounded by teenagers as I teach in a high school.
3) Marina has been planning a trip to Oregon for weeks now, setting up a fake story for her dad, setting up her assistant… but she never considered the fact that she would need to sleep somewhere or that she would need to find the people she was going to visit. Can you say, “dumb teenager much?”
4) At one point Marina’s mum has disappeared, her father is in “detention” because his wife is gone and his daughter was missing, a strange military installation has miraculously replaced the school but she’s “happy” because she’s lying next to a boy who is kissing her? Really? Priorities! Also, 10 pages before and 10 pages after she is making googly eyes at another boy.
5) Piper decides she will tell Marina what happened, but of course she has to do it “ab ovo” starting with the accident that claimed the lives of her parents, even though Marina, her brother and us all know the story. Just get to the point.
6) Every single woman is gorgeous, beautiful, moveiw star beautiful,..... we get it.
7) Random flashbacks! Especially the 4page one involving Marina, Robbie and her father visiting the mine as tourists. No!
8) Random statements: “skeletal eyes,” “Robbie saw our hands holding and he turned away.” HOLDING WHAT?
9) SHE. POKES. THE. GUARD. IN. THE. EYES!
10) “it’s a natural process with radioactive material. The nuclei are unstable. Proteins escaping and being repelled.” he says while looking at a beaker of pink glowy liquid. The fuck is this guy on about?
So, all in all, it’s a no from me I’m sad to say. I wanted to like this book, after all the blurb promised smart intrigue and parallel worlds, but it seems that this year when it comes to that I’m 0 for 2. Better luck with next book.
September 1, 2021
Honestly, I don’t know why the rating is so low. The writing is quite YA-ish and the idea reminds me of Dark tv show so it’s not anything new but I absolutely love stories about time traveling and parallel universes and Down World has this creepy atmosphere of reality distortion. It was fast paced and got me out of the reading slump!
May 1, 2020
I think the quality on Wattpad is very variable, but this was an outstanding YA fantasy fiction. Interesting fantasy/sci-fi (alternate reality) twists, along with interesting personal interplay between characters that seemed true to being a teenager.
September 28, 2020
I recieved an arc from Edelweiss
2.3
After Marina's brother, Robbie, died on the train tracks, nothing has been right. Her mother is only half there, there's a whole in her family and in her life, and she hasn't even be able to speak to her and Robbie's old friend- the one who was there when he died. The one who might have been responsible. But when she finds her way into a secret, a portal to an alternate present, she realizes that things aren't quite what they seem. And Robbie might not be dead
I can see why this was marketed as being similar to Stranger Things, though I don't think it's really a good comparison. But it does involve dark alternate worlds where people can become trapped, so if that's your main interest in Stranger Things, then you might jump for joy at the idea of this book.
I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of this book. It wasn't one I enjoyed reading or one with a story that did anything for me. There are a few things I liked, but they're overshadowed.
I like the general concept. Portals underneath a school that let you peer into another version of your life is really interesting. And the whole idea of seeing a girl get on a train with no luggage, and then be announced as missing, adds an eery, mysterious quality.
But while things remain dark and confusing, it's mostly not in a way that made me want to read it.
The portals are confusing with no attempt to explain them, the other two portals are never brought into the story though they're mentioned constantly, the secret society and their larger secret are both so flat that they make almost no sense.
I don't think most of this book was thought through. No one has any depth as characters, none of the relationships make sense or have chemistry, and even the threats are too flimsy and vague. I kept waiting for things to pick up and tie together, or get a good explanation of what was happening and why, but they didn't.
This is yet another book I think younger, more thrill-centered readers are going to like a lot more than I did. But if you ask "why" a lot, or like a lot of nuance, this isn't one you're probably going to enjoy reading.
2.3
After Marina's brother, Robbie, died on the train tracks, nothing has been right. Her mother is only half there, there's a whole in her family and in her life, and she hasn't even be able to speak to her and Robbie's old friend- the one who was there when he died. The one who might have been responsible. But when she finds her way into a secret, a portal to an alternate present, she realizes that things aren't quite what they seem. And Robbie might not be dead
I can see why this was marketed as being similar to Stranger Things, though I don't think it's really a good comparison. But it does involve dark alternate worlds where people can become trapped, so if that's your main interest in Stranger Things, then you might jump for joy at the idea of this book.
I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of this book. It wasn't one I enjoyed reading or one with a story that did anything for me. There are a few things I liked, but they're overshadowed.
I like the general concept. Portals underneath a school that let you peer into another version of your life is really interesting. And the whole idea of seeing a girl get on a train with no luggage, and then be announced as missing, adds an eery, mysterious quality.
But while things remain dark and confusing, it's mostly not in a way that made me want to read it.
The portals are confusing with no attempt to explain them, the other two portals are never brought into the story though they're mentioned constantly, the secret society and their larger secret are both so flat that they make almost no sense.
I don't think most of this book was thought through. No one has any depth as characters, none of the relationships make sense or have chemistry, and even the threats are too flimsy and vague. I kept waiting for things to pick up and tie together, or get a good explanation of what was happening and why, but they didn't.
This is yet another book I think younger, more thrill-centered readers are going to like a lot more than I did. But if you ask "why" a lot, or like a lot of nuance, this isn't one you're probably going to enjoy reading.
August 21, 2020
I received a copy of this title from Netgalley, jn exchange for an honest review.
Wow, from the first page, I was hooked. Down World is such a unique read, it transports you into a place where multiple universes aren't something to be messed with. And how they can change everything.
I love our protagonist. She is brave and funny and honest. She has survived so much in her short life and you can see that it grates on her. Kieran is amazing too, in the beginning I was team Brady, but once we got to know Kieran, I was sold. He is stoic and gentle and kind. Not to mention fiercely protective.
Down World is fast paced and well written. If sci-fi is your go to, then pick up this book.
Wow, from the first page, I was hooked. Down World is such a unique read, it transports you into a place where multiple universes aren't something to be messed with. And how they can change everything.
I love our protagonist. She is brave and funny and honest. She has survived so much in her short life and you can see that it grates on her. Kieran is amazing too, in the beginning I was team Brady, but once we got to know Kieran, I was sold. He is stoic and gentle and kind. Not to mention fiercely protective.
Down World is fast paced and well written. If sci-fi is your go to, then pick up this book.
March 25, 2021
It's been four years since Marina O'Connell's brother, Robbie died in an incident on the train tracks, now Marina is starting school at East Township High with the senior class that her brother should be in. East Township High is a scrabble of mazes, fake doorways and hallways that lead to nowhere since it was once a military base for scientific experiments during World War II. However, the hallways hold a dangerous secret, hidden portals to other dimensions called Down World. After a chance meeting with senior Brady Picelli and Robbie's friend Kieran, Marina is pulled into the dangerous and mysterious Down World. Marina discovers that Down World holds many secrets including secrets about her own family.
Down World is an exciting and fast-paced young adult science fiction thriller. From the time that Marina discovered the doors to Down World I was hooked on the worlds, how they worked, where they came from and what could happen in them. Marina's character is a very typical teen girl, focusing on romance and what someone might think of her at any point; however, she is also dealing with a lot of issues. She is still carrying around grief from her brother's death as well as dealing with her parent's depression from the event, when her brother died she also lost her core friend group and now needs to rebuild. Because of all of this, Marina very easily grabs on to the first person to pay attention to her, Brady. I was intrigued by the different realms in Down World, how they were all different and the consequences of going into the worlds. I do wish there was more explanation of how the worlds were built in the 1940's and why. I would love to know if they helped to alter World War II. I enjoyed the ending, the solution was appropriate and didn't leave everything perfect, but did fix what needed to be fixed.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Down World is an exciting and fast-paced young adult science fiction thriller. From the time that Marina discovered the doors to Down World I was hooked on the worlds, how they worked, where they came from and what could happen in them. Marina's character is a very typical teen girl, focusing on romance and what someone might think of her at any point; however, she is also dealing with a lot of issues. She is still carrying around grief from her brother's death as well as dealing with her parent's depression from the event, when her brother died she also lost her core friend group and now needs to rebuild. Because of all of this, Marina very easily grabs on to the first person to pay attention to her, Brady. I was intrigued by the different realms in Down World, how they were all different and the consequences of going into the worlds. I do wish there was more explanation of how the worlds were built in the 1940's and why. I would love to know if they helped to alter World War II. I enjoyed the ending, the solution was appropriate and didn't leave everything perfect, but did fix what needed to be fixed.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
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July 15, 2025In one word: a disappointment.
Maybe if I knew Wattpad Books published this, I could have set more realistic expectations. Instead, the pitch of a Stranger Things-like YA horror x sci-fi blend had me salivating.
Two elements make or break a book for me: characterisation and writing. The plot doesn’t really factor in for me – it can be a fun bonus or a bust.
M had no personality. Worse still, the writing lacked a shred of immortality. The protagonist’s brother was presumed dead at 14 by a train accident… and yet, there was barely any grief.
The romance had absolutely no chemistry. It was full of teen angst, hormones, and terrible mistakes in a way I appreciated.
Comparisons to The Fascinators and Gray’s A Thousand Pieces of You series.
Maybe if I knew Wattpad Books published this, I could have set more realistic expectations. Instead, the pitch of a Stranger Things-like YA horror x sci-fi blend had me salivating.
Two elements make or break a book for me: characterisation and writing. The plot doesn’t really factor in for me – it can be a fun bonus or a bust.
M had no personality. Worse still, the writing lacked a shred of immortality. The protagonist’s brother was presumed dead at 14 by a train accident… and yet, there was barely any grief.
The romance had absolutely no chemistry. It was full of teen angst, hormones, and terrible mistakes in a way I appreciated.
Comparisons to The Fascinators and Gray’s A Thousand Pieces of You series.
June 20, 2021
While the writing and the story are not particularly sophisticated, this is a very fast and fun read. The story is mostly well told, and I absolutely needed to know what was happening, what was next, and how it would resolve. While I did *NOT* like the ending (and, yes, there was a way to do it differently!!), this doesn’t seem to be a sticking point for most people. Overall, definitely recommend for a quick, fun, YA romp through portals and parallels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 13, 2020
This is a hard book to rate it’s a soft 3 but I can’t bring myself to mark it that way in the official tally.
“Dark World” follows Marina as she works to overcome the grief of losing her brother when he mysteriously died on the train tracks when he was 14 and when she returns to high school she finds notes written about something called the DW and finds herself face to face with the possibility of finding out what happened to her brother that night and faces the consequences of what it means to mess with fate.
I think this was a nice idea that needed a little more ironing out especially when it came to the science. I appreciate the attempt to explain this odd occurrence and parallel universes as a whole with actual science, whether any of it is based on fact I don’t know, but it was nice to see that effort however it was hard to follow.
The back and forth between entering this world and how it could affect the “main” reality was fascinating especially when it all began to unravel though I am sad that with the ending it made it so that it was all pointless and what the characters truly wanted was erased entirely which sets a lot of their own growth/arcs back quite a bit.
That being said I think the characters were extremely lacking in actual depth at times the main character and the female characters in general came across as very childlike apart from the mother who even when she was center stage never had too much to do other than be a commanding presence for a few beats before shuffling offscreen which was a shame.
I don’t know what to make of this one there were a lot of those Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Dopplegangland” meets Flatliners like moments which I think could have been something if the character work was handled better but unfortunately I can’t judge it on potential.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“Dark World” follows Marina as she works to overcome the grief of losing her brother when he mysteriously died on the train tracks when he was 14 and when she returns to high school she finds notes written about something called the DW and finds herself face to face with the possibility of finding out what happened to her brother that night and faces the consequences of what it means to mess with fate.
I think this was a nice idea that needed a little more ironing out especially when it came to the science. I appreciate the attempt to explain this odd occurrence and parallel universes as a whole with actual science, whether any of it is based on fact I don’t know, but it was nice to see that effort however it was hard to follow.
The back and forth between entering this world and how it could affect the “main” reality was fascinating especially when it all began to unravel though I am sad that with the ending it made it so that it was all pointless and what the characters truly wanted was erased entirely which sets a lot of their own growth/arcs back quite a bit.
That being said I think the characters were extremely lacking in actual depth at times the main character and the female characters in general came across as very childlike apart from the mother who even when she was center stage never had too much to do other than be a commanding presence for a few beats before shuffling offscreen which was a shame.
I don’t know what to make of this one there were a lot of those Buffy the Vampire Slayer “Dopplegangland” meets Flatliners like moments which I think could have been something if the character work was handled better but unfortunately I can’t judge it on potential.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
February 2, 2022
So, Down World. Where do I start? Having binged both Stranger Things and Dark, I couldn't wait to get into Down World. Also, this cover is gorgeous.
Down World definitely lived up to my expectations. It was fast-paced and engaging. I'm usually hesitant going into Sci-Fi books, as I find them to be bogged down by pages and pages of world-building, but Down World had just the right balance. Rebecca Phelps writes in such a way that it's impossible not to get drawn into her world. I truly felt like I was in this small town, and when they went to DW, I could clearly tell the difference in setting.
I liked Marina, even though her decisions were questionable at times. I actually appreciate this, as it made her more realistic to me as an actual teenager. I found myself really caring for her and her struggles. The side characters all seemed well-rounded.
The only minor frustration I had was with the romance sub-plot. The book would've been a lot stronger if it stuck to developing one romantic connection for Marina instead of having her flop around between two. I was never able to fully care about either relationship because neither of them really had time to develop. The ending (which was AMAZING) would've had an even bigger impact if I'd been drawn to care more about the love interest.
All in all, this book was definitely a 5-star read and I flew through it in less than a day. Highly recommend and can't wait to see what Rebecca Phelps does next. Thank you to Wattpad Books for a digital copy. I'll definitely be picking up my own so I can have it on my shelf.
Down World definitely lived up to my expectations. It was fast-paced and engaging. I'm usually hesitant going into Sci-Fi books, as I find them to be bogged down by pages and pages of world-building, but Down World had just the right balance. Rebecca Phelps writes in such a way that it's impossible not to get drawn into her world. I truly felt like I was in this small town, and when they went to DW, I could clearly tell the difference in setting.
I liked Marina, even though her decisions were questionable at times. I actually appreciate this, as it made her more realistic to me as an actual teenager. I found myself really caring for her and her struggles. The side characters all seemed well-rounded.
The only minor frustration I had was with the romance sub-plot. The book would've been a lot stronger if it stuck to developing one romantic connection for Marina instead of having her flop around between two. I was never able to fully care about either relationship because neither of them really had time to develop. The ending (which was AMAZING) would've had an even bigger impact if I'd been drawn to care more about the love interest.
All in all, this book was definitely a 5-star read and I flew through it in less than a day. Highly recommend and can't wait to see what Rebecca Phelps does next. Thank you to Wattpad Books for a digital copy. I'll definitely be picking up my own so I can have it on my shelf.
October 9, 2020
I loved this book! I normally gravitate to fantasy, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the mystery and other-world element of this story hooked me. Lots of other reviews went into the plot, so I won't bother to do that here. I disagree with the comments that the characters weren't fleshed out. I loved these characters! They felt real. Marina, like a true teenager, is caught between childhood and becoming an adult. Her choices keep the story moving and spiraling out of her control. I LOVE Brady! I love that Phelps (the author) created these deep characters with backstories and flaws, makes you fall in love with them, and then turns all the tropes around. This was NOT the ending I was expecting. It's not the boring Hollywood ending. It'll tear at your gut, yet it leaves you with hope. Where Marina is at the end of the book and the people who surround her are not what you assume in the beginning. I love the clashing worlds and history and the tie in to the "underwood" and the River Styx with the train. Phelps weaves mythology and science into a mysterious, dark journey that made me want to immediately pick up the sequel. There better be a sequel!
March 31, 2021
3/30/2021 Full review tk at The Frumious Consortium.net.
3/31/2021 And here I thought I'd broken my streak of being grumpy with the science in speculative fiction novels! Granted, my last read, Oliver K Langmead's terrific Birds Of Paradise, never pretended at being scientific, to its credit. But here I am reviewing another novel with half-baked scientific ideas that could have just been hand-waved entirely once we'd gotten past the quantum planes theory: instead, we're fed the idea that the protagonist's mother is secretly a groundbreaking physicist a la Marie Curie whose one! ONE! act of science is the ONE-time building of a chemical key that opens a portal to a parallel plane of existence much like our own.
Down World starts out really well. Marina O'Connell is transferring to East Township High School, built over the site of a 1940s military installation. It's a weird, twisting complex, and when she gets lost on her first day, she's relieved and flattered to be rescued by Brady Picelli, who's happy to help her figure out how to get to her classes. But making friends turns out to be harder than she'd expected, so when she notices him and his girlfriend Piper sneaking off campus one day, she impulsively decides to follow. She's somewhat taken aback when they head to the railroad station where her brother died several years ago. Piper gets on a train west, before Brady notices Marina spying on them.
The next day, the entire town is abuzz: Piper has gone missing and her distraught parents don't know what to do. Marina wants to come clean but Brady begs her not to, and brings her to Down World by way of explanation. Located deep beneath the school is a portal to an alternate reality that the students -- or those students in the know, at least -- call Down World. Marina walks through to a world where her brother is still alive and her parents aren't mere shells of themselves, grieving their lost son. When she comes back out, Brady explains that Piper did something terrible in relation to Down World and has gone west to seek an answer. Little do Marina and Brady know that the answer will soon come back to their town and turn their entire lives upside down.
Very cool premise, lots of twists and turns, but the plot relies too much on Marina doing stupid things in order to advance it. And the second half or so of the novel is just so seriously under-baked. So many excellent ideas and beats are smushed into the last ten percent of the book especially. I wanted to empathize with the characters as they faced all these sudden reversals and revelations but it was like watching scenes unfold outside the window of a speeding train, racing past so quickly that I could barely register what happened, never mind how anyone felt about anything. The book is readable but the pacing is weird, especially in relation to Marina's suddenly super-genius mom. It's a complete book, but it doesn't feel like a finished book to me, more's the pity.
Down World by Rebecca Phelps was published March 30 2021 by Wattpad Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop! Want it now? For the Kindle version, click here.
3/31/2021 And here I thought I'd broken my streak of being grumpy with the science in speculative fiction novels! Granted, my last read, Oliver K Langmead's terrific Birds Of Paradise, never pretended at being scientific, to its credit. But here I am reviewing another novel with half-baked scientific ideas that could have just been hand-waved entirely once we'd gotten past the quantum planes theory: instead, we're fed the idea that the protagonist's mother is secretly a groundbreaking physicist a la Marie Curie whose one! ONE! act of science is the ONE-time building of a chemical key that opens a portal to a parallel plane of existence much like our own.
Down World starts out really well. Marina O'Connell is transferring to East Township High School, built over the site of a 1940s military installation. It's a weird, twisting complex, and when she gets lost on her first day, she's relieved and flattered to be rescued by Brady Picelli, who's happy to help her figure out how to get to her classes. But making friends turns out to be harder than she'd expected, so when she notices him and his girlfriend Piper sneaking off campus one day, she impulsively decides to follow. She's somewhat taken aback when they head to the railroad station where her brother died several years ago. Piper gets on a train west, before Brady notices Marina spying on them.
The next day, the entire town is abuzz: Piper has gone missing and her distraught parents don't know what to do. Marina wants to come clean but Brady begs her not to, and brings her to Down World by way of explanation. Located deep beneath the school is a portal to an alternate reality that the students -- or those students in the know, at least -- call Down World. Marina walks through to a world where her brother is still alive and her parents aren't mere shells of themselves, grieving their lost son. When she comes back out, Brady explains that Piper did something terrible in relation to Down World and has gone west to seek an answer. Little do Marina and Brady know that the answer will soon come back to their town and turn their entire lives upside down.
Very cool premise, lots of twists and turns, but the plot relies too much on Marina doing stupid things in order to advance it. And the second half or so of the novel is just so seriously under-baked. So many excellent ideas and beats are smushed into the last ten percent of the book especially. I wanted to empathize with the characters as they faced all these sudden reversals and revelations but it was like watching scenes unfold outside the window of a speeding train, racing past so quickly that I could barely register what happened, never mind how anyone felt about anything. The book is readable but the pacing is weird, especially in relation to Marina's suddenly super-genius mom. It's a complete book, but it doesn't feel like a finished book to me, more's the pity.
Down World by Rebecca Phelps was published March 30 2021 by Wattpad Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop! Want it now? For the Kindle version, click here.
March 31, 2021
It’s the last Wednesday of the month, so it’s review time! I honestly only requested this month’s book because the cover was kind of thriller-esque. It turned out to be more soft sci-fi, which was a nice change. Down World by Rebecca Phelps was released yesterday (March 30th) from Wattpad Books. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. So, let’s get to it.
Down World follows Marina as she enters a new school and struggles to leave her past and the death of her brother behind her. When she realizes her new crush, Brady, and her brother’s old friend, Kieren, are hiding something, she finds herself in the middle of a weird new reality: doorways to different planes of existence, the potential of her brother actually being alive, and somehow it all connects back to her mother. As Marina delves deeper into these secrets, she has to face the past and make some difficult decisions that might completely change her present.
I called this soft sci-fi because even though the science is discussed, it feels shaky at best. The characters are unsure of what’s going on and just guessing themselves, so the science feels like guesswork to the reader. I’m okay with that. I don’t mind letting the fiction drive the story. But I do know people who prefer hard sci-fi where the science drives everything and is possible. I don’t think this book is for them. But for my fiction-with-a-dab-of-science folks, this book had some definite Coraline (but for an older audience) vibes to it that were fun.
The plot was okay. It had some nice twists and turns along the way. It wasn’t exactly surprising, but it wasn’t super predictable either. I figured out a lot early on, but there were a couple of things I didn’t catch until closer to their reveals. It was enough to keep the story interesting for me. At least moreso than the characters. They were all pretty flat and could’ve used some fleshing out. I just never really felt they were people as much as stereotypes. So yeah, the plot carries this story more than the characters.
My biggest issue with this book was the pacing. The first third was beyond slow despite the lack of description (the whole book could’ve used more descriptions to help us picture the places and people). The second third felt really rushed, though I admit the description was better. Things didn’t seem to find a good rhythm until the last third. That’s always kind of annoying to me even though I know I’ve been guilty of it too.
The writing itself was fine. It wasn’t exactly memorable. I finished the story a few days ago and am already having trouble remembering the finer details. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. No lines stuck out for quotes or anything. However, it was a fairly smooth read.
Ultimately, Down World just wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s a standalone, so I don’t have to worry about reading another one. It does have the potential for other books set around the same premise, like a series of otherwise unconnected stories, but I won’t be looking for them if that happens.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. If I’m being super honest, it’s 2 and a half stars. If you like YA sci-fi, you might enjoy this. I just happen to like books that are more fleshed out.
Down World follows Marina as she enters a new school and struggles to leave her past and the death of her brother behind her. When she realizes her new crush, Brady, and her brother’s old friend, Kieren, are hiding something, she finds herself in the middle of a weird new reality: doorways to different planes of existence, the potential of her brother actually being alive, and somehow it all connects back to her mother. As Marina delves deeper into these secrets, she has to face the past and make some difficult decisions that might completely change her present.
I called this soft sci-fi because even though the science is discussed, it feels shaky at best. The characters are unsure of what’s going on and just guessing themselves, so the science feels like guesswork to the reader. I’m okay with that. I don’t mind letting the fiction drive the story. But I do know people who prefer hard sci-fi where the science drives everything and is possible. I don’t think this book is for them. But for my fiction-with-a-dab-of-science folks, this book had some definite Coraline (but for an older audience) vibes to it that were fun.
The plot was okay. It had some nice twists and turns along the way. It wasn’t exactly surprising, but it wasn’t super predictable either. I figured out a lot early on, but there were a couple of things I didn’t catch until closer to their reveals. It was enough to keep the story interesting for me. At least moreso than the characters. They were all pretty flat and could’ve used some fleshing out. I just never really felt they were people as much as stereotypes. So yeah, the plot carries this story more than the characters.
My biggest issue with this book was the pacing. The first third was beyond slow despite the lack of description (the whole book could’ve used more descriptions to help us picture the places and people). The second third felt really rushed, though I admit the description was better. Things didn’t seem to find a good rhythm until the last third. That’s always kind of annoying to me even though I know I’ve been guilty of it too.
The writing itself was fine. It wasn’t exactly memorable. I finished the story a few days ago and am already having trouble remembering the finer details. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. No lines stuck out for quotes or anything. However, it was a fairly smooth read.
Ultimately, Down World just wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s a standalone, so I don’t have to worry about reading another one. It does have the potential for other books set around the same premise, like a series of otherwise unconnected stories, but I won’t be looking for them if that happens.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. If I’m being super honest, it’s 2 and a half stars. If you like YA sci-fi, you might enjoy this. I just happen to like books that are more fleshed out.
April 4, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: DownWorld
Author: Rebecca Phelps
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Half hispanic main character
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi readers, ya readers
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication Date: March 31, 2021
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Pages: 368
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, suicide mentioned, gore, child death, romance)
Synopsis: As the site of a former military base, there have always been rumors that East Township High School was the site of experiments with space and time. For years, students have whispered in the hallways of a doorway created within the school, one that can access multiple timelines and realities, a place known as the Down World.
As the new kid in school and still reeling from the unexplained death of her brother Robbie, Marina O'Connell is only interested in one thing: leaving the past behind. But a chance encounter with handsome Brady Picelli changes everything. He will lead Marina to a startling discovery. The Down World is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance.
Brady is determined to help Marina discover what really happened to her brother. However, what is taken from one world, must be repaid by another. And Marina is about to discover that even a realm of infinite possibilities has rules that must be obeyed.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It has an interesting premise which kept me motivated to read it and it had unique world building. I really liked the different universe theory and I'm a strong believer in parallel worlds.
However, the characters weren't strongly developed, the writing was a bit too jumbled and confusing, and the author didn't clearly distinguish the differences we were supposed to see throughout the novel of the changing world. It was a lot of telling and not showing as well. The ending was also confusing.
Verdict: It's cool but confusing.
Book: DownWorld
Author: Rebecca Phelps
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Half hispanic main character
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi readers, ya readers
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication Date: March 31, 2021
Publisher: Wattpad Books
Pages: 368
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, suicide mentioned, gore, child death, romance)
Synopsis: As the site of a former military base, there have always been rumors that East Township High School was the site of experiments with space and time. For years, students have whispered in the hallways of a doorway created within the school, one that can access multiple timelines and realities, a place known as the Down World.
As the new kid in school and still reeling from the unexplained death of her brother Robbie, Marina O'Connell is only interested in one thing: leaving the past behind. But a chance encounter with handsome Brady Picelli changes everything. He will lead Marina to a startling discovery. The Down World is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance.
Brady is determined to help Marina discover what really happened to her brother. However, what is taken from one world, must be repaid by another. And Marina is about to discover that even a realm of infinite possibilities has rules that must be obeyed.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It has an interesting premise which kept me motivated to read it and it had unique world building. I really liked the different universe theory and I'm a strong believer in parallel worlds.
However, the characters weren't strongly developed, the writing was a bit too jumbled and confusing, and the author didn't clearly distinguish the differences we were supposed to see throughout the novel of the changing world. It was a lot of telling and not showing as well. The ending was also confusing.
Verdict: It's cool but confusing.
April 11, 2021
This is another instance where I really wanted to like the book. The premise reminded me a lot of Stranger Things and Coraline, both of which I really loved. However, this book just fell short for me on the execution.
The book opens up with our main character, Marina, transferring to a new school. She lost her brother several years ago to a tragic accident and her and her family are still learning to cope with that loss. Strange things begin happening at the school, and soon enough, Marina finds that her school is sitting on top of portals to the past, present, and future. But dangerous things happen if the portals are messed with too often. Marina soon discovers that the answers to her brother’s accident may lie within the portals.
Like I said, this book had a great set up. But right off the bat we are met with insta love as our main character meets Brady, whose very presence and hair flips makes Marina feel safe. Then the romance progresses into a love triangle of sorts that I wasn’t the biggest fan of. Even the romances outside of our main characters felt a bit off. For instance, one character is in a relationship, then finds themselves stuck with another character for a month (with no hope of traveling back to the other love interest) and they quickly fall in love, constantly calling each other baby.
I didn’t dislike everything in this book. There were definitely some great moments sprinkled throughout. For instance I loved the scene where Marina steps through the portal for the first time, seeing her brother for the first time in years. I could feel everything she went through in that scene. I just wish there were more moments like this.
This is only my opinion. I wish the author success in her future endeavors and a huge congrats for being published!
The book opens up with our main character, Marina, transferring to a new school. She lost her brother several years ago to a tragic accident and her and her family are still learning to cope with that loss. Strange things begin happening at the school, and soon enough, Marina finds that her school is sitting on top of portals to the past, present, and future. But dangerous things happen if the portals are messed with too often. Marina soon discovers that the answers to her brother’s accident may lie within the portals.
Like I said, this book had a great set up. But right off the bat we are met with insta love as our main character meets Brady, whose very presence and hair flips makes Marina feel safe. Then the romance progresses into a love triangle of sorts that I wasn’t the biggest fan of. Even the romances outside of our main characters felt a bit off. For instance, one character is in a relationship, then finds themselves stuck with another character for a month (with no hope of traveling back to the other love interest) and they quickly fall in love, constantly calling each other baby.
I didn’t dislike everything in this book. There were definitely some great moments sprinkled throughout. For instance I loved the scene where Marina steps through the portal for the first time, seeing her brother for the first time in years. I could feel everything she went through in that scene. I just wish there were more moments like this.
This is only my opinion. I wish the author success in her future endeavors and a huge congrats for being published!
March 20, 2021
Argh. I wrestled between 1 and 2 stars this one because I honestly hate giving debuts 1 star, but the truth is that I just didn't like it at all. I can't put it on the same level as books I give 2 stars because usually there's something in there that I like or the writing just wasn't for me. In this case, I found the writing messy, the story lagged, it was really confusing, the characters weren't likable, and some parts in the story were just completely cringey.
Listen, there's a bunch of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book. I'm allowed to have a different opinion and not like it.
The whole premise of this story is that her brother dies and that tries to reunite with him by going through a portal that's located in the high school. I'm into parallel dimensions so I figured this would be a fun ride. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to understand the "rules" of these portals, the "payment" needed to get off the train (and why it was an acceptable form of payment and who the heck figured that part out), and these wayward mystics in Oregon. There was just so much going on and it was mushed together and did not make for an enjoyable reading experience.
And let's briefly touch on the cringey bits: hitting on Brady and getting annoyed that he doesn't reciprocate feelings after his girlfriend has gone missing, the excessive use of "baby" between Piper and Robbie, and pretty much every interaction between Marina and Kieren.
Not good, folks. Not good.
Listen, there's a bunch of 4 and 5 star reviews for this book. I'm allowed to have a different opinion and not like it.
The whole premise of this story is that her brother dies and that tries to reunite with him by going through a portal that's located in the high school. I'm into parallel dimensions so I figured this would be a fun ride. Unfortunately, it was very difficult to understand the "rules" of these portals, the "payment" needed to get off the train (and why it was an acceptable form of payment and who the heck figured that part out), and these wayward mystics in Oregon. There was just so much going on and it was mushed together and did not make for an enjoyable reading experience.
And let's briefly touch on the cringey bits: hitting on Brady and getting annoyed that he doesn't reciprocate feelings after his girlfriend has gone missing, the excessive use of "baby" between Piper and Robbie, and pretty much every interaction between Marina and Kieren.
Not good, folks. Not good.
January 26, 2021
This one was trippy to say the least and the closest to Sci-Fi I think I have read in a while. I can understand why fans of Strangers Things (I've only watched the first few episodes) enjoy it.
At first, the concept seemed pretty simple after you realize what is actually going on with the train and missing kids. I thought, Oh, alternate universe, okay. She can just go visit her brother. Nope. Things start blending and melding and that got crazy.
It was kind of scary in a Coraline sort of way. Like things are just skewed a little until you are "home" but everything is warped. That is creepy in a way that is different than just being on a different planet, because you miss what you had and have to look at the people you love and they don't even know you. I understand why Marina was desperate to get Robbie back. I would do the same. I hate that her mother had that same desperation and left her. That would be heartbreaking for any child. And to come back to her dad being detained for her mother's disappearance. It's like no matter what reality she went to, it was getting worse and worse.
The ending was bittersweet.
At first, the concept seemed pretty simple after you realize what is actually going on with the train and missing kids. I thought, Oh, alternate universe, okay. She can just go visit her brother. Nope. Things start blending and melding and that got crazy.
It was kind of scary in a Coraline sort of way. Like things are just skewed a little until you are "home" but everything is warped. That is creepy in a way that is different than just being on a different planet, because you miss what you had and have to look at the people you love and they don't even know you. I understand why Marina was desperate to get Robbie back. I would do the same. I hate that her mother had that same desperation and left her. That would be heartbreaking for any child. And to come back to her dad being detained for her mother's disappearance. It's like no matter what reality she went to, it was getting worse and worse.
The ending was bittersweet.
October 31, 2021
“You may think you know yourself, know how you’ll react. But when the unthinkable happens… You don’t know who you’ll be.” - Down World by Rebecca Phelps
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Thriller
Synopsis: Marina’s brother is killed in a tragic accident 4 years ago. She moved away from the school and friends of where it happened, and then had to come back. Upon her new arrival, she starts learning about this place called Down World. What is it? Will anyone let Marina in on their secret?
Review: I’m sad. This book was amazing, but the ending is not a truly happy one. But it is! But it’s not. This book explores some deep ideas in sci-fi… I’m scared of giving anything away. It was a wonderful read and a great story! Fast-paced and action packed. I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next. If you’ve read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch & liked it, then you’ll like this one as well! That one wasn’t my favorite & I definitely liked this book way more, but they’re similar. I do recommend picking this one up - I’m so glad I finally read it!
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Thriller
Synopsis: Marina’s brother is killed in a tragic accident 4 years ago. She moved away from the school and friends of where it happened, and then had to come back. Upon her new arrival, she starts learning about this place called Down World. What is it? Will anyone let Marina in on their secret?
Review: I’m sad. This book was amazing, but the ending is not a truly happy one. But it is! But it’s not. This book explores some deep ideas in sci-fi… I’m scared of giving anything away. It was a wonderful read and a great story! Fast-paced and action packed. I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next. If you’ve read Dark Matter by Blake Crouch & liked it, then you’ll like this one as well! That one wasn’t my favorite & I definitely liked this book way more, but they’re similar. I do recommend picking this one up - I’m so glad I finally read it!
January 3, 2021
Finished reading DOWN WORLD by Rebecca Phelps last week in 2020. Thank-you to Wattpad Books for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Official publication date is March 31st, 2021.
This one grabbed my attention, as it is marketed for fans of Stranger Things.
East Township High School used to be a military base and possibly a scientific experiment. Select students of this school have discovered secret doorways underneath the school that lead to Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, or better known around school as 'Down World'.
Marina the new girl in school is grieving the unexplained death of her brother Robbie. But a chance encounter at school with the hottest guy Brady & the mysterious old friend Kieran, will result in Marina uncovering what really happened to her brother.
Marina is about to learn that this 'Down World' that is whispered about, is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance. Even this world of possibilities has rules that must be followed and saving one life could mean losing another.
This one had me hooked, and then I got lost a bit at the 2/3 mark...with the way the different doors worked and the main characters didn't really develop much. Overall an interesting story but left me a bit confused and feeling like I was missing something.
This one grabbed my attention, as it is marketed for fans of Stranger Things.
East Township High School used to be a military base and possibly a scientific experiment. Select students of this school have discovered secret doorways underneath the school that lead to Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, or better known around school as 'Down World'.
Marina the new girl in school is grieving the unexplained death of her brother Robbie. But a chance encounter at school with the hottest guy Brady & the mysterious old friend Kieran, will result in Marina uncovering what really happened to her brother.
Marina is about to learn that this 'Down World' that is whispered about, is real and the past, present, and future are falling out of balance. Even this world of possibilities has rules that must be followed and saving one life could mean losing another.
This one had me hooked, and then I got lost a bit at the 2/3 mark...with the way the different doors worked and the main characters didn't really develop much. Overall an interesting story but left me a bit confused and feeling like I was missing something.
March 23, 2021
Down World is a mesmerizing, suspenseful, and innovative new trilogy for Young Adults, yet Adults will surely love it, too!
In her debut novel, Rebecca Phelps has proven herself an accomplished writer, as effective as most "seasoned" writers. Down World is a fascinating story about a very mysterious and restrictive place, discovered by teens who reside in an old military town. The military base has been made in to a High School with a very unusual floor plan. Below it exists a very peculiar, addictive place. It seems fun and harmless at first, but that is just a pretense of reality. Nobody seems to understand the hidden danger.
The characters are endearing and well-portrayed. The scenes allows the reader to feel a part of the adventures. The intrigue builds and continues to become more intense as the tale comes to a compelling end. The ending is complete, yet leaves the reader wanting more. The Title is perfect but the Cover image is not very eye-catching.
This would make a wonderful movie series.
*I as gifted this book with no pressure, whatsoever, to post a positive review. This is my honest review.
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