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Briardark #1
Briardark
Survival and cosmic horror collide in this new series, perfect for fans of LOST and House of Leaves.
For Dr. Siena Dupont and her ambitious team, the Alpenglow glacier expedition is a career-defining opportunity. But thirty miles into the desolate Deadswitch Wilderness, they discover a missing hiker dangling from a tree, and their satellite phone fails to call out.
Then the body vanishes without a trace.
The disappearance isn’t the only chilling anomaly. Siena’s map no longer aligns with the trail. The glacier they were supposed to study has inexplicably melted. Strange foliage overruns the mountainside, and a tunnel within a tree hollow lures Siena to a hidden cabin, and a stranger with a sinister message…
Holden Sharpe’s IT job offers little distraction from his wasted potential until he stumbles upon a decommissioned hard drive and an old audio file. Trapped on a mountain, Dr. Siena Dupont recounts an expedition in chaos and the bloody death of a colleague.
Entranced by the mystery, Holden searches for answers to Siena’s fate. But he is unprepared for the truth that will draw him to the outskirts of Deadswitch Wilderness—a place teeming with unfathomable nightmares and impossibilities.
For Dr. Siena Dupont and her ambitious team, the Alpenglow glacier expedition is a career-defining opportunity. But thirty miles into the desolate Deadswitch Wilderness, they discover a missing hiker dangling from a tree, and their satellite phone fails to call out.
Then the body vanishes without a trace.
The disappearance isn’t the only chilling anomaly. Siena’s map no longer aligns with the trail. The glacier they were supposed to study has inexplicably melted. Strange foliage overruns the mountainside, and a tunnel within a tree hollow lures Siena to a hidden cabin, and a stranger with a sinister message…
Holden Sharpe’s IT job offers little distraction from his wasted potential until he stumbles upon a decommissioned hard drive and an old audio file. Trapped on a mountain, Dr. Siena Dupont recounts an expedition in chaos and the bloody death of a colleague.
Entranced by the mystery, Holden searches for answers to Siena’s fate. But he is unprepared for the truth that will draw him to the outskirts of Deadswitch Wilderness—a place teeming with unfathomable nightmares and impossibilities.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 16, 2023
235 people are currently reading
16300 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Harian
3 books257 followersS.A. Harian grew up near Yosemite and now lives in Portland, Oregon with her partner and dog. She’s been writing since she was eight, around the time she became obsessed with Nancy Drew. Now she writes stories that are much scarier.
While she loves reading, most of her inspiration comes from video games. You can find her survival and horror gameplays on YouTube.
Sometimes, she even hikes, which in her opinion is very, very brave.
While she loves reading, most of her inspiration comes from video games. You can find her survival and horror gameplays on YouTube.
Sometimes, she even hikes, which in her opinion is very, very brave.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 580 reviews
February 7, 2025
In 2015 an expedition group of five women went into the Deadswitch Wilderness to study the mysterious Alpenglow Glacier but none of the women were ever seen again nor even traces that the women had even made it to their destination.
Seven years later another team of four scientists will take this same expedition to the Alpenglow glacier while also hoping to find some leftover remnants of what may have happened to any of the missing women in 2015. Within thirty miles of their starting point the team realize the trails don't line up with their map but they continue to forge ahead anyway until the discovery of a body hanging in a tree which means they now must wait for the authorities to arrive before they can continue up the mountain but when they try to connect to the nearby ranger station the call only gets answered by voice message recordings. This will only be the beginning of strange, mysterious, creepy and implausible occurrences which appear to happen in the Deadswitch Wilderness and if this team doesn't turn around to go back soon they may find themselves in the same situation of the forever missing 2015 expedition.
What a creepy and intriguing story this was for me. I really enjoyed the creative storytelling with great characters and an amazing, eerie atmosphere. There were several essential characters that intersect in the most unusual ways and because the book centered around Deadswitch it never lost the tension or pervasive illusion of horror simmering in the background. This novel was an unexpected pleasure for me relating to how well done the continuous mystery and intensity continued until the end of the book although any unanswered questions will go unresolved until the next book is released and I truly hope I can be an early reader for that one. Even though cliffhangers are a pet peeve of mine this is a novel that I'm excited to have read and I highly recommend it to all horror or science fiction readers since it really was a refreshing combination of both genres giving a cutting edge to a story that was so unique and well-written that I just didn't want the book to come to an end.
I want to thank the publisher "Compass and Fern" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book 4 1/2 INTENSELY CREEPY 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
Seven years later another team of four scientists will take this same expedition to the Alpenglow glacier while also hoping to find some leftover remnants of what may have happened to any of the missing women in 2015. Within thirty miles of their starting point the team realize the trails don't line up with their map but they continue to forge ahead anyway until the discovery of a body hanging in a tree which means they now must wait for the authorities to arrive before they can continue up the mountain but when they try to connect to the nearby ranger station the call only gets answered by voice message recordings. This will only be the beginning of strange, mysterious, creepy and implausible occurrences which appear to happen in the Deadswitch Wilderness and if this team doesn't turn around to go back soon they may find themselves in the same situation of the forever missing 2015 expedition.
What a creepy and intriguing story this was for me. I really enjoyed the creative storytelling with great characters and an amazing, eerie atmosphere. There were several essential characters that intersect in the most unusual ways and because the book centered around Deadswitch it never lost the tension or pervasive illusion of horror simmering in the background. This novel was an unexpected pleasure for me relating to how well done the continuous mystery and intensity continued until the end of the book although any unanswered questions will go unresolved until the next book is released and I truly hope I can be an early reader for that one. Even though cliffhangers are a pet peeve of mine this is a novel that I'm excited to have read and I highly recommend it to all horror or science fiction readers since it really was a refreshing combination of both genres giving a cutting edge to a story that was so unique and well-written that I just didn't want the book to come to an end.
I want to thank the publisher "Compass and Fern" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book 4 1/2 INTENSELY CREEPY 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
December 27, 2022
Five hikers went missing in the Deadswitch woods....
Dr. Siena Dupont is leading her team on the Alpenglow glacier expedition. This is expedition is going to make her career! But thirty miles into their hike, the find the body of a hiker hanging from a tree and their satellite phone is not working. If that is not strange enough, the body disappears! This is where I would call it a day! But the fun is only beginning for this exploration. Their map does not align with the trail, the glacier they were going to study has melted, there is strange foliage and a tunnel inside of a tree.
Holden Sharpe works in IT and finds an old audio file and begins to search for Siena and determine her fate.
Here's an idea: if you want to go for a walk in the woods and you know others have gone missing in said woods; don't, just don't go into those woods. Find somewhere else to walk. You're welcome.
This is book #1 in the Briardark series and it is off to a good start! This one grabbed me right away and kept my attention. I was intrigued by the mystery of what happened to the missing hikers and the expedition Siena was leading. I wondered if Holden would find answers. This book has a blending of time and place which adds to the uneasy feel of the book and mounting tension.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. This book was interesting, gripping and well thought out. I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series.
This book reminded me in some ways of some books I have read Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident andAnnihilation. This was a nice blending of science fiction and horror.
Thank you to Compass and Fern LLC and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Dr. Siena Dupont is leading her team on the Alpenglow glacier expedition. This is expedition is going to make her career! But thirty miles into their hike, the find the body of a hiker hanging from a tree and their satellite phone is not working. If that is not strange enough, the body disappears! This is where I would call it a day! But the fun is only beginning for this exploration. Their map does not align with the trail, the glacier they were going to study has melted, there is strange foliage and a tunnel inside of a tree.
Holden Sharpe works in IT and finds an old audio file and begins to search for Siena and determine her fate.
Here's an idea: if you want to go for a walk in the woods and you know others have gone missing in said woods; don't, just don't go into those woods. Find somewhere else to walk. You're welcome.
This is book #1 in the Briardark series and it is off to a good start! This one grabbed me right away and kept my attention. I was intrigued by the mystery of what happened to the missing hikers and the expedition Siena was leading. I wondered if Holden would find answers. This book has a blending of time and place which adds to the uneasy feel of the book and mounting tension.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. This book was interesting, gripping and well thought out. I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series.
This book reminded me in some ways of some books I have read Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident andAnnihilation. This was a nice blending of science fiction and horror.
Thank you to Compass and Fern LLC and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 4, 2023
"In the summer of 2016, five young women - one an influencer - entered the inarguably breathtaking Deadswitch Wilderness for a backpacking trip, an opportunity rich in social currency. When they failed to reemerge, Search and Rescue would begin their operation without a GPS breadcrumb.
None of the women had taken their phone."
And none would be found again.
We now have a current group of researchers making their way through Deadswitch Wilderness to study the Alpenglow glacier which is melting at an alarmingly quick rate. While there the group experiences things that are beyond our understanding. Otherworldly and terrifying.
We also have Holden, an IT worker at Cal State, who comes across the audio files of Dr. Dupont, one of Alpenglows researchers, and what he hears on the file has him worrying that her life, and possibly the others with her, are in danger.
"Deadswitch was haunted. Something had been given free rein to roam and manipulate this place, just like the devil over Earth. "
One thing to note, this is the first book in a series so expect a cliffhanger. Thankfully I was aware of this going in so the abrupt ending didn't tick me off too much. I hope the questions I have will be answered in the next installment. And yes, I do plan to read it.
If cosmic horror and folk horror had a baby then that sweet little bundle of joy would be called Briardark. My friend Debra (Thanks for the rec, Debra!) compared this book to Annihilation which is a book I loved and I agree...to a point. Annihilation was really mind-bending and not for the casual *I think I'll try sci-fi for the first time* reader where as this will be much more palatable to a wider audience. I don't want to classify this as young adult but the writing is much simpler than VanderMeers making it easy to get lost in the story. I was flipping pages yesterday when I realized I had been reading for hours and had hardly looked up once. Harian had me hooked without a doubt.
If you enjoy books cloaked in mystery and incapacitating dread then this is the book for you. Just don't get lost in the woods! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Compass and Fern for my complimentary copy.
None of the women had taken their phone."
And none would be found again.
We now have a current group of researchers making their way through Deadswitch Wilderness to study the Alpenglow glacier which is melting at an alarmingly quick rate. While there the group experiences things that are beyond our understanding. Otherworldly and terrifying.
We also have Holden, an IT worker at Cal State, who comes across the audio files of Dr. Dupont, one of Alpenglows researchers, and what he hears on the file has him worrying that her life, and possibly the others with her, are in danger.
"Deadswitch was haunted. Something had been given free rein to roam and manipulate this place, just like the devil over Earth. "
One thing to note, this is the first book in a series so expect a cliffhanger. Thankfully I was aware of this going in so the abrupt ending didn't tick me off too much. I hope the questions I have will be answered in the next installment. And yes, I do plan to read it.
If cosmic horror and folk horror had a baby then that sweet little bundle of joy would be called Briardark. My friend Debra (Thanks for the rec, Debra!) compared this book to Annihilation which is a book I loved and I agree...to a point. Annihilation was really mind-bending and not for the casual *I think I'll try sci-fi for the first time* reader where as this will be much more palatable to a wider audience. I don't want to classify this as young adult but the writing is much simpler than VanderMeers making it easy to get lost in the story. I was flipping pages yesterday when I realized I had been reading for hours and had hardly looked up once. Harian had me hooked without a doubt.
If you enjoy books cloaked in mystery and incapacitating dread then this is the book for you. Just don't get lost in the woods! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Compass and Fern for my complimentary copy.
September 23, 2024
I had no clue what was going on in this book the entire time I listened to it. Twelve hours of confusion. It's designed to be sort of formless and perplexing, and the reader is supposed to just find their way in all these story pieces. Harian tried to design a smart narrative, but it's just...messy.
The publisher compares this to HOUSE OF LEAVES, which is my favorite book, and while made of similar elements, keeps a better house than BRIARDARK. For one thing, HOL has a plot, while this one does not, discernably, have a beginning or end. HOL has conflict that resolves, while BRIARDARK never resolves anything, even the most minor problem, like someone wandering off. It keeps hinting that it's a story that "defies physics," but that already exists. It's called spatial fiction, and this isn't that either.
There's nothing new or imaginative about this. It's simply perplexing. Maybe it will make you say, "what the f--k did I just read?" but if that's your standard for a good book, there are actual good books that will also make you say that. Like House of Leaves.
Rating: 🌲 / 5 Forests (plots) to get lost in
Recommend? NoooOoo
Finished: March 4 2023
Thank you to the author S.A. Harian, publishers Compass and Fern LLC, and as always NetGalley, for an advance audio copy of BRIARDARK.
The publisher compares this to HOUSE OF LEAVES, which is my favorite book, and while made of similar elements, keeps a better house than BRIARDARK. For one thing, HOL has a plot, while this one does not, discernably, have a beginning or end. HOL has conflict that resolves, while BRIARDARK never resolves anything, even the most minor problem, like someone wandering off. It keeps hinting that it's a story that "defies physics," but that already exists. It's called spatial fiction, and this isn't that either.
There's nothing new or imaginative about this. It's simply perplexing. Maybe it will make you say, "what the f--k did I just read?" but if that's your standard for a good book, there are actual good books that will also make you say that. Like House of Leaves.
Rating: 🌲 / 5 Forests (plots) to get lost in
Recommend? NoooOoo
Finished: March 4 2023
Thank you to the author S.A. Harian, publishers Compass and Fern LLC, and as always NetGalley, for an advance audio copy of BRIARDARK.
December 17, 2024
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
Well Briardark. You really got me, you really got me now…
[ A group buddy read with my lovely, basically up for anything, fellow fast af readers, the CSA Buddy Reads little chat group on discord — thank you @Cee & @StateOfFiction for reading this with me! Wouldn’t have rather read it with anyone else! I love how our wild theories somehow always turn out true one way or another 😂 ]
So I went into this with VERY high hopes… the blurb was fascinating, but I came out of this with my expectations BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER! I never expected this to be a life-changing horror novel with so many different aspects that would render me completely & totally HOOKED! I will be recommending to ANY horror lover that I can find lmao! (This book really is THAT good! Seriously, do not hesitate! You are in for a treat !)
This freakin ingenious novel. This. Freaking. Novel. My GOD ! THIS BOOK WAS BRILLIANCE PERSONIFIED (BOOKIFIED?!). I am SHAKING writing this review because holy wow what can I even say? This was the perfect mix of horror & sci-fi… there was not one boring moment! If you want thrills, chills, a very sinister seeming deck of what seems like a form of tarot, and one hell of a mindf*ckaroo… this is the book for you! Also, I never thought I’d want my horror horror to be anything more than a standalone, but with the sense of adventure & sci-fi elements mixed in… it WORKS! I NEED & WANT MORE OF THIS STORY!
Just A Note: There are multiple timelines in this book, and for once… they were actually done TO PERFECTION! AL DENTE! And they’re totally not what you’d think!
I could say so much more here about this book, but I truly feel that it is best to go in blind… so my friends, please add this to your TBR if my review & the blurb entices you! I can promise you, you will NOT be disappointed !! And that is a promise I don’t give out lightly.
This was just absolute lunacy (in all the best ways), and curiouser & curiouser… and erm, perfection, did I mention perfection?! 🤣
Read this one kids, it will not disappoint !
100% recommend! Over & over!
A HUGE thank you to Netgalley & the publisher, as well as the author, for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Well Briardark. You really got me, you really got me now…
[ A group buddy read with my lovely, basically up for anything, fellow fast af readers, the CSA Buddy Reads little chat group on discord — thank you @Cee & @StateOfFiction for reading this with me! Wouldn’t have rather read it with anyone else! I love how our wild theories somehow always turn out true one way or another 😂 ]
So I went into this with VERY high hopes… the blurb was fascinating, but I came out of this with my expectations BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER! I never expected this to be a life-changing horror novel with so many different aspects that would render me completely & totally HOOKED! I will be recommending to ANY horror lover that I can find lmao! (This book really is THAT good! Seriously, do not hesitate! You are in for a treat !)
This freakin ingenious novel. This. Freaking. Novel. My GOD ! THIS BOOK WAS BRILLIANCE PERSONIFIED (BOOKIFIED?!). I am SHAKING writing this review because holy wow what can I even say? This was the perfect mix of horror & sci-fi… there was not one boring moment! If you want thrills, chills, a very sinister seeming deck of what seems like a form of tarot, and one hell of a mindf*ckaroo… this is the book for you! Also, I never thought I’d want my horror horror to be anything more than a standalone, but with the sense of adventure & sci-fi elements mixed in… it WORKS! I NEED & WANT MORE OF THIS STORY!
Just A Note: There are multiple timelines in this book, and for once… they were actually done TO PERFECTION! AL DENTE! And they’re totally not what you’d think!
I could say so much more here about this book, but I truly feel that it is best to go in blind… so my friends, please add this to your TBR if my review & the blurb entices you! I can promise you, you will NOT be disappointed !! And that is a promise I don’t give out lightly.
This was just absolute lunacy (in all the best ways), and curiouser & curiouser… and erm, perfection, did I mention perfection?! 🤣
Read this one kids, it will not disappoint !
100% recommend! Over & over!
A HUGE thank you to Netgalley & the publisher, as well as the author, for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 26, 2022
If you liked Dark, 1899, or The OA TV shows, you’ll probably like Briardark. It’s not the same (different format, horror-vibe ), but it defies expectations and IS mind-bending, especially in the story’s second half.
It also ends with a cliffhanger, but the sequel is on the way to the shelves in 2024.
Dr. Siena Dupont and her team explore the Alpenglow glacier for research. Things get tricky when they discover a hiker dangling from a tree. Normally, they would call the rangers at Deadswitch Wilderness, but their satellite phone isn’t working. And then the body vanishes. As if it had never been there. Siena’s map no longer aligns with the trail. It also seems the landscape changed slightly here and there.
The second important character, Holden, has wasted his potential working in IT at the university. The job doesn’t pay well, and his relationships suck. When he comes across old audio files on a discarded hard drive, he can’t resist the temptation to unravel the mystery. Dr. Siena Dupont recorded the files under huge stress and emotional turmoil. They give glimpses of the expedition and traumatic events, including the death of Dr. Siena’s colleague.
At first glance, the story seems familiar. A regular guy wants to solve a mystery (actually more than one, because another group of people has disappeared without a trace somewhere in the Deadswitch Wilderness). Things get complicated. Except that the author sets an ominous tone here and raises certain expectations that soon prove to be inaccurate. The story is much more complicated and mind-bending than expected, playing with time and twisting reality.
Briardark impressed me with the tight plotting and wide cast of compelling characters. While I had no clue where the story was going, I felt it was going somewhere instead of simply trying to confuse the reader. I didn’t get the resolution, but the way plotlines converge, I expect exciting things to happen in the sequel.
The story is packed with tension and credible characters that propel readers forward. But it also has some flaws: it offers no conclusion, and some characters are more interesting than others. I'm using the word mind-bending to describe it because I like mind-bending stuff (like the shows mentioned at the beginning of the post). Some readers, though, may call it confusing and DNF the story.
For me, Briardark was original and exciting, with good prose and great timing. I recommend it to fans of unsettling stories that push at the genre's boundaries and readers of the uncanny.
It also ends with a cliffhanger, but the sequel is on the way to the shelves in 2024.
Dr. Siena Dupont and her team explore the Alpenglow glacier for research. Things get tricky when they discover a hiker dangling from a tree. Normally, they would call the rangers at Deadswitch Wilderness, but their satellite phone isn’t working. And then the body vanishes. As if it had never been there. Siena’s map no longer aligns with the trail. It also seems the landscape changed slightly here and there.
The second important character, Holden, has wasted his potential working in IT at the university. The job doesn’t pay well, and his relationships suck. When he comes across old audio files on a discarded hard drive, he can’t resist the temptation to unravel the mystery. Dr. Siena Dupont recorded the files under huge stress and emotional turmoil. They give glimpses of the expedition and traumatic events, including the death of Dr. Siena’s colleague.
At first glance, the story seems familiar. A regular guy wants to solve a mystery (actually more than one, because another group of people has disappeared without a trace somewhere in the Deadswitch Wilderness). Things get complicated. Except that the author sets an ominous tone here and raises certain expectations that soon prove to be inaccurate. The story is much more complicated and mind-bending than expected, playing with time and twisting reality.
Briardark impressed me with the tight plotting and wide cast of compelling characters. While I had no clue where the story was going, I felt it was going somewhere instead of simply trying to confuse the reader. I didn’t get the resolution, but the way plotlines converge, I expect exciting things to happen in the sequel.
The story is packed with tension and credible characters that propel readers forward. But it also has some flaws: it offers no conclusion, and some characters are more interesting than others. I'm using the word mind-bending to describe it because I like mind-bending stuff (like the shows mentioned at the beginning of the post). Some readers, though, may call it confusing and DNF the story.
For me, Briardark was original and exciting, with good prose and great timing. I recommend it to fans of unsettling stories that push at the genre's boundaries and readers of the uncanny.
June 24, 2023
3.5/5 stars
What would happen if the creators of Netflix’s Dark teamed up with Blake Crouch, and wrote a sci-fi horror-mystery set in Area X from Annihilation…? First, I’d throw my money at them unquestioningly and second, you’d get something quite similar to what S.A. Harian created with Briardark.
7 years ago a group of 5 young hikers, among them a famous Youtube streamer of survival horror-games, goes missing without a trace in the remote and desolate wilderness of the Deadswitch-woods. None of them are ever heard from again. History now threatens to repeat itself when a group of environmental scientist on a field expedition encounter a series of inexplicable phenomena in the area. Landmarks disappear without a trace, satellite phones fail and strange, everchanging foliage hides dark shadows in the periphery.
Told through alternating perspectives, between the missing researchers and the man looking into their disappearance via recovered audio- and video-logs, Briardark takes us on a disorienting journey through time and place, into the dark woods…
What I liked:
Briardark had me hooked from page one with its tight plot, compelling mysteries and unsettling twists. With almost every chapter ending on a cliff-hanger or suspenseful reveal, I was reading compulsively past my bed-time, unable to put the book down. Where the synopsis may seem “familiar”, it subverts expectations, adds elements and leaves you second-guessing all the way until the end. Throughout the novel you might feel disoriented at times, but it always feels intentional, rather than being the result of poor plotting. Rather, you feel what the characters feel as they uncover piece by little piece of the puzzle that is the Deadswitch-wilderness.
Worldbuilding, environmental descriptions and atmosphere are spot-on. I’ve started this review by comparing the atmosphere and setting to Area X, which is a huge compliment coming from me, as Annihilation is my uncontested favourite horror-novel.
What I didn’t like:
The engagement I felt to the plot and mystery unfortunately didn’t extend to the characters. Despite the authors efforts I never felt attached or connected to them beyond their “role” in moving the plot. This may be in part due to the many different POV’s, that all read quite similar, and don’t differ in narrative tone of voice from one character to the next. For a plot-/mystery-driven story, this works fine, but for me as a character-driven reader, I would’ve liked to get to know our cast a little more in depth. I do really appreciate a cast of smart characters, who actually act smart on page, at the center of a survival horror novel. It’s surprisingly rare, but brings a breath of fresh air to the genre.
When I first received my ARC, I wasn’t aware that this would be the start of a new series. As such, I wasn’t quite able to adjust my expectations towards the ending. Briardark leaves many questions and mysteries open, and although it succeeded in hooking me for the sequel, I would’ve like to have gotten a little bit more resolution at the end. I’m hoping the author will nail the ending in the sequel, and not repeat the pitfalls of her YA debut.
Overall, despite the slightly unsatisfying ending, I still recommend Briardarkfor fans of sci-fi-horror or speculative mysteries. I myself will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Many thanks to Compass and Fern for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What would happen if the creators of Netflix’s Dark teamed up with Blake Crouch, and wrote a sci-fi horror-mystery set in Area X from Annihilation…? First, I’d throw my money at them unquestioningly and second, you’d get something quite similar to what S.A. Harian created with Briardark.
7 years ago a group of 5 young hikers, among them a famous Youtube streamer of survival horror-games, goes missing without a trace in the remote and desolate wilderness of the Deadswitch-woods. None of them are ever heard from again. History now threatens to repeat itself when a group of environmental scientist on a field expedition encounter a series of inexplicable phenomena in the area. Landmarks disappear without a trace, satellite phones fail and strange, everchanging foliage hides dark shadows in the periphery.
Told through alternating perspectives, between the missing researchers and the man looking into their disappearance via recovered audio- and video-logs, Briardark takes us on a disorienting journey through time and place, into the dark woods…
What I liked:
Briardark had me hooked from page one with its tight plot, compelling mysteries and unsettling twists. With almost every chapter ending on a cliff-hanger or suspenseful reveal, I was reading compulsively past my bed-time, unable to put the book down. Where the synopsis may seem “familiar”, it subverts expectations, adds elements and leaves you second-guessing all the way until the end. Throughout the novel you might feel disoriented at times, but it always feels intentional, rather than being the result of poor plotting. Rather, you feel what the characters feel as they uncover piece by little piece of the puzzle that is the Deadswitch-wilderness.
Worldbuilding, environmental descriptions and atmosphere are spot-on. I’ve started this review by comparing the atmosphere and setting to Area X, which is a huge compliment coming from me, as Annihilation is my uncontested favourite horror-novel.
What I didn’t like:
The engagement I felt to the plot and mystery unfortunately didn’t extend to the characters. Despite the authors efforts I never felt attached or connected to them beyond their “role” in moving the plot. This may be in part due to the many different POV’s, that all read quite similar, and don’t differ in narrative tone of voice from one character to the next. For a plot-/mystery-driven story, this works fine, but for me as a character-driven reader, I would’ve liked to get to know our cast a little more in depth. I do really appreciate a cast of smart characters, who actually act smart on page, at the center of a survival horror novel. It’s surprisingly rare, but brings a breath of fresh air to the genre.
When I first received my ARC, I wasn’t aware that this would be the start of a new series. As such, I wasn’t quite able to adjust my expectations towards the ending. Briardark leaves many questions and mysteries open, and although it succeeded in hooking me for the sequel, I would’ve like to have gotten a little bit more resolution at the end. I’m hoping the author will nail the ending in the sequel, and not repeat the pitfalls of her YA debut.
Overall, despite the slightly unsatisfying ending, I still recommend Briardarkfor fans of sci-fi-horror or speculative mysteries. I myself will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Many thanks to Compass and Fern for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 13, 2022
So long to the reading slump I was in before this book came along. I finished this in a matter of 24 hours and only stopped for sleep and work. The writing wasn’t totally my vibe, but the plot more than made up for it. It gave me that pit in my stomach that so many other horror books fail to provide and I loved every haunting second. If you’re a fan of weird folk horror- pick this one up.
*thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
*thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 18, 2023
3.5 stars
I have so many questions. 💀 RTC
I have so many questions. 💀 RTC
November 22, 2022
Don’t stray from the path! This book was wild! I love books set in the woods and bonus points for creepy, spooky elements!
Several years ago, five women entered the Deadswitch woods on a hiking trip, never to be seen again. Now, a group of scientists go into the same woods with dire consequences. Things do not make sense as their perception of time and world around them changes.
Simultaneously, an IT tech stumbles upon audio files from the group and feels like he needs to help find them.
Briardark is available January 16,2023.
Thank you to netgalley and compassandfern for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Several years ago, five women entered the Deadswitch woods on a hiking trip, never to be seen again. Now, a group of scientists go into the same woods with dire consequences. Things do not make sense as their perception of time and world around them changes.
Simultaneously, an IT tech stumbles upon audio files from the group and feels like he needs to help find them.
Briardark is available January 16,2023.
Thank you to netgalley and compassandfern for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2023
Fast-paced, scary, and addicting as hell. Now this is the good horror I've been craving! And so very rare within this genre; Briardark has lots of varied, complex, and non-stupid characters! 😍
The only bad thing is I gotta wait till 2024 for the sequel. 😩
I might write more upon re-read...
The only bad thing is I gotta wait till 2024 for the sequel. 😩
I might write more upon re-read...
March 21, 2024
This was all a blur and not in a good way.
I was as lost as the hikers every time I picked it up so it was a pain to get through unfortunately .
I was as lost as the hikers every time I picked it up so it was a pain to get through unfortunately .
December 19, 2022
Briardark by S.A. Harian was easily a 5 star read. This sci-fi, horror mystery was really good. I believe this was a debut novel and it checked all the boxes for me. It flowed well for me and had a unique story. I love backpacking so I really enjoyed that part. This was part of a series and man oh man I can’t wait for next one. Interesting characters in an interesting place that had my full attention.
I read some of this but finished by listening to the audiobook. Both were equally good but if you love audiobooks the narrator was excellent.
I hope you pick this book up!
Thanks Compass and Fern via NetGalley.
I read some of this but finished by listening to the audiobook. Both were equally good but if you love audiobooks the narrator was excellent.
I hope you pick this book up!
Thanks Compass and Fern via NetGalley.
February 8, 2023
I really should have loved this, with its forest setting, horror theme and mysterious events. It was great that there were creepy, unbelievable things happening, but it didn't seem to gel for me and I just didn't get a clear picture of what was going on. Rather than some mysteries within a cohesive story, I felt there were too many mysteries and not enough solid content. I presumed I would at least get some closure at the end of the book but the cliffhanger frustrated me.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2023
Wow! Such a great book. I found myself captivated by the story right from the start. Such a mysterious and engrossing storyline. It's the kind of book that stays with you when you have finished it. At least it did for me—the only drawback...the cliffhanger ending. At the same time, I'm glad that there is going to be another book because I found the story so good that I want more. I can't wait for the sequel to be published!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley!
January 16, 2023
Seven years ago five young women, one a gaming influencer, enter Deadswitch Wilderness for a backpacking trip and disappear.
Now a group of scientists, Siena, Cameron, Emmett and Isaac, enter the same Deadswitch on a expedition to document and take samples from a glacier, called the Alpenglow. Cam had previously been in the search party for the missing women.
On the journey up they find a body, it looks like one the missing women but that’s impossible as that was seven years ago and the body hasn’t aged, then the body disappears.
There is a creeping dread to their journey and when they arrive at their base they find the glacier they’ve come to study has melted in a few days, which is impossible. The natural world around them, the trees, plants and vegetation feel sentient as if they are closing in around them, giving a feeling of claustrophobia.
Meanwhile, Holden, an IT tech finds audio files from this study and links with a another scientist and his colleague, Angel to find out what happened to them as the files are disturbing, but things are not as they seem.
The chapters alternate between the Expedition and Holden’s group trying to find them as the story plays out.
It is a really creepy and dark story. I love horror but this was chilling and scary in a really insidious way. The Briardark haunts Deadswitch and influences those that enter it, twisting their perception of time and reality. I loved every minute in this world!
This is part one of a series of books and I read it as an ARC from NetGalley.
Honestly read this, it’s out on 16th Jan 2023, it is horror, sci-fi, thriller, mystery and fantasy all rolled into one beautiful insanity ride. It will scramble your brain but it’s a good scramble. Easy 5 stars!
Now a group of scientists, Siena, Cameron, Emmett and Isaac, enter the same Deadswitch on a expedition to document and take samples from a glacier, called the Alpenglow. Cam had previously been in the search party for the missing women.
On the journey up they find a body, it looks like one the missing women but that’s impossible as that was seven years ago and the body hasn’t aged, then the body disappears.
There is a creeping dread to their journey and when they arrive at their base they find the glacier they’ve come to study has melted in a few days, which is impossible. The natural world around them, the trees, plants and vegetation feel sentient as if they are closing in around them, giving a feeling of claustrophobia.
Meanwhile, Holden, an IT tech finds audio files from this study and links with a another scientist and his colleague, Angel to find out what happened to them as the files are disturbing, but things are not as they seem.
The chapters alternate between the Expedition and Holden’s group trying to find them as the story plays out.
It is a really creepy and dark story. I love horror but this was chilling and scary in a really insidious way. The Briardark haunts Deadswitch and influences those that enter it, twisting their perception of time and reality. I loved every minute in this world!
This is part one of a series of books and I read it as an ARC from NetGalley.
Honestly read this, it’s out on 16th Jan 2023, it is horror, sci-fi, thriller, mystery and fantasy all rolled into one beautiful insanity ride. It will scramble your brain but it’s a good scramble. Easy 5 stars!
April 4, 2023
Simplified plot:
A team of scientists get lost in the wilderness. A university IT worker discovers audio recordings of the team's journey.
Opening lines:
After everything Avery had been through, she wasn't about to die from some damn lightning bolt. Which meant she needed to get off this wet granite. Fast.
Review:
This is an amalgamation of much loved tropes in horror: wilderness/survival + cosmic + epistolary style and I could keep going. I thought it would be distracting or that I would get lost following almost a dozen different characters in different time points, but the novel is so well-paced and the story is riveting and told really well. This novel ends on a cliffhanger, but even though I hate that so much in general, I don't even care because of how good this book is. I cannot wait for the second installment.
A team of scientists get lost in the wilderness. A university IT worker discovers audio recordings of the team's journey.
Opening lines:
After everything Avery had been through, she wasn't about to die from some damn lightning bolt. Which meant she needed to get off this wet granite. Fast.
Review:
This is an amalgamation of much loved tropes in horror: wilderness/survival + cosmic + epistolary style and I could keep going. I thought it would be distracting or that I would get lost following almost a dozen different characters in different time points, but the novel is so well-paced and the story is riveting and told really well. This novel ends on a cliffhanger, but even though I hate that so much in general, I don't even care because of how good this book is. I cannot wait for the second installment.
February 2, 2023
There’s a difference between ending a book on a cliffhanger to set up for a series and just straight up not offering a single shred of resolution for anything that’s happened in the story.
This was frustrating and very much felt like the author was just writing as much “crazy” stuff as they could for shock value while having no actual reason for 90% of it. It was trying to do way too much to actually accomplish anything well.
Despite knowing it’s a series and being slightly curious still, this left such a bad taste in my mouth that I likely won’t pick up the second book.
This was frustrating and very much felt like the author was just writing as much “crazy” stuff as they could for shock value while having no actual reason for 90% of it. It was trying to do way too much to actually accomplish anything well.
Despite knowing it’s a series and being slightly curious still, this left such a bad taste in my mouth that I likely won’t pick up the second book.
September 19, 2024
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
I hesitated a bit at requesting Briardark, as the description says "for fans of Lost and House of Leaves," which is totally in my wheelhouse, but I've read other books that made such claims but fell way short of their promise. But Briardark absolutely fits that description and more - in addition to having the kind of mysteries, possible time travel and/or alternate dimensions associated with both those properties, it also was reminiscent of at least two specific X-Files episodes and the movie/novel Annihilation. It mainly starts when Holden, an IT guy working for Oregon State University, is tasked with checking old external hard drives to see if they have any pertinent data left on them before wiping them clean. On one he discovers files, including audio files, of Dr. Siena Dupont, a fancy geologist from Cal Tech who led an expedition into the Deadswitch Wilderness in northern California to follow up on previous research of a melting glacier that had been conducted many years before. This also happens to be the same area about which a famous true crime book had been written about five hikers who went missing without a trace in that same region seven years previous. But now Dupont's team encounters strange things on the mountain, including possible findings relating to the missing hikers, trails and mountain peaks that don't appear on normal maps, a mysterious dark presence and possible time/space anomalies. Meanwhile, the recovered audio files lead Holden to begin a search of his own to find out what happened to Dupont who may or may not be missing herself.
This novel was written in an intense and captivating manner, the mysteries keeping you glued to the page and eager to find out what happens next. While a lot isn't explained, at no point is the plot too obtuse or confusing, just mysterious. The only real drawback is, though I know it's listed as part one of a series, it was frustrating that just as it seemed a crucial turning point was about to occur, the book ended. I'm not sure I can take another 360 pages of going through all the mystery, but I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I hesitated a bit at requesting Briardark, as the description says "for fans of Lost and House of Leaves," which is totally in my wheelhouse, but I've read other books that made such claims but fell way short of their promise. But Briardark absolutely fits that description and more - in addition to having the kind of mysteries, possible time travel and/or alternate dimensions associated with both those properties, it also was reminiscent of at least two specific X-Files episodes and the movie/novel Annihilation. It mainly starts when Holden, an IT guy working for Oregon State University, is tasked with checking old external hard drives to see if they have any pertinent data left on them before wiping them clean. On one he discovers files, including audio files, of Dr. Siena Dupont, a fancy geologist from Cal Tech who led an expedition into the Deadswitch Wilderness in northern California to follow up on previous research of a melting glacier that had been conducted many years before. This also happens to be the same area about which a famous true crime book had been written about five hikers who went missing without a trace in that same region seven years previous. But now Dupont's team encounters strange things on the mountain, including possible findings relating to the missing hikers, trails and mountain peaks that don't appear on normal maps, a mysterious dark presence and possible time/space anomalies. Meanwhile, the recovered audio files lead Holden to begin a search of his own to find out what happened to Dupont who may or may not be missing herself.
This novel was written in an intense and captivating manner, the mysteries keeping you glued to the page and eager to find out what happens next. While a lot isn't explained, at no point is the plot too obtuse or confusing, just mysterious. The only real drawback is, though I know it's listed as part one of a series, it was frustrating that just as it seemed a crucial turning point was about to occur, the book ended. I'm not sure I can take another 360 pages of going through all the mystery, but I can't wait to find out what happens next.
June 20, 2023
I'm not going to continue in the series.
While I liked a couple of the characters, the pacing was slow for me. I almost DNF'd this a couple of times. Each time, the author would then write something else that would draw me back in. That was good, except then the pacing would slow again.
It soon became clear (and this was my biggest problem) that there would be no real ending to this. I'm okay with a cliffhanger when there's still something satisfying about how the book ends, but this is more...simple continuation of the story.
While not for me, it's also not a bad read. It definitely should work for others.
While I liked a couple of the characters, the pacing was slow for me. I almost DNF'd this a couple of times. Each time, the author would then write something else that would draw me back in. That was good, except then the pacing would slow again.
It soon became clear (and this was my biggest problem) that there would be no real ending to this. I'm okay with a cliffhanger when there's still something satisfying about how the book ends, but this is more...simple continuation of the story.
While not for me, it's also not a bad read. It definitely should work for others.
April 5, 2023
First off, this ends in a gnarly cliffhanger, fair warning.
Other than that, this was pretty good wilderness horror. A combination of vibes from The Ruins, The Terror, other found footage media, Briardark keeps you guessing to the end - and beyond, as it turns out, as a second book is going to wrap this up. I wish I'd known beforehand but it was good and creepy, if a bit cerebral and confusing at parts. It felt to me, listening, that pacing slowed in the latter half so that was frustrating, then to end with a cliffie like that... Nevertheless, I need to know what happened and book two is on my TBR.
Other than that, this was pretty good wilderness horror. A combination of vibes from The Ruins, The Terror, other found footage media, Briardark keeps you guessing to the end - and beyond, as it turns out, as a second book is going to wrap this up. I wish I'd known beforehand but it was good and creepy, if a bit cerebral and confusing at parts. It felt to me, listening, that pacing slowed in the latter half so that was frustrating, then to end with a cliffie like that... Nevertheless, I need to know what happened and book two is on my TBR.
October 15, 2022
Genre: Horror.
Format: eARC.
Age Recommendation: 16+
Expected Publication: January 16th, 2023.
Feels Like: LOST, The Sea of Tranquility (Emily St John Mandel).
During a career-defining expedition to Alpenglow glacier, Dr Siena Dupont and her team discover a body hanging from the trees. Then, the body mysteriously disappears. The disappearance isn’t the only odd thing going on though. Siena’s map no longer aligns with the trail, the glacier they were supposed to study has melted, and a tunnel within a tree hollow lures Siena to a hidden cabin. Will the team make it through the Deadswitch Wilderness? Or will the wilderness swallow them whole and leave them gone without a trace?
Briardark is dark, haunting and bone chillingly creepy. Using time and space, as well as new dimensions to help keep you on your toes. With multiple points of view, and different timelines, Harian weaves a beautiful web, creating a spooky read that is perfect for a night time read. This is a wonderful use of cover art to really give you a look at just the kind of book you a signing up for. If you are ready for a new dark series that keeps you guessing and hanging on the edge of your seat, add this one to your to read pile!
Thank you to NetGalley for an eBook copy in exchange for my honest review.
Format: eARC.
Age Recommendation: 16+
Expected Publication: January 16th, 2023.
Feels Like: LOST, The Sea of Tranquility (Emily St John Mandel).
During a career-defining expedition to Alpenglow glacier, Dr Siena Dupont and her team discover a body hanging from the trees. Then, the body mysteriously disappears. The disappearance isn’t the only odd thing going on though. Siena’s map no longer aligns with the trail, the glacier they were supposed to study has melted, and a tunnel within a tree hollow lures Siena to a hidden cabin. Will the team make it through the Deadswitch Wilderness? Or will the wilderness swallow them whole and leave them gone without a trace?
Briardark is dark, haunting and bone chillingly creepy. Using time and space, as well as new dimensions to help keep you on your toes. With multiple points of view, and different timelines, Harian weaves a beautiful web, creating a spooky read that is perfect for a night time read. This is a wonderful use of cover art to really give you a look at just the kind of book you a signing up for. If you are ready for a new dark series that keeps you guessing and hanging on the edge of your seat, add this one to your to read pile!
Thank you to NetGalley for an eBook copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 17, 2023
Five young women, and a gaming influencer, enter Deadswitch Wilderness seven years ago for a backpacking trip and disappear. Present day a group of scientists, enter Deadswitch on a expedition to Alpenglow glacier to document and take samples from a glacier. Cam had previously been part of the search party for the missing women. On the journey up they find a body, which looks like one of the missing women, but the body hasn't aged, and suddenly disappears.
When they arrive at their base they discover the glacier has melted in a few days! The natural environment around them feel as if they are closing in around them. Meanwhile, Holden, finds audio files from this study and works alongside his colleague to find out what happened, the files are disturbing, but things are not as they seem.
It is a chilling and dark story. The Briardark haunts Deadswitch and influences everyone who enters, twisting time and reality. I loved every minute in this world!
When they arrive at their base they discover the glacier has melted in a few days! The natural environment around them feel as if they are closing in around them. Meanwhile, Holden, finds audio files from this study and works alongside his colleague to find out what happened, the files are disturbing, but things are not as they seem.
It is a chilling and dark story. The Briardark haunts Deadswitch and influences everyone who enters, twisting time and reality. I loved every minute in this world!
December 27, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Compass and Fern LLC for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book was really good. It had elements of sci-fi, horror and drama and they all blended well. I enjoyed the three parallel stories, and the narration was great. However, I am really confused as there was no ending. It was left wide open and there were many unanswered questions. Is this the beginning of a series? I certainly hope so as I have so many questions that I would like answered. This is the reason for the 3 star review. There were a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up.
All in all, great novel, however I'm just concerned about the lack of answers and the abrupt ending.
This book was really good. It had elements of sci-fi, horror and drama and they all blended well. I enjoyed the three parallel stories, and the narration was great. However, I am really confused as there was no ending. It was left wide open and there were many unanswered questions. Is this the beginning of a series? I certainly hope so as I have so many questions that I would like answered. This is the reason for the 3 star review. There were a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up.
All in all, great novel, however I'm just concerned about the lack of answers and the abrupt ending.
March 10, 2023
***updating my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars. I can't stop thinking about this book.***
I really enjoyed this book! Dr. Siena Dupont and her small team set off into the Deadswitch Wilderness to study the Alpenglow glacier and then a ton of crazy things happen and they just keep happening. the other important character is Holden, who comes across Dr. Siena Duponts hard drives and audio files recounting the madness of the expedition in the Wilderness. Holden in intrigued by the mystery of the recording and is determined to solve it.
This story is told from multiple POVS, I'm a big fan of this if its done right and I think this was definitely done right. The author was able to portray each characters view without having the same information overlapping from character to character.
I was enveloped in the story from page one, when you think you might have an idea of what is happening... you don't. I was a little disappointed that the book finished without any concrete answers but I know this is just book #1 in the series and I cant wait for when book #2 releases. I need answers!!!
I think if you enjoyed the shows "LOST" and "DARK" then you're likely to really enjoy this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Compass and Fern, and S.A. Harian for sharing the digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my authentic review.
I really enjoyed this book! Dr. Siena Dupont and her small team set off into the Deadswitch Wilderness to study the Alpenglow glacier and then a ton of crazy things happen and they just keep happening. the other important character is Holden, who comes across Dr. Siena Duponts hard drives and audio files recounting the madness of the expedition in the Wilderness. Holden in intrigued by the mystery of the recording and is determined to solve it.
This story is told from multiple POVS, I'm a big fan of this if its done right and I think this was definitely done right. The author was able to portray each characters view without having the same information overlapping from character to character.
I was enveloped in the story from page one, when you think you might have an idea of what is happening... you don't. I was a little disappointed that the book finished without any concrete answers but I know this is just book #1 in the series and I cant wait for when book #2 releases. I need answers!!!
I think if you enjoyed the shows "LOST" and "DARK" then you're likely to really enjoy this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Compass and Fern, and S.A. Harian for sharing the digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my authentic review.
February 25, 2023
Rating: 3 leaves out of 5
Characters: 2.5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Scifi
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yup
Hated|Disliked|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to listen to this book.
Where to start with this book. I won't lie. I love the story but I HATED the characters, well not all but Siena and Cameron the most... mostly Cameron. She gave off "ALL MEN ARE ASSHOLES AND NONE OF THEM COULD REMOTELY BE GOOD." Did she treat Isaac nicely? Barely. Cam was the one to make a possible 5 star book into a 3.
That being said I still have no clue on what the fuck Emmett did. Honest to God. I don't know if I missed it or if she just didn't say it.
You know how they say men shouldn't write women? I am going to say S.A. shouldn't or at least not Lesbians because the guys were pretty good in this book.
Besides the limp dick characters I adored the story. If I was judging just on the story the book would be about a 5 if not a 5. It felt kind of like Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer in the sense of being in a SciFi bubble.
Characters: 2.5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Story: 2.5/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Scifi
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yup
Hated|Disliked|It Was Okay|Liked|Loved
Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to listen to this book.
Where to start with this book. I won't lie. I love the story but I HATED the characters, well not all but Siena and Cameron the most... mostly Cameron. She gave off "ALL MEN ARE ASSHOLES AND NONE OF THEM COULD REMOTELY BE GOOD." Did she treat Isaac nicely? Barely. Cam was the one to make a possible 5 star book into a 3.
That being said I still have no clue on what the fuck Emmett did. Honest to God. I don't know if I missed it or if she just didn't say it.
You know how they say men shouldn't write women? I am going to say S.A. shouldn't or at least not Lesbians because the guys were pretty good in this book.
Besides the limp dick characters I adored the story. If I was judging just on the story the book would be about a 5 if not a 5. It felt kind of like Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer in the sense of being in a SciFi bubble.
June 23, 2025
Spooky and Mysterious. I'm 100% invested in what's going on on that dang mountain. I have no clue what's going to happen...
How did Isaac age like that?
Why did Holden get those voice notes from the future, and how the frickle-frackle-fuck is Holden even connected to Siena?! I'm dying to know. Off to book 2.
How did Isaac age like that?
Why did Holden get those voice notes from the future, and how the frickle-frackle-fuck is Holden even connected to Siena?! I'm dying to know. Off to book 2.
January 13, 2023
3½⭐
MOODS
➨ Horror
➨ With a Sci-fi Vibe
➨ Book #1 of 2
WHAT YOU GET
➨ Lost meets Planet Skyring (from The 100) kind of freakiness
➨ With a dash of Annihilation
➨ Creepy Atmosphere
➨ Confusing timelines and POV switches
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher Compass and Fern for my audiobook copy in exchange for a review.
I want to say that I loved this since the atmosphere, and the characters were both on point. Unfortunately, I was left hella confused most of the time. Basically, this is a story that’s supposed to leave you feeling lost…a lot like the show “Lost” did. But I believe I was a little too lost…since I couldn’t keep my head in the story with the different POVs all being voiced by the same narrator. It would have been easier to keep straight if there had been a second narrator, at least, I think it would’ve been. Also, once I found out there was a sequel…I was a little less upset with how it ended…because that ending left me even more confused…ugh. Although, it’s still up in the air whether I’ll listen to the second book or not…it really depends on how easy it is for me to obtain a copy of it.
NARRATION=🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
📣 Brenda Scott Wlazlo was an amazingly good narrator. Her voice fit the atmosphere perfectly…but I still wish that Holden would’ve had a separate narrator.
Total Score 6.71/10 | Opening-8 | Characters-7.5 | Plot-6 | Atmosphere-6.5 | Writing Style-7 | Ending-6 | Overall Enjoyment- 6
MOODS
➨ Horror
➨ With a Sci-fi Vibe
➨ Book #1 of 2
WHAT YOU GET
➨ Lost meets Planet Skyring (from The 100) kind of freakiness
➨ With a dash of Annihilation
➨ Creepy Atmosphere
➨ Confusing timelines and POV switches
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher Compass and Fern for my audiobook copy in exchange for a review.
I want to say that I loved this since the atmosphere, and the characters were both on point. Unfortunately, I was left hella confused most of the time. Basically, this is a story that’s supposed to leave you feeling lost…a lot like the show “Lost” did. But I believe I was a little too lost…since I couldn’t keep my head in the story with the different POVs all being voiced by the same narrator. It would have been easier to keep straight if there had been a second narrator, at least, I think it would’ve been. Also, once I found out there was a sequel…I was a little less upset with how it ended…because that ending left me even more confused…ugh. Although, it’s still up in the air whether I’ll listen to the second book or not…it really depends on how easy it is for me to obtain a copy of it.
NARRATION=🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
📣 Brenda Scott Wlazlo was an amazingly good narrator. Her voice fit the atmosphere perfectly…but I still wish that Holden would’ve had a separate narrator.
Total Score 6.71/10 | Opening-8 | Characters-7.5 | Plot-6 | Atmosphere-6.5 | Writing Style-7 | Ending-6 | Overall Enjoyment- 6
December 30, 2022
Finished on the last day of 2022 and quickly added to my 2022 favorites. Waw. Briardark is an amazing intriguing quick read that keeps you hooked for hours. I read this in two days in two sittings and spent my whole day reading it altho I’m kinda in a slump. The plot is fastpaced and exciting with some breathers inbetween the exciting stuff but the whole story felt exciting overall actually. All characters are loveable and I felt for them through their adventure.
I gasped at multiple occasions and got spooked by the rich way the author describes locations and happenings on multiple times. It kinda reminded me of the game ‘oxenfree’ wich is about multiple dimensions and time descrepancies.
The story ends on a cliffhanger wich was a liiiitle bit too big to my liking wich is the reason for my 4.5 star rating. I was made to curious about Holden’s path in this story to be left hanging I guess?
I haven’t read alot of horror yet but this was deff the best I read so far and will probably stay one of my favorite books for awhile! Amazing read!
I gasped at multiple occasions and got spooked by the rich way the author describes locations and happenings on multiple times. It kinda reminded me of the game ‘oxenfree’ wich is about multiple dimensions and time descrepancies.
The story ends on a cliffhanger wich was a liiiitle bit too big to my liking wich is the reason for my 4.5 star rating. I was made to curious about Holden’s path in this story to be left hanging I guess?
I haven’t read alot of horror yet but this was deff the best I read so far and will probably stay one of my favorite books for awhile! Amazing read!
January 2, 2023
This book was a trip! A trip I don't want to take!
I love books like this. Books like what? I bet you are asking yourself.
It starts off fine with a lovely expedition, and then we no longer know which way is up or which way is down. The author is able to show that without confusing you, and that takes a lot of skill.
The characters are great with their own lies and backstories they interweave and mesh so well together.
My least favorite thing about this book is that I have to wait for the next one, but trust me, I will be waiting for it.
This book comes out 1/16/23.
I love books like this. Books like what? I bet you are asking yourself.
It starts off fine with a lovely expedition, and then we no longer know which way is up or which way is down. The author is able to show that without confusing you, and that takes a lot of skill.
The characters are great with their own lies and backstories they interweave and mesh so well together.
My least favorite thing about this book is that I have to wait for the next one, but trust me, I will be waiting for it.
This book comes out 1/16/23.
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