⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Release Date: 5/24/22
I was really in the mood for a nice, fast-paced, horror book, and I sped through this one! My kindle said it would take about 7 hours, and I just zoomed through it!
This novel certainly kept my attention, and really got you invested in the characters. It was definitely a spooky premise, but sometimes I got lost in the details. There are still some questions I have about who some characters were, or why certain things happened, but overall this one a book that I couldn’t put down!
Synopsis:

The challenge: Spend a week hiding in an abandoned amusement park and don’t get caught.

The prize: enough money to change everything.

Even though everyone is desperate to win—to seize a dream future or escape a haunting past—Mack is sure she can beat her competitors. All she has to do is hide, and she’s an expert at that.

It’s the reason she’s alive and her family isn’t.

But as the people around her begin disappearing one by one, Mack realizes that this competition is even more sinister than she imagined, and that together might be the only way to survive.

Fourteen competitors. Seven days. Everywhere to hide but nowhere to run.

Come out, come out, wherever you are.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXy1jU-r Ha_/

Oh boy, I was waiting for this one!

I discovered Kiersten White with her two excellent books in the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" universe: "Slayer" and "Chosen" so I was excited when I heard Kiersten White would be releasing her first adult novel which I had the great pleasure to receive in advance.

Is it adult? Yes...... BUT it takes place in a abandoned amusement park with a cast of 14 characters who play a game of hide-and-seek with the chance to win $50k. But this is Kiersten White so things are not as simple as it seems. The horror starts and it's The Hunger Games all over again.,

Do I give it five stars? I don't think I can because honestly I thought there were too many characters to keep track of. I liked the main character, Mack, who plays this game with nothing to lose but I felt it got bogged down a bit. It also may be a little too political in places?

But, that aside this was a solid thriller and another excellent book by Kiersten White.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.75 stars.

I enjoyed this book, although it was not quite what I was expecting. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I went into this expecting one type of horror and was met with one much different than I had imagined. The writing style and language were good and the book was overall a quick and easy read.

Knocked off one star because:

a) The ending left me wanting more. The climax of the novel seemed a little lacking, so the ending felt lukewarm. However, that could have been due to the fact that I was expecting a different type of horror, to begin with.

b) Although I appreciated the many perspectives from all the different characters, it seemed a little hard for me to focus on which one was the "main" character. I also found that Mack's background and violent experience mentioned on the first page could have been better linked to the plot, or further explained. I didn't see the point of why it was mentioned, other than the fact that she knew how to hide.

Overall, I liked it and I would definitely consider picking up another horror from this author.

I received an advanced copy of HIDE from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. HIDE follows fourteen characters as they navigate a “hide and seek” contest. The last one found wins $50,000 dollars, something all of them need desperately. Each character feels fully fleshed out and all but one is so easy to understand and sympathize with. Mack, especially, is a traumatized underdog you really want to see succeed.

The competition is super secretive and the contestants don’t have a lot of information, which allows them to turn on one another quickly and get suspicious. Accusations fly, until folks become divided and team up.

As the contest progresses, we learn a dark secret about the people hosting it. The anticipation and dread remains strong throughout the story, and keeps you turning pages until there aren’t any left. Definitely recommend for suspenseful horror fans.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

You ever read one of those books that plays out like a movie in your head? It's got a good pace. It's got a good premise. It's got a good cast. It's got a good setting. It's got everything needed to fit the mold of a modern day smash at the box office.

This book... is that. It has all of those things. And I think it should be a movie.

The characters were great - I hated some, I loved some, I had some to root for.

The premise was awesome - the readers were given hints that not all was as it seemed, but we watched the cast slowly figure it out.

The storyline was fantastic - the perfect horror movie setup and build.

All in all, the only complaint that I had was that, at the end, I was hoping for just a tad bit more. But that's also not a complain, because the best books always leave you wanting more (in a good way).

Five stars. Highly recommend. Will definitely be picking up more of this author's work in the future.

It’s The Ruins, but set in a crumbling amusement park, and every character (and there are many) is a stereotype and/or reads like a Wikipedia entry about a thing. The banished lost boy from what’s clearly the FLDS. The traumatized veteran. The writer with an MFA who hasn’t written anything.

Not terribly sophisticated stuff, but very readable.

A wonderful reimagining of a vital myth, and a creepy, propulsive, angry roar of a story, whose rage is born of a deep love for all its characters and it’s readers. If a violent, murderous, monster thriller could be called kind, this one is it. Still, read it in daylight, though daylight will not save you.

*Spoiler free*

A book about a group of people playing a game of hide and seek inside an abandoned amusement park, where one of them will win a substantial amount of money, and very bad things happen. I was excited for it before I watched Squid Game, but afterwards, I was even more excited for it. A horror book about death games, and those who want to win. Trigger warnings: blood, grief, gore

This book is incredible. Dark, terrifying, and all around brilliant.

I was unsure about the writing style in the beginning, but by the end, I was completely in love with it. It flows from person to person, instead of the book being split up into chapters. It goes from one person's mind to another in the span of a few sentences. It never feels odd or disjointed, it flows extremely well, pulling the plot along with it while deepening each of the characters.

Speaking of the characters, I was not expecting to love them as much as I did. I wasn't sure about basically all of them in the beginning, but I found myself falling in love with basically all of them (expect the jerks, the jerks can go dissolve into the earth). They're so different, but their journeys are so closely twined, both in how they are written and what they are. It's just so brilliantly crafted.

I also was not expecting to be as shocked by the plot twists and the ending as I was. It was sneaky in a way, the way that things unraveled and how things were revealed. And I mean that in a good way! It makes the blossoming all the more dramatic.

Another thing that I loved is that this book is downright creepy. The way the violence is written, and where it is place, seems like it is very thought out. It's not for shock value. It's because that is the type of violence that exists, or at least a mirror version of it. It's terrifying, the bedrock that this book rests on, but it is written with a certain type of truth and it is wonderful.

And the ending. Oh my gosh the ending. It is incredible, and so, so brilliant. I truly just want to scream, because it is that good. Just so amazing.

Overall, this book is weirdly comforting, to know that there are those in generations above me that are ready to burn the world down with me. It's brilliantly crafted book, and all kinds of incredible, horrifying, and just downright good.

Initially when I read the description of this book I thought it’d be along the lines of ‘The Hunt’ or ‘Surviving the Game’ where humans hunt other humans. So, I was mildly surprised to read a supernatural edge to the book when it came. Overall, I liked this book. I liked the characters, the plot, There are people to hate; people to root for. The first 50% of the book is a little slow with the reveal but there are so many characters that’s it’s understandable that the author needs to go through describing everyone and their reason for being chosen. I highly recommend this book if you’re into slasher films, final girl(s), and monsters.

What a horrific, fantastic book. It feels almost criminal it can be devoured so quickly. Cinematic in scope but character driven, I really enjoyed it

Escape room troupe located at the terrifying amusement park meets with Hungry Games- Maze Runner vibes : an action packed Hide and Seek game with adrenaline blast and smartly executed mystery.

I loved the idea and as a loyal fan of the author, I was so intrigued to read her contemporary horror adult debut!

The pacing was good. The opening about a family’s drama who lost their five years old daughter at the amusement park in 1974 resulted with park’s closing was also picking your interest from the beginning.

Then we’re introduced to Mack with mysterious back story, living in the shelters, acting like a wallflower, without anything to lose, finding herself to attend a very special hide and seek game!

The Olly Olly Oxen Free Hide and Seek Tournament rules are specific: 14 competitors, seven days. It’s basically children’s game. The award is: 50K!

Seven of the contenders are aspiring and favorite: A social media fitness model, a graffiti artist, a YouTube prank show hostess, an app developer/ house sitter, a jewelry designer/ dog walker, a zealous CrossFit Instructor, an actress with severe food allergies

And there seven more contenders including Mack who are described as stalled but they are also wild cards who no one expected to eliminate their rivalries.

A writer with severe people allergies ( nope, that’s me: I’m screenwriting who is allergic to only idiot people!!!!) , a boy equal parts banished and lost (he’s called LeGrand who picked my interest from the beginning), the kindest gas station attendant in Pocatello, Idaho ( I wish I eat or drink whatever he’s having: Brandon is such a dreamy character, too good to be born), a veteran ( buzzed Ava, who is gonna be sidekick of Mack), a solar panel salesman, an eternal intern!

You may guess something so sinister waiting for those guys at the amusement park. You’re absolutely right!

Without giving much away: I can absolutely say this was wild, jaw dropping, intense ride! My only concern is there are too many characters and some of them are truly annoying and easy to forget. I wish there were less competitors.

It was easy to care for Mack and Ava because of their tragic backgrounds which make them sharpen their survival skills.

The surprising horror element was thrown into this equation adroitly. It fits with the entire execution.

Overall: with less characters, this would be so much fun but it was still great try and I enjoyed it till the end. I hope Kiersten White writes more adult horror novels. She absolutely killed it!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group,Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

White holds no punches in this brilliantly executed play on the Minotaur myth. Every twist and turn horrified and delighted me in equal measure. This book was so damn fun!

I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Fourteen contestants are offered the chance at winning $50K if they can make it seven days in an abandoned amusement park playing hide and seek. The rules are simple: from dawn until dusk you hide but if found you are out...only one can survive

Hide is the exciting adult horror debut for author Kiersten White. I will try to keep my review vague as to not spoil too much for the reader who chooses to go in partially blind to this twisty plot. I really enjoyed her novel "The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein" and I have several of her other novels on my TBR shelf. I will say that originally I thought this novel was going to be an "escape room" situation but was pleasantly surprised when I realized what the "horror" aspect of was. I will say right away that there were a few characters that were super annoying and some of their dialogue felt a bit tone-deaf or inappropriate...maybe I'm just being overly sensitive here. I enjoyed Mack's character as you find out early in the novel has some trauma from playing a deadly game of hide and seek in which she was the only survivor. Despite her plans to "be invisible" she unexpectedly pairs up with another likeable character, Ava, who has PTSD and injuries from her time in the military. Did I love everything about this novel...No, but I did enjoy its attempt at originality, the character interactions, and the unexpected horror element. I definitely recommend going into this one without any spoilers if possible.

“Hide” is a horror story set in an amusement park where competitors compete for a chance to win $50k.

I made it just over 50% through this book before putting it down. Unfortunately, I had a few major problems with this book I could not get past. The writing style is a bit odd and hard to follow. I found myself having to reread sections to understand what the author meant. In a fast paced story like this, a confusing writing style ruins the experience IMO. Also, I feel like this story did not have much to offer beyond already published books and films. The characters were annoying and predictable.

After reading Hide, I’m thoroughly convinced that Kiersten White can write in any genre. I’ve read most of her YA books and loved them all, but Hide is probably her best yet.
I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised that it veered closer to horror than thriller. I really liked the setup, and somehow, even with so many characters, the plot was easy to follow and it was easy to keep track of who was who, even though the POV switched frequently within a single chapter.
Mack and Ava were great main characters, and I liked Brandon a lot too. I even liked reading the POVs of the awful characters. I hope White keeps writing books like this!
4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

3.5 rounded up.

Well... that was unexpected. I definitely went into Hide expecting something a little different - an abandoned amusement park, 14 contests, and someone (or something) hunting them - and while I got all of that, there was a couple unexpected twists. Surprisingly, I was more invested in the plot, in the 'what' and 'why' and 'what's going to happen', than I was in the characters. I know this was a "me" problem but I really just struggled to connect with the writing style. Although not even remotely written like a script, that's the general vibe I got from the book (and I have to say I do think it would make an incredibly fun Netflix series!).

All in all, though, it was a quick, fun, not quite as spooky as I was hoping for read.

I've been patiently waiting to see this approval come through!
Hide by Kiersten White has been high on my most anticipated reads ever since I read the description on NetGalley!

Who wouldn't love a game of hide and seek turned deadly game in an abandoned amusement park???

I mean I'd die to read a story about it!!!! 😉
And let me say it sure has hell didn't disappoint me either!
This is her Adult Debut and she needs to write more of it! Please!
For this to be my first Kiersten White novel I'm obsessed with her! And I need more... Just saying!
Now I've gotta go read her YA novels!

This character driven story simply put was freaking phenomenal!
No other words needed!
I was hooked from the first page and when I say I didn't want to adult while reading...
I didn't want to do a damn thing! I wanted to read this soak this book up.
And I did just that.
This was one of those I didn't want it to end. And when I got close to end I knew the time was up and honestly I was fucking pissed. Because I wished this could have lasted 500 pages. But unfortunately it didn't and zoomed through this book like Speedy McQueen!
This book was so well written guys.
Needless to say, I found this whole thing to be utterly riveting and unputdownable.
The characters are memorable, the strife feels all too real, and the dialogue is brilliant!
This was everything I'd hoped it would be.
The authors paint such a vivid picture that it almost feels like watching a movie in my mind while reading. It really puts the reader right into the action which is what creates such beautiful suspense.

Ballantine|Del Rey,
Thanks doesn't come close to the gratitude I have for you!
Thank you for this amazing eARC!

WOW. Phenomenal.

I’d like to start with the acknowledgements, because this is one of my pet peeves and I LOVE that White calls.it.out. 👏

<b>”Finally, to everyone who still insists they pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps: For fuck’s sake, look up the origin of the saying.”</b>

Now, on to the novel. 14 people are chosen as contestants to participate in the ultimate game of hide and seek. Two players are eliminated a day and the prize is $50,000. The setting {be still my vacant spaces loving heart} is an abandoned amusement park.

Things start to get dicey on Day Two, but it’s much more fun to read than spoil. The plot is fantastic, I love all of the major characters - especially Mack and the development her character makes {most of the MC’s have some baggage that is woven into the story very well}.

<i>Hide</i> was one of those horror novels with just a touch of gore. It's majorly plot and character driven without being all about the bloody stuff, which I appreciate. I would compare this novel with Simone St. James' work, but really, White does a fantastic job standing alone with this one.

White's adult horror debut is a gorgeous character study, wrapped in a genuinely terrifying setting and mythos. I cannot wait to see what avenue she takes next!

Fast paced thriller with multiple POV’s. Fourteen random strangers are given the opportunity to win $50,000 by playing hide and seek in an abandoned amusement park but it turns out to be much more than a game. I wish there had been slightly more character development, but overall it was a unique read and I devoured it in a day.