A VERY, WEIRD, MUST READ!! That’s was SO different in a very good way!! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read the book in exchange of an honest review! Definitely cking on the author’s other books!

Aww I absolutely loved this! Such an oringnal concept and yet very possible with our current fascination with shows like squid games aswell as the cozzie livs making more people go into trials like this. I have to admit, it also does have me wondering if the ending is actually possible lol. Hopefully that's never discovered in real life. I was hooked though, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. The characters were perfectly brought to life, the twists were executed flawlessly and I just loved it

Unlike the experimental pill in the story, this novel may cause lack of appetite, sleeplessness and crankiness when people talk to you and force you to put the book down. An original take on the “and then there were none” premise, Amanda is not sure about taking part in a drug trial. She needs to stay in a mansion for one week and give up all contact with the real world. On the other hand, it’s a lot of money for only one week, what could possibly happen in such a short time. It’s better not to know what the pill does, so I won’t discuss it here but the first effects were actually hilarious. The sort of awkward laughter that comes from being uncomfortable. Once things escalate, the twists make the plot more and more and more suspenseful. Amanda is not likable. She’s messed up and it would normally be hard for me to root for a washed-out pop culture celebrity. But when it hits the fan, I wanted nothing more than for her to be OK. She’s a fighter, but also a normal person with the same qualms one would have if put in a position to have to hurt someone to save yourself. And the ending… really good. A creepy, suspenseful and bloodcurdling read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Datura Books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Datura Books for the ARC of this book!

Amanda signs up for a drug trial because she needs the money after her music career ended following a breakdown. They claim the drug has no adverse side effects and just have to stay a week in an isolated mansion with five strangers. Nobody can turn down the money. Now Amanda is blindfolded, taken to a mansion, and locked inside with these strangers. The only interaction outside of that is the voiceover announcements and the masked figure that makes sure they take their pills every morning. Thing quickly get more unhinged as each of the strangers starts to develop an odd fascination with Amanda. But surely this can't be caused by the drugs, right? Very creepy psychological thriller with a deadly twist.

Thrilling, chaotic, bloody, violent, and an absolute blast to read, Honeycomb is perfect for fans of Black Mirror and clever sci-fi thrillers. Although less mysterious than perhaps the cover art would lead you to believe, this book would not let me go once it got its claws into me.

Amanda Pearson is a washed up, one-hit wonder pop star desperately looking for her next big break. Her fortunes change when a mysterious pharmaceutical company offers her a large sum of money to complete a seemingly simple task - live in a house for a week with five strangers and test out a new pill. Amanda reluctantly agrees, and it may be a decision that she comes to regret.

The beginning of Honeycomb is a slow burn as Caves really takes his time in slowly developing each of the main participants. We get a real clear sense of who they are and how they got to this point. There is something very "Willy Wonka and the Choclate Factory" (the 1970s movie) about a lot of the flashback scenes; we get a small sense of who each of these people are, and then a mysterious figure offers them a life changing opportunity. Caves expertly goes a long way to humanize the characters before the chaotic bloodshed begins; the characters in Honeycomb are quirky and often silly, but Caves imbues them with depth and emotion before they all become utterly unhinged.

If you are a reader like me, you'll probably become impatient with the long beginning before the promised horror/thriller elements really kick in, but they are important before everything breaks loose. When stuff starts to go down, it all descends into madness quite quickly.

At first, the horror elements of this book come from just the isolated and cramped nature of the house where the bulk of the story takes place. There is no escape or alone time, and the book quickly starts to feel suffocating and claustrophobic in the best way possible. While the climax later becomes much more explicitly violent, I think I enjoyed the tense middle section even more. It quickly becomes apparent to the reader what is actually going on here, and the dread of wondering what is about to come might even better than the ultimate finale.

And oh yeah the end of the book is quite violent and bloody. It never becomes TOO much, but it is a rollicking good time that I won't spoil. The outright violence is such a release from the built up claustrophobic tension from earlier in the book and I raced through the end of the book in record time.

The violence of the book is made a bit more palatable because Caves has a wicked sense of humor. Caves balances the quirkiness of his characters and this world with the tragedy that this really is. Even the participants who do absolutely heinous things in this book are victims of this social experiment, and Cave never loses sight of how emotionally heavy that is. However, he does wade around in misery and despair. Each of the characters immediately has their own personalities, and I could have spent so much more time just reading about these very different people interact with one another.

Cave also brings the drama and comedy through the themes of this book, especially in his critique of the socipolitical "elites". The rich and powerful are perfectly evil, even verging on moustache twirling caricatures (kind of similar to how the rich and powerful were depicted in the Netflix series Squid Game). Caves does a fantastic job of satirizing the lengths rich people will go to use and absue other sfor thier own personal gain.

For a thriller like this I do wish that the twists and turns of the book were not as easy to see coming. The actual purpose/function of the pill beocme evident to the reader LONG before Amanda figures out what is really going on, and the identity of one of the other participants is also fairly obvious pretty early on. As much fun as this book was, I wanted to be blindsided at least once by the plot, and I never really was. Even the ending of the book (don't worry - no spoilers here) wasn't able to pull off that "one last great twist", even if it tried. The ending felt overly rushed, not leaving quite enough time for that one last turn to really have any meaningful impact with the reader. If you really need to be gooped and gagged by a thriller, this might not be the book you are looking for.

Honeycomb is not the kind of book I normally pick up, but I am so glad I did. I ripped through this sucker in a day because it wouldn't let me go. If you are looking for a bloody violent thriller with heart and humor, consider grabbing this one!

Whelp, this was disturbing.

Honestly, I went into this thinking it was going to be a same-old/same-old plot. Ooh, strangers locked up together. Ooh, there’s a baddy. Ooh, people die. And, okay, yes there’s all that – but there’s so much more. The author gives us a surprise in the plot that I was not expecting – and if this were real, it would be horrifically terrifying and disheartening.

I’m trying really hard not to spoil this one. I’ll say that the basic concept isn’t terribly new, but it’s also not something frequently seen these days and it was a nice (?) surprise. (Actually, it was horrifying in an entertaining way.)

I definitely enjoyed the read, but will warn you that there’s quite a bit of violence and some truly awful characters!

Would read the author again.

• ARC via publisher

I got a free ARC copy of this book on NetGally in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this book. The idea and plot were extremely interesting to me. Six people locked in a house, one person gets a real pill while the other five get a placebo. The pill will have “no adverse effects” for the person taking it.

Man I wanted so much more out of this book!! It had SO much potential to be thrilling, scary, and keep me on the edge of my seat. I just kept waiting and waiting for something to happen.

There was a little bit of backstory with the characters which was nice, but I wanted more. Not with Amanda but with the other five housemates. And with Mr. Moshida too. Was he evil? Was he just sadistic? What were his motivations for Honeycomb??? I needed more. This left me with more questions than it answered.

I liked it, don’t get me wrong. I just wanted more.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Honeycomb.
This is part suspense and horror all rolled up in one.
What would you do if someone offered you money. A lot of money to participate in a one week experiment. All you have to do is take part in a program that’s supposed to help others and at the same time help yourself. Amanda was one a pop star but she is now a burnt out ex pop star. Here’s a chance to start over.
So Amanda takes the chance and she and five other people will remain in a mansion with a big payoff after a week.
Well if it sounds to good to be true…….
This is a thrilling novel that’s quite different and I could not put it down.
Very good!

Honeycomb surprised me in the best way! I wasn't sure what to expect - the cover looks a bit amateur, and I was hesitant when I saw the references to popular TV shows. Usually, books don't stand up to much hype. But Honeycomb is the exception!

Honeycomb, with its echoes of Big Brother, Black Mirror, and even Squid Games, delivers a plot that is both gripping and unputdownable. The vivid and fast-paced writing style adds to the thrill of the story. This psychological thriller has earned a spot on my list of top reads for the year.

📚 Fast-paced, captivating, and unputdownable
📚 Well written and makes you feel like you are in the locked house with the cast of characters.
📚 Unique take on the locked-room trope
📚 No boring, repetitive, or tediousness

A huge 'Thank You' to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

What would you give up for a shot at fame? Your health? Your well-being? Even your sanity?
If you’re a thrill-seeking, horror movie-loving, adrenaline junkie like me, you will gulp this book down in one sitting.
S.B. Caves perfectly intertwines six strangers’ lives together in an intricate web of lies, deception, and backstabbing to the point of no return. We are first introduced to the focus of the experiment, Amanda, who is a washed-up celebrity on the brink of a new beginning. When she’s given the chance to be famous again, she chooses to see her opportunity through rose-colored glasses, and accepts the sketchy offer in return for the feeling of being wanted again. Even though she’s a recovering addict of drugs and an eating disorder, the money she takes for taking an experimental unnamed pill for a week is too good to turn down, for hope of turning her life around.
During the week of this paid prescription trial, it quickly turns into a psychological experiment, where boundaries are tested, alliances are formed, and all hope is lost. While each participant shares their story of despair and desperation, we come to realize that they are all just rats in a never-ending maze, doomed from the start. But just when you think the story is starting to become predictable, S.B. throws a final blow, shattering the idea of safety and content.
This book ultimately begs the question-should you trust your gut? Or should you risk it all for a chance at life you’d never be given otherwise?

I have other books by S B Caves on my TBR. I must move them up the list

This was a totally engrossing read. I could not put it down. Thank you for the opportunity to review

What the heck did I just read. Holy disturbing.

A locked in style crazy premise that incudes experimental drugs and Amanda, a washed up pop star looking for her comeback.

All she ever wanted is now at her fingertips. Adored and coveted by her ‘people’ doesn’t feel as she hoped. Now she just has to stay alive and get away. Everyone wants something from her. No, they NEED something from her.

Ok…so this is absolutely 🦇💩 crazy and at first it’s in a good way but it goes off the rails as the story goes on but by bit. Fever dream vibes for sure.

I love the idea of this premise but ultimately wanted more details about the drug, the company and their mission. It was a bit vague at the end which drove me nuts but it sure wasn’t boring. I binged this one quickly as I was dying to know what happens. I’m still not sure I know all there is to know.

Overall - a fun, different slice of thriller/locked in/horror with some serious gore and social commentary. I will be reading this author again, I can’t help myself. 🤷‍♀️ Was I drugged too?! I enjoyed it and it’s so different!

This is one wild book. You’ll have to decide yourself if it’s your kind of crazy (or not). 🤪

Thanks to @datura and NetGalley for this early copy of this interesting, crazy read.
3.5 ⭐️

Once Amanda Pearson was a rising star but that was before a vet public alcohol and drug fueled breakdown. Now she’s old news and broke.

Then her old manager pops up with an offer; she and five others will stay in an isolated mansion for a week under constant observation. Each day each of them will take a pill; five of them will be taking placebos, one is taking a new drug with no side effects (but, um, not telling what the new drug is, and its INTENTIONAL effect is to liquify your liver, maybe, I might have made that up, but who knows?) But, the pay is great!

And, of course, it’s areas of saying, “hey, you know what? This sounds shady as hell, illegal AND a perfect way to get trafficked,” Amanda agreed. Ah, sweet, sweet youth!

As you might guess this doesn’t turn out well. It’s a weird thing. Creepy. So if it sounds intriguing you might like this book. There’s a fair amount of blood, so be warned on that score. I liked it OK.

Not quite sure what to make of this book...it was a wild ride, that's for sure. Falling somewhere between thriller and light horror, 'Honeycomb' will have readers confused, yet enthralled. This story follows a washed-out pop star (honestly, think Britney Spears circa mental breakdown era), and you get the main character, Amanda. Amanda is offered an opportunity to make a lot of money and possibly a return to fame and all she has to do is live in a house with 5 strangers for a week. All participants are given a pill each morning and have to take it to earn their money. Without giving too much away...it sounds too good to be true, right? However, everyone has their reasons for accepting the proposal. This story gets wild very quickly and is quite the mind game! If you like stories with a mix of thriller, horror, and mad science experimentation, then this one is for you!

Honeycomb was extremely immersive and breath-catching. Literally.
The anxiety this gave me is exactly what I look for in a thriller — the twists and turns had me audibly gasping, cursing to myself and muttering about all the theories and conspiracies.
When I saw the blurb said “Big Brother meets Black Mirror” I gotta say my expectations were high, being a huge Black Mirror fan. And I was not disappointed.

Not only was the initial premise intriguing enough for me to pick this up, but the writing and plot-building and character depth had me absolutely enthralled and glued to the page.
The characters were all perfectly designed to fit this crazy story, all the twists studied to drop at just the right gasping and unexpected moment.
For once, I didn’t care that the characters were unlikeable, because they were meant to be that way. We were meant to doubt everyone and everything, and not knowing who to trust just elevated that sense of paranoia and made this read that more thrilling.

The pacing was incredible. There’s a steady crescendo of craziness every dosage, every day something weirder happens until no one can deny who the Queen Bee is, and that’s when shit really starts getting wild. That subtle increase into an epic finale death battle was nerve-wracking and I kind of loved it.

This was an absolutely incredible read, and I look forward to discovering more of this author’s work.

for 23 years i’ve wanted to be on the show Big Brother
i’m not so sure anymore
yeah yeah i know it’s different blah blah BUT
this did give a big insight into what being +*+famous*+*
would be like
and i also don’t think i’d like to be that
the obsession of human life
this was eerie
i concur this would be a very bad idea to introduce into the real world because nah son 🤚🏼
the broken mind is enough without a substance causing it tenfold
i would hate attention on me to this magnitude; to the point it becomes a danger to your very being

Very fast paced book! Not once was I bored or wanting to set my book down. Very different & unique how it was written. Thank you netgalley for my copy!

I want to thank Datura and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this was I think the most different type of book I’ve ever read. It definitely kept me wondering what was gonna happen to all these people in this house! I did get a bit bored at times but still kept me on my toes wanting to know more! In conclusion this was not bad of a book!

I loved this book! It was riveting and I couldn't put it down. An amazing thriller with a unique storyline that kept me turning the pages in anticipation. It was disturbing, witty, and intriguing at the same time. The writing was great and all the characters were well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed the eccentric cast of this book.

Amanda is a washed up celebrity. She had a hit single years ago but she fell into drugs and now she is barely remembered as a one hit wonder. She needs money desperately so when her former manager suggests a part time gig, Amanda is intrigued. The offer is too good to be true. She is to go to this mansion with 5 other people for one week. One person will take a drug with "no adverse effects" and the others will take a placebo. No one in the house knows what this drug does or who will take it. And no one is ready for what they actually signed up for.

The twists and turns in this book had me wishing it didn't end so soon. I can't wait for more books by this author.