Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I really wanted to love this book but it fell short. The way it's written is great and keeps you guessing. The characters are mostly just awful people and that made it a bit difficult.

The Hive by Scarlett Brade is a captivating and intense psychological thriller that delves into the dark side of social media and the destructive power of obsession and revenge.

The novel opens with a shocking scene: Charlotte Goodwin, covered in blood, goes live on Instagram to confess she has murdered her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend, Sophie. The chilling twist? Charlotte tells her audience that they will decide whether Lincoln Jackson, her ex, should live or die. This setup immediately hooks the reader, creating a sense of urgency and suspense that carries throughout the book.

Charlotte's descent into this macabre situation is rooted in her tumultuous past with Lincoln. Once deeply in love, their relationship fell apart when Lincoln, a successful boxer and social media influencer, cheated on her with Sophie. Consumed by betrayal and heartbreak, Charlotte's mental state deteriorates, leading her to plot an elaborate and deadly revenge.

Brade does an excellent job of portraying Charlotte's psychological unraveling. Through flashbacks and social media posts, we see the progression of her obsession and the toxic nature of her relationship with Lincoln. The constant online scrutiny and the pressure to maintain a perfect image amplify Charlotte's instability, driving her to the edge.

Charlotte's three best friends, Emily, Tilda, and Roxy, are pulled into her deadly game. Bonded by their shared experiences and loyalty, they face the moral dilemma of whether to help Charlotte or turn her in. Their internal conflicts and interactions add depth to the story, showcasing themes of friendship, loyalty, and the blurred lines between right and wrong.

As the narrative unfolds, the tension escalates. The viewers' votes come in, and Lincoln is condemned to die. Charlotte's plan is meticulous, but not without flaws. In a dramatic climax, she attempts to carry out the execution live, but her friends intervene, leading to a chaotic and tragic ending.

Spoiler Alert: The final twist reveals that Emily had been secretly working with the police, hoping to save Charlotte from herself. Despite her efforts, the situation spirals out of control, resulting in a standoff that ends with Charlotte's death. The aftermath is a sobering reflection on the destructive power of social media and the irreversible consequences of revenge.

In conclusion, The Hive is a dark, gripping novel that explores complex themes through a riveting plot and well-developed characters. Scarlett Brade's storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, questioning the true cost of vengeance and the impact of our digital lives on real-world relationships.

If you love unlikeable characters, you will binge this book. This is one whole drama fest of people behaving badly!

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The plot is one that is engaging and I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style. I hadn't read a thriller for a while but this book sounded amazing from the synopsis and the story didn't disappoint. A great read.

Charlotte's seemingly perfect life with boxer Lincoln unravels as she faces betrayal and tragedy. Seeking public revenge, she enlists social media to judge Lincoln's fate. While the concept is intriguing, the execution falters in delivering feminist themes until the climax. Despite a gripping finale, the overall story lacks consistency. A potential read for future works from the author. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books / Zaffre for the ARC.

This one has a strong theme of mental health. It starts of well, loved the plot involving social media, but then the book became too unrealistic and over the top.

A riveting thriller that delves deep into the dark side of social media and the complexities of human morality, 'The Hive' delivers a chilling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. As Charlotte Goodwin's shocking confession unfolds on Instagram Live, the tension escalates, drawing viewers into a twisted game of life and death. With richly drawn characters and a gripping plot, the novel explores themes of guilt, loyalty, and the power of friendship in the face of unimaginable circumstances. A thought-provoking read that will linger in your mind long after the final page.

I was really excited to be granted a copy of this book as it actually was on my Amazon wishlist because of booktok. I am now glad that I did not waste my money on it. The premise is create and the prologue really grabs your attention but after its all falls very flat and was not well written to the point I was very confused as to what was happening.

Unfortunately, I did not download this in time and did not get a chance to read, so I will not be able to give a review. I was really looking forward to it.

Great book that sucks the reader in and keeps you there. I really loved the main characters and how they developed.

My moral compass is all over the place... Murder with reason hits different in the fictional world

All I knew, before starting this book was that it includes in some way the following:
▶ Close female friends - Sisterhood
▶#votedie or #votelive
▶ Aaaand Revenge murder

And now, after reading the book, I cannot believe that this is the debut novel of Scarlett Brade. I will be watching you, you can be sure of that.

This book was so much more than other books or movies, I have read or watched with a similar plot. I loved the madness. The unhinged behaviour. The complicated, intertwined, and messed up past of the whole friend group. The representation of toxic relationships, people, and public figures. And there is so much more that suprised me, kept me hooked, and made me question my moral decisions.

🚩 "At every turn, Linc reminded me that he was giving me the world, and that I should be grateful to him for it." 🚩

I loved to hate every single character! What a ride! 🛝

I would recommend this to anyone interested in a thriller about revenge, (female) rage, and messed up lives.

I do not read that many thrillers, so a special thank you to Netgalley, Independent Publishers Group, and Scarlett Brade for the readers copy in exchange for an honest review. "The Hive" is already out and available to read!

The opening of this book really pulled me in! The tropes were troping, and it was definitely an interesting concept for a plot. I agree with some other reviewers that it felt like a lot of dialogue at times, with not a lot of forward momentum from them and a heck of a lot of repetition. But overall, a fun and quick thriller read. I just put myself in a YA headspace and I was able to enjoy it despite it's issues.

Loved this book it was a quick and gripping read that read like a thriller and i could imagine all the scenes playing out in my head. i could not put this book down and am excited to read more by Scarlette Brade!

I flew through this book as it was easy to get through and so enjoyable.
I enjoyed the characters and the writing style
The premise was really great, overall a really good thriller

The characters made this book for me! The introduction is full of drama and promise, and while the events are huge, they were not unsurprising, but the tenacity with which these friends interact is beautifully realistic! There is love and anger and betrayal, and they all make the reader feel with the characters. This makes a story for me, and I recommend The Hive for all the other character driven readers out there.

This book has potential. I like the premise of the story and the first chapter or so was a good start but after that it just seemed extremely repetitive.

There is a lot of back and forth dialogue that seems unnecessary.

That being said I can possibly see the appeal for a younger crowd or someone who just wants to pick up a book that they can easily read and not put much thought into what is happening.

This book was quick and easy to get through,. I enjoyed the story and the way it panned out in the end. The characters were good and the style of writing was perfect. This is the first book I have read by this author, I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read psychological thrillers.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and Zaffre for this ARC of ‘The Hive’ by Scarlett Brade.

Where to start… all I read before reading this was ‘femenist revenge thriller.’ Immediately I was sold and excited to read this and it did not disappoint. This book kept me on edge throughout and I absolutely couldn’t put it down! I will absolutely be looking for this authors future releases!

The Hive by Scarlett Brade I found to be a quick and enjoyable read.
This book kept me on my toes from beginning to end.
I thought the suspense was well woven throughout the book and kept me turning pages.

Thank You NetGalley and Zaffre for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book definitely grabs your attention right from the start. I did feel like it was lacking throughout but it also had enough to keep you reading throughout.

I love a good mystery/thriller and revenge books are so fun to read. Overall the book was ok but I think it had so much potential but just missed the mark.