Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025, and I was so excited to receive an e-ARC—what a thrill! While it didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I can absolutely see how it could be a favorite for others.

The story is fast-paced and action-packed, diving into the chaos early (around 15%), which means readers looking for thrills won’t have to wait long for the excitement to begin. The concept is undeniably intriguing: 13 people scaling a mystical tower filled with deadly traps—it’s a unique and compelling setup that promises plenty of tension and drama.

That said, I personally prefer stories with slower pacing, heavy atmosphere, and a focus on character development, so this wasn’t quite aligned with my tastes. The characters felt a bit too stereotypical for me, and I found myself rooting for the tower more than the protagonists. But hey, not every story needs to be a character-driven journey, and action lovers will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

Also, a heads-up: there’s more gore than I expected from the synopsis. I didn’t mind it, but readers sensitive to that should be aware.

If you love fast-moving, action-focused stories with high stakes and don’t mind a lighter focus on character depth, this might just be the perfect read for you! While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I’m sure it will find its audience.

Thank you to Angry Robot, NetGalley, and Dan Hanks for giving me an eARC of The Way Up is Death in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not what I was expecting. For some reason I was expecting a mix between science-fiction and fantasy, however, this book very much falls into the horror category. Now this is an important distinction because it is rare that I truly enjoy a horror book. In general, I thought this book was okay. Again, horror is not my genre so this book was outside of my comfort zone. I think the concept is super cool and I did in fact finish the book (which I do not always do when it comes to horror). However, I am not sure this would have been something I would have picked up if I knew it was horror. So yay for getting me out of my comfort zone. On an enjoyment level it is hard for me to really describe how I feel because again I finished it, however, this is not my normal genre.

Here is what I can say and the horror lovers can use this to help them decide if they want to read it. The concept of this book is really unique in my opinion. One day a tower just appears and then a few weeks later, 13 strangers are dragged to the tower and forced to ascend. For there it is a fight for their lives to reach the top, however, the true purpose behind it is not really known. What I liked was that while this was a first contact type story, it is not one that you usually see, where there is very little contact. The plot is fast paced and the characters are really just there as a means to an end. I am not sure how much character development is possible in a story like this if I am being honest, but as someone who normally loves character development I was not mad about it. I liked how even in this survival-esc story, there were still some powerful underlying themes that address humanity as a whole, and tackle some of the bigger issues that as a society we are faced with today. I truly believe that this is a book that horror lovers will enjoy. I am glad I picked it up, even if it was not what I thought I was getting into when I first started the book.

What would you be willing to do for the sake of humanity? That’s the question posed to Alden, a burnt-out teacher in England when he and 12 others are mysteriously pulled out of their everyday lives and transported to the entrance of a tower. Unfortunately for them all, the tower appeared in the clouds, so simply walking away just won’t do the trick.

The group of people chosen to ascend ranges from a seemingly normal father and daughter, to a middle-aged social media star, and everywhere in between. They all bring their own baggage on the way up, and the Tower is determined to see them shed it once they enter. The only message given once they’re at the entrance is “Ascend”, and traveling upwards is quickly realized as their only option.

As the group travels up and up the Tower, each floor (or level) takes the form of one of their deepest fears. Each one of them becomes more surreal and horrifying than the last, and the group has to work together, even while certain individuals are more focused on winning the “game” they believe they’re taking part in, or die. The trials and tribulations that they face on each level can either make or break them, and to be honest I’d have probably died on level 2. Dan does an incredible job at not just showing the issues at a surface level, but has so many intricacies in each underlying aspect of the challenge that it takes more than 1 person alone is capable of. It quickly becomes a work together, or die alone type of story but it’s really much more than that. And as the book reaches its climax, that first question comes roaring back into the forefront.

I think the biggest positive for the book was the characters themselves. Especially two of the main POVs, the aforementioned Alden and Nia, who’s a conceptual artist who has also helped work on video games, which really comes in handy. The main comparison I have to this book is prime Stephen King; on the surface it seems like a bloody labyrinth, full of horrors and death but it really hits home harder in other areas that Alden and Nia are keen to let us view. Existential grief, sexism, inner turmoil and the pain of suffering are all themes that linger beneath the upper layer of horror, and those stuck with me long after reading.

Another aspect of the novel that was incredibly well done was the descriptions of each of the challenges on the levels the group had to face. At face value, it seemed easy to go “oh, well let’s just do this and move on” when in actuality, the answer (and survival) was much deeper. I think that is a perfect analogy for life; where so many things can come up that challenge us, the nuances of each situation can appear differently to every individual person. What I see as the biggest obstacle would probably be different from what 5 other people see, and so on. The ways that Dan goes about putting this theory into words and acting on that idea is so incredible in its thoughtfulness, and it makes each paragraph, not just page, interesting to see how it gets resolved.

Overall, this is a great book. The only downside I have is that one of the characters, Dirk (the social-media star) is so brazen in being an asshole it comes off cartoonish. We all know (for the most part) how obnoxious social media can be in the world and he was a flawless portrayal of that, which can get a bit tiresome but otherwise I have no complaints and only praise. One of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in years, and I cannot recommend it enough!

The Way Up is Death is such a great mixed bag! Id describe it as a sci-fi thriller with heart.

The story starts by giving us a brief introduction to our main characters and their lives in the moments before they were ascended.
Our FMC Nia was definitely a favourite of mine. The author has done a wonderful job in capturing what life is like for a large majority of women. Nia has to work twice as hard to get recognition/to be heard by men. Her character development is amazing, you see her really take ownership of who she is and what her strengths are as the story progresses.
Another character that I think was written to perfection was one of our MMC's Dirk. But for the total opposite reasons of Nia. Although he does have some of my favourite lines/quotes from the story his character is truly awful. You love to hate him.
“We come in peace,” Earl said. “Fucking Christ,”Dirk muttered. “What B-list piece-of-shit movie is this?”

If you take this story at face value, it's 13 strangers fighting to survive against an unknown entity. But if you look deeper, it's so much more than that. The challenges these characters face are those same challenges we all face in our everyday lives. The author tackles some pretty heavy themes with humour and also such care.

"Maybe it was just about being born into this blip of a life and simply allowing yourself to experience the wonder of it all, while doing your best with what you had. If that was the meaning of life, he felt it a good one."

There is so much more I want to say but I really don't want to spoil anything. I absolutely loved this,  I can't wait to check out more of the author's work.

I really like the concept of this book but I had a hard time with the horror/saw aspect of this. 4 stars for the plot, and the writing, but it was a little too dark for me.

Wow, I couldn't put this one down!!

They weren't kidding when they said Squid Games meets Matt Haig. It's a horror-filled game of survival with a lot of human connection and self-realization. The end was so emotional I really wasn't prepared for it!

The Way Up is Death takes a group of 13 random people who have been deposited into a tower that has randomly appeared in the sky over Manchester. They are given no rules and no way out of the sentient tower. I thought this was such a new and interesting plot and ended up finishing this in 24 hours (and that's with a 4 month old and a toddler lol).

Dan Hanks absolutely nailed this - such a fun horror/sci-fi read!

13 strangers show up at the mysterious tower that appeared over UK one day. They have nothing in common but one: ASCEND the tower.

I have been searching for an escape room esque horror and I got that and more in The Way Up is Death. This book is like if Saw and [book:The Midnight Library|52578297] had a baby and gave it to aliens (in the best way). It started out as a fun and gory romp, then hit you with the meaning of life. The characters felt real (frustratingly so), the levels were bonkers, and every once in a while we get a nugget of wisdom about living a good life from one of the characters. This is the most fun I had reading a horror/sci fi in a long time!

I think this would be fantastic to adapt into a movie/mini series!!

This book made me really think. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be but it was better than I expected.
I loved the premise of the tower and I think it really showed people for who they truly were. I’m glad that Dirk got his comeuppance in the end, as he really was a horrible person. I was so upset that Alden and Nia didn’t survive. I really hoped that they would leave with Rakie to look after her. But I understood why they couldn’t.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it. It’s really got me thinking about the meaning of life and that we, as humans, are the ones who can make or break humanity. It has really made me very conscious of how I act and that we just need to be kind and considerate of other people. Can’t wait to read more by Dan Hanks. The Way Up Is Death was superb!

Thirteenth people. One tower. One winner.... or is it?

Harrowing, intense, yet eye-opening, The Way Up is Death starts when a group of thirteen random individuals are teleported into an ominous tower with a chilling order: Ascend. At first, it all seems to be a game of survival with a prize waiting for them, but as our protagonists go through each level filled with nightmare fuel, they realize that the tower has sent them there for a reason. But finding it out before reaching the finish line might cost their lives---and the whole of humanity.

I've not consumed a lot of media in the same vein as this book to give it comps for the ordinary reader, but I think the book's plot is refreshing. It gives 'Pixels' but with a sentient tower meets existential crisis vibes. While some of the characters I can relate to, I found that I didn't feel that much attached to them, only that I wanted to see them survive and return to their lives safely. (except for *that* guy who rhymes with the D word lmao) But with a title like 'The Way Up is Death', that was just a big of an ask. Despite that, I enjoyed the characters' journey through the tower, how they interacted along the way, and ultimately found answers to the greatest question of their lives.

I'm not much of a horror or sci-fi junkie, but I give this one a solid 4-stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robots for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I read that this book has Squid Game vibes, I had high hopes and the beginning was amusing. When the main characters came into focus, it was immediately clear who would be the good guys and who would be the worst one of the group.
I liked the father - daughter duo and that a young girl would be a key player. The atmosphere that the author creates is amazing and the levels imaginative, it truly feels like walking through a computer game.

Sadly though I never really connected with any of the characters, except for Dirk in a way - I loved to hate him.
Overall, I wanted more from the story and the characters, I was not truly invested. Instead of feeling with the protagonists I felt more like an outsider looking in.

Thank you to Angry Robot, the author and NetGalley for the eARC!

A very weird dark tower…13 people…what will happen?

This Story is told in three points of view, and each of them is unique! The way up his death by Dan Hanks is emotional, suspenseful, and mysterious! This is a very quick pace story that will keep you hooked from start to finish!

When meeting our characters, it was interesting to see the dynamics as well as the personal characteristics that they all had! A designer, a influencer, and a primary school teacher? How did this bunch get together? Who knows? I guess you’ll just have to read to find out!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so intrigued by the premise for The Way Up Is Death, and it had been on my anticipated list since I’d heard of it. Unfortunately, I found myself really disappointed by its execution. The writing is hugely unsubtle - the characters as a whole are rather flat and undeveloped, but Dirk is caricaturely awful. I found his chapters actively difficult to read. Alden, in contrast, is the reverse of this - his hero’s journey was so clearly signposted from the outset that it felt unearned.
The format of the plot, moving from level to level within the tower, started to feel repetitive as we went on - there were no changes to the formula for arguably very different environments. I was left feeling that this book had so much potential for more - some of the levels were so intriguing, and I would have liked to see them explored further, rather than a trek from one end to the other. Characters I would have liked to have learnt more about were written off early on, with no development of our protagonists to make up for it.
Although there is some emotional resolution in the final few chapters, I didn’t find The Way Up is Death to have complex enough underpinnings to make the often repetitive journey worthwhile.
2.5 stars rounded down.

"ASCEND"

One day a tower appears out of nowhere and thirteen people now have to go through several levels with new twists and turns. Will they all survive or are they there for some grand purpose? This book has an interesting but fast-paced plot with light humor throughout.

This was a very enjoyable book with an original premise. I like the author's style - very pacy and engaging.

Wow. What an incredible read! I literally could not put it down. Fans of speculative fiction, this book was written for you!

The Way Up is Death begins with a giant tower appearing in the sky above Britain, with one command written at the front door: ascend. Thirteen strangers are transported to the tower, and must climb to the top. But this is no ordinary building; each nightmarish level requires everything they have to make it through. And each level also demands a sacrifice. With the fate of humanity hanging on them, the group fights to make it to the top. But what will be waiting for whoever finally ascends?

This book combine Sci-Fi action with genuine explorations of what it means to be human, and it makes for an amazing story. It is fast-paced, pulling the reader straight into the action; I was on the edge of my seat reading about the characters fighting their way through what felt like cosmic-horror escape rooms from your worst nightmares. But the author balances out the action with well written characters (some sympathetic, others very unlikeable), and authentic depictions of grief, friendship, and sacrifice. This is a Sci-Fi speculative thriller with heart and action, and it was such a fun read. I’m very excited to see what the author writes next!

I would recommend The Way Up is Death to fans of Jeff VanderMeer, China Mieville, and general speculative fiction. You will not be disappointed by this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for the arc! The thoughts and opinions stated in the review are my own.

This was a great horror fantasy book. I had a great time reading it, and really enjoyed the whole death game aspect of it.

I thought the tower was highly inventive, the characters were well written. Some you love, some you just hate, and can’t wait for them to get their comeuppance even though you’re rooting for them all to make it through this death maze.

Fast paced and exciting, this book is full of twists and turns and will keep you at the edge of your seat as the characters make their way through this death tower, trying to survive and figure out just what the heck is going on.

I look forward to reading more of this authors work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book.

This book had me staying up til two am to finish it. There was never a good time to stop reading! Every chapter ended with something that you needed to know what happened next.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

This book was so intense. It reminded me a little of Dungeon Crawler Carl but this leaned more into sci-fi/horror than fantasy. A tower randomly appears in the sky above london. Thirteen people are lifted from their daily lives and appear outside it with a message to ‘ascend’. They are faced with horrific scenarios as they are forced to navigate upwards through the tower, their past transgressions being brought to light. Their morals and character will be heavily tested as they encounter the challenges within the tower.

This novel was so creative and the different levels throughout the tower are varied with the characters never knowing what to expect next. Anticipating what would come next was one of the best parts of the book. It was so compelling. Some of the things the characters encounter are really horrific and occasionally stomach churningly-graphic.

This was wildly entertaining, fast paced and a very intense read!

I really loved the concept of this and the beginning, when officials are dealing with the tower’s appearance in various ways, was really amusing. After that there were some good parts and cool ideas, but most never really hit home. Too many characters were obvious fodder for the tower traps so I never really connected with much. People who enjoy video games and puzzles could have fun with this book.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's not my favourite book by Dan Hanks but I loved the part about Larry the Cat becoming Prime Minister because that's the humour that made me love Dan Hanks' novels.
This one was a sort of And Then They Were None set in a sort of live video game run by a sentient tower.
It starts with a bang and it kept me going till it became a bit repetitive as it would be with an old-school video game. The characters are interesting and I liked Nia and Aidan, the underdogs.
There's a lot of suspense, of self-analysis and I missed the usual dose of humour as there was less in this story.
Note: I'm a bit too tired so I think that this can impact my review, it would surely be different at another time.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Squid Game controlled by a sentient tower in the sky meets Matt Haig existential emotional analysis.

The tower appeared in the skies above the UK on an otherwise unremarkable Saturday afternoon in the middle of May. Then 13 people are transported to the entrance, a timer counting down two days with the instruction ASCEND.
The 13 individuals are forced to master each level, facing different challenges with death chasing them in gruesome ways.
Is there a golden-egg-laying goose at the top or a giant?

We have three main POVs.
Alden, a primary school teacher by day and a local band member by night dealing with grief.
Nia, a designer who is timid and always being pushed around.
Dirk, a famous influencer who thinks the world revolves around him. THE WORST.

Whilst this is fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat, this also deals with deep character motivations and fears. Feeling like just another insignificant person who had made no impact, no difference. Dealing with a world that seems designed to push you aside, under, away. Balancing perceptions and expectations with a real self.

<b>Alden knew the shroud of grief was thick and little anybody said in these moments ever helped. It was often just noise, and you were so saturated with grief there was no room for anything else to sink into you. Words, feelings, music, emotions, real-life responsibilities. None of it seemed to matter anymore. It all became droplets in a flood.
</b>
I loved the light humour throughout as well. It is a really easy book to get addicted to. The humour and topics are very on the nose and relevant to our current climate (mentions of Covid).
To give you a flavour of what convinced me I would have a good time within the first few pages:

<b>For the entirety of Thursday night, the UK was leaderless. Some said it was the most stable the country had been in some decades. Others put together a petition for Larry the Downing Street cat to take over. It reached forty million signatures by three in the morning.
</b>
The ending definitely brought down my enjoyment. It became more existential and too optimistic and philosophical. Compared to the rest of the book with squid game vibes, this felt like a complete tonal change.

If you like book by Matt Haig but want it in video game, thriller format; this is for you!

Arc gifted by Angry Robot.