The tone feels a bit stilted at first but I can picture everything they are saying. The girls are spot on about the atmosphere of a Kmart - now that would be an excellent setting for a horror story. I know Grady Hendrix kind of did it already with Horrorstor, but people love Ikea, whereas KMart and Big Lots have a desolate vibe. Back to the story, I'm not quite sure I buy these specifically described girls suddenly deciding to go out into the woods for three days. Maybe a road trip instead.
I'm enjoying the scene with the girls trying to lift their backpacks, I have literally been in that position.
Jesus, is this a horror story about bears? Hopefully it's a YA mix of Frank Peretti's Monster, Shardik, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
I loved this first look - it ends right in a great spot to make you want to keep going. Add The Ruins to the list of my hopeful comparisons! I think my only real criticism is that I hate the title. But I'm definitely adding it to my TBR.
Favorite bits:
"Neena was about to see the world without her. Josie was about to become a human Kmart. Abandoned and forgotten, but still here."
"Meegan, owner of the lavender pack, had only taken up backpacking when she and Win started dating. Josie hoped she would never stoop to something like that. But if a guy ever showed any interest in her, maybe she’d take up a dumb hobby to impress him, too."
Me, camping: "The ascent was unrelenting. Roots, rocks, and downed trees were scattered everywhere across the path, treacherous obstacles lying in wait to roll their ankles. It was exactly what Neena had expected but also somehow worse. Hunching and huffing beneath her pack, its straps dug nastily into her shoulders. No amount of adjusting them or cinching the belt helped. Her limbs dragged with unparalleled fatigue. They had been walking for eight minutes."
" “Maybe it’s just because hiking is terrible,” she said, “but doesn’t it look like that tree is telling us to go back?” “That tree is an asshole,” Neena said. "
I'm enjoying the scene with the girls trying to lift their backpacks, I have literally been in that position.
Jesus, is this a horror story about bears? Hopefully it's a YA mix of Frank Peretti's Monster, Shardik, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
I loved this first look - it ends right in a great spot to make you want to keep going. Add The Ruins to the list of my hopeful comparisons! I think my only real criticism is that I hate the title. But I'm definitely adding it to my TBR.
Favorite bits:
"Neena was about to see the world without her. Josie was about to become a human Kmart. Abandoned and forgotten, but still here."
"Meegan, owner of the lavender pack, had only taken up backpacking when she and Win started dating. Josie hoped she would never stoop to something like that. But if a guy ever showed any interest in her, maybe she’d take up a dumb hobby to impress him, too."
Me, camping: "The ascent was unrelenting. Roots, rocks, and downed trees were scattered everywhere across the path, treacherous obstacles lying in wait to roll their ankles. It was exactly what Neena had expected but also somehow worse. Hunching and huffing beneath her pack, its straps dug nastily into her shoulders. No amount of adjusting them or cinching the belt helped. Her limbs dragged with unparalleled fatigue. They had been walking for eight minutes."
" “Maybe it’s just because hiking is terrible,” she said, “but doesn’t it look like that tree is telling us to go back?” “That tree is an asshole,” Neena said. "