Book Review: Small Game by Blair Braverman

Title: Small Game

Author: Blair Braverman

Publisher: Ecco

Publishing Date: November 1st, 2022

Read: January 3rd, 2023

Pages: 288

Audio Length: 7 Hours 5 Mins

Genre: Survival Thriller

TW: N/A

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

What it's about:

A gripping debut novel about a survival reality show gone wrong that leaves a group of strangers stranded in the northern wilds

Four strangers and six weeks: this is all that separates Mara from one life-changing payday. She was surprised when reality TV producers came knocking at Primal Instinct—the survival school where she teaches rich clients not to die during a night outdoors—and even more shocked to be cast in their new show, Civilization. Now she just has to live off the land with her fellow survivors for long enough to get the prize money.

Whisked by helicopter to an undisclosed location, Mara meets her teammates: The grizzled outdoorsman. The Eagle Scout. The white-collar professional. And Ashley, the beautiful but inexperienced one who just wants to be famous. Mara’s unusual, rugged childhood has prepared her for the discomforts and hard work ahead. But trusting her fellow survivors Not part of Mara’s skill set.

When the cast wakes one morning to find something has gone horribly wrong, fear ripples through the group. Are the producers giving them an extra challenge Or are they wrapped up in something more dangerous Soon Mara and the others face terrifying decisions as “survival” becomes more than a game.

A provocative exploration of the comforts, rituals, and connections we depend upon, Small Game is a gripping page-turner and a poignant story about finding the courage to build a new life from the ground up.

What I thought:

I'm a sucker for survival books. I always have been. And I thought this would be a really good one. It turned out to be just kind of meh and less about survival and more just drama. 

Cover:

The cover is what caught my eye first, I love the colors, I love the fire in the circles, it just screams woodsy survival.

Story:

I've read a small handful of "goes on reality show to win money but then ends up trying to survive instead" books, and while they aren't usually too unique I never get tired of them. This was your typical story but it wasn't over done.

Pace: 

The first half was slow and nothing happened and then the second half it felt rushed. I feel like with these kind of survival books it's really easy to mess up the pace. You have to do a certain level of building up before you can hit them with the crazy survival. 

Writing: 

Eh, there wasn't anything special or bad about the writing. I didn't feel like she was a bad or exceptionally good writer. 

Characters: 

I was either super annoyed by the characters or indifferent. I read this months ago so I couldn't tell you names or anything specific but I remember while reading it I was getting pissed off at the characters or felt meh if they died. I didn't even hate the characters which I feel is better than feeling indifferent. 

World building: 

The author did a fair job in describing what was around the character. Most of it is set in a forest so it's really not that hard to describe and make it so the reader can picture it. 

Ending: 

It was just kind of over. I remember it felt like the book was never going to end and then just like that it was done. One of those wait what just happened type of endings. 

Narrator:

Nothing special about the narrator. She wasn't annoying and I had no trouble keeping up with her at a higher speed. 

Overall:

Overall it was just an okay read. I don't really regret reading it, but I am disappointed. I wanted a for real survival thriller and instead I got a sort of mystery sort of survival mostly drama no thriller book. 

A little Snippet:

“This is survival,' he said. 'Real survival means using whatever resources you find. That's the whole point of it. You're surviving. Anything goes.'
'This isn't survival,' said Mara. . .
'Look at us,' said Kyle. 'Of course it's survival.'
'It's a survival game,' she said. 'We're playing the game. It's not survival if you have a choice.”
― Blair Braverman, Small Game

Possible books of likeness:

Author's info:

Website

Blair Braverman is a writer, adventurer, and long-distance dogsledder who has completed some of the toughest sled dog races in the world. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Outside magazine and a contributor to The New York Times, This American Life, Vogue, and many other venues. Her third book and debut novel, Small Game, is forthcoming from Ecco in fall 2022.

She lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband, Quince Mountain, and their team of sled dogs, called BraverMountain Mushing.