A horror story that needed more tell than show. The story has such a slow build up to the final plot point. This buildup is supposed to create tension and fear in the audience while the characters carry on unaware of the dangers; the technique did not work. Instead, the story is really boring up until the payoff for the buildup actually occurs. With the beginning actually being an interesting setup, the middle drags on and on until the ending starts ramping up. However, the story's format of time shifts and the unique switching of POVs, which combined to tell a single narrative, are excellent aspects found in the novel. Those elements just do not save the novel from being fifty percent boring with absurd and annoying characters.

The novel is a collection of six short stories written by six different authors and a surprising seventh voice. While all the short stories are interesting, they differ widely in mood, tone, and characteristics, creating a diverse reading experience. However, the seventh vocal part of the collection is uneven: some chapters highlight parts of the story you might have missed, creating a unique commentary on the story, while other chapters are almost like fanfiction of the story you just completed. Overall, a fun thematic collection with some low moments.

I bought this in 2014 and reread this year to see if I still like it. I can see the flaws of the book much more clearly now than when I was younger. Like, the characters are one-dimensional, the dismissiveness of queer themes, the stereotypical portrayal of gayness, and the copaganda agenda being pushed in the book. But I still had the "feet up, kicking, giggling" experience again when reading the book, and that has to count for something.