Thanks to #NetGalley for the book #TheDecidingHour by #JerrodFasan. This book is about 6 friends who are on a vacavtion and gets stuck out in a storm. To seek shelter they stay at strange hotel. They soon learn there is more to this hotel. It wants them to play a game to be able to leave. Who will make it out? And at what cost?

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

Warning--do not read if you are not into religion.

This book left a lot to be desired. The storyline and plot were interesting and could have been good had it been properly executed. This however was not the case in The Deciding Hour. It was poorly written with LOTS of grammatical errors. The characters were very one-dimensional and the conversations they had with each other were not realistic nor were they natural at all. The concept of the book could have been great, if only the topic of religion wasn't so heavy throughout the last 40% of the novel.

I almost DNF this book mutliple times throughout--but I am not one to do that, so I pushed through thinking that maybe it would get better. There were a lot of places in the book where too much detail was given and things were too descriptive, and other places where it lacked.

Overall I'd rate this book a 2 which is based solely on the fact that I enjoyed the premise of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this novel.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What a wild ride! Absolutely loved this book. Kind of a locked room thriller that has a ton of suspense and so many twists and turns.
I love the hotel setting and the entire concept behind the book too.
This is a great thriller that should not be missed!!

This had hostel/ saw/ final destination vibes for me which having grown up on 20oos horror films, I loved! There's always the deeper questions of do bad things and bad things will happen to you but to be honest, I wasn't thinking that deeply about it n just enjoyed the creepy story for what it was

The narrative revolves around six friends named Connor, Caleb, Malik, Carlos, Ethan, and Dustin. Each character is introduced to provide a glimpse into their individual traits. As the friends find themselves in a peculiar hotel setting, they face unsettling occurrences and are drawn into a game that exposes their deepest secrets, leading to the revelation of the pivotal 'Deciding Hour.' The story includes shifts between past and present events, albeit with some lack of clarity regarding the timeline, and may benefit from additional proofreading. With religious undertones, the narrative delves into the characters past actions and their potential for redemption or repercussions.

I wanted to lobe this book. There were so many excellent elements I was intrigued to read. However, in execution, this story fell flat for me. It was slower than fit the story ANF I couldn't Gey into the writing style.

I couldn't put this book down! The first three-quarters were a thrilling adventure - electrifying and thought-provoking. However, the final section fell flat for me, leaving me feeling underwhelmed. While I understand the author's intentions, I believe a more concise conclusion would have heightened the overall impact. Nevertheless, the beginning had me completely enamored!

3.5 ⭐️
The Deciding Hour is a suspense-thriller read that follows the lives of six lifelong friends. What began as a return from a fun sunny trip to Mexico, full of pleasant memories for these friends, turned to dread rather quickly.

As they were returning home from their vacation, they end up seeking shelter in a nearby hotel from an abrupt and unusual storm, but to their surprise, it was not an ordinary hotel. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE! that put them through hell (literally).

From the get-go, I really liked how the gaming system worked, portrayed as a real-time "survival" game controlled by an entity, it was a fun supplement to the storyline.

As the plot progressed, we get to experience each character's pasts through the game and how their past actions and untold truths (some of them very revealing and unforeseen) would make them either reflect, repent or just plain suffer from them.

The story plays on the characters’ wrongdoings, and how actions, either good or bad, inevitably determine what we get in the future. A powerful reminder for all of us "as you sow, so you shall reap".

Honestly, I couldn’t connect with any of these characters, hence they were not likable at all. Their interactions were bothersome and it made me not root for any of them to get out. Around the 50% mark, it got a bit repetitive and predictable, but nonetheless I liked the story.

If you are into tales that tickles your creepy-bone, check this one out!

Thanks to Jerrod Fasan and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don't normally read books by men about men. I just don't understand their culture or their reasoning.
I don't want to be like "I just don't care for men." but that's kind of what it is.
Also these young men are close to the age my son is and I am real nervous about things happening to him.
BUT This was good.
I really connected with the characters, and I am not gonna lie, that hasn't happened for a while. I wanted to take these boys home and give them some hot cocoa, especially Connor.
I am like really proud of the author. I will read more of his stuff.
And honestly a creepy novel with just men is nice. They are almost never "prey" or whatever. They are almost always heroes or the villains. In this book they're young men in a creepy situation and they are trying to cope.
And yeah they are dumb but it fits so well! It feels so honest.
Also I want to point out as middle aged woman- I would walk through the maggots and get right back in that car. Why are these boys afraid of the mystery bugs?
Go find our friend!
I love the videogame aspect too. I want more of these.
Fantastic job.

I was definitely intrigued initially by this book, however the book didn't hold my attention all the way through and I found it hard to finis.

A gripping and intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This book is like a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue. When six friends take shelter in a seemingly innocent hotel during a storm, they soon find themselves trapped in a nightmare beyond their wildest imagination.

The author has crafted a chilling story filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the characters are so well-developed that you can't help but feel their fear and desperation. It's a heart-pounding race against time that will leave you questioning who can be trusted.

Hold onto your hats, folks, because The Deciding Hour by Jerrod Fasan is a thrill ride you won't want to miss! This book had me hooked right from the start with its chilling premise and suspenseful plot. Imagine getting caught in a storm and seeking refuge in a creepy hotel, only to realize that you're playing a life-and-death game with your darkest secrets on the line!

Why should you read it? Well, it's a nail-biting rollercoaster of a story that keeps you guessing at every turn. Jerrod Fasan delivers suspense and tension that'll make your heart race, and you won't be able to put it down until you find out who will make it out alive. The Deciding Hour is a wild ride through the darkest corners of human nature, and you won't want to miss it if you're looking for a thrilling read that'll keep you up all night!

324 pages

3 stars

As I read along, I thought that this book would make a good movie. I would make a few cuts, but it has potential.

Six young men in their early twenties are returning home following a week-long vacation in Mexico. Suddenly, they drive into severe weather. The driver cannot see. Luckily, they happen upon a hotel. It looks like a grand old place. They run into the premises. No one appears, until finally an old man shows up. Things begin to get weird. One of the men speaks calmly and jovially to the old man. The other five all see him as weird and downright creepy.

When they finally reach their room, they find the place warm and comfortable. They notice a gaming system set up. How odd. The machine comes alive and beckons the men to play a game called “The Deciding Hour.” One by one, they are selected. One by one they must confront their past actions. They must choose a response in five minutes. They must face the consequences of those actions. Their very lives depend upon their answers.

This novel is a lesson in morality. Good people do well and bad people are condemned. I found it interesting how the lesson was woven into the narrative. This reader could see it a mile away.

Still, it was a good read. I had as much fun reading it as I would many of my “creature feature” books. The writing was a little uneven, but still shows talent and was well thought out. I look forward to reading more by Mr. Fasan.

I want to thank NetGalley and Jerrod Fasan for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

This was rough, to be honest. The concept was intriguing, but I struggled to get started, and once I did, the massive blocks of text made it hard to continue.

This book was definitely a different kind of read than I normally read! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, A very strange storyline! It was worth reading bit just a little out there for me! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!