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.

A mysterious tower, floating on a island above England, forces thirteen strangers into an ascending death game.

I'm a big fan of the whole death game genre, so this was right up my alley. As the characters ascend the tower, they go through different levels, each unique in their own setting. This kept my interest, I always wanted to know what comes next. I won't go into detail, you should go into this blind.

The characters were well written, each with their own voice, although they are similar to other characters in death game stories, I still liked them. One in particular was intentionally written to be insufferable, and the author did this annoying, selfish guy so much justice. Can't remember the last time I hated a character this much.

What I did not like as much was the ending. I felt like something was missing. The epilogue chapter is there, and while most characters get closure, some parts of the story are left completely open. Despite that, I would still recommend this book, especially if you love death games, or simply a story with lots of variety in it's settings.

3.75 rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book.

This book is about a mysterious tower (kind of reminds me of tartarus) that appears in the middle of England and thirteen random people are teleported inside one day with the word ASCEND showing on the entrance door and two days to discover what in the world they need to do to get out of this tower, and what it all means...or die trying.

The book really started out with a bang and continued to surprise me throughout it. The deaths were very gory and well described. The characters were interesting, though a little one-dimensiomal at times. It was interesting to see the different levels of the tower and how it morphed itself to a particular person and their struggles. The creatures that were created by the tower were wild as well!

The story had notes of social issues of today that were brought up well throughout the story and helped to contribute to it instead of like some books that throw social/political beliefs in just to do. There are also notes of dealing with grief and finding meaning in life to move on when things don't go as we expect. I wish there was a little more to the ending as it seemed a little lackluster and sudden with no real explanation though.

I really would be interested in seeing this adapted into a movie, even if it was B rated, because it feels like something you'd watch on sci-fi. I really enjoyed this book and am interested in seeing what else the author has in store.

extraordinary and unique, quite surreal tale about a group of thirteen random people who mysteriously find themselves on a floating tower. i loved all of them (except Dirk). 4.5 stars, rounded up. tysm for the arc.

Very well crafted thriller. This would appeal to gamers, escape room enthusiasts and those who love a good mystery. This has such a unique storyline and was a great read.

Ascend. The only explicit instruction given to the unwilling participants of a deadly contest with far-reaching consequences. Readers will be enthralled by the fantastic environments and even more fantastic denizens of the mysterious tower in these pages. Drawing on the tree of life from Norse mythology, this story's lore is rock solid while casually disregarding the boundaries of normal reality. As the group is confronted with diabolical challenges, they begin to perceive consistent rules and wonder about the possibility of a larger purpose behind their ordeal. The action is propulsive and exciting, sometimes even terrifying, in this unconventional haunted house tale, but it's balanced with the depth and complexity of well-drawn characters.

Gaming fans will find the underlying premise irresistible: worlds customized to their personal experiences and aesthetic preferences, decorated in stunning detail that might distract from the danger lurking within—all to teach some larger, personally relevant lesson. It's a kaleidoscopic fantasy safari that would quickly go off the rails if not for the author's firm allegorical grounding. For a substantive speculative fiction story that astutely negotiates big ideas while still making it impossible to stop turning pages, look no further than The Way Up is Death.

A sensible, purposeful and significant thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC.

I love books that follow this formula, this hunger games, squid games type of formula where people have to compete in deathly horrors in order to get out alive. This sort of trope is has been done a lot, especially in YA and dystopia, but always works as long as the stakes are high and the danger is high enough that the reader is kept on the edge of their seat. Plus, from my experience, a book that does the deadly games/competition trope will never feel unoriginal as long as it by brings something different to the table, and this one gives it a sci-fi spin featuring a deadly tower of horrors.

Imagine a tall crimson fortress appearing out of nowhere on top of a floating island, surrounded by unearthly pastel colored clouds. Obviously, something so nonsensical has people thinking it is an illusion, a giant advertisement, or even paranormal? Snipers try shooting at the tower but the bullet disappears before it can reach it. Missile strikes fail to do any sort of damage. Paranormal experts are out of their depth. After much global mayhem, the UK foreign secretary decided this tower in middle England hasn’t done anything of note so can be ignored. And remarkably, people did. By the next week, people had forgotten more or less, until a timer appears on the tower, and a single word appears on the gateway: ASCEND. In different parts all over the UK, all within a 300 mile radius of the tower, a select group of people vanish from where they’re standing, only to materialize at the base of the tower. Stranded there without phones, they have no choice but to ascend the tower. And things get brutal from there.

This book was so intense I had to take breaks from reading it because it was so tense and the stakes so high. This was a tough read to be honest because you truly never get a break or feel safe, and 400 pages is a long time to never feel safe. In fact, it’s so intense it’s almost not enjoyable to read? It’s just that stressful and the characters quite literally do not catch a break. An annoying point I do have to bring up though. I doubt the general public would get over and be bored of something so WEIRD in just a week, like the book says. It says that people forget about the tower a week later. Sorry but that’s just so unrealistic, people would not get a magical floating tower over England in just a week later lol.

I understand why the book left things as it did, but as someone who was seeking more explanations and answers, the ending felt lackluster. I think the main reason why I was so eager to keep reading is not because I wanted to see how they would and who would escape the tower, but because I wanted answers. Who was behind it all, what was their reasoning behind doing all this in the first place, how they can stomach the morality issues of causing so much violence and cruelty. All this…for what purpose? These things the book doesn’t go into, and they stay unanswered. So the ending is satisfying in a way…yet it also isn’t. I get that the logistics behind the tower and who are running it and why, aren’t the point of the book. But as this was my main motivator for finishing it, I was left disappointed when you don’t really get an explanation to any of that at the end. Still, this was a really good sci-fi horror read, filled with high stakes, and super tense. This book is not for the faint of heart at all!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.