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Final Girls
What if you could fix the worst parts of yourself by confronting your worst fears?
Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented proprietary virtual reality technology that purports to heal psychological wounds by running clients through scenarios straight out of horror movies and nightmares. In a carefully controlled environment, with a medical cocktail running through their veins, sisters might develop a bond they’ve been missing their whole lives—while running from the bogeyman through a simulated forest. But…can real change come so easily?
Esther Hoffman doubts it. Esther has spent her entire journalism career debunking pseudoscience, after phony regression therapy ruined her father’s life. She’s determined to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb’s budding company. Dr. Webb’s willing to let her, of course, for reasons of her own. What better advertisement could she get than that of a convinced skeptic? But Esther’s not the only one curious about how this technology works. Enter real-world threats just as frightening as those created in the lab. Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival.
Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented proprietary virtual reality technology that purports to heal psychological wounds by running clients through scenarios straight out of horror movies and nightmares. In a carefully controlled environment, with a medical cocktail running through their veins, sisters might develop a bond they’ve been missing their whole lives—while running from the bogeyman through a simulated forest. But…can real change come so easily?
Esther Hoffman doubts it. Esther has spent her entire journalism career debunking pseudoscience, after phony regression therapy ruined her father’s life. She’s determined to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb’s budding company. Dr. Webb’s willing to let her, of course, for reasons of her own. What better advertisement could she get than that of a convinced skeptic? But Esther’s not the only one curious about how this technology works. Enter real-world threats just as frightening as those created in the lab. Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2017
83 people are currently reading
5064 people want to read
About the author
Mira Grant
47 books6,111 followersMira also writes as Seanan McGuire.
Born and raised in Northern California, Mira Grant has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead. In college, she was voted Most Likely to Summon Something Horrible in the Cornfield, and was a founding member of the Horror Movie Sleep-Away Survival Camp, where her record for time survived in the Swamp Cannibals scenario remains unchallenged.
Mira lives in a crumbling farmhouse with an assortment of cats, horror movies, comics, and books about horrible diseases. When not writing, she splits her time between travel, auditing college virology courses, and watching more horror movies than is strictly good for you. Favorite vacation spots include Seattle, London, and a large haunted corn maze just outside of Huntsville, Alabama.
Mira sleeps with a machete under her bed, and highly suggests that you do the same.
Born and raised in Northern California, Mira Grant has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead. In college, she was voted Most Likely to Summon Something Horrible in the Cornfield, and was a founding member of the Horror Movie Sleep-Away Survival Camp, where her record for time survived in the Swamp Cannibals scenario remains unchallenged.
Mira lives in a crumbling farmhouse with an assortment of cats, horror movies, comics, and books about horrible diseases. When not writing, she splits her time between travel, auditing college virology courses, and watching more horror movies than is strictly good for you. Favorite vacation spots include Seattle, London, and a large haunted corn maze just outside of Huntsville, Alabama.
Mira sleeps with a machete under her bed, and highly suggests that you do the same.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews
June 28, 2018
man, i'm so glad i didn't have to spend 40 bucks on this. not because i would have regretted the purchase if i still had disposable income to toss madly at things i love, but because the relationship between "things i want" and "things i can afford to want" is uneven and the more money i can allocate for cat chemo and rent, the fewer my panic attacks will be. so, all gratitude to the services of netgalley for people who wish they were high rollers, but are not.
this is another win for mira grant.
i can see this sci-fi/horror novella being adapted into a better-than-average episode of black mirror. in fact, it reads like a mash-up of the black mirror episode "playtest," buffy, and the free tor short i just read by julianna baggott, The Virtual Swallows of Hog Island, which you can read here: http://www.tor.com/2017/01/25/the-vir....
it's about the union of technology and therapy, where clients are shot through with pharmacological goodies and delivered into a virtual reality landscape designed by technicians with backgrounds in theater or haunted house design, intended to force patients to face their fears in a safe environment to overcome phobias, or to go through a fear-based experience with a rival or enemy in the expectation that a shared emotionally-charged scenario will diminish animosity and heal their relationship. however, every "safe environment" can be twisted into dangertown in the wrong hands. and mira grant loves to be the puppeteer manipulating those hands.
it's too short to reveal too much, but know that it has all the things that make mira grant so damn good: science bits that seem plausible, characters facing horrifying adversaries, blood blood carnage, lines like any word can be an insult if it's thrown hard enough from the window of a moving sneer, and an ending that is satisfying, unexpected, and a little more emotionally complicated than most.
financially untroubled folks can show your support and spend your $$$ here:
http://subterraneanpress.com/final-girls
the rest of you can get it from netgalley for free until may.
either way, you should get on it.
***********************************************
THANK YOU NETGALLEY!! review to come!
***********************************************
*oooh, the cover is up now!! and there's an EXCERPT at that link! go read it!
***********************************************
i am too freaking poor right now to be spending 40 bucks on a novella, but maybe one of y'all can grab a copy and tell me all about it:
http://subterraneanpress.com/store/pr...
i will be waiting.
come to my blog!
this is another win for mira grant.
i can see this sci-fi/horror novella being adapted into a better-than-average episode of black mirror. in fact, it reads like a mash-up of the black mirror episode "playtest," buffy, and the free tor short i just read by julianna baggott, The Virtual Swallows of Hog Island, which you can read here: http://www.tor.com/2017/01/25/the-vir....
it's about the union of technology and therapy, where clients are shot through with pharmacological goodies and delivered into a virtual reality landscape designed by technicians with backgrounds in theater or haunted house design, intended to force patients to face their fears in a safe environment to overcome phobias, or to go through a fear-based experience with a rival or enemy in the expectation that a shared emotionally-charged scenario will diminish animosity and heal their relationship. however, every "safe environment" can be twisted into dangertown in the wrong hands. and mira grant loves to be the puppeteer manipulating those hands.
it's too short to reveal too much, but know that it has all the things that make mira grant so damn good: science bits that seem plausible, characters facing horrifying adversaries, blood blood carnage, lines like any word can be an insult if it's thrown hard enough from the window of a moving sneer, and an ending that is satisfying, unexpected, and a little more emotionally complicated than most.
financially untroubled folks can show your support and spend your $$$ here:
http://subterraneanpress.com/final-girls
the rest of you can get it from netgalley for free until may.
either way, you should get on it.
***********************************************
THANK YOU NETGALLEY!! review to come!
***********************************************
*oooh, the cover is up now!! and there's an EXCERPT at that link! go read it!
***********************************************
i am too freaking poor right now to be spending 40 bucks on a novella, but maybe one of y'all can grab a copy and tell me all about it:
http://subterraneanpress.com/store/pr...
i will be waiting.
come to my blog!
May 7, 2017
Recently Mr. Humphrey and I watched an episode of Black Mirror where a man volunteered to be a test subject for a video game that supposedly was a realistic way of being inside the game itself. The idea was to see how long each player lasted, as the game fed on your imagination and brought your worst nightmares to life. Final Girls was based on a similar premise that I felt was a better version of that show. I really enjoyed reading this novella, so much in fact that I wish it had been longer than 112 pages. The journalist POV was an excellent choice to add a realistic sense to the plot, and I think it gave the characters a bit of humanity as well. The ending was a little cheesy, but overall I was completely engrossed and basically held my breath as I raced through the story in one sitting. I easily could have read a full sized book on the subject and found myself simultaneously obsessed and disgusted. Highly recommended for fans of lighter horror and all kinds of deliciously weird writing.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
**You may also know Mira Grant from her writing as Seanan McGuire, author of the Wayward Children series.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
**You may also know Mira Grant from her writing as Seanan McGuire, author of the Wayward Children series.
November 4, 2022
3.5 stars
Mira Grant dazzled me with Into the Drowning Deep and I have been on the lookout for books by her ever since. When I saw this audiobook was on NetGalley I had to jump on it.
Dr. Jennifer Webb has created virtual reality technology to help users heal psychological wounds by running them through horror film scenarios. I don't know about you, but I think that would cause psychological wounds! Can you heal while being a medical cocktail that has you running from danger?
Esther Hoffman is a journalist who wants to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb's company. Will she be successful? She is not the only one who want to unearth the truth....
This was a fast listen and had vibes of The Cabin in the woods movie and Black Mirror. Mira Grant has a great imagination and was able to tell her story in a gripping and fascinating way.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Mira Grant dazzled me with Into the Drowning Deep and I have been on the lookout for books by her ever since. When I saw this audiobook was on NetGalley I had to jump on it.
Dr. Jennifer Webb has created virtual reality technology to help users heal psychological wounds by running them through horror film scenarios. I don't know about you, but I think that would cause psychological wounds! Can you heal while being a medical cocktail that has you running from danger?
Esther Hoffman is a journalist who wants to unearth the truth about Dr. Webb's company. Will she be successful? She is not the only one who want to unearth the truth....
This was a fast listen and had vibes of The Cabin in the woods movie and Black Mirror. Mira Grant has a great imagination and was able to tell her story in a gripping and fascinating way.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 11, 2017
Another win for Mira Grant (Seanan Mcguire). :)
This is a short psychological technothriller involving virtual reality, psychological therapy, and a bit of industrial espionage.... but if you're REALLY worried that you'll be missing out on a few nom-nom moments, don't be. This has everything we've ever wanted in a book from the horror/SF queen.
The real joy comes from both the characters and the cool explanation of how to use dreams and virtual reality together to build helpful, if fake, memories and establish a better foundation for one's psyche.
Were you scarred by something in your childhood? Missing fundamental connections with your loved ones? Perhaps just need to take care of a few phobias? No problem. Introducing scripted dreams/memories. :)
Of course things go to hell.
And that's what we love so much about these books, right?
Most interestingly, however, is the focus on FRIENDSHIP in this novella. It's pretty damn awesome.
I'd say go run out and buy a copy, but it's at a whopping $40 at the moment! Still, it's worth it. :) Assuming you're not using Netgalley! Hi, Netgalley!
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this cool ARC! :)
This is a short psychological technothriller involving virtual reality, psychological therapy, and a bit of industrial espionage.... but if you're REALLY worried that you'll be missing out on a few nom-nom moments, don't be. This has everything we've ever wanted in a book from the horror/SF queen.
The real joy comes from both the characters and the cool explanation of how to use dreams and virtual reality together to build helpful, if fake, memories and establish a better foundation for one's psyche.
Were you scarred by something in your childhood? Missing fundamental connections with your loved ones? Perhaps just need to take care of a few phobias? No problem. Introducing scripted dreams/memories. :)
Of course things go to hell.
And that's what we love so much about these books, right?
Most interestingly, however, is the focus on FRIENDSHIP in this novella. It's pretty damn awesome.
I'd say go run out and buy a copy, but it's at a whopping $40 at the moment! Still, it's worth it. :) Assuming you're not using Netgalley! Hi, Netgalley!
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this cool ARC! :)
July 13, 2024
Final Girls is a quick sci-fi horror that runs the gauntlet of elements like virtual reality, zombies, and assassins in 112 pages. It was a fun read, and for sci-fi it doesn't feel that far into the future to imagine doctors using virtual reality for therapy in some form or another. The characters were enjoyable and I loved the end. I'm going to try Grant's Parasite next :)
January 2, 2023
4.0 Stars
This was such a unique science fiction novella that explored the psychological effects of becoming a "final girl". Horror fans will really enjoy this one because there were some fantastic quotes sprinkled throughout the narrative. This was an enjoyable read that packed a lot into a short number of pages.
This was such a unique science fiction novella that explored the psychological effects of becoming a "final girl". Horror fans will really enjoy this one because there were some fantastic quotes sprinkled throughout the narrative. This was an enjoyable read that packed a lot into a short number of pages.
January 10, 2023
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Mira Grant's novella, Final Girls, originally published in 2017 is now being released in audio format.
This story features Dr. Webb, who has created a ground-breaking VR technology that she purports helps clients overcome long-term psychological damage and trauma.
With this process, the clients get taken back to significant times in their lives and run through situations that basically equate to scenes straight out of a horror movie.
I understand the idea to be that the scientists take the clients back to these pivotal moments, break them, shock them so severely, that they are able to rebuild new memories and thus rewire their brains; resetting their psychology.
Another main player in this one is Esther Hoffman, a journalist, who has her own very strong opinions on this type of science.
Esther ends up in Dr. Webb's lab for a story. She observes a couple of clients running through the process themselves, as well as observing the resulting aftereffects. Then Esther agrees to undergo the treatment herself.
When a real world threat enters the lab during Esther's scenerio, Esther and Dr. Webb, once on different sides, are suddenly forced together in a fight for survival.
Final Girls explores a unique concept that I was definitely intrigued by. I would definitely pick up a full-length novel tackling these futuristic ideas.
My experience with this story overall, however, can be broken down as follows:
Concept: 4-stars
Plot: 3-stars
Characters: 3-stars
Writing: 5-stars
Mira Grant's writing is something to experience in and of itself. I love it. Every word carefully placed, themes thoughtfully examined, well-paced and nuanced. I always eat it up.
While I don't think this story will stick in my memory from now until forever more, I am really glad that I listened to it. The narration was fantastic and it definitely is interesting to think about this type of futuristic therapy.
Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had fun with this one and will continue to pick up any Mira Grant work I can get my hands on!
Mira Grant's novella, Final Girls, originally published in 2017 is now being released in audio format.
This story features Dr. Webb, who has created a ground-breaking VR technology that she purports helps clients overcome long-term psychological damage and trauma.
With this process, the clients get taken back to significant times in their lives and run through situations that basically equate to scenes straight out of a horror movie.
I understand the idea to be that the scientists take the clients back to these pivotal moments, break them, shock them so severely, that they are able to rebuild new memories and thus rewire their brains; resetting their psychology.
Another main player in this one is Esther Hoffman, a journalist, who has her own very strong opinions on this type of science.
Esther ends up in Dr. Webb's lab for a story. She observes a couple of clients running through the process themselves, as well as observing the resulting aftereffects. Then Esther agrees to undergo the treatment herself.
When a real world threat enters the lab during Esther's scenerio, Esther and Dr. Webb, once on different sides, are suddenly forced together in a fight for survival.
Final Girls explores a unique concept that I was definitely intrigued by. I would definitely pick up a full-length novel tackling these futuristic ideas.
My experience with this story overall, however, can be broken down as follows:
Concept: 4-stars
Plot: 3-stars
Characters: 3-stars
Writing: 5-stars
Mira Grant's writing is something to experience in and of itself. I love it. Every word carefully placed, themes thoughtfully examined, well-paced and nuanced. I always eat it up.
While I don't think this story will stick in my memory from now until forever more, I am really glad that I listened to it. The narration was fantastic and it definitely is interesting to think about this type of futuristic therapy.
Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had fun with this one and will continue to pick up any Mira Grant work I can get my hands on!
March 7, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
For those who don't know, Mira Grant is a pseudonym for the genius and brilliant Seanan McGuire who, over the past two years, has weaseled her way up to my top favorites list of authors. She's absolutely fantastic, and this shorty is just another shining example of how she can throw you into any situation and make you care about the characters and what's happening to them AND make you feel like the world she's creating is bigger than just the words on the page.
This one wasn't perfect by any means - the resolution seemed a little rushed, and the novella could have been another 20-30 pages long and felt more complete, but it was still a shiny little gem of a story.
Read it. :)
For those who don't know, Mira Grant is a pseudonym for the genius and brilliant Seanan McGuire who, over the past two years, has weaseled her way up to my top favorites list of authors. She's absolutely fantastic, and this shorty is just another shining example of how she can throw you into any situation and make you care about the characters and what's happening to them AND make you feel like the world she's creating is bigger than just the words on the page.
This one wasn't perfect by any means - the resolution seemed a little rushed, and the novella could have been another 20-30 pages long and felt more complete, but it was still a shiny little gem of a story.
Read it. :)
February 22, 2017
I don't read a lot of short fiction or novellas, which is something I am trying to remedy this year. I did read Every Heart a Doorway last year and loved it, so I was pretty excited to pick up Final Girls. Even though it is not officially scheduled for release until April, you can get it now, along with a bunch of other great stuff, as part of the current Humble Bundle book bundle. Yay:)
It's a really smart and cool little horror story that even includes a reference to Buckaroo Banzai, science hero extraordinaire. Nice. I wanted a tiny bit more, but overall I felt it delivered what I was looking for.
It's a really smart and cool little horror story that even includes a reference to Buckaroo Banzai, science hero extraordinaire. Nice. I wanted a tiny bit more, but overall I felt it delivered what I was looking for.
March 24, 2017
This author's storytelling can be so fun and effortless, but the actual plot was unsatisfying and I didn't care for the ending.
Summary: Esther's a journalist. Jennifer is the scientist in charge of a virtual reality therapy treatment, wherein patients get into a pod and "live" out horror-movie scenarios that force them to confront fears or other issues. Esther decides to hop into a pod (in the name of research, and for a mild scenario she agrees to in advance) and Jennifer comes along (in the name of forming a friendship with Esther and influencing her to write a nice article about Jennifer's work). While they're in the virtual reality scenario, an intruder screws with it and turns the horror factor way up.
This premise is amazing, and I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of it, but the execution flopped for me.
The Good:
1. Esther and Jennifer are well defined characters, considering it's a novella and there's not a ton of time for development. I didn't care much about Jennifer, but I became pretty invested in Esther.
2. I like Grant's prose - it's vivid but not flowery. I never feel like I'm wading through too much description, or exposition, or anything.
3. The horror element is effective without being overwhelming. Spoilers about the nature of the horror in the virtual reality scenario: It gets a bit gory, but for me there was a good ratio of actual plot to senseless violence.
4. Strong female friendship. Although... I do have issues with it. See below.
The Bad:
About halfway through, it felt like the author lost the thread of the story. It's very different from how the description sells it; a lot of the more interesting themes I thought were going to be tackled were just sort of hinted at and then abandoned.
For example - referring to the GR description here - the summary asks, "can real change [in someone's personality] come so easily?" But the story never really addresses that or any of the other challenging questions that arise when you pick apart this therapeutic virtual reality idea. Questions about the nature of truth and memory and reality. It starts to go there, in the beginning, but then that sci-fi angle was abandoned for the horror. (And horror is fine! But you set me up to expect semi-cerebral sci-fi and then left me hanging. Not cool.)
And then the summary says, "Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival." But they're only at odds before they enter the virtual reality scenario. Once they're in, they become instant friends (because of how the scenario is set up) and there is no conflict between them at all for the rest of the story.
Then there's that ending. Massive spoilers for the entire story, do not click if you're at all interested in reading.
Essentially... I felt like I read two different books clumsily mashed together.
TL;DR: This book had such a good premise, but then the plot veered off into a completely different direction from what had been set up, and then it veered straight off a cliff. It's a very fast read and it's definitely fun - at times, if you like mild horror - but it sacrifices character and conflict for the sake of cheap scares.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: Esther's a journalist. Jennifer is the scientist in charge of a virtual reality therapy treatment, wherein patients get into a pod and "live" out horror-movie scenarios that force them to confront fears or other issues. Esther decides to hop into a pod (in the name of research, and for a mild scenario she agrees to in advance) and Jennifer comes along (in the name of forming a friendship with Esther and influencing her to write a nice article about Jennifer's work). While they're in the virtual reality scenario, an intruder screws with it and turns the horror factor way up.
This premise is amazing, and I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of it, but the execution flopped for me.
The Good:
1. Esther and Jennifer are well defined characters, considering it's a novella and there's not a ton of time for development. I didn't care much about Jennifer, but I became pretty invested in Esther.
2. I like Grant's prose - it's vivid but not flowery. I never feel like I'm wading through too much description, or exposition, or anything.
3. The horror element is effective without being overwhelming. Spoilers about the nature of the horror in the virtual reality scenario: It gets a bit gory, but for me there was a good ratio of actual plot to senseless violence.
4. Strong female friendship. Although... I do have issues with it. See below.
The Bad:
About halfway through, it felt like the author lost the thread of the story. It's very different from how the description sells it; a lot of the more interesting themes I thought were going to be tackled were just sort of hinted at and then abandoned.
For example - referring to the GR description here - the summary asks, "can real change [in someone's personality] come so easily?" But the story never really addresses that or any of the other challenging questions that arise when you pick apart this therapeutic virtual reality idea. Questions about the nature of truth and memory and reality. It starts to go there, in the beginning, but then that sci-fi angle was abandoned for the horror. (And horror is fine! But you set me up to expect semi-cerebral sci-fi and then left me hanging. Not cool.)
And then the summary says, "Dr. Webb and Esther are at odds, but they may also be each other’s only hope of survival." But they're only at odds before they enter the virtual reality scenario. Once they're in, they become instant friends (because of how the scenario is set up) and there is no conflict between them at all for the rest of the story.
Then there's that ending. Massive spoilers for the entire story, do not click if you're at all interested in reading.
Essentially... I felt like I read two different books clumsily mashed together.
TL;DR: This book had such a good premise, but then the plot veered off into a completely different direction from what had been set up, and then it veered straight off a cliff. It's a very fast read and it's definitely fun - at times, if you like mild horror - but it sacrifices character and conflict for the sake of cheap scares.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2023
4.25 stars rounded down to 4. A short sweet sampling of why Seanan continues to be my literary Queen. 👑
Final Girls is a short story that really makes you think about memory modification and implanted memories. When someone can believe something so fully even though it never really happened and how it can change their feelings towards a person or place, that's what's explored here. Normally I include a synopsis/tidbit about the story, but to fully appreciate and experience Final Girls I feel like it's important to go into it with no expectations on where the story will go. I did this the first time I listened to it and it fell short for me....but upon listening to it a second time after wiping the slate clean I can't imagine how it could be better. I'm giving this 4.25 and not 5 simply due to the fact that it took me twice to fully grasp everything this story had to offer.
4.25 rounded down to 4, recommended for readers who knows and love Seanan and her writing style. For those who aren't, I heavily recommend Every Heart a Doorway as a jumping off point. Age recommended for 14+ as some heavy issues are talked about, but nothing on page as well as violence.
Final Girls is a short story that really makes you think about memory modification and implanted memories. When someone can believe something so fully even though it never really happened and how it can change their feelings towards a person or place, that's what's explored here. Normally I include a synopsis/tidbit about the story, but to fully appreciate and experience Final Girls I feel like it's important to go into it with no expectations on where the story will go. I did this the first time I listened to it and it fell short for me....but upon listening to it a second time after wiping the slate clean I can't imagine how it could be better. I'm giving this 4.25 and not 5 simply due to the fact that it took me twice to fully grasp everything this story had to offer.
4.25 rounded down to 4, recommended for readers who knows and love Seanan and her writing style. For those who aren't, I heavily recommend Every Heart a Doorway as a jumping off point. Age recommended for 14+ as some heavy issues are talked about, but nothing on page as well as violence.
March 7, 2017
Horror is not my usual haunt but this novella sounded too interesting to miss.
Esther Hoffman is a reporter determined to expose a new experimental therapy using virtual reality as a sham, while Dr. Jennifer Webb is fighting to validate the fruit of her efforts. Add to this a case of ruthless corporate espionage, and what should have been a trial session turns into a horrific nightmare where the two women have to partner up in order to have a chance to survive.
I was impressed by Grant’s writing style and her characterisation. Esther and Jennifer are both strong-willed but in very different ways and I enjoyed their interactions. The whole notion of using traumatic events and fears to manipulate emotions is a mine field but the author uses this in a very entertaining fashion. I ended up reading this in one sitting. Might be tempted to try one of her novels...
Esther Hoffman is a reporter determined to expose a new experimental therapy using virtual reality as a sham, while Dr. Jennifer Webb is fighting to validate the fruit of her efforts. Add to this a case of ruthless corporate espionage, and what should have been a trial session turns into a horrific nightmare where the two women have to partner up in order to have a chance to survive.
I was impressed by Grant’s writing style and her characterisation. Esther and Jennifer are both strong-willed but in very different ways and I enjoyed their interactions. The whole notion of using traumatic events and fears to manipulate emotions is a mine field but the author uses this in a very entertaining fashion. I ended up reading this in one sitting. Might be tempted to try one of her novels...
February 20, 2025
omg a quick and fun read!! love mira grant and her writing, and this was fast paced and had some way more blood shed than i originally thought which i also enjoyed. a weird concept but done super well
February 22, 2017
Well that was fun! I've only in the last year or two learned to appreciate novellas and this was a good one with some cool 80's references and just a solid techno-horror story.
December 27, 2023
3.5 Stars for Final Girls (audiobook) by Mira Grant read by Jennifer Pickens.
What could possibly go wrong if you tried to treat patients psychological wounds with virtual reality therapy where a patient is exposed to their worst nightmares?
What could possibly go wrong if you tried to treat patients psychological wounds with virtual reality therapy where a patient is exposed to their worst nightmares?
February 26, 2017
Dr Jennifer Webb has created an immersive shared-world VR technique that with a combination of powerful psychotropic drugs, can be used as a psychological therapy to help damaged relationships. Esther Hoffman is a reporter determined to reveal Jennifer's work as dangerous and fraudulent. While demonstrating the technology by sharing a VR experience things go horribly wrong and the fake horror movie experience becomes a deadly one instead.
Mira Grant is a fascinating creation, almost as much of a character created by Seanan McGuire as the characters of the books she writes. This is very much a quintessential Mira Grant book, with a scientific approach to horror and everyone being damaged. I actually think her books in this style work better at this length.
Mira Grant is a fascinating creation, almost as much of a character created by Seanan McGuire as the characters of the books she writes. This is very much a quintessential Mira Grant book, with a scientific approach to horror and everyone being damaged. I actually think her books in this style work better at this length.
January 1, 2019
As always Mira Grant writes a brilliant story in the span of so few words. This one was somewhat predictable at points but that didn’t take away any of the enjoyment for me. A nice quick read that provides a glimpse into Grants writing style. If you want to test the waters with Seanan McGuire’s horror (aka Mira Grant) then I recommend trying out this story to start.
November 11, 2022
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.
Dr. Jennifer Webb is the name behind a new virtual reality technology that works to heal previous psychological wounds inflicted upon the individual by having them run through popular horror media scenarios. It promises to heal old wounds, obliterate old fears, and cease old feuds. But is it too good to be true, when it unleashes the mind inside the worst nightmares it could imagine?
I loved the premise of this novel and how Grant managed to explain the concept of it to the reader, inside its limited page span, whilst also delivering a well-past storyline. We got to see how it worked before it was put to the test, as the central characters sought to heal themselves through Webb's new technology, believing her claims about it. Of course, things quickly escalated...
This never became as horrifying as I had imagined it would be, but tension definitely dominated all scenes and I loved exploring these tried and tested tropes as they were played out inside a new format. Ultimately, I wanted a little longer with everything featured here and to further bond with the characters, but this was a strong novella with a scientific focus and an eerie atmosphere throughout that I loved.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Mira Grant, and the publisher, Tantor Audio, for this opportunity.
Dr. Jennifer Webb is the name behind a new virtual reality technology that works to heal previous psychological wounds inflicted upon the individual by having them run through popular horror media scenarios. It promises to heal old wounds, obliterate old fears, and cease old feuds. But is it too good to be true, when it unleashes the mind inside the worst nightmares it could imagine?
I loved the premise of this novel and how Grant managed to explain the concept of it to the reader, inside its limited page span, whilst also delivering a well-past storyline. We got to see how it worked before it was put to the test, as the central characters sought to heal themselves through Webb's new technology, believing her claims about it. Of course, things quickly escalated...
This never became as horrifying as I had imagined it would be, but tension definitely dominated all scenes and I loved exploring these tried and tested tropes as they were played out inside a new format. Ultimately, I wanted a little longer with everything featured here and to further bond with the characters, but this was a strong novella with a scientific focus and an eerie atmosphere throughout that I loved.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Mira Grant, and the publisher, Tantor Audio, for this opportunity.
November 20, 2022
3¾⭐
Ɱ◎◎ĐႽ…
➨ Short Story/Novella ➨ Horror ➨ Futuristic Tech/Sci-Fi ➨ Quick, too quick, even ➨ Thought-provoking
A concise story, about 3 hours total on Audio, that could’ve had so much more potential if it had been explained a tad more. You are dropped right in and the story hits the ground running and I was left floundering to keep up with it. Don’t get me wrong, the premise is super good but I wanted more than what I got. The ending came way too quickly and I was like…wait, what…is that the end? But...if you like a short story format that has disturbingly clever new tech involved then this should totally work for you.
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️Jennifer Pickens📣 She was great!
Total Score 7.00/10 | Opening-6 | Characters-6.5 | Plot-7 | Atmosphere-7 | Writing Style-8 | Ending-7 | Overall Enjoyment- 7.5
Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.
Ɱ◎◎ĐႽ…
➨ Short Story/Novella ➨ Horror ➨ Futuristic Tech/Sci-Fi ➨ Quick, too quick, even ➨ Thought-provoking
A concise story, about 3 hours total on Audio, that could’ve had so much more potential if it had been explained a tad more. You are dropped right in and the story hits the ground running and I was left floundering to keep up with it. Don’t get me wrong, the premise is super good but I wanted more than what I got. The ending came way too quickly and I was like…wait, what…is that the end? But...if you like a short story format that has disturbingly clever new tech involved then this should totally work for you.
➨ Narrated by: 🎙️Jennifer Pickens📣 She was great!
Total Score 7.00/10 | Opening-6 | Characters-6.5 | Plot-7 | Atmosphere-7 | Writing Style-8 | Ending-7 | Overall Enjoyment- 7.5
Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.
November 5, 2025
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
At only 112 pages, Final Girls was exactly what I needed after tackling a 1,000+ page beast. Fast-paced, exciting, and packed with tension from the start, this novella reminded me why I love sci-fi horror. The concept of people willingly entering a simulated horror scenario to heal their psychological trauma is brilliant, and I honestly wish this had been expanded into a full series or even a prequel. There’s so much potential in this world, and I would have happily spent more time exploring it.
We primarily follow Esther, a skeptical journalist determined to expose Dr. Webb’s VR therapy for the pseudoscience she believes it is. We also get glimpses from Dr. Webb herself and “The Bad Guy”. My one real complaint comes down to perspective. The ending shifts fully to Dr. Webb’s POV, leaving Esther’s story feeling unfinished. She was the character I felt most attached to, so it was a bit disappointing to see her conclusion filtered through someone else’s eyes.
Still, this is a quick, adrenaline-fueled read that blends tech and terror in the best way. This was my first by Mira Grant, but definitely won’t be my last.
At only 112 pages, Final Girls was exactly what I needed after tackling a 1,000+ page beast. Fast-paced, exciting, and packed with tension from the start, this novella reminded me why I love sci-fi horror. The concept of people willingly entering a simulated horror scenario to heal their psychological trauma is brilliant, and I honestly wish this had been expanded into a full series or even a prequel. There’s so much potential in this world, and I would have happily spent more time exploring it.
We primarily follow Esther, a skeptical journalist determined to expose Dr. Webb’s VR therapy for the pseudoscience she believes it is. We also get glimpses from Dr. Webb herself and “The Bad Guy”. My one real complaint comes down to perspective. The ending shifts fully to Dr. Webb’s POV, leaving Esther’s story feeling unfinished. She was the character I felt most attached to, so it was a bit disappointing to see her conclusion filtered through someone else’s eyes.
Still, this is a quick, adrenaline-fueled read that blends tech and terror in the best way. This was my first by Mira Grant, but definitely won’t be my last.
May 4, 2017
Why yes, yes I did just spend $40 to buy a little novella. (But it's signed! And limited edition! And I <3 Mira Grant.) http://subterraneanpress.com/store/pr...
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Once again, Mira Grant (the pen name of Seanan McGuire) did not disappoint! I love this idea: a doctor using immersive virtual reality to deal with psychological issues. Esther, a journalist sent to investigate and report, is a skeptic.
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Once again, Mira Grant (the pen name of Seanan McGuire) did not disappoint! I love this idea: a doctor using immersive virtual reality to deal with psychological issues. Esther, a journalist sent to investigate and report, is a skeptic.
October 3, 2024
3.5 stars
I've not said this before about Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire, but I knew someday this day would come. I thought this one was... fine. Okay, even.
Concept: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★
Characters: ★★★
Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented a technology that enables traumatized adults to confront their fears via immersed childhood scenarios. Read: she puts them into horror movie scenarios and lets them fight their way out safely in a dreamscape.
Ester is the reporter tasked with debunking her technology. She has a traumatized past herself: her father died as a result of fraudulent regression therapy treatments and she thinks Webb's technology is just the newest form of this concept.
When Dr. Webb offers Ester a chance to try out the technology for herself, Ester finds herself too morbidly curious to say no.
What Ester doesn't know is that Dr. Webb plans to go into the scenario with her.
What Dr. Webb doesn't know is that something is going to go very wrong while they're both in there.
What they both don't know is that this experience will forever change them.
I had to work HARD to track down this novella, folks. A newer fan to Mira Grant's canon at the time, I'd missed the initial print run through Subterranean Press and had to track down a hard copy in a resale market. It took me a few years, and I spent a long time locating a copy because I both loved the concept of this one and wanted it on my shelves to complete my growing collection of Mira Grant horror novellas.
So I'm a bit bummed to say that this one didn't wow me on any level.
I usually LOVE Seanan's stories. (Mira Grant is a pseudonym.) I find them beautifully written, conceptualized, and executed. But this one was just kind of there. It was a cool concept, but it felt like a concept that never quite got off the ground for me. I wanted more, I wanted less, it was both very quick to read and somehow boring and slow to get through.
This might be a very easy case of over-hyped expectations meeting reality, but either way, it wasn't a slam dunk for me.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
I've not said this before about Mira Grant/Seanan McGuire, but I knew someday this day would come. I thought this one was... fine. Okay, even.
Concept: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★
Characters: ★★★
Dr. Jennifer Webb has invented a technology that enables traumatized adults to confront their fears via immersed childhood scenarios. Read: she puts them into horror movie scenarios and lets them fight their way out safely in a dreamscape.
Ester is the reporter tasked with debunking her technology. She has a traumatized past herself: her father died as a result of fraudulent regression therapy treatments and she thinks Webb's technology is just the newest form of this concept.
When Dr. Webb offers Ester a chance to try out the technology for herself, Ester finds herself too morbidly curious to say no.
What Ester doesn't know is that Dr. Webb plans to go into the scenario with her.
What Dr. Webb doesn't know is that something is going to go very wrong while they're both in there.
What they both don't know is that this experience will forever change them.
I had to work HARD to track down this novella, folks. A newer fan to Mira Grant's canon at the time, I'd missed the initial print run through Subterranean Press and had to track down a hard copy in a resale market. It took me a few years, and I spent a long time locating a copy because I both loved the concept of this one and wanted it on my shelves to complete my growing collection of Mira Grant horror novellas.
So I'm a bit bummed to say that this one didn't wow me on any level.
I usually LOVE Seanan's stories. (Mira Grant is a pseudonym.) I find them beautifully written, conceptualized, and executed. But this one was just kind of there. It was a cool concept, but it felt like a concept that never quite got off the ground for me. I wanted more, I wanted less, it was both very quick to read and somehow boring and slow to get through.
This might be a very easy case of over-hyped expectations meeting reality, but either way, it wasn't a slam dunk for me.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
July 20, 2020
"The weird girl carries the weight of the world, and it isn't anything she's ever wanted."
Final Girls was my first Mira Grant / Seanan McGuire book, and I loved it! This story is so interesting, and I was invested the entire time. I would love to read more stories in this universe. It's a great blend of horror, sci-fi, and coming of age, and I recommend checking it out.
Final Girls was my first Mira Grant / Seanan McGuire book, and I loved it! This story is so interesting, and I was invested the entire time. I would love to read more stories in this universe. It's a great blend of horror, sci-fi, and coming of age, and I recommend checking it out.
November 18, 2020
E se la nuova frontiera della psicoterapia fosse l'horror?
Se immergersi, con l'aiuto di un mix di farmaci e sotto rigoroso monitoraggio medico, in uno scenario accuratamente costruito utilizzando tutti i topoi del genere risanasse traumi, cancellasse fobie, ricucisse conflitti, cambiando attraverso l'esperienza (simulata, ma non per il corpo - e il corpo influenza la mente) quello che siamo, ma in modo sottile, senza modificare la nostra personalità?
E se nel mezzo di una sessione l'orrore si scatenasse davvero nella clinica, e il sogno indotto diventasse davvero una corsa contro la morte per puro, semplice spavento?
Una novella che è un brillante mix di fantascienza e horror, e che con uno stile coinvolgente e brillante, personaggi credibili e un utilizzo geniale dei topoi del genere costruisce una storia che toglie il fiato, chiusa da un finale sorprendente.
Se immergersi, con l'aiuto di un mix di farmaci e sotto rigoroso monitoraggio medico, in uno scenario accuratamente costruito utilizzando tutti i topoi del genere risanasse traumi, cancellasse fobie, ricucisse conflitti, cambiando attraverso l'esperienza (simulata, ma non per il corpo - e il corpo influenza la mente) quello che siamo, ma in modo sottile, senza modificare la nostra personalità?
E se nel mezzo di una sessione l'orrore si scatenasse davvero nella clinica, e il sogno indotto diventasse davvero una corsa contro la morte per puro, semplice spavento?
Una novella che è un brillante mix di fantascienza e horror, e che con uno stile coinvolgente e brillante, personaggi credibili e un utilizzo geniale dei topoi del genere costruisce una storia che toglie il fiato, chiusa da un finale sorprendente.
February 21, 2023
Mira grant is quickly becoming a fav author of mine. Everytime i pick up her stories I am blown away by both the science and the creepy elements.
The concept of this is also really cool and reminds me a lot of Cabin In The Woods (movie).
This story isn't really character driven, but instead relys on the plot. Which might not be for everyone.
The concept of this is also really cool and reminds me a lot of Cabin In The Woods (movie).
This story isn't really character driven, but instead relys on the plot. Which might not be for everyone.
February 6, 2017
I would say this novella is mildly interesting. It never really grabbed me, but it was never really dull either. I found the whole "virtual reality as a therapeutic device" concept intriguing, but it wasn't enough to build a story around. If the twists had been more surprising, it would have had more impact, but nothing that happened shocked me. Don't go out of your way to read this one, but if it looks interesting to you, it might be something you'd enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for the chance to read this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for the chance to read this.
November 8, 2022
Dr. Jennifer Webb has developed a groundbreaking therapy using virtual reality. She places patients in pods with a psychedelic cocktail and sends them into a dreamscape created specifically to overcome whatever it is the patient or patients are trying to overcome. She helps restore familiar bonds and deals with anxiety, fears and more.
Journalist Esther Hoffman’s father was a victim of regression therapy gone wrong. She has systematically set out to disprove these therapies and the companies who run them.
Which has her at Webb’s institute. Her goal is to destroy them. Their goal is to prove it works and get a positive review. One thing leads to another and Esther agrees to enter a pod to experience the technology for herself.
The story that unfolds was fantastic. Grant has a way of pulling you in. Her characters have depth and are complex. Of course, things go wrong once Esther enters the pod and I couldn’t stop listening.
I have loved everything Grant has written and Final Girls was brilliant. Despite being a novella, she gave us a full, engaging tale that left me craving more. If you haven’t tried her Newsflesh series or sci-fi novels, I highly recommend them.
While I read the novella in 2017, the audiobook narration enhanced the tale. Jennifer Pickens brought these characters and the suspenseful, twisted moments to life. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Journalist Esther Hoffman’s father was a victim of regression therapy gone wrong. She has systematically set out to disprove these therapies and the companies who run them.
Which has her at Webb’s institute. Her goal is to destroy them. Their goal is to prove it works and get a positive review. One thing leads to another and Esther agrees to enter a pod to experience the technology for herself.
The story that unfolds was fantastic. Grant has a way of pulling you in. Her characters have depth and are complex. Of course, things go wrong once Esther enters the pod and I couldn’t stop listening.
I have loved everything Grant has written and Final Girls was brilliant. Despite being a novella, she gave us a full, engaging tale that left me craving more. If you haven’t tried her Newsflesh series or sci-fi novels, I highly recommend them.
While I read the novella in 2017, the audiobook narration enhanced the tale. Jennifer Pickens brought these characters and the suspenseful, twisted moments to life. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 10, 2017
If she couldn't save her father, she was going to save everyone else. It was redemption. It was obsession. It was the only thing she had.
thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing me with this arc. all opinions stated are my own!
esther hoffman is a skeptical journalist who's doing a piece on a new controversial, but so far proven effective, form of therapy. essentially, it's an adapted regression therapy, where patients face horror-movie scenarios in order to overcome a significant event, or to change something in their personalities. dr. webb, the creator of the method, invites her to try it out for herself so she can see it's really effective. and it does work, in a way. esther is definitely affected.
i've read another piece by mira grant before, rolling in the deep, and this one reminded me a lot of it: compelling characters, a plausible story that morphs into unimaginable horrors, and fantastic writing. there's a tale of female friendship woven into the science and the deaths in this one that definitely made it stand out. although it's very short, the conection shown between the characters was entirely believable and well-constructed.
this one was particularly interesting to me because i'm a psych major, and i was surprised because the way dr. webb described her procedures was completely realistic, albeit it would not stand in a contemporary setting, because it completely disregards some notions that have become common even in the most behaviour-centric forms of therapy.
and also this would just never happen because it's way too risky and the horror-story scenario formed here would definitely happen lol
but STILL. this was ridiculously entertaining and i read it in one sitting, which is definitely a rare occurrence to me now that i'm a working woman. definitely recommend that y'all check this one out, even if you're not usually into horror (like moi!), because it's super quick and interesting.
February 3, 2019
This is a terrific science fiction/horror novella written in a more condensed prose than most of McGuire/Grant's other work, but with, somehow, just as much character development and richness of setting. It's a fast-paced quick read, but with the feel of a much longer book. I usually don't care much for virtual reality stories because there doesn't seem to be any consequence in the real world to the events in the virtual one, but this one kept me engaged throughout. Was it worth the forty-dollars considering the short length? Yes, in the same way that you sometimes, rarely, enjoy treating yourself to an expensive meal in a fancy restaurant for a small but exquisite portion served.
November 17, 2022
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Jennifer Pickens
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Dr. Jennifer Webb is a scientist. She invented a unique virtual reality approach to healing psychological traumas. Esther is a journalist who doesn’t like pseudo-science charlatans, and she is there at dr. Webb’s clinic to observe and give an opinion about her work.
A short novella that gives us a glimpse into what can happen if you mess with the human psyche. A very scary idea. For me, the length of this book was perfect. There is no need to add anything else.
Thanks to Tantor Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Dr. Jennifer Webb is a scientist. She invented a unique virtual reality approach to healing psychological traumas. Esther is a journalist who doesn’t like pseudo-science charlatans, and she is there at dr. Webb’s clinic to observe and give an opinion about her work.
A short novella that gives us a glimpse into what can happen if you mess with the human psyche. A very scary idea. For me, the length of this book was perfect. There is no need to add anything else.
Thanks to Tantor Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
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