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The Between #1
The Between
While landscaping his backyard, ever-conscientious Paul Prentice discovers an iron door buried in the soil. His childhood friend and perpetual source of mischief, Jay Lightsey, pushes them to explore what's beneath.
When the door slams shut above them, Paul and Jay are trapped in a between-worlds place of Escher-like rooms and horror story monsters, all with a mysterious connection to a command-line, dungeon explorer computer game from the early '80s called The Between.
Paul and Jay find themselves filling roles in a story that seems to play out over and over again. But in this world, where their roles warp their minds, the biggest threat to survival may not be the Koŝmaro, risen from the Between's depths to hunt them; the biggest danger may be each other.
"I found The Between dark, super creepy, and pushing the limits of my limited amounts of courage to explore-but I couldn't stop myself from coming back for more because it's propulsive, addictive, and scary good fun." - Sean Gibson, author of The Stuff About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True
"...an incredibly intricate novel that skillfully blends aspects of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and cyberpunk." - Nicole Willson, author of Tidepool.
When the door slams shut above them, Paul and Jay are trapped in a between-worlds place of Escher-like rooms and horror story monsters, all with a mysterious connection to a command-line, dungeon explorer computer game from the early '80s called The Between.
Paul and Jay find themselves filling roles in a story that seems to play out over and over again. But in this world, where their roles warp their minds, the biggest threat to survival may not be the Koŝmaro, risen from the Between's depths to hunt them; the biggest danger may be each other.
"I found The Between dark, super creepy, and pushing the limits of my limited amounts of courage to explore-but I couldn't stop myself from coming back for more because it's propulsive, addictive, and scary good fun." - Sean Gibson, author of The Stuff About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True
"...an incredibly intricate novel that skillfully blends aspects of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and cyberpunk." - Nicole Willson, author of Tidepool.
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2021
250 people are currently reading
1690 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
February 15, 2021
Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book for review from the author (with whom, incidentally, I share a publisher). That in no way influenced my review, and I promise you I would still tell you if it sucked.
But, friends—it did NOT suck. Not even a little. In fact, this twisty, scarifying, riveting thriller is like what would happen if Groundhog Day had been set not in idyllic Punxsutawney, PA, nor focused on a man doomed to perpetually relive the day a reluctant marmot rendered its woefully inaccurate annual meteorological predictions*, but rather set its sights on a bromance between two men whose friendship may not be as strong as they think and was set in the endless yet cyclical bowels of a fantastical realm that’s either the nexus of all realities or a text-based computer roleplaying game gone berserk (and perhaps both).
Leslie creates an unsettling sense of impending doom not just through the ingenious design of his Linux simulacrum, but by plumbing the psychological depths of his characters, all less secure, stable, and sure of themselves than they project. At times, it’s hard to tell what’s more terrifying—the prospect of an impossibly large world-crossing beast intent on consuming everyone’s souls in a manner akin to me sucking the dregs out of a Slurpee cup, or the realization that you may be wasting your life because you have mistaken assumptions about the expectations your loved ones have of you and let those dictate how you live your life and the choices you make.
Like the characters in the book, I found The Between dark, super creepy, and pushing the limits of my limited amounts of courage to explore—but I couldn’t stop myself from coming back for more because it’s propulsive, addictive, and scary good fun.
*But seriously though…shouldn’t we get more winter if the stupid woodchuck DOESN’T see its shadow, which would suggest a gray, possibly snowy day? Doesn’t that seem more portentous of similar weather to come than bright, happy sunshine? Cretins.
But, friends—it did NOT suck. Not even a little. In fact, this twisty, scarifying, riveting thriller is like what would happen if Groundhog Day had been set not in idyllic Punxsutawney, PA, nor focused on a man doomed to perpetually relive the day a reluctant marmot rendered its woefully inaccurate annual meteorological predictions*, but rather set its sights on a bromance between two men whose friendship may not be as strong as they think and was set in the endless yet cyclical bowels of a fantastical realm that’s either the nexus of all realities or a text-based computer roleplaying game gone berserk (and perhaps both).
Leslie creates an unsettling sense of impending doom not just through the ingenious design of his Linux simulacrum, but by plumbing the psychological depths of his characters, all less secure, stable, and sure of themselves than they project. At times, it’s hard to tell what’s more terrifying—the prospect of an impossibly large world-crossing beast intent on consuming everyone’s souls in a manner akin to me sucking the dregs out of a Slurpee cup, or the realization that you may be wasting your life because you have mistaken assumptions about the expectations your loved ones have of you and let those dictate how you live your life and the choices you make.
Like the characters in the book, I found The Between dark, super creepy, and pushing the limits of my limited amounts of courage to explore—but I couldn’t stop myself from coming back for more because it’s propulsive, addictive, and scary good fun.
*But seriously though…shouldn’t we get more winter if the stupid woodchuck DOESN’T see its shadow, which would suggest a gray, possibly snowy day? Doesn’t that seem more portentous of similar weather to come than bright, happy sunshine? Cretins.
May 25, 2021
The Between. Is it a horror, sci-fi, fantasy, a mixture of all of these genres? - whatever it is, its great fun. I looked up epic and found the following - "...narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures..." - and yes, I would say that The Between has some newly created legendary figures having a weird and wild adventure in a very imaginative and frightening world. Ryan's characters feel real, are well developed, and have a good sense of humor - built solidly within their world logic.
The other great element, and definitely the most fun, is the fantastic world of The Between. Like a wacked out Wonderland with an imaginative maze, a Ghibliesk sky-city (complete with Ghibliesk villains with top hats), dark caverns, and a fantastical nether-world out of Greek mythology (only reimagined and wonderfully detailed). I wanted more - which is a good thing.
Ryan brings it all together and delivers on his promises. The resolution of character arcs and the final confrontation (so many spoiler alerts can be had here, but I'll hold back) hit the mark - and I thought the logic of it all was very well thought out (a game made real? - or could it be that reality is the game?)- oh my, the philosophic metaphysical questions this all poses...maybe I need to brush up on my Esperanto.
The other great element, and definitely the most fun, is the fantastic world of The Between. Like a wacked out Wonderland with an imaginative maze, a Ghibliesk sky-city (complete with Ghibliesk villains with top hats), dark caverns, and a fantastical nether-world out of Greek mythology (only reimagined and wonderfully detailed). I wanted more - which is a good thing.
Ryan brings it all together and delivers on his promises. The resolution of character arcs and the final confrontation (so many spoiler alerts can be had here, but I'll hold back) hit the mark - and I thought the logic of it all was very well thought out (a game made real? - or could it be that reality is the game?)- oh my, the philosophic metaphysical questions this all poses...maybe I need to brush up on my Esperanto.
August 18, 2024
Alright, alright. Is this book good? Probably not. Is this a fun book? Hell yeah. I’m giving it 3.5 stars because it’s chaotic, messy, repetitive, and too confusing at points, but it was so damn fun.
Paul’s digging holes in his backyard trying to fix something in his house when, ta-dah, he finds a weirdass looking door that is creepy and shouldn’t be there. The door’s giving him the heebie jeebies but his good pal Jay comes to the rescue with his lockpicking skills and a ladder… and down the door they go. What they find below is some sort of labyrinth: the same exact room over and over and over again. And, oh, the ladder? Gone. They are in the Between and everyone in the Between has a specific role… until they get killed.
This was hella fun and original. I didn’t quite understand why it was inspired by video games (other than the ‘roles’) until the twist happened and I LOVED it. The pacing was super fast and the characters were fun. I do admit that it was messy and confusing, but it was just a blast to read. I loved Supriya - a one-legged cancer survivor who does bodybuilding and is a goddamn valkyrie if you ask me. Jay is fun; Min-Woo is a nerd and I adore him; Paul is as interesting as a wet piece of cardboard; and I didn’t care about Skull Girl much until she explained her background story and then 🥹 my heart.
Anyways: chaotic, messy, confusing. It also has an unnecessary timeline/dimension situation that doesn’t do much for the story. I was hoping the book would come with the Between FAQ or at least the explanation of the different roles (masinisto, gardistaro, klaro, nenio, stilisto…). But still, what a fun Epilogue (I too want a couch ATM).
It would have been super fun to have like a personality test at the end to figure out what role would you have in the Between. (I’d love for this book to become big enough to actually get a little online game for it, too!) I do think this book has a bit of casual sexism/homophobia and the main audience is adult male gamers who may have more experience with the old-style text-based RPGs, but I happen to have played some at some point so that was cute!
Edit: I wasted an hour trying to look for a text-input horror RPG lol does anyone know any? lol
Paul’s digging holes in his backyard trying to fix something in his house when, ta-dah, he finds a weirdass looking door that is creepy and shouldn’t be there. The door’s giving him the heebie jeebies but his good pal Jay comes to the rescue with his lockpicking skills and a ladder… and down the door they go. What they find below is some sort of labyrinth: the same exact room over and over and over again. And, oh, the ladder? Gone. They are in the Between and everyone in the Between has a specific role… until they get killed.
This was hella fun and original. I didn’t quite understand why it was inspired by video games (other than the ‘roles’) until the twist happened and I LOVED it. The pacing was super fast and the characters were fun. I do admit that it was messy and confusing, but it was just a blast to read. I loved Supriya - a one-legged cancer survivor who does bodybuilding and is a goddamn valkyrie if you ask me. Jay is fun; Min-Woo is a nerd and I adore him; Paul is as interesting as a wet piece of cardboard; and I didn’t care about Skull Girl much until she explained her background story and then 🥹 my heart.
Anyways: chaotic, messy, confusing. It also has an unnecessary timeline/dimension situation that doesn’t do much for the story. I was hoping the book would come with the Between FAQ or at least the explanation of the different roles (masinisto, gardistaro, klaro, nenio, stilisto…). But still, what a fun Epilogue (I too want a couch ATM).
It would have been super fun to have like a personality test at the end to figure out what role would you have in the Between. (I’d love for this book to become big enough to actually get a little online game for it, too!) I do think this book has a bit of casual sexism/homophobia and the main audience is adult male gamers who may have more experience with the old-style text-based RPGs, but I happen to have played some at some point so that was cute!
Edit: I wasted an hour trying to look for a text-input horror RPG lol does anyone know any? lol
April 28, 2021
5 Stars
I would like to thank NetGalley and The Parliament House for my complimentary copy of "The Between". I absolutely loved this book! It's an epic ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
The story focuses on Paul Prentice and his best friend Jay and their amazing adventure in the underworld of "The Between". When Paul finds a secret door leading down underground in his backyard, they embark on a journey that will change their life forever. They encounter monsters, strange creatures, and others who have become trapped in this weird world. They must fight to the death if they want to survive.
What exactly is "The Between" world though? In order to find out, make sure you give this book a read! It's a throwback to the 80s video games and horror genre. If you enjoy this type of story, this book is definitely for you! "The Between" was a debut novel and I certainly hope the author Ryan Leslie writes more books. I am excited to see what he may have in store. As a debut novel, "The Between" is a well written, incredible book that keeps the reader engaged and rooting for the characters.
I would like to thank NetGalley and The Parliament House for my complimentary copy of "The Between". I absolutely loved this book! It's an epic ride that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
The story focuses on Paul Prentice and his best friend Jay and their amazing adventure in the underworld of "The Between". When Paul finds a secret door leading down underground in his backyard, they embark on a journey that will change their life forever. They encounter monsters, strange creatures, and others who have become trapped in this weird world. They must fight to the death if they want to survive.
What exactly is "The Between" world though? In order to find out, make sure you give this book a read! It's a throwback to the 80s video games and horror genre. If you enjoy this type of story, this book is definitely for you! "The Between" was a debut novel and I certainly hope the author Ryan Leslie writes more books. I am excited to see what he may have in store. As a debut novel, "The Between" is a well written, incredible book that keeps the reader engaged and rooting for the characters.
May 24, 2021
When Paul finds a door in the ground in his backyard, he has no intention of going through it until his best friend, Jay, shows up and convinces him otherwise. Soon, the men are lost in a maze of identical rooms and impossible monsters in a world called The Between, where different artifacts force players into gamelike roles that play out over and over. The Between is eerily similar to a command-line computer game from the 80s with the same name, and at its heart is a horrifying being called the Koŝmaro, which hunts the dead and traps them in The Between for eternity. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at The Parliament House. Trigger warnings: death (on-page), body horror, some graphic violence, some sexist/homophobic asides.
Roberta at Offbeat YA put this book on my radar with her awesome cover reveal, so when I snagged a copy from NG, we thought it was time for a buddy read. The Between is a cool, offbeat, and genre-bending adult fiction novel, and I’d recommend that anyone intrigued by its premise give it a try regardless of the rest of my review. It’s almost guaranteed you’ve never read anything else quite like it, and it’s sure to work for its audience (adult male gamers, I’m assuming) and anyone looking for something off the beaten path. I’ll also go ahead and add that fans of Ready Player One will probably like it for its gamelike aspects and nerd culture, although I wouldn’t say the reverse was true, since RPO is much heavier on the fandom trivia. Not liking RPO isn’t necessarily going to rule this one out for you.
I really enjoyed the world-building of this book, which is as good as its premise indicates. The Between is flat-out creepy, from its maze of mostly identical rooms to the unsettling character roles (10/10 would want to be the gardistaro, by the way). I was less fond of the steampunk masinisto and robot junklings, but I think one of the cool things about this video game-style world is that it will have something for everyone in it. I also wasn’t as crazy about the shift from horror to sci-fi/fantasy that happens when characters start exploring deeper levels of the worlds, but again I think it’s a credit to the novel that it blends genres like that. There’s so much of this world to explore.
Paul is an easy main character to get behind. He’s steadfast and careful, if a little too much in his head (which most readers can probably relate to). If it were down to him alone, there might not be a novel because he isn’t reckless enough to go through a mysterious doorway in the ground on his own. He needs Jay for that and, unfortunately, Jay feels like the driving force behind most of the stupid decisions made in the book. I disliked him from his introductory penis jokes, and my opinion didn’t improve from there. Even putting aside his sexist/homophobic comments, if you can, I’d always rather read about smart, interesting characters than unrelenting idiots. (That moment Jay tries to echolocate his way through a dark cave was when I was done with him. Your knife glows in the dark, moron.) He kind of killed half the novel for me.
In contrast, though, I really enjoyed Supriya’s character and Julie’s, although Julie gets much less page-time. (The first chapter establishes Julie as much smarter than Paul, and I kind of wished the novel had been told from her perspective.) Supriya is a disabled woman of color and a badass even before she takes up a role in the game, and Leslie makes the representation look casual and effortless. Though I got a little lost in all the running around of the end chapters, there’s a fun boss battle and enough closure on these characters’ stories to be satisfying, while still leaving plenty of room to expand on the world. I’m not sure I’m committed enough to continue with the series, but I’ll be avidly reading Roberta’s reviews to see how things turn out.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
Roberta at Offbeat YA put this book on my radar with her awesome cover reveal, so when I snagged a copy from NG, we thought it was time for a buddy read. The Between is a cool, offbeat, and genre-bending adult fiction novel, and I’d recommend that anyone intrigued by its premise give it a try regardless of the rest of my review. It’s almost guaranteed you’ve never read anything else quite like it, and it’s sure to work for its audience (adult male gamers, I’m assuming) and anyone looking for something off the beaten path. I’ll also go ahead and add that fans of Ready Player One will probably like it for its gamelike aspects and nerd culture, although I wouldn’t say the reverse was true, since RPO is much heavier on the fandom trivia. Not liking RPO isn’t necessarily going to rule this one out for you.
I really enjoyed the world-building of this book, which is as good as its premise indicates. The Between is flat-out creepy, from its maze of mostly identical rooms to the unsettling character roles (10/10 would want to be the gardistaro, by the way). I was less fond of the steampunk masinisto and robot junklings, but I think one of the cool things about this video game-style world is that it will have something for everyone in it. I also wasn’t as crazy about the shift from horror to sci-fi/fantasy that happens when characters start exploring deeper levels of the worlds, but again I think it’s a credit to the novel that it blends genres like that. There’s so much of this world to explore.
Paul is an easy main character to get behind. He’s steadfast and careful, if a little too much in his head (which most readers can probably relate to). If it were down to him alone, there might not be a novel because he isn’t reckless enough to go through a mysterious doorway in the ground on his own. He needs Jay for that and, unfortunately, Jay feels like the driving force behind most of the stupid decisions made in the book. I disliked him from his introductory penis jokes, and my opinion didn’t improve from there. Even putting aside his sexist/homophobic comments, if you can, I’d always rather read about smart, interesting characters than unrelenting idiots. (That moment Jay tries to echolocate his way through a dark cave was when I was done with him. Your knife glows in the dark, moron.) He kind of killed half the novel for me.
In contrast, though, I really enjoyed Supriya’s character and Julie’s, although Julie gets much less page-time. (The first chapter establishes Julie as much smarter than Paul, and I kind of wished the novel had been told from her perspective.) Supriya is a disabled woman of color and a badass even before she takes up a role in the game, and Leslie makes the representation look casual and effortless. Though I got a little lost in all the running around of the end chapters, there’s a fun boss battle and enough closure on these characters’ stories to be satisfying, while still leaving plenty of room to expand on the world. I’m not sure I’m committed enough to continue with the series, but I’ll be avidly reading Roberta’s reviews to see how things turn out.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
May 13, 2025
Rated 4.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Wild, engaging and entertaining, lives up to its exciting premise. Includes a physically disabled Indian female deuteragonist.
Cons: Some character glitches. A few confusing flashbacks/visions (though they'll probably get explained in the rest of the series). Cliffhanger ending/unanswered (yet) questions (if you hate those).
WARNING! Horror and gore. A short S&M sex scene.
Will appeal to: Everyone who loves game-like structures and larger-than-life scenarios/adventures in their books.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I received this book from Parliament House in exchange for an honest review. To be more precise, I specifically requested a review copy. That didn't affect my opinion and rating in any way.
YOU SHOULD BE A-MAZED
What can I say - I'm a sucker for wild, trippy stories where I can't find my footing 😅. And in that respect, I can happily report that The Between delivered what its blurb promised, and even more. Starting with a mysterious underground library and proceeding through a maze of identical sitting rooms, only to plunge its characters (and readers) into a world full of riddles, layers and horrors, this book kept me entertained and wanting more all the way through. Mind you, there are a lot of questions and only a few answers, which can be disorienting at times, and a few flashback/vision scenes that keep hinting at a larger picture but make little sense at this stage - though I trust them to find their proper place once the sequel (sequels?) comes (come?) along. I can't be more specific because spoilers are just around the corner, but I can tell you two things:
- This isn't a Jumanji/Ready Player One scenario. The Between is BOTH a videogame AND a real (if twisted, and more like surreal) place. At this stage, I only have a theory about the way those are related, but they're NOT the same thing.
- If you're a horror aficionado, you'll probably have read darker (or at least gorier) books - except for a certain scene. Nonetheless, when it comes to the creepy factor, the story doesn't disappoint. [...]
Whole review here.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Wild, engaging and entertaining, lives up to its exciting premise. Includes a physically disabled Indian female deuteragonist.
Cons: Some character glitches. A few confusing flashbacks/visions (though they'll probably get explained in the rest of the series). Cliffhanger ending/unanswered (yet) questions (if you hate those).
WARNING! Horror and gore. A short S&M sex scene.
Will appeal to: Everyone who loves game-like structures and larger-than-life scenarios/adventures in their books.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I received this book from Parliament House in exchange for an honest review. To be more precise, I specifically requested a review copy. That didn't affect my opinion and rating in any way.
YOU SHOULD BE A-MAZED
What can I say - I'm a sucker for wild, trippy stories where I can't find my footing 😅. And in that respect, I can happily report that The Between delivered what its blurb promised, and even more. Starting with a mysterious underground library and proceeding through a maze of identical sitting rooms, only to plunge its characters (and readers) into a world full of riddles, layers and horrors, this book kept me entertained and wanting more all the way through. Mind you, there are a lot of questions and only a few answers, which can be disorienting at times, and a few flashback/vision scenes that keep hinting at a larger picture but make little sense at this stage - though I trust them to find their proper place once the sequel (sequels?) comes (come?) along. I can't be more specific because spoilers are just around the corner, but I can tell you two things:
- This isn't a Jumanji/Ready Player One scenario. The Between is BOTH a videogame AND a real (if twisted, and more like surreal) place. At this stage, I only have a theory about the way those are related, but they're NOT the same thing.
- If you're a horror aficionado, you'll probably have read darker (or at least gorier) books - except for a certain scene. Nonetheless, when it comes to the creepy factor, the story doesn't disappoint. [...]
Whole review here.
April 16, 2021
While in the first third of this book, I mentioned that the atmosphere reminded me of one of my favorite horror novels, SL Grey's The Mall. There's a surreal, not-right quality to that book that touched off a nerve in me that I just adored.
This book started like that, but eventually began reminding me of another book I'd previously enjoyed, Heir Apparent. Yes, a novel for young adults.
However, I don't at all mean this as an insult, as that's a damn fun book- and so is this one! While this one didn't terrify me or send tendrils of unease through me, I still very much enjoyed reading it. There's a little more humor than I usually like in my horror, but I found that it was sprinkled throughout in a way that worked. It's almost like a grown up, more gory and violent horror version of Heir Apparent.
The story and the writing are both highly engaging, as are the characters. The only one I felt was short-changed was Min Woo; something about his ending and sacrifice didn't sit well with me, but I can't quite place my finger on what. Maybe it just made me sad, I'm not sure. I just know that that part of the story was the one that nagged at my mind a bit.
Overall, I'd recommend this if you're looking for a fun and engaging read that isn't too heavy. I was surprised to see that this was the author's first novel, and look forward to seeing more from him in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book started like that, but eventually began reminding me of another book I'd previously enjoyed, Heir Apparent. Yes, a novel for young adults.
However, I don't at all mean this as an insult, as that's a damn fun book- and so is this one! While this one didn't terrify me or send tendrils of unease through me, I still very much enjoyed reading it. There's a little more humor than I usually like in my horror, but I found that it was sprinkled throughout in a way that worked. It's almost like a grown up, more gory and violent horror version of Heir Apparent.
The story and the writing are both highly engaging, as are the characters. The only one I felt was short-changed was Min Woo; something about his ending and sacrifice didn't sit well with me, but I can't quite place my finger on what. Maybe it just made me sad, I'm not sure. I just know that that part of the story was the one that nagged at my mind a bit.
Overall, I'd recommend this if you're looking for a fun and engaging read that isn't too heavy. I was surprised to see that this was the author's first novel, and look forward to seeing more from him in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
May 18, 2021
"The Between" pulls you in with a gloriously glitchy album-art style cover and the promise of an action-packed ride in a world of video-game-inspired horror but delivers something amateurish at best.
Reminiscent of "House of Leaves "mixed with the 1980’s movie "Labyrinth" but in a way that is shameful to both, "The Between" follows Paul Prentice after he discovers a trap door in his backyard leading to a series of impossible rooms that change and remake themselves and a host of dangerous roles waiting to be filled. With the help of his friends, Paul begins to understand that the place is a world between worlds, not knowing if it will be enough to truly escape.
The exciting and fast-paced plot and setting are the highlights of this novel but are dragged down by cliches, cookie-cutter and unlikeable characters with flimsy backstories, and mediocre writing that inserts humor in all the wrong places, sapping the life out of an otherwise interesting world.
Underdeveloped and disappointing, I rated "The Between" 2 out of 5.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Parliament House for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Reminiscent of "House of Leaves "mixed with the 1980’s movie "Labyrinth" but in a way that is shameful to both, "The Between" follows Paul Prentice after he discovers a trap door in his backyard leading to a series of impossible rooms that change and remake themselves and a host of dangerous roles waiting to be filled. With the help of his friends, Paul begins to understand that the place is a world between worlds, not knowing if it will be enough to truly escape.
The exciting and fast-paced plot and setting are the highlights of this novel but are dragged down by cliches, cookie-cutter and unlikeable characters with flimsy backstories, and mediocre writing that inserts humor in all the wrong places, sapping the life out of an otherwise interesting world.
Underdeveloped and disappointing, I rated "The Between" 2 out of 5.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Parliament House for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
April 30, 2021
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Between by Ryan Leslie sounded like it was going to be exactly up my alley. It started off well and really held my attention for probably the first 20%, but after that it started to lose me. It ended up not being what I expected it to be. Sometimes that's a good thing, but not in this case. I've seen a lot of great reviews of this one so far, so this could be more of a case of it's me, not it.
The Between by Ryan Leslie sounded like it was going to be exactly up my alley. It started off well and really held my attention for probably the first 20%, but after that it started to lose me. It ended up not being what I expected it to be. Sometimes that's a good thing, but not in this case. I've seen a lot of great reviews of this one so far, so this could be more of a case of it's me, not it.
October 1, 2020
The book draws you in from the word "go" and you will feel as sucked into the world Ryan Leslie created as the characters do. A thrilling, psychological ride from start to finish.
April 20, 2025
A hole in the ground leads to a maze of living rooms, and caverns, filled with all manner of nasty things! And this world is identical to a 90s ascii mmorpg!? Well, it’s great fun! Albeit quite a bit of silly fun at the end!
May 5, 2021
ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Un-Biased Review
This was a wild and crazy read that’s for sure. I was shocked from the start learning the MC was a character in his early thirties. I think given the blurb my mind quickly compared this to the 80’s movie The Gate, only this time the characters descend the hole in the ground rather than fearing what would come out of it. Aside from the hole in the backyard, the film and book don’t really have much in common and I was taken for a wild ride. Dangers lurk around every corner and a maze of rooms and stairwells that descend to nowhere will keep you lost for-literally-ever unless you learn the rules of the game. Honestly I think my only complaint was it felt like the book went on forever. The author did an amazing job creating this horrifying and intense world that literally sucks you in and doesn’t let go.
This was a wild and crazy read that’s for sure. I was shocked from the start learning the MC was a character in his early thirties. I think given the blurb my mind quickly compared this to the 80’s movie The Gate, only this time the characters descend the hole in the ground rather than fearing what would come out of it. Aside from the hole in the backyard, the film and book don’t really have much in common and I was taken for a wild ride. Dangers lurk around every corner and a maze of rooms and stairwells that descend to nowhere will keep you lost for-literally-ever unless you learn the rules of the game. Honestly I think my only complaint was it felt like the book went on forever. The author did an amazing job creating this horrifying and intense world that literally sucks you in and doesn’t let go.
September 25, 2022
Love the cover the idea was good just wasnt for me.
September 18, 2025
The Cube meets Labyrinth meets Alice in Wonderland meets Conan the Barbarian! This was dense and complex, practically like a complicated Let's Play with lots of commentary and delightfully creepy surprises! The last third, in fact, felt very much like actually watching a streamer broadcasting their gameplay, immersed in a unfamiliar game, fighting through combat situations, meeting new characters, and roaming in dark fantasy settings - that is, until the whole thing spills over into reality and explodes into a messy facedown between the main characters and the strongest threat in the game.
The book is certainly not for anyone. Above all, the characterization is bound to raise worries, as the people we're introduced to we meet them through action and dialogue on the fly, and not so much through introspection, feelings or extended ruminations on the porch, so to speak. A lot of the players adopt roles, so they're going to seem flat, cartoonish, simplistic or stereotypical, especially since some of them undergo abrupt changes (from becoming evil to dying suddenly), making it even more difficult for a reader who expects details to grasp anyone's perspective adequately. Indeed, unless you enjoy the feeling of being immersed in a game, losing yourself in non-stop action with a few breaks to take a breath, you won't care for the characters nor for the many plot twists lurking at every corner!
However, I found the story incredibly rich and rewarding. To put it bluntly, I myself enjoy this kind of weird tale, can't have enough of it, and eagerly look forward to the second volume!
The book is certainly not for anyone. Above all, the characterization is bound to raise worries, as the people we're introduced to we meet them through action and dialogue on the fly, and not so much through introspection, feelings or extended ruminations on the porch, so to speak. A lot of the players adopt roles, so they're going to seem flat, cartoonish, simplistic or stereotypical, especially since some of them undergo abrupt changes (from becoming evil to dying suddenly), making it even more difficult for a reader who expects details to grasp anyone's perspective adequately. Indeed, unless you enjoy the feeling of being immersed in a game, losing yourself in non-stop action with a few breaks to take a breath, you won't care for the characters nor for the many plot twists lurking at every corner!
However, I found the story incredibly rich and rewarding. To put it bluntly, I myself enjoy this kind of weird tale, can't have enough of it, and eagerly look forward to the second volume!
October 13, 2021
Audiobook review: this could have been the narrator though the way some of the dialog just didn’t gel very well. Jay was especially obnoxious and the tone for Min-wu was a bit too excitable. The story concept was pretty cool but I lost it among the different ‘role’ names after they met up with the others (Supria, Corinne) and then the lore got a bit much. It turned into a litrpg or something. It was interesting but didn’t really hit on the character pieces.
August 19, 2021
Between the glitchy CRT-style cover art and the concept of finding an iron door buried in your backyard, I was eager to journey to The Between. The mix of fantasy and horror blends together well as the characters try to make sense of their surroundings, and the author introduces many ideas later in the book that I hope we get to explore in follow up novels. The Between is a lonely, brutal place that gave me Dark Souls vibes, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves.
The Between is fun, but it isn't perfect. Some of the dialogue is cringy and the crassness often falls flat. Paul and Jay's relationship reminded me of David and John from the John Dies at End series, but the crude jokes/comments seemed out of place and didn't add to the story. I'm puzzled why male authors often need to describe the breasts of any female character in their story (even if they only appear in one scene) rather than developing their characters more deeply, a trend I see too often in horror novels. I'm also not sure why it had to be pointed out that one character was gay, as it didn't add to the story or their character development (aside from the stereotype of an impeccable wardrobe). And while it is great to include a character with a limb difference, I was frustrated that it quickly became the focal point of their character and seemingly lacked the viewpoint of someone who actually uses a prosthesis. I hope the author gives more attention to developing a character's motivation and less about their physical appearance or identity in future novels. Despite these issues, it's worth a visit to The Between.
The Between is fun, but it isn't perfect. Some of the dialogue is cringy and the crassness often falls flat. Paul and Jay's relationship reminded me of David and John from the John Dies at End series, but the crude jokes/comments seemed out of place and didn't add to the story. I'm puzzled why male authors often need to describe the breasts of any female character in their story (even if they only appear in one scene) rather than developing their characters more deeply, a trend I see too often in horror novels. I'm also not sure why it had to be pointed out that one character was gay, as it didn't add to the story or their character development (aside from the stereotype of an impeccable wardrobe). And while it is great to include a character with a limb difference, I was frustrated that it quickly became the focal point of their character and seemingly lacked the viewpoint of someone who actually uses a prosthesis. I hope the author gives more attention to developing a character's motivation and less about their physical appearance or identity in future novels. Despite these issues, it's worth a visit to The Between.
April 21, 2021
I am unsure where to begin with this book. This is one of the most interesting, visceral and entertaining books I've read in years. Being a long-time fan of role-playing games, I didn't know what to expect from this Lit-RPG Style book.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
I'll be honest, it started out a bit slow. I was unsure after chapter one that I was going to keep on reading. But as soon as Paul and J end up in that first room, I was hooked. Everything from that point on is a whirlwind of horror, violence and loss (RIP Min-Woo) , combined with pure grit and determination.
I want re-read this book more than once, so I could try to get a lot of the nuances that I may have missed upon the first reading. I would also easily buy a hardcover copy.
The author has a great descriptive talent and a gift with dialogue. The interplay between characters is realistic and just sarcastic enough to make you shake your head more than once. We all have a friend like Jay, a lovable, obnoxious slacker.
Thank you to Netgalley, Parliament House Publishing and Ryan Leslie for allowing me to read this excellent book. I look forward to a sequel, Ryan!
All opinions are my own.
Trigger Warnings: Death, gunfire, bloody violence, horror violence
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
I'll be honest, it started out a bit slow. I was unsure after chapter one that I was going to keep on reading. But as soon as Paul and J end up in that first room, I was hooked. Everything from that point on is a whirlwind of horror, violence and loss (RIP Min-Woo) , combined with pure grit and determination.
I want re-read this book more than once, so I could try to get a lot of the nuances that I may have missed upon the first reading. I would also easily buy a hardcover copy.
The author has a great descriptive talent and a gift with dialogue. The interplay between characters is realistic and just sarcastic enough to make you shake your head more than once. We all have a friend like Jay, a lovable, obnoxious slacker.
Thank you to Netgalley, Parliament House Publishing and Ryan Leslie for allowing me to read this excellent book. I look forward to a sequel, Ryan!
All opinions are my own.
Trigger Warnings: Death, gunfire, bloody violence, horror violence
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
I don't know - I liked this one at first but around the middle it turned into what felt like an extended description of LARPing and was so heavily plot-driven that I lost interest pretty fast. Ending was weird but also interesting I guess? This wasn't the book I thought it was going to be. I wish there had been more time spent developing the characters so I could have understood them better.
June 10, 2021
Ok this was FUN...mildly scary, horrifying, murdering and thrilling...but FUN 😂😂😂
As soon as I started this I knew I was going to love it. It's weird...very weird...but in such a great way. This is mostly sci-fi, with a touch of horror (monsters, junk robots, demon rodents and more) all wrapped up with a pretty bow. Add some gamer fun (old school style ... like seriously way old school) and this was an endless feast of fun. Did I mention this was fun? 😂😂😂
This won't be for everyone but if you are looking for a strange, yet well written book for Spooktober...this is it. Add to those lists and enjoy!
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Book Sirens for providing me with an E-Book. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
As soon as I started this I knew I was going to love it. It's weird...very weird...but in such a great way. This is mostly sci-fi, with a touch of horror (monsters, junk robots, demon rodents and more) all wrapped up with a pretty bow. Add some gamer fun (old school style ... like seriously way old school) and this was an endless feast of fun. Did I mention this was fun? 😂😂😂
This won't be for everyone but if you are looking for a strange, yet well written book for Spooktober...this is it. Add to those lists and enjoy!
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Book Sirens for providing me with an E-Book. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
October 13, 2021
I wanted to absolutely love this one.
Such a great concept, but sadly it just was not for me.
The first few chapters weren’t too bad, good set up and I was getting excited to dive into the chaos but I lost interest pretty quick.
The characters were not for me, the dialog was off and some of the transitions from character to character or flashbacks to present were pretty choppy, which would cause some confusion on where I was in the story.
My favourite part of the story was Skull-face girl.
Thanks
-Dark
Such a great concept, but sadly it just was not for me.
The first few chapters weren’t too bad, good set up and I was getting excited to dive into the chaos but I lost interest pretty quick.
The characters were not for me, the dialog was off and some of the transitions from character to character or flashbacks to present were pretty choppy, which would cause some confusion on where I was in the story.
My favourite part of the story was Skull-face girl.
Thanks
-Dark
Read
September 21, 2025I really wanted to like this book but I can't even force myself to finish it, despite the pleasing cover, the ebook version being 666 pages and the promise by other readers that it "gets good eventually". Painfully boring sci-fi.
April 27, 2021
Terrific genre-crossing and mind bending book from a new author. Love the premise of crossing over into the games we play and the questions it gives for our reality. Recommended!
November 16, 2021
It's well done, I guess. I should have said: "no, I do not want to know what happens. I do not want answers." much sooner.
June 15, 2022
very fun.
July 23, 2022
Let's be honest I'll read and enjoy literally anything with this premise.
January 12, 2025
Really fun, unique book. Very excited for the sequel.
February 20, 2025
i’d play a hatman roguelike
Read
July 13, 2025AS this was not really my kind of story I do not think it would be fair to review
June 18, 2021
This is an incredibly intricate novel that skillfully blends aspects of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and cyberpunk. I'm in awe of writers who can build complex worlds like this and balance them with compelling, well-written characters. The story kept me guessing until the very last, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
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