The Quiet Room by Terry Miles ~ a Review

by MK French

Emily had nearly won Rabbits, the international and hidden alternate reality game. Now that it's over, she's in a world where the game never existed. Only, every time she goes looking for it, mysterious figures keep showing up.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2023; Del Rey; 978-0593496404
audio, ebook, print (432 pages); technothriller

The Quiet Room is the sequel to the Rabbits novel, so it takes place after the eleventh iteration of the reality-bending game is completed. Clues for the game rely on synchronicity, finding discrepancies between memory and reality, and chasing down coincidences to find the truth at the center of it all. For those not playing the game, it will feel like risk-taking for no reason and psychosis. A lot of this is explained as Emily meets Alan in the beginning, as well as when her path crosses Rowan's. So don't worry if you didn't read the first book, context is all here and you can dive right in.

Emily is trying to escape detection and knows about the game, but slips sideways into another dimension where it doesn't seem to exist. At the same time, signs are present that the game actually does exist, and the only player's name is Rowan's. He doesn't know about the game until Emily tells him about it, but he designs amusement parks for a living and has always loved puzzles, so he naturally takes to the spirit of the game. We learn more about the game as the book progresses, why this particular dimension seems so odd, and what the Escape Room is. Emily and Rowan have more allies than they think, but they're on a clock and there is resistance at every turn.

I really liked Rowan from the first time he was introduced. We've met Emily in the first book, but now we see her perspective more clearly and learn more about her history. She's more closely tied to the Rabbits game than I had realized, and I love how that history slowly gets revealed and contributes to finding her way out. I wanted to shout out loud when I got to the end of the book because what?! In other words, it's an ending that makes you want to go back to see what you might have missed and eagerly wait for the next book.

Buy The Quiet Room at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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