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The Glare
After ten years of living on an isolated, tech-free ranch with her mother, sixteen-year-old Hedda is going back to the world of the Glare-her word for cell phones, computers, and tablets. Hedda was taught to be afraid of technology, afraid that it would get inside her mind and hurt her. But now she's going to stay with her dad in California, where she was born, and she's finally ready to be normal. She's not going to go "off-kilter," like her mom says she did when she was just a little kid.
Once she arrives, Hedda finally feels like she's in control. She reunites with old friends and connects with her stepmom and half-brother. Never mind the terrifying nightmares and visions that start trickling back-they're not real.
Then Hedda rediscovers the Glare—the real Glare, a first-person shooter game from the dark web that scared her when she was younger. They say if you die thirteen times on level thirteen, you die in real life. But as Hedda starts playing the so-called "death game"—and the game begins spreading among her friends—she realizes the truth behind her nightmares is even more twisted than she could have imagined. And in order to stop the Glare, she'll have to first confront the darkness within herself.
Once she arrives, Hedda finally feels like she's in control. She reunites with old friends and connects with her stepmom and half-brother. Never mind the terrifying nightmares and visions that start trickling back-they're not real.
Then Hedda rediscovers the Glare—the real Glare, a first-person shooter game from the dark web that scared her when she was younger. They say if you die thirteen times on level thirteen, you die in real life. But as Hedda starts playing the so-called "death game"—and the game begins spreading among her friends—she realizes the truth behind her nightmares is even more twisted than she could have imagined. And in order to stop the Glare, she'll have to first confront the darkness within herself.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2020
About the author
Margot Harrison
5 books236 followersMargot Harrison was raised in the wilds of New York by lovely, nonviolent parents who somehow never managed to prevent her from staying up late to read scary books. She now works at an alt-weekly newspaper in Vermont, where her favorite part of the job is, of course, reviewing scary books and movies.
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July 29, 2020
A deadly game on the Dark Web. A girl kept away from technology for ten years. Until now....
Hedda is 16 and has spent the past 10 years on an isolated ranch with her mother, protected from what she calls "the glare" of screens and the internet. We know that something traumatic happened when she was six, and now she's going to spend a few months living with her dad and stepmom. Back in the world of technology for the first time in a decade. She begins having flashbacks of lost memories and re-discovers a horror survival game on the dark web. Urban legends say that if you did 13 times on level 13, you will die in real life too.
The Glare is the kind of horror novel that slowly builds a creeping sense of dread that something isn't quite right, eventually culminating in a lot of violence. I didn't want to put it down. It grapples with the fears that come with technology as a constant part of our lives. Questions of privacy and secrets, of addiction, of disturbingly personal marketing, of cyber-bullying, online anonymity, and of how that can intersect with issues of trauma and mental health. It is creepy and disturbing, but a solid horror novel that feels all too possible.
I'll admit that because this YA novel, I got a little nervous partway through reading that this would be a didactic message about the harmfulness of screens, social media, and video games for teens. Thankfully it isn't that, although I think it does suggest the value of balance and connecting with the non-digital world. It also opens a conversation on the potential dark side of all the technology that has become so entwined with our daily lives, and how little we sometimes know about people, even those closest to us.
Overall, I had a really great reading experience with The Glare. The author is particularly good at conveying an underlying tone of dread, and writing tense and disturbing scenes where you aren't quite sure what's real. The sense of atmosphere and the actual game are fantastic. I also appreciated that the author wasn't afraid to kill of characters, although I wanted a bit more from character development at times to make those deaths have a greater impact. I don't think I cared enough about most of the side characters for it to have the emotional weight it was supposed to. I also wish this had grappled more with the mental health implications of things and offered the possibility of solutions involving therapy etc. That said, I think this is a very solid example of YA horror and would recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include graphic violence, stabbing, monsters, self-harm, uncertain reality, mild cyber-bullying, teen drinking and drug use, death, murder, and among others.
Hedda is 16 and has spent the past 10 years on an isolated ranch with her mother, protected from what she calls "the glare" of screens and the internet. We know that something traumatic happened when she was six, and now she's going to spend a few months living with her dad and stepmom. Back in the world of technology for the first time in a decade. She begins having flashbacks of lost memories and re-discovers a horror survival game on the dark web. Urban legends say that if you did 13 times on level 13, you will die in real life too.
The Glare is the kind of horror novel that slowly builds a creeping sense of dread that something isn't quite right, eventually culminating in a lot of violence. I didn't want to put it down. It grapples with the fears that come with technology as a constant part of our lives. Questions of privacy and secrets, of addiction, of disturbingly personal marketing, of cyber-bullying, online anonymity, and of how that can intersect with issues of trauma and mental health. It is creepy and disturbing, but a solid horror novel that feels all too possible.
I'll admit that because this YA novel, I got a little nervous partway through reading that this would be a didactic message about the harmfulness of screens, social media, and video games for teens. Thankfully it isn't that, although I think it does suggest the value of balance and connecting with the non-digital world. It also opens a conversation on the potential dark side of all the technology that has become so entwined with our daily lives, and how little we sometimes know about people, even those closest to us.
Overall, I had a really great reading experience with The Glare. The author is particularly good at conveying an underlying tone of dread, and writing tense and disturbing scenes where you aren't quite sure what's real. The sense of atmosphere and the actual game are fantastic. I also appreciated that the author wasn't afraid to kill of characters, although I wanted a bit more from character development at times to make those deaths have a greater impact. I don't think I cared enough about most of the side characters for it to have the emotional weight it was supposed to. I also wish this had grappled more with the mental health implications of things and offered the possibility of solutions involving therapy etc. That said, I think this is a very solid example of YA horror and would recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book for review from the author. All opinions are my own.
Content warnings include graphic violence, stabbing, monsters, self-harm, uncertain reality, mild cyber-bullying, teen drinking and drug use, death, murder, and among others.
September 12, 2019
My allocated reading times are: 1. When I’m on the treadmill, and 2. When I’m curled up in bed.
But I couldn’t read THE GLARE in bed...because HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS IT IS SO CREEPY. But that’s okay, because THE GLARE is so good that I found myself looking forward to my treadmill sessions. Yes, this book is so good that it made me look forward to EXERCISING. If that’s not magical, then I don’t know what is.
The beginning made me think it was going to be like a Black Mirror-ish type thing where screens (TV/phones/computers) are literally called the Glare, but this isn't it at all. This is a good thing, because honestly I've had my fill of Black Mirror and similar stories. Sooo what is it about? Well.
There's a game on the Dark Web. If you play it and you die 13 times on level 13, you will die in real life.
As a gamer, I found the premise interesting (and creepy as hell). And then I read it, and all the instances of gaming were so convincingly written I found myself WANTING to play the Glare. I felt as hooked as the characters did. I wanted to charge in and shoot at Randoms (faceless monsters in the game) and I wanted to prove that I wouldn't fall victim to the level 13 curse. The author has executed the addictive nature of games and screens in general so, so well.
Speaking of screen time addiction, reading the book also made me more aware of how much screen time I'm getting. I've read the same stuff probably everyone else has, about how we're way too addicted to screens and so on and so forth, but reading this book really drove it home, especially the feeling I get sometimes, about our virtual lives leeching into reality and starting to feel more real than meatspace. It really made me take a step back and try to put a limit on random screen time, like looking up stuff that I don't really need to.
I really felt for Hedda, especially how convinced she was that she wouldn't get hooked on screens again, and how quickly the Glare pulled her in. Thing is, Hedda is smart. She isn't one of those too-dumb-to-live characters, which is why it's even more effective when she does succumb to the seduction of the internet. Like, I GET IT, HEDDA. Been there, done that, still spending way too much time staring at my phone. I relate so hard to her struggle (as most of us do, I'm sure!) and I empathized with her when things start going wrong.
Okay, so TL;DR, this is an intense read, do not read it before bed because you will definitely get nightmares!!
But I couldn’t read THE GLARE in bed...because HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS IT IS SO CREEPY. But that’s okay, because THE GLARE is so good that I found myself looking forward to my treadmill sessions. Yes, this book is so good that it made me look forward to EXERCISING. If that’s not magical, then I don’t know what is.
The beginning made me think it was going to be like a Black Mirror-ish type thing where screens (TV/phones/computers) are literally called the Glare, but this isn't it at all. This is a good thing, because honestly I've had my fill of Black Mirror and similar stories. Sooo what is it about? Well.
There's a game on the Dark Web. If you play it and you die 13 times on level 13, you will die in real life.
As a gamer, I found the premise interesting (and creepy as hell). And then I read it, and all the instances of gaming were so convincingly written I found myself WANTING to play the Glare. I felt as hooked as the characters did. I wanted to charge in and shoot at Randoms (faceless monsters in the game) and I wanted to prove that I wouldn't fall victim to the level 13 curse. The author has executed the addictive nature of games and screens in general so, so well.
Speaking of screen time addiction, reading the book also made me more aware of how much screen time I'm getting. I've read the same stuff probably everyone else has, about how we're way too addicted to screens and so on and so forth, but reading this book really drove it home, especially the feeling I get sometimes, about our virtual lives leeching into reality and starting to feel more real than meatspace. It really made me take a step back and try to put a limit on random screen time, like looking up stuff that I don't really need to.
I really felt for Hedda, especially how convinced she was that she wouldn't get hooked on screens again, and how quickly the Glare pulled her in. Thing is, Hedda is smart. She isn't one of those too-dumb-to-live characters, which is why it's even more effective when she does succumb to the seduction of the internet. Like, I GET IT, HEDDA. Been there, done that, still spending way too much time staring at my phone. I relate so hard to her struggle (as most of us do, I'm sure!) and I empathized with her when things start going wrong.
Okay, so TL;DR, this is an intense read, do not read it before bed because you will definitely get nightmares!!
June 23, 2020
I'm glad that I got the opportunity to read this.
The Glare is basically Creepy Pasta meets The Ring, which I think is perfect for a YA Horror storyline.
All that I will divulge about the story is that there is an urban legend about a video game on the dark web and it's called The Glare. If the player dies on level 13, 13 times, then they are cursed to die in real life.
In the first third of the book, I was afraid that it was going to be more about a young girl that has been basically traumatized by her mother into believing that all tech is evil, but then the gaming (quite literally) comes into play and supernatural-type elements begin to pop up. That's when things start to get really good. There's definitely enough mystery to keep the reader in suspense until the bitter end and at times, I was cringing at the situations that the main character found herself in. I definitely was rooting for her, throughout the book's entirety.
I could definitely see this being made into a movie adaptation, as I believe that this generation of young adults can relate to the situations presented and can therefore easily imagine the horrors that are bestowed upon the book's characters.
I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review and I honestly say: don't be afraid to read this book. It may be a gamer's worst nightmare but if your a horror junkie, such as myself, it's exactly what the dark web ordered.
The Glare is basically Creepy Pasta meets The Ring, which I think is perfect for a YA Horror storyline.
All that I will divulge about the story is that there is an urban legend about a video game on the dark web and it's called The Glare. If the player dies on level 13, 13 times, then they are cursed to die in real life.
In the first third of the book, I was afraid that it was going to be more about a young girl that has been basically traumatized by her mother into believing that all tech is evil, but then the gaming (quite literally) comes into play and supernatural-type elements begin to pop up. That's when things start to get really good. There's definitely enough mystery to keep the reader in suspense until the bitter end and at times, I was cringing at the situations that the main character found herself in. I definitely was rooting for her, throughout the book's entirety.
I could definitely see this being made into a movie adaptation, as I believe that this generation of young adults can relate to the situations presented and can therefore easily imagine the horrors that are bestowed upon the book's characters.
I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review and I honestly say: don't be afraid to read this book. It may be a gamer's worst nightmare but if your a horror junkie, such as myself, it's exactly what the dark web ordered.
Read
April 28, 2020Hi! I wrote this book, and I hope you enjoy its dark twists and turns. Because The Glare is a thriller with strong horror elements, I want to provide some content warnings, under the spoiler tags:
If you're a reader and find something I've missed here, please message me—I appreciate it. Thanks again so much for entering this strange little world, and beware the Randoms!
If you're a reader and find something I've missed here, please message me—I appreciate it. Thanks again so much for entering this strange little world, and beware the Randoms!
August 1, 2020
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
*Thank you so much Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review THE GLARE*
Content Warnings: Suicidal thoughts, self harm, suicide, death, underage drinking, drugs, psychological torment, murder.
Dark Web. Psychological Thriller. Horror. Alright, I was sold immediately. I am really glad I gave this book a shot, I enjoyed it so much more then I thought I would. I stayed up until 4 a.m. to finish because I needed to know what was going to happen next.
For the past 10 years of her life, Hedda has lived on a ranch isolated from society and technology by her mother who is protecting her from "the glare" which is any from of technology with a screen, mainly cell phones. Now 16 years old, Hedda is going back to California to live with her dad, step mom and step brother in a world full of technology that she has no idea about. Shortly after arriving and being reintroduced to technology Hedda begins to have flash backs from her childhood and that dark things that happened because of technology and the final straw that led her mom to whisk her away to their isolated ranch. Exploring her belongings from childhood Hedda comes across a link to a game from the dark web and begins to play. But urban legend says if you die 13 times on level 13, you will die in real life too and Hedda just died for the 13th time.
I think The Glare brings up a good discussion on technology in this day and age. There is no set time frame of this book so I am going to assume present day (2018/2019) which would make 10 years ago 2008/9. Tablets were only released in the last decade for Android ('08) and Apple ('10), which would mean that when Hedda was 6 years old this technology was still fairly new. It also talks about a social media that is used and most of the characters have used as children. But we live in a day and age now that this isn't unheard of, children using Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and having cell phones. The internet can be a dangerous place and I think The Glare does a good job in showing that, even if 99.9% of children don't have access to darkweb games.
The Glare actually refers to the game that circles on the Dark Web that played a huge part of Hedda's childhood. When Hedda is introduced to the game and then introduces it to her friends is when the story begins to get interesting. The horror and creepiness of this story really does creep up on you, at first I was like "this isn't that scary" and then suddenly my dog was making noise outside my room and I was paranoid that one of the creatures from The Glare was behind my door. The later half of The Glare is unpredictable and the action keeps happening and as more of the secrets behind The Glare are released the more I needed to know.
Overall I really enjoyed The Glare and I am really content with how the story ended. Margot did a great job in keeping her readers invested in the story as well as addressing the issues in current day society about technology. If you love sci-fi, horror and thrillers you should check out this book!
*Thank you so much Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review THE GLARE*
Content Warnings: Suicidal thoughts, self harm, suicide, death, underage drinking, drugs, psychological torment, murder.
Dark Web. Psychological Thriller. Horror. Alright, I was sold immediately. I am really glad I gave this book a shot, I enjoyed it so much more then I thought I would. I stayed up until 4 a.m. to finish because I needed to know what was going to happen next.
For the past 10 years of her life, Hedda has lived on a ranch isolated from society and technology by her mother who is protecting her from "the glare" which is any from of technology with a screen, mainly cell phones. Now 16 years old, Hedda is going back to California to live with her dad, step mom and step brother in a world full of technology that she has no idea about. Shortly after arriving and being reintroduced to technology Hedda begins to have flash backs from her childhood and that dark things that happened because of technology and the final straw that led her mom to whisk her away to their isolated ranch. Exploring her belongings from childhood Hedda comes across a link to a game from the dark web and begins to play. But urban legend says if you die 13 times on level 13, you will die in real life too and Hedda just died for the 13th time.
I think The Glare brings up a good discussion on technology in this day and age. There is no set time frame of this book so I am going to assume present day (2018/2019) which would make 10 years ago 2008/9. Tablets were only released in the last decade for Android ('08) and Apple ('10), which would mean that when Hedda was 6 years old this technology was still fairly new. It also talks about a social media that is used and most of the characters have used as children. But we live in a day and age now that this isn't unheard of, children using Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and having cell phones. The internet can be a dangerous place and I think The Glare does a good job in showing that, even if 99.9% of children don't have access to darkweb games.
The Glare actually refers to the game that circles on the Dark Web that played a huge part of Hedda's childhood. When Hedda is introduced to the game and then introduces it to her friends is when the story begins to get interesting. The horror and creepiness of this story really does creep up on you, at first I was like "this isn't that scary" and then suddenly my dog was making noise outside my room and I was paranoid that one of the creatures from The Glare was behind my door. The later half of The Glare is unpredictable and the action keeps happening and as more of the secrets behind The Glare are released the more I needed to know.
Overall I really enjoyed The Glare and I am really content with how the story ended. Margot did a great job in keeping her readers invested in the story as well as addressing the issues in current day society about technology. If you love sci-fi, horror and thrillers you should check out this book!
July 3, 2021
I really enjoyed the first part of this book especially the audio version the scifi horror feel however towards the end I was disappointed but for a fast pace book it was still good!
June 21, 2020
The Glare by Margot Harrison, 327 pages. Hyperion (Disney Book Group), 2020. $18
Language: R (53 Swears, 8 ‘F’ words); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Hedda has spent the last ten years living in seclusion on a ranch with her mom. Her mom tells her she did this for Hedda’s own good, because when Hedda was 6 years old she had an experience with digital devices (which Hedda called “the glare”) that sent her “off-kilter.” Hedda now has to face the world of the glare again as she returns to live with her father in suburban California—where screens are everywhere. Quickly, Hedda realizes what the glare actually is—a first person shooter video game that messes with your mind. The game sends you texts to encourage you to keep playing and mocks you when you die. There is an urban legend surrounding the glare that says that if you die thirteen times on level thirteen, you die in real life. Hedda laughs this off until her friends start getting hurt. Now Hedda has to get to the bottom of the legend to save her friends, as well as her own sanity.
Hedda's story took me some time to get into, in part because of the writing style. My personal preference is that I dislike novels written in present tense, as this book is, because it makes them feel passive. Once I got passed that, however, I found myself enjoying the story. Some of the interesting themes are relevant today - the danger of digital devices and how they can affect mental health, particularly teenagers. We see good examples of teenagers dealing with different mental and emotional difficulties while they struggle to go about their normal lives. “The glare” forces them to focus on their difficulties and their shame and it damages them. Older teenagers would find this story compelling because of these themes, as well as the action sequences and twists that are revealed throughout the plot.
John Rollins – Junior High English Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: R (53 Swears, 8 ‘F’ words); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Hedda has spent the last ten years living in seclusion on a ranch with her mom. Her mom tells her she did this for Hedda’s own good, because when Hedda was 6 years old she had an experience with digital devices (which Hedda called “the glare”) that sent her “off-kilter.” Hedda now has to face the world of the glare again as she returns to live with her father in suburban California—where screens are everywhere. Quickly, Hedda realizes what the glare actually is—a first person shooter video game that messes with your mind. The game sends you texts to encourage you to keep playing and mocks you when you die. There is an urban legend surrounding the glare that says that if you die thirteen times on level thirteen, you die in real life. Hedda laughs this off until her friends start getting hurt. Now Hedda has to get to the bottom of the legend to save her friends, as well as her own sanity.
Hedda's story took me some time to get into, in part because of the writing style. My personal preference is that I dislike novels written in present tense, as this book is, because it makes them feel passive. Once I got passed that, however, I found myself enjoying the story. Some of the interesting themes are relevant today - the danger of digital devices and how they can affect mental health, particularly teenagers. We see good examples of teenagers dealing with different mental and emotional difficulties while they struggle to go about their normal lives. “The glare” forces them to focus on their difficulties and their shame and it damages them. Older teenagers would find this story compelling because of these themes, as well as the action sequences and twists that are revealed throughout the plot.
John Rollins – Junior High English Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
March 4, 2022
Please read the trigger warnings before you start this book.
She was away, far from the civilization, far from technology, far from the Glare, but how long could she resist the temptation of a free, normal life? She heard her heart, her brain...well, it couldn't be trusted fully.
Something happened in the past that she couldn't remember. And now she's reliving her past all over again but this time she isn't alone, she's dragging down people she loves with her, unintentionally. But she can't stop craving one taste of the forbidden fruit. She can't stop playing the game. Until she died 13 times on level 13...
This is one of the best books I've read this year. I'm not sure if it's under horror genre, but it scared me. After every sitting I felt chills running through my spine, I felt uneasy, creeped out even. And this is not an exaggeration. I mostly read at night, so I felt more haunted and I had to message my friend to take my mind off of it.
The plot itself is ridiculously unique, something I've never read before. The writing style is captivating, full of beautiful metaphors and analogy. The way the story unfurls in a easy but shocking manner, is enough to keep the reader pinned to the seat. Every time you'll think you've figured it out, this book will prove you wrong and take you to another journey.
The protagonist's character is crafted with utmost care and wonder. The supporting characters are equally good. I'm sure this is gonna be one of those books that'll linger in my thoughts for a long long time. So yeah, this techno-thriller did it for me.
It’s still so quiet, though. Sometimes, like now, I close my eyes and stretch my inner sensors out and out in every direction like insect antennae, looking for someone or something to connect to. All they ever report is echoing emptiness.
She was away, far from the civilization, far from technology, far from the Glare, but how long could she resist the temptation of a free, normal life? She heard her heart, her brain...well, it couldn't be trusted fully.
Something happened in the past that she couldn't remember. And now she's reliving her past all over again but this time she isn't alone, she's dragging down people she loves with her, unintentionally. But she can't stop craving one taste of the forbidden fruit. She can't stop playing the game. Until she died 13 times on level 13...
This is one of the best books I've read this year. I'm not sure if it's under horror genre, but it scared me. After every sitting I felt chills running through my spine, I felt uneasy, creeped out even. And this is not an exaggeration. I mostly read at night, so I felt more haunted and I had to message my friend to take my mind off of it.
The plot itself is ridiculously unique, something I've never read before. The writing style is captivating, full of beautiful metaphors and analogy. The way the story unfurls in a easy but shocking manner, is enough to keep the reader pinned to the seat. Every time you'll think you've figured it out, this book will prove you wrong and take you to another journey.
The protagonist's character is crafted with utmost care and wonder. The supporting characters are equally good. I'm sure this is gonna be one of those books that'll linger in my thoughts for a long long time. So yeah, this techno-thriller did it for me.
June 3, 2020
The story of Hedda trying to remember her past as she frets about her present and future is thrilling and the plot is well constructed. It is a lot like the play on endorphins that technology plays in the book. The only feeling is I don't like about the book is the "mom" tone that you can feel is constantly preaching to you about how addictive technology can be. I'm sure that is the point of the novel, to make you think about how technology is used in your life. But some themes are better left less explicit. I think teenagers will see right through the plot and give up on it just to get away from the preachy tone.
November 14, 2024
i should be compensated for the time i wasted reading this book.
don’t even get me started on the author’s weird overuse of parentheses, filling chapters with the names of any and every plant they could think of, and the word “off-kilter”.
don’t even get me started on the author’s weird overuse of parentheses, filling chapters with the names of any and every plant they could think of, and the word “off-kilter”.
September 17, 2024
Perfect creepy read for the fall. I stayed up way too late to finish this one. Full review to come.
August 7, 2020
The summary of this book had my attention. A girl named Hedda lives out in the middle of bum frick nowhere in Arizona with no technology, which she calls the glare. Then she moves in with her dad in California. They have technology like crazy and what does she end up doing? Get's on the dark web. Oh yeah, because we all just browse the dark web for fun these days when we have a cell phone!
Anyway, she finds this game and if you die thirteen times on level 13 you will die in real life. Basically you just go psycho. The kids she goes to school with start dying off because it gets out about the game. Oh, what's the game called you ask? It's called the Glare. Yep.
So this whole book, she plays the game, dies on level 13 starts becoming crazy and so do her friends. I really have no idea how you become psycho with a game. Like these kids were straight up hallucinating the monsters from this game. I've never heard of such a thing. I'm saying it isn't a thing, I'm sure someone may have had issues after a game, but it's very unlikely for kids to start thinking they are being chased and clawing out their eyeballs. Dream about them, yes, acting out and harming yourself over a game is how likely? Please don't fight me in the comments about your sister's cousin's best friend's bother experience.
Also, don't forget about the weird romance between Hedda and what's his name. Yes, I am amazing at giving reviews. The guy who she hung out with as a child. They basically end up together because they share the experience of who created this game.
I give this book three stars. I think the third star was for pity. At least I finished it.
Anyway, she finds this game and if you die thirteen times on level 13 you will die in real life. Basically you just go psycho. The kids she goes to school with start dying off because it gets out about the game. Oh, what's the game called you ask? It's called the Glare. Yep.
So this whole book, she plays the game, dies on level 13 starts becoming crazy and so do her friends. I really have no idea how you become psycho with a game. Like these kids were straight up hallucinating the monsters from this game. I've never heard of such a thing. I'm saying it isn't a thing, I'm sure someone may have had issues after a game, but it's very unlikely for kids to start thinking they are being chased and clawing out their eyeballs. Dream about them, yes, acting out and harming yourself over a game is how likely? Please don't fight me in the comments about your sister's cousin's best friend's bother experience.
Also, don't forget about the weird romance between Hedda and what's his name. Yes, I am amazing at giving reviews. The guy who she hung out with as a child. They basically end up together because they share the experience of who created this game.
I give this book three stars. I think the third star was for pity. At least I finished it.
September 22, 2019
I loved the description of this book as soon as I read it: 16-year-old Hedda was raised an isolated ranch & taught to fear technology, and when she returns to real world, she gets caught up in a deadly video game on the dark web - AHHH! The eeriness of the story creeps up on you slowly and steadily, making you question what's real, until all hell breaks loose, leading toward a wild, rewarding showdown at the end. The approach to technology is delicately handled - the book's not trying to make any simple judgments about the presence of screens in our lives, but their effect on us does drive the action in a nuanced, compelling way. The joys and shames that we live online, the mix of excitement and dread that we feel when our phone starts dinging with alerts - all of that is at the heart of the story. The setting is really well-drawn, the band of misfit high-schools characters very real and charming. Plus there are so many fantastic creepy details, from the description of the game itself to a nightmarish eyeless Raggedy Ann doll (I'm officially terrified of that image forever, lol.) Well-paced, scary, and super smart!
May 14, 2022
What is the Glare? Who or what is behind it? This story, of Hedda who has lived off the grid with her mother for most of her life to go live with her dad, is scary, creepy and dark. Give this to your fans of suspense and psychological horror.
July 22, 2020
The glare was so good. I really liked the mystery and everything in it. The twists was pretty fun in it.
November 30, 2020
While I'm not typically a YA reader, I enjoyed Harrison's fresh take on modern horror. In a genre that has been pounded into the ground, it is hard to break new ground, but The Glare practically reinvents the ghost story by creating ghouls that are not necessarily supernatural, but more a product of present-day technology -- or, more specifically, a product of the detrimental cognitive effects of this technology.
The Glare follows a teenaged girl, Hedda, who has just moved back to the Bay Area of California after a decade spent living off-grid in the Arizona desert with her mom. Now living with her dad and stepmother, Hedda must readjust to modern society and its obsession with social media, smart phones, and, above all, screens -- what she refers to as "the glare." Though her mother warns against using screens, Hedda almost immediately falls in-line with other kids her age, obtaining a phone and using a computer.
Unfortunately, she soon rediscovers a game on the Dark Web -- a first-person shooter also called The Glare -- that she vaguely remembers playing as a young child. As Hedda gets back into playing the game, she realizes that it is because of this game -- and the terrifying real-world consequences of playing it -- that she had to take refuge in the desert in the first place.
As the game becomes popular within Hedda's small group of school friends, horrifying events begin to occur, largely caused by pale, faceless specters known as the Randoms, who make the leap from the game world to the physical world.
Or have they? Harrison cleverly delves into the psychological phenomena known as "game transfer phenomena" (similar to the "Tetris effect"), wherein elements of addictive video games infiltrate all aspects of a player's waking life. Is this what Hedda and her friends suffer from? Or have the Randoms truly freed themselves?
More importantly, who is behind the game? Who keeps the servers running, and who is responsible for continually luring unsuspecting gamers into this dangerous virtual world? There are many questions to be asked as you read Harrison's novel, and the guessing game culminates with a surprising ending that will likely catch most readers completely off-guard.
I feel that, in writing this novel, Harrison set out on a difficult journey herself, attempting to meld current technology and authentic terminology with complex psychology and the tone of a classic horror story -- all intended for a discerning YA audience. A tall order indeed. But with The Glare she has succeeded, creating a very unique read.
The Glare follows a teenaged girl, Hedda, who has just moved back to the Bay Area of California after a decade spent living off-grid in the Arizona desert with her mom. Now living with her dad and stepmother, Hedda must readjust to modern society and its obsession with social media, smart phones, and, above all, screens -- what she refers to as "the glare." Though her mother warns against using screens, Hedda almost immediately falls in-line with other kids her age, obtaining a phone and using a computer.
Unfortunately, she soon rediscovers a game on the Dark Web -- a first-person shooter also called The Glare -- that she vaguely remembers playing as a young child. As Hedda gets back into playing the game, she realizes that it is because of this game -- and the terrifying real-world consequences of playing it -- that she had to take refuge in the desert in the first place.
As the game becomes popular within Hedda's small group of school friends, horrifying events begin to occur, largely caused by pale, faceless specters known as the Randoms, who make the leap from the game world to the physical world.
Or have they? Harrison cleverly delves into the psychological phenomena known as "game transfer phenomena" (similar to the "Tetris effect"), wherein elements of addictive video games infiltrate all aspects of a player's waking life. Is this what Hedda and her friends suffer from? Or have the Randoms truly freed themselves?
More importantly, who is behind the game? Who keeps the servers running, and who is responsible for continually luring unsuspecting gamers into this dangerous virtual world? There are many questions to be asked as you read Harrison's novel, and the guessing game culminates with a surprising ending that will likely catch most readers completely off-guard.
I feel that, in writing this novel, Harrison set out on a difficult journey herself, attempting to meld current technology and authentic terminology with complex psychology and the tone of a classic horror story -- all intended for a discerning YA audience. A tall order indeed. But with The Glare she has succeeded, creating a very unique read.
August 20, 2020
My first foray into literary "cyber-horror," a subgenre classification I only recently learned about through Margot Harrison's excellent New York Times essay "The Horror Novel Lurking in Your Busy Online Life," has set a very high bar! The Glare is inventive, scary, suspenseful, and, despite its potentially off-putting designation as "YA lit," boasts appreciably smarter dialogue and characterization than your average Young Adult offering; the story traffics in nuanced emotion, not on-the-nose emo.
Traditionally, YA literature bores me to tears, even if I dig a given book's conceptual premise -- Slayer was a slog and I couldn't finish Enchantée -- but The Glare never let me out of its sweaty vise-grip. Harrison's command of pacing and atmosphere -- and she absolutely nails the singular environmentals of Northern California, right down to its color palette -- keeps the plot and pages turning briskly.
In many respects, The Glare is the antithesis of Ready Player One (and how funny that both video game–themed novels should explicitly and prominently reference the 1983 techno-thriller War Games): Whereas Ernest Cline's Digital Age paean to analog-era ephemera presents virtual reality as an Elysian haven for the socially maladroit, Harrison's cautionary thriller challenges us to confront the complex issues of online identity and pixelated reality -- a timely intellectual exercise in our current socially distanced, Zoom-only mode of existence. In Ready Player One's closing pages, Cline reminds us that "as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real," though the author demonstrably doesn't subscribe to his own hollow moralizing; Harrison, on the other hand, makes that same case powerfully -- and chillingly -- utilizing the horror genre to do what it's always done best: scare us into thinking more circumspectly about the "absolutes" encoded into our folkways.
To that end, The Glare isn't merely an appeal to occasionally swap digital stimulation for analog introspection -- it's the perfect excuse to do just that. Its linear, literary pleasures may seem old-fashioned to a generation reared on MMORPGs and TikTok, but in exploring the theme of loneliness as it pertains to the telecommunications age, Harrison's work of cyber-horror offers us a welcome opportunity to experience the rarified state of solitude. If you don't understand or appreciate the difference... read The Glare and find out for yourself.
Just don't read it before bed!
Traditionally, YA literature bores me to tears, even if I dig a given book's conceptual premise -- Slayer was a slog and I couldn't finish Enchantée -- but The Glare never let me out of its sweaty vise-grip. Harrison's command of pacing and atmosphere -- and she absolutely nails the singular environmentals of Northern California, right down to its color palette -- keeps the plot and pages turning briskly.
In many respects, The Glare is the antithesis of Ready Player One (and how funny that both video game–themed novels should explicitly and prominently reference the 1983 techno-thriller War Games): Whereas Ernest Cline's Digital Age paean to analog-era ephemera presents virtual reality as an Elysian haven for the socially maladroit, Harrison's cautionary thriller challenges us to confront the complex issues of online identity and pixelated reality -- a timely intellectual exercise in our current socially distanced, Zoom-only mode of existence. In Ready Player One's closing pages, Cline reminds us that "as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real," though the author demonstrably doesn't subscribe to his own hollow moralizing; Harrison, on the other hand, makes that same case powerfully -- and chillingly -- utilizing the horror genre to do what it's always done best: scare us into thinking more circumspectly about the "absolutes" encoded into our folkways.
To that end, The Glare isn't merely an appeal to occasionally swap digital stimulation for analog introspection -- it's the perfect excuse to do just that. Its linear, literary pleasures may seem old-fashioned to a generation reared on MMORPGs and TikTok, but in exploring the theme of loneliness as it pertains to the telecommunications age, Harrison's work of cyber-horror offers us a welcome opportunity to experience the rarified state of solitude. If you don't understand or appreciate the difference... read The Glare and find out for yourself.
Just don't read it before bed!
October 28, 2020
The glare is about Hedda, she has been living away from technology for the past 10 years because of a traumatic event that happened when she was young. Now, she must return to the world of technology and uncover what really happened in her past.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was well thought-out, the mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end, and the spooky atmosphere really sucked me in! Also, I really enjoyed Hedda's development as a character and her learning to limit her screen time, as she learned how to take care of herself.
I feel like adding the sci-fi element would've made this book even better. There wasn't any new and crazy futuristic technology, so that would've added another layer to the story. But, overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants YA thrillers!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was well thought-out, the mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end, and the spooky atmosphere really sucked me in! Also, I really enjoyed Hedda's development as a character and her learning to limit her screen time, as she learned how to take care of herself.
I feel like adding the sci-fi element would've made this book even better. There wasn't any new and crazy futuristic technology, so that would've added another layer to the story. But, overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants YA thrillers!
July 30, 2022
I’d say this book was perfect the way it is. It was somewhat predictable at times, but any twists were meant for the main character, not the audience. I loved the way it went from “a teenage girl with a tragic past in a new environment” to complete psychological horror. The fact that they new what they were seeing wasn’t real, and that it was all in their head didn’t take away from it in the slightest, in fact it made it better.
June 11, 2024
I don't generally read YA but this was quite good. I read it a month ago and remember absolutely nothing about it, but have vague memories of enjoying it. The fact that I even finished it means it's worth at least 3 stars since I'm pretty brutal about not wasting time on books I'm not enjoying.
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 18, 2020This is coming off as preachy so I'm having a hard time getting into it.
January 19, 2021
This book sounded more entertaining than it was.
August 14, 2020
There's a slightly fraught aspect to reading a friend's book. By the same token, it's a great feeling to get to the end of one of those books and eagerly look forward to telling your friend how much you liked the novel. Which is the case here. The thriller story itself is absolutely compelling, but it's Margot Harrison's writing and character creation that really sold me. The voice of her teenaged character is exactly what I love in a YA novel -- believable, unaffected, consistent, and fully authentic (to my ear). I also loved the way Margot navigated the non-insignificant challenge of finding ways to make a smart character believably make decisions that will put her in danger. All together, it made for a perfect summer read.
October 18, 2019
It's kind of ironic that I read The Glare at a time when I was trying to cut down on my own screen time. Otherwise, I think I would quite happily have sailed through this in a sitting or two - the writing is lovely, with an absorbing slow burn plot that draws you in and then accelerates in the second half as the stakes increase. The premise - an addictive first person shooter where, if you die thirteen times on level thirteen, you die in real life - comes straight from horror land, and while there is a strong element of horror, it's of the creepy rather than gory variety which is perfect for readers who like to be scared but not totally grossed out.
What I liked best about The Glare was its focus on the dark side of technology, which feels very timely. I'm always a fan of malevolent forces being contained in items we take for granted, in this case, computer games. So much scarier than anything fantastical! I also enjoyed seeing screen use we take for granted through the eyes of our protagonist Hedda, who has been raised for the last ten years without much real contact with phones or computers.
Hedda is a likeable main character, who doesn't come across as too strange or overly kooky given her unconventional upbringing, and the secondary characters were all likeable too. I thought the adult characters - who in YA and MG can read as stereotypes - were nicely drawn and distinguished as well.
Eerie, creepy and absorbing with a killer front cover!
What I liked best about The Glare was its focus on the dark side of technology, which feels very timely. I'm always a fan of malevolent forces being contained in items we take for granted, in this case, computer games. So much scarier than anything fantastical! I also enjoyed seeing screen use we take for granted through the eyes of our protagonist Hedda, who has been raised for the last ten years without much real contact with phones or computers.
Hedda is a likeable main character, who doesn't come across as too strange or overly kooky given her unconventional upbringing, and the secondary characters were all likeable too. I thought the adult characters - who in YA and MG can read as stereotypes - were nicely drawn and distinguished as well.
Eerie, creepy and absorbing with a killer front cover!
August 15, 2022
The Glare is a YA sci-fi/thriller/horror? I'm not sure how to correctly categorize this one because it kind of encompasses all three genres. It involves Hedda who has been living off the grid for the past 10 years and has been kept away from what her mother calls "The Glare". Essentially any screen technology. Now she is going to live with her father in California and has to try to stick with her off screen time. All too soon she is pulled into the dark web.
I enjoyed this one. It took a little while to get going but it definitely eventually sucked me in and I wanted to see how it all played out. I liked the characters and did not find them to be annoying teenagers. I did think that Hedda got sucked into technology fairly quickly. But, then that could be a commentary on how easy it is to get sucked in. Doesn't it happen to us all? The twists especially at the end were surprising. The story overall went in a direction I wasn't expecting. I won't say more so I don't spoil anything. I do recommend this one.
I enjoyed this one. It took a little while to get going but it definitely eventually sucked me in and I wanted to see how it all played out. I liked the characters and did not find them to be annoying teenagers. I did think that Hedda got sucked into technology fairly quickly. But, then that could be a commentary on how easy it is to get sucked in. Doesn't it happen to us all? The twists especially at the end were surprising. The story overall went in a direction I wasn't expecting. I won't say more so I don't spoil anything. I do recommend this one.
December 30, 2019
You will never look at your phone the same way again after reading this! This was one of the most chilling books I've read, and I loved that it's scary on two levels. First, there's all this downright terrifying stuff happening to the characters as a result of them playing the Glare, but second, on a more subtle and worrying level, there is all this stuff about the internet, addiction, social media, gaming, and the ways screens have taken over pretty much all areas of our lives. I found it thought-provoking and deeply unsettling. The prose was whip-smart and delectable, the characters vivid and compelling, and the relationships dynamic and twisty. Definitely check this one out!
July 4, 2021
This book has an intriguing and timely premise. I was hoping for a horror version of MT Anderson’s Feed. Instead, this book felt like the novelization of a low budget teen horror film. It started strong, but didn’t come together in a satisfying way. Ultimately, the story felt…off-kilter.
February 7, 2024
4.5 stars
February 13, 2023
Cool message… I guess? It was so incredibly boring that even bothering to write a review would put me to sleep. Don’t waste your time to be lectured about technology in the most boring way possible.
September 17, 2024
I hope to never see the words “off-kilter” or “keening” ever again. Got my lifetime fill in this book. It’ll probably be all I remember about this book by tomorrow.
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