I enjoy a good psychological thriller from time to time, especially when there is a mystery to be solved. I don't watch horror and rarely read anything that is horror, but psychological horror in books is different. I like trying to find the hidden truth behind what is at first seen. I don't have many of these kinds of books on my shelf, so I ended up going to rbDigital to find something in this genre. I discovered Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and it did not disappoint.
The author captures the reader attention immediately with the introduction of Area X, a small portion of land off the North Eastern coast of America that has been separated from the rest of the world by an invisible border. No one knows where this border came from, but whoever goes inside the border rarely come out alive. The Southern Reach, an organization created to deal with this new phenomenon, runs experiments and expeditions into Area X in hopes of understanding what it is and where it came from. The author introduces the reader to the newest expedition, number 11, and its five team members. These women are not only trained to be able to survive in the wilderness but also to be able to withstand Area X's unique conditions that make some people go insane while inside. These five women, a psychologist, a linguist, an anthropologist, a surveyor, and a biologist who is also our narrator, are each selected because of their past experiences and mental stamina. Never allowed to speak to each other by their actual names, these women are only known to each other and the reader by their job titles. As the women venture through Area X, they slowly begin to realize how unnatural the natural land has become in Area X.
This book was entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what would happen to the women and what made Area X appear. The book is the first in a trilogy, so be prepared to have some questions left unanswered when you finish this novel. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers and/or mysteries.
~Abigail C.
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