Book Review - Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall

Title: Rules for Vanishing
Series: -
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
 
Description: Once a year, the path appears in the forest and Lucy Gallows beckons. Who is brave enough to find her—and who won't make it out of the woods?

It's been exactly one year since Sara's sister, Becca, disappeared, and high school life has far from settled back to normal. With her sister gone, Sara doesn't know whether her former friends no longer like her... or are scared of her, and the days of eating alone at lunch have started to blend together. When a mysterious text message invites Sara and her estranged friends to "play the game" and find local ghost legend Lucy Gallows, Sara is sure this is the only way to find Becca—before she's lost forever. And even though she's hardly spoken with them for a year, Sara finds herself deep in the darkness of the forest, her friends—and their cameras—following her down the path. Together, they will have to draw on all of their strengths to survive. The road is rarely forgiving, and no one will be the same on the other side.
 
Review: Once a year, a path appear in the forest and Lucy Gallows beckons. Only people brave enough try to find her, but you have to play by certain rules. A year ago, Sara lost her sister Becca when she went into the woods and walked that path, in search of Lucy Gallows. When the time is here for the path to reappear, Sara is determined to find her sister. A group of their mutual friends gather to walk the path with her, when even most of them are skeptical.
 
The story is set in a small town, with a dark legend haunting them. This already sets the atmosphere. The book is compared to “The Blair With Project”, which I can totally understand, especially because of the unique format. It’s not just traditional storytelling, but also transcripts of interviews, written statements, group chats and more. And I love this style of writing. It reads like a “found-footage” film. You get more and more questions, especially because you have no idea who you can trust. Not even Sara, who we mainly follow.
 
When you throw a bunch of teenagers together in a scary situation, you often predict they will eventually break up or make terrible decisions. But author Kate Alice Marshall manages to avoid a lot of clichés and stereotypes. Instead they make rational decisions, talk about their differences and feel more real. Unnecessary drama is left out, there are no villainous teens and the little romance is kept mostly in the background. Because being in a life and death situation isn’t romantic.
 
I praise Kate Alice Marshall for her creativity and the way she wrote this original horror story. I can totally see this being turned into a movie. It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, creepy and well-written. The ending though, would not leave everyone satisfied. I personally loved the twist and don’t mind being left with questions at the end. If you still think and talk about a book after finishing it, you have written a good book.  “Rules for Vanishing” is an eerie story that you should read if you like unique horror stories in a mixed-media-type format. If none of these things appeal to you, this book is not for you.
 
Rating: 4/ 5