Playing Through Every Choices Book, In Order (Part 48: It Lives In The Woods)

Hey! Today we reconnect with our former friends to find out why our lovely little town of Westchester is being rocked by some...ominous hauntings.

Next time, we investigate a seemingly pristine lakeside town, only to uncover a grisly past, a cult, and a woman scorned...

Link to previous reviews: https://www.reddit.com/user/stresseatingdog/comments/sj3s3m/all_choices_reviews_megapost/

SPOILER WARNING, AS ALWAYS!

It Lives In the Woods

M/C: Lance

Final LI: Andy

Wish They Were A LI: Dan

Favorite Chapter: Everyone Plays Together

Favorite Character(s): Andy, Lucas, Stacy, Connor, Tom, Ava, Dan

Least Favorite Character(s): Cody, Ben

Overall Rating: 10/10

Review:

I adore this book so very much. I feel as though the writing in this book, especially in Chapter 15 (Everyone Plays Together), is some of the best in the app, and the characters some of the most likable. The main cast being a group of former childhood best friends is amazing, and I love how accurately the book portrays friends drifting apart. All 5 LI’s are awesome, but Andy is definitely my favorite, for being the sole queer trans guy rep in the entire app, and the only trans guy LI in the whole app. Lucas and Connor are also amazing, and I’m sure Ava and Stacy are great LI’s. The romance in this book is secondary to the main plot, which works perfectly, as it doesn’t distract too much from the story. Speaking of the story…omg I love it so much. The lore, the slow build-up with horrifying events occurring, filling up the shed with items, and it all culminating in quite possibly my favorite chapter in any Choices book (Chapter 15), it all works so goddamn perfectly. The twist with Jane being Redfield is one that I’m sure a lot of players didn’t see coming, assuming you went into the book blind, and it makes the story that much more heart wrenching. I saved everyone and M/C in my playthrough, but I have watched the ultimate bad ending (everyone and M/C dies) on Youtube, and it is extremely depressing and kinda gruesome. Which death do y’all think is the most violent/gruesome? I can’t choose between Andy being suffocated by spiders or Lily being pecked to death by birds. The ending is really sweet, if you saved everyone, and otherwise it’s very bittersweet. The scene you get if you sacrifice Noah to be the next Redfield is so sad, and I almost shed a tear lmao. Speaking of Noah, gosh, what a complex character. I feel as though him taking Jane's place is the intended ending, in a way, though I won't judge if you sacrificed M/C instead. Did I mention this gem of a book is GOC?! The only complaints I have are petty. Firstly, I wish that M/C got a scene with their LI in the final chapter (if both M/C and LI are alive), and just more time with them in general. Secondly, I wish Dan wasn't out of reach for so much of the book, and I wish he were a LI, maybe instead of Connor. I feel like Dan would have worked very well as a LI, considering how much of a healing presence M/C seems to be to him, and I also think he's cute lmao. And thirdly, I wish so much of the extra lore and scenes weren't locked behind diamonds - it feels unfair. However, these are all minor complaints, and in general, I can safely say that this book is one of my favorites in the whole app, and I sorely wish this series was a trilogy instead of an anthology.