| Title | : | A Cold War |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 150390802X |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 370 |
| Publication | : | First published October 6, 2015 |
Nina Granville believes her business trip to Alaska will give her a short respite from the merry-go-round that came with her engagement to Congressman Terrence Donnelly. But instead of allowing her the peace she craves, Nina’s getaway from the public eye means that no one witnesses her abduction into a very cold hell.
Taken by a mountain man who calls himself Baer and then transported to a remote cabin surrounded by nothing but frozen wilderness, Nina descends into a nightmare of terror, privation, and bitter cold. Nina’s privileged life did not prepare her for imprisonment at the hands of this survivalist trapper. If she is to live—and to escape—Nina realizes she must do it on her own.
Undaunted and with startling determination, Nina pits herself against her captor, her fear, and nature itself in a battle for her life—but can she win against such deadly opponents?
A Cold War Reviews
-
Off to Alaska on a business trip, Nina Granville thinks it might be a good way to get away from the media circus her engagement to a congressman has entailed. However everything changes when she is abducted in Fairbanks by a man who calls himself Baer, taken against her will to the Alaskan interior, with nobody within miles to hear her cries. Subjected to unbound terrors in her icy cold prison, Nina has to find immense powers of endurance, and a strong will to survive. But how will she escape Baer? And even if she does, how will she survive the freezing Alaskan winter?
A first rate thriller, A Cold War hits hard with one woman's determination to escape a monster, even with all odds against her. The insight into Nina's mindset is realistic, one can imagine the terror she is living through. Well plotted, and with a good sense of place, you can feel the cold seeping into the remote hut Nina has been taken to. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to all lovers of thrillers and suspense. -
This is a stand alone novel by the author of 3 popular series. It begins innocently enough but don't be fooled...you'll soon be tearing through the pages, deeply invested in the fate of a young woman at the centre of a horrific experience. Turns out September is a bad month to visit Alaska if you're a pretty brunette with blue eyes.
Greg Martin would know. While on their honeymoon, his wife Elese disappeared without a trace. Sgt. Evan Hamilton of the Seward, Alaska PD is an old style cop with a firm belief in Occam's Razor. But despite his suspicions about Greg, no evidence is ever found.
Three years later, Hamilton still picks away at the case in his spare time. When another woman disappears that September, the resulting publicity puts the cold case back on the active list. Because this time it was no casual tourist. Nina Granville came to Alaska on business & just happens to be the fiancee of well known politician Terrance Donnelly. With the support of his wealthy family, he seemed destined for the White House with beautiful Nina at his side.
Her disappearance also brings Greg back to town. He's convinced it's connected to his case. Maybe now Hamilton will take his theories seriously. These 2 begin an uneasy partnership as the hunt for Nina intensifies with financial backing from the Donnelly family vault.
This is one of those reviews that is difficult to write without giving the game away. Some of these people are not who they seem & have hidden agendas. Chapters alternate between the investigation & Nina's ordeal. And while following Greg & Hamilton while they gather clues makes for a compelling read, it's Nina's story that is the emotional & psychologically terrifying core of the book.
The characters are well fleshed out with distinct personalities & it's interesting to watch them develop as the story progresses. Nina undergoes the most change as she struggles to survive in the hands of her deranged abductor. All I'll say about him is I can't remember the last time I loathed a fictional character as much of this one. Not because he's poorly written. On the contrary, he's so real it made my skin crawl. It becomes compulsive reading & the pages fly by as you desperately hope this guy gets what he so richly deserves.
The case is eventually resolved but maybe not as you'd expect. My only criticism is the book should have ended at this point. It's an intense & gripping story that leaves you emotionally drained. Well done. But the author chose to continue with an aftermath that heads off in a completely different direction. It features 2 of the characters & is used to reveal a few startling facts. These tie up some niggling questions about the abductions but the surrounding plot line borders on surreal & is difficult to swallow.
Still, I highly recommend this for those who love an absorbing thriller. The first 95% of the story will knock your socks off & once started, you'll have a hard time putting it down. -
Thomas and Mercer
Description: Nina Granville believes her business trip to Alaska will give her a short respite from the merry-go-round that came with her engagement to Congressman Terrence Donnelly. But instead of allowing her the peace she craves, Nina’s getaway from the public eye means that no one witnesses her abduction into a very cold hell.
Taken by a mountain man who calls himself Baer and then transported to a remote cabin surrounded by nothing but frozen wilderness, Nina descends into a nightmare of terror, privation, and bitter cold. Nina’s privileged life did not prepare her for imprisonment at the hands of this survivalist trapper. If she is to live—and to escape—Nina realizes she must do it on her own.
Undaunted and with startling determination, Nina pits herself against her captor, her fear, and nature itself in a battle for her life—but can she win against such deadly opponents?
An eye-scorching read with plenty of eeeews, and smatterings of humour running through the spectrum from subtle to outrageously forced. The poem* was great first run through but Russell subsequently wanted to bang us over the head with it: "Lay off thinking your readers are thick as shite," I shout.
Great dialogue and riveting survival story, until the last 50 odd pages that is, when the storyline jumped the shark in a contrived twist too far.
The hunt is on for Grizzly Adams in BFE.
*
Text: The Cremation of Sam McGee By Robert W. Service
Listen to Johnny Cash recite it. -
4.5 STARS rounded up
The novel begins with a honeymoon couple on an Alaskan cruise. The wife leaves the ship to go shopping in the seaside town of Seward. She is never seen again... A local town cop, Hamilton, is tasked with the investigation into Elese Martin's disappearance. Known for being slow and plodding in his work, he is nonetheless very thorough and very deliberate. He at first suspects that Elese's husband but cannot find any evidence. The two men, Hamilton and Martin, keep in touch over the years. Neither is able to let the disappearance of Elese Martin go.
Three years later. Nina Granville is flying to Alaska for her work with a prestigious charitable foundation. While taking a walk around the little Alaskan town, she notices an old hobo sitting on the sidewalk reciting a poem, "The Cremation of Sam McGee". She trips and falls, then is abducted. Nina is the wealthy fiancee of a high-profile politician and her abduction makes the news. Hamilton is once again the policeman in charge of the investigation.
The narrative which follows shows Nina's plight in all of its distressing, heart-breaking, circumstances, alternating with Hamilton and his investigations.
Nina's captor is a mountain man. A man who is obsessed with the Cold War and believes that human society is on the verge of self-destruction. He is cunning, observant, and is an expert at living in hostile environments with few if any creature comforts. He hunts, traps, and fishes for survival.
MY THOUGHTS
Wow, I was immersed in Nina's plight. I think I'm still cold... The book is filled with depictions of how to survive in the wilderness under extremely dire conditions.
This novel is a suspense-filled story about a strong woman with remarkable tenacity and endurance. The setting, the vast, forbidding, hostile, and coldly beautiful landscape of Alaskan wilderness is one you won't soon forget. It was especially vivid for me as my husband and I visited Alaska just last September.
I urge you to listen to the poem,
"The Cremation of Sam McGee" as it is referenced many times in the novel. You can find the poem here:
I had no expectations of this book going in. I had never read this author, and I hadn't read any reviews (recently anyway). "A Cold War" took me in surprise in a good way. A fast-paced, suspenseful read that I would definitely recommend. I was a bit less enthusiastic about the last chapter... I wondered why the author bothered to write it as it seemed unrelated to the rest of the book - until I realized it held a plot twist that shed new light on the preceding chapters. Yes, Nina was quite a woman!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing) via NetGalley. -
“Nothing could be more heart rending than this mute and motionless dispair” - ― Émile Zola, Thérèse Raquin
“She was a genius of sadness, immersing herself in it, separating its numerous strands, appreciating its subtle nuances. She was a prism through which sadness could be divided into its infinite spectrum.” ― Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything Is Illuminated
Despair. Horrible, gut wrenching, soul destroying despair. Nina Granville’s life has become a hell on earth unlike any most ‘normal’ people could ever understand. Fear so deep her bones ache with it. Because Nina is a captive. A captive of a monster in a land where ice, snow, and death are balanced on the head of a pin. Where the wrong breath, the wrong move, can mean immediate, or long, drawn-out death.
Captured and held in the wilds of Alaska by a sadistic monster, Nina is doing everything she can to survive, but the brutality is nearly unbearable, the psychological terror breathtaking. Nina is, very literally, in hell. A frozen hell, buried in ice and snow. Repeatedly raped, beaten and terrorized, she has little reason to continue living.
“There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run Cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGree.
The same poem. Over. And Over. And Over. The repetitive dirge, of a madman. No hope. No hope. . .
Until she finds Elese Martin. Or at least, Elese’s journal. Elise – the madman’s last victim. Elise suffered as Nina does now. The beatings. The rapes. The terror. Elise, who was held on for years. Who had, and lost, a child by the monster. Who made a plan.
Now, Nina needs to plan. To plan, to hope.
This book was, literally, heart wrenching. Alan Russell literally broke my heart with his writing. Nina’s pain, her struggle, was written so well I felt it. The story is incredibly well-written, well-paced and the characters and landscape feel so very real I could almost smell the smoke, the cold, the forests of Alaska. There are so many layers in the book, layers that I fell through as if through water, sinking into blackness.
It is an important story, an important book, with strength and depth. I can’t recommend it highly enough, but be ready to feel Nina’s and Elise’s pain, their desperation and despair. It is breathtaking, twisted, and amazing.
I received A Cold War from the publisher in an uncorrected proof. All thoughts are my own, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Strap in for the ride of your life. -
I see all these 4 & 5 star reviews and it's making me wonder what's wrong with me? Lol. This book started out strong. I really liked the beginning. It was interesting and well paced. Then, after the initial stages of the kidnapping, the book started really dragging. It became routine, mundane and repetitive. And that's hard to believe considering the dark nature of Nina's situation and that they were in the Alaskan wilderness. But there was barely any actual human interaction/ dialogue and there was just too much time spent on Nina's repetitive thoughts plus her 'conversations' with a ghost who couldn't talk back.
The escape was out of the blue and wasn't very believable considering how little time was spent on her preparing to make a run for it compared to how extensively prepared she seemed to be. But at least the thrill spiked up again. Still that portion even dragged. But at the this point I was still considering a 3 star because the story is unique and interesting.
I was happy about the direction things were going after Nina escapes. But then the ending!!! Oh my gosh, it was like a whole new book was crammed into the last two chapters and I just didn't buy the Greg twist. It read completely ridiculous to me. And usually when you've realized this huge twist you start putting pieces together, seeing the clues that were there before. But here there weren't any. It was so disjointed.
If you like slow build mysteries and you don't mind a very methodical, slow paced story- and you don't mind a lack of emotional connection between the characters, you might like this. I was expecting much more horror based on the blurb but most of the horrific parts are skimmed over (aside from one, which is best to death throughout the story). -
Pretty good until the last 10% or so, then it got kind of silly.
-
If you live among wolves you have to act like a wolf. - Nikita Khrushchev
There's a human predator in the wilds of Alaska. Women keep getting kidnapped off the streets of Alaskan cities/towns and Nina Granville is the latest. Taken by the mountain man called Baer, Nina must do whatever is necessary to survive the bitter cold of the backcountry and the depredations of Baer. Nina finds out she has to learn new skills and strengthen herself past where she ever thought she had to go if she was going to survive this living hell.
Author Russell has a real skill in bringing his characters to life. The images were vivid and the dialogue believable. His descriptions of the freezing cold had me shivering in my nice warm living room.
I really enjoyed the first probably 7/8 of the book but then the author totally changed the storyline at the end of the book and I felt the story kind of fell apart. This change was not needed, in my opinion. This was already a strong adventure/thriller tale and the different slant just muddied the ending.
NOTE: I received this book from Thomas & Mercer through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. -
Another excellent book.
Alan Russell writes very good thrills/mystery books, with very strong characters. Will be reading every book he writes. In this one Nina character is comfortable in her skin, and smart, strong woman. Ending is very shocking, you can't put it down. Drunk lots of hot tea to keep warm. -
First 75% of this book was a good read. The last quarter was a completely different book. It seems the author felt compelled to add a "twist", but it made no sense and had a markedly changed tone from the first parts of the novel. I finished it, but it was too weird.
-
That ending though. This was an uncomfortable read. And yet I wanted to know what happened next. Quite the page turner.
-
worst thing ive ever read someone had it in the psych ward
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4.5⭐️
-
Exceptional
This book is unexpectedly, exceptional. What a clever plot. Even without the twist, at the end, it is clever. The abductions, the imprisonment, the survival, the escape, all ingeniously carried out. Then, to cap it off, a twist.
When I first decided to read this book, I had no expectations, for it to be the thriller, it was. How pleasantly surprised, I was to find, that I was wrong. -
Skvelý mrazivý thriller, ktorého hlavnou hrdinkou je žena unesená a uveznená psychopatickým násilníkom v zrube uprostred divočiny na Aljaške. Drsné prostredie, napínavý príbeh a celkovo sa stupňujúce napatie vás ani chvílu nenechá chladnými. Je to príbeh s klasickými prvkami thrilleru, ale vrámci žánru mi prišiel vynikajúco napísaný a ani chvílku som sa nenudila. Hlavná postava mi prirástla k srdcu a neskutočne som jej fandila. Ako pridanú hodnotu tohto thrilleru výrazne kladne hodnotím opisy prírody, postupov ako prežit v mrazivej divočine a na čo si dávat pozor. Mnohé z tých infomácií, ktoré boli spomenuté v knihe som sa aj ja dozvedela prvýkrát a tak som si nielen užila napínavý príbeh, ale naučila som sa aj niečo nového a zaujímavého. Navyše som bola fascinovaná prírodou Aljašky, v ktorej sa celý príbeh odohrával. Vynikajúco bola vykreslená aj psychológia postáv vrátane skvelého spracovania psychiky unesenej a týranej ženy, ktorá sa najprv chce zabit, protože nevidí východisko z tej zúfalej situácie, ale nakoniec v sebe nájde silu a rozhodne sa bojovat o svoj zivot. Je príkladom toho, že ludský tvor prezije toho ovela viac ako si myslí. A hlavne k záveru knihy som bola do príbehu tak ponorená, že som nevnímala nič a nikoho. A ten záver. Skvelé. Fakt ma to bavilo a to thrillery až tak moc nevyhladávam, pretože sa skor či neskor začnem pri nich nudit a už v polovici knihy viem presne ako to dopadne. Tak tento thriller bol výnimkou a ja som rada, že ho Kniha Zlín vydala.
-
*FULL of spoilers, less a review than a whinge*
To start with, I was 40weeks pregnant when i read this book and a major plot point is the death of a baby, so that could be why i hated it so much. But hate it I did. I understand it's reality but i never really understand men who not only have images in their heads of kidnapping, raping and torturing women but then also dedicate time and energy to bring those images into a format where they can be shared with others, but whatever. There were lots of logical inconsistencies - the book Elese wrote kept Nina alive but then she didn't take it with her, not even for the maps? And then she was worried about being "caught" having shot Baer in "cold blood", like he didnt keep her captive for like 9 months? Like that wasn't even factual. And the whole Greg twist at the end was not only ridiculous but out of keeping with his whole character arc and behaviour throughout the book. Made no sense.
In short, I hated this book, im sick of the abuse porn trope and it had huge inconsistencies, but it gets 2 stars because i was compelled to finish it. -
Ok, so, WOW! This was an unexpected treasure of a story.
It's not erotic or romantic at all(which are my usual reads) but it's
dark and the circumstances are tragic and drew me in like a moth
To flame. I have to say I hate the cold and this story described the cold
of Alaska so well I felt it in my bones....brrrr. Such a beautifully written story,
even the investigation into Nina's disappearance had me enthralled. I was with Nina the whole time. I love it when a story sucks me in and doesn't let me enter reality until I'm done with book! And I loved the ending best of all!! -
Gripping novel that doesn't let you loosen up until the very last page. What a great read. A tale of a survivalist that captures a woman and holds her in captivity in a remote Alaskan area. She lives in a cage and eats hunted animal from a small bowl. This doesn't even begin to tell the tale...and then there are those who are searching and those who aren't...GREAT THRILLING READ.
-
ALAN RUSSELL - LA LOBA
Thriller Alana Russella vyvolává převážně kladné ohlasy, se svými rozpaky tak budu spíš výjimkou. Příběh, jehož napsání zabralo autorovi dvacet let, protože detailně studoval aljašskou přírodu a reálie, má několik linek a hlavních postav.
Samu Aljašku považuji za jednu z nich, protože její popisy i to, jak sama zasahuje do života ostatních postav a ovlivňuje jejich rozhodování a možnosti, z ní nedělají jen prostředí, v kterém se cosi odehrává, ale skutečně plnohodnotného hybatele děje, místy by se dalo říct až londonovského.
Na Aljašku se dostáváme ve chvíli, kdy se zde beze stopy ztratí Elese Martinová, která je zde se svým mužem Gregem Martinem na svatební cestě. Greg je samozřejmě jedním z prvních podezřelých, ale žádné důkazy proti němu neexistují a jeho zájem Elese najít je natolik opravdový, že nakonec přesvědčí i seržanta Hamiltona a případ – jak se zdá – bude odložen jako nevyřešený…
O tři roky později se ve stejném místě ztratí další žena, Nina, snoubenka známého politika… Greg vidí mezi oběma případy jasnou souvislost a spolu s Hamiltonem zahajují pátrání jak po Nině, tak po Elese…
Čtenář mezitím sleduje Ninin boj o přežití a posléze snahu o útěk od svého věznitele, kterého nezná pod jiným jménem než Mattvyed… Zpočátku příběh šlape jako příslovečné švýcarské hodinky, ale obzvlášť pro čtenáře, který podobný druh literatury vyhledává, není záhy vlastně ničím příliš překvapivý. Postavy sleduje jakoby z dálky, je těžké vytvořit si k nim hlubší vztah… obzvlášť, když se až příliš brzo nabízí myšlenka, jak by mohla celá kniha dopadnout. Paradoxně asi nejbližší vztah je možné si vytvořit nikoli k oběti – tedy Nině – ani k zoufalému novomanželovi, ale k místnímu seržantovi, který se k tomu, aby konal nad rámec svých povinností, propracovává opravdu těžce a věrohodně.
Závěrečná část knihy působí dojmem, že ji autor k textu „narouboval“ z knihy úplně jiné. Není ani šokující, ani zajímavá a dovede nás jen k tomu, co mnohé napadlo už o mnoho dříve. Ninin přerod do podoby, která mimochodem vysvětluje název celé knihy, by byl možná zajímavý jako samostatné, volné pokračování knihy La Loba. Takto působí cizorodě, jako záměrně šokující, i když vlastně nemá šokovat čím…
Russellův vypravěčský styl není špatný, udrží čtenářovu pozornost a věřím, že většina knihu přečte rychle a až do konce – i když možná poslední část jen tak proletí, aby si buď ověřili své domněnky nebo byli doopravdy překvapeni. Za toto, za popisy Aljašky a především pak za výborný překlad Karolíny Ryvolové ode mne pro thriller La Loba tři hvězdičky…
Hodnocení: ☆☆☆ -
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Nina Granville believes her business trip to Alaska will give her a short respite from the merry-go-round that came with her engagement to Congressman Terrence Donnelly. But instead of allowing her the peace she craves, Nina’s getaway from the public eye means that no one witnesses her abduction into a very cold hell.
Taken by a mountain man who calls himself Baer and then transported to a remote cabin surrounded by nothing but frozen wilderness, Nina descends into a nightmare of terror, privation, and bitter cold. Nina’s privileged life did not prepare her for imprisonment at the hands of this survivalist trapper. If she is to live—and to escape—Nina realizes she must do it on her own.
Undaunted and with startling determination, Nina pits herself against her captor, her fear, and nature itself in a battle for her life—but can she win against such deadly opponents?
I have read a couple of Alan Russell's books in the last few years and feel like I have a decent idea of what to expect - and this book lived up to those expectations. The fact that it is a stand-alone novel makes it easier to get invested in.
This was another winner but for different reasons - for me, this one was really about the personalities of the characters: Nina, the kidnapped socialite having to tough it out in the harsh Alaskan environment; the abductor, Baer, and his evil, sadistic streak; and Greg Martin, husband of a woman who disappeared three years before who comes to town and tries to convince Sgt. Evan Hamilton of the Seward, Alaska PD to look harder. So much was in play for the whole story that the ending could have come in so many different ways.
Also, the description of Alaska - sounds like such a beautiful place (apart from the kidnappings, of course!) and the author has done a great job in laying out the bitter cold and harsh conditions that Nina has to survive in order to ever see her loved ones again.
This book would have been 5-stars easily if it hadn't have been for the ending. Those who have read this book will understand - it was disappointing and really left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
Paul
ARH -
Tiffany Bowcut
Sat, Jun 29, 1:57 PM
to me
Unlike most of Russell's books I had a hard time getting into this one, but by chapter three, I was in awe of his ability to create such unique and intriguing plots, the wide variety of well developed characters invokes a sense of familiarity, where the mere mention of the name he feel like he was referring to an actual person and not a character in a book as murder mysteries go this one left out of the cookie cutter mold. And instead of wondering who done it, you were caught up in the thrill of the hunt. My only real complaint is the reader of the audio book, mostly because his voices are inconsistent and seemed more like cartoon stereotypes than in depth creations by the author.
Right out of the gate I was intrigued the creation of Sam McGee by Robert service is a lesser known but that is Lee written poem. My dad often recited it throughout my childhood.
The story was engrossing and kept me guessing, even to the very end, the author seems to have mastered the line between creating rich detail, without taking it too far into the realm of over the chop cheap shocks, like in every book I've read by Russell his characters originally developed to the point of becoming real in my head. The reader on this was phenomenal she grasp the tone of the, the author seems to have intended. The tale was frustrating yet liberating and horrific but hopeful, I loved it. -
This suspense story is set deep in Alaska's wilderness for the most part as a young woman is abducted from the company of her fiance while on a trip. She is held by a hideous trapper type of man who thinks nothing of taunting and raping her.
I recently read a very similar book set in the Adirondacks. But Alaska has the dimension of cold. The woman has been abducted in September so that winter will soon descend and cut off any pursuit or trails. The wilderness is well described with good geology notes, small planes and survival tips.
After the climax of the tale, the chapters keep coming and I wondered why; turns out there is a good reason for describing this next dimension of our heroine's story.
This is an adult read due to strong language, violence and sexual abuse.
I read an e-ARC through Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review. -
"A Unique, Moving Story of Survival"
This author has been added to my favorites list. He writes real well and is always entertaining. Here, Nina Granville is engaged to Congressman Terrence Donnelly. She's on a business trip to Alaska which will also give her some respite from the notoriety of her engagement. However, she is kidnapped into a very cold hell, taken by a mountain man called Baer. It's a nightmare of terror as she's held in a mountain cabin in the bitter winter. She takes on the battle for her life. This is a fast page-turner, with many twists and turns at the ending...a real nail biter. Excellent thriller. -
Asi na devadesátý stránce jsem měla fakt krizi a chtěla jsem tu knížku odložit, tak moc se mi z obsahu chtělo blejt. Pak jsem to teda překonala a hltala stránku za stránkou, fakt dobrý, průser přišel asi 4O stran před koncem - najednou zmizel všechen drajv, napětí a hlavně práce se čtenářem a vedení nějaký smyslupný linky. Úplně stejný, jak když máte nějakej bájo seriál a v půlce si odkoupí práva netflix a začne blejt (ano, Black Mirror, na tebe se koukám). Ale pokud máte rádi sníh a napínavý drama s trochou lyriky, tak doporučuju. Já třeba po dočtení týhle knížky vím, že až zas můj kluk bude chtít letět na aljašku, tak tůdle nůdle, hošánku, z gauče mě nedostaneš.
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MAN OH MAN WHAT A READ
I don’t always write reviews , but this book is beyond amazing.
Alan Russell can really write a deep who done it book. I read from the first page to the last, and I didn’t figure out what was going on until the last few pages of the book. The story has violent actions, but it is so very well laid out it makes the whole story seem like a true story. You won’t be disappointed. Go ahead and read it ,and if you figure out the ending before you reach the ending please let me know. Honestly don’t tell anybody as it will ruin it for someone else
