As a TikTok connoisseur, I have watched many a video about this so-called “King of Twists,” Riley Sager, an author that has somehow consistently managed to send his readers on a spiral of mind-bending revelations. Having been unfamiliar with his work, I set out to employ my skills of discernment to see if this title proved to be true, and picked up his newest novel, The Unknown.
This story follows Marin, an unknown actress who has just landed her big break in a film alongside legendary actress Violet Wright, under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Ronan Peters. In preparation for this film, Ronan has tasked the cast to go full method acting and spend a week on the island of New Avalon, the location of the legend the film is based on. During this week, the ladies must wear the garments, live like they are in the year 1926, and surrender all their modern day devices. According to legend, the island became a commune hosted by Ruth Semple and hosted many women who were believed to have supernatural abilities and witchcraft. One night in 1926, five spiritual mediums suddenly disappear with no explanation. The only sign of their existence was their five dresses hanging over a massive oak tree. Now Marin, is trapped on the same island as the paranormal occurrences begin to happen all over again. *cue the spooky music*
Sager’s writing is simply beautiful and descriptive. It’s just the right amount of details to paint a full picture without beginning to sound too pretentious. In fact, I’d say many readers could conjure up a full length movie in their head with the way Riley so aptly builds this world.
The story is written through 2 POVs, one being our protagonist Marin, and the other being Daisy, a young girl inhabiting the island during the disappearances in 1926, whose diary has become the main source material for the film. At times, particularly in the middle, the story begins to feel repetitive. Because Marin and Daisy’s experiences are so similar, their narratives occasionally overlap to the point that it feels like we’re reading the same story twice. But towards the end, that completely changes when the stories begin to diverge dramatically bringing in twist after twist until you can’t help but feel thankful for the dual POVs.
If you’re like me, a great opening paragraph or chapter is all it takes to get you hooked on a book. Sager’s pacing is rhythmic throughout this book, slowing down just enough for the reader to catch their breath, process the supernatural occurrences, before launching into a fast-paced sequence to keep the pages turning. The pacing becomes addictive in the final 50 or so pages, as each outcome becomes deviated with one twist after another. I’m not kidding. Once I thought I had the ending figured out, a new revelation was thrown in, changing the course of our story entirely. So good!
This book was an absolute gem and a wonderful introduction to the works of Riley Sager. It all makes sense now: Riley Sager really is the “King of Twists.” Of course, I’ll be reading another one of his novels, The House Across the Lake, to see if he can solidify that title. I’ll report back soon.
If you want to chat books with me, or want to listen more about Riley Sager’s The Unknown, spoilers and all, listen to this episode of my podcast, Cubbie Chats. Please leave us a 5-star rating while you’re there!
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