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kajoreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The gore and body horror really delivered. The slasher vibes were on point. If I was rating this based on that alone, it’d be 5 stars. Ellis did an incredible job making it all gross and unsettling.
There was lots of interesting lore involved. Unfortunately it got kinda incoherent at times, or maybe it just didn’t click for me. I was trying to figure out rules for the supernatural elements. Definitely not the right approach.
I really enjoyed Temple and her dad’s relationship. It was a twisted, abusive one, but it felt real. The flashbacks were well implemented imo.
Overall, it’s a strong debut. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for this author.
There was lots of interesting lore involved. Unfortunately it got kinda incoherent at times, or maybe it just didn’t click for me. I was trying to figure out rules for the supernatural elements. Definitely not the right approach.
I really enjoyed Temple and her dad’s relationship. It was a twisted, abusive one, but it felt real. The flashbacks were well implemented imo.
Overall, it’s a strong debut. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Terminal illness, Child death, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Police brutality, and Ableism
tranvnguyen's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I received this audiobook as an ARC through NetGallley.
This usually isn’t my usual kind of read/listen, but it was phenomenal! The story itself was captivating, the perfect combination of spine chilling horror with touches of perfectly placed humor to break it up.
Tamika Katon-Donegal was amazing bringing the characters to life, showcasing everyone’s diverse personalities!
10/10 would watch this if it ever gets optioned for a movie.
This usually isn’t my usual kind of read/listen, but it was phenomenal! The story itself was captivating, the perfect combination of spine chilling horror with touches of perfectly placed humor to break it up.
Tamika Katon-Donegal was amazing bringing the characters to life, showcasing everyone’s diverse personalities!
10/10 would watch this if it ever gets optioned for a movie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Death, and Murder
jennifermreads's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Received advanced reader copy from publisher.
If asked what my least favorite genre was, I would say horror. I’m not even sure I’d call it “least favorite” as I would “least read.” I’m not sure I would have picked up Dead Girls Walking at a library or bookstore. After all, the promo material says it is for fans of the film franchise Friday the 13th and I do not watch horror films. But Abrams mailed me an ARC and that felt like a nudge to give horror another chance. {Note: See the danger in including other book or movie titles in promo material? I was leaning toward not reading because of the film reference!}
When I finished the ARC on February 22, my initial reaction was “Meh.” I wasn’t scared out of my skin. I wasn’t creeped out to the point of looking under my bed, peeking in my closet, and making sure all the doors and windows were locked. I’m not sure “enjoyed” is the correct word to describe what I experienced with Temple’s journey. But I was invested in her fight and curious about the outcome.
Now, as I write my review two weeks later, I find that, pardon the pun, Temple and the rest of the Dead Girls are still haunting me. THAT is a sign of a good book! Because of spoilers, I cannot say what is sticking. Suffice it to say, that the outcome had me questioning judgments I’ve made in people and it has served as a reminder that there is often more to a person’s story than a headline or news story will share.
It was refreshing to read a story set in an LGBTQIA camp (talk about stereotype horror setting! WHOA there is a reason that setting works!) with a cast of 100% LGBTQIA characters. The author states in her intro letter in the ARC that she “set out to write a Friday the 13th tribute, but this time all about Black girls.” The author has filled a void. And, my reader’s advisory senses are tingling: anyone who has read Tiffany D. Jackson and screamed “MORE!” needs to grab Dead Girls Walking and rejoice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Murder, Child abuse, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Cannibalism, Police brutality, Gun violence, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Verbatim from the notes on the title page verso of the ARC: STRONG PRESENCE OF: body fluids like blood and vomit, bones, branding, emotional and physical child abuse, death, fire, gore, hallucinations, murder, profanity, PTSD flashbacks of abuse and horrific situations, skeletons, violence, abuse in the name of religion. BRIEF MENTIONS OF: ableist language, bullying, cannibalism, recreational marijuana usage, gun violence, the occult, police brutality, suicidal ideation, supernatural interpretation of terminal illness, transphobia.bookishmillennial's review
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Woweeeeeee! Whatever I thought this book was… well, that doesn’t matter. I was *wrong* !!! I find horror so delightful because I have no idea what to expect. Is this going to be a serial killer? Slasher? Paranormal horror? How much disbelief must I suspend to accept the story? It is always such an entertaining ride and I am so grateful to this genre for just letting me have fun!
Temple goes back to North Point Park, which has been turned into a queer horror-loving camp/retreat, which was awarded to about ten young women. Temple applies as a counselor, hiding her identity (her dad was the North Point Killer and this property was his home!) because she is desperate to find out what happened to her mom five years ago. She is 16 now, and her mom went missing five years ago. However, people begin to get murdered and Temple has to act quickly to figure out how to stop the killings and to get out alive!
Temple was funny, fierce, and a young woman on a mission! I appreciated her backstory of she knew some of the other girls, and how fearful she is of becoming like her murderous father. Some of the scenes towards the latter half of the book were so hard to read, specifically because I feel queasy whenever I read about deliberate child abuse😔
Anyway, I thought the reveals and the explanation for what was happening at this camp were incredibly wild! It felt like an ode to classic summer camp slasher films, but also stood strong enough on its own! There are interview transcripts of Temple’s father Thomas from his time in prison, as well as excerpts from this book that mirrored the reality of the NPK murders, which I felt worked really well & gave me a bit of context surrounding the social climate!
I will totally read more from Sami Ellis in the future, even if 3rd person, present-tense is not my fave !
Woweeeeeee! Whatever I thought this book was… well, that doesn’t matter. I was *wrong* !!! I find horror so delightful because I have no idea what to expect. Is this going to be a serial killer? Slasher? Paranormal horror? How much disbelief must I suspend to accept the story? It is always such an entertaining ride and I am so grateful to this genre for just letting me have fun!
Temple goes back to North Point Park, which has been turned into a queer horror-loving camp/retreat, which was awarded to about ten young women. Temple applies as a counselor, hiding her identity (her dad was the North Point Killer and this property was his home!) because she is desperate to find out what happened to her mom five years ago. She is 16 now, and her mom went missing five years ago. However, people begin to get murdered and Temple has to act quickly to figure out how to stop the killings and to get out alive!
Temple was funny, fierce, and a young woman on a mission! I appreciated her backstory of she knew some of the other girls, and how fearful she is of becoming like her murderous father. Some of the scenes towards the latter half of the book were so hard to read, specifically because I feel queasy whenever I read about deliberate child abuse😔
Anyway, I thought the reveals and the explanation for what was happening at this camp were incredibly wild! It felt like an ode to classic summer camp slasher films, but also stood strong enough on its own! There are interview transcripts of Temple’s father Thomas from his time in prison, as well as excerpts from this book that mirrored the reality of the NPK murders, which I felt worked really well & gave me a bit of context surrounding the social climate!
I will totally read more from Sami Ellis in the future, even if 3rd person, present-tense is not my fave !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Toxic relationship, Blood, Torture, Murder, Child death, Body horror, Death of parent, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse
storiesatstarfall's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Bullying, and Death of parent
Minor: Stalking
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