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nrogers_1030's review against another edition
3.5
š§
I got a bit confused at times and had to rewind and listen again. Very creative.
I got a bit confused at times and had to rewind and listen again. Very creative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Murder, Death, Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Vomit
kajoreads's review
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, itād 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 didnāt 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 dadās relationship. It was a twisted, abusive one, but it felt real. The flashbacks were well implemented imo.
Overall, itās a strong debut. Iāll 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 didnāt 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 dadās relationship. It was a twisted, abusive one, but it felt real. The flashbacks were well implemented imo.
Overall, itās a strong debut. Iāll 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
blakeandbooks'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? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Harry N. Abrams, and RB Media for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
At first, I honestly didnāt know if I was going to enjoy this book, because I was constantly getting go distracted while listening like it wasnāt capturing my attention enough. But wow! I was so surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this story. It definitely reminded me of Youāre Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron, which I also enjoyed.
It was so wild, and I love when a book has me anticipating what comes next. Templeās family??? WILD. I was not expecting any of that! And I love how she is able to find a found family/real friendships in the midst of all the insanity that happens at the queer, girls camp. Itās a great YA horror novel, and I am looking forward to more from Sami Ellis!
At first, I honestly didnāt know if I was going to enjoy this book, because I was constantly getting go distracted while listening like it wasnāt capturing my attention enough. But wow! I was so surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this story. It definitely reminded me of Youāre Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron, which I also enjoyed.
It was so wild, and I love when a book has me anticipating what comes next. Templeās family??? WILD. I was not expecting any of that! And I love how she is able to find a found family/real friendships in the midst of all the insanity that happens at the queer, girls camp. Itās a great YA horror novel, and I am looking forward to more from Sami Ellis!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
tranvnguyen's review
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 isnāt 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 everyoneās diverse personalities!
10/10 would watch this if it ever gets optioned for a movie.
This usually isnāt 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 everyoneās 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
courtneys_shelves's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Gore, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Physical abuse, Stalking, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Body horror, Cursing, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia
This book is incredibly intense, as it covers topics of abuse and family curses. However, for this who can read it, it Carrieās an ultimately hopeful message, and watching a hopeless character grow to realize that she does indeed have hope and support and is ultimately good is worth the read.librarytribute's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for a free advanced listenerās copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book in the end. I was originally scared this would fall into the failures of most written slashers Iāve read before, which tend to rely too heavily on the physicality of the slasher genre. Though this book plays with the shasher tropes I think it navigates our main characterās mind in such a way that lends itself to suspense and it really kept me engaged. I loved the underlying conversation around the consumption of true crime media and how it painted all of Templeās interactions with her peers. Her distrust and jaded outlook was a great tool for the narrative to keep you guessing. I genuinely felt frustration and anger on her behalf, separate from the plot of the book and Templeās own temper was something that made her feel really complex, you could tell she was just a girl putting up a wall to keep herself safe even as she firmly roots herself as an outsider (which can read a bit ānot like other girlsā but the way Sami Ellis deals with Templeās anger does a good enough job offsetting it for me.)
Even though I thought the tension of the narrative overall was really enjoyable I do feel like some of the character interactions in the beginning felt weak and rushed which kind of affected the way I felt towards the middle and end when consequences started happening. I could have been more attached to some of these characters over all and it would have felt more weighty when you see choices being made towards the climax. This was definitely a plot-driven story which may not check boxes for people looking for a lot of heavy lifting from the characters.
If you liked the survival aspects of Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly DeVos and the vibes of 80/90s slashers with a twist, Iād definitely recommend Dead Girls Walking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Blood and Fire/Fire injury
jennifermreads's review
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. Iām not even sure Iād call it āleast favoriteā as I would āleast read.ā Iām 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 āMeh.ā I wasnāt scared out of my skin. I wasnāt creeped out to the point of looking under my bed, peeking in my closet, and making sure all the doors and windows were locked. Iām not sure āenjoyedā is the correct word to describe what I experienced with Templeās 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 Iāve made in people and it has served as a reminder that there is often more to a personās 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 āset out to write a Friday the 13th tribute, but this time all about Black girls.ā The author has filled a void. And, my readerās advisory senses are tingling: anyone who has read Tiffany D. Jackson and screamed āMORE!ā 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.booksbeyondthebinary's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Blood
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
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 donāt 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 wasā¦ well, that doesnāt 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 abuseš
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 Templeās 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 wasā¦ well, that doesnāt 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 abuseš
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 Templeās 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
jazzyjbox's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a wild ride!
Temple is the daughter of a serial killer, and she goes back to the farm where she grew up which is now a horror camp for queer, Black girls. Temple isn't there for camp; she's trying to find answers about her mom who disappeared 5 years ago.
This is such an intense story! Temple isn't very likable, but she grew up that way. The twist was an interesting take, and there were small bits of humor throughout. My only big complaint is how many characters there were, which made it hard to keep track of who was who for the first half. Horror is by far not my primary genre, but I really enjoyed this.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
Temple is the daughter of a serial killer, and she goes back to the farm where she grew up which is now a horror camp for queer, Black girls. Temple isn't there for camp; she's trying to find answers about her mom who disappeared 5 years ago.
This is such an intense story! Temple isn't very likable, but she grew up that way. The twist was an interesting take, and there were small bits of humor throughout. My only big complaint is how many characters there were, which made it hard to keep track of who was who for the first half. Horror is by far not my primary genre, but I really enjoyed this.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder