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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
This was a classic thriller that read like a teen slasher. The kills were fun and I enjoyed the chapters from those POVs. I do think the overall plot was a bit mediocre and the twist at the end felt out of place. A fun read, but not one I will remember.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for access to this eARC. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC.
Breathe In, Bleed Out is a slasher set at a spiritual retreat. Say less. This is my first Brian McAuley and it won't be my last.
I adored this book, but I knew that would be true as soon as I saw the cover ("Don't judge a book by its cover" be damned)! Every time I started to feel like I knew what was going on, there was a twist that had me reworking previous events and conversations and saying, "Why didn't I pick up on that before?" I ate this book up. The investment is high, the stakes are higher, and the twists and turns captivate the reader the entire way through. There are a lot of threads to follow but they're interwoven well enough that the reader can reasonably keep track of them all at once. Truthfully, it added to the experience when I lost track of one and was surprised later.
The pacing is perfect - medium, with a good balance of action and conversation. The slasher scenes were brutal (love) and our attachment to the complex, fleshed-out characters made the violence all the more gruesome. The drive to know what's happening and how everything ties together is powerful here, and the ending is deeply satisfying.
Loyal observers of Summerween and those craving the nostalgia of slasher novels from the 80s and 90s will loveee this book. Quite literally, slay. Bonus points for releasing on my birthday!!
Breathe In, Bleed Out is a slasher set at a spiritual retreat. Say less. This is my first Brian McAuley and it won't be my last.
I adored this book, but I knew that would be true as soon as I saw the cover ("Don't judge a book by its cover" be damned)! Every time I started to feel like I knew what was going on, there was a twist that had me reworking previous events and conversations and saying, "Why didn't I pick up on that before?" I ate this book up. The investment is high, the stakes are higher, and the twists and turns captivate the reader the entire way through. There are a lot of threads to follow but they're interwoven well enough that the reader can reasonably keep track of them all at once. Truthfully, it added to the experience when I lost track of one and was surprised later.
The pacing is perfect - medium, with a good balance of action and conversation. The slasher scenes were brutal (love) and our attachment to the complex, fleshed-out characters made the violence all the more gruesome. The drive to know what's happening and how everything ties together is powerful here, and the ending is deeply satisfying.
Loyal observers of Summerween and those craving the nostalgia of slasher novels from the 80s and 90s will loveee this book. Quite literally, slay. Bonus points for releasing on my birthday!!
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley for a free ARC of this book. Wow if you are looking for a good slasher book this is the one for you. This one was a wild and crazy ride. The author definitely did his research with slashers. This one had me guessing till the end. The main character Hannah has recently had a tragedy in her life when something very bad happens to her fiancée while they are out hiking. Then she is messing up at work while working at a hospital, so she is given a leave of absence. So then one of her friends suggest that she go on a retreat with her friends to clear her mind. At first everything seems like a normal retreat, but then her friends start disappearing. Thats when the craziness begins. Overall, a good storyline for me. Was definitely a page turner. Check it out Breathe In Bleed Out.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Full review to come!!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everything you could want in a slasher book! It read as if a movie was playing in my head. I loved everything about this book. The characters were relatable (mostly). Exactly the kind of characters you would expect in a slasher. I loved the idea of a wellness retreat gone wrong. These events are definitely not what one would expect to happen on a weekend meant for unwinding and “transcending”. Throw in some creepy folklore and it’s the perfect recipe!
My favorite things about Breathe In, Bleed Out were the two most important elements in any slasher (in my opinion): the killings and misdirection. The killings were tastefully written with just the right amount of gore. And just when you think you know who the killer is, you find out you’re wrong!
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Horror/Slasher fans listen up!!! This was excellent! @brianmcwriter transcended this story to the next level, and it was bloody and gory and all the good things trauma is made of!! I love the inclusion of the retreat and all the puns relating to it! The characters were decidedly shady and flawed, which made the who dunnit a bit tricky to figure out. This was fast-paced, keep you on the edge of your seat action, and I loved it! I would highly recommend it was such an easy read chapters just flowed into each other - I love his writing style and will be back for more!
Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Breathe In, Bleed Out felt like actively reading a slasher movie on par with films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and My Bloody Valentine.
Hannah is an absolute wreck after being the lone survivor of a proposal gone wrong in the mountains. Herr mind, her job, and her friendships are falling apart. So why not go on an all expenses paid spiritual retreat in the desert to mend those broken friendships and maybe get over you trauma in the process, mind you the retreat is most definitely giving off "this is a cult" vibes.
Breathe In, Bleed Out was a bloody slasher romp with all the good and bad trope of the genre. There were those moments where you know the main character shouldn't leave their friend behind or check out that mysterious sound and yet they always do - while cliche, it's still fun if you know that's exactly what you're getting into. It was perfect quick and fun Summerween read.
I’ve been eyeing this book for quite some time because of the cover, so when it became available for Camp NetGalley I snatched the opportunity to give it a read.
The first chapter in itself is wild, setting you up for the ride you’re about to take when you dive in.
Hannah is experiencing hallucinations and nightmares of her dead boyfriend Ben, who died a traumatic death in the wilderness, that are causing her to spiral. When her best friend signs their friend group up for a healing retreat isolated in the desert, Hannah thinks it might be a good idea to help move on from the past that’s haunting her.
Not long after they arrive, things quickly go south as the friends are picked off one by one. When you find out who the killer is your mind will be blown.
I normally don’t enjoy slasher books as much because I feel like they don’t build up enough suspense, however, Brian McAuley delivered! The gore was excellent. I definitely got goosebumps while reading. Could not put it down. Breathe In, Bleed Out is a BLOODY good time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC opportunity. This is an honest and voluntary review.