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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Five star horror ride with pop culture sprinkled in to get you in to understanding the characters/ situations more. This book is extremely well written. The death scenes were amazing. No spoiler but, the one that happens at the end of Chapter 21 was so apropos. I was so convinced I knew where the book was headed as far as who the killer was and I was so wrong! Which shows you even more the strength of the writers talent. #CampNetGalley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars! A funny, fast-paced slasher that feels perfect for the summertime. For whatever reason, I am not a huge slasher movie girl, but I eat them up in book form. I'm so glad that this delivered on everything I hoped it would be. I will definitely be checking out Brian McAuley's previous works and anything else he writes in the future.
One of my favorite things about this was the funny, tongue-in-cheek writing style. I don't often describe the books the books I read as funny, but I found myself smiling to myself at things the (unlikeable, caricature-like) characters would say to each other or the at the way a death scene would be written. This reminded me a lot of The Last Word by Taylor Adams and Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson in that way, two of my all-time favorite thrillers.
The author's note at the end is what really solidified this book as a 4.5 (rather than a 4) for me. It was really neat to learn about McAuley's long history with horror movies and the ways he included (and adapted) hallmarks of the genre in this work. A definite recommend from me.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
One of my favorite things about this was the funny, tongue-in-cheek writing style. I don't often describe the books the books I read as funny, but I found myself smiling to myself at things the (unlikeable, caricature-like) characters would say to each other or the at the way a death scene would be written. This reminded me a lot of The Last Word by Taylor Adams and Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson in that way, two of my all-time favorite thrillers.
The author's note at the end is what really solidified this book as a 4.5 (rather than a 4) for me. It was really neat to learn about McAuley's long history with horror movies and the ways he included (and adapted) hallmarks of the genre in this work. A definite recommend from me.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Breathe In, Bleed Out is a laugh-out-loud funny slasher set at an exclusive spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree. This is the perfect summer slasher with a fantastic mix of humor, gore, and obvious love of the genre. I went into this thinking it would be a good time but I had no idea just how much fun I was going to have!
Our FMC, Hannah, is suffering from the traumatic loss of her fiance. In hopes of healing, she joins her friends for a weekend retreat in Joshua Tree and, admist yoga sessions, sound baths, and hallucinogenic trips, emotions run high, reality blurs, and not everyone is going to make it out alive.
Like most slasher stories, the cast of characters run the gambit of lovable and insufferable (often the same character, at the same time). Experiencing most of the book from Hannah's perspective, the reader is along for the ride and equally uncertain what is real and what is a trauma response. I normally don't like first person point of view, but it really worked for me here- but what made the narrative even better was the shift to third person for the kill chapters!
The kills were quick and visceral and so easy to imagine! They were simultaneously gory and funny just like a good kill scene in a slasher movie (and this book could so easily be adapted into a film). They were honestly my favorite parts to read, but ESPECIALLY the first kill. Almost the entire chapter is highlighted on my kindle because it was just so hysterical.
I also felt like the book honestly handles both the PTSD/mental illness aspect and the spiritual practices/cultural appropriation aspects really respectfully and while they're obviously aspects of the plot, it never feels derisive.
This is a great read and I highly recommend everyone picks it up when it comes out- it will be the perfect transition from summer into spooky season!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC- all thoughts my own!
Our FMC, Hannah, is suffering from the traumatic loss of her fiance. In hopes of healing, she joins her friends for a weekend retreat in Joshua Tree and, admist yoga sessions, sound baths, and hallucinogenic trips, emotions run high, reality blurs, and not everyone is going to make it out alive.
Like most slasher stories, the cast of characters run the gambit of lovable and insufferable (often the same character, at the same time). Experiencing most of the book from Hannah's perspective, the reader is along for the ride and equally uncertain what is real and what is a trauma response. I normally don't like first person point of view, but it really worked for me here- but what made the narrative even better was the shift to third person for the kill chapters!
The kills were quick and visceral and so easy to imagine! They were simultaneously gory and funny just like a good kill scene in a slasher movie (and this book could so easily be adapted into a film). They were honestly my favorite parts to read, but ESPECIALLY the first kill. Almost the entire chapter is highlighted on my kindle because it was just so hysterical.
I also felt like the book honestly handles both the PTSD/mental illness aspect and the spiritual practices/cultural appropriation aspects really respectfully and while they're obviously aspects of the plot, it never feels derisive.
This is a great read and I highly recommend everyone picks it up when it comes out- it will be the perfect transition from summer into spooky season!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC- all thoughts my own!
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
This one is for the slasher fans. It has everything:
✅️ Lots of fun kills
✅️ Re-directs
✅️ Unreliable narrator
✅️ Strong female friendships
This is a great horror book for those who aren't squeamish and would be good for book clubs as there would be great discussions around grief and mental health.
I received a NetGalley ARC.
✅️ Lots of fun kills
✅️ Re-directs
✅️ Unreliable narrator
✅️ Strong female friendships
This is a great horror book for those who aren't squeamish and would be good for book clubs as there would be great discussions around grief and mental health.
I received a NetGalley ARC.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set aside some free time for this book - you won’t want to put it down! I started reading on a weekday evening and I was furious to have to go to sleep that night so I could be up for work the next day.
I loved the idea of a slasher story set at an invitation-only wellness retreat in the desert.
I also really liked the mythology behind the suspected killer, and the creative kills that made use of the setting.
Hannah was a complicated and messy protagonist, which made me question whether things were really as they seemed. There were plenty of red herrings along the way, and I was definitely wrong about who the killer was…and their motivations.
This book was fast-paced, with not a boring moment.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so easy to speed through in one sitting, I could not put it down. Breathe in, Bleed Out is such a successful story written like a good classic slasher film. A group of friends go to a retreat in the middle of the desert and are completely isolated when odd things start happening. The build up is perfect and of course there are twists and turns along the way. I’m not always the biggest horror fan but I absolutely loved this as it was the perfect amount of vintage horror vibes and a fun plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder
Moderate: Drug use
This was so much fun! I don't read slasher books as often because I absolutely love slasher films, and books just never seem to add the same level of suspense, but Breathe in, Bleed Out brought everything I'd want in a slasher/thriller. It really feels like I was watching a movie instead of just reading, and after reading the author's bio, that makes sense. There is a great setting established and it follows the rules you'd expect in typical slashers, while also surpassing the limit.
This starts out immediately with action, and leaves us with a question, so suspense is already created. Each chapter felt like it had an approximate length and the pacing felt consistent throughout.
But hey now, as a Marine veteran, I'm offended by the portrayal of the Marine dude in the book, haha. We're not all like that!
This was so enjoyable that I never felt like I wanted to try and guess who was the murderer, I just wanted to be there along for the ride. This weirdly makes me want to go on a retreat.
This starts out immediately with action, and leaves us with a question, so suspense is already created. Each chapter felt like it had an approximate length and the pacing felt consistent throughout.
But hey now, as a Marine veteran, I'm offended by the portrayal of the Marine dude in the book, haha. We're not all like that!
This was so enjoyable that I never felt like I wanted to try and guess who was the murderer, I just wanted to be there along for the ride. This weirdly makes me want to go on a retreat.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If the topic of scammy retreats, bad Ayahuasca trips, or my bloody Valentine interests you- this book is for you!
I'll be upfront and say the book almost lost me in the first 30% before they make it to the retreat, the characters didn't speak to me and seemed to fall into stereotypes that were hard to love. Once they got to the retreat, it wasn't hard to be pulled back in. The kills are thrilling, and the main characters trifles with friends were not annoying but welcomed in the story. I enjoyed the final girl(s) ending, and the twist upon twist ending.
This is an arc review! Thank you for NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy.
I'll be upfront and say the book almost lost me in the first 30% before they make it to the retreat, the characters didn't speak to me and seemed to fall into stereotypes that were hard to love. Once they got to the retreat, it wasn't hard to be pulled back in. The kills are thrilling, and the main characters trifles with friends were not annoying but welcomed in the story. I enjoyed the final girl(s) ending, and the twist upon twist ending.
This is an arc review! Thank you for NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
You know when you're watching a horror movie, particularly a slasher, and you're screaming at the main character during a tense moment for doing something dumb but at the same time you can't take your eyes away from the screen? That's this book. It captures the feeling of a slasher so much better than most other slasher books out there, and I literally could not put it down. I feel as though horror/slasher books tend to stray away from that since we're more in their heads than we are in movies, so when I get the movie feel from a book it really means something to me. After reading the author's note I can really see all the influences and passion behind this as well.
You know when you're watching a horror movie, particularly a slasher, and you're screaming at the main character during a tense moment for doing something dumb but at the same time you can't take your eyes away from the screen? That's this book. It captures the feeling of a slasher so much better than most other slasher books out there, and I literally could not put it down. I feel as though horror/slasher books tend to stray away from that since we're more in their heads than we are in movies, so when I get the movie feel from a book it really means something to me. After reading the author's note I can really see all the influences and passion behind this as well.
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced