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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
dark
funny
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:
N/A
I think I found a new author I'll put on auto order with this book ! I definitely put Brian's other books on my TBR.
I have so much fun with this witty, gory, dark and funny slasher story!
First of all, let's be honest, I initially requested this Arc on Netgalley for the cover. I barely read the summary but give me slasher vibes and a hot 80's style horror book cover and I'm all in.
I grew up with movies like black Christmas, Scream, I know what you did last summer or Psycho. This kind of horror is definitely my cup of tea and Brian McAuley's Breathe in, Bleed out lives up to it.
The character development is good, the female characters too (something I always find tricky to root for when written as a main character by a man).
And you definitely has this slasher "campus" vibes. The meetup between old school friends who grew up mostly out of the friendship over the years and do this retreat more for old time sake even if they kind of hate each other (did they really liked each other at some point or as all school friends dynamics, just stick with the first people coming around to fit in the crowd and don't be seen as outsider ?) is part of the horror trip for me đ .
I like how the cultural appropriation is approached here and I thought at first that was it, I got the killer and the main plot line and then it bounced from one possibility to another but still keep everything wrapped up together thighly. I loved that !
It's really solid. Great plot, great development, excellent dynamics between the characters, it's well written, witty and unapologetically gross sometimes.
Anyway, I'm always rooting for unhinge female character in horror, witty and sarcastic, who tries to keep her own head out and ends up doing all the work. I loved Hannah really much and the trio of "final girls" vibes is a good bonus.
I have so much fun with this witty, gory, dark and funny slasher story!
First of all, let's be honest, I initially requested this Arc on Netgalley for the cover. I barely read the summary but give me slasher vibes and a hot 80's style horror book cover and I'm all in.
I grew up with movies like black Christmas, Scream, I know what you did last summer or Psycho. This kind of horror is definitely my cup of tea and Brian McAuley's Breathe in, Bleed out lives up to it.
The character development is good, the female characters too (something I always find tricky to root for when written as a main character by a man).
And you definitely has this slasher "campus" vibes. The meetup between old school friends who grew up mostly out of the friendship over the years and do this retreat more for old time sake even if they kind of hate each other (did they really liked each other at some point or as all school friends dynamics, just stick with the first people coming around to fit in the crowd and don't be seen as outsider ?) is part of the horror trip for me đ .
I like how the cultural appropriation is approached here and I thought at first that was it, I got the killer and the main plot line and then it bounced from one possibility to another but still keep everything wrapped up together thighly. I loved that !
It's really solid. Great plot, great development, excellent dynamics between the characters, it's well written, witty and unapologetically gross sometimes.
Anyway, I'm always rooting for unhinge female character in horror, witty and sarcastic, who tries to keep her own head out and ends up doing all the work. I loved Hannah really much and the trio of "final girls" vibes is a good bonus.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Breathe In, Bleed Out was a refreshing surprise. This book read like a 90s slasher movie with elements of 80s sprinkled in for effect. I found myself experiencing watching Scream for the first time, that whodunit, you think you know but you donât, type of horror thriller. If you take âNew Age+Camp Crystal Lake+Scream+Final Destination Style Action = VIBES OF THIS BOOK!!!!!â I highly recommend this book if you like strong FMC with a little attitude, a few laughs sprinkled throughout and a keep you guessing, whodunit style ending! Picture a gruesome Scooby Doo reveal!
Meet Hannah, late twenties something who just lost her fiancĂ© in a horrible accident while hiking in the wild. Hannah is a med student and is trying to get back on track with her life, minus Ben. She realizes, after a mistake, that she needs to take a break and what better opportunity than a free, new age, healing retreat. A place to unplug and get back to who she is. However, this retreat doesnât end up being healing at all. Bodies start turning up and Hannah must figure out whatâs going on, in order to save herself.
Highly recommend this read and I will be going to check out more of this authorâs books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Meet Hannah, late twenties something who just lost her fiancĂ© in a horrible accident while hiking in the wild. Hannah is a med student and is trying to get back on track with her life, minus Ben. She realizes, after a mistake, that she needs to take a break and what better opportunity than a free, new age, healing retreat. A place to unplug and get back to who she is. However, this retreat doesnât end up being healing at all. Bodies start turning up and Hannah must figure out whatâs going on, in order to save herself.
Highly recommend this read and I will be going to check out more of this authorâs books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
would-be letterboxd review: the perils of cultural appropriation
(thank you poisoned pen press for the arc!!)
(thank you poisoned pen press for the arc!!)
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I didnât think this would be my first Brian McAuley read, but it was and it did not disappoint! It hit every sweet spot that I crave in a slasher horror. The wellness retreat setting was such a fresh idea and each character was perfectly irritating in their own unique way.
It was definitely a page turner. I was able to finish this read in 2.5 days. I would highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for some gory Scooby Doo/Scream/final girl vibes. I wouldnât change a thing about this story; it was fun, cheesy, and a perfect 10 for me.
I didnât think this would be my first Brian McAuley read, but it was and it did not disappoint! It hit every sweet spot that I crave in a slasher horror. The wellness retreat setting was such a fresh idea and each character was perfectly irritating in their own unique way.
It was definitely a page turner. I was able to finish this read in 2.5 days. I would highly recommend it to anyone that is looking for some gory Scooby Doo/Scream/final girl vibes. I wouldnât change a thing about this story; it was fun, cheesy, and a perfect 10 for me.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
I was so excited to receive an early copy of Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley, out 02/09/25. I was hooked from the first page. The retreat was an excellent setting for the story and every character added something different. A great read which did not disappoint; I also loved the talking coyote reference đ
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I can always count on Brian McAuley to give me nostalgic horror vibes in his books. Breathe In, Bleed Out was no different. I had such a fun time with this one. It felt like I was reading a 80s horror film. I loved all the characters. They fit their roles so perfectly. Brian knows how to write a bloody kill scene so well. The deaths in this book were insane and filled with gore in the best way possible. The killer let me down a tiny bit in the end but overall I really enjoyed this book. If you love slashers you should definitely check this one out.
4/5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
4/5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I devoured this book in two days and Iâve been thinking about it since then. It was fun, chaotic, wild, and gory. All the best qualities of a good slasher. I loved it so much and I canât wait for it to hit the shelves so I can recommend it to everyone.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated