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larajgriff1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Very fun. Very exciting. There was one moment that freaked me out so much that I had to put the book down and walk away. I would have preferred if the owl society thing wasn't SO out of the blue. Like some hints or "legends" earlier on. . It had some predictable twists, but that's the fun part about horror stories. Also some twists I definitely didn't see coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Animal death
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I can’t believe I waited this long to read this book, but it was the perfect book to transition from Sapphic September into the depths of spooky season! DAMN this was a great read! I was absolutely hooked from the very first page to the last. The chapters are longer than I normally like but the pace is so quick and gripping that I didn’t even notice as I was reading. The twists in this one are TWISTY! I thought I had it all figured out early on but that wasn’t even the half of it. I loved this! I’m not much of a fantasy girlie so I don’t think Bayron’s other books are for me, but I hope she writes more horror because she nailed this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
alysbookclub's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A fun lil YA slasher! I would love to see this as a movie - the premise is original yet nostalgic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
tabookish's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death
themichellegray's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The first third of this story had me absolutely hooked as we followed the BTS of running an immersive game based on a classic horror movie; it was a super interesting perspective on a typical horror cliche.
Sadly, the majority of this book didn't live up to the initial intrigue and went completely off the rails. I understand audiences typically need to suspend their disbelief when it comes to slasher films but this was just a little too over the top.
Even though this book didn't impress me as much as I thought it would initially, I still really enjoyed the descriptive writing that plunged me into a spooky camp setting alongside a lake at the end of summer.
Sadly, the majority of this book didn't live up to the initial intrigue and went completely off the rails. I understand audiences typically need to suspend their disbelief when it comes to slasher films but this was just a little too over the top.
Even though this book didn't impress me as much as I thought it would initially, I still really enjoyed the descriptive writing that plunged me into a spooky camp setting alongside a lake at the end of summer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
mgdmcc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
YNSDT is a fast paced and interesting addition to the horror genre. Following Charity and the haphazard group of teens trying to survive the night, at first for fun and then for survival, this book creates a vivid, visceral story. The characters each have strong voices and overpowering motivations that revive a very specific image of horror many are familiar with from the cult classics horror fans will always go back to. While the end in my opinion works harder to set up a sequel than to give a satisfying conclusion, this is unsurprising in a horror novel inspired by films like Friday the 13th. Overall, it’s easy to fall in love with these characters and enjoy the twists that come. If the Fear Street trilogy and classics like Halloween and Friday the 13th speak to you, this book is a great summer read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
sage_alexandra's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It had me in the first half, but the, motive, didn't work for me. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but I wasn't expecting cult sacrifice. The movie featuring a supernatural killer was a rip off that it wouldn't be your regular neighborhood serial killer. When talk of the Owl Man got brought up, I was expecting some Mothman shit (but, evil, Mothman is a good little dude). I wasn't pleased by the turn of events but oh well. But when it wasn't that, and was just a cult, I was disappointed.
All in all, I appreciated the representation in the book. I read "Cinderella is Dead" a couple of years ago and enjoyed both books. I wish it had gone more into the horror simulation, but I understand that wasn't the focus even though it would've been nice to balance out the future insanity.
I'm glad I clocked Kyle from the beginning. The bodies being discovered under the couch (when they were supposed to have been ambulanced away), and the "I called the police" from Mr. Dumont were both red flags that I wish Charity had seen immediately.
Also, what the fuck was up with the sheriff?? He was just never brought up again? He had to have been in on it, right? I was expecting a cloaked figure reveal.
And the epilogue had me more freaked out than anything else. Girl, you just raised your dead girlfriend from the lake, and you AREN'T OPENING YOUR EYES?!?! As your hear the most unnerving sounds of water dripping from a person, and footsteps??? Like, I know you were expecting it, but aren't you a little concerned that she's going to be a rotting corpse?? I'm imagining some "Haunting of Bly Manor" lady of the lake grabbing your throat shit. My skin was CRAWLING
All in all, I appreciated the representation in the book. I read "Cinderella is Dead" a couple of years ago and enjoyed both books. I wish it had gone more into the horror simulation, but I understand that wasn't the focus
Also, what the fuck was up with the sheriff?? He was just never brought up again? He had to have been in on it, right? I was expecting a cloaked figure reveal.
And the epilogue had me more freaked out than anything else. Girl, you just raised your dead girlfriend from the lake, and you AREN'T OPENING YOUR EYES?!?! As your hear the most unnerving sounds of water dripping from a person, and footsteps??? Like, I know you were expecting it, but aren't you a little concerned that she's going to be a rotting corpse?? I'm imagining some "Haunting of Bly Manor" lady of the lake grabbing your throat shit. My skin was CRAWLING
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
fanni_ambr_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, and Police brutality
juliiitschka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, and Gore
awesome_archaeology's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“I’ve been playing the part of a girl who escapes a serial killer every night for months. It’s not a game this time. The consequences are real, but we still have to play” (p.181).
This book was an amazingly original read and an excellent ode to the final girl trope. The plot twists and turns like a trail through the forest.
This book was an amazingly original read and an excellent ode to the final girl trope. The plot twists and turns like a trail through the forest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Vomit