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anaisareads2day 's review for:

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley
4.0
adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my first arc!
Breathe In, Bleed Out was the perfect slasher to kick off my summerween reading, and I’m even more excited for its official release this fall. Brian McAuley delivers a bloody homage to classic camp slasher films, with a modern twist that makes it feel fresh. It’s fast-paced, full of tension, and I can honestly say I had no idea whodunnit.

What sets this apart is how it blends traditional thriller and horror tropes with commentary on influencer culture, tech giants, and the exploitation of wellness retreats. It also isn’t afraid to explore the toxicity of certain long dead friendships that just refuse to end. 

That being said, I was a bit underwhelmed by the reveal about what really happened to Ben. But where the mystery slightly faltered, the character dynamics picked up the slack. The tension and fractured trust among the group kept me hooked. I also loved seeing Hannah step up and take control.

Brian McAuley is definitely on my watch list now. I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever comes next.