A review by brooketreads
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This review makes me so sad. This was a highly anticipated read. When it became available to me early on Libby, I dropped everything to read this. I was absolutely expecting to love it. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews. I also loved Cinderella is Dead. I just didn’t love this, and quite honestly didn’t end up even liking it in the end. I was loving it at first.

I like the idea of a slasher simulation game, horror larping if you will. I enjoyed having the perspective of our MC Charity - the head “camp councilor” and “final girl.” Some of it felt very routine/checklist type of internal dialogue which I didn’t mind too much. 

My issues:
-The pacing felt off. At times it felt slow. Then, all of the sudden it’s in fast forward.
-The characters, including Charity, felt very flat. What little we learn is just told to us rather than shown to us. I felt no connection to anyone except a slight connection to Charity and Kyle 😒.
-I didn’t feel any chemistry between Charity and her girlfriend.
-I saw most of the twists/ surprises coming.
-The villains weren’t villaining for me. I wasn’t scared, because it all felt either rushed or out of left field. There was a line
about “I’ll soak the ground with the blood of a thousand camp councilors”- which had me truly rolling my eyes. Like you forgot to add “mwahahahahah.”

-The epilogue made me so annoyed.
Firstly, Kyle are you dumb. Secondly, I found Bezi slightly insufferable
Expand filter menu Content Warnings