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A review by naisdayz
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
4.5
You're not supposed to die tonight was an experimental read for me. Usually I'm not into horror (I'm a scaredy cat), but I've already read another book - Cinderella is dead - by the author, which I enjoyed, and this is relatively short so I figured why not.
A bunch of kids run a horror simulation camp somewhere out in the woods. You pay, and they make you feel like a serial killer is chasing you, which is fun and games, until it's not anymore. The crew gets ready to pack up and leave, ending the season early, but the killer is here and ready to slay.
In the beginning, there is some obvious foreshadowing to what's going to happen (the mysterious 'splashes in the lake' (especially after we get the story of the original killer(s) at Camp Mirror Lake) or when the staff kept disappearing ) that somehow all characters seem to overlook. Maybe this is one of those things where I, as the reader, have the clear advantage of knowing I'm reading a slasher, but it did bother me a little. Like, come on! Something is clearly wrong!
Anyhow, I really enjoyed how tense and twisty the novel got once it picked up. I read this in two sittings (way past my bedtime) and just couldn't put it down. The characters were all pretty likeable. I did wish that Bezi and Charity's relationship was more fleshed out, though that might just be my own greed because they were super cute.
Most of the plot twists I did not see coming. I think my jaw dropped more than once while reading.
The ending still left me a little stunned.I wasn't sure whether Charity coming back from the dead was a hallucination or a supernatural element added to the story? Anyway, I was still really glad Bezi got her revenge on Kyle. That fucker deserves to burn in hell.
I definitely slept with one eye open after finishing this. If you're looking for a quick but dark horror, that's not too gory (though not gore-free) and keeps you on your toes, I would definitely recommend this!
A bunch of kids run a horror simulation camp somewhere out in the woods. You pay, and they make you feel like a serial killer is chasing you, which is fun and games, until it's not anymore. The crew gets ready to pack up and leave, ending the season early, but the killer is here and ready to slay.
In the beginning, there is some obvious foreshadowing to what's going to happen (
Anyhow, I really enjoyed how tense and twisty the novel got once it picked up. I read this in two sittings (way past my bedtime) and just couldn't put it down. The characters were all pretty likeable. I did wish that Bezi and Charity's relationship was more fleshed out, though that might just be my own greed because they were super cute.
Most of the plot twists I did not see coming. I think my jaw dropped more than once while reading.
The ending still left me a little stunned.
I definitely slept with one eye open after finishing this. If you're looking for a quick but dark horror, that's not too gory (though not gore-free) and keeps you on your toes, I would definitely recommend this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, and Blood