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susukhair 's review for:
Breathe In, Bleed Out
by Brian McAuley
ARC Received: a NetGalley - Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Breathe In, Bleed Out is what happens when your healing retreat turns into a slasher film, and you didn’t pack running shoes.
Brian McAuley blends horror with wellness culture in a way that feels fresh, unhinged, and way too real. Between the hot springs, sound baths, and suspiciously serene guru, I was never sure if we were heading toward a breakthrough or a breakdown, and that’s the fun of it.
Hannah is a haunted, unreliable narrator in all the best ways. You’re never sure what’s real, who to trust, or when the blood will start spilling, but when it does? It goes there. The desert setting is eerie and isolating, and the creeping dread builds until it bursts.
Why not 5 stars? A few reveals felt a tiny bit rushed, and some of the supporting characters didn’t hit as hard as they could’ve, but that didn’t stop me from flying through this one.
If you like:
☀️ Midsommar vibes
🔪 Slasher horror with heart
🧘♀️ Trauma, grief, and guru-level manipulation
…this one should be on your list.
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Breathe In, Bleed Out is what happens when your healing retreat turns into a slasher film, and you didn’t pack running shoes.
Brian McAuley blends horror with wellness culture in a way that feels fresh, unhinged, and way too real. Between the hot springs, sound baths, and suspiciously serene guru, I was never sure if we were heading toward a breakthrough or a breakdown, and that’s the fun of it.
Hannah is a haunted, unreliable narrator in all the best ways. You’re never sure what’s real, who to trust, or when the blood will start spilling, but when it does? It goes there. The desert setting is eerie and isolating, and the creeping dread builds until it bursts.
Why not 5 stars? A few reveals felt a tiny bit rushed, and some of the supporting characters didn’t hit as hard as they could’ve, but that didn’t stop me from flying through this one.
If you like:
☀️ Midsommar vibes
🔪 Slasher horror with heart
🧘♀️ Trauma, grief, and guru-level manipulation
…this one should be on your list.