Review: Six Must Die by Victoria Wlosok

Author: Victoria Wlosok
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2026

Twelve months ago, an escape room fire took everything from Steffi Zamekova. In just one hour, she lost it all: her popular blog, her close-knit inner circle, and her memories of the night that killed one of the group’s own… the charismatic (if infuriating) Matt Cesari.

On the anniversary of the bewildering tragedy, Steffi is still desperate to piece together what went wrong. So when she receives an ominous invitation in the mail summoning her to the new escape room across town, she seizes the chance for answers.

Reunited with her former friends, Steffi sees the game as a last chance to uncover the truth behind Matt’s death. But it’s soon clear that each participant has their own cagey reasons for accepting the challenge. And as tensions rise and the players are picked off one by one, it’s a race against the clock for Steffi to uncover their secrets and unlock her own memories before the game’s mastermind ensures that no one escapes the room alive.

 Six Must Die is a book that is right up my alley.  I love escape room/ closed room mystery type books.  This one takes place a year after the a fire took a one Steffi's best friends.  Now she and the survivors have all been invited to try a new escape room. Despite their reservations, Steffi and the group agree to try it out.

 I really enjoyed this one.  I liked that no one was safe. The deaths were the right amount of gore for a b-grade horror movie, if this was a movie.  The puzzles were fun and I made really invested in the story.  I liked all of the characters, especially Steffi.  There were a few twists that kept my interest.  One of them I did call, but it didn't ruin the story for me.  One thing that I also really appreciated was the ending.  I love when it's wrapped up nicely and as a reader closure for the characters is always appreciated.  I highly recommend this one.

Review: They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours

Author: Channelle Desamours
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: February 2026

Every year horror-loving Simone Washington throws an epic Halloween party for her classmates. Party-planning is her favorite escape from the dark secrets in her past, and this year, she’s taking things up a notch with an invitation-only event to celebrate her eighteenth birthday—something that will leave the halls of Pinegrove Academy flooded with gossip about the big ghoulish bash. The overnight stay at Doll’s Head Lake will be filled with spooky pranks and scary stories told by the fire—including the legend of a local witch named Regret.

But those dark secrets from Simone’s past are forced to the surface at the party when her best friend Kira dies under questionable circumstances. The witch appears and offers Simone a deal: if Simone can figure out how to release Regret from the curse trapping her at the lake within fourteen days, all of Simone’s regrets will be erased. If Simone accepts, Kira’s life will be immediately restored. But if she fails, Kira will die again—and Simone will be the one to kill her.

They Call Her Regret is a book I probably should have just DNF'd  but I didn't really have anything else to listen to at the time, so I just finished it.  I really did not like any of the characters.  Even Simone, the main character.  How any of these people were friends is a mystery.  The premise seemed promising, but the pace was slow and I got to the point that I didn't care if Simone figured it all out or not. There was one twist in the end that I did like, but it wasn't enough to redeem the book for me.  I seem to be in the minority when it comes to this book, so maybe give it a try.

Review: The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: April 2023

 Claire’s grown up triple-checking locks. Counting her steps. Second-guessing every decision. It’s just how she’s wired – her worst-case scenarios never actually come true.

Until she arrives at an off-the-grid summer camp to find a blackened, burned husk instead of a lodge – and no survivors, except her and two other late arrivals: Reyva and Mariana.

When the three girls find a dead body in the woods, they realize none of this is an accident. Someone, something, is hunting them. Something that hides in the shadows. Something that refuses to let them leave.

I was hoping for a good start to 2026 in terms of reading  But sadly, The Lake House did not deliver.  The premise of the book was great. 3 teens dropped off at an off-grid summer camp.  Each one hoping for a great summer and a new start.  But they instead find a burned building and a dead body. 

My main issue with the book was that it was boring.  It was way too slow. UNtilt he end I never felt an urgency of danger.  There was too much introspection from Claire that really added nothing to the story.  I get it, she is super cautious and not brave.  How do I know? Because she keeps telling me.  Except when she, of course, proves that she can be super brave. I honestly got tired of being in her head. 

 I am going to get a bit spoilery, but one of the reveals was really dumb.  They find out they are on an island after walking the shoreline for a day and ending back up in the same place.  I was confused. I thought that was implied from the beginning of the book. If I knew, why didn't they?  After that I kind of checked out of the story.  The ending was fine.  But nothing earth shattering.

Review: The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis

Author: Kat Ellis
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: October 2025

Clown in a Cornfield meets The Cabin in this twisty, blood-curdling delight from acclaimed author Kat Ellis about a group of rivals stranded in an abandoned house that seems to have its own plans for them.

When Haden Romero and her rival, Deacon Rex—alongside their bands, including Haden’s ex, Cairo—are stranded on their way to a rock festival, she thinks missing the gig is the worst thing that could happen.

She’s wrong.

Marooned in treacherous swamplands with no way out, the group stumbles upon an eerie, decaying house. It seems like a safe haven, a place to wait out the storm.

The house, however, isn’t just abandoned—it’s been waiting for them.

Bodies begin to pile up. The walls start to close in. Twisted secrets come to light. And unless Haden and the others can survive long enough to escape, the house will claim them—forever.

True horror in the most fun sense of the word, The Devouring Light will have readers on the edge of their seats, bracing themselves for jump scares, flinching with every plot twist, and—most importantly—reading with the lights on.

I have read 2 other books by this author.  One I gave 4 stars and the other 2. The Devouring Light sadly sits right in the middle at a 3 star.  It wasn't awful but it wasn't fantastic.  I also have a hard time finding any comparison between Clown in a Cornfield or The Cabin.  There were also no real jump scares or blood curdling delight as the synopsis above claims.  

I did like the beginning. The story started out strong and I was intrigued once they got to the house. It was creepy being in the swamp and the house seemed ominous and not a place I would want to be. However,  I didn't really like any of the characters. None of them were particularly interesting. In a word, I was kind of bored once they got to the house.  The ending was exactly what I expected and was predictable.  I would have loved the ending had it gone a different way. Overall, I was underwhelmed but this.  

Review: We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall

Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 2025

Two years ago Mercy Gray was hailed as a hero for saving lives during a mall shooting. She still carries souvenirs from that incident: the fragment of a bullet lodged in her back, a mountain of medical debt, and guilt for ignoring her sister’s warnings that the sweet boy next door was anything but.

When billionaire-turned-TV-host Damien Dare recruits Mercy to compete on his new survivalist reality show, she can’t turn down a chance at the whopping cash prize that could send her sister to college—but when she and the other contestants arrive at the off-grid location, something isn’t right. The set is empty. The gates close without warning, trapping them inside. Then one of them turns up dead. What appeared at first to be a tragic accident quickly transforms as more contestants start dying. With time and resources running low, surviving this show takes on a new meaning.

This author has always been a hit or miss for me.  Unfortunately, this one was a miss.  The premise for We Won't All Survive seems like a thrilling time.  Mercy Grey is invited by an influencer to join in a survivor type competition.  The prize money is something she can't pass up.  When she arrives at the abandoned town, it's clear something is not right.

I wasn't thrilled with this book.  The characters were forgettable and kind of boring. It was hard to keep them all straight.  Since the entire book is told through Mercy's perspective, it was hard to get to know them and frankly care about any of them. There is a lot of foreshadowing in the book as to one of the reveals. I think I actually rolled my eyes when it was revealed. There was also a reveal in the last part of the book that seemed to just be there for diversity check mark and really added nothing to the overall story.  I'm still not quite sure what the motivation was for the bad guy.  If you are a fan of this author, try it out.  It just wasn't for me.

Review: One House Left by Vincent Ralph

Author: Vincent Ralph
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: August 2024

“Ready or not. Whatever you do. The Hiding Boy is coming for you.”

Sixteen-year-old Nate Campbell grew up in the shadow of Murder Road – a street cursed by the vengeful spirit of the Hiding Boy.

Every few years, for nearly six decades, a different house on that street has been the scene of a tragedy.

Nate and his family move to a new town as they try to outrun the curse once and for all. But, when he is pulled into his new friends’ urban legend club, new ghost stories merge with old until there is nowhere left to run. 

I have not been having luck with YA mystery lately.  One House Left was definitely a book that I should have loved.  Sadly, I didn't. I probably should have DNF'd it.  But I wanted to know what was going on.  In a nutshell the writing and pacing was very uneven.  The first half was so slow.  Then there is a big twist about halfway through and I will admit, I was very confused as to what was happening.  I mean I was caught off guard, so there is that I guess.  The issue was that I had no idea what the twist meant until toward the very end.  Once it all was explained, I thought it was a clever twist.  However, the ending ended up being predictable and cliche.  So, it ended up being so-so for me. Maybe you'll like it more.

Review: How to Survive a Horror Movie by Scarlett Dunmore

Author: Scarlett Dunmore
Publisher: Little Tiger Press Group
Publication Date: September 2024

 Horror movie enthusiast Charley is determined to keep a low profile when she's enrolled to a girls' boarding school on a remote island. That is, until someone starts killing off her senior class! From elaborate scare tactics to severed heads in fridges, Charley has found herself at the centre of a teen horror movie. And that's not the only alarming thing that's happening - she's now seeing the ghosts of her former classmates!? Haunted by her peers, and with everyone beginning to suspect her, Charley decides to do something about it. She and her only best friend Olive are going to solve the murders and find out who's killing off the class before graduation. Charley just needs those pesky ghosts to shut up and give her a hand...

How to Survive a Horror Movie features Charley, a senior at a remote boarding school who is just trying to make a fresh start and stay in the background.  When her classmates begin dying, she sets out with her roommate Olivia to find the killer before it's too late.

I didn't love this one, but I didn't hate it.  Charley is actually a fairly likable character. I kind of felt bad for her because she was really just trying to start over, yet she kept finding dead bodies. Which only brought more attention to her. Still it was predicable and if you pay attention to the book you will be able to call the killer pretty easily.  I also think that it would have been better without the ghosts.  Having it be more of a true teen slasher without the paranormal aspect, would have made me enjoy it more.  The ghosts really took me out of the creepy atmosphere especially since they were kind of comical.  Still it's a quick read and worth giving a shot.

Review: How to Survive a Slasher By Justine Pucella Winans

Author: Justine Pucella Winans

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Publication Date: March 2025

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight meets Scream in this YA slasher that turns classic horror tropes on their heads.

There’s a reason CJ Smith’s hometown of Satterville is known as Slasherville: it was the site of not one, but two Friday the 13th-style massacres. CJ’s dad survived the first attack; only CJ survived the second. And thanks to the mysterious writer Moon Satter’s bestselling novels based on the events, the town—and CJ—will always be defined by this horrific past.

Then a new, unpublished Moon Satter manuscript shows up addressed to CJ. But unlike the others, this story isn’t about the past. Instead, it predicts new murders. On the day the book says the first murder will occur, CJ sets out to stop it. But in saving one classmate, the final girl ends up dead. CJ and their friends have suddenly gone from extras to leads—and they’ll have to use everything they know about the rules of horror to make it out alive.

How to Survive a Slasher was a fun and unique take on the slasher genre.  Its one that doesn't take itself very seriously.   CJ has grown up knowing the rules of how to survive a massacre.  Her family has close ties to 2 massacres in the past.  The whole family trains constantly, just in case.  When she gets a mysterious manuscript, the murders on the pages start to come true.  CJ must recruit her friends to help her survive and be the final girl.

I definitely enjoyed this take on the slasher genre.  It was the right balance of creepy, cheesy and gory fun.  It was exactly what I want in a YA horror novel.  I could see this as a movie. The characters were interesting and I found myself invested in them.  CJ was a great final girl as she was strong and not a "Mary Sue".  She worked for her survival skills.   The kill scenes were unique.  I was definitely kept guessing.  There was one twist I guessed, but the rest was a surprise.  If you are looking for some good gory teen slasher fun, I definitely recommend this one.

Review: Deadstream by Mar Romasco-Moore

Author: Mar Romasco-Moore
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date: April 2025

Rear Window meets The Ring in this sinister YA thriller, in which a teen girl witnesses the livestreamed murder of a popular online streamer by a paranormal entity . . . and could be its next victim.

After surviving a car accident that claimed the life of her best friend, Teresa is now terrified to leave the safety of her bedroom. Since then, her only solace and window to the outside world has been the online community she found through streaming.

But one night, the safe world Teresa created starts to break down. A shadowy figure appears in the background of her favorite's streamer's video, and his behavior mysteriously changes over the next few days before he dies in front of thousands of viewers. Teresa finds herself at the center of a life-and-death investigation as the world tries to figure out what or who this figure could be . . . especially as it begins appearing in the other people's streams, compelling them to "open the door" and let it in—including Teresa’s own. In order to save herself and the rest of the internet from this relentless entity, Teresa must venture outside of the mental and physical walls she’s created. But will she be able to conquer her fears before anyone else loses their life?

I am a sucker for those cheesy horror movies  that involve ghosts and technology.  Because of that I had high hopes for Deadstream.  Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.  In the book, Teresa was in a bad accident that took the life of her best friend. She now won't leave the comforts of her bedroom.  Her view to the world comes through her computer.  When a popular streamer seems to be possessed by a ghost, she decides to try to figure out what is going on.

As I said, I had high hopes for this one.  However, I was very underwhelmed by the book.  I listened to the audiobook so that may have played a factor. I'm not sure that the chat and streaming sections translated well to audio. All of the user names got confusing.  Aside from that, the story just wasn't very scary or creepy.  I didn't like any of the characters.  I get that Teresa had PTSD and was kind of agoraphobic, but her sudden ability to put that aside and travel in an uber to another town didn't ring true and was convenient to move the plot along.  Overall the story was slow and disjointed.  Maybe it just wasn't for me.

Review: Two Sides To Every Murder by Danielle Valentine

Author: Danielle Valentine

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: June 2024

Most people’s births aren’t immortalized in a police report—but Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s life looks pretty perfect . . . until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.

Most people don’t spend their formative years on the run with an alleged murderer—but Reagan did. In the court of public opinion, her mom was found guilty of the deaths at Camp Lost Lake, and both of them have been in hiding ever since. But Reagan believes in her mother’s innocence and is determined to clear her name.

Luckily for Olivia and Reagan, Camp Lost Lake is finally reopening, providing the perfect opportunity to find answers. But someone else is dead set on keeping the past hidden, even if it means committing murder. 

Two Sides to Every Murder is a YA slasher novel reminiscent of 80s teen slasher films.   Seventeen years ago, couple of teens were murdered at the local summer camp.  Now the camp is opening up again and Reagan and Olivia each have a chance to find out the truth of what happened that night.

I was really entertained by this book. I've been in a mini reading slump lately, so this was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the mystery and thought the twists were really good.  There is one twist that I called because it is fairly obvious.  The atmosphere of the camp was creepy.  It had all of the elements I love in a good slasher story.  The ending was classic end of horror movie twist and I loved it. The characters were fun as well.  If you are a fan of teen slasher stories, I highly recommend this one.

Review: The Secret of McKinley Mansion by K.F. Breene

Author: K.F. Breene
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: March 2018 (2020 for audiobook)

 It was a dark and stormy night...

It's no easy job being the town nutcase. Ella knows from experience. She's grown up in a quaint little place with people that pretend the extraordinary isn't happening around them. That ignore the bumps in the night, and won't talk about doors closing by themselves or items moving mysteriously.

They also won't talk about the old woman who haunts the streets, long in her grave but for the nights when a particularly bad storm blows through. Those who do are fibbers, begging for attention.

But Ella knows it is no lie - when the lightning cracks and the rain thrashes, someone goes missing. A child, lost to the night. There is no breaking and entering. No foul play. No clue as to where they've gone.

Urban legend says that if the old woman stops in front of your house, you're next.

Well Ella has been next for years. She's resisted the urge to run out into the darkness with everything she has. Resisted that old mansion up on the hill, beckoning her. Resisted giving into people saying she's crazy.

Until a handsome new boy with a troubled past moves across the street. Suddenly Ella isn't the only one haunted by the old woman. Except, it's not clear if the new boy is here to help Ella…or help the woman drag Ella up to the mansion.

You'll want to turn on your nightlight for this one.

In The Secret of McKinley Mansion, Ella knows that she should avoid the creepy mansion on the hill.  She also knows that she may be the next to disappear.  I thought this was a fairly solid YA horror novel.  The characters weren't exactly likable, but the overall story more than made up for it. This book was really creepy.  I think it would make a great B-horror movie. I liked that no one was safe in the house. I also loved that I didn't know who to trust.  I listened to the audiobook and having it read to me amped up the creep factor.  I definitely recommend this one.

Review: Cursed Cruise by Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren

Author: Victoria Fulton and Faith McClaren

Publisher: Underlined

Publication Date: March 2024

 All aboard...

After their fateful stay at the Hearst Hotel, the Ghost Gang is back with more spooks and more subscribers. They’ve been invited to record onboard the RMS Queen Anne, a transatlantic luxury ocean liner with a colorful past of violent deaths of hundreds of passengers—souls that bought a one-way ticket to the afterlife (and never disembarked).

When Chrissy, Chase, Kiki, and Emma board the ship, they have a funny feeling they’ve been sucked into a ghostly time warp—a theory that takes a frightening turn when Chrissy goes missing on the first night.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the group, Chrissy has been sucked into another time by a passenger who wants the Ghost Gang to know her untimely death was not an accident and the perpetrator is still alive—and on board this ship.

Cursed Cruise is the sequel to Horror Hotel.  I thought that was just OK, so I shouldn't have been surprised that this one would be the same.  The story finds the  four ghost hunters getting ready to set sail on a haunted cruise ship.  Do not read this one if you haven't read the first one.  There are some major spoilers here.

I wasn't completely enamored with this second story.  The four have split off into couples and, boy, are we reminded of that fact constantly.  It definitely got old and really was unnecessary.  There are multiple perspectives, even one of the ship herself. Because of the many perspectives, it seemed like there was too much going on supernaturally.  With the many story lines, it felt unfocused.  I hated the explanation for the "evil" on the ship.  It really came out of nowhere and was almost an afterthought.  I would have liked this more had it been more focused.  There were some spooky parts and I did like the PTSD aspect that one of the characters as dealing with from the first book.  It was a quick read and that was to its benefit.

Review: The Haunting by Natasha Preston

Author; Natasha Preston
Publisher: Delacourte Press
Publication Date: September 2023

Haunted by the past . . .

Penny's trying to forget about her ex, Nash. His father was arrested for the brutal murder of four teenagers on Devil's Night last year. Penny's parents have forbidden her to have anything to do with Nash or his family. It's hard not to think of what happened as spooky season gets underway--but she's trying.

That stops when she goes to the Halloween store with her friends to find a costume. What she finds instead is ripped from a horror movie: a girl from school bleeding out on the floor of a dressing room. Stabbed.

Is a copycat killer on the loose? The adults are saying no. But Penny knows better.

The Haunting is the latest YA horror from this author.  A year ago, Penny's boyfriend's father was arrested as a serial killer who murdered four teens.  Now Halloween is coming up once again and Penny finds the first body.  Could it be happening again?  If so, who is the new killer?

I thought his was a fun YA slasher.  It reminded me of the slashers of the 80s and 90s, like the movie Scream.  I was kept guessing until he end.  That reveal is how you do a twist.  I really liked it.  I didn't love the cliffhanger though.  I will have to speculate that all ended up well in the end.  I also really enjoyed the characters.  The characters really enhanced the book.  I also liked that the parents were actually involved in the story. There is a romance, but it wasn't annoying.  I won't spoil this one. I do highly recommend it.

Review: Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons

Author: Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: September 2023

 
Four years ago, five kids started a game. Only four survived.
Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors—Dax, Maddy, Emerson, and Owen—have reunited for one strange and terrible reason: they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.

Together they return to the tunnel where their friendship ended with one goal: find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished—an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.

As soon as they begin, they're dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen's grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the rules:

They have one night to complete seven challenges or all of them, Ian included, will be stuck in this world forever.

Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices—blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.

And once again, not everyone will make it out of Meido alive.

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is a YA horror/fantasy story.  It definitely was not what I was expecting.  I think it is really best to go into this book blind.  Basically, it deals with 4 friends who are visited by the ghost of their dead friend.  It has been 4 years since they thought he died while playing a game.    He is the one the left for dead.

I wasn't sure if  I was going to like this one in the beginning.  The main cast of characters seemed to tick off the usual diversity boxes and boy did they let the reader know it.  It was annoying.  However, once I got further into the story, I was sucked in and the characters grew on me. I ended up really enjoying this one.  I liked the challenges.  They were intense and had me rooting for the group.  The ending left room for a second book.  I do look forward to reading it.  

Review: Mary, Will I Die by Shawn Sarles

Author: Shawn Sarles
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: September 2021

It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world.

Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer.

Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone.

Mary, Will I Die? is a YA Horror involving 4 kids and the Bloody Mary legend.  This has it's own twist on the legend.  Rumor has it that if you say "Bloody Mary" 13 times while looking in a mirror, you will see your future.  You may even see your soul mate.  When these four were in middle school, they played the game and each one saw something different. What they saw has affected their lives 5 years later. 

I thought this was a fun YA horror.  It was definitely creepy.  I liked all of the characters.  Each one showed a lot of growth by the end of the book.  Which is a rare thing these days.  There was a great twist regarding the mirror and the demon.  I do think that this would be a good horror for upper middle school readers who want to dip their toes into the horror genre.  I do recommend this one and think it would be a good addition to any middle grade/YA library.

Review: In Nightfall by Suzanne Young

Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: March 2023

 In the quaint town of Nightfall, Oregon, it isn't the dark you should be afraid of—it's the girls. The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Treatment.

Theo and her brother, Marco, threw the biggest party of the year. And got caught. Their punishment? Leave Arizona to spend the summer with their grandmother in the rainy beachside town of Nightfall, Oregon—population 846 souls.

The small town is cute, when it’s not raining, but their grandmother is superstitious and strangely antisocial. Upon their arrival she lays out the one house rule: always be home before dark. But Theo and Marco are determined to make the most of their summer, and on their first day they meet the enigmatic Minnow and her friends. Beautiful and charismatic, the girls have a magnetic pull that Theo and her brother can't resist.

But Minnow and her friends are far from what they appear.
And that one rule? Theo quickly realizes she should have listened to her grandmother. Because after dark, something emerges in Nightfall. And it doesn’t plan to let her leave.

In Nightfall is a YA paranormal involving siblings, Theo and Marco who are forced to spend the summer visiting their estranged grandmother in their dad's hometown.  She has weird rules, like being home before dark and she keeps leaving smelly dolls in their rooms.  They quickly realize, there is something not right about the town.

I thought this was a fun YA horror.  I have read a lot of reviews that say it is a gender swap rip off of movie The Lost Boys.  That is one of my favorite movies from my teen years.  I can see how this book may have been influenced by the movie. However, there are enough differences that make it it's own unique story.  I suggest just sitting back and enjoying the ride.  I loved the sibling relationship that Theo and her brother had.  There were some great creepy scenes and the lore behind what is really going on in the town was interesting.  I definitely recommend this one. 

 

Review: The Island by Natasha Preston

Author: Natasha Preston

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: February 28, 2023

They said goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren’t counting on forever.

Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They’ll make posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment.

When the teens arrive, they're stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. They’re given a jam-packed itinerary for the weekend.

But soon they'll discover that something's missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.

The Island is the latest by this author that comes out next week (2/28/23).  Paisley along with a group of online "influencers" are invited to stay on an exclusive island and tour an amusement park and hotel.  The billionaire who owns it wants publicity and the teens get a free weekend vacation.  Someone goes missing and the group quickly realizes that is the least of their problems.

I was hooked from the start in this one.  I did ultimately enjoy it.  The story is told through only the point of view of Paisley.  I think that was a good move.  It ratcheted up the suspense.  I didn't call the killer or his motives.  It was mild on the gore.  I do have 2 issues with the book.  In the beginning, Paisley mentions that there is an attendant at each ride should they want to ride one.  What happened to all of those employees?  Also, I hated the ending. It was a horror cliché and one I've never been a fan of.  Despite those two things, I do recommend it.

Review: Flight 171 by Amy Christine Parker

Author: Amy Christine Parker
Publisher: Underlined
Publication Date: October  2022

Devon Marsh is haunted by secrets. Like the identity of the person who killed her twin sister, Emily, in a hit and run accident last Halloween, which Devon has vowed to uncover. Like the things Devon said to Emily just before she died.
But she’s determined to start fresh when she boards a four-hour flight along with her classmates for their senior class ski trip. Devon never could have guessed those secrets would surface in the most terrifying way when a supernatural creature hijacks their flight and gives the students a deadly ultimatum:

Choose one among them to sacrifice before the end of the flight. Or the plane will crash.

As the clock ticks down, the creature slowly unearths the passengers’ deepest, darkest secrets—and reveals that one of the teens on the plane is responsible for Emily’s death. The students must agree on a sacrifice, or there won’t be any survivors. But can Devon find a way to stop the creature, or will she give in to her anger and let revenge take control.

Flight 171 is a YA horror that takes place on a plane. It's told from Devon's point of view.  She has lost her twin sister in a car accident and is determined to find out who ran her over.  An evil presence on the plane will force Devon and all of her classmates to reveal secrets before time runs out and the plane goes down.  Devon hopes the killer will be revealed.

I'm a bit wishy-washy on this one.  I liked the level that the horror and gore reached for a YA.  It was just just enough to make my skin crawl, but wasn't over the top.  There is a lot of body horror in this book, so keep that in mind.  I also wasn't sure who the killer was until the end. 

What I didn't love were the characters.  They were all self absorbed and narcissistic  teens. If I was Devon, I'm not sure I could stand to be around them for a few minutes, never mind a 4 hour plane ride.  Despite that, I do think this is worth giving a try.  It would translate well into a guilty pleasure horror movie.

Review: My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham

Author: Kayla Cottingham 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: March 2022

Finch Chamberlin is the newest transfer student to the ultra-competitive Ulalume Academy... but she's also not what she seems. Months before school started, Finch and her parents got into an accident that should have left her dead at the bottom of a river. But something monstrous, and ancient, and terrifying, wouldn't let her drown. Finch doesn't know why she woke up after her heart stopped, but since dying she's felt a constant pull from the school and the surrounding town of Rainwater, like something on the island is calling to her.

Selena St. Clair sees right through Finch, and she knows something is seriously wrong with her. But despite Selena's suspicion, she feels drawn to Finch and has a sinking feeling that from now on the two will be inexplicably linked to one another.

One night Finch, Selena, and her friends accidentally summon a carnivorous creature of immense power in the depths of the school. It promises to grant every desire the girls have kept locked away in their insecure hearts―beauty, power, adoration―in exchange for a price: human body parts. But as the cost of their wanting becomes more deadly, Finch and Selena must learn to work together to stop the horror they unleashed, before it consumes the entire island.

My Dearest Darkest is a YA paranormal mystery.  On the way home from an audition for an elite prep school, Finch and her parents are in a car accident.  Left an orphan, Finch enrolls in Ulalume Academy.  Unknown to Finch and her classmates, they unleash an ancient demon on the school.

I enjoyed this one.  I found all of the characters interesting, especially Finch.  As she makes friends and enemies at the school, she also begins to question her feelings for Selena.  She has a very sweet coming out scene.  That story line isn't the main one.  The girls are fighting a creature who seems to give them things that they desire.  But they quickly find out that it comes at a cost.  Some of them have the strength to say no, and some can't resist the pull.  Finch has a unique connection to the creature.  I won't give it away.  It was a fun YA paranormal read.   I would recommend this one.