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msrichardsreads89 's review for:

My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
5.0
dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I had high expectations for this novel because I absolutely loved The Only Good Indians. Stephen Graham Jones did not disappoint. SGJ weaves Indigenous culture into the narrative and subverts the traditionally white slasher. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours because it was so gripping that I did not want to put it down. We follow teenager Jade Daniels, who lives in a small town and is obsessed with slasher movies. Jade doesn't see herself as the Final Girl but when events in town start to take a turn toward the horrific, she knows what is coming. I loved following Jade and reading her perspective. The character work and setting are so vivid and the prose was fantastic. I loved that in between chapters we get Jade's extra credit essays on slasher films. Fans of Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Scream will enjoy this book. I am not really a horror fan, but this story was so captivating that I immediately wanted to pick up the next book Don't Fear the Reaper. This is a story that will stick with me and one that I want to return to in the future.