The Laws of the Skies follows a group of first graders and three chaperones on an educational endeavor to explore the woods freely, gather knowledge from what the forest has to offer. What begins as an innocuous camping trip quickly sours, turning into a carnage-filled frenzy that highlights the depravity of human nature found in unexpected places.

This isn’t for the faint of heart. Body horror drives this book from start to finish, relishing in the gory details through beautifully crafted prose. Courtois’ eloquence and timing lends to the story perfectly, counterbalancing the savagery just so, leaving me anticipating a glimmer of hope, safety, refuge. It didn’t come.

The Laws of the Skies is dark, bleak, BLOODY. Read if you’re in the mood for some serious slashing.