I'll start with saying - I did enjoy this book. It kept my attention, the writing was skilled, and I like the concept. The main characters are interesting and the town has potential.

However, I did feel like this book didn't know what genre it wanted to be, which left me feeling slightly dissatisfied - I wanted it to commit, and go all the way in any direction! Are you horror, romantasy, speculative fiction? Each genre was touched on but then the tone would shift and suddenly I would feel frustrated. Horror moments never went that last step to be truly unsettling, romance was built up and then skimmed over, etc.

I think I might feel differently when more questions are answered/ plotlines followed through in the following two books of the planned trilogy, and that's what I really really hope for because I have so so many unanswered questions!

Though I loved coming back to these characters, the book tended to feel rushed at some points -

I was also sad that some POVs were abandoned, like Rissa's. The end was okay, but again, rushed and I was unsatisfied with the hanging thread of Ryatt's discontent.

This book had me riveted from the beginning, but I can't help but feel let down by the lack of answers at the end - I know that's kind of the point, but I'm still feeling lost without them. I know this is going to be a story that sticks with me for awhile regardless. Utterly haunting. 

I love classic summer camp slashers! This was a fun twist on the classic camp setup - and the tension had me up late reading and then scared to leave my bed 🙏. Though the characters are all flawed, they were in turn loveable, relatable, and fun to hate. Recommend as a very solid mysterious modern slasher!

Reread - audiobook

I really enjoyed the writing of this reimagined fairytale. The double POV was unexpected but I also really enjoyed it - Hester was especially fun to follow and allowed for some breathing room around Cordelia's very dark and sad upbringing. Overall, a really strong dark fairytale with great character writing!

Delish S. Dawson is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror authors. I read Bloom last month and cannot shake it - I have a feeling this one will be the same.

Ready or Not is one of my fave slasher movies, and I loved The Menu, so I knew this one would be perfect for me. Reversal of power structures due to class systems in a horror setting are one of my favorite tropes.

I absolutely love the writing style. It's a perfect balance of following one character while still getting god's view moments. 

I read this in one sitting - though you can guess how things will go once events kick off, the horror, inevitability, and grotesque satisfaction of it all keeps you hooked (when she says in the author's note that all the deaths are deserved, she's not joking). Do yourself a favor and block off an evening to read this!! 

I loved this - I was really hopeful going in and wasn't disappointed. The writing is so fun and I loved the characters and their political scheming. The Queen's of Villainy are such a fun girl gang and I can't wait to read the rest of their stories!

The romance was so so sweet I was squealing - I love a cinnamon bun MMC who stands up for his girl.

The vibes actually reminded me alot of Dreadful, which I loved - just villainous castle shenanigans with the best found families.

I really really wanted to like this one - I still think I could like the story but I can't get past the disjointed writing - its always just a bit off and I have to keep rereading it. The conversation is also really unnatural.

A decent romantasy - unfortunately there wasn't anything really original that made it stand out, but it was an interesting fast-paced read that I enjoyed! The romance was meh, but I think that's

because Elowen will most likely be with Sion next book

. Sometimes I found the conversations to be a little to direct and unnatural, but otherwise it was okay.

Interested to see what the whole memory loss/remembering thing will be.