Review: Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake

Title: Two Dark Reigns Series: Three Dark Crowns #3 Written by: Kendare Blake Published: September 4, 2018 by HarperTeen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake returns with the highly anticipated third book in the Three Dark Crowns series! And while Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Katharine all have their own scores to settle, they aren’t the only queens stirring things up on Fennbirn Island. Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne. Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.   Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.  This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.

This series keeps getting better and better. I had read the first book when it came out two years ago but I kind of wanted to wait until the series was complete until I finished it. But I am so glad I didn't wait all that long and that I took the time to get caught up because this book was such a great dark fantasy perfect for this time year.

You all know me, I need a strong plot to enjoy a book and the plot here was really fantastic. The stakes in the series have always been incredibly high and with the way that the last book ended I kind of worried that wouldn't be the case here but Kendare put me at ease pretty quickly into the book. This was a book full of surprises, action, and plenty of magic. The rebellion angle added even more depth and action to the story. There are a lot of angles and plot lines to this book and I wasn't sure that would all connect but in the end they did. They connected in a big way that had me on the edge of my seat totally enthralled. And that ending! Damn, Kendare. You are amazing and terrible with these cliffhangers. I can't believe I have to wait a whole year for the next book.

But the plot of this book was probably so good because it was tied to the world, which I really love. First and foremost you have the political intrigue. The overarching plot of this series has always been about the battle for the crown and the scheming and plotting didn't end in this book. I really enjoy the direction it is all going in too, the rebellion of the people against the crown and the old ways is a great thing to explore and this book did it so well. Although that might be because I wholeheartedly support Jules. She has always been my favorite character. But seriously, this book does a great job of drawing you in with its world.

The amazing world of this series goes beyond that too. It is such a fascinating  setting and Kendare does a great job of drawing you in with the magic and history of Fennbirn. It's honestly everything that I love about fantasy. First there is a cool magical system that is kind of elemental but more complicated than that. In this book we learned even more about the magic of the island as the book explored some of the queens from history. We also were taken beyond the island and saw what happens to the characters magic on the mainland. I love how the world is expanding and we are learning more about it over time.

However, one of the reasons I keep reading this series is the characters. In the first book, I have to be honest, all the characters kind of blended together. Even the queens seemed so similar to me. But after three books they are all so different and complex. All the characters have had such great development throughout the series. Each of them is exploring the idea of power and whether or not it is good for them or for others if they have the power, and I mean this in the sense of both magic and control of people and the island. It made for great character development and I am loving getting to see each of them respond so differently. But my favorite is still Jules. I am completely Team Jules and seeing her become the reluctant leader of the rebellion is everything I hoped it would be and more.

Seriosuly, this was a really amazing read. I am thoroughly enjoying this series. It has a thrilling plot full of action and surprises, a world of magic and political intrigue, and complex characters with great development. I seriously need the final book in the series. I know it will wreck me though! I am deeply invested in it now.

I give Two Dark Reign by Kendare Blake 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are a fan of YA fantasies and like them more on the dark side then this is definitely the series for you. It feeling more and more like a classic sword and sorcery and I am really loving it.

Have you read Two Dark Reigns? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

October TBR and November TBR

Read in October:

I had another good reading month. I'm so glad that I have consistently been reading for the past few months, I feel like I am back to a somewhat normal reading cycle. This month I read a total of 11 books this month. This is a bigger accomplishment than you would think because this month I didn't read any comics or novellas. I read 11 complete books. I am also on track for my Goodreads goal. I can actually finish my challenge a month ahead of schedule which is awesome. Even if it is for my reduced goal and not my original goal of 150 but it's still really good.

For challenges, this year I'm low key doing challenges. I set a Goodreads goal of reading 120 books in a year. I am up to 111 books for the year and feeling really good about meeting this goal. Like I said, I am one month away from completing it. For the rest of the challenges I only low key set them. I want to read 20 debuts this year and I read 2 this month which brings my total for the year to 12. I won't beat this goal but I think I might be able to hit 15. I want to read 36 books from Netgalley and Edelweiss and I didn't read any this month which means my total is at 16 for the year. I haven't really been reading e-books lately and I didn't want to force myself to read one just for this challenge so whatever, who cares. I also want to read 20 backlist books. This month I read 1 which brings my total to 21 for the year so everything else is just gravy.

The Books

1.) Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
2.) Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
3.)  The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas Rating: 8 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) Grim Lovelies by Meghan Shepard Rating: 7.5 out of 10 [My Review]
5.) The Secret Bedroom by R.L. Stine Rating 7 out of 10 [Podcast Website]
6.) Campfire by Shawn Serles Rating: 7 out of 10 stars [My Review]
7.) One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
8.) Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore  Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [My Review]
 10.) Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [Review to Come]
11.) Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke Rating: 8 out of 10 stars [Review to Come]

To Be Read in November: 

And here is hoping that I can continue the strong reading month. I have a ton of books I want to read which is why I am hoping I am able to read them all. I love this time of year because all the amazing books that are coming out but that means there are a lot of books I want to read.

Books for Review

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan - Add to Goodreads
This is going to be my next read and I am super excited. It sounds like an amazing YA fantasy and I love how it has an Asian MC and an LGBT romance.

Amber and Dusk by Lyra Selene - Add to Goodreads
I am on the blog tour for this one and it sounds like a unique and interesting fantasy. I am always looking for a unique magical system so let's see if this one is that.

Pulp by Robin Talley - Add to Goodreads
I really enjoy Robin Talley's books and her new one sounds really engaging. I like that it kind of has a historical mystery slant to it. Robin does historical fiction well so this should be good.

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean - Add to Goodreads
Another Asian inspired fantasy. Clearly that is a type of book I am interested in reading. But it is usually a great setting so yeah, I'm interested.

When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen - Add to Goodreads

I didn't get a chance to read this last month but I am still interested. I liked Anna's debut historical series and she was really nice at the signing.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand - Add to Goodreads
Claire was at that signing and was very nice and cool. I thought about reading this as my last book of the month but Twitter voted on Boneless Mercies. You steered me wrong Twitter, you steered me wrong.

The Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boeckler - Add to Goodreads
I didn't get to this one last month either but it's totally the type of book I usually love and I am still really interested in it.

New Releases

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas - Add to Goodreads

I am about 1/3 of the way into the last book in the Throne of Glass series. I am really interested to see how the series will end but this book is a serious beast. The audio is 33 hours long. 

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson - Add to Goodreads

A new Brandon Sanderson YA Science Fiction novel? Color me interested. Do I wish it was The Apocalypse Guard? Yes. Will I read any and all Brandon Sanderson books? Yes.

Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman - Add to Goodreads
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series so I am excited to see how it ends. I will probably listen to the audiobook because it's narrated by Fiona Hardingham.

Backlist Books

Not sure. I'll see what books I might get from the library.

There you have it. Some of the books I hope to read in November. As always, these are subject to change. I may read all of these or I may only read a few and then read a bunch of different ones. But honestly I think this list I can stick to. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Reads for People Who Don't Like Horror

A weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I have to admit, I'm kind of a big wuss when it comes to horror. I am very easily freaked out and anxiety already makes me fixate on things like weird noises in my house and being alone. So needless to say, I d not read a lot of horror. But I do like atmospheric reads and can handle a spooky book about witches or vampires. So I decided to make a list for people like me who don't love horror but still want something Hallween-y. I did a similar list two years ago so check that out HERE if you want more.

1.) Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
This book is about a girl who brings her dead best friend back from the dead to solve her murder. It's creepy and has series The Craft vibes but it's also really funny.

2.) The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger
This series effortlessly combines Historical Fiction, Steampunk, and Supernatural Fantasy. It's a world where vampires and werewolves rule London society, but it's also super silly and romantic.

3.) City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
This is another one that is kind of low key horror. It's about a girl who can see ghosts. But it's also Middle Grade and Victoria Schwab so like you can handle it.

4.) The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Reading by Alexandra Bracken
This is another Middle Grade with serious Halloween vibes. It's about a boy whose family curse is that he gets a demon inside of him and he lives in like a fictionalized version of Salem, Mass basically.

5.) Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
This series is about a girl who has the power to bind ghosts through art and uses them to do whatever she asks. It has some Magical Realism vibes but it's also got great character development to balance the Supernatural elements

6.) Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire
This series is pretty solid fantasy with worlds within worlds but some of the books take you to super dark worlds including Down Among the Sticks and Bones where you are in a majorly creepy Gothic world.

7.) You or Providence by Caroline Kepnes
Originally I was only going to include Providence because it's inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and has an urban fantasy vibe but You is one of the creepiest thrillers I have ever read which to me is perfect fodder for scary stories that aren't Horror.

8.) Final Girls by Riley Redgate
Final Girls is also a creepy thriller. The general idea is that the book is about girls who survived a serial killer but years later. It has that Slasher Movie vibe to it but it's still a pretty classic mystery which I liked.

9.) The Wicked Deep by Shea Earnshaw
Usually I make this list full of Historical Mysteries because those to me are the perfect books for this time of year. They are atmospheric and often involve demons or ghosts. Like this one which is essential about possession but also has historical elements so I can deal with it.

10.) As I Descended by Rabin Talley
This is another one that is a pretty classic ghost story but it's also a Shakespeare retelling so if you don't like Horror you can tell yourself it's just a retelling. It's also really good and has a creepy boarding school which I am here for.

11.) Odd & True by Cat Winters
This is another historical mystery which is about two girls who hunt demons. But because it's has a historical setting I can focus on that. I also recommend Dark Days Club if you are looking for something similar.

Honorable Mention to The Agony House by Cherie Priest which is Horror but is AMAZING and has a lot of depth to it. Plus there are comics which help break things up and for me made it feel way less creepy.

There you have it, all the books that made my list. What Halloween reads would you recommend?  Any for people who are not fans of Horror? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling

Title: Witch Born Written by: Nicholas Bowling Published: September 25, 2018 by Scholastic (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Alyce's mother has just been burnt at the stake for practicing witchcraft. With only a thin set of instructions and a witch's mommet for guidance, Alyce must face the world that she's been sealed off from -- a world of fear and superstition. With a witch hunter fast on her trail, she'll need the help of an innkeeper and a boy looking to discover the truth behind his own mother's past.  But as her journey continues, another war rages: a hidden war of the supernatural, of the living and the dead. Good and evil are blurred, and nobody's motives can be trusted. And Alyce finds herself thrown unwillingly into the conflict. Struggling to understand her own powers, she is quickly drawn into a web of secret, lies, and dark magic that could change the fate of the world she is just coming to know.  This dark, twisty, and thrillingly original debut will leave readers entranced in its suspenseful plot and rich prose.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I first learned about this book at ALA and it sounded like a total me book, historical fantasy with witched and political intrigue, sign me up. I wasn't able to get a copy there but I requested one from the publisher afterwards and they were nice enough to send me a copy. And I am so glad, because this really was a fantastic read.

One of the things that I liked most about this book is the setting. Historical fantasy is one of my favorite subgeneres. I find it so entertaining for the author to take something that from history that I know well, or even a little bit, and make it their own with fantastical elements. That is exactly what Nicholas Bowling did with this book. He took the Elizabethan era and the battle for the throne between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen and Scots. That in and of itself is an interesting enough full of political intrigue and then Bowling did a great job with establishing the time and place. The 16th Century streets of London come to life along with the witch histeria, the dirty streets, and the distrust of women. I do wish that the figures of Queen Elizabeth I and Marry Queen of Scots had been given a little more attention, but it did make me want to learn more about them which a lot of historical fiction does.

But I think I enjoyed the world of this book so much because of the atmosphere. I love an atmospheric fantasy, especially in the fall, and this book had total fall vibes. I'm not really sure I would call it a dark fantasy but it was full of magic and mystery. What I liked about the magical system is that it seemed to be rooted in historical activities that got women accused of being witches like potion-making and being an apothecary. Then it took things further with magic I like alchemy and necromancy. I wish this magic got a little more explanation because it was really interesting and it felt a little basic.

But there was a lot of this book that was pretty basic, including the plot. Now don't get me wrong, the plot of this book was engaging. I was invested in what was happening and was curious from beginning to end, but the problem is I'm not sure if this was supposed to be a plot-driven narrative or a character-driven one. Is it about Alyce's development as she figures out who she is and her place in the world, or is it about the power struggle between two queens and their witch hunters? Unfortunately I think that the book wasn't quite sure either and that was to its detriment. It had decent character development with some twists along the way, and it had okay plot with the plot intrigue but I think the plot would have been better if it had committed to one or the other. It made for a fast read, an interesting read, but it made for a basic read.

 The characters too were a bit on the simple side, and just like the plot they were engaging but basic. Alyce was a good main character. She was one of those characters who was easy to root for. From the very beginning, things were not easy for Alyce. Society took her mother from her and threw her into an asylum. But despite all that she is strong and determined. The interesting thing too is that throughout the book I spent a lot of time trying to decide which characters were supposed to be the protagonists and which were supposed to be the antagonists. They all felt very dubious and those are the kind of characters I like best. That being said, a book full of those kinds of characters often means I keep them at arms length and never fully connect with them. It made them interesting characters but not particularly likable ones.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't perfect but it was a thoroughly entertaining read perfect for fall. It had an atmospheric setting that blended history and magic in a way that drew me in, an engaging plot that had me wanting more when it was over, and dubious characters.

I give Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fantasy. If you are looking for a YA that blends the two in an engaging way then this is a good read. If you like stories about historical witches this is also a good choice.

Have you read Witch Born? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Title: Blanca and Roja Written by: Anna-Marie McLemore Published: October 9, 2018 by Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.  The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan.  But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them. Blanca & Roja is the captivating story of sisters, friendship, love, hatred, and the price we pay to protect our hearts.

I have read and loved every one of Anna-Marie MacLemore's books. I was really excited to learn that she was writing a book based on Snow White and Rose Red, a fairy tale I always loved as a girl. This book was beautiful, and heart-breaking, and enthralling, and amazing.

First and foremost this was an amazing retelling. As I said, I loved the story of Snow White and Rose Red as a kid. I was really impressed with the way that McLemore interpreted and modernized the story. She gave even more magic and wonder with the story and still made it feel very current with an LGBTQIA character and making it about identity. But the retelling also went deeper with elements from The Six Swans and the Ugly Duckling. You would think with all these fairy tales working together it would be confusing and muddled but instead it made for something different and unique.

I think it all worked together because of the plot of this book. It's one of those books that I would call a modern fairy tale. It feels like a classic story but is something new and all it's own. I wouldn't say that the stakes are particularly high in this book but you are still invested in the stakes. McLemore draws you in and before you even realize you are terrified by what will happen to the characters and when bad things do happen you are heartbroken and still so entertained.

What really drew me in however is the characters. This one of those books with multiple perspectives which added a lot to the story. The main two perspectives of course are the titular characters of Blanca and Roja. The character I initially connected with Roja. She's the fiery and independent sister who is tough and emotional. But I also really enjoyed Blanca. She's the sweet and caring sister, but just as tough. Throughout the book the sisters are exploring the idea of who they are versus who other people want them to be, a theme I really enjoy. The sisters are very empathetic not because of who they are independently, but who they are together. The heart of this story is the love that the sisters have for each other. They would do anything for the other person and because they are in conflict it adds to misunderstanding and some really emotional moments.

But that is just the beginning for the characters. Interspersed with their perspectives were their love interests, Yearling and Page. Both of them are just as complex and are dealing with just as many struggles with their identity as the girls. This is the most noticeable with Page, a non-binary trans person. McLemore always does a great job with LGBTQIA rep and this book was no exception. I liked the way she changed pronouns when characters were referring to Page and thought it did a great job with exploring their identity.

But I think what I liked most about this book was the magic. McLemore is a master of Magical Realism. I have read all four of her books and they each have such different and such engaging magical worlds. First you had the curse of the del Cisne girls which in and of itself would have interesting enough but then you had the magic of the forest and how it affected Yearling and Page. I usually like my magic to go big or go home but here it was subtle and it worked so well. it drew you into the world and it made it feel more magical and fantastical like anything was possible. It raised the stakes and drew the reader into the story.

On the whole, I think this really was an amazing book. It has stuck with me long after finishing it and has proven just how good Anna-Marie McLemore is at writing Magical Realism and diverse characters. I think this may have just become my favorite book by her and that is saying something.

I give Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. Definitely pick up this book. It's beautifully written full of magic, great characters, and an enthralling plot which is a great retelling. If you like Magical Realism or fairy tale retellings then check this out.

Have you read Blanca & Roja? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake

Title: One Dark Throne Series: Three Dark Crowns #2 Written by: Kendare Blake Published: September 19, 2017 by HarperTeen  (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The battle for the Crown has begun, but which of the three sisters will prevail?  With the unforgettable events of the Quickening behind them and the Ascension Year underway, all bets are off. Katharine, once the weak and feeble sister, is stronger than ever before. Arsinoe, after discovering the truth about her powers, must figure out how to make her secret talent work in her favor without anyone finding out. And Mirabella, once thought to be the strongest sister of all and the certain Queen Crowned, faces attacks like never before—ones that put those around her in danger she can’t seem to prevent.   In this enthralling sequel to Kendare Blake’s New York Times bestselling Three Dark Crowns, Fennbirn’s deadliest queens must face the one thing standing in their way of the crown: each other.

I am so glad I took the time to marathon this series because this book was amazing. I enjoyed the first book in the series but I got a copy of this one at ALA last year but for some reason I never got to reading it. And I really wish I had because this book was a fantastic dark fantasy.

I am such a plot driven reader and this was definitely a plot-filled read. This book picks up where the last one left off and I have to be honest, I wish I had given myself a bit of a refresher. I remembered the basics but not specifics about what happened to each queen. But very quickly into the book it managed to hook me and get me invested in the story. It's definitely very heavy on the political intrigue as the queens plot for control and how they are going to kill one another. There was a lot of moments throughout the books where I was nervous about what was going to happen and it seriously built to a thrilling conclusion, which honestly is what I ask for in a YA fantasy.

I also really loved the world of this book. In Three Dark Crowns I wanted more of the magic. I wanted to see it in action and I wanted to learn more about the magical system. I feel like I got that in this book. Kendare Blake has managed to craft a fascinating and creative world that is full of magic. I think a lot of that was aided by some of the reveals at the end of Three Dark Crowns. Like I really liked seeing Arsinoe explore her powers and experiment with low magic. Katherine also had some interesting magical moments as well that are more tied to the history of the island. But my favorite character exploring their magic was Jules. Seeing her develop her power was great.

Which is a good segue to talk about the characters. Because Jules is seriously my favorite character. She's as fiercely loyal as she is fierce. She's this badass magic user who cares more about helping her friend than she does in helping herself. She's so easy to like and she's probably the one I would want to be queen. However, with each page I became more and more connected to each of the other queens. I usually don't like books that switch perspectives but this book does a good job with it. It helps to get in the head of each character and makes it easy to root for them. Katherine is pretty odious but she's so sympathetic that you want her to stop being other people's pawn. Arsinoe is easy to want to succeed because she is the underdog but has a power people don't even realize. Mirabella is the one who you won't think you would like because she has been told the crown is basically hers for so long. But through this book she has really good development and becomes her own fierce and strong person with her own wants ans needs. It's so hard to have a book where the three main characters are competing and you like them all, but that is what this book is.

However, I also had problems with the characters. Not problems so much as frustrations. This is one of those fantasy reads with a massive cast of characters. There are so many secondary characters in this book and it was a little annoying. I had the hardest time keeping them straight. Not only could I not remember which family was associated with which queen, but within each family there were two or four people who I couldn't separate in my mind. Sometimes it took me out of the books as I was trying to remember who Cait Milone was and whether or not I should care who Genevieve Arron or Peityr were and what they had done. It's hard enough to keep the queens straight I didn't need more characters to figure out.

But all in all, this was a really amazing series. it was full of adventure and a thrilling plot, a world full of magic and political intrigue, and complex characters who you rooted for even when they were in contrast with the needs of others.

I give One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would definitely suggest reading this series if you have not had the chance. It is a great dark fantasy that is getting better and better. If you are like me and waited to read the sequel to Three Dark Crowns then read this book.

Have you read One Dark Throne? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and Happy READING!

Review: Campfire by Shawn Sarles

Title: Campfire Written by: Shawn Sarles Published: July 17, 2018 by Jimmy Books (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: While camping in a remote location, Maddie Davenport gathers around the fire with her friends and family to tell scary stories. Caleb, the handsome young guide, shares the local legend of the ferocious Mountain Men who hunt unsuspecting campers and leave their mark by carving grisly antlers into their victims' foreheads.  The next day, the story comes true.  Now Maddie and her family are lost in the deep woods--with no way out--being stalked by their worst nightmares. Because there were other, more horrifying stories told that night--and Maddie's about to find out just how they end...

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it really didn’t work for me. I had picked up a copy of this at ALA and I definitely had high hopes. As a mystery/thriller under an imprint from a well-known mystery writer I was expecting a thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat and that is not what I found.

I had been saving reading this to read as part of a joint review for my podcast because it has that classic teen horror vibe to it, like the Fear Street books we normally read. And honestly, that was one of the best things about this book. From purely a nostalgia feel it definitely hit all he right notes. If I didn’t know any better and you had told me this book was written 20 years ago, I would have believed you. But the thing is, this book was written this year, and I can excuse a lot of things for being outdated but a book written more recently, I expect better from.

Because the thing about this plot is that it was really basic. I read a lot of mysteries and I have gotten pretty good at figuring them out. I am constantly looking for that one which is going to shock and surprise. This book did not do that. In fact I figured out one aspect of the reveal pretty early on and then the other one just felt like it came completely out of nowhere. Instead of hooking me in the narrative i lost interest. Plus the concept here was really good, but it never delivered on it. The idea of ghost stories coming to life is totally brilliant but the stories really kind of felt like an afterthought. I wish they had more bearings on the actual plot of the story and weren’t just a means to an end.

I think my bigger problem with this book however was the pacing. Once again, a synopsis revealed a book’s entire plot. And once again I was incredibly frustrated at that. If it takes you two-thirds of the book to get to what your book is, then there is something wrong. Maybe this is just a problem with the synopsis and I shouldn’t blame to book for that, but I do.

The one thing I did like about this book though is that it went there. This is a book with a huge body count. When people end up dead, they are really dead and often in gruesome and grotesque ways. Like a lot of classic 90’s teen horror the author also reveals in the descriptions of the dead bodies too. It had some really good visuals and that definitely did a good job of capturing my interest.

But maybe I just wanted the characters dead because I really did not enjoy them. It’s not that they were bad characters there were just so many of them. It felt like this was the clown car of camping trips. People kept coming out of the woodwork and I found it so hard to remember who was who and how they were all connected. I needed a cheat sheet to keep it all straight. And because of that, I never really connected with anyone. I mean, the main character Maddie was fine, she just didn’t have that badass final girl vibe I was hoping for.

All in all, this was not my favorite read. I was hoping for a scary and intense thriller and instead I got what felt like a campy teen horror from the 80’s. Not a bad read just not what I was looking for.

I give Campfire by Shawn Sarles 7 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are looking for a scary Halloween read this is not it. If you are looking for a thrilling mystery this is not it. If you are looking for a campy teen horror nostalgia romp this is it. And if you are going to read this book... do not read the synopsis.

Have you read Campfire? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!