ARC, 240 pages
Release Date: June 20, 2023
Published by: Bloomsbury YA
Read from: May 28 – June 15, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: Publisher @ TLA (I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Death, Murder, Gun Violence, Torture
For Readers Interested In: Horror, Slasher Movies, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, LGBTQ+, YAAt Camp Mirror Lake, terror is the name of the game . . . but can you survive the night?
This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Fear Street.
Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business.
But the last weekend of the season, Charity’s co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity’s role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they’ll need figure out what this killer is after. Is there is more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected?
*MY THOUGHTS*
Leave it to me to have my most anticipated book for the first half of the year release in literally June lol Thankfully I didn’t have to wait that long. Because I don’t know if I could. As someone who watches the 1978 Halloween literally everyday in October, I just KNEW this was going to be fun.
Andddddd of course it was. This book reminded me of all the things I love about the old slasher movies. And there’s even someone in the book that is just like me and knows all the facts and things NOT to do when you’re in a scary movie. Idk, it just really made me feel seen. (I’m loving all these diverse horror books that are coming out and I need ALL OF THEM. ) From the killings, to the lying, to the surprises throughout the story, this was just really good.
Ok so the only thing about this I didn’t like about this was the ending. It was all over the place and weird lol The owl thing came out of left field and I was hella confused. I think I would have liked it better without it, but then I get that the rest of the events wouldn’t have happened either. I guess it just felt out of place and random. Well to me anyways.
The rest of the book was perfect. I found myself tabbing the hell out of this book. This is weird because I don’t usually tab horror books. But this one definitely had some things worth remembering. Like the different ways they get through the camp, the visitor they had to the camp, and the nonchalance that everyone had when they first realize that people were going missing lol I was so into it. Charity playing the final girl in a scary camp that fakes an old movie just sounds scary, so I can’t understand why this camp was even a thing. And then to learn all the things that happened to it before?! Yeah no thanks. Which also makes me say, Charity and her girlfriend and their bestie were all really in love with each other because ain’t no way I would go their willingly. Wouldn’t have caught me there at all lol
Last thing, I HATED this ending. Not really, but it stressed me out even more. I was not expecting that. I remember turning pages and then looking for more. I was not expecting that. Sorry, it was big enough for me to say it again. But it made sense with the way the title is. But now it makes me think, what exactly is it going to do? Idk, this book was so weird and I loved every bit of it.
This is the weirdest review I think I’ve ever written. I hate reviewing thrillers and mysteries because I don’t want to post spoilers. Just know going into this one that you will be scared, you’ll be intrigued, and all the things. But do be worried if you have slashers scare you. Because this one will scare you too.
Overall, I give this
