#You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight

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3 YA Black Horror Books for Spooky Season

Now that spooky season is in full swing all around me, it's time to turn to some spinechilling reads. It's been an amazing year for Black horror in YA, from an anthology (out October 17th!) to exciting new books that will keep you up all night long. Here are 3 YA horror books with Black protagonists for you to check out!

I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea

There will be blood. Ace of Spades meets House of Hollow in this villain origin story. Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage.

To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood. The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything she’s dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom.

But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is—monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t catch her first.

From debut author Jamison Shea comes I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me, a slow-burn horror that lifts a veil on the institutions that profit on exclusion and the toll of giving everything to a world that will never love you back.

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

At 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?

All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology by Circe Moskowitz (Anthology editor) -- Out on October 17th!

Welcome to the Dark. We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren’t sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, fans of Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country, and Horror Noire will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying.

From haunted, hungry Victorian mansions, temporal monster–infested asylums, and ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners and cursed patriarchs in search of Black Excellence, All These Sunken Souls features the chilling creations of acclaimed bestsellers and hot new talents, with stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

[aroaessidhe]

read in 2023: cults

The Shadow Cabinet

The Feast Makers

Monstrous

Camp Damascus

You’re Not Supposed To Die Tonight  

Burn 

City of Nightmares

Beholder

My Dearest Darkest

[kikizubik]

You're not supposed die tonight was so good! 80's slashers campy vibes story! Need read more books like it! If you have some recs, give me some, please! Thanks.

[slaughter-books]

Day 30: JOMPBPC: Read In November

My November, 2023 reading wrap-up! 💜

[haveyoureadthisqueerbook]

[foxyfablesblog]

Check out my Book Review: You're Not Supposed To Die Tonight

[slashingdisneypasta]

Okay this book is genuinly scaring me. Reminds me of fucking Bohemian Grove 😅😅 All the owl imagery?? The talk about Powerful People?? (Referencing rich families, presidents, etc) And now a BIG OUTSIDE AMPHITHEATRE IN THE WOODS??

Noooooo no no no. I am very scared and very queezy.

Am I probably gonna have nightmares? Yes. Am I gonna stop reading? No-

[dyslexic-book-swallower]

Books i read in 2023 in the order i read them in.

This poison heart by Kalynn Bayron

if you like herbalism, witchcraft, greek mythology and family secrest. This one's for you

blurb

To break an ancient curse she must let her power bloom. Brises has a gift. She can grow an apple tree from seed in a heartbeat, and flowers bloom at her touch. And when she inherits an old house, she suddenly has the privacy to test her powers for the first time. But as Bri starts to magic the house's ramling grounds back to life, she finds she also inherited generations of secrets. In a hidden garden overgrown with the most deadly poisonous plants on earth a dark legacy lies waiting for her. And Bri's long-departed ancestors won't let her rest until she finds it.

The wicked fate by Kalynn Bayron

in the sequel to 'this poision heart' you get ore time with Bri and her crazy but loveable family.

Blurb

To save the people she loves she must make her power blossom. Brises has one chance to rescue her motger, but she'll need to do the impossible: find the last fragment of the deadly Absyrtus Heart. To locate the missing piece she must turn to the blood relatives she's never known, learn about their secrets powers and take her place in their anicent lingage. But Bri is not the only one who wants the Heart, and her enemies wil stop at nothing to fufil thei own ruthless plans. With dark forces and deadly botanicals descending around her, Bri must harness her powers to change the most dangerous of fates ahead her. And her enemies won't make it easy.

Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Sone, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon.

Are you a lover of YA with a focus on Black youth who all have trouble with love? why don't you try this loveable yet infuriating short story collection.

Blurb

Six of the biggest stars of YA bring all the electricity of love to a charming, hilarious and heartbreaking tales that shine the brightest light throiugh the dark. When a heatwave plunges new York City into darkness, sparks fly for thirteen teenagers caught up in the blackout. A first time meeting. Long-time friends. Bitter exes. And maybe the begnning of something new. When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transform, and new possibilities take flight.

Other words for home by Jamine Warga

New to middle easten fiction? Here's a soft start with a heartwarming middle grad book.

blurb

Jude never thought she'd be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming Volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everthing in America seems too fast and loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven't quite prepared her for starting school in the US, and for her new label of "Middle eastren", an identity she's never known before. But this life also brings unexpected surprises- there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is. This lyrical, life-affirming story is baout losing and finding home and, most important, finding yourself.

Hani and Ishu's guide to fake dating by Adiba Jaigrdar

A little fake dating with some Bengali rep and academic overachievering and a partner who fights for you? Try this!

Blurb

Easy going and popular Hani Khan has it all. Until she comes out as bisexual and her friends don't believe her. An academic overachiever, Ishu Dey has a lot to prove. But her shot at head girl relies on being popular. Their solution? Pretend to be dating, even though theu hardly know each other and definitely don't like each other. But as they get closer, things get messy. Can two Bengali girls find happliy ever after- even whe the odds are stacked against them?

Aristotle and Dante discover the sercets of the universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Do you wanna read a gay love story with a stubbon yet protective boy set in during the aids criss? Try this classic book who is still pretty timeless.

Blurb

Aristole is an angery teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all with a unique perspective on life. When the two first meet, they seem to have nothing in common; but as they start speading time together, they develop a special friendship - the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. Together, Ari and Dante vil learn the most important truths about the universe, love, and the kinds of people they want to be.

Last night at the telegraph club by Malinda Lo

Do you like a little history in your sapphic romance? Try this heartbreaking romance set in 1954, during red scare in Chinatown.

Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Lilly Hu can't remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kaltheen Miller walked under the flashing neon lights of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lilly. With deportation looming over her father - despite his hard-won citizenship - Lilly and Kath risk everthing to let their love see the light of day.

Aristotle and Dante dive into the waters of the world by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

In this squel to 'Aristotle and Dante discover the sercets of the universe' you get to see our loved couple have fun, fight, and make op. if you've read the first one, you needddd to read this one.

Blurb

Ari's spent his life hiding who he really is, staying silent and invisble - but something in him cracked open when he fell in love with Dante last summer, and he can't go back. Together, the boys are determined to make themselves seen and heard in a world that challenges their very existence. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he'll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own.

Husband material by Alexis Hall

in this squel to 'Boyfriend material' see a couple fight through weddings and a funeral, and their own wedding nighmare.

Blurb

WANTED: One (Very real) husband Nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best Two years ago, Luc O'Donnell and Oliver Blackwood met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disapointment and family and friends... and somehow fingured out a way to make it all work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting mattied, and Luc's feeling the social pressure to propose. That's what you do when you love someone this desperately, right? But it'll take more than four weddings and a fueral and a hostly contested rainbow ballon arch to get this semi-disagraced son of a former rock stars and his tightly buttoned-up boyfriend from "I don't know when I'm doing" to "I do" Good thing Oliver is such perfect husband material

Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Sone, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon.

Where you a fan of 'blackout'? check this out, hell. Even you weren't or haven't read it, if you like cozy love and chaos maybe this one's for you

Blurb

As the city grinds to a halt, twelve teens band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life. But will they be able to make it happen, in spite of the storm?

No one is prepared for this whiteout. But then, we can’t always prepare for the magical moments that change everything..

The other ones by Fran Hart

Are you a fan of cozy, haunting and gay? This is a perfect fall read for all thoses with wild dreams.

Blurb

Sal hates standing out. But he lives in a haunted house- and everyone know it. His oldest friend, Dirk, tries to help...but he wants to stay popular, and Sal isn't helping. Elsie was popular- until rescently. Now she's on the outcast's table too...and she doesn't want to talk about it. Then there's the new boy, Pax, who won't leave Sal alone. His idea of a good time is hanging out in graveyards. And for some reason. Sal just can't stay away. Meet the other ones Can they banish their ghosts together?

Wranglestone by Darren Charlton

Zombies, gayness, and secrets?

Blurb

The islands of lake wrangelstone are a safe haven in a world filled with the restless dead, but as the lake frezzes over. There's nothing stopping them from crossing the ice. Peter had never really felt at home in a place where practicality and grit are valued above all else. He's nothing like Cooper- the boy he's always watched form afar. But when he is ordered to join Copper on the mainland, they find more then just each other. There they unearth a dark secret about Wranglestone's past. One that forces the pair to question everything they've ever known.

You're not supposed to die tonight by Kalynn bayron

Are you a fan of horror movies but do you want a book version? Try this spine chilling book.

Blurb

Charity 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, The 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. As they unravel the bloody history of the real Mirror Lake, Charity discovers that there may be more to the story than she ever suspected . . .

Encyclopedia of Magical herbs by Scott Cunningham

Hoping to meet that spcial someone? wear a sprig of maidenhair fern. Having problems with your cash flow? Burn cloves as incense to attract riches. Want ot enhance your psychic abilities? Brew up some dandelion root tea. In days gone by out ancestors lived in harmony with the earth. They knew which plants could heal and which ones could kill. They also knewn that plants harbored magical powers, forces that could be harnessed adn dircted to fulfill a need- angthing from protecting a house to finding true love. Magical herbalism is the use of these powers to create postive changes. The revised and updated fiffteenth anniversary edition contains the folklore and magical properites of over 400 herbs. Far from the concentrating on esoteric, unobtainable plants, many of those mentioned within are old friends. the magical properites of onions, cashews, apples, rice, lettuce- as well as dill, basil, fennel, garlic, and parsley are descired. Extensive tables, a cross-reference of folk names, glossary, and annotated bibliography make this a comprehensive and valuable guide to the pratice of magical herblism.

The sun and the star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

Were you a Percy Jackson kid with a love for the mirror charaters? Go with Nico and Will on the worst trip ever.

blurb

As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister, to being outed against his will, to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo. But there is a ray of sunshine in his life–literally: his boyfriend, Will Solace, the son of Apollo. Together the two demigods can overcome any obstacle or foe. At least, that’s been the case so far... Now Nico is being plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld. He thinks he knows who it is: a reformed Titan named Bob whom Percy and Annabeth had to leave behind when they escaped Hades’s realm. Nico’s dreams and Rachel Dare’s latest prophecy leave little doubt in Nico’s mind that Bob is in some kind of trouble. Nico has to go on this quest, whether Mr. D and Chiron like it or not. And of course Will insists on coming with. But can a being made of light survive in the darkest part of the world? and what does the prophecy mean that Nico will have to “leave something of equal value behind?”

I wish you all the best by Mason Deaver

Looking for read with non-binary rep? Live with Ben as their worst nightmare turns out to not be so bad

Blurb

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.

Home body by Rupi Kaur

Honestly, i didn't really like this one

Blurb

i dive into the well of my body and end up in another world everything i need already exists in me there’s no need to look anywhere else – home

The Lesbiana's Guide To Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

Did you too grow op in an unaccepting place? Bare witness to Yami's struggle at a new school.

Blurb

Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores prefers to be known for her killer eyeliner, not for being one of the only Mexican kids at her new, mostly white, very rich Catholic school. But at least here no one knows she's gay, and Yami intends to keep it that way. After being outed by her crush and ex-best friend before transferring to Slayton Catholic, Yami has new priorities: keep her brother out of trouble, make her mom proud, and, most importantly, don't fall in love. Granted, she's never been great at any of those things, but that's a problem for Future Yami. The thing is, it's hard to fake being straight when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is so annoyingly perfect. And smart. And talented. And cute. So cute. Either way, Yami isn't going to make the same mistake again. If word got back to her mom, she could face a lot worse than rejection. So she'll have to start asking, WWSGD: What would a straight girl do?

Timberdark by Darren Charlton

Well, if you read 'Wranglestone', i'd hurry to the book store for Timerdark

Blurb

With the tide turned against the Dead, Peter and the remaining community on Wranglestone prepare to leave for town, where the comforts of the world before await them. Could this be the home that finally brings both safety and unity for all? Cooper isn't so sure. He harbours feelings from that terrible night on the lake and worse, a secret... codename, Timberdark. With Cooper's new found connection to the Dead, Peter's suspicions about what he might do next grow. Faced with losing the boy he loves, Peter must uncover the truth about the mysterious Timberdark before their future together and the world around them is placed in danger.

Straight expectations by Calum Mcswiggan

Did you ever wish you were't gay? Well take a look at what that wish gives you.

Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Max has always been out, proud and just a little spoiled. Frustrated by the lack of romantic options in his small-town high school, during an argument with his lifelong best friend Dean, Max lashes out and says he wishes he had never been born gay. Max gets more than he bargained for when he wakes up to find his wish has come true - not only have his feelings for boys vanished, but so has Dean. With his school life turned upside down and his relationship with his family in tatters, Max sets out on a journey of rediscovery to find a way back to the life he took for granted, and the romance he thought he'd never have.

Cupid's revenge by Wibke Brueggemann

Honestly, this book is sorta just 'you had to be there' situation. If you like sad gayness, i'd give it a shot.

blurb

It was never Tilly’s intention to fall in love, but Cupid will get you when you least expect it. That’s exactly what happens when Tilly’s best friend, Teddy, ropes Tilly into a plan to woo his dream girl, aspiring actress Katherine Cooper-Bunting. It turns out Teddy’s not the only one who finds her dreamy. But Katherine is off-limits. The only thing more important than Tilly’s feelings for someone she just met is not hurting Teddy, whose heart has been broken in the past. Avoiding temptation is easier said than done, as Teddy convinces Tilly to help him audition for a local play as a way to get to know Katherine better―a complete horror for someone who grew up in an artsy family but doesn’t have a creative bone in her body. On top of dealing with her growing feelings for the girl she shouldn’t like (but who may like her back), Tillie is still grieving a loss while navigating her grandfather’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis. So yeah, that’s a lot for any sixteen-year-old to handle without Cupid’s vengeful arrows getting involved.

[maxalotlxl]

My October TBR

With my attempt to start posting about my journey in reading, I'll be starting with my October TBR. So here are the books I'll be trying to read in this month.

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner This book was shamelessly bought because the cover is absolutely gorgeous, but with the synopsis including a fantasy adventure with some wonderful diverse rep I was very excited to start this book. (Spoiler : I have finished this book as of the 5th)

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake I have two Olivie Blake books on my TBR this month and since I haven't any of her work before I'm really excited to see the hype over her work. Now when I picked up Masters of Death at the bookshop, the woman who served me suggested I go into this without looking up anything before hand and that's what I'll be doing. Wish me luck!

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake Six wizards fighting to survive and be one of the five that gets initiated into some magic society? Sounds like some friendships will be made and betrayals will happen, I'm in. It's clearly not hard for me to sold on a book.

You're Not Supposed To Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron I am trying to dip my toes into genres I wouldn't usually bother with one of those genres would be horror, with how small this book is and the fact I am interested in Kalynn Bayron's other work I thought this would be a good start into the genre.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff This is my main audiobook read this month, and one heavily recommended by a friend. So I'm excited to get through this scarily big book, like damn this book is thick, but here's hoping by using the audiobook the fear isn't as bad.

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With summer on its way out, I thought it would be fun to highlight three books you might have missed! Have you read any of them yet?

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron Bloomsbury YA

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? -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom by Shannon C.F. Rogers

Packed with voice, this is a powerful coming-of-age YA novel about a Filipina-American teen who tries to figure out who she really is in the wake of her mother's death. Some girls call their mother their best friend. Marisol? She could never relate. She and her mom were forever locked in an argument with no beginning and no end. But when her mother dies suddenly, Marisol is left with no one to fight against, haunted by all the things that she both said and didn’t say. And when Marisol sleeps with her best friend's boyfriend—and then punches said best friend in the face—she's left alone, with nothing but a burning anger. And Marisol is determined to stay angry. After all, there’s a lot to be angry about. But as a new friendship begins to develop, Marisol reluctantly starts to open up to her, and to the possibility there’s something else on the other side of that anger—something more to who she is, and who she could be.

Forged by Blood (The Tainted Blood Duology #1) by Ehigbor Okosun Harper Voyager

In the midst of a tyrannical regime and political invasion, Dèmi just wants to survive: to avoid the suspicion of the nonmagical Ajes who occupy her ancestral homeland of Ife; to escape the King’s brutal genocide of her people—the darker skinned, magic wielding Oluso; and to live peacefully with her secretive mother while learning to control the terrifying blood magic that is her birthright. But when Dèmi’s misplaced trust costs her mother’s life, survival gives way to vengeance. She bides her time until the devious Lord Ekwensi grants her the perfect opportunity—kidnap the Aje prince, Jonas, and bargain with his life to save the remaining Oluso. With the help of her reckless childhood friend Colin, Dèmi succeeds, but discovers that she and Jonas share more than deadly secrets; every moment tangles them further into a forbidden, unmistakable attraction, much to Colin’s—and Dèmi’s—distress. The kidnapping is now a joint mission: to return to the King, help get Lord Ekwensi on the council, and bolster the voice of the Oluso in a system designed to silence them. But the way is dangerous, Dèmi’s magic is growing yet uncertain, and it’s not clear if she can trust the two men at her side. A tale of rebellion and redemption, race and class, love and trust and betrayal, Forged by Blood is epic fantasy at its finest, from an enthusiastic, emerging voice. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

[semper-legens]

33. You're Not Supposed To Die Tonight, by Kalynn Bayron

Owned: No, library Page count: 228 My summary: Charity is a final girl. No, not for real - she plays one at the simulated horror movie game that is Camp Mirror Lake. This season's not going so great, though. She's basically been left alone in charge of a bunch of other teenagers to run this entire operation, and her staff keep ditching her. It's frustrating enough, but then weird things start happening. Shadows on the cameras, strange things in the lake. And suddenly, this camp doesn't feel like a game anymore… My rating: 2.5/5 My commentary:

Ah, Kalynn Bayron. She's an up-and-coming name in YA, but the only other one of her books I've read is Cinderella Is Dead, and I came away from it somewhat disappointed. But I've always felt a little mean for it. After all, Cinderella Is Dead has a defined audience that is very much not my demographic, so it's not really all that surprising that it didn't appeal to me personally. Doesn't mean people who are in that demographic would get nothing out of it! So when I saw this on the shelf at work, I decided to give it a shot. It's a lot closer to being my sort of genres - I like horror, although admittedly slashers aren't my usual style - and the premise of a fake final girl actor becoming a real final girl when a real slasher killer invades her summer camp sounded like an interesting twist on some of the standard slasher tropes. What I got, though? A book that was tropey and formulaic, that didn't really offer anything new over your classic slasher movies. I was kind of bored, and I think that's a massive shame, because there was promise there. So, let's get into it.

I think I can sum up my grievances against this book into two main points, so here they are. Number one - there are too many characters, and none of them are particularly well-defined. Our main character is Charity, and she's joined by a cast of other teens who are stuck at Camp Mirror Lake when they start being stalked by a real slasher killer. The fact that I can't tell you most of their names, or anything about them at all, should be indicative of the kind of story we're talking about here. Look, I know that in slasher horror we tend to paint a deliberately shallow cast of characters so it doesn't really matter when they start getting their faces sliced off, but these characters didn't really have anything going for them. Even Charity - she has a girlfriend, she's got a shitty home life that gets alluded to a couple of times, and she's responsible, but that's literally all I can tell you about her character. In slashers, stereotypically we get characters like The Mean Girl or The Jock or The Nerd, immediately recognisable archetypes so that we can distinguish them quickly. Here, there wasn't any of that, but there also wasn't much of anything. One of the teens liked talking about horror movie cliches? When they started disappearing/being killed off, I almost didn't notice, so ill-defined were they.

And the plot itself has no space to be anything other than the typical slasher-horror beats. Set up the setting and the characters, start making things go wrong and people disappear slowly, then have it build up until these kids are running around in the woods being chased by enigmatic maniacs with knives. It's a short book - in order to make any of its ideas a bit more interesting and fleshed out, or to do any of the deconstructive work that the summary promised, you'd need to double the page count, easy. Things move from A to B to C in perfectly predictable manners. It doesn't help that the beats and twists were either predictable or understated enough that I didn't care about them. One of the other teens was betraying the group the whole time - I didn't see it coming, but I also wasn't able to distinguish the characters enough to tell you which one was most likely to be a traitor. The cops are crooked and the guy running the camp was in on the whole slasher-killer thing - no fucking shit, guy was shady from the start, and the main cop we see was literally named for Matthew Lillard, so he's obviously a secret bad guy. The plot stayed on those rails the whole time, and there wasn't anything else there for me to latch onto. Sorry, Bayron. But this one just wasn't it.

Next up, a look back into history - specifically, the history of female husbands.

[bookcoversonly]

Title: You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight | Author: Kalynn Bayron | Publisher: Bloomsbury (2023)

[roseunspindle]

March 2024 Reading Wrap-up

Very engrossing. Also very vague on who's side is lying the least. ^_^

A fun little addition to the Kane Chronicles. Did want to beg that healer kid to please stop experimenting on themselves. ^_^'

Fun little read, though I think I prefered the drawings to most of the stories.

Finally finished this one. You can tell how unenthusatic Harry is about participating in the tournament. (Also very annoyed with Ron for his BS and even more annoyed with Hermione for pushing mostly Harry into forgiving Ron for being an ass.) Shame on Harry and Ron for their treatment of their dates. I wish Krum would have remained a main character from here on out. I really liked him. Poor Winky.

Three for three so far on me loving Kalynn Bayron's books, this one sucks you in pretty quickly.

Certainly began wondering if any kids were going to die in this book. Also seriously Mr. Mysterious Toyshop owner... full disclosure on the things you see is requested.

re-read, naturally the very beginning of the nod to the gremlins is always hilarious.

Qui-gon is a bit of a dick...not everyone is going to fall to the dark side dude!

Also the Jedi must be doing something wrong where children genuinely feel they are "failures" if they do not become knights. Also the "we are not to know we are to do" massively rankles. I did like the arch Obi-wan went on in the book. Your light saber shouldn't be your only answer to everything.

[slaughter-books]

Day 23: JOMPBPC: Got What They Deserved

[island-in-ignorance]

Just finished You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight and wow. If anything this book proved to me that I in no way am emotionally strong enough to be a Final Girl in a horror movie.

I'm so uncoordinated I would take myself out on accident while the Killer just stares at me, slightly amused and mostly annoyed.