Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have started and stopped this book numerous times since its release, and I'm sad to say that I have to DNF it about 20% in. My Heart is a Chainsaw was one of my absolute FAVORITE books last year, but this just did not live up to its predecessor unfortunately. It didn't have the same charm as the first book; I found the multiple POVs to be confusing instead of adding to the story. And I found myself lost and confused about what was going on a lot of the time. I will pick up Stephen Graham Jones' next work, but this one I have to put down.

An electric follow-up to My Heart is a Chainsaw, this novel feels fresh in the way that it builds on and expands these well-loved characters while giving us a gorey, slashery mystery that we can't wait to sink our teeth into. Jade is the frontwoman we all want to root for, and I can't wait to read the final part of this fantastic trilogy.

In the sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw Stephen Graham Jones really ramps up the gore. The grizzly deaths are not left until the end, the book starts with very graphic horror. But we knew what we were in for.

Jade (it's Jennifer now) Daniels returns to a much changed Proofrock after 4 years in jail. With the promise of free college tuition, there are many newcomers in town. Obviously when Jennifer returns to town, terrifying serial killer Dark Mill South escapes his prison escort and immediately begins murdering teenagers.

Even with the high body count, the first part of this book is slow and tense as we are introduced to old and new characters. Unlike Chainsaw, the perspective is not Jade's alone. I think this is a good choice because we have more of an understanding of the impact of these killings on regular townspeople.

And of course, though this is a slasher, there are many tender moments when Jade lets her guard down and accepts help and love.

She's ba-aack! Jade/Jennifer Daniels has returned to Proofrock and things are not like the way she left them. Sure, there are a lot of familiar faces (or what's left of their faces after Movie Night all those years ago) but everything else has changed. Jade included. After those years in jail, she doesn't even know the slasher movie references anymore!

From a slasher standpoint, I actually prefer this to My Heart is a Chainsaw. There's plenty of gore and horror, and unlike its predecessor, it's spread out from cover to cover. But as a piece of literature, Don't Fear the Reaper takes its rightful second place. If you're new to Proofrock, you must read My Heart is a Chainsaw before diving in. Otherwise, nothing will make sense. And even for then, there's that characteristic arms-length vibe that keeps the reader from truly knowing Jade, Proofrock, or any of the nightmares they've been through.

Like Stephen Graham Jones's other works, the writing style is challenging. By that, I mean the prose is stark, dramatic, and defiant. Reading this is a dare. It's art that you're meant to interpret. For that reason, I struggled with the ebook version. I had to wait (and wait and wait!) for my library to get a copy of the audio so I could enjoy the multiple narrators. It was worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Ok. This book really needs to be re-written from the ground up. I was so confused on when Toby was chasing the mythical dark robe person or at the vending machine or back at the hotel room. The names passed around in the first few scenes can really trip a reader up in connecting with the characters and the book. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is book two of a trilogy of books centered around a woman named Jade Daniels and the lakeside town of Proofrock, a place as certainly cursed with killers as it is blessed with final girls. Set a few years after the events of My Heart is a Chainsaw, we meet up with Jade as she returns to her hometown just before a terrible snowstorm which will snow in Proofrock and most of the surrounding region- a snowstorm that also coincides with both the escort of dangerous serial killer Dark Mill South and the beginning of another series of murders.

This Jade, now falling back on her given name, Jennifer, has been through much after the events of that last terrible summer, a long series of trials, a release and a great deal of trauma in the wake of everything she thought she understood about slashers and the workings of her hometown. Subdued, even chastened, she's older and not any more certain about how she fits than she was before everything changed. In some ways she's trying to leave Jade behind, start over again as best she can and all too aware how those events changed the town and the people who survived. She's shocked to meet Lethe, her chosen final girl again, to see her married and now a mother. Worse she finds herself none too ready for it when they're both pulled back into the slasher movie rules by which she survived that last summer night and must now use to survive whatever killer hides in the blizzard. Is it Dark Mill South? Has Stacey returned for more revenge? Or is there something new rising from the scars of the old wounds of Proofrock? Jade isn't who she was but does that mean that girl isn't part of where she might end up?

Jade is a final girl, and she is an all too real example of what it is to grow up and into adulthood under the weight of trauma, loss, and neglect. What part of that old you was worthy? What about you was wrong? How do you carry the weight of what happened and how you behaved while the trauma was a fresh wound that carried you more than you carried it? What will you be now that that part is over? What is your strength when all of it feels incredibly painful to process? Can you make it through this again? How will the new Jade cope when it feels like the world has circled around to the old horror but with new victims? It's not easy growing up when nothing stays the same.

I loved this one just as much as the first and found this an even more satisfying g read for all the growth of characters have been through. Definitely a singular series unique to the author and all the better for it.

A triumphant sequel to My Heart Is A Chainsaw! Stephen Graham Jones continues in his total love letter to slasher horror and fans of the genre with DON'T FEAR THE REAPER. This book is so good and it doesn't even feel possible or real to have read something like it. I am totally impressed and engaged in the story here and cannot wait to read the third upcoming book in this trilogy!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick. Our library purchased and our patrons have been checking out and and enjoying the book. I see it is a popular book club choice as well we hope to have more oppurtinies to support authors like them

I DNFed the first book in this series but I figured, why not, I'll give the second book a shot. Nope, wasn't for me. I thought the book was a continuation of Jade but there were multiple POVs instead of her that were focused on. The plot was super muddled which made it super tedious to try to read. I hate to say it but I think I'm giving up on enjoying this author's works.

*Many thanks to Gallery/Saga Press for the gifted copy for my honest review!

Stephen Graham Jones does it again. I was swept away into the world of Jade Daniels and never wanted to leave. I will be recommending this book, along with My Heart is a Chainsaw, for anyone asking for a great Halloween read.

There isn't a Stephen Graham Jones book that I haven't loved so far! I was introduced to him after speaking with a librarian friend that told me to check him out after I mentioned loving Grady Hendrix-she certainly did not steer me wrong! I devoured this book!

Don't Fear the Reaper is the second book in the Indian Lake Trilogy. You really do need to read the first book, My Heart is a Chainsaw, before you try to tackle this one. It picks up a few years after the first book left off and if you don't know the events of its predecessor, you'll be completely lost.

Everything is different now: Jade, the obsessive slasher fangirl who couldn’t stop relating every calamity to a title in her mental horror rolodex, is not only older, but after surviving the mysterious mass murder at Indian Lake on Independence Day, she’s quieter, more reserved. Traumatized, she now goes by her real name, Jennifer Daniels, always correcting people from her past; normalcy as her new armor. She must play it straight now; since she’s one of the sole survivors, she’s suspect. And even though she knows she’s innocent, we can tell part of her feels responsible — she wasn’t orchestrating it, but her commentary affirmed all the pieces would fall into place, in order for Proofrock to become victim to a self-fulfilling prophecy of her ultimate fantasy.

Don't Fear the Reaper is an intense homage to the classic horror films

I was so happy to be back in Proofrock with Jade, Letha, and the rest of the cast of this trilogy. Jones is so masterful in how he melds horror and heart, beauty and grit, sometimes in the exact same moments. I loved how he wove so many different references and story lines together, especially as he kept revealing new twists and turns throughout the story (he had me guessing for a good long while).
Perhaps my favorite thing about the book is Jade's overwhelming reluctance to still consider herself a final girl but remain so dedicated to figuring out what's going on and trying to stop the killings. Well, that and Letha still being the awesome badass that she is. Never change Letha.

If you are a horror fan, and especially a slasher fan, and want to take another trip with Jade, Letha, and everyone else in Proofrock, definitely give this book a try.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

Another brilliant novel from Stephen Graham Jones. No one is doing Indigenous horror, or horror in general, the way he is.

I did not like this. Did not realize it was part of a series and past events in prior books mattered to this one. Cannot recommend. Do not bother.

Thanks to NetGalley, Stephen Graham Jones, and Gallery Books Saga Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book I've read from Stephen Graham Jones and I just didn't quite click with it. His writing style is often confusing for me. I will say, out of all of them, I followed this novel the best. It was classic "final girl" once more. I enjoyed the twist and didn't expect it. Definitely an enjoyable follow up to My Heart is a Chainsaw. Just as gruesome, gory, and horror-filled!

Graham Jones always terrifies and this follow up to My Heart is a Chainsaw was a beautiful partner to the original story. I will read anything he write.

Middle books are hard - I enjoyed the actual action of this book a lot, but the "who" and the "why" and the "why is this framing structure" just did not work for me. The mini slasher film chapters were fantastic but the whole thing did not, for me, hold together (I know many disagree.)

This terrifying horror sequel of My Heart Is a Chainsaw certainly isn't for the squeamish. If you read the first one, you'll love this one even more. The carnage is splashed across the pages, displayed in such a gruesome way for the reader to attempt to devour and digest the scenes without recoiling in either fear or disgust.
Extreme violence and gore makes for an intense story.

I had wanted to LOVE My Heart is a Chainsaw, but sadly I didn't. I still went into this sequel with an open mind, because Jones' writing is out of this world, and I did really enjoy Jade's character in the first book. I'm happy to say that this one lived more up to my expectations, and it was a much more enjoyable read than I felt Chainsaw was.

That said, if you're not into slashers, look away! Emotional slasher is what I would genre this series, and Jones doesn't hold back when it comes to the slasher aspect!

I enjoy a good slasher story and this one does not disappoint. It kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages. Please note, this is definitely a slasher story, SGJ does not shy away from the horror - which I love. If that is something you can handle in a book, this one is a great ride.