I did not have vibe with this book whiel reading it. It was interesting but feel the execution was just missing something.

Reading this felt like playing a video game or watching a jumanji movie and I was absolutely here for it. There were moments within this that the imagery just absolutely stuck with me and it felt so unsettling and fun. There were moments that felt almost surface level and I feel like each character played a very specific role without having a ton of depth to them. That being said, it was a super fun and interesting read.

Japanese Jumanji? Sure, I’d be up for an adventure like that. The book really jumps right into the action, introducing us to four teens who are each having their own spooky encounters, with vague hints about a friend who went missing four years prior. These four (or five really) were close at the time but have drifted apart, but with these ‘hauntings’ they are suddenly being thrust back together. Once together we learn a bit more of the events that occurred, the five friends playing a game, one going missing and the others then lying to their parents and the cops about where they were and what really happened. Now four years later they have to finish the game. Being a fan of Japanese folklore (from other books and games) I was familiar with the creatures/spirits involved, but I do wonder if some Western readers might not find themselves a bit lost at first. That being said, the concept of the evil creatures and spirits is universal even if the specific creature types are not. I enjoyed the frequent POV shifts, with each of character having their own unique voice/feel, and the story is fast paced, with parts that are both creepy and exciting. I’d like to thank Tor Publishing Group, Tor Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Find Him Where You Left Him Dead.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1DY95J4FM5KW4/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons was totally entertaining and very different.

The storyline is fast paced and nicely compacted. It left me wanting more of it.
This book is dark and delicious in the best way.
Kristen Simmons did a great job building these characters and this amazing atmosphere. And I found myself invested in their story and outcome.
The story gradually builds in momentum as the story unfolds heading to an exciting conclusion.
A truly fascinating, head spinning and compelling tale I didn’t want to end so soon.
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead was an absolute delight to read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Tor Teen for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons is a story of five friends that started to play a game their freshman year. Only four remain after one of them doesn't survive and they all go their separate ways. Now that they are seniors, the ghost of their dead friend reunites them in the place where the game began to try to bring him home. The game takes them out of this world into the Japanese underworlds where they have to complete seven challenges to be able to make it back home. Will the estranged friends be able to reconcile their differences long enough to complete the challenges?

This book has been described as "Jumanji but Japanese-inspired" and that sums it up perfectly. I really enjoyed the integration of Japanese folklore into this YA horror novel. The mood during the entire story is very tense and there are lots of twists and turns and of course teenage drama. Although it did feel as some information (specifically the origin of the "game"), but it did not really impact the story for me I thought this was a fun, unique, fast paced read.

It was an okay book. I really like the beginning of the book, but towards the end of the book got confusing for me. I really like the characters and wish there was more of them and their character development and thoughts.

Four years ago Maddy, Emerson, Oliver, Dax, and Ian went exploring in a nearby cave. Only four of them came out.

Now, the four survivors are being visited by Ian's ghost telling them they must finish what they started. So Maddy, Emerson, Oliver, and Dax head back to the beginning in what turns out to be a high stakes, game in an alternate dimension known as Meido. Once the four are pulled in, they must play until the end or risk winding up caught in the game just like Ian.

I wasn't quite prepared for what this story ended up turning into. It started out like an eerie, creepy ghost story. I thought it was perfect as we get into the Fall time of year with Halloween on the horizon.

But when we get into the story, it felt like a send up of Jumanji with Japanese Folklore. I know going back and reading the synopsis (which I honestly hadn't done since I first heard about the book) it's pretty clearly laid out. Still, it was a surprise for me. I almost wish we had stayed in the creepy realm a little bit but when putting it into a context of a game, I wasn't as shocked or surprised by the various twists and turns. Maybe there would have been more benefit in keeping the true nature of expectation a mystery for a while until the quartet is truly ensconced within Meido a bit more. Because as it stands it's as though there's an early objective, and that is to get the characters back to Meido in any way shape or form. For me, this clearly causes issues with some of the plot threads. A lot of chance, a lot of happenstance. A lot of kind of turning a blind eye to the aspects that don't add up because that's just the way things need to be in order for the story to progress.

I felt from the onset that we, the readers, are dropped in the middle of the story. There's very little initial exposition given as to what happened four years ago and how that moment has gotten our characters to where we see them in the beginning. Instead that past information is built up through flashbacks and ruminations. I think this was smart because it really sets a fast pace which easily pulls you into the story. Plus, once we know the full extent of what happened then, for me, I was able to piece together a little bit more that's actually revealed as a twist down the line.

I liked that each character is so distinctly themselves and we're kind of seeing how each has been impacted by Ian's disappearance. Maddy threw herself into the swim team, Emerson quit school and sits at home gaming from sun-up until sundown. Oliver decided to make himself as popular as possible by joining the theater club at school so everyone knows his face. Dax also dropped out and spends most of his time playing his music in the coffeeshop - also the group's former hangout.

Their relationships with each other are so central to everything that happens and everything that happened. The impact wouldn't be felt as much if these were random kids all finding themselves stuck in Meido. It means something that they are together and it means something that they used to be friends and Meido has essentially broken them all up. Their connection and trust will be what gets them through or also potentially what condemns them all.

The atmosphere is hectic throughout and I feel like sometimes this makes the story difficult to visualize while reading. Even with all of that, however, the four main characters are like anchors keeping the story, for all intents and purposes, grounded. The chapters switch points of view between Maddy, Emerson, Oliver, and Dax.

There were moments I was surprised by the choice of viewpoint for certain sections because often those characters wouldn't be the main focus. I found this a lot with Emerson and Maddy's sections early on. For example, you would think Maddy being the main viewpoint she would have the most action during that chapter, but then things would be more focused on Emerson and I would wonder why we weren't getting her perspective instead, it felt a bit muddied sometimes like maybe those were edits made at one point but not everything caught up.

This story is definitely setup as more-to-come. That becomes clearer as you get toward the end and realize that unless Kristen Simmons wants to leave a lot of open threads on purpose, then there is going to be follow-up. I feel both ways about it. The true ending is so tantalizing for what could come next, but I'm also often a fan of a single story even when not everything is tied up with a bow. Don't get me wrong, I will most definitely be picking up the next book.

If you're looking for a book to reading leading into the new season, I think this is a perfect place to start.

Well, this definitely lives up to the hype. Jumanji with a horror twist. As these teenagers try to rescue the friend they left in the game 4 years ago, they will have to trust each other or stay in the game forever. Japanese folk tales with all of their monsters included will test them at each level of the game. This story not only made a 5 star read, it would make a 5 star movie. Can we start picking the characters now???

While this book has a Jumanji-esque feel, it is very different from that story.

Based around a card game with a Japanese lore background, this is really quite an adventure. Almost too many different scenarios packed with lore... some ideas were slightly confusing. It's still entertaining, though.

The book started with a spooky ghost story, and I was excited to see where it went. But, the adventures soon turned more action-adventurey, and the spook factor dropped considerably.

The characters are easy to follow and understand until some twists happened near the end that made me wonder what the heck just happened and did I miss something? It, for me, made the ending less satisfying due to the character confusion.

The end did leave room for a sequel, which is a good thing for the characters involved. But, I'm not sure that I'd go on to read a second book. I enjoyed the book to an extent but not enough to read more (I do reserve the right to change my mind, of course).

I gave this 3.25 stars rounded down to 3⭐️. I would definitely consider reading other books by this author.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was wonderful! Advertised as Jumanji meets Japanese Folklore, it did not disappoint. Sprinkle in some dark Studio Ghibli vibes and it was like this book was written just for me.

From the beginning the book was very fast paced and at first I was a little confused but that was soon remedied. The pace of the book never slows but the author allows it to unfold very organically and in a way that makes sense. The characters were very believable and though the book progressed swiftly the characters all undergo exponential growth.

I also have to say that the authors take on the Japanese Folklore elements was masterful. They created a world that felt unique and somehow familiar without doing harm to the original tales.

The ONLY reason why this book didnt get 5 stars from me is becaue there is a point where the characters get seperated and for a large amount of time you dont know where or what happens to them. They just reappear out of nowhere. I still find myself thinking about that part of the book and it bothers me.

That being said, I have pre-ordered a finished copy to share with my daughter and have in my collection. I am excited to revisit this world again and I sincerely hope there is a part two in the future.

A nightmarish underworld becomes the backdrop as a group of friends engage in a deadly game.

I found myself pleasantly taken aback by how much I enjoyed this book. Simmons managed to maintain a perfect balance between suspense and character development, ensuring that readers not only stay glued to the pages but also form a deep connection with the characters with POVs throughout the story.

As a horror enthusiast, I truly relished the chilling monsters and gruesome scenes. There were moments that genuinely rattled me.

Definitely a perfect read for any horror fans out there this spooky season!

Years ago, five friends started a game, and one of them didn't make it out. Now, present day, the remaining four are being haunted by the friend they left behind. They must go back into the game, find him, and bring him home.

I thought this had promise. I think a prologue could have helped situate us. Or even a first chapter in the past where we see Ian get left behind. We are just thrown into the plot without any understanding of the characters or what this meant.

This book was advertised as "Jumanji but Japanese-inspired" and blurbed by Kendare Blake? Count me in.

This is a fast paced YA horror / thriller, and it's the perfect season for releases like this.

A fun fast read. I definitely recommend!

3.5 rounded down
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead follows the reluctant reunion of four childhood best friends, who drifted apart after their friend group lost Ian to a game four years prior. On the fourth anniversary of his death, Ian's ghost(?) summons the four back to finish the game, where they have until dawn to complete the rest of the game before they're trapped in the Japanese underworld permanently.

This book should have been right up my alley. Japanese folklore, horror, following a path, etc. etc. But it felt very detached. There were also wordy descriptions and confusing dialogue that made me have to reread certain parts. The chapters were also suuuuuuuuuper long, which isn't a problem per se, but they were tiring to get through. Things aren't fully explained to the reader, so I was very confused at some points. I thought the underworld itself was cool, and I liked the twist on Izanagi and Izanami's story. I liked the reveal regarding Dax, but I also didn't feel as connected to this reveal because we don't have many flashbacks and didn't "grow up" with these characters, so to speak, so the emotions regarding that reveal fell flat.

One potential issue is the discussion of privilege and performative allyship. Mainly the fact that the character calling out Emerson for being performative (which she doesn't seem to be?) is Black. The author is not Black. The author is POC, but not Black. And so while I see where the author was trying to go with it, I did not like that the author was, in a sense, speaking for Black people. It could have been a way to show how Asian American history is also whitewashed by having the mixed Asian character point it out. I would call out a white author doing the same, and while there are valid points to be made, the Black community has made it clear that they can and would like to speak for themselves. I'm also confused because Emerson just goes back to marches at the end of the book. So what was the problem? This was a very surface level discussion of a very nuanced topic.

This book is definitely spooky, but suffers from incredibly slow pacing and confusing writing.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for this Arc and I’m sorry for the late review.

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is about a group of five friends that played a game as young children which consequently made one of them disappear, and they’re quest to get that friend back.

I’m all honestly I really liked this book, the premise and the story were so intriguing and I loved the challenges they had to overcome, and I’m glad to say the plot twist at the end came right out of left field and I didn’t even see it coming! The only gripe I have with this book is the fact that there’s so many POV’s and just when your starting to understand one character it changes to another and you have to do it all over again.

But all in all I have this book a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 star, and I’ll definitely read the next one if there is another one as the ending kind of hints too.

Actual rating: 4.25
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead tells the story of four friends who, four years ago, used to be the Foxtail Five, but the group played a game that caused one of their friends to go missing. Now four years later, haunted by visions of the missing friend, Ian, they return to the cave where they lost him to finish their game.
My mind is racing in the aftermath of finishing this book. It was such a fun and adventurous read. I think the claim that it is like Jumanji is well founded. The world of Meido was so atmospheric and creepy. There were multiple times throughout the story where I found myself tense, rooting for the group’s victory or gasping at the twists. While I would say the twists weren’t especially hard to figure out, that didn’t make the reveals any less enjoyable.
I think if you are interested in Japanese folklore and myth, you will love the world Simmons has created. On top on the setting, Simmons offers some in the way of discussions regarding race. As a biracial, Black person, I found myself relating a lot to both Maddy and Owen, especially Owen’s struggles with being somewhat disconnected from his Japanese culture.

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons is a creepy and extremely intriguing Japanese-inspired novel where we follow a group of high school seniors as the find themselves inside a game where they have one night to complete a series of challenges or else risk being stuck in the game.

This book had me wishing I could watch the OG Jumanji and had a similar vibe and feel to the All of Us Villains duology. I enjoyed this immensely. I thought the plot was not just extremely complex but very well done. There was a light touch of social commentary with discussions on race and queerness which I found quite refreshing as the cast of characters were of different sexualities (ACE, Demi, Achillean, etc) and color. Because of the plot's imposed time limit, it was action-packed and always forward moving and I had a lot of fun with this book.

My one gripe with this novel is that it took me far too long to become invested in these characters. I think because of how forward-moving the plot was and how many characters we flipped perspectives on, there never really was enough time to build into who these kids were. There was a lack of exposition on the character's personality traits and their differences until much, much later on in the novel when certain tasks required a lot of reflection into their actions and choices.

I think also the flashbacks added to the lack of distinct narrative voices between the characters cause not only did we have four different POVs to follow, but we also had two separate timelines to keep track of. It is a most definitely a highly ambitious novel, and while for the most part it did deliver, as a charactr-driven reader it lacked quite a bit on this front.

Nonetheless, this was a really fun novel and I highly recommend adding it to your October TBR. It’s sufficiently creepy, the vibes are immaculate, the representation is great, and the book was really entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel had an interesting premise noted as 'Jumanji but Japanese inspired'. As I read, I felt it was more Jumanji meets Truth or Dare.

Find him where you left him dead meets the criteria for all things gore, blood and violence, but it failed to provide me with any shock or scare. I was expecting to end up with goosebumps as my heart races, trying to save the characters, however that wasn't felt and the characters fell flat for me.

Special thanks to Netgalley & Tor Teen for providing me an advanced readers copy.

I was so very excited for this book based on the synopsis and what some of my favorite authors have said about it, and while it wasn't bad I was slightly underwhelmed. I think I got my hopes up a little too high for this one and the reality didn't quite fit what I had built up in my head, but either way I'll try to lay it all out for you. The idea was strong. It was an interesting idea from the start and it's damn original, so kudos to Simmons there. The characters were fairly interesting too, they were unique enough that I wasn't confused about who was who, but I do have to admit that a couple of them kind of bugged me. Not all of them, but I didn't love about 2 of the main 4, although eventually one of those two did end up growing on me. I think my biggest problem here, aside from some confusion I had while reading that I'm not 100% sure wasn't just because I was reading an ARC and not the final version, was the POV's. I love a good multiple POV book, and honestly I think most books could be...if not improved at least made more interesting with additional POVs, and I feel like the same could be said here. Although not in the same way I normally do. Here I think we just needed a little more. Each challenge was only seen through one POV, and that's I think where things broke down just a little. To me we needed to see things from more than one POV within each challenge, to get the full view - especially in the later chapters when the characters were separated, but that's not what we got. In the end I think we missed something because we only got to see one POV. I had questions that were just never explained and threads that were just dropped and it drove me a little insane. I think it's because of those things that I couldn't rate this book as high as I was hoping, but it was still enjoyable, and Simmons certainly left it open for more, which I would be curious to see where it went. I will also be happy to recommend this to people if they're looking for a book that fits this bill, and I'll certainly keep an eye out for whatever horror novel (or novel in general) that Simmons puts out next.

Content warning: body horror, spiders, blood, mind control, being trapped in small spaces, mental health struggles

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

So FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD is being promoted as a horror Jumanji mixed with Japanese mythology. And while those elements are there, I guess I expected more Jumanji-style plot points than we got. I also wish that Simmons had better explained the card game Meido. As a reader, it felt like we were missing something that would allow the plot as a whole to make more sense. This ended up being more mystery/thriller than horror for me, but that might just be my take on it.

I liked the concept, I thought the plot twist at the end was interesting (though it leaves this book on a cliffhanger of sorts and I thought this was a standalone so that's somewhat annoying), but unfortunately, the characters felt flat. Because of that, it was hard to get invested in what was happening.

It's a quick read, but I was hoping for more out of it based on the synopsis.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen in exchange for an honest review.