This was a dark and creepy middle grade horror that was more brutal than I expected, especially considering the age range for this story. I felt the all encompassing dread and hopelessness of the children in this story, facing something terrible and horrifying on a night that’s actually supposed to be fun.

I loved the writing style, and the absolute brutality of being a child. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a creepy story to read this year’s Halloween.

This was such a freaky, scary horror! I’m actually bummed I didn’t save this until Halloween because it’s the perfect mood for spooky season. I really enjoyed this, thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the arc!

CW: child death, blood, gore, violence, bullying, toxic friendship, murder, death, child abuse

Every year on Halloween night, three children are pitted against each other in a ritual that has been going on for who=knows-how-long. The rules are simple: one must die so the other two can live. This year, Sam, Benjamin, and Maggie are on the block.

I found One Must Go to be a very cinematic experience. It's a story that would not be out of place at all in an anthology series - just the right size for a 45 minutes to an hour long episode. The majority of this story takes place in a 48 hour time period, keeping the action nice and tight.
There is somewhat of a reliance on flashback, which isn't always successful in such a short piece - I thought Maggie's particularly went on a little too long. Benjamin was the least reliant on flashbacks for his character and I also thought he was the most successful and believable.
I saw some reviewers that were dissatisfied with the ending, but I do think it works here; it all loops back to the cinematic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the copy. My opinion is my own.

A great read, especially for spooky season!
Very well written and fast paced, well worth checking it out.
The protagonists are children and they go through the wringer in this book. It takes a while for the action to truly commence - exception is in the prologue that starts with the end of the previous year's ritual - and it served to present to use to our protagonists - Benjamin, Sam and Maggie.
Out of these three Maggie I would argue is the weakest section and character, which is a shame but is a consequence of not actually being friends with Sam and Ben before the action, where these latter two are "best friends".
There is gruesome descriptions of dead children - and of children getting injured - so it's not a book for anyone to pick up.

I truly appreciated the timeline of this book as set by the author (all in the same night).
I absolutely loved seeing the characters presented as well as each of their complexities - and the many twists and turns we get to experience!
I was reeled in from the very beginning and found myself unable to put it down - also helps it was a short read as well ( a little over 200 pages).
Overall, it was a fabulous read, will definitely be rereading this in the spooky season!

This was a fun read. A good book for spooky season. It was a fast read with great descriptions. If you like creepy kids, pick this one up.

The blurb reads like one for a middle-grade book, but the language and humor are from a YA book. The target audience? Adult.
This is no IT or Boy's Life. I have a hard time believing it will have wide appeal for an adult audience.
I give it three (very reluctant) stars because I finished it.

In the compelling and haunting novel "One Must Go" by Alex Reid, the annual selection of three middle school children for a deadly ritual plunges readers into a chilling tale of survival, sacrifice, and moral struggle. Each year, the capricious god chooses three young souls, granting the luxury of life to only two, provided they unanimously decide who among them will be offered to the dead. The story follows three such children: Sam, a volatile and vengeful boy, harbors resentment towards those who have wronged him; Benjamin, Sam's timid best friend, trapped in a cycle of fear and loyalty; and Maggie, a stoic girl who has faced death's door before. As the clock ticks down, the characters' desperation intensifies. Sam seizes the opportunity to settle old scores, unleashing a torrent of violence and manipulation. Benjamin, caught between his terror of Sam and his moral compass, grapples with the weight of the decision before him. Maggie, haunted by her past, seeks a way to break the cycle of death. The narrative delves into the complexities of human nature, exploring the capacity for cruelty and compassion within each character. Reid's skillful storytelling captures the reader's attention from the outset, weaving a tapestry of suspense, horror, and psychological depth. The characters are skillfully crafted, their actions and motivations believable and relatable. The plot twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very last page. "One Must Go" is a thought-provoking examination of the human condition, delving into themes of friendship, loyalty, and the lengths to which individuals will go to survive. While the novel's premise may initially draw comparisons to "The Hunger Games" series, Reid takes a unique approach to the survival genre. The focus is not solely on the physical struggle for survival, but also on the psychological and moral toll it takes on the participants. The exploration of the characters' inner turmoil and moral dilemmas elevates the narrative beyond a mere fight for life and death. Overall, "One Must Go" is a gripping and thought-provoking read that challenges readers to confront the darkest corners of human nature. Alex Reid's skillful storytelling and exploration of complex themes make this novel a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, psychological thrillers, and stories that delve into the human psyche.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very fun short read. It could have been a bit creepier but honestly really enjoyed the story. I do wish we had gotten more at the end, how are Benjamin and Maggie as adults?!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Wicked House Publishing, and Alex Reid for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This would be a great Halloween read. I really enjoyed the book and couldn't wait to see how it ended. It was fast paced and kept my attention.

A story about survival and facing your fears. This was such a fast paced and quick read. A great read for the lead up to Halloween! I did find it a bit confusing at points but that didn’t stop the book from gripping me. I just had to know what happened. I do, however, wish this book was slightly longer and they delved into the lore a bit more.

This would make a great Halloween read. I really enjoyed it. Once it got going, I couldn't put it down. It reminded me of the Hunger Games. There were a few unanswered questions but maybe that leads us to a number 2?!

What would you get if you mixed a mini Hunger Games type situation with Halloween?

One Must Go: A Horror Novel.

One Must Go follows the stories of three children. Sam, a rough sixth grader who really seems to enjoy picking on people, pulling pranks, and giving others a hard time. Ben, Sam's best friend, who is pretty much the complete opposite of Sam - sweet, innocent, and still loves watching cartoons in sixth grade. And Maggie, an 8th grader pitching prodigy who goes to a prep school, and is hiding a tragic secret.

Halloween has always been a favorite for Sam and Ben - Sam to steal candy and scare little kids, Ben to try and enjoy the holiday and get candy. But this year, Sam goes too far in the preparation for Halloween. It sets the tone for the rest of the holiday.

The next day, they go out and Maggie ends up finding them after an unsettling moment, and she sticks with them. They are then met with a terrifying realization that this Halloween isn't going to be like the other holidays, and they aren't sure which of them are going to live to see future Halloweens. They are given the night to decide which of the three will be sacrificed, all the while trying to avoid the terrifying army of corpses that are following them and attempting to make that decision for them.

There is a lot of disturbing descriptions in this book. There's a lot of terror, but not just from the corpses. You see what children can really do when they're faced with a life or death decision. You see madness and see when people realize who they truly are. I was on edge for quite a few moments, especially once Halloween night actually hit.

I was also confused about some things. The amount of people out trick or treating really seemed to fluctuate. They were crowded when they needed to be, but then one street over, the street completely lined with pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns were desolate. Do kids really keep trick or treating until 11 pm? Even when I was a kid, the majority of kids and teens were home by 9 or 10.

All in all, I really enjoyed this creepy read. Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Reid, and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC!

This was a unique concept for a horror novel i thought the idea of a sacrifice being used was great and that the entity was a drunken God. it had the scares that I wanted and worked well as a plot. I felt the characters were interesting and I wanted them to survive. Overall, I was invested in what was going on. And that the world just is interesting as what I was hoping for. Alex Reid has a great writing style for this type a book.

This book follows a group of friends who are basically fighting for their lives in a battle that seems impossible to win. Only one will fall prey, and I didn’t see it coming. This was a creepy, tension-inducing read with a splash of gore and character building so skillfully laid out it’s easy to love and hate the characters throughout. Enjoyable read!

i wanted to like this a lot more than i did. i love halloween and i enjoyed the characters. but the plot felt rushed and it left me wishing for more. it might be a personal problem as i am desensitized to the horror genre, so there might be a creepiness factor for others who choose to read this!

i was confused by the constantly switching povs and i was left disappointed by the predictable ending. if i read a book about kids being forced to kill each other for a demon’s entertainment, then i want it to ruin me, but this just felt “okay”. the first half was great and it kept me engrossed, but i feel like the second half, which should have been fun due to the appearance of said demon, felt like a slog to get through.

thank you to netgalley and wicked house publishing for giving me an earc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book was eery with a good amount of suspense. It wasn't terrifying but just the right amount to engage the reader.

** 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 **

Every night on Halloween three children are chosen. Two will survive. One must go.

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘮'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦; 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮"

I think that about sums up how I felt about Sam. Immediately hated him. By the time I got about 25% of the way through this book, I was ready for that little prick to be dragged to the pits of hell where he belonged. I actually found it hard to continue on with the story for the first 50ish% because of just how much I hated Sam and hated having to read from his POV. (but also kudos to Alex Reid for being able to make me feel that much emotion towards a character.)

Benjamin on the other hand was my sweet little angel who I just wanted to go through the page and hug and get him away from his "best friend". I also really enjoyed the character development that Benjamin went through. However, because Benjamin's character felt so developed, it made the other characters feel a little underdeveloped especially Maggie. It felt like Sam and Benjamin were the main characters and Maggie was just thrown in to add a little spice.

For all the doubts I had during the first half of this book, the second half came in and chopped them all to pieces. I loved the second half! It gave everything I was hoping to get from this story. The suspense, the tension, the anticipation of what was going to happen next and who was going to make it through the night, I ate it up. ** I do want to point out though that there is a somewhat graphic animal death that is not listed as a warning in the beginning of the book so if you tend to be sensitive with that kind of content, beware **

I do wish we would have gotten to delve a little more into the history behind the ritual and what/who exactly Fomori was. The ending was a little vague with the explanation of "why" the children are chosen, which I could see a lot of people disliking. It did remind me of the scene in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 though when the wife asks "why are you doing this to us" and the woman responds "because you were home", so I actually kind of liked the vague and rather unexciting explanation being the ending.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the second half was definitely a lot of fun! If you're looking for a fast-paced horror that gives the creepy and the gory, I would recommend you check this one out, especially if you're looking for a good Halloween read.

This was an extremely well written story. It catches you from the first sentence and doesn't let go till the very last. I was truly on the edge of my seat in parts. I loved this little book. Can't wait to read more by him.

One thing is for sure, this is going to be a great read for Halloween if you are looking for one.

Every Halloween three children are selected to make an impossible decision. One of them will be sacrificed. But that is not all. They get to choose who will be the sacrificed one.

The lives of three children will change this year. Selected by a mysterious man, they are asked to offer one of their lives before sunrise.

A fast paced entertaining story that takes place during one Halloween night as we follow the three kids trying to make an impossible decision when running is not an option.

The children are all complex characters and have their own backstories, strengths and weaknesses that will all contribute to the final outcome.

A lot of things happened in the book and the action kept the story moving forward adding up to the tension leading up to the final battle. The horror came more from fear and the unknown but it had a good amount of blood and guts to satisfy horror fans.

This is definitely a great read for people that love some gore and fun during Halloween season.