I hate to give this book another low rating, but it just wasn’t that great. And I think the author could definitely learn from the mistakes of Blood Will Out and write a really great second novel (maybe not in the thriller genre).

First off, the formatting is horrible. There are sentences with weird spacing, and still several grammatical errors, but I can look past that.

What I can’t look past is how boring the book is. Especially in the beginning. The main character Ari, is trapped in a cistern (large hole) for a THIRD of the book. To me that was entirely too long for her to be trapped in a “gripping” thriller. For the same reason 127 Hours wasn’t as popular as it could have been with a man stuck between rocks for the whole movie, Ari stuck in a hole for a third of the book was equally boring. And not as inspiring.

Another issue I had, was the killer was very cliche. In the beginning we’re not sure who the killer is, but we get a lot of their backstory, and it felt overused and a little fake. For example, the killer’s parents are extreme Christians and make the killer read the Bible, and provide whippings. OH AND THEY ALSO LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. And I don’t want to give anything away, but the killer has to do “some things” to get work, and there was never a moment where they were affected by it, or decided because of that, their victims were going to fit a certain profile.

The killer reveal also wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been. You know when you find out who the killer is and then everything in the whole galaxy just clicks into place? There was none of that.

Also, I may be stupid, but I didn’t understand the title. There’s a section that “explains” it, but after reading it several times, I still didn’t see why that specific phrase was chosen.

And the last thing I want to touch on were the character developments. Mostly, there were none. None of the pages of backstory added up to anything, which made it seem like filler. And there really wasn’t any great lesson learned, or any great change the main characters made, you know, after almost dying...

This book has been described as 'Silence of the Lambs for young adults' and that description was enough to get my interest. I love YA thrillers and I found this a tense, intriguing read overall, although the comparison with 'Silence of the Lambs' is a hard one to live up to.

I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Ari and the killer's viewpoints, as it's not something I've seen done in many YA books. Some readers might find the killer's sections disturbing, especially in relation to animal cruelty. I felt that overall the killer's backstory added another dimension to the story, offering clues about who they might be.

The plot kept my interest and had some scary and unexpected twists. In my opinion, some of the characters' motivations were a little hard to follow, but I found Ari's reactions to the events convincing and I rooted for her as a character.

I read this book in a short time because the overarching mystery kept my interest and there were some tense moments. I'd recommend this if you're a fan of YA thrillers and I'll definitely look out for more books by Jo Treggiari.

Blood Will Out is a super creepy serial killer book. Ari wakes at the bottom of a cistern, injured, with no memory of how she got there. I spent most of the book trying to figure out the killer and was surprised by the ending. I think that the alternating points of view were extremely effective, even though the killer's chapters didn't help me discover the identity of the killer. I worry that the descriptions might be a bit too graphic for some of our younger high school readers, but this book will definitely appeal to our older readers.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The books description had much potential, but I did not like this book at all. Its always hard being honest, when I dont like a book.

First, the formatting, grammar, spelling and overuse of words is a complete distraction and can ruin the best of books. Please look into this before publication

Secondly, was this book YA or not?

Most importantly, if you are going to deal with serious themes- animals, murder, mental illness it needs to be done right, appropriately , and fit right into the storyline - which is hopefully a good one.

Would not recommend this book

Really not for me, I struggle with alternating viewpoints unless they are very carefully written. I did not finish.

When Ari wakes up at the bottom of a well with no memory of how she got there, her fight or flight instinct kicks in and she goes into survival mode. After she manages to escape from the well and is rescued by the police, they arrest a suspect and Ari's case is wrapped up nice and neat with a shiny bow. Except, now Ari's best friend Lynn is missing an no one believes Ari's suspicions about a serial killer being loose in their nice and quiet town. So Ari takes it upon herself to play cat and mouse with a serial killer and she just might find herself caught in a deadly trap.

This story kept me guessing and I never even suspected the person who turned out to be the culprit. I enjoyed seeing the villain's point of view because the look inside of this person's head was downright creepy and disturbing. They were quiet and unassuming but their true nature and thoughts were menacing and terrifying. The author obviously did research on serial killers because this book was spot-on. This is a riveting psychological thriller that will keep you perplexed until the very end.

I don't want to give anything away here, but as I was starting this book, I remember thinking that the librarian character was really poorly written (likely because, as a librarian, I am sensitive to our portrayals in fiction). The book is compellingly written, but it's pretty far-fetched. I was disappointed at the final reveal.

This is my first DNF for the year, as much as I wanted to try read it until the half because it looks interesting, hoping I would somehow like it but I ended reading it at page 57 and this are the reasons why:

1. Confuse af. There are a lot of point of views, different timelines or not that I just didn’t get. It’s hard to get into a world when you don’t even know what world it is. I don’t even know if there are multiple perspectives. It is an interesting way of writing, mysterious. but it’s not my cup of coffee.

2. The second chapter is so dark it creeps me out. It has animal torture that made me put down the book automatically.

It was interesting but as I said above it was not my cup of coffee (yet). I’ll probabaly read again or atleast try when I’m ready. If you love a mysterious dark vibes, then this is your cup.

Wow okay where do I start? This was terrible, the only reason I was able to finish it was that I wanted to know who the "serial" killer was. The characters were flat, they were almost forgettable. 

It was told in interchanging POVs between Ari and the Killer, which was cringe to say the least. It just felt flat like a really bad Lifetime movie. I was excited then I wasn't. It seemed like the author didn't do much research either to make as realistic or at least logical as possible.

i gave up after chapter 2. this was not at all what i was expecting or looking forward to. i love horror, i love serial killer stories, i love creepy. but this was just disturbing in an awful way. also, seconding everyone else who has said this: mega content warning for animal abuse/slaughter. i mean, i prefer knowing that animals are treated humanely for food (weird logic, but hear me out), but for someone to just straight up *enjoy* it and mention adding the image to their sketchbook...nah.

I am sorry, I need to DNF this book. The torture of animals is not something that I can read. I tried to muscle through by skimming over those sections but then I was missing entire portions of the books. Pretty much all of the 'psycho' character's chapters. This book sounded interesting in the synopsis and I understand that the author was trying to show, that this person is a psycho or sociopath who began his lust for blood with experimentation in torturing and killing small animals and then escalated to where he is now, but I just personally felt it was too much. I always have a difficult time muscling through a scene or two in a book that involves an animal being killed but this was above and beyond what I chose to partake in. There are so many books out there to read, I simply cannot finish one that is so far against the grain for me. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and wish I could have made it through. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 so I'm rounding up. I actually really like this one. No, the writing isn't very sophisticated. Yes, the writing needs some serious editing and adjustments, but the story itself was enjoyable. This is a quick read full of suspense and twists. I didn't go to deep into the plot and perhaps that helped. If anything I did a lot of skimming, but that seemed to help me enjoy it more. Either way I liked it. Hopefully, after some editing this book will be easier to read, so others can enjoy it.

Unfortunately with so many things currently going on in my life, I didn’t get a chance to finish this title. I will however be purchasing this to pick up where I left off.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

It certainly won't be for everyone, and it may have not have been the book for me. It is told from the perspective of the serial killer (first person) and the would-be victim (third person), and the first have contains a LOT of very graphic detail from the perspective of the killer involving animals and such.

I definitely would not recommend this book to the squeamish, as there are scenes in this book that can make your stomach turn. I did enjoy the mystery aspect, and I liked when the killer was revealed.

The writing was a little average, and I thought the flashbacks were confusing. This story had potential, but unfortunately, the premise was too ambitious for the quality of writing.

Overall, I thought this book was okay, but it certainly had its flaws.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to love it but I just don’t. I love the premise of it and I love mystery books like these but I feel like this book didn’t do the delivery justice, What I really liked was who ended up being her tormentor. It was different and unexpected. I did find this book a bit stilted in its words, Though I am glad I read it and would give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so darn good!! My heart is going a million miles a minute!
Seriously Ari is one fierce chick!! You really have to read this!
Ari wakes up at the bottom of a well and has to piece together her memories to figure out what happened to her. She also has to figure out how to get out before she dies.
The crazy psychopath gives you bits and pieces of their past and present along the way. It's a real glimpse into the predator's state of mind.
5 starts and a standing ovation!
Happy reading!!

This book had potential but didn't succeed. 
The book was sent out as a ARC yet it wasn't formatted correctly at all. 
The grammar was awful. 
The paragraphs weren't even attempted in trying to be formatted correctly. 
Sentences were stopped in the middle. 
There was wrong wording. 
There was random moments when the main character would have a "Ha, Ha" moment that was 100% not needed. 
The character and the plot would've been perfect if it was more suspenseful or if it was all in the past but it wasn't. 
I give this book 1/5 stars

"Blood Will Out" is perfect for fans of the "I Hunt Killers" trilogy by Barry Lyga. Treggiari's writing is killing. Scenes from the perspective of the serial killer are chilling and voyeuristic. You can tell Treggiari has done her research, sitting in the twisted psyche of a hunter. Though the twist at the end was strangely both expected--given the genre-- and unexpected, I felt as though it came up too abruptly. Also, what is it with teenage protagonists walking meekly to their deaths without ever thinking to ask for him. Get it together, Ari, you're not Bella Swan. Overall though, I found it to be a very enjoyable thriller.

I really enjoyed this book. It was refreshing for a book to be unpredictable. I did not see what was going to happen at all. Also, I don't usually like when a book is third person and the chapters rotate between different characters but I like this one.

It starts off with a girl in the bottom of a well. She doesn't know how she got there. Her memory is hazy from a head injury. She is trying to recall what happened. You also get to find out about the kidnapper and how they grew up.

A broken child forged in hell fire. The birth of a psychopath.
An aloof protagonist. A suitable victim.

This novel piqued my curiosity, and held it for most of the book. The element of who-done-it ever present. There were some areas of improvement that I will go in detail below for the author but mainly it felt as if there were two sides of writing from the same author at war with themselves. The book was slow to pick up, lacked some structure and some originality.

The story focuses in Ari a classic protagonist; doesn’t know she’s beautiful, not very popular, crushing on the King of the Jocks(cliche anyone?), with a out-spoken and sassy best friend (Lynn). Ari is more than content with her provincial life, being the belle of the ball(prom) her only desire.

Just as we stay tuned for another Cinderella story (yawn!), things get interesting!

A string of animal murders is found near where Ari and her classmates frequent, everyone starts believing a serial killer is on their midst.

This drives Ari to do some research in her happy place : the library. But is seems she is being watched …..how do we know?

Because Timmy fell down a well! Wait! Oh? Timmy? No! Not Timmy! Ari!

Yes Ari, wakes up in the middle of a cistern alone, in the dark, with a probable concussion. After days trapped and finding strength she is able to escape the well.

Now, stranded in the middle of the woods without food or water she has to find help, before it is too late. But that’s the last of her problems.

Some one tried to kill her. And she can’t remember who.

Then we get introduced to our main antagonist, while having a concealed identity of course!

We get some exposition to how a psyche of a child devolves into the hallow and detached mind of a psychopath. Even as we take an intimate look into the past that shaped the attacker we manage to never know who they might be, as appearances are never what they seem and masks are easy to wear.

Meanwhile, Ari tries to regain a semblance of normality, but she still feels in ways as if she never left the well. And shes’s not wrong, as our attacker likes to leave no ends loose and will finish what was started.

With no shred of evidence pointing to any suspects, Ari feels cornered. She knows they’re still out there. So she can’t trust anyone.

Everything will be put to the test as her killer has Lynn! The police and town relentlessly search to no avail.

Only Ari has a shot to save her, and she will decide what shes’s willing to risk when she can only lose.


Pros :
Dual Narrative
I really like the dual-narrative going on, I found it a refreshing choice. This improved the pace and lent the author more of a chance to delve into the “psyche” of a psychopath. Which for any author to attempt is a feat, and the author managed to do an okay job. Although, there were times that it felt kind of gimmicky, as if the author went through the checklist of the perfect storm and made sure the psycho/socio path fit all the boxes. But the author redeemed the writing by deviating her writing in a way.


"......Naturally, I was some-what trigger happy at the beginning. I loved the hot smell of the gun when it was fired; I loved the way bullets reshaped themselves like squashed stars after they had traveled through wood, bone or flesh; I loved the kick against my shoulder,the bruise it left, the aftershock of the explosions buzzing in my ear, the smell of kinetic energy"

"......But I couldn't. The numbness in me remained. The part of my transformation I had not yet mastered ; the lesson unclear; the eternal mystery, so dark and perfect...I would try to prolong the moment of death but the blood always overcame me. The iron scent, the color of it, rich and intoxication, washing over ...."


The author choosing 1st person compared to the victim’s third brings more focus to the psychopath. There is a more vivid imagery, and complexity to the character, leading to the feeling that the mind behind the thoughts was more meticulous. Until we reach a point where the psychopath has truly lost all disregard for others lives and basks in its nature.


“”…biting hunger sated until I realized dumb animals are no challenge ..It would be different when I killed something that new it was going to die….that could tell me the meaning sand flavor of pain…”


Plot twist
So the author pulled a Shamalan! Normally when reading some of these books, ar rather after reading many books one gains the burden/gift of foreshadowing. The author does a good job of guiding your suspicions two a couple characters, by dropping facts that work against our suspicions. However, the author does drop one small hint I appreciate that I hadn’t caught unto in the beginning.


Cons :
Other Characters
Besides the main two, although Ari did cause me to roll my eyes more than once the supporting characters needed some improvement. The characters seemed very flat and forced. I felt that there was no depth to them, and yes I know they were supporting and considerably smaller parts, but i think they should be more than a very visible tool for the main characters.(cuz….. you know…..they should be a person too!)

For example, the best friend who lives across the street who is always there with Ari, day or night, through thick or thin is not there fro DAYS after.

Ari. Was. Missing. For. Days.

Almost. Died.

And Lynn doesn’t visit or call her for days?!

It just seemed out of the m.o. her character of the fiercely loyal friend role. Although, we are given the reason that Ari’s parents, due to doctor’s recommendation said it was best to let her have peace and quiet it doesn’t suffice. Even, if she hadn’t had an exchange the author didn’t even have her try and fail to Ari.


"...Your're a girl for Pete's sake your supposed to live for shopping."

"I'm not that kind of girl."

"Oh really? What type of girl are you then? "

"The boring kind whose boring." ......"


In addition, some of the dialogue between them made me cringe at times, because it sounded to fake and forced. Personally, I think that supporting characters. lacked complexity. To clarify, I think author’s don’t need to go in depth, pages upon pages to build complexity. The complexity makes them more substantial and weight in a story.

Furthermore, we have on of the characters who used to ostracize Ari, for being unpopular but due to a even, has her have a change of heart. And the change of heart is so sudden and there is now feeling of embarrassment/shame or haunting regret from her side. This would have been a good chance for the author to add a little complexity to the side characters.


"....

"It makes it feel as if ....was never alive ...."

Ari took ****'s hands in her own.

"Not as long as you remember," she said. "As long as we remember."

...."


Ari
The main protagonist is probably someone many, could grow to love…but not me. And believe me, I gave her a fair chance. From the beginning we are introduced to her bland life, and I didn’t care for her but as the story developed she began to show more complexity (not enough for me). There were some inconsistencies, for instance: it is implied that she has always been bullied, or treated sort of like an outcast. She is sort of a push-over, and there an instance where she draws the line, so top speak. She goes from being content to run-away to being super livid over her dress taken away.

Not to mention that even though, she’s smart enough to know some potential suspects, and to have some form of methodology to narrow down suspects, she STILL does the dumb girl walks into cabin, with no weapons (a lonely screwdriver !) , and knowingly walks into a trap.


*Lastly, I think the author tried to focus and portray the aftermath in a person after they experienced trauma. Although, some symptoms of PTSD could be represented better, this in itself is note worthy because some would just ignore the fact that an individual would forever be changed after this experience.



Thank you #NetGalley for the chance to read and review.
This are my honest opinions.
I receive no compensations or benefits for the reviews.
Images are not mine and may be due to Copyright.
Fiendish Fandom
Fiendishfandom@gmail.com | fiendishfandom.wordpress.com| Follow us Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.