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.

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. 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!!

"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.
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I have MAJOR mixed emotions on this book. First off, I'm amazed I managed to finish it without throwing up.

BLOOD WILL OUT plain and simple is the story of a serial killer and their would-be victim. The main character, Ari's perspective is told in third person, while the serial killer is told in italicized first person. If that weren't creepy enough, the author travels down a rabbit hole of mind-f**kery by going way, way, waaaayyyyy too in depth into that mindset. I have to applaud myself for getting through the first half of the book because that was so twisted and disturbing that I actually felt sick to my stomach. I didn't need to read about this pyscho's penchant for murdering animals, then people, and making it out like it's a masterpiece of art. I really didn't. I don't ever want to meet the author if that's the headspace she had to be in to write this.

All that said, it was an interesting book. It got a little boring in the last half, and the big action scene at the end was rather difficult to follow, but it was a solid story. I liked Ari. Especially her resilience to her circumstances. She did more than I thought she might, so I admire her for that. The pain, the torment she endured, it was believable and not hard to picture actually happening. Her friend, Lynn at first I thought was a bit of an ass, but she grew on me in the end.

The story itself is of course one of those where the entire book is you trying to figure out whodunit. I have to admit that I did not guess who the murderer was. However, when it was revealed, I laughed outright. It was, in my opinion, rather preposterous, especially after being hand fed the entire time that it was someone else. Looking back though, a few things made sense, like the colour blindness *waggles eyebrows*

2.5/5

This is your typical story about a girl who gets kidnapped and tries to run away from the killer, all the while the reader is trying to figure out who the killer actually is.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of BLOOD WILL OUT in exchange for my honest review.***

***WARNING animal torture/murder***

BLOOD WILL OUT is one hot mess. Early on the italicized perp recalls killing and blood letting a piglet at age nine, which automatically turned me off to the book. I never, ever need to hear details of an animal’s death. I’m okay reading about people murdered in graphic detail (though I might skim if it’s too bloody), but leave the animals alone.

Chapters alternate from the perspective of the perp and Ari, the teen in the cistern and from present to past in random fashion. Ari in the cistern was full of tension and pulse. I tuned out her backstory because it was bland and I just didn’t care. The kidnapper’s history, though one dimensional, interested me, but I could have done without the animal parts.

BLOOD WILL OUT had so much potential with unfortunately lackluster execution.

This novel, although fantastically written, just wasn't for me. I found the writing style a little stiff and scenes didn't flow, so mush as were pushed together. That being said the protagonist is fantastic.

I'm just going to start off by saying, while this book isn't a home run, I also don't understand the intense negative reviews that it's getting on Goodreads.

While the plot is pretty basic, y'all know the tried and true; a girl has been kidnapped, escapes and has to figure out who the murder is, but can't because she has some kind of amnesia. It also deviates from the norm a bit, by offering you the alternate perspective from that of the kidnaper.

This book is written in 2 halves, the first half is well paced and deals with the initial kidnapping and escape. The second half of the book is a drag on finding out who the killer is.

As this book is intended for YA it wasn't too sophisticated in terms of the writing, for example when the kidnapper was finally revealed it really wasn't a shock. The problem that I have with this book being written and directed towards YA is that while the overall writing fits the content at times is just wayyyyyyyy too much in terms of violence.

Overall the story had mass amounts of potential but the writer just couldn't bring it there, it feels like this book is caught between wanting to be geared towards adults, but not having the ability to bring it there, so just settling for being YA.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for my honest review!

I guess i had high hopes for this novel. I would recommend changing the title of this book. That alone was confusing for me. The author wrote very well but this story just didn't have the WOW factor, i was not captivated or drawn into this novel like it had the potential to do. If you enjoy a YA novel about a kidnapping and escaping then this one is for you.

Thank You NetGalley!

This book was an addictive wild ride!
Told from two points of view, it had me second guessing myself throughout. Well written and thought out, I tried to figure out who the serial killer was while reading, I had it so wrong! 😂
Ari was a resilient fighter who refused to be pushed aside. I enjoyed the way she was written. Just a little bit shallow with a whole lot of heart, tenacity, and a unbridled love for her best friend.

I cannot continue reading this book for three main reasons. It is a very generic YA thriller with the same trope and opening scene as all of the rest. I have also heard that this book exploits mental illness and perhaps even uses it as a plot point. Lastly, this e-arc is formatted so badly it's barely legible. Here is an exact quote from 2% into the book, " 'elp,' she yelled, over and over again. 'Someone? Please,
H
help me!'"

That is literally how it is formatted. I cannot stand to read any longer, I am sorry.

I haven't read a thriller in a while and unfortunately, it was a pretty predictable plot (except for who the killer was). That isn't to say I didn't enjoy it. There were a lot of familiar tropes, standard even. I did like the inclusion of the flashbacks of the killer that were included especially since they gave misleading clues that made discovering the killer a very shocking twist - though it managed to feel unfulfilling at the same time. There's a lot of mixed thoughts on this book. It's cliche enough if you want a Silence of the Lambs-esque story to get into the suspense genre but a bit lacking in the general execution.I have a lot of grievances with the writing, the formatting and with some of the reactions from other characters when the MC, Ari, returns and tries to cope with what's happened to her.

All in all, there were times where I was kept guessing, I was genuinely surprised by the identity of the killer and I did enjoy the flashbacks of how the killer came to be and how they viewed themselves. 3/5 is fair enough.