I very much loved My Heart is a Chainsaw, the first book in this trilogy. Don't Fear the Reaper didnd't inspire the same love, but it's still a great book and a fitting middle book.

We return to Proofrock, Idaho four years after the events in My Heart is a Chainsaw. It's December and there's a snowstorm a brewin'. Jennifer Daniels- don't call her Jade- is returning to town. She'll find a lot has changed, but there's something still the same: the town is in for a night with a very high bodycount.

Once again, Stephen Graham Jones explores how horror movie tropes permeate our lives. But this time he adds a serial killer and a very claustrophobic blizzard. To describe the plot would take away the fun of reading the book. There's a lot that happens and a lot of twists and turns along the way. There are digressions and non-sequiturs and all sorts of shenanigans. And there's a thing with an elk.

This feels like the middle book of a trilogy. Graham Jones is both commenting on the first book and laying ground for the third book. I look forward to the third book coming out to see how he ties it all together.

At the end of the day, I loved My Heart is a Chainsaw and I really very much like Don't Fear the Reaper. This is a good horror series with a lot of fun easter eggs and commentary. Much recommended for horror fans.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Don't Fear the Reaper, the second book in the Lake Witch Trilogy, by Stephen Graham Jones from Gallery Books via NetGalley.

Not very long ago, I finished My Heart is a Chainsaw, the first book in this trilogy, and I was SO EXCITED when I got an email that I would be getting a copy of Don't Fear the Reaper! I already had about other five books checked out of the library and teed up to read, but I set them all aside for this one. I couldn't wait to find out where this story would go.

Some time has passed since the first book, but the events of that book still haunt many of the characters. How could they not???? You definitely want to read these books in order. While Jennifer/Jade is still a main character, we have a new voice writing papers for history credit. I'm wondering what that will mean for the final installment in the trilogy. Horror movies still play a leading role. There are still supernatural elements even though a legitimately real serial killer is on the loose. Fans of horror movies really need to read this series.

Don’t Fear the Reaper is a fast-paced fever dream of a novel, touching on most of if not all the tropes of the horror genre. It is marked by radical dynamic style shifts, multiple points of view, and jumps in the timeline. In typical Stephen Graham Jones style, it seems to exist in a world slightly different from our own, one in which the inhabitants have not only seen all the same horror films we have, but also accept that they can and will play out in real life. There is a slight sheen of surreality throughout. You shouldn’t expect it to make total sense, governed as it is by the peculiar internal logic of the conventions inherent in slasher cinema, but the mixture of humor, heroism, and horror is compelling nonetheless.

Its predecessor, My Heart is a Chainsaw, took its time (after a fairly gory literary cold open) before it got into the mayhem and bloodshed. This time, the reader is expected to be familiar with the setting and the rules, such as they are. There is not much world building involved. This book smacks you right in the face pretty much from the jump and never lets up.

Teenage butt-kicker Jade Daniels is back and ready to once again face down evil with her cynicism, her sardonic wit, and an improvised weapon or two. Don’t Fear the Reaper is not for the squeamish, but is instead designed for the reader who is interested in a breathless and often stream-of-consciousness rollercoaster ride through the realm of hostile nature, conveniently-absent cops, downed communications, hapless teen victims, mystical spirit animals, creative massacre techniques, weirdly humanized bogeymen, and self-aware final-girl-type heroes.

Having read several of Jones’s prior novels, I was eagerly anticipating this one. It did not disappoint. His style is unique among writers of horror fiction today. If you like to buckle up, grit your teeth, hold on tight, and roll with it, this book is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Thank you for this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had high hopes for this book, Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones. However, I was immediately disconnected due to the author’s writing style. It just didn’t engage me.

Don't Fear the Reaper is a continuation of the My Heart is a Chainsaw story. If you enjoyed the first, you would love this one. Final girl Jade is back and is using the name Jennifer. She is determined not to get involved in a messy life again but that doesn't happen! There are the usual horror culture references and a lot of gore. The plot gets confusing at times, so you need to pay attention. Although slasher books aren't my favorite genre the sheer skill of this writer will bring me back to book 3 as well.

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones is a superb and engrossing read with a great plot and engaging characters. A great follow-up to his previous book. Well worth the read!

Wow! Wasn't sure how this would work out, but darn, it does. Jade is my hero. There is a lot going on in this one. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thanks for the reader's copy, NetGalley!

AHHHH. I loved this story. It's creepy, brilliant, clever, and terrifying. I loved the first in this series and although this is not my usual genre, something about Jones' work keeps drawing me back. If you love terrifying, suspenseful, visceral stories - this is an excellent work.

"My Heart Is a Chainsaw" was one of my favorite books of 2021; it's knowing, self-referential tone mixed with its wonderful heroine, Jade Daniels, reminded me of my favorite slasher films of times past. I had high hopes for "Don't Fear the Reaper". As a sequel, it should be bloodier, wilder, and more audacious than its predecessor, with both a new antagonist and a few throwbacks to past dangers. Stephen Graham Jones knew this, and boy, do things go off the rails immediately. While "My Heart Is A Chainsaw" had a slow burn to its violence, "Don't Fear the Reaper" revels in danger and fear right off the bat. At the center of the chaos is the reluctant Final Girl, Jade, who'd rather just be a supporting player getting her life back together after fighting legal troubles for the last few years. Unfortunately, Jade has to use her wits and horror movie knowledge to get her and her friends out of death-by-hook range, and of course, the horror is happening during the worst blizzard that Proofrock's ever seen...

I loved this book! It started with a bang, had lots of great return characters, some new characters, and a truly terrifying antagonist. If you love Stephen Graham Jones's writing style, you'll get a lot out of this one - it's more of what you loved from "My Heart Is A Chainsaw" in the goriest, most action-packed sequel. This book was apparently 500 pages? I had no idea. It blurred past as I had to find out what happened next to our heroes!!

While I liked this book I also felt it was a little confusing at times with so much going on. Once again, Jade is one of those characters that I have a hard time liking but Letha on the other hand is a badass!

Unbeknownst to me Don’t fear the Reaper is actually a sequel to the book My Hear is a Chainsaw, which I have not read. Based on others opinions I felt I could read this request without reading the first one which, looking back, was a mistake. Don’t get me wrong, this book was well written with both setting the scenes but also getting us into the heads of the characters. I do feel though if I had the back groin knowledge I would have enjoyed this book more. It was a good horror read that involved a great combination of gore, murder and back story that still kept me interested.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

I didn't realize that this was a trilogy when I read My Heart is a Chainsaw (I must have missed the memo) so imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail offering an ARC of the follow-up. I may have screamed in excitement.

So it's a few years after Jade (Jennifer) saves the day despite fiercely believing that the final girl in the Lake Witch Killings should have been Letha Mondragon (see my review of My Heart is a Chainsaw). Jade has been released from incarceration and Letha is having issues with her prosthetic jaw (to the end of a lot of wires and liquids). Sheriff Hardy has retired and spends his time manning the dam where his daughter, Melanie, died under suspicious circumstances during which Jade's (Jennifer's) mother, father, her father's friend, the town's pervy janitor, and the town mechanic-person (they were not these people at the time) were present.

Jade (Jennifer) has come home. But something else is coming, as well: The Dark Mill South killer who has been serial killing across state lines, but changing his modus operandi as he goes, so it took authorities a long time to connect the dots. He is violent, there are rumors he is Native American, and possibly believes he is revenge-killing for murders that happened long, long before his time. He is being transported, but Proofrock is about to get the storm of the century such as it would be in Idaho.

Can you see where this is going?

In a town that has already endured so much loss, tragedy, and horror, a killer is hiding after an avalanche allows his escape. Several teens turn up missing. There is a spirit elk on the loose. And the snow keeps piling up. But is this the open and shut case of an escaped convict let loose in Proofrock that it seems? Or is there something else happening under the cover of a very convenient escape?

And what do Jade (Jennifer (Jade)) and Letha have to do with it all....again?!?!?

Now, I absolutely adored My Heart is a Chainsaw. I have read novels that are love letters to books. I have read novels that are love letters to the 90s. My Heart is a Chainsaw was the first love letter to horror movies that I have read, and I didn't know I needed it so badly. Its follow-up does not miss the mark, although it was more terror-gorey (possible???) than its predecessor and less psychological analysis-y.

In addition, there was so much going on. We return to a ghost from the first book, there is possibly a new ghost in this book, and more. I was disappointed with the continued breathing of one person in particular. Seriously. Why couldn't he be a victim already? But it was not a let-down by any means. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish it (nevermind that I was up because of a sick kid, I was jumping at noises!!), and I was not disappointed.

Bianca, Gallery Books, and NetGalley...please please please don't forget me when the third installment comes out because I can't wait because I will own all three (in hardcover!!) and they have a place on my bookshelf already.

This book is more than a sequel – it’s literally an extension of the previous novel for years later. If you like the first one, you’ll like this. If you wanted something different, you won’t find it here

When I received approval on this arc I cried. Months after wishing, hoping, and begging to anyone who would listen my dream came true. So giant thanks to Simon & Schuster and the man himself SGJ. Don’t fear the reaper begins with Jennifer Daniels returning to Proofrock, a changed woman; after years of legal messes and trials from the Independence Day Massacre; she’s putting horror behind her. While catching up with old friends bad luck comes calling again when a snowstorm of epic proportions blows in leaving her to fight again with new foes and old demons. Dark Mill South the notorious serial killer shows up after an avalanche hits his transport caravan and he escapes. So Jennifer is forced to slap on her old eyeliner and slip into Jades shoes again. This was so good. I missed Jade the second I finished My heart is a Chainsaw. Mixing the old with the new a love letter of sorts to current slashers I was mesmerized. Thank you SGJ and thank you Jade. Until we meet again for the for the final installment…

They say a sequel is never as good as the original. I find that to be true in most cases. But this book defies that statement in the most spectacular way possible.

I absolutely loved My Heart Is A Chainsaw and this book has been on my radar for a long time. It was more than worth the wait. Not only is Jade back in fine form but some of the characters from the last book really get to be a big part of this one.

Oh yes, there's slashery goodness and bloodshed galore with a killer that would be at home in a horror movie. But, there are also some reveals and twists that keeps you on your toes and guessing.

There are also so many references to slasher movies and Jade is not the only one who are using the rules of these to hopefully live a little longer through the carnage.

It's the writing style that pulls all of these elements together though. Stephen Graham Jones dares you to not look away as his written razorblades cut across your eyes. And you'll do it gladly.

Although I watched several slasher movies in my teen years , I am not a lover of these movies. That being said, I thought this was a very good book. I can see that for someone who is a big fan of this genre of movies that they would like this book even more than I did.
Our story revolves around Jade, who is released from prison and returns home to Proofrock. With little time to adjust to being home , mayhem returns. The story is well written and although a lot of horrible things are going on, there are a lot of very good characters here, including retired Sheriff Hardy, Letha , her husband Deputy Tompkins and of course, Jade/Jennifer. I don’t like reviews that give away too much of the story, so I’ll just say that if the story sounds appealing, pick up a copy and give it a try, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! Happy reading!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. Here is my honest review.

I loved "My Heart Is a Chainsaw", so I was super excited to be selected to read the sequel, "Don't Fear the Reaper". I have read a lot of Stephen Graham Jones, and this one does not disappoint. It was fun to see the continuation of Jade's story, and I loved the constant references to classic horror movies, mostly from the 80s and 90s. I do need to watch more of them.

I can't wait to see what Mr Jones does next!

Jade Daniels is back!

Unfortunately for Jade, the slasher-obsessed final girl of Stephen Graham Jone’s My Heart Is a Chainsaw, her arrival back home after four years in prison thanks to the events of that horror masterpiece comes as a perfect storm is brewing in Proofrock, Idaho. A storm both literal, as a brutal blizzard descends on the small town, and figurative, as Dark Mill South, an escaped serial killer, also arrives looking for victims.

As I think about it, perfect storm may not be the right metaphor for Don’t Fear the Reaper. A kitchen appliance is more appropriate. Jones tosses the bent-but-not-broken Jade into a blender with the blizzard, Dark Mill South, a couple of potentially supernatural, murderous entities, a large handful of returning characters (those who survived the past novel, anyway), and a mysterious, revenge-driven killer of the home-grown variety, and sets that blender to puree. There’s also a troubling, traumatic high school scandal thrown into the mix. The result is a bloody, chaotic concoction sure to satisfy every horror fan.

I said chaotic up above, and I meant it. The threads of this novel are many and tangled, but Jones always has a firm hold on his material, and never allows it to spin out of control. His writing style is a heady mix of breakneck action and inventive mayhem, but he never loses the beating heart of the story.

Like My Heart Is a Chainsaw, Don’t Fear the Reaper is a knowing love letter to slashers. If there’s a royal court for final girls, Jade Daniels sits the throne. The body count here may be high, but so is Jones’ clear affection for Jade.

One final thing…I wish I had re-read My Heart Is a Chainsaw before tackling Don’t Fear the Reaper. First, because it rocks. But also, as I said, there are quite a few returning characters from the first novel, and a refresher on who is who and who did what would have been helpful. It’s not necessary, as Jones does a fine job of re-introducing everyone, but my memory isn’t what it used to me.

Okay, a final, final thing…even if you don’t normally read acknowledgment pages, please read them here. Jones elequently thanks the many folks who helped bring Jade to life, including several teachers. As the father of a high school English teacher, this made made happy.

Don’t Fear the Reaper, book 2 in the Indian Lake Trilogy, debuts February 7th, 2023. This one deserves an immediate pre-order. Do it for Jade.

It was a pleasure venturing back to Proofrock and getting to experience The Jade Daniels again. I love this homage to slashers and can’t wait to read the final part of this trilogy.

This one isn’t as strong as its predecessor. Whether that’s because I read it too slow or because I got bogged down trying to recall all the details from book one that I couldn’t remember - well, either of those are possible. I think the setting was way scarier: a snowstorm, total whiteout conditions, with wind so loud you couldn’t hear even a vehicle coming until it’s right on top of you, snow so high it’s impossible to run, cold sharp enough to cut through all the layers. That’s terrifying, and Jones WORKS it.

Also, the descriptions of the bodies were absolutely epic. Gory and vivid and latching onto that “weird” thing that would immediately catch your eye before proverbially zooming out to show the whole gruesome picture.

But I think the weakest part of this was not really having Jade at the center. We drifted so far away from her that I felt she was almost unrecognizable until the very end when we finally got to sit in her head for more than a few pages at a time.

Definitely still hype for book three!