Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lucky Girl by Mary Rickert is a chilling horror and thriller novella that will appeal to fans of Catriona Ward or Grady Hendrix. The story revolves around Ro, who invites four strangers at a diner to a Christmas dinner party. At the party, after an exchange of gifts, they decide to tell ghost stories. But as time passes, will the horror from the tales enter their real lives?

Here is a captivating excerpt from an opening chapter:

"We met there, eyeing each other across the narrow space from our separate tables, hunched over various stages of the Thanksgiving special, a glop of mashed potatoes, slabs of turkey that looked cut from a loaf, wet bread stuffing, and limp green beans, all coated with oily gravy. What someone like Adrienne (sitting alone at the small table beneath the window, wearing dark glasses and a scarf around her neck as if a spy) was doing in Dell’s, I couldn’t guess, though, after Keith introduced himself and suggested we all sit together to make a holiday out of it, she confessed to be recovering from a bad breakup. The conversation was awkward, as might be expected amongst strangers, loosened eventually by the wine Grayson graciously ordered. He was quite gregarious. Charming in a way I found off-putting. He said he’d been a frequent patron of Dell’s and had come to “pay his last respects,” which I thought was an odd way of phrasing it, though I suppose that’s what we were all doing. I didn’t recognize him, but thought Keith looked familiar. He, however, said he’d never been there."

Overall, Lucky Girl is a gripping horror and thriller novella that would make the perfect Halloween read. One highlight of this book is how the horror creeps in gradually. It doesn't start off with a bang, but the horror settles in slowly. Certain elements are introduced in the beginning in an innocent context, and they call come together near the end. Another highlight of this novella is that it had two climaxes. I was only expecting one, so I was ecstatic to read two. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of horror novellas, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!

I really liked this short story but I'm left with SO MANY QUESTIONS! Which is usually the sign of a good story. Can't stop thinking about it. Just how old is Jovy? What happened to Adrienne? How did Lena really die? This could be a whole novel I think...

We joined each other for Christmas dinner. "We weren't really friends, just people who had formed a union out of loneliness." "I wasn't sure I liked any of them, but they had gotten me through an unbearable day and for that, I was grateful." "I harbored a secret hope we would form the sort of intense, almost-familial union I'd seen in friendships depicted in movies...That Christmas, after the delicate bubble of conviviality we created over dinner...All I wanted was to get through the night."

An after-dinner lull in conversation led to the suggestion, by struggling writer and dinner host Roanoke (Ro), why not tell ghost stories? "Don't ring the round silver bell etched around the perimeter with holly...if you ring it monsters come." Who are these monsters? A ghost tale of Krampus, ugly frightening creatures...crude depictions on stone walls...Krampus in all their grotesquerie..." Now add a Christmas reunion in a haunted house on a snowy night....

"Lucky Girl: How I Became a Horror Writer: A Krampus Story" by Mary Rickert is a novella of Christmas gatherings by five lonely souls, imagining thoughts of Krampus lurking in the shadows. A one-sitting horror-lite read.

Thank you Tordot.com and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Perfectly spooky, atmospheric and creepy. Lots of twists and turns. I loved this haunted Christmas tale.

I didn't love it but didn't hate it. It just felt like it didn't really go anywhere and I didn't really connect with the main character. I did not see the ending coming though, that was a nice surprise. I felt it ended abruptly as well. I felt the same about this book as I did Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw, so if you liked that novel I suggest giving this a read when it releases.
Thanks Tor for the advanced reader copy!

Ro meets four other college students at a diner on Thanksgiving. For different reasons they all find themselves alone for the holiday. They decide to meet up for a Christmas party and gift exchange. At the party, they takes turns telling ghost stories. Grayson's is the creepiest about finding a bell that belongs to Krampus. Years later, Ro is a successful author basing her horror stories on events she experienced along with Grayson's story. Grayson invites them for a reunion. Who knew that their random meeting years ago would change all of their lives? This was a quick read and the story is creepy.

Mary Rickert packs a big punch in this little novella. I only wish I could have read this tale by the glow of the Christmas tree lights!

"Lucky Girl: How I Became a Horror Writer: A Krampus Story" follows struggling horror writer Ro. The victim of an unimaginable and unsolved crime as a young girl, Ro finds herself alone in a diner on Christmas. Things take a turn for the creepy when she and a group of lonley strangers decide to get together for a spontaneous holiday celebration. The evening ends with the sharing of spooky tales, and a promise to meet again next Christmas. Their collective story over the decades leads the reader to question--are all our monsters real or imagined? There are a suprising number of twists and turns for such a short work, and all were satisfying.

I devoured this read in one sitting and would recommend it to any horror fan. It is not overly gruesome, so it would likely also appeal to thriller fans looking for a different kind of "Christmas story."

Thank you to Tordotcom Publishing for the ARC.

I absolutely love this book. Fast read and a creepy Christmas tale! Highly enjoyable! I would recommend!

3.5 stars

Definitely creepy and weird. Nothing like I’ve ever read before. This was a super fast and well written book though, however I just dont think it is for me personally. I think there are many that would love it though.

I didn't love this as much as I was hoping to. It was a wild ride, for sure, and it moved super quickly--it was very easy to read in one sitting--but it didn't come together for me super well.

Lucky Girl is a fast but intricate basketweave of horror. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, the narrative was flipped on its head. Haunting and crisp, this story sings with a slow-building terror that feels like Andrew Shaffer's Secret Santa meeting Cassandra Khaw's Nothing But Blackened Teeth.

This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley. I don't love the genre of horror, but I do enjoy mystery and intrigue. This book was a quick read with much mystery and even more intrigue. Don't read this expecting likable characters; they truly are not...the story is dark and forboding...people meeting each other and then seeing one another periodically...the gift giving of stolen items was different to say the least...getting into the minds of these characters is just not really possible. The story moves quickly to an ending that is somewhat surprising...this author has woven a story that is just different.