I was drawn to this book because of the Jumanji premise and the Japanese mythology of yokai that I love.
I like how the author collects the players into the game showing us each chapter at the start of each character facing a terrible ghost/memory of their lost friend Ian. After these chapters, we're plunged into a game in the underworld that focuses on the survival of these characters facing many demons and Japanese folklore. It's visceral sometimes and great for horror fans. There are plot twists and lots of action. The end was satisfactory and it is a story that will keep the tension going since page one.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this eArc.

once upon a time, five kids played a game in a cave by a river. only four went home. years later, the surviving four — Madeline, Emerson, Owen, and Dax — see their dead best friend (Ian) on the anniversary of the night he went missing. reuniting for the first time since that night, they return to the place he disappeared and find they have to finish the game they started together.

when they begin, they find themselves transported into a strange and terrible underworld, where they're met by a series of challenges they have to complete. if they don't complete all the challenges before the night ends, not only will Ian remain in the underworld forever, but so will the rest of them.

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is filled to the brim with twists and turns, lies, deceit, secrets, memories... basically everything I love in coming-of-age horror. some of the gory descriptions genuinely had my stomach turning, so this story is not for the faint of heart. the characters were all engaging (although I wish we had seen more of Madeline and Emerson's internal selves, especially toward the end of the book — some threads had been introduced that never got fully tied up by the end) and their relationships with each other were so well fleshed out! Ian's character is particularly engaging because of how much we don't know about him — he's defined by lack, by what he meant to the others rather than who he was himself. (seriously, I'd kill for an Ian spinoff.)

the plot was absolutely wild, and for quite a bit of it I was incredibly confused — but in a good way? characters lied, forgot, misremembered — it all contributed to a creeping sense of dread that I was only getting half the picture. or was I getting the full picture? who was telling the truth??? (don't worry, all is revealed by the end... or is it? you'll have to read to find out, I guess!!) Simmons demonstrated masterful control over the balance between showing the horror and keeping it hidden.

I read most of this on the subway, and I was so annoyed every time I had to make a transfer and pause my reading! five stars, through and through. I'm so glad I requested it on a whim!

I didn’t end up liking this as much as I thought I would. There’s some descriptions and imagery that I thought was really well done, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing in general. While the inclusion of Japanese folklore was interesting, I didn’t like the way it was shoved into the story.. it didn’t feel authentic to me. All the POVs were hard to keep track of and I kept getting them confused since the characterization wasn’t the best. I thought the way this ended was kind of cool actually, but by then I had already checked out unfortunately.

This is a very fast-paced, very clever YA horror novel that plunges you into its world from the first page. Some of the characters start out rather stereotypical, but all of them gain nuance and depth as the novel progresses. A perfect spooky season read.

This book does not hold back on the creepy imagery.m! The author is committed to getting you to reach for that nightlight. And I loved that.

I also liked to Japanese Jumanji type horror game element but I had a hard time being endeared to the characters and the writing felt very young adult, which is a genre I sometimes struggle with. I wish there had been more finesse in the world building of the game rather than just dunking the reader in.

I had to stop listening to this one at 20% it really wasn't for me I didn't enjoy it, and didn't care for the characters.

Contemporary fantasy meets horror and Japanese folklore in Find Him Where You Left Him Dead. I liked this, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. A lot of the book feels on the younger side of YA, though later in the book things get a bit more intense.

Early on, a lot of the horror elements feel pretty campy, but it turns into this fast-paced novel following a potentially deadly game that these friends must complete several years after they left their friend for dead. The characters spend a lot of the novel feeling more like a collection of tropes and attributes than fully fleshed out people. I wasn't entirely bothered by that because of the pace of the book and how much was happening, but it is a weakness. That said, we do get some good representation of biracial characters (one is half-Japanese and struggles with feeling not enough for both sides of his heritage- something the author might share as well), and we have queer characters including an ace girl, which is cool!

I do think there is a glaring plot hole in the setup of this book- if their friend went missing and they said they were at the coffeeshop all day, people would definitely interview witnesses and find out they lied. But again, to a certain extent that all feels like a means to an end which is this game in a sort of pocket universe with Japanese folklore come to life. Yeah it doesn't all make sense, but I don't know how much it matters for the story we're getting. It would have been nice to get some attempt at verisimilitude though.

If you aren't familiar with it, Japanese folklore can be creepy as hell and this draws on all of that. I liked the way it managed that integration and I think this would make for a good starter horror novel for a teen. Not a perfect book. but a solid choice and one I had a reasonably good time with. I don't feel like the cover gives the right vibes though. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

What a wild ride!!! This was the book I didn’t know I needed. I’m a huge fan of Japanese culture, so love Japanese fantasy; which are unfortunately few and far between (and it can be hard to find a good one). And let me tell you, this one was epic! I think this is one of my all time favorite bookish worlds! Kristen knows how to write unique stories, and this was no exception. Think Jumanji, but if it were an anime that takes place in hell. Sounds awesome, right?!

This 10/10 needs to be an anime. It felt like a book version of an anime, which I’ve only ever felt with one other book – Shadow of the Fox. It’s also disturbing AF, and I was totally here for it! I loved how creepy and twisted the world of Meido was. Kristen’s world building is top knotch, and I had zero issues picturing everything (even the things I didn’t really want to picture, lmao) in my head. I really loved the backstory of Izanagi and Izanami!

My goldfish-short attention span loved the fact that this picked up almost immediately and never let up. The action was non-stop, and there was never a dull moment! From start to finish, this book had me on the edge of my seat. Every single scene was more disturbing than the last. Just when I thought the trials couldn’t get any worse, they did. I adore books that can disturb the shit out of me. (Not sure what that says about me….) The tone and setting were both gloriously dark and ominous. The atmosphere of this book was a tangible thing!

I never knew what was going to happen next. There were a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, either! [spoilers removed] And THAT ENDING!!!! That was just plain rude. I neeeed the next book *cries*

The only complaint I have about this is that I never really connected to the characters the way I would have liked to. They were realistic, fleshed out, and well written; but I didn’t forge much of an emotional connection with them. (I really think this is a me issue because I’m not usually a huge fan of third person narrative.)

P.S. I can’t waaaait for the audio of this book to come out, I’m desperately hoping it will have a separate narrator for each character!

Original review posted on Novel Heartbeat

I really loved this! Granted, there are not many horror books I don't love, but this one took it up a notch with the Jumanji styled trials mixed with Japanese folklore.

I really enjoyed the four main characters. I feel like each was well-rounded and fully developed in a way that I could easily connect to. This was full of twists and turns that kept me interested along with the fast pacing.

Definitely recommend this creepy read!

Out September 26, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Love love love this atmospheric title by Author Kristen Simmons!! The storyline and characters, both were amazing!

I've Also read the article 5 Series by Kristen Simmons, and let me tell you, she absolutely doesn't disappoint with her new novel.

First of all: THIS COVER. YES. GO OFF.

With a cover/title/premise like that, how could I *not* be entirely on board? This is the twisty, surreal, JAPANESE JUMANJI (yelling for the folks in the back) nightmare game book of my heart. Thank you Kristen Simmons for delivering.

This was a breathless, ambitious thrill ride all the way through. However, despite containing SO much to love, I did end the book feeling kind of underwhelmed. The pace was a bit disjointed, somehow fast and slow at the same time, and from the pitch, I was expecting more genuine horror. Though there were great chilling moments, overall, it just ... wasn't that scary. The worldbuilding often felt difficult to absorb, with somewhat arbitrary & fluid rules, and I struggled to care about the characters -- which is kinda necessary when the plot hinges on caring about their survival.

Although I'm not bouncing off the walls about this one, there's still lots to love here, and I'd recommend for anyone who sees that cover and thinks YES.

[4.25 stars]

For whatever reason, I decided it was a good idea to read horror at night and it was 2:30 AM by the time I finished it. My heart was pounding and I became jumpy and I didn't know if I would be able to fall asleep. Sure enough, I slept at 7:30 AM.

But that's precisely what the author gets right in this absolutely unhinged horror novel! Kristen Simmons takes Japanese mythology and turns it into a chilling tale of friendships and Jumanji-like quests, only way more bloody and gory!

If you're someone who loves the spooky season and horror stories, and especially reading horror stories during spooky season, this is one you should definitely pick up.

Brrrr. That ending is still creeping me out!

Cannot wait for book 2 though!

I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Jumanji that’ll make you think twice before you play games with your friends.

If you know me you know that I adore KS and her work. She has this special way of instantly connecting you to her characters and that helps you get more invested in the story. She certainly knows how to shock her readers and I love it. Here she dips her toes into the land of the horror. I’m glad she has come to the dark side because we have the best cookies.

Another thing that grabbed my attention with this book is that it was Japanese folklore-inspired. That mixed with horror and a neat little game made me drop everything and start this book.

For this being her first horror novel, I applaud her. This is no easy feat but she pulled it off well. It makes me excited to see what other horrors are swimming around in her brain. This wasn't as horror-heavy as I thought it was going to be but it was still a read that I devoured.

This was an okay read. I think I enjoyed the first half more than the second. There were times I had to reread certain chapters or pages because I thought I had missed something. Things did move a tad bit slow and fast at times. Which is weird to say because they are very opposite things but that was how I felt at times. The ending will definitely leave you wanting more.

For an opening of a horror book this hit! We open and for the first few chapters, we as the reader are genuinely left scared and unsettled.

If you've read The Forbidden Game or seen the Pumpkin Tree, this has similar vibes. A game that was left incomplete that sold a loved one, that calls for completion if you want to be free and save someone. The intensity and fear is there.
Where I think this book went downhill was how fast paced it was and how late the lost connection/aka the reason they use to be friends was shown.

However, I will say the mythology and game was very interesting to learn about. We usually see western horror games and I love seeing new ones.

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is described as a mix of Jumanji and Japanese folklore. This is true, but it’s more like a dash of Jumanji and a heaping spoonful of Japanese Folklore. Throughout the book we are introduced to Japanese mythology concepts. This worked somewhat for the book, but at other times it just kind of came off as info dumping.

The info dumping probably comes from assuming that most readers of the book will be ignorant when it comes to Japanese folklore and mythology. And, this assumption isn’t wrong. As a reader, Japanese mythology is a foreign concept to me. I am completely unfamiliar with all characters and stories from this genre of culture-based beliefs. Because of this the author has to explain a lot of ideas in the book. Even though, by her own admission, she interpreted and reimagined some of the mythology to create the fictional world and characters in her book, it still takes either a lot of world building or a lot of explaining. While world-building probably would’ve been the better route to go in terms of story-telling, it would also take the longest to fully develop. Honestly, it’s a conundrum on what the better option should have been. As far as the pacing, the characters, and the storytelling go, there were also some hits and misses with these as well.

The pacing was extremely quick. The story picks up right from the first page, goes full blast, and never stops. This makes the book feel like a thriller from the start. The reader (and the characters) barely gets any kind of a respite from one action/freak out scene to the next. The main characters are on a clock and everybody, the reader included, feels it. This works wonders in creating the thriller-like vibes, but at the same time it doesn’t allow the reader really any time to get to know the characters, especially at the beginning. Everything felt rushed. The introduction of the characters was rushed, the introduction of the setting was rushed, and the plot going into the Jumanji situation was also rushed. It wasn’t until about midway through the book where the characters started to really shine and tug at the heartstrings.

The characters, Madeline, Emerson, Owen, and Dax are teenagers who carry an awful secret that has ripped them apart. They abandoned their friend Ian four years ago in a cave. They have no idea if he is alive or dead, and the guilt eats at them in different ways. They haven’t spoken to each other since that fateful night. That is until a yokai, or ghost (maybe it’s a ghost of Ian) comes to haunt each of them on the fourth anniversary of the night he disappeared. Now, they must all come together, go back to the cave, and find Ian. This is where Jumanji comes in. Once the teens go back to the cave, they are transported to a different realm and all sorts of shenanigans break loose.

As characters, in the beginning, all of them were slightly annoying with Emerson being at the top of that list. The teenage angst and guilt was running rampant in this group. I honestly didn't know if I could keep reading if they stayed that way. Fortunately, they began to work through some of their issues and mellowed out a bit. They even began to open up to each and heal some old wounds, which I thought was a nice touch. Each character was individualistic and represented different aspects of American teenagers/citizens. The relationships that they rekindled between each other was really the theme and the highlight of the book, and it was executed excellently by the author. By the end of the book, you begin to root for all four of them as they try to rescue their friend.

Also, this book is categorized as YA. I would actually place in between YA and middle grade. Some of the situations, like the romance, were more YA. However, most of the conversations between the characters as well as the social concepts in the book felt more directed at middle grade readers.

All in all though. I enjoyed this book. It just didn’t wow me like I wanted it too.

3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Tor Teen for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*I received an e-arc from the publisher via Netgalley for review. All thoughts are my own*

This book surprised me in a good way! I thought this story was going to be a thriller, but it wound up being based on Japanese Folklore/Mythology in a Jumanji inspired setting. Fans of YA thrillers, paranormal and mythology will enjoy this one.

Four years ago, five kids started a game and only four of them made it out alive.

The four survivors, Dax, Maddy, Owen and Emerson have been reunited once again. They have all been summoned by the ghost of their friend Ian who didn’t make it and was left for dead.

Together they return to the cave where it all began with the goal of finding Ian and bringing him home. They restart the matching game, Meido, that they never finished. A game that wound up not having instructions, and not being as innocent as they once thought.

As soon as they begin the game again, they’re sucked into the Japanese underworld which is more terrifying and horrifying than they could have ever imagined. They meet Shinigami, a wise old woman, who explains to them the rules of the game. They have one night to complete seven challenges, or all of them, including their friend Ian, will be trapped in the game forever. They meet many different mythological creatures and strange animals along their journey.

Although the friends were once besties, they now cannot stand being around each other. The game forces them to work together again and make some hard decisions. Will they all make it out alive?

I think the multiple points of view worked really well in this story as we got to know each of the unique characters. I really grew to care about each and every one of them and found myself rooting for them.

This story will keep you entertained from start to finish. I thought at first that this was a standalone, but I am under the impression there will be a sequel. I definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kristen Simmons for this exciting new book. It’s a nice blend of Dungeons and Dragons plus Stranger Things set in a truly creepy world straight out of Jumanji. I was constantly looking over my shoulder at every weird noise in the house this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Worth your time if you like a scary book😱😉

a gripping and chilling young adult novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey filled with mystery, supernatural elements, and complex relationships. And will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The author weaves an intricate tale that combines elements of horror, suspense, and friendship. The pacing is fast-paced, making it difficult to put the book down. The vivid descriptions bring the eerie hellscape to life, immersing readers in a world more terrifying than any folklore. The characters are well-developed and undergo significant growth throughout the story. Their complex relationships and individual struggles add depth to the narrative, making it relatable and engaging. As the challenges escalate, the survivors are forced to confront their darkest secrets and make difficult choices, testing the strength of their bond.

This author wrote an interesting horror book overall but for me the plot of the book got confusing sometimes so it was hard to follow sometimes. Find Him Where You Left Him Dead did have gore, filth and drama in the best way and it was scary. The world she created was impressive especially with all of the characters she created. I would recommended this book to other horror fans. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC book.