A fairly typical coming of age work, interspersed with Japanese folklore told through the mechanism of a game and parallel world. The characters are fleshed out enough for a YA title, and there's about enough background for that level as well. Bonus points for diversity within the cast, and the follow up at the end.

Thought provoking and terrifying! I felt the kinship between the characters and their fear was palpable when experiencing paranormal phenomenon.

Strong YA horror (honestly scary enough that at times I would argue it could easily make the leap to the grown up horror shelves) with richly envisioned Japanese mythology and vivid stakes. It's almost too uncompromising at times, and readers may wish for a moment to take a breath -- but therein lies the success of the book: you can't take a breath, you have to keep going, just as the characters do.

When I first heard about this book I put it on my radar. I loved the author's debut trilogy and the premise for this sounded excellent. Unfortunately I found the writing style to be very off putting the moment I started reading this book. It drops you right in the middle of the story and rather than build up the world around it, the narrative just told you everything. You didn't get to read the characters experiencing things, you were just told that's how they felt or did. I really struggled with this book the entire time reading it. I loved the idea of the lore, but it just never got fully established. In the end this wasn't one that I enjoyed as much as I had hoped.

Truly an enjoyable horror novel that told such a unique and gripping story. Find Him Where You Left Him Dead explores the lengths to which you’ll go for friends—even to a purgatory-like underworld. This novel has great character development, incredible, atmospheric worlds and a story that felt fresh, new and exciting. I had a great time. I’d give this a solid 4.5/5 stars only because I felt like there were a few plot points that could have been explained away but were glossed over so there would be drama or suspense. Very minor things and overall didn’t take away from the story. For fans of Jumanji but with the creepiness of the Grudge, I’d highly recommend.

What I Didn’t Like:
-There are a lot of POV characters introduced in the beginning. The chapters are headed with their names, which is nice, but in the beginning I kept forgetting who they were. I caught on though and it was worth it to have a bit of all of them.
-Japanese mythology is used but not really explained. Be ready to google! Although, if you want more explanation, the author's note (which is at the end) can be read first. There’s some notes there.
-Questions left unanswered, which I like, but I mention because some readers may find this annoying. Content warning, I guess.

What I Did Like:
+Intriguing opening. Ghost stories are always fun! You can’t help but want to keep reading after an opening like that.
+The Japanese myths are great if you don’t mind googling things you aren’t familiar with (or if you’re already familiar with them). I like the way they’re spun with a little interpretation and I found them fascinating.
+Fast paced. They’re moving through these challenges (one character equates it to levels of a video game) and it all moves quickly. The story sort of flies by. Compelling and interesting.
+Ending works both to solve the mystery/problem in this book and to give the idea that life continues. I, personally, like the kind of ending that keeps me thinking. Of course, in this case, I also like these characters enough that I’d read a sequel.

Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of underworld mythology stories.
-Fans of horror monsters, particularly if you enjoy the less common ones. This book is loaded with them.

The first few chapters of this book really drew me in, we are meeting our group and getting to see their first glimpse of their missing friend in years and those interactions are definitely creepy. The story did lose me a bit after that, all of a sudden our group is going to the caves where their friend Ian went missing presumed dead after they all played a random Japanese card game they found. Then they are transported somewhere else, and this is where the Jumanji comparison comes in. It seems they have found themselves in some sort of video game and they must find 7 stones in order to rescue their friend.

The environment and Japanese folklore are really interesting, but for me at least I felt lost a lot of the time, and the characters weren't really compelling enough for me to get sucked in. However once we get to the last quarter or so of the story things really picked up and we get a huge twist that had me reeling, and I flew through the rest of it. There is also a bit of a.. not really cliffhanger but something that makes me think we could possibly get another story, and with the way it ended, I would definitely be interested in reading more about this world.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

The premise of this really drew me in, but I had a hard time getting invested into the story. The characters felt relatively surface level, and the resolution to a lot of the "drama" felt convenient. There were some scenes that really were great, but a lot of them kind of just dragged.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I'm a sucker for horror books. While this book may be young adult, don't let that steer you away from it. This has quite the kick to it.

This is my first read by Kristen Simmons... and wow.
The worldbuilding here was so impressive.
The multiple POVs are a huge favorite of mine. In my opinion, they help keep the storyline moving at a faster past.. which may not be the case for everyone.. but for my add brain, it really helps.
As others have mentioned, this definitely has a Jumanji feel to it.
There were a few twists to the storyline, which were great.
And honestly, this book was pretty unique. Well worth the read.

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is easily a five star read for me, and something that should be picked up when it is released in September.

Being a YA horror novel, I felt it a bit more face paced to what I like, however if you keep in mind that that's common to find in YA books due to the audience, it can be looked past. That isn't a writing issue at all because the writing is so good.

I loved the representation of Japanese myths and spirits that are the stage for the entire story. Oni, shinigami, yokai... there's so many there and it had me looking up all the lore and stories I could find, which I find a huge bonus. The trials in Meido did want me yearning for more flesh to them just because I wanted more visuals, more flesh to it, however this goes back to the more quicker paced writing you find in most YA books so this is no fault of Simmons and in fact speaks to her ability to pull a reader in. The ending comes up on you, finishing phenomenally and extremely satisfying, with the climax one that did not feel rushed at all.

This is one that would appeal to those who like a slight bit of horror but can't handle heavy stories, and those on the opposite end who need something a bit lighter in between the intense horror novels.

This was more suspense thriller vs. horror. Which wasn't a bad thing. I liked the similarities to Jumunji. The dark woods and setting of the story was great. The pacing in this one was wonderful and I loved the characters. I do wish it would have been a tad darker but this was great for the middle ground for ya. I think for this spooky season this would be a great addition to your TBR.

3/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy!

What I liked about this book: the different characters, their backgrounds, and etc. I also like how they kind of questioned each other and why they are the way they are in their heads, it felt authentic for how a teenager would wonder about their friends to me.

The game and the way they had to beat the different challenges. Each challenge was a bit different and they didnt realize they were breaking the rules until later on and what the rule they were breaking was.

What I didn't love:
Something was missing about the characters for me, both in how they interacted with each other and alone. I feel like I was being told how they had this great bond more than I was shown. And in general they just kind of fell flat, I never really felt like I was rooting for them.

It wasn't really scary at all, even by YA horror standards in my opinion. It definitely has some horror elements but it didn't hit the mark.

I liked the book some, but not enough that it will really stick with me. I'd recommend if you're interested in dipping your toes into horror, but horror can be too scary for you

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 "𝙅𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙟𝙞 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙅𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚-𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙" 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this one. It’s not something I would typically pick up, but I found myself super engaged to the story.

Four years ago, five friends walk into a cave to play a game, but only four of those friends walk out…

This is a YA story, but I feel like each character was thoroughly developed. I was intrigued by all four of them: Madeline, Emerson, Owen, and Dax. We also get all four POVs!

This is definitely an intense horror-action story, and I can see why it’s being compared to Jumanji but Japanese-inspired. The book is disturbing and creepy. I was kept on the edge of my seat after finishing each chapter. I had to know what happened to the fifth friend and why he never came out.

I have not read anything like this horror fantasy book, but I had such a fun time reading it. There were a few twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming, and I surprisingly liked these characters. The ending was completely wild and compelling, I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Teen for the review copies in exchange for my honest review!

One of the most commendable aspects of this novel is its seamless incorporation of Japanese folklore. Kristen Simmons masterfully weaves together elements from the rich tapestry of Japanese myths and legends, creating an eerie and mesmerizing hellscape that transports readers into a world beyond imagination.

The integration of game theory in the plot is another standout feature of the book. As the characters face the deadly challenges, they are forced to apply their wits, strategize, and work as a team to overcome the life-threatening obstacles. The concept of a card-matching challenge with no instructions adds an element of mystery and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they try to decipher the rules alongside the characters. This creative use of game theory elevates the stakes and keeps the story fresh and unpredictable throughout.

"Where We Left Him Dead" also deserves applause for its portrayal of an asexual main character. In a literary landscape that often lacks diverse representation, the inclusion of an asexual protagonist is a refreshing and welcome change. Kristen Simmons has handled this aspect with sensitivity and authenticity, normalizing asexual experiences and shedding light on the significance of diverse identities within storytelling. The portrayal of each of the characters' personal journeys of self-realization in the midst of life-threatening challenges adds an extra layer of intricacy and relatability to their persona, making them all the more compelling and inspiring.

The book's exploration of the complexities of friendship and the evolution of relationships is another aspect that deserves praise. As the survivors grapple with their past and present conflicts, they are forced to confront their differences and learn to work together once more. The emotional depth in the character development is palpable, making the readers deeply invested in their struggles and triumphs.

"Where We Left Him Dead" is a mesmerizing and horrifying tale filled with suspense, mystery, heartbreak, and profound character arcs.

Everyone's saying it, but it's true: it's Japanese Jumanji. It's a high stakes, life and death game with a group of friends. It's fun and creepy and should be read more for entertainment and spooky fun rather than genuine horror, but a good summer spooky read

Thank you NetGally, TOR teen and Kristen Simmons for the ARC of Find him where you left him dead.

At first it was hard getting into the story and keeping the people straight. Once I got it straight and seeing the fractured friendships coming back together I got interested.

I will say some of the actual story was confusing bit overall the last 2 chapters brought it together. I did enjoy the book.

dnf’ed at 60%

when i picked this up in april i had really high hopes for it!

the amount of times me and my mum rewatch the jumanji movies is unhealthy so when i saw that this book was described as “jumanji but Japanese inspired” i was sold.

this book just wasn’t for me unfortunately. i felt like the pacing in some places lost my attention and when i put this book down, i didn’t pick it back up.

HOWEVER!! the writing was incredible and i do think that down the road i will try this book out again! it just wasn’t the right fit for me right now

I had a goo time reading this. The game and all the folklore and style of Japanese was interesting. It was scary but not so scary I couldn’t fall asleep. Gruesome and goosebumps giving this book will keep you on your toes, from the tension and also because it was a bit confusing at times.
Otherwise I liked it!
Thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this e-arc. All my opinions are my own.

I appreciated the idea of Find Him Where You Left Him Dead. It's a decent teen thriller and the connections to Japanese mythology were interesting. Of the 5 teen characters, I found Owen to be especially compelling but all of the others left me flat and I had to refresh my memory about their identities more than once. As the teens fall into the spirit world of Miedo they begin a quest to complete a sort of live action escape game with serious and gruesome consequences. I think that quite a few readers will enjoy the high gore factor that comes with some of the encounters with the oni, For myself, the book wasn't the page turner that I had been hoping for.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a bit ghost and horror person, but I am a big mythology person. This walks that line deftly. It's creepy and unsettling, but not in a way that left me needing to sleep with a baseball bat or anything. Four friends are drawn back to finish a game in a cave where they thought a friend died years ago. It's a journey through an underworld, with twists, turns, and lots of riddles. I don't try to guess my way through mysteries, and definitely didn't see the various game-changers in this one, but they still all made sense after each twist. Really excited to see more.