The only thing I didn't like is that I feel like I probably missed something. There was so much going on, and so many ideas at different levels, that I know there was more that I would figure out on further readings. That didn't diminish from the experience -- it may even have made it better, because there was such a sense of urgency throughout the whole story. I loved the main character and his journey through as he faced doing something that he didn't agree with, and the terrible consequences from it. As a horror fan, there was more than enough to keep my attention, but there were also several people that made me need to finish this as fast as possible. I put off other things I needed to do so I could read this in one day.
The narrator was fantastic, and I'll probably look for more of his works. I will probably read the text next, but I might listen to this again because it was just a great performance. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

I confess, one of the biggest draws I initially had to this was the unusual collaboration of narrators as I'm an infrequent horror reader/listener. That, and a general interest in the arts and all related businesses.

It seems almost inconceivable that a book that hits so many concepts and topics can manage to pull all its strings together. It is even as counterintuitive to say that a horror novel could have been so much fun. And, maybe I just had too many chuckles in places that weren't intended to draw them but for anyone who pays attention to let alone is involved in the entertainment industry from critic to creative, I foresee this book having duplicity for them as well.

What seems as an almost ridiculous premise in today's market, that a company would insist that a character be killed after coming out, is far smaller than the bigger and more intriguing issues we see coming up the pipeline with CGI and AI. The almighty algorithm that directs so much of various parts of our lives, the usually invisible use of ratings as a measure of action, the drive for shareholder profits, are all things that circulate in the vernacular of pop culture criticism. Scratch under that surface and this book also addressed legal strongholds and contractual back doors that grant exceptional power. There's also some commentary on how certain content and format has a higher prestige than others. And, of course, the hype and scandal that comes with paparazzi and social media.

Beyond the commercial elements is also really deep commentary on the role of the horror genre. It's an unraveling of how an artist incorporates processing trauma. It's about unraveling your past in ways that might feel cliche but were very real hurtles and hang ups for people of a certain age and era. There is an absolutely beautiful segment that speaks to the use of horror as something that empowers and prepares.

All of this is mixed up in a love letter to the slasher genre, to the expanse of genres where core elements of it can be incorporated. It opens up a field in which the 'rules' have to be worked around, broken, and even just times where you have to go with the flow. All of this is done with a dark and glorious humor with a cast of characters with complicated relationships. There are those that are completely supportive. There are those that are reciprocal but not necessarily friendly.

Without spoiling anything, I have to say one of the things that had me laughing the most and made clear that this book knew exactly how ironic and maybe even redundant to our age its message of acceptance is was the final act. The flip side of the coin is so in tuned with some very real conversations about performative actions. It brings it back to that context and variety are the core component and goal.

Finally, I simply have to shout out my girl Tara (Terra? - audio copy) ! As a member of the ace community, to see such a fun, funky, and intelligent girl not only be included but have such a strong supportive role was fabulous. To one particular later moment and comment she has, I found myself nearly 'whooping' --which wouldn't have been that odd if I had not been tuned in while in public. I also greatly appreciated the illusions to tv shows that I too adore that were clearly the inspiration for a few created for reference in this book.

Utterly entertaining.

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up

Synopsis:
Misha is a jaded scriptwriter who has been working in Hollywood for years, and has just been nominated for his first Oscar. But when he's pressured by his producers to kill off a gay character in the upcoming season finale―"for the algorithm"―Misha discovers that it's not that simple.

As he is haunted by his past, and past mistakes, Misha must risk everything to find a way to do what's right―before it's too late.

Review: I absolutely loved this book. I thought it was so unique and I loved the overall message and the way the story was told. This was my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last

After TV executives tell Misha he must kill off his gay characters on his hit TV series, Misha is forced to comply with or defy studio orders. While Misha decides, he is haunted by his past creations as the characters he has previously created begin stalking him.

While being thrilling and, at times, genuinely creepy, this novel also had great commentary on art vs ratings, queer identity and visibility, gay tragedy in media, and how horror as a genre has artistic merit and can have important social commentary behind the scares and thrills. It felt like a love letter to horror and gay art. The setting and meta-ness reminded me of Scream 3 while the writing and horror reminded me of How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. A very well written and plotted horror novel. 4.25

This satirical horror novel follows Misha, a Hollywood writer with widespread and critical acclaim for his queer horror stories. He hits his limit when the higher-ups demand he bury the gays in his current project.

Frustrated at playing their greedy and heartless game, he refuses, only to be tormented by his horror characters, who come to life and taunt him and his loved ones. Misha is also haunted because he is closeted with his family and community.

Throughout the story, we learn the origins of his horror story characters and plots. To survive, Misha will have to battle AI, Hollywood algorithms, corporate greed, and, most importantly, his inner demons and internalized homophobia.

This fantastic book was narrated by an impressive cast of fellow writers, including André Santana, Charlie Jane Anders, CJ Leede, Georgia Bird, Liz Kerin, Mara Wilson, Mark Oshiro, Sarah Gailey, Stephen Graham Jones, T. Kingfisher, and TJ Klune. The chilling narration only added to the drama!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for an ARC of the audiobook.

This is my first Chuck Tingle but certainly won’t be my last. It goes hard with the horror as a metaphor and doesn’t shy away from bringing the audience in on what that metaphor stands for - even bringing up past horror stories and their real-life goals. We get talk of Hollywood’s obsession with queer tragedy (from the title and opening scene), the abrupt about-face where only joy will do, the villains as manifestations of trauma, the rules of the genre and what the horror genre really means. Plus there’s the whole AI-as-artists fundamentally warping the art until it’s unrecognizable - which is very timely.

Misha is a really interesting protagonist - both his role as a writer and also his role as adult partially-closeted queer person from a conservative upbringing. He’s a great vehicle through which to tell the story.

The sections done by the other narrator (in the audiobook) were bizarre and honestly I couldn’t really follow them, but they didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment and engagement with the story.

I am speechless. This is definitely going to be one of my top reads not only of the year, but ever. The audiobook had the perfect balance of crawl up your spine creepies and empathetic characters that had me tearing up. I absolutely loved the concept of this story and Misha. He was so enthralling and his person was so captivating. Misha's battle between giving 'the world' what they want while suppressing his person, or staying true to himself was beautiful. The Oscar's speech had my crying in the shower. The representation of this book was so on point. And as someone who likes to stay true to what they love year round vs. following a societal 'trend', I greatly empathized with this story. So many tears and air punches for joy. This is a must read for EVERYONE. Chuck, you are an official auto-buy author. Thank you so much Tor, Netgalley, and Macmillan for the eARC and ALC. This book deserves all of the praise!

AHHHHHHH! One of my highly anticipated reads just rolled down the line. I am so thankful to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, Chuck Tingle, and Netgalley for granting me advanced audio and digital access to this out-of-this-world monster-horror before it hits shelves on July 9, 2024. PLUS this audiobook had a FULL CAST of some of my favorite authors and creators including CJ Leede, Stephen Graham Jones, Liz Kerin, and T. Kingfisher… Full casts on audiobooks always make the experience more fun.

Misha is a burnt-out writer in Hollywood, creating queer horror narratives for the big screen, and he’s finally made it big after receiving an Oscar nomination. But lo and behold, the executives on set are set on having his queer characters killed off in the upcoming season finale… Totally not okay with this, Misha bucks the system and refuses to go their way, which ends up stabbing him in the back, as all of his horror characters have seemingly come to life to haunt him and take his life and sanity out from his grasp.

This one was fun and thrilling, and the cast just made it so spectacular to listen to from multiple different angles, like I was really on-set behind the camera watching this trainwreck in action. Live laugh love, and Chuck Tingle. Period.

Wow this audiobook is so fun!! It’s full cast narration but it’s not just any full cast narration… It’s narrated by some well known names if you’re a horror lover. Narrated by: André Santana, Charlie Jane Anders, CJ Leede, Georgia Bird, Liz Kerin, Mara Wilson, Mark Oshiro, Sarah Gailey, Stephen Graham Jones, T.Kingfisher, and TJ Klune. CHEFS KISS! How could I not recommend that?

Ok, the story. Hollywood screenwriter Misha Burn has just been nominated for his first Oscar but his producer suggests that, well… he bury the gays, kill them off. He is told to rewrite the script or someone else will do it for him and he will be blacklisted from Hollywood. Misha grows defiant, seething, and is reeling over what to do when his work begins to—literally—haunt him.

Let’s talk about Misha. I found his character to be incredibly captivating and compelling. As I listened through this novel, I found myself questioning his motives at times but because Tingle chose to include flashbacks to Misha’s childhood, I wasn’t left questioning for long. Instead I grew to understand Misha in a much deeper way and felt that he was justified in his actions and I could appreciate why he felt so passionately about the projects that he works on.

This is my first Chuck Tingle experience and this made me an instant fan of his horror. As the title suggests, this novel focuses on queer erasure and shines the light on the ruthless and greedy nature of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest industry—the film industry. The plot was incredibly engaging, unique, and refreshing and I loved following Misha’s character arc. This book is entertaining as hell, laugh out loud funny while staying true to horror roots, and intensely stimulating. And, of course, as a Los Angeles resident I particularly enjoyed the setting. Plus the cover is just <b>so</b> pretty.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Available 07/09/2024!

This book was hilarious, I was both peeing my pants in both fear and laughter. Overall, such a good book to read.

As Misha navigates the treacherous landscape of Hollywood, he finds himself targeted by those who want to enforce the movie studio's mandate of killing off the gay characters in his season's finale. After he refuses, he begins getting terrorized by the creepy monsters of his horror movies. Is he going crazy? The threats start blurring the line between reality and make-believe.

Misha's character is dealing with a recent traumatic event while trying to acknowledge his feelings about Hollywood's standards for gay characters. His refusal to comply with the movie executives is the catalyst to push his mental state to the breaking point. To expand on the complexity of the character's growth, the author uses Misha's reflections to examine how childhood events dictate some of his decisions. These events haunt him, while the supernatural elements in the current timeline are haunting him. He has to find the courage to confront his past as he confronts his current adversaries.

I listened to the audio version of the book, and the narrator was fantastic. There are periods of the audio version that use narration and sound effects. The sound effects were distracting from the story and would be fine without them.

Overall, this book delivers a poignant story that sheds light on one's courage to live authentically, with horror woven in. I loved the book.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Netgalley and McMillan Audio.

4.5 stars

This was a blast, which was a surprise based on the title but not on the author.

Misha, the m.c., is at a pivotal stage of his career, and while he is thriving in some ways (getting major industry recognition for his script writing skills), in others, things are getting...WEIRD.

This felt extremely fresh and innovative, and I loved how Misha's memories crept in constantly. Those were in some ways even more horrific than the shocking events of the present day. Modern Misha is living in a kind of personal _The Cabin in the Woods_ situation, though, so don't sleep on the current shocks either.

What made me enjoy this wild ride even more was the absolutely star-studded cast of audiobook narrators. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed hearing from so many favs there!

For the right reader, this book is doing the most in the best way.