I loved this! its the perfect horror book with a good plot and some real background! I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

(thank you netgalley for this arc-copy!)

Part ghost story, slasher, and revenge story, this book had it all. I’m a big fan of urban legends, so this book really scratched an itch. Definitely give it a read!

This one wasnt for me. The main character was supposed to be in high-school and yet it felt like she was mentally 12. Some of the chosen words that she was saying felt like maybe they should have been edited out by a sensitivity reader. Maybe better for somebody else.

Camp Lanier was HEAVY due to the history being told and the racism undertones, yet still gave campfire story chills. You can tell this was a labor of love and the author put in the emotional labor, it was palpable. I’m still reeling with that feeling in my chest.

Do not skip the authors note with the history of Oscarville, its perfection. Yes it’s YA, it’s marketed AS YA horror, it sits perfectly in its genre with how gore and scare is portrayed. As an adult horror fan, this met AND exceeded my expectations.


Definitely of one my favorite reads so far this year.

This was the exact kind of summer YA horror I was looking for. It grabbed me right away and I read it in nearly one sitting. One of the strongest points of the story for me was how strong the narrative voice. Told in the first person by Taylor, the main character, it had such a distinctive voice that not only felt like a real teenager but like she was a real person in general and I was right beside her. I was fascinated by how the author included real points of history in the story, as well as the authors note that went more into depth on this harrowing and horrifying bit of history I had not heard of before.

Fantastic 10/10
If you want a fast-paced horror/thriller book, this is the one. I was hooked from the beginning
I read a lot of horror and thriller books, and Camp Lanier is my favourite!
The author's imagination is incredible! Some parts of this book are based on actual events which the author explains.
This book has you rooting for the characters. You almost feel as though you’re in the book yourself! Not many authors can do this, but wow, I was jumping at some parts of the book, and believe me, I’m an avid horror fan and not many books have that effect on me; this book takes you on a ride! If you love horror, ghosts, twists, rooting for your favourite characters and a book that will make you jump and want to be in the book, then this is for you. I’m already looking at the author’s other books; this book is the best I have read yet!

This was a deliciously creepy book that kept me on the edge of my seat! Taylor, a black girl on a basketball scholarship at a mostly white school, falls into trouble and gets sent to Camp Lanier to avoid jail. But this isn't a regular camp. Sinister events start happening, and Taylor experiences strange hallucinations (or are they?) that reveal the camp's dark past.

This book is shorter, but it delivers an intense and gripping story. The spooky atmosphere and eerie happenings make it a thrilling read. Taylor's realness and snark add humor to the dark storyline, and I found myself chuckling at times despite the very real danger.

What makes this book even more interesting is that the lore behind the camp's town is based on a true story. I love books that teach me something new without feeling like a lesson, and this one did just that. It’s entertaining but also touches on deep issues like systemic racism, showing how it still exists in modern society.

Overall, this was is a fun and thought-provoking read. It’s perfect for a Summerween read if you’re looking for something spooky with a lot of heart.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Get Out meets Friday the 13th, based on the urban legend of Lake Lanier in Georgia? Sign me up!

First off, the cover of this book is stunning😍

Also give me all the campy slasher horror vibes💀🔪

The concept is intriguing, seamlessly blending urban legends, supernatural elements, and historical moments. It’s packed with all the campfire creepy vibes, eerie atmospheres, and ghostly sightings that make for a compelling read.

Teenagers as main characters can be tricky, but Taylor was a standout. She was well-written, felt real, and I found myself rooting for her the entire time. The other characters also resonated with me; they were well-crafted and added depth to the story.

While it’s a YA book and doesn’t delve too deeply into hardcore horror, and can be somewhat predictable, it’s still fast-paced and kept me hooked. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the opportunity to read this! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'd never read this author before but this book sounded perfect for a spooky summer read. It was enjoyable quick read. This was a YA book so it wasn't overly spooky but great if your normally enjoy these types of books

I'd like to thank netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read and review this book .

I’m going to start off by saying AMAZING cover! This is a YA horror book to add to your summer reading list. Although this is on the shorter side, don’t let that fool you, it still has quite the story to be told.
You follow Victoria as she is sent to Camp Lanier for the summer. Things get weird quick. I really don’t want to say too much about this one. I think this is a great book to go in, not knowing much. The author did a fabulous job showing the injustices that were, and are still ongoing today. He kept me entertained and made me enraged. A book that makes you feel, while still delivering a campy slasher vibe, is a job well done.
I finished this in one sitting, and would gladly read another book by Sylvester Barzey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the opportunity to read an early copy.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this book! It was so fast paced and eerie. I enjoyed it so much! It was such a good book for summerween! It had suspense, a good storyline, spooky moments and I was on the edge of my seat reading it!

I read this book just as fast as Taylor was running from those ghosts! OKAY!
I really enjoyed this fast paced
horror story. We've all heard about Lake Lanier in Georgia (if you haven't all the more reason to read this book) and the mysterious deaths that's happened in this lake that was built over a Black community. Well @sylvesterbarzey takes us to a summer camp called Camp Lanier where Taylor is sent to work after getting caught shoplifting and being railroaded by her so called friends. Once she arrives she starts to question whether jail would have been better because she's the only one who sees and hears the screams of a little girl.
She realizes something isn't right at the camp and wonders why the "workers" are "running away." Taylor is a likable character and her narration is funny and facetious. This story's focus on an urban legend based on facts and history, deals with themes of generational racism and discrimination, grief, self identity and acceptance. Palpable, suspenseful, creepy and scary. And I'm not just talking about the ghosts! A great read!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a teen who is forced to go to a camp for community service. Things quickly turn bad at this camp.

Unfortunately, I just didn't connect with this book or like it. I may not be the audience since I am not a teen. I felt like the characters and the plot were all just very cliché and it just didn't grab my attention.

I hope others love this one.

Camp Lanier was a good read to pick up for an easy summer horror. The mystery of what is going on at Camp Lanier really hooks you in, making it hard to put down. I really enjoyed the historical elements that were meshed into the story, sparking emotion - particularly anger. I did find that the book was definitely on the younger side. The dialogue was simple and the story moved quickly. I felt that this was both good and bad. Good in the sense that it was fast-paced, but bad in the sense that it was hard to connect with the characters and to fully grasp the nature of what happened with Taylor's brother. Overall, this book was good and I'd definitely recommend it. Great summer read to bring camping or to a cottage for a weekend!

This was a fun spooky horror novel. I picked it up solely because I live near Lake Lanier and know that everyone thinks it is haunted! I enjoyed the story line and i appreciate the historical aspects that were also included. Not many people know about how Lake Lanier came to be.

Camp Lanier was a very good quick read. As someone who is intrigued by the stories of Lake Lanier, I was excited to read this. Thank you NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for this advanced free copy in exchange for my honest review.

A summer camp, a lake on top of a town, and a crazed killer on the loose - that's a recipe for a great horror novel if there ever was one.

When Taylor finds herself in an unfortunate situation with a group of so-called friends, her punishment is to spend the summer at a camp at Lake Lanier. As she learns that children have been "running away" from the camp, she begins to suspect that something more sinister is at play. With the help of some other campers, she is determined to find out the truth.

As a Gen Xer, I grew up watching camp slasher films, so when I learned that the backdrop of this novel was a summer camp, my interest was piqued. Add in the history of Oscarville and the urban legends surrounding Lake Lanier, and I knew I had to read it. This book will be great if you love an excellent, fast-paced horror.

I grew up in the shadow of Lake Lanier. My father used to tell me ghost stories about the many people who had lost their lives in that lake which would fill child-me with the morbid wonder and fascination you can only have before you realize the actual history. The idea of a town underwater has both enchanted and horrified me almost my entire life. I've driven by and seen many a rescue team scanning the lake for missing persons. This ghost story is one I've been waiting to read for years.

When Taylor is sent to Camp Lanier after shoplifting at Lenox Mall, she finds that everything isn't what it appears at this idyllic lakeside camp. Campers are missing and she keeps seeing a ghostly figure in a white dress. A compelling and hilarious narrator, Taylor is a wonderful final girl who you root for almost immediately. Her cast of camper friends are wonderful as well. My only critique is that the villains are pretty obvious from the start, but some villains are just obvious. That's the horrible thing about racism: its ability to be so out in the open and obvious without suffering any consequence on the racists' side. However, I would've liked a couple more twists and turns before we discover exactly what's been going on at the camp all these years.

The thing I applaud this book for the most is exploring the history of both Oscarville and the Atlanta Ripper. Both events have been underreported and largely ignored. Lake Lanier is the absolute perfect setting for this story. For those who don't know about Oscarville, just know that an entire town of people was forcibly removed from their land and the town flooded to make a lake. Of course it's haunted! How could it not be? The lake does claim a ton of lives per year and it's surrounded by terrifying forests which have also been host to several murders. Fun!

A fun mixture of history and 'Get Out', this book was a delight to read from start to finish. Cathartic, spooky, and important, 'Camp Lanier' is something special.

Creepy camp? Check. Racial inequality? Check. Immaculate summer reading vibes complete with horror and mystery? Check check and check!