This book had so much potential to be great but the execution feel a bit flat.
- I enjoyed the overall story and learning about why each character was there
- The characters were interesting and it was great to see their personalities unfold (even if a bit tropey).

However, there were a few things that fell short

- There was a lack of suspense. I just didn't feel it and that was a shame because it's a main part of the genre.
- The ending was such a stretch and I found it very unbelievable

Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

Thank you to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and @netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I love a locked room thriller and this was deliciously entertaining. It did NOT read at all like a horror story, so I think the title is misleading. But it's a fun, bingeable read!

This was such a fun read! It had all the elements of a good time and I can't wait to recommend it to customers.

An enticing thriller with a unique set a characters. I really enjoyed the mystery of this story and how it kept me on my toes. The plot was engaging and I felt like it was a pretty fast read.

In this horror story book we see a race for survival, and characters scrambling to keep their lies hidden and make themselves look like the victim. But in the end only one of them will survive the night and escape the house of horrors.

This was everything I needed in a horror story, this vaguely remined me of the writing of Grady Hendrix. While this is the first book of Mallory's that I have read I think she has found her spot in the book genre world and I hope she continues.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

This was such a fun debut. Horror isn’t usually my genre of choice, so more avid readers may have other opinions, but I thought this had the perfect blend of suspense, lightheartedness, and gore. There were some plot holes in general and I would’ve liked to have earned a few more answers throughout, but overall I really enjoyed this!

Absolutely brilliant premise and it is nailed! I read this in one sitting! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was a fun read! The ending was predictable but I enjoyed learning the backstories of each character how they were all interrelated. I will be buying this when it releases to have a physical copy. I really enjoyed this ARC.

Okay... I guess it's just not my kind of book. I tend to really like thriller books but this one in particular was not what I expected.
One of my main problems is that it's too descriptive with things that aren't necessary. It's a thriller book, not a fantasy one in a made up world and so I don't think it's necessary to describe everything so much, I think at times that took me out of the reading quite a bit.
Mind you, I think it's pretty funny, especially for a thriller and it's a book that reads pretty fast. I think the idea, although it was nothing very new, was pretty good but the execution could have been better.
The characters, beyond the fact that each one was hiding things, seemed to me rather flat and in the end, instead of trying to escape from the mansion, they wasted time with nonsense and the ending leaves you with more questions than answers.

📖 Book Review 📖 Listen, I’m not rooting for chaos and mayhem to unfold after an untimely death in real life, but on paper: I am all in. Mortimer Queen has left quite the legacy and an assorted band of writers has gathered per his last will and testament. Told from multiple perspectives, the eccentricities of Mortimer Queen and each person’s relationship to the horror author unfold in the most delightfully delicious and dark manner. What starts as a quiet evening soon evolves into a game when the house comes alive with fear. Mallory Arnold flawlessly breathes an air of magic into her writing that flies off the page, creating an atmospheric read that envelops the reader. How to Survive a Horror Story is a perfectly paced, suspenseful, and absolutely thrilling ride!

I absolutely loved the sound of this book. Horror is one of my favourite genres so I was naturally drawn to the book.

The set up of the book were brilliant. It gave me a very Clue-meets-Saw vibe. The characters, although you didn't know their stories yet, you knew they were unlikable and certainly the way they were acting solidified your opinions early on. The characters had to solve clues to survive and move, each of the clues related to something that the characters had done to the author, and even thought it meant another character might die, they still did not want to admit their wrong-doings - great character flaw, I loved it.

However as the book moved it, the style became a little less polished and I felt some of the motives became less deserving e.g. Crystal - totally understood that one, but Buck seemed a little harsh in the end. But I guess that sums up the author up, he also came over as an incredibly unlikable character. That also made the overall reason for the whole thing a little out of character, to suddenly help someone, didn't seem like something he would do.

I think before release, the book needs another go through and some of the conversation and style needs to be tidied up towards the end.

I enjoyed the premise of this book. It was like a mix of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mexican gothic. I feel like this story is going to be stuck in my brain for awhile.

Great book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this one! Pitch black comedy meets horror. How To Survive A Horror Story has Clue-meets-Grady Hendrix vibes. A group of writers gather for the reading of a famous horror author’s will. They’ve all wronged the deceased in some way (or have they?) Now they must escape his house of horrors in order to survive. Mysteries. Lies. Unhinged antics. Carnivorous books.

How to Survive a Horror Story is about seven writers who are invited to a mysterious mansion that belonged to the famous horror author, Mortimer Queen, following his recent death. Each one of them is connected with the deceased in one way or another, and what they thought would be a simple will reading turns into a deadly game of survival.


The Good Stuff

The reason I initially picked out this book was because I thought the premise was interesting and up my street. All seven characters are quite different and unique, each with their own secrets and backstory that slowly unravel throughout the book. Their voices and thoughts are distinct enough for me to differentiate between them. One of the side characters, the woman working for Mortimer, was especially creepy, but I wished Arnold would have integrated her into the plot more as there was a lot of potential.

That being said, the author still managed to create a creepy atmosphere in the mansion that had me feeling suffocated and intrigued at the same time. I also enjoyed her writing style, and felt that it was an easy read.


The Not So Good Stuff

Don't get me wrong. I don't think characters have to be likeable for the book to be good, but I do think they have to be interesting at the very least. Their motivation needs to be compelling enough for me to care about their journey. None of the characters were interesting, and I didn't root for any of them. Even the one that was supposed to be 'likeable' was not very pleasant. In fact, she was quite contradictory. For instance, on one page, she wished someone would just die so she didn't have to listen to their gruesome cries anymore, and on the next she sincerely hoped they would get away. If the author intended for that character to have a dark side, I feel that it wasn't executed well.

On top of that, all the characters fell quite flat. It's difficult to pull off multiple POVs because you never get enough pages to let a character shine and for their motivation to show through So it was no surprise that I thought the characters seemed to be placed in certain scenarios for the convenience of the plot. For example, one character saw someone do something horrible to another character, but when they were alone with them, they didn't think to question the actions of the perpetrator, and they only conveniently remembered the moment when it suited the plot.

I wished I could say that I thought differently about the plot. Whilst the characters had the aforementioned flaws, I also found that the story itself lacked any depth. The riddles in each room became quite repetitive and predictable, and there were no real surprises awaiting the reader at the end. In addition, it was difficult for me to move past the plot holes. Wounds will suddenly disappear or move position from one chapter to the other, making me believe that the novel hasn't gone through a consistency read.




This review will be published on my blog and Goodreads two weeks before relase of the book.

www.theshameshelf.com

"How to Survive a Horror Story" by Mallory Arnold is a delightfully clever and witty guide that offers readers a unique perspective on the horror genre. This engaging book provides a comprehensive analysis of common horror tropes, from the "final girl" to the "creepy cabin in the woods."

While I enjoyed some parts of the book, it ultimately left me with mixed feelings. It has paranormal and spooky elements, I did not find it to be something that would keep me up at night or to be too gruesome to make me put it down and not finish. Good plot, interesting characters/dialogue. I would consider recommending it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Actual rating: 3,5 stars

The premise of How to Survive a Horror Story is fantastic, and while I enjoyed the novel, I’m still torn about its execution. The balance between horror and humour struggles a bit, as the two elements don’t always mesh well, despite some good attempts. It’s not quite the scary, spine-chilling experience I was hoping for, but it’s definitely a page-turner.

I wouldn’t, however, classify this as a true horror novel, as the gore and spookiness are pretty limited. It definitely felt more like a mystery, which wasn’t quite what I expected from the premise. That said, the novel kept me intrigued from beginning to end, and I was genuinely curious about how things would play out.

The characters, though somewhat exaggerated at times, were all well-developed, and the pacing was spot on, keeping the story moving along without dragging. The setting of the manor is an interesting one, though I found the riddles’ underlying theme predictable once it became clear. That predictability took away some of the suspense and mystery I was hoping for, but it didn’t completely spoil the fun.

Overall, while it may not have fully delivered on its horror promises, How to Survive a Horror Story is still an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

I honestly really liked it and liked the concept! Many of the situations were unique and kept my attention. I honestly read this one super quickly due to the fact that it was such an easy read. I never found myself bored. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher was because I was upset with the ending. I believe it was hypocritical of the characters and that frustrated me but the fact that it brought out that emotion tells me the book was well done. As a glass half full kind of girl myself it’s difficult to see and understand the opposing perspective. Overall, a great read!

Thank you for the ARC!

A group of 7 authors are invited to a mysterious manor for a will reading, all hoping for some of his fortune.

Horror isn't my typical genre but I did really like this book with mystery & thriller and the drama! Yes, I was here for it and the gothic vibes. The title and cover attracted me to it. It kept you on the edge of your seat despite being a little slow in some places. I liked that there were some characters we liked and some we definitely didn't, but it was definitely a great read and I liked the multiple POVs. Would recommend!