Anything with a game or challenge element to it mixed with horror - I"m there! This wasn't a new favorite, but I sure had a fun time with it.

“How to Survive a Horror Story” is my first novel that I’ve read by Mallory Arnold. I am not usually a horror reader, but I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it.

When the famous horror author Mortimer Queen dies, 7 authors are invited to his manor. They all question why they are there. Did he leave them something? Is this just a dinner? But Mortimer was always known to have tricks up his sleeve, and instead, they are all asked to play a game.

I enjoyed this one because each chapter goes through each author and you eventually find out their connection to Mortimer through riddles. There are definitely some horror elements to it, but nothing that I couldn’t handle. I loved the ending and felt like it came full circle, which is ultimately why I gave it 4 out 5 ✨

4.25/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold releases on July 8th.

This book was such a page-turner. I have to say I’m usually more into thrillers than horror, but I thought this was a great mix of both. I also loved the cast of characters. They were all really distinct, so the multiple points of view were easy to follow, and I found myself getting attached to a few of them. I was super invested in the story and couldn’t put the book down.

You should read this book if you like:
- The house-as-a-character dynamic 🏠
- Multiple POVs 👥
- Riddles 🧩
- Mysterious wills 📝
- A sprinkle of horror/gore 🔪
- Locked room/ isolated setting vibes 🔑

The only part I liked less was how things turned out toward the ending. Without giving anything away, something happened that felt a bit unnecessary and left me feeling a little disappointed.

That said, I’d absolutely recommend this book. I think it would be a perfect read during spooky season!

i was given an arc for this book, and omg it had me hooked!

a stephen king-level horror author dies, and invites 7 other horror authors the will reading and it just goes downhill from there.

suuuper immersive, creepy, and gripping! it gives serious monster house vibes and i loved it!

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Poisoned Pen Press.

Welcome to Queen Manor. If you survive well, that is quite a story to tell.

When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of writers find themselves invited to his last will and testament reading expecting a piece of his massive fortune. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon, some known, some soon to be discovered, and they have been waiting for their chance to step into the author's shoes for some time.

Instead, they arrive at his grand manor and are invited to play a game. The rules are simple, solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If they do not, the manor will take one of them for itself.

You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of Mortimer's family, and like any true horror story, the house is still very, very hungry.

How to Survive a Horror Story is a bright, biting, thrill-ride that begs us to contemplate how the best horror stories come to be. The premise of this one sounded really interesting, but the execution did not live up to it. I am usually a huge fan of multiple POVs, but all the authors with different relationships to a horror legend should have meant different personalities, tension, secrets, and conflicting agendas. But they all sounded the same and I just wanted some character development from each of them. If the characters, were more fleshed out it would have been easier to spot who would survive and who would not. This book was still pretty decent, combing a lot of different elements, but it does not quite fully deliver on the depth that could have made it exceptional. I do think this could be a good entry to horror books for people who are new to the genre, and want a bit more mystery than horror.

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a mix of mystery, thriller, and horror and though it takes a while to get going, it does eventually become a gripping, gruesome tale. The novel gradually establishes the characters before plunging into a game of riddles and survival inside a haunted house. Each room presents a new challenge and as the body count rises, the tension escalates, revealing dark secrets and the connections the characters share with celebrated horror writer Mortimer Queen. Once the story got going I didn't want to stop reading and though there were gruesome parts, I didn't find it too scary, however it was an entertaining read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise of How to Survive a Horror Story was very interesting to me as I love reading thriller books like this one. The aspect of the novel that most interested me was the group of writers having to solve riddles in order to progress throughout a house that was owned by a well known horror author, who has left a last will and testament of interest to the writers. The writers' lives are at stake if they are unable to solve the riddle and advance to the next room in the house. I thought this novel was a fun one and the beginning quickly grabbed my attention. As the story progresses, it gets more interesting and I grew to really like the characters. Some people might think the plot style of the novel is overdone but I enjoyed it and felt like a lot of aspects of the book were unique. Certain parts of the book do require you to suspend your disbelief in order to get through the story, which I personally did not mind doing. Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written. I am looking forward to reading more of the author's work in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

How to Survive a Horror Story is a clever, fast-paced thrill ride that breathes new life into the horror genre. Told from multiple character viewpoints, it keeps you guessing at every turn—who will survive, who can be trusted, and who’s hiding something. The shifting perspectives add real depth, letting you get inside each character’s head and watch their development unfold in real-time.

The story masterfully balances suspense, dark humor, and horror tropes in a way that feels fresh and unpredictable. Just when you think you know where it’s going, it twists again. If you love smart, character-driven horror with a self-aware edge, this book is an absolute must-read. Five stars, without a doubt!!!

How to survive a horror story

As soon as I read the premise of this book, I knew I wanted to read it. It totally gave me 'House of Usher' vibes from Netflix and that vibe continued throughout the book.

7 horror authors lured to a will reading byba fanous author in a creepy old mansion and then made to participate in a game to survive the night.... need I say anymore - this was everything I needed.

I had no expectations as I havent read anything by this author and I believe its a debut but this book delivered it.
There is a paranormal elements to this book which may not be for everyone but this allowed my imagination to run free and wild with every page turn.

I will be recommending this to anyone who loves a good, fun horror story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for allowing me to preview this title.

This is a story about 6 people who are summoned to a will reading of a well-known horror writer, under the guise that they will inherit something from this author. Turns out, the visit is much more sinister and everyone's secrets start to get revealed.

The book is told through the POVs of each of the characters involved. And while their version of the secret is told during the narrative, the truth is revealed in the form of a short story at the end of various chapters. This book was very interesting, and often quite creepy. The plot moves along quite fluidly, never really having a slow point. I did not necessarily see the ending coming, which was surprising. And I very much enjoyed the journey to get there. The characters were well developed and the reader is made to both like and despise them.

While I read this book in print form, I think that if done correctly, this would make an excellent audiobook.

When a will reading turns into a game of life or death - what would you do?

How to Survive a Horror Story is a fun, fight for your life story that throws together 7 horror authors who have been summoned to find out their personal inheritance of a legendary contemporary.

I loved the way this story unravelled and the characters’ stories became apparent. I never knew what to think or who to believe! What could go wrong in a creepy manor built on the graves of its inhabitants, anyway?

A group of horror authors walks into a creepy mansion… and quickly realizes they’re not inheriting anything—they’re contestants in a deadly game where each wrong answer costs a life. Think Clue meets Saw meets a very hungry haunted house.

Tropey? Yes. Over the top? Also yes. But so much fun. The dark humor, morally grey characters, and riddles make it deliciously campy and compulsively readable. Some deaths are outrageous, some eerily satisfying, and the short stories woven in add a brilliant meta layer.

It’s more creepy than scary, with a slow start and a few logic gaps, but once it gets going—it’s addictive. I couldn’t put it down!

This one’s for readers who love locked-room mysteries, twisted games, and a story that knows exactly what it is: wildly entertaining horror with teeth.

This book is a captivating read that draws you in and leaves you wanting more. It features seven main characters who are trapped in a house owned by a famous author. Six of these individuals have wronged the author, but one has not. Get ready to discover who that person is, as well as the reasons behind their actions and the unfolding drama.

Ooooh, this book was an absolute blast—I devoured it! The best part? I went in with zero expectations, and it completely blew me away.

A deceased writer assembles a carefully chosen group of people at his mansion—each with a unique connection to him. The promise of an inheritance draws them in, but once inside, they realize they’re not beneficiaries —they’re contestants in a deadly game of survival.

Think escape room meets Clue meets Disney’s Monster House —only the house isn’t just haunted, it’s hungry. Solve the riddles to move through each room or someone dies. Horribly. Their sacrifice feeds the house. And in the end, only one walks away—with everything.

Eerily reminiscent of Wendig's recently released Staircase in the Woods, the 'players' quickly realize the only way out is through, and each riddle unearths a secret so damning, they’d sooner lie, betray, or kill than confess.

It was deliciously campy and entertaining—light on scares but wound so tight with tension that putting it down wasn’t an option. This was exactly the book I needed after the streak I’d been on.

You’re going to read it, right?! Tell me you're running out to buy it when it releases in July...! Trust me, you don’t want to sleep on this one.

A story that is cloaked in mystery from the very beginning. Seven writers are invited to the will reading of legendary horror author Mortimer Queen at his grand manor.
Some of the group had close or long relationships with Queen for example Buck- his former assistant. But others aren’t quite sure why they were invited, especially unpublished author Melanie. In fact, she can’t quite place how or when she met Queen.

But of course, everything is not what it seems. And in order to leave the eerie manor, they must play a game, concocted by Queen, where dark secrets will be revealed and survival is not guaranteed.

You never quite know which way things are going to go. As the story unfolds more and more is revealed but I had some lingering questions after the conclusion. I felt the ending was quite anticlimactic because I wasn’t quite sure what to believe.

Maybe the point is to not know which version of events to believe, because we know Queen can basically make anything happen. So I don’t quite believe that the evidence Melanie finds in the cabin is legitimate.

Plus we have the fact that both Crystal and Winnie mentioned Queen abusing his wife. And they don’t seem to know each other that well, so it’s not like one would have found out from the other. What are the chances they both happen to mention that in their own version of events and are lying. So are we just glossing over the fact that he probably was abusing her?

I just don’t like that Melanie didn’t take all of this into consideration and immediately believed Queen.

This one was going so well until the last few chapters. That being said, I did enjoy the majority of it.

I overall enjoyed this book. I found the plot pretty predictable for the most part, but the characters drew me in and I enjoyed reading the "short stories" about each one. The haunted house setting was great, and I liked how varied each room was.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, this was so much fun! A very "me" book filled with mystery, some spookiness, puzzles, and twists. Perfect for those who eagerly anticipate fall during the summertime!

How to Survive a Horror Story is about a young aspiring author who's invited to a will reading of an acclaimed and famous horror author at his secluded, oversized mansion. Not familiar with the guy besides a chance meeting she weeks before his death, Melanie is bewildered and confused over the invitation. But not too confused to ignore the invitation. When she arrives at the manor, she encounters six other authors of the horror scene who were connected to the late Mortimer Queen in different ways. 

While the title suggests this book acts as a loose step-by-step guide to surviving a horror story, it is not. It's more like an account of what happens over this fateful will-reading weekend in Mortimer's manor. And the horror theme/element of the book wasn't really prominent for me while I was reading. The tense between the characters progresses naturally and there's a dominant thriller vibe in the narrative that comes across strongly in the book.

But since I was aware that the deceased and the guests of the house, besides Melanie, were horror writers, I was expecting the creepiness before it actually happened. And since the book is told in third person the ominous will-reading stated what they were to expect while trying to solve the riddles of the manor, that added another degree of separation to my overall reading experience. 

How to Survive a Horror Story will keep readers entertained and invested as the hours tick by with the guests struggling to work together and make it out alive. This book gave me huge Clue vibes and there really wasn't a point where I wasn't linking the characters or scenes in this book to the movie. Chester, Chrystal, Petey, Scott and Buck all have their own version of events that differ from the late Mr. Queen. 

All of them are scared and want to make it through the weekend in one piece. And for their plan to survive to work, there needs to be trust.
And Melanie's character not being able to remember the details of the day she met Mortimer kinda leaves this big question mark over her head the entire time because we don't know if Melanie's character can be trusted or not.

I had a good time reading this book and although I felt the ending was kinda sour and plotty, I would recommend this book to other thriller and mystery book readers who enjoy locked door riddles and psychological tension with their books.

I’m a sucker for a good locked-room mystery, and this one delivered in spades. Instead of the usual family gathering for a will reading, this story throws a twist: a group of writers is summoned to the eerie mansion of Mortimer Queen, a legendary horror author. They’re intrigued—and more than a little confused—about why they’ve been chosen and what awaits them.

Given Queen’s love for puzzles and theatrics, no one is too shocked when things take a strange turn. His mansion is straight out of one of his novels—macabre, unsettling, and full of odd staff who only add to the growing tension. When the guests are informed that they’re part of a game, they’re curious… until they realize participation isn’t optional.

And the stakes? Life or death.

That’s when the real horror kicks in.

As someone who usually leans toward logical, tidy mysteries, I had to remind myself this isn’t your average whodunit—it’s horror, and it leans into the genre fully. If that’s your thing, you’re in for a treat. If not, this might not be the book for you. The blurb keeps the details vague, so I’ll follow suit, but the way each character connects to Queen—and to the game itself—is both clever and chilling.

Each of the invitees has secrets, and Queen is hell-bent on dragging them into the light in the most twisted ways possible. What I really appreciated is that the characters feel real. They’re not just stock victims in a body count—they’re flawed, complex people. Not all of the inhabitants of the mansion can say the same…

From start to finish, the story oozes with a creepy, slow-burn atmosphere that had me turning pages late into the night. I devoured it in one sitting. It’s creepy, clever, and compulsively readable—a perfect blend of mystery and horror.

I really hope the author keeps writing books like this. I’m already ready for the next one.

I've tired of locked room (island, boat, airplane) mysteries but that's before I opened this locked house horror tale that blends a mystery with murder and the paranormal. It's a page turner with tricks. You navigate the house as the characters do and no spoilers from me as to how it works out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good one.