I'm very torn about this one. Was this supposed to be silly or scary? Possibly both. In my opinion this is more of a popcorn horror. First of all, I enjoyed the monster house. It's messed up and I could easily see Hollywood adapting it into a movie. The characters are unlikeable and its easy to understand why they get what they deserve. But sometimes the storyline felt over the top and we are not given much of a chance to connect to the characters. It's also very obvious in the beginning who will be left standing at the end. However the one who survives gave me whiplash. From the beginning until they leave the house, their personality is pretty much established. But in the end, it seems they have a different personality and their actions don't make a lot of sense. I wish there had been a different ending to help make sense of this and tie up loose ends but overall I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGally for providing this ARC!! Seven guests are invited to the legendary home of late Mortimer Queen. These guests all have been invited to his last will and testament reading. As they all arrive to his grand home, they find themselves instead in a game of survival. Each guest is harboring a secret, secrets that can get them killed. Who will survive?

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! It is very well written. One of the best books that I have read this year! Unpredictable and a must have this July on release day!

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold was an entertaining read and the familiar setup was executed in a way that kept me interested.

A group of people summoned to Queen Manor after the death of master horror author Mortimer Queen, are each hoping for a piece of his fortune. Not all of their connections to him are clear. Before they can claim anything, they must play a deadly game. They must solve a riddle and move forward, or fail and let the manor eliminate someone. And yes, in true horror fashion, “eliminate” really means eliminate.

This book thrives on secrets. Every guest has something to hide, and it quickly becomes clear that no one can be trusted. The tension builds as the manor itself plays an active role, delivering gruesome paranormal horrors that are unsettling yet entertaining.

The pacing is solid, and despite the sinister atmosphere, the story remains an easy and enjoyable horror read. The cast is full of morally questionable characters, which only adds to the suspense and works in the book’s favor.

Overall, How to Survive a Horror Story delivers an entertaining blend of mystery, horror, and betrayal.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

First, I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press, Mallory Arnold, and Netgally for the E-arc.

Deftly blends traditional mystery with horror and the supernatural in a page-turner that will have you hooked from beginning to end. My expectations were high from the description, and it did not disappoint! The story weaves together intricate plot twists and eerie elements, keeping readers on edge as they unravel the mystery. With vivid descriptions and compelling characters, it creates an immersive experience that is both thrilling and unsettling. This was an amazing debut and I highly recommend it.

Once again, thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Mallory Arnold, and Netgally for the E-arc.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book is a wild, trope-filled ride that’s creepy, clever, and seriously fun. Seven horror authors are invited to a spooky manor, where they’re forced to solve riddles—or be taken by the house itself. The deaths are gruesome, the secrets are juicy, and the house? Basically alive and hungry.

The characters are morally messy, with plenty of betrayal, revenge, and dark humor to go around. Mortimer, the mysterious host, dishes out justice that’s sometimes fair... sometimes not. Melanie and Buck stand out, and I’m still not over the whole thing with Mortimer’s wife.

It starts slow but builds to something you can’t stop reading. If you love puzzle-based horror with a haunted house twist and characters you’ll love to hate, this one’s for you.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a fun, fast paced read. I would strongly recommend it for horror fans and will be looking out for more from this author

Somewhat odd to say, but Mallory Arnold's story is a fun read for fans of the horror genre with its twisty takes on tropes and characters. The story itself isn't all that scary itself but contains all the aspects of a horror novel. More tongue-in-cheek and satirical than anything else, the horror does work.

Set in a haunted house with rooms that our guests have to break out of one by one while they struggle not to be the one killed that round, the real horrors of Arnold's novel are internal as the past horrors that the characters have committed are slowly revealed to the reader. While one character seems more out of place than the others, in the end, the dark desires behind fame, fortune, and storytelling are the real horrors studied.

I really enjoyed this book.

The fantasy/scifi side is not normally my thing but I couldn’t put this book down. I think the mystery and the horror part of this book outweighed the fantasy and it really got me hooked.

I didn’t know what to think when I started, it was an escape room time story line which ended in an extreme way. The ending felt really rushed and there if very little character development. I enjoyed the ‘short stories’ littered throughout the book which helped to offer some respective.

This is one of those books that you’ll be thinking about for a while. Definitely recommend

How to Survive a Horror Story’ follows the story of famous horror author Mortimer Queen and the seven unsuspecting people invited to his home for a will reading following his death. What unfolds is a house of horrors: seven “escape rooms,” each one making you ask the question—who is the real monster?

I was in a reading slump when I picked up this book, with several others on the go that I was struggling to get through. This book very quickly pulled me out of that slump!

I loved the multiple POVs, and seeing the story from different perspectives really made you question who was telling the truth.

My only reason for not giving this a five-star rating was the ending. I don’t want to give too much away, but I wanted there to be more of a connection between Mortimer Queen and the survivor. I was waiting for a big twist and felt a little let down that there wasn’t more.

All in all, this book was really enjoyable—not too gory for a horror—and a very easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed it

This book took me a little to get into it but once I figured out how the story was going and how wrapped up in the different point of views I got the more and more I could not put this book down! I really enjoyed how each chapter was told from a different person in the houses view points. This book was so fun and really unique in how the author went about spinning this tale. What happens with seven people go to the reading of one of the most famous horror authors last will and testament? Lots of spooky twists and turns that leave you wondering how are these people all connected and how is this book going to end.

This premise sounded too good to be true but it lived up to the expectation. It read like a cross between Riley Sager and Silvia Moreno Garcia. I loved this book!

"Your Favorite Scary Movie" by Mallory Arnold is a thought-provoking exploration of horror cinema, delving into its history, cultural impact, and the diverse ways it elicits fear. The book offers sharp commentary on representation in the genre, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the films that have shaped our collective nightmares. Arnold's extensive knowledge is evident, though at times the depth of analysis leans towards an academic tone, reminiscent of a thesis. Despite this, the author's wit and humor shine through, making complex discussions both engaging and accessible. For horror enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive and insightful read, this book is a valuable addition to your collection.

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It felt like a fun cross between horror and mystery. It was dark and twisty and a little bit weird, but I enjoyed it! I liked learning more about each of the characters and what they did to anger Mortimer Queen… I also liked the addition of the short stories and how that wrapped up the plot line.

4/5

First off I would like to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

This book was honestly great. I love a good locked room story and this was just that. I really enjoyed the traditional setting of a spooky haunted manor in the middle of nowhere. All the puzzles and riddles really helped you understand the characters better, making them likeable one moment and unlikeable the next. I wish I could say more detail about everything I liked but then I would be giving away too many spoilers! Definitely a must read from this author!

Review: How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold

I finished the second half of this book in one sitting—and got a headache for my trouble. But what a ride. Mallory Arnold’s novel sinks its teeth in and doesn’t let go, a true page-turner with cinematic potential. I could see scenes play out: the deer appearing after the maze, the ghostly servants, the house that breathes hunger.

Melanie is a compelling character—likeable and horrifying in equal measure. A writer who might have the words, but not the substance. Her arc is uncomfortable and fascinating. Writers, after all, aren’t supposed to dig blindly; stories should be excavated like dinosaur bones—carefully, with respect. And Melanie… doesn’t.

By the end, it’s unclear who survives. The house wants seven victims, and maybe it gets them. Maybe even the monster counts. The horror community might come out on top—or maybe it gets devoured, too. Hungry house, hungry Melanie. Either way, Arnold delivers something memorable. How to Survive a Horror Story is good horror—creepy, layered, and smart.

I wanted to read this book so much, getting approved had me on cloud nine.

This book by Mallory Arnold will be released on the 8th of July and is called "How to survive a horror story".

This book is a psychological thriller, so don't let the title fool you. But, it's really really good! Also, side note. You get a lot of point of views in this book.

I have to confess that because of all the different points of view, I'm having a bit of a hard time writing a good review. So, bare with me.

After receiving an invitation for the will reading of none other than the number one best selling horror author Mortimer Queen. But, why would he be inviting me? We've only met once? And the details are so hazy, I can't remember the specifics.

When Melanie arrives there are others, it was expected ofcourse, but, the rest are all horror writers.. Melanie does write, but hasn't been published yet.. So.. Why? After meeting the others at cocktail hour, there is still a diner to sit through before the will is read. There are some things happening that are plain weird but the reading of the will.. That takes the crown.

It's escape room-esc, one hour to find and resolve the riddle or someone will be not make it. You can't get to the next room without resolving the riddle. There can only be one that gets out.. Whom that will be.. Who knows? (well I do obviously..)

The happenings in the different rooms are mind blowing, the thriller angle is 100% there. I really liked reading this book.

It's a 4 star read for me.

My reaction to this is a very solid, "Hmm."

This story follows a colorful cast of horror writers (and one normie) who are called to a recently deceased famous writer's mansion in the country for his will reading. They are all expecting to receive something from the decedent, but they get more than they bargained for when things turn deadly.

The situation reminded me of if The Fall of the House of Usher and And Then There Were None had a gory, violent, blood-soaked baby.

Each character has secrets to hide, and each character gets rotating POV chapters. With each shift of POV, we learn more about why these people are being forced by a dead man to play the worst escape room of all time. But the further we get in the story, the more you have to question - what about the normie, Melanie? Why is SHE in this mess, when she seemingly has nothing to do with the background tapestry of lies, grudges, and sins that ties the others together?

As someone very new to the horror genre, it's hard to know if my reactions are really to this specific book, or if it's the broader genre itself.

The violent, creative deaths were certainly horrifying. The tense, uncertain atmosphere as I got closer to the end of the book, where I began to wonder if I actually knew what I thought I knew, was even more horrifying in my opinion. The story held my attention the whole way through, and I very much wanted to know every answer to the many present mysteries! Three stars for a solid, compelling narrative.

I didn't actually care about any of the characters. I'm not sure if I was supposed to.

Two other things stymied the satisfaction I wanted to feel at the end of the book:

1. The house. What? And why? This is probably a horror genre thing and not actually a problem, but I cannot be satisfied with zero exploration of the wider ramifications of sentient monster houses. Melanie even thinks to herself about this, and then none of it ever comes up again or matters. Again, probably a horror genre thing. I can read about the wildest fantasy worlds without blinking an eye, but for some reason random, unexplained, impossible stuff in what is otherwise the real world makes my suspension of disbelief pump the brakes.

2. Melanie. I wasn't convinced by her character arc. She seemed to go from normal and well-meaning to unapologetically ruthless and murderous like the flip of a light switch. I would have believed seeing this side of her come out gradually, as if it had always been there, hidden under her people-pleasing, anxious behavior. The flashback reveal of her meeting with Mortimer didn't explain any of this. She was barely conscious at the time.

And the rationalization the story offers doesn't explain it either, in my opinion. Some of the people trapped in the game deserved what they got, sure. Crystal was the most deplorable of all of them, and I don't really blame Melanie for murdering her. But SOME of them DIDN'T.

Buck, honestly, was maybe the best person in the whole book from an ethics standpoint. Oh no, he's a drunk and a slob? So awful. He blackmailed a horrible, disgusting man who was not only cheating on his sick wife, but also was unrelentingly cruel to everyone he ever met, AND partners in crime with his serial killer sentient house, probably with scores of bodies on his hands? Tragic. I'm scandalized. Like, come on. This was - if not righteous - absolutely logically justifiable.

And not only did Melanie personally kill him for that, but she TRAPPED HIM IN A CELLAR AND WORKED THERE FOR DAYS, LISTENING TO HIS PLEAS AND CRIES FOR HELP AS HE SLOWLY DIED. That's not 'repressed, abused girl turns her infinite inner pool of resentment and self-hatred into a firehose of vitriol to wreak vengeance on an unjust world.' That's a TRUE sociopath move.

I do NOT see that in the Melanie at the beginning of the book, or the Melanie in the middle of the book. The whiplash-sudden shift is jarring and seems to come out of nowhere. It was hard to feel like the ending satisfied or even made sense, when after Melanie comes back she again seems to revert to her previous character. She doesn't become a dark queen intent on being the next harbinger of revenge. She seems intent on never going back to the house, and never feeding it, even when her awful, abusive mother gives her the opportunity.

Why? It left me with an overall feeling of confusion, not horror.

This was an interesting read. I'm always a fan of horror stories where they're trapped together and have to survive some sort of game/solve the riddles to get by. This reminded me of a lot of horror movies like the Saw movies, Escape Room movies, and Would You Rather. It was interesting seeing all the different characters' perspectives and trying to sort out what the characters had done to make them targeted. Plus, the split POV raised the stakes for me since it meant you didn't know for sure who would and would not survive based off of who was narrating the story. The unreliable narrator(s) aspect definitely kept things interesting, too.

I had to sit with my thoughts for a moment, mainly because this was the first book I've devoured this fast in a long time.

I was excited for this book, the blurb sounded good, and for me honestly, it delivered! I felt like I was reading a book that had the vibes of Ready or Not, Clue, Squid Games, and the Monster House movie I watched growing up. It was a spooky tale that sent chills down my back multiple times, and one I had to put down if I had any hope of sleeping at night.

I will say however, without saying it, that there was one character that I enjoyed who I thought did not deserve the ending he got. The rest of the seven authors invited though? Yeah they were kind of awful.

It leaves you guessing until the very end, and even then, you have to sit there and process everything that you just read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC copy!

This book had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing felt uneven, with long stretches where not much happened, and the characters lacked the depth needed to make their journeys compelling.