For the most part I had a really great time with this one and the premise is what sold me. It is also what kept me engaged the entire time alongside the characters! I wish it had been a little darker and grittier, but that might just be me. I think anyone looking to pick up "this type of book" will absolutely be riveted and have a great time! Looking forward to seeing what others think and discussing this one with some friends!

How to Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a captivating read from start to finish. As a fan of horror books and an avid horror movie watcher, I initially expected a bit more gore, but the clever and unique style of this horror story really stood out. It blends elements of Squid Games, Saw, and psychological/mystery thrillers in a way that was a welcomed surprise.

What I appreciated most was the history and development of the 7 characters. Each one is not only captivating but also deceptive in their own right, with individual plots that twist and turn in unexpected ways. The way their stories converged in the haunted manor was seamless, and despite the complexity of the characters' individual arcs, the dialogue remained clear and engaging.

The eerie and atmospheric setting of the manor really added to the tension and sense of dread of the story. The creepy environment played a key role in keeping the suspense high and the mystery alive throughout.

Overall, this was an intriguing, suspenseful, and highly enjoyable read that kept me hooked until the very end. Highly recommended for fans of psychological horror with a dash of mystery and suspense.

When a group of writers gathers at the estate of horror author Mortimer Queen, they expect riches passed on to them from his will but they soon find something far more sinister. Trapped inside the crumbling haunted mansion, they are forced to play a deadly game inside his sprawling manor where solving riddles is the only way to survive.

This story felt a lot like Cabin in the Woods mixed with Escape Room and Cluedo, with a splash of Grady Hendrix. There was a lot of mystery and deadly puzzle-solving rooms and I thought the writing captured that atmosphere really well.

But those characters! The characters were so unlikeable so whatever gory thing that happened to them was kind of fun to anticipate (yep I am a sicko). I especially liked how their carefully crafted public image was unravelled by those short stories showing who they really were.

Despite me disliking the mention of tropes in the last book, this was a book that I wanted ALL the horror tropes. It’s about horror authors in a horror situation, what better times to use it? It was discussed a few times, even had the stereotypical POC character (you all know how that ends), but it would have been great to play on those tropes more. There was so much potential here for sharp, dark humour.

The twist was fun (but kind of expected) but the book just wasn’t that scary for me. Maybe that is more about my scare tolerance these days. I wanted more wild and creepy moments to really push it further. Despite some plot holes though, I had fun with this! 3/5

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To be publish on 8 Jul 2025.

NetGalley arc review: 7 authors arrive at the dead Mortimer’s house for his will reading. To survive this horror story, which of their horrors will be revealed? This is a locked door thriller that keeps you curious throughout. It was a solid read.

Okay, this is fun. Yes, it’s kind of a tropey plot. And, yes, the characters are a little much. But the author has given us something quite unusual.

There are gruesome deaths. The author starts to reveal the secrets behind the secrets, you’ll be munching your popcorn and greedily devouring every last lie.

Probably a 3.5 stars, but bumping it up because it was just pure fun.

The premise of this is an A+. The execution... it's hard to start and even getting through it more, it was just ridiculous. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. However, just from what I have seen, I might be an unpopular opinion.

I just don't think this is the writing or story for me. The premise of a locked room murder mystery surrounding horror authors was a fun one. However, the characters and I were majorly disconnected and felt silly. I ended up DNFing.

3.5 Stars

I was really engaged with this book for the first half through to maybe 60% of the way. I really enjoyed the premise of a collection of horror authors coming to hear the reading of the will of one of their peers, to whom they all have a connection, and being thrown into their own horror story. There was elements of Clue, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, and escape rooms (generally) all woven in and I had fun.

But as we progressed through I started to lose interest. The story started to feel predictable and a bit flat and I was ultimately left unsatisfied by the ending. I appreciated that not knowing who was telling the truth, at least until the very end, was part of the point, but I think it would have been more satisfying without that final twist.

Overall though, it was an interesting premise that paid homage to a lot of fun material that’s come before. Some of the characters were very interesting, others not as much, and there was enough to keep me invested enough to finish the story. A good debut!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the eARC - this is my honest review*

This was such a fun read, not what I was expecting but I loved it!! It would make such a great movie! Good characters and interesting plot!!

This was absolutely one of my all-time favorite books of this year! I will say it was slow to start, and could get confusing given how many character perspectives we were following.

However, the story was spectacular, and the ending omggggggg! I absolutely loved how this was written, and I loved all the characters. Having chapters for each one, was such an interesting way to go about it. It made everthing more thrilling.

Although sometimes, with having all the different characters to follow, it was challenging to find out who was being addressed.

My favorite quote: "A woman who is brazen with secrets, like Winnie, is intimidating, but one who harbors them quietly, that's far more terrifying"

This was such a fun, tongue-in-cheek read! How to Survive a Horror Story is like a survival guide for every horror movie trope you can think of, and it’s packed with dark humor and clever references. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is exactly the point—and exactly why it works.

Perfect for horror fans who love movies like Scream and Cabin in the Woods. It’s not super deep or groundbreaking, but it is entertaining and makes for a great gift or quick weekend read.

Some of the jokes were hit or miss, and it leans a little heavy on clichés at times, but that’s also kind of the charm. A solid pick for fans of satire and spooky season vibes.

Loved the concept of this book, the characters were intriguing and trying to work out what they all had done and what was true or not. It wasn’t as scary as I would have liked but I still enjoyed it! Would recommend to others

A well known horror author, Mortimer Queen, dies a group of writers are invited to his house for the reading of his Will. Once the arrive they are told they must participate in a game that Mortimer prepared for them. They must solve puzzles in order to make their way through the house. While they are solving the puzzles, they learn how each of them are connected to Mortimer. Mortimer's house is not what any of them expected and none of them have ever played a game like this.
This was a great mystery thriller that bordered on horror.

I really enjoyed this one! It definitely gave me And Then There Were None vibes with a horror twist.

Usually I’m not a fan of more than 2-3 POV’s, but I felt it helped the story to have a POV from each of the 7 authors. I liked getting to see them question themselves on why they were there and their interpretation of the events at the manor.

Some of the deaths were a bit out there, but I found it very entertaining. Overall this was a 4/5 for me, I’m excited to see more from this author!

3.75 stars

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is an engaging and entertaining read that puts a clever spin on horror tropes, even if it doesn’t quite deliver the full scare factor its premise might suggest.

The story kicks off with a fun hook: a group of writers are summoned to the eerie manor of the late horror legend Mortimer Queen, expecting inheritance and instead finding themselves trapped in a high-stakes game blending escape room puzzles and deadly gauntlets. It's a concept that sets the stage for thrills and chaos—and while the horror elements are a bit tamer than expected, the momentum never really falters.

Where the book truly shines is in its storytelling and character dynamics. The ensemble cast of writers is well-written, and their interactions are compelling enough to keep the pages turning. Arnold does a great job balancing suspense and humor, creating a tone that feels more playful than terrifying, but still satisfying.

It’s not a gore-fest, nor is it particularly scary, so hardcore horror fans might walk away wishing for more intensity. But if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, cleverly constructed story with a unique concept and solid character work, this one’s worth picking up.

Like if a horror b-movie to you’d randomly watch on streaming services was a slightly too long book. I was entertained, despite the protagonist of sorts literally giving nothing.
And a certain redacted character did nothing wrong in my eyes. 2.5 stars.

The premise of How to Survive a Horror Story is similar to at least 1 or 2 other thrillers I've read in the past year. I was hoping for something a little more different and original. In addition, the multiple view points from each character lacked uniqueness. It is as if the entire book could have been written from the same POV because there wasn't much to differentiate the voices of each character. While I know many others will enjoy this thriller, it didn't work for me. If you like a locked room mystery starring a group of writers then you will enjoy this!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was very interested in finding out the truth behind each character. At the end, I didn’t like any of them including Melanie. Yes, they all did horrible things, and twisted their own stories to make themselves look innocent or less evil, but not all of them deserved to be killed.

3.5 stars

Whew! This one had a lot going on with so many points of view that were not easily distinguishable for this reader which made connecting difficult. I will say that I did enjoy the gothic vibe and the fun premise. This one is already getting great reviews from other trusted readers, so I’m most likely in the minority here.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a brilliant look into the horror writing genre, and a brilliant horror novel.

Terrifying in all the best ways, kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages literally all night long.

This was one of those rare books that you read in one sitting because you cannot fathom putting it down even for one minute.

I might need an extra cup of coffee this morning, but it was so worth it!