First of all thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to be an advanced reader for this novel. I leave this review voluntarily.

While this books synopsis definitely caught my attention I also knew it might not be the right pick for me (just because I prefer the more dark, twisted, psychological thrillers).
Either way I persevered and would round this one up to a 3,5 star read. If you like a bit of murder mystery, creepy manor and witty characters this might be the perfect pick for you. The story itself was original and well written and enjoyable but I personally felt no real connection to the characters which for me is a big aspect of what keeps me interested.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HORROR STORY by Mallory Arnold. A fun, fast-paced horror story involving a bunch of horror authors as they attend a “will reading” for another famous author within their genre.

A creepy manor, puzzles, testing of loyalties, and dark secrets that are forced to the surface. It’s that… or no way out.

This book was a BLAST to read! It kept me engaged and curious the entire way through!

Such a fun read! The summary was a quick grab for me that I was immediately locked in and interested. Reminds me of "Inception" where you question reality and have the thought of "wait what's true? what actually happened?". Definitely a fun read once it's published this summer!

Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC!

I liked the darkness of it and the questionable reality--how did we know which story was true? Or were they all made up? That's what kept me locked in on this one. I loved the gray-ness of it!

Haunted House, Escape Room and possible Unreliable Narrators, this is a tropey horror book of fun!

Honestly this book does have everything a horror fan could want- gruesome deaths, overdone characters ( in a good fun way ok), scenes that require you to ignore logic and scary women.

7 horror writers locked in a house trying to escape the horrors committed in their real lives. Sounds convoluted but it’s really just a fun romp through the best parts of what makes horror fun.

3.75 stars - worth the pick up when it comes out!

Welcome to Queen Manor, where the inheritance isn't measured in dollars, but in blood. Mallory Arnold's How to Survive a Horror Story throws a group of writers into a deadly game, and you're invited to watch every pulse-pounding, terrifying moment.

Forget your typical will reading. When these authors gather at the estate of the legendary Mortimer Queen, they expect a windfall. Instead, they're trapped in a gothic nightmare, forced to solve riddles to survive the house itself. And Queen Manor? It's not just old; it's hungry, built on a dark legacy that demands a terrifying toll.

Arnold masterfully blends the locked-room tension of a classic whodunit with the chilling atmosphere of a haunted house tale. Think Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone meets The Fall of the House of Usher, and you're halfway there. This is a bright, biting, and relentlessly thrilling ride that will have you on the edge of your seat, contemplating the very nature of horror and the dark origins of its greatest stories.

How to Survive a Horror Story is a must-read for anyone who loves a clever, creepy, and utterly captivating thrill-ride. Prepare to enter Queen Manor... if you dare.

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a brilliantly original debut that blends horror, mystery, and dark humor. Set in a creepy manor where writers must solve deadly riddles or be swallowed by the house, the story is gripping from start to finish. Arnold’s sharp writing, eerie atmosphere, and twisty plot make this a standout. It’s clever, creepy, and impossible to put down—a must-read for horror fans.

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the concept of a haunted house and making horror writers try and survive each grueling room.
Each character was so unique while playing into horror tropes. And I loved that I was never quite sure who was telling the truth.
A story perfect for anyone who loves a gory revenge story that will keep you on your toes.

Although this trope has been done many times, I kept coming back to read this book. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It did fall a bit flat for me a little over half way through, I just became a bit repetitive and I was finding myself uninterested in the characters and just wanting to get to the end. It did pick back up though. Overall it was a fun read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys light horror. It was fun, just spooky enough and not overly gory.

I am actually quite surprised how quickly I finished this book once I got into it.
How To Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold combined the best bits of horror comedy and spooky haunted house. It kept me entertained and wondering what the next thing was going to come from around the corner. I can say I didn't fully expect the ending, you can have an inclination with just how the book is set up and starts, with the story being told in all the character's voice in one chapter or another.
I think the only thing I didn't care for was the main horror author himself, Mortimer Queen, I found him irritating when he was brought up. <spoiler>Honestly I don't feel bad for him at all? All in all the authors he took "revenge on" were all shitty people and he was a shitty person too. Who cheats on their cancer stricken wife with a erotic author... like really. POS. Don't care for him.</spoiler>
All in all it was a quick read and an enjoyable one at that. I would recommend you give it a shot and see some shitty people get what's coming to them.

Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC!
For sure when it comes out it will grace my horror shelves in paperback.

Famous horror author Mortimer Queen has died & writes 7 of his fellow horror authors into his will. Each one has a special connection & a history to the horror author. However, when they arrive they are told they are playing a game: answer a riddle & advance to the next room closer to escaping; answer wrong & the manor will take a person.

This was such a fun read for me I read it almost entirely in one sitting. As secrets started getting revealed I needed to know what happened next. Was I able to guess a few things? Sure. But there were also twists I didn’t see coming & the journey itself was a fun time.

I really liked the multipov. You would think 7 POVs is a lot but it really worked with the pacing & helped give readers needed insight. The characters seem to be well thought out & I found myself liking some but hating others. Also throughout the book you are asking yourself: Is this a reliable narrator? Who’s telling the truth? Who do I trust?

I don’t want to say too much because I felt like it was a pleasant experience going in blind. Would recommend to any fans of horror locked room mysteries with a dash of supernatural elements.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!

I’m in awe! This book is exceptionally well-written, with fully developed characters that draw you in and keep you invested. The brilliant air of mystery combined with the perfect amount of horror creates an engaging reading experience. I can’t help but envision this as a thrilling film adaptation—it’s begging for a production company to pick up the rights! Highly recommend for any horror fan!

3.5 stars, rounded up. This was entertaining! I did struggle with getting into the story due to the varying POVs, but that was also what eventually won me over and kept me engaged. I feel like lovers of Knives Out and Agatha Christie would appreciate this book! Thank you, NetGalley!

This was such an interesting read. It definitely started out a little slow in the beginning, but it picked up and held my attention. I love the addition of short stories after each room. I think the ending was a little predictable but I still quite enjoyed it.

Reminiscent of And Then There Were None with a horror twist, How to Survive a Horror Story follows a group of 7 writers who find themselves gathered at the manor of the recently deceased Mortimer Queen for a will reading. Each writer has a different connection to the elusive author, but they all find themselves trapped in the same game Mortimer left behind for them after his death. This set the foundation of the story as these character go through each level to solve riddles that reveal why they were invited and what their connection to Mortimer actually was.

The concept was really interesting, but I found the execution a bit lacking. The riddles were really easy to solve even when the characters would act like they weren't. There was a POV for each character and while the author did a good job giving each one a distinct voice, I didn't find their characterizations very compelling and I don't think every character needed to have a dedicated POV. They were unlikeable, which was the point, but I didn't find any layers to their unlikeability. Even the relationships the story told us they were building between themselves as they played the game weren't so believable.

The story did keep me invested though as I kept reading to see what everything was leading up to, but I didn't feel the sense of tension that I should have with a plot like this. It was a decent read though and I would give it a shot if you're a fan of mysteries with a light horror aspect to them.

Entertaining as hell! Love the characters, the setting, and that not once did the story shy away from what it is. A fun romp through a haunted house with lives and a horrific inheritance on the line.

Love the unique characters, and the short stories interspersed between the main story. I did like the fact that all the characters weren't seeking redemption, so although unlikable, I was still rooting for them.

Perfect quick read.

SO GOOD. Thrilling, exciting. Fast paced. I couldn't stop reading this and wanting to know what happened next. I will definitely be reading more from this author

First off I want to think NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel by Mallory Arnold in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars.

Holy cow! This is my favorite book that I have read this year and one I think will definitely be in contention for the book of the year. I DEMOLISHED this book in one sitting. I cancelled plans to meet friends for tacos and margs (which is my love) because I literally could not put this book down.

Growing up, Clue the board game (and the icon movie) was my favorite. I own multiple versions and it comes to no surprise that one of my favorite group activities is an escape room. So when I read the synopsis of this book that writers are locked in a manor in a final game designed by a Horror author legend. I knew this was going to be right up my alley.

What I wasn't expecting was how it was clue, mixed with the movie Monster House, but make it more horror and gruesome but salt in a little Verity vibes where you are left wondering who is telling the truth..... I gobbled this up like it was a tray of deviled eggs at a family function.

Do yourself a favor and RUN to get this book. RUN RUN RUN.

Mysterious author dies, a group is called to a remote mansion for the will reading, and find out they are not the only ones hungry for more. Is it really the mansion? Is it someone in the house? A lot of adjectives will lead you there

As Melanie awaits the will reading she compares her fellow guests to chess pieces, herself to a lone red checker. From there begins another type of game, reminiscent of Saw meets The Shining. It starts out a little slow and took a few chapters in to bring out the characters' defining attributes but once the clock starts ticking (literally) the tension keeps the plot moving forward. While I wish some parts were more developed as I still had a couple questions upon finishing, that may be due to my more frequent reading of mysteries. I enjoyed the riddles and the "group of writers" trope. I'd be interested in reading something from this author again.