Characters: 4.00⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 4.00⭐️
Themes: 4.25⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4.25⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.00⭐️

Slice of Cherry is a story that follows two sisters, Kit and Fancy, who are the daughters of a serial killer who has been imprisoned. Darkness lingers over the sisters, and they harbor violent urges themselves. Set in a fictional town where portals and otherworldly forces are at play, Kit and Fancy go into a "backdoor world" where they indulge in their violent tendencies without fear of consequences. Kit begins to want real world connections where Fancy wants to indulge in their isolation.

This book fuses both horror and magical realism making it grotesque and emotionally complex. There are many themes explored including identity, sisterhood and the descent into madness. Dia reeve's writing still is brutal and lyrical. There are rich southern gothic influences and vivid imagery. This book is dark, violent and psychologically heavy, but very original.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting to know these two sisters. It was everything that I was expecting and enjoyed the genre that I was wanting and enjoyed in this universe. Each character felt like their own person and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that horror element that I was hoping for and glad it was so well done. Dia Reeves has a strong writing style and am excited for more from Dia Reeves.

I loved the idea of this more than I liked the actual book itself unfortunately. I was expecting angst and suspense and being on the edge of my seat more than I got. The pacing was just kind of off.

The characters felt like they were just kind of there in some instances. There was so much room for growth that just didn't happen and I felt a bit let down by the ending.

This one was WILD! It followed the lives of two sisters who were the daughters of a serial killer. There was a lot that I liked about it and a lot that I didn’t like. I appreciated that it didn’t take itself too seriously, but at times it felt… too much. It didn’t have a linear start and finish that was easy to follow, which made it seem a bit silly. Overall though, I enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All Opinions are my own.

This was good! I enjoyed it. I read a lot of romance, but I always love new to me authors and this was one. I enjoyed the writing style and think this was super good! Definitely intrigued to read more.

A book about sisters who are daughters of a serial killer? Sign me the f up! I know this is a re-release, but I had never read it until now. Fantasy meets thriller, this book has it all- murder, portals to another world, and girls who you can't help but root for despite their activities. Dexter meets Cruel Prince at its finest.

Unfortunately, I really didn’t enjoy this one or find many redeeming qualities in it. It sounded great, but a lot of the plot felt muddled down and rushed. It seemed like the book was suffering from an identity crisis and couldn’t really put down roots in any genre which made it messy. I think if it had chosen one lane and stuck to it, it could have been more successful!

This was an odd book for me, I couldn't get into it and didn't like the story or character. I was hopeful from the interesting cover but it just was really awkward.

3.75

If you’ve been wanting a book that feels like it was plucked out of your weirdest fever dreams, let me introduce you to your next read.

Slice of Cherry follows the two daughters of the famous Bonesaw Killer- Kit and Fancy. When they start to give in to their murderous urges, just like their father, they discover a door to a make-believe world where they can wish for anything. After realizing the possibilities are endless, the sisters decide to take care of people who are causing problems for others in the town. There were fairy doors, monsters, spirits, murderers, and two absolutely insane main characters who just so happen to find themselves intertwined with a pair of brothers who may have a secret of their own.

Let me just start off by saying that there’s no proper way to explain the plot of this book. It’s such an odd story, that I can’t help but love it. The sister dynamic between the two was so well-constructed. The way Fancy started becoming more and more rage-filled as the sisters started changing, made this book so hard to put down. In a similar sense, the town was so well written. They were subject to this absolute nonsensical way of life- constantly experiencing monster attacks, and finding doors to other worlds, but no matter what happened, they always stuck together.

If you’ve been looking to find something reminiscent of House of Hollow- full of sisters, secrets, and other worlds, this is the book for you.

Thank you to Simon Teen for the ARC of this book. Overall I enjoyed my time reading this book. It took me FOREVER to get through this because there was a lot of aspects that felt slow. I feel the story needed more.

Slice of Cherry centers on two sisters, Kit and Fancy who are the daughters of a serial killer, The Bonesaw Killer. The girls stumble on a magical world where all of the evidence that could bring them in can be disposed of.

I really wanted to like this book, and being a reader who doesn't shy away from the horror genre, I thought it would be a fit, but ultimately the way the story unfurled was just too much for me. I am rating it 2.75 rounded to three stars because I think I am just the wrong audience here. I would be careful, it is noted as a YA/teen's book, but I would be very wary of giving it to a younger reader. Be aware there are some possible triggers here.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

In this haunting psychological thriller, two sisters, Kit and Fancy, are forced to confront not only their disturbing legacy but also the dark desires that echo within them. I loved how both sisters are different in the way they perceive death and their impulsiveness. The twist in the end was very interesting.

Following the lives of two daughters of a serial killer who live in a town that has elements of fantasy mixed in with the horror atmosphere.

There was a lot going on with this book, the daughters of a serial killer was very entertaining from a horror perspective, complex with their struggles with their own mental illnesses; it felt a bit like Dexter (TV show) vibes at times. Having said that there were also some moments that seemed random or maybe I just didn’t understand what was going on well enough, but I really struggled to figure out what the plot was for this book. A lot of the supernatural/fantasy elements confused me, there was little to no explanation as to why their town was like that.

While I had a bit of mixed feelings about this book I do really love this cover.

Plot: 6/10
Pace: 7/10
Ending: 4/10
Characters: 4/10
Enjoyability: 5/10
Writing Style: 3/10
Would I Recommend? Maybe
Favorite Character: n/a

Favorite Quote: ❝ But what if the monsters come?"
"Fancy." Kit looked away from the drama to stare at her sister, surprised. "We are the monsters.”❞

This was such an interesting read. You follow Fancy and her sister Kit. They live in a small town and their dad was the bonesaw killer. The adventures they have that summer are out there but I definitely enjoyed reading this horror novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Dia Reeves' “Slice of Cherry” is a daring, unsettling YA story that plays with the boundaries of dark fantasy and psychological horror. Set in the strange town of Portero, where magical doorways lead to bizarre alternate worlds, the novel centers on sisters Fancy and Kit Cordelle, the daughters of a notorious serial killer, and their unsettling bloodlust. From its twisted premise to its grotesque violence, “Slice of Cherry” is not for the faint of heart, but for those brave enough, it offers a haunting journey into the darker side of human nature.

The world-building in “Slice of Cherry” is as odd and unpredictable as its characters. Portero is a town with holes in reality—doors that lead to strange and horrifying worlds, monsters that emerge from these portals, and a magical police force called the Mortmains who try (and often fail) to contain the madness. However, the book doesn't fully explore or explain these fantastical elements, leaving you with many questions about the nature of Portero, the doorways, and the Mortmains; this story was just a little too weird for me to fully understand what exactly was going on and what was considered “normal” in this town. This sense of mystery and lack of closure can be both frustrating and fascinating, as the world feels rich with potential but is never fully fleshed out.

At the heart of the story are the Cordelle sisters, whose dark impulses form the core of the narrative. Raised by parents who were loving yet completely unaware of their potential for violence, Fancy and Kit are both deeply flawed characters—one a cold, calculating sociopath, the other a more impulsive, reckless killer. Their relationship is complex, at times bordering on unsettling, with moments that challenge the line between familial devotion and something far darker. The book's portrayal of their violent tendencies—combined with their belief that they are justified in their bloodlust—raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of evil and morality.

Despite the gruesome murders and bizarre events, there’s a strange allure to Fancy and Kit's journey. Their twisted sense of justice and power, combined with their ability to cross into the "happy place" (a surreal world where they are gods), makes their actions both fascinating and repulsive. The book alternates between moments of chilling horror and absurdity, evoking a Tim Burton-esque feel, but without the whimsical charm. Instead, the tone is often macabre, with the sisters' acts of violence serving as dark retribution for those they deem deserving.

The writing is fast-paced, unpredictable, and unapologetically dark, creating a visceral experience for readers. However, the lack of clear explanations—particularly regarding the magical elements—left me feeling disoriented at times. “Slice of Cherry” thrives on its ambiguity and its ability to provoke discomfort, but this comes at the cost of a fully realized world.

Ultimately, “Slice of Cherry” is a book that will resonate with readers who enjoy exploring the darker aspects of the human psyche, the complexity of sibling relationships, and the tension between morality and monstrous behavior. It's a twisted, haunting story that challenges conventional narratives and offers a fresh, albeit uncomfortable, take on the YA genre. If you’re looking for something original, unsettling, and not afraid to push boundaries, “Slice of Cherry” is a book you won’t soon forget.

The characters in this had a lot of potential for growth throughout the story and yet they stayed stagnant or wish washy in their personas. The overall plot was entertaining but it ended a bit abruptly.

This book redefines destiny and danger, crafting a world where every choice feels like life or death. I am so honored I got to read this book early.