The Wellness Retreat of your Nightmares!

Brian McAuley is a master of slasher horror! Not only is this book devious, gory, and gruesome, but it is also beautiful. Hannah, in the face of horrendous tragedy, is struggling to thrive. She is making mistakes and seeing the ghost of her dead fiancé. However, when her best friend convinces their friend group to go to a wellness retreat, the bodies start piling up. I never saw the end of this book coming, despite having some very strong guesses at the beginning of the story. However, this is where I say that Brian McAuley has mastered the slasher. The twists and turns are unique, and as a long-time fan of Brian McAuley, they are some of his best yet!

If you're picturing your favorite slasher, then prepare for something more campy and darker than whatever is in your mind. Brian McAuley captures the spirit of a horrific killer. With a haunting lore that rivals My Bloody Valentine while giving gruesome kills on the level of Hostel. Then you add in the stereotypical characters who fulfill various roles at this wellness retreat. It is the perfect combination of campy humor with creepy plot points and a KILLER final twist.

Check this out - you will NOT be disappointed! And DO NOT SKIP THE AUTHOR'S NOTE! It was just a beautiful addition to this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A definite treat for those among us who love a good down and dirty slasher horror movie, this was a well-written piece of horror work. I enjoyed the approach that the author took to his subject matter immensely. You could tell that he has a deep love for horror and the genre as a whole.

I did think that the characters were a little derivative, but I am also conscious that that’s part of the point of a horror book. There’s something to be said for the charm of a woman who is diagnosed as ‘crazy’ by a physician who encourages her madness rather than tampering it down. The main character was a delight.

I saw inspiration in quite a few of the kills from other slasher films, including ‘In A Violent Nature’ and ‘My Bloody Valentine’. It’s always nice when something nods towards the lesser known instead of relying on the generic.

I did think that there were scenes where the exposition went a little too hard, and some of the characters drove me a bit mental, but it was still a pretty fun ride nonetheless.

I did think that the ending could have perhaps been a little more tied together, but all in all, this was a fun little homage to the genre and to many different facets of it. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Just a really fun, mindless summer slasher I could read in one day, I really enjoyed this for what it was! Twists and turns that I thought I had figured out up until the very end ended up still getting me which was a nice surprise. The characters remained interesting despite their somewhat cringe backstories and dialogue, which I didn’t resonate with me at certain times for reasons I can’t put my finger on yet (it may be my mid-20’s gen z showing here as I found a lot of the quips about social media and younger people a bit eye-rolly). I also think a few characters’ relationships could have been fleshed out a bit more— particularly Tess’ interest in Hannah disappointed me when nothing came out of it, but I still enjoyed the journey of Hannah’s personal story arc and her relationship struggles. Kills were gorey and fun! Love me a mindless Scream-like slasher.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & Net Galley for this ARC! 🔪📖

4.5 stars rounded up!
I really enjoyed this one! Most of the story takes place on a yoga retreat, where things slowly start to unravel—and not in the peaceful, meditative way you'd hope 😅 Hannah’s going through a tough time, and her friend Tess whisks her away for some healing... but instead they end up tangled in something much more tragic.
McAuley does a great job building the characters and layering the suspense, then throwing in the mystery killer. One of the best slashers I've read thus far. I was hooked by all the little details, and just when I thought I had it figured out, surprise! I didn’t. And I love that. 🙌 I never want to see the twist coming. Bonus points because my best friend Heather does yoga retreats, and while I’m pretty sure hers are way less chaotic 😂, it made this even more fun to read. Definitely recommend if you like a mix of tension, friendship, and mystery with a breath of fresh air (and a lot of blood). 🩸🔪🪓

Thanks to @netgalley , @poisonedpenpress , and @brianmcwriter for this advanced reader's copy! ❤️

This book is a lot of things. It’s a modern love letter to slashers in the who-dunnit vein (think Scream). It’s a fun story with lots of emotion and a vibe reminiscent of Rachel Harrison and Grady Hendrix. And it’s a book I really enjoyed.

I truly love all of Brian's work. I was super excited to get this ARC! I usually can predict twists, but this one got me. I was coming off some serious books, and needed this fun thriller/horror! I highly recommend this book, along with all of Brian's work.

“Breathe In, Bleed Out” (out Sept. 2 from Poisoned Pen Press) is a brutal, breathless slasher that turns a wellness retreat into a blood-soaked battleground.

Haunted by the death of her fiancé, Hannah heads to a remote desert retreat hoping for peace, but instead finds herself in a waking nightmare as guests begin dying in gruesome, ritualistic ways.

Brian McAuley skewers self-help clichés while delivering inventive kills, razor-edged suspense and a surprisingly heartfelt exploration of guilt and grief. The result is equal parts cathartic and chilling. If you like your slashers with brains, blood and a side of yoga, this is one summer thriller you won’t want to miss.

Another terrific slasher from Brian McAulty. A bit My Bloody Valentine mixed with an Agatha Christie who-done-it. Filled with fun kills and red herrings. Just a really fun read.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is a solid campy slasher that delivers on atmosphere and tension, striking a perfect balance between horror and humour. The cast of characters ticks all the right boxes for classic slasher tropes.

While I usually prefer my slashers a bit heavier on the gore, it still didn’t take away from my enjoyment. What did fall a little flat for me was the killer reveal. It was unexpected, sure, but the character wasn’t developed enough beforehand for the twist to truly land, and their motivations felt a bit flimsy. I also found myself wanting more from the resolution of the mystery surrounding the death of Hannah’s fiancé, especially since that thread hooked me from the first page.

That said, Hannah was a fantastic main character. Her unreliable narration kept me second-guessing everything, which added a great layer of tension to the story.

If you’re in the mood for a smart, self-aware slasher with strong vibes and just the right amount of camp, this is absolutely worth the read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Great title, great cover. This book is a fun desert slasher. Fast-paced with some sarcasm thrown in. The characters are kind of terrible and annoying. Good ending though. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

**Thank you so much to NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press/Brian McAuley for this eARC of Breathe In, Bleed Out in return for my honest opinion. Expected pub date: Sep 02 2025**

This is the perfect slasher novel! I was completely invested in the characters and plot by the end of the first chapter. This novel is so well written and reads like an actual horror movie. Brian McAuley is a phenomenal writer! I encourage you to read the author's note at the end of the book as well. He shares his passion for horror and slashers, and I really enjoyed reading about his journey to becoming an author.

"Breathe In, Bleed Out" is a treat for "Scream" fans and slasher fanatics.

This book is the literary love letter to the writers of "Scream", a fact McAuley clearly states in his author's note. However, much like many slasher movies, the book falls victim to a formulaic story I have encountered time and time again.

While the premise, particularly the mystery surrounding Hannah's fiance, initially piqued my interest, the multitude of other ongoing plotlines unfortunately diluted the impact, making the final reveal far less satisfying than anticipated.

I really enjoyed this one, it seriously felt like watching a little slasher film. it's a mix of scream & scooby doo but for adults ya know?? the whodunnit aspect kept me guessing until the very end & when i tell you....I guessed everybody as the killer except the actual killer, baby I could never be Sherlock Holmes because I was way off.

It did take a bit to get to the actual slashing but when we do get there every kill was really gory & creative, think final destination🤔

I also enjoyed Hannah as the main narrator. She's so unreliable I kept thinking is this really happening or is she just crazy, is it only in her head? this was my first book from the author & i will definitely be checking out more of Brian McAuley's work!

Is it weird to say this book was so fun?? Maybe maybe but it was lol, but I do love an old school slasher story and this delivered. The story was so well written and had me guessing who the killer was till the very end (quite the twist). This is one I’ll be recommending to everyone reading horror

I have loved everything I’ve ever read by this author. His writing is so simplistic yet detailed and does a great job of reeling you in from the start. This was the fastest I’ve read an ARC in a while!

Slashers are some of my fave horror reads (and movies)! You had your share of likable and unlikable characters, but the story was unique! I loved every second of it until I got to the end. I have mixed feelings about that. However, it was still an amazing read with such a cool cover. 😍

Brian McAuley’s latest stab at the slasher genre, a book that’s like a horror movie you’d watch at 2 a.m. with a bowl of slightly stale popcorn. It’s got blood, guts, and a remote healing retreat that’s about as relaxing as a dentist appointment with a dull drill. Its just not the kind of thing that’ll haunt my dreams or make me double-check the locks.

The setup’s got that Midsommar vibe, which the blurbs lean into hard, promising a “blood-soaked thriller” where wellness gets a body count. Our heroine, Hannah, is running from her past—classic slasher protagonist move—and lands at this desert retreat that’s supposed to fix her soul but mostly just fixes her as a target for a machete-wielding nutcase. The vibe’s eerie, the stakes are high, and the body count’s higher. Sounds like a party, right? Well, kinda.

Here’s the good: McAuley knows how to write a slasher that feels like you’re watching a grainy VHS horror flick from the ‘80s. The kills are less “boring stab” and more “whoa, that’s a new way to use a yoga mat.” The pacing’s fast, too, like a car chase where nobody’s wearing a seatbelt. You’re flipping pages, waiting for the next poor sap to bite it.

But here’s where it stumbles, and I’m not just talking about the characters tripping over their own bad decisions. The cast feels like they were plucked from a slasher trope vending machine: the troubled lead, the creepy guru, the snarky sidekick who’s too cool to live past page 100. I wanted to care about Hannah, but she’s so busy running from her vague, tragic backstory that I never got a real grip on who she is. Like, girl, give me something to root for.

The retreat setting is a highlight, though. McAuley paints this dusty, culty compound with enough dread to make you swear off wellness retreats forever. I could practically smell the sage smudging and hear the wind chimes clanging ominously. But the plot twists? Meh. They’re less “mind blown” and more “oh, I saw that coming from page five.” It’s like the book winks at you, thinking it’s pulled a fast one, but you’re already checking your watch.

I had fun, don’t get me wrong. It’s a bloody, messy romp that keeps you guessing who’s next on the chopping block. But it’s not breaking new ground. It’s like ordering a burger and getting exactly what you expected. If you’re a slasher fan who wants a quick, gory read to pair with a cheap beer, this’ll do the trick. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel—or the pickaxe.

First off, thank you Netgalley and for this ARC and chance to review it.

If you are a big fan of slasher horror, you will love this. I personally love slasher movies and horror, so this was a real treat.

This book starts up right away and doesn't let go. The main character is dealing with her PTSD from her fiancee's murder in a not so good way. She's self medication with stolen meds and anything else she can get her hands on. You feel for her and wonder where this is going to go. Well, her friends then decide, hey, let's go on a friend's retreat to try to fix this scenario. What could possibly go wrong???

Without any spoilers, I just have to recommend this to anyone who likes their bloody, gruesome horror. I would absolutely re-read this one in the future.

Who knew balancing chakras could be so damn bloody?

Readers of McAuley’s previous works (I’ve only read Reaper at this time but that will likely change soon) know his bona fides. The man loves slashers. And something that he certainly loves about slashers (as do I), it’s that the genre is perhaps the most self analyzing. You can’t write a slasher anymore without building on an ancient burial ground. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still new splatters to cast, new angles to shoot, and McAuley finds them.

I was a bit iffy on this book until I sat there for a second and realized how funny it actually was. This isn’t a straight comedy by any stretch, but it’s more of a hybrid than it initially let on. Our cast of characters all might seem one dimensional at first, settling into tropes, but there’s something under the surface for each of them. Maybe some will even survive long enough to experience true enlightenment. Our narrator in particular has more nuance than you might be used to.

The only “con” I have is that certain plot points might be a little predictable. That’s also the fault of the genre. We’re always looking for that sleight of hand. That matching book ducking out of sight at the last second. You’ll make a lot of predictions. A few are bound to be right, a lot will be wrong. Them’s the breaks.

This slasher-style thriller was everything I want in a slasher - gritty, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining from start to finish. The setting in Joshua Tree instantly won me over (it’s one of my favorite places), and the remote yoga/wellness retreat added such a fresh, eerie twist to the classic slasher formula. Think inner peace meets inner panic.

McAuley nails the pacing and throws in just enough psychological tension to keep you guessing. The killer was creepy, the vibe was tense, and the characters? A mix of fun, annoying (in all the right ways), and badass. I loved the FMC - she’s tough, fiery, and refuses to take crap from anyone, even while wrestling with her own struggles.

This book was pure slasher joy and I devoured it in less than 24 hours.

Our MC Hannah heads to a secluded wellness retreat to pick up the pieces of her life after a tragic event causes her life to downspiral, but the trip is anything but healing. This is a perfect, fast-paced, and campy summer slasher (with a killer cover) to kick off the season!

Thank you to NetGalley, Brian McAuley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.