I know I am not the only one who has spent YEARS, wishing there was an 80's slasher film on paper. I can proudly announce, our time has come!

Honestly if you want to know what this book is like just watch any slasher film. It was such a fun read. In true horror fashion however some parts of it did feel rushed. But when you have someone running around, wearing other people's faces, you tend to not care about that stuff as much lol 🤷🏼‍♀️

Overall I think it's a must read for any horror lover. This comes out just in time to add to your spooky season TBR

Holy sh#t!!!!! .. I started writing this review at 90% and was thinking 3.5 stars.. as you can see my final rating is a little different!! Because, 👏🏼 THAT 👏🏼 ENDING 👏🏼 THOUGH!!

Our author is clearly no novice when it comes to horror! And knows exactly how to keep a seasoned horror lover on their toes

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!

This was really fun and exactly what I was looking for in fast-paced, summer horror. The whole time I was reading Breathe In, Bleed Out I kept thinking how it would make an amazing slasher flick. (It had me thinking of the film Opus a lot.)

Highly recommend for anyone who is a fan of the slasher genre and A24 films.

Love a slasher horror film - wanted to love this slasher horror book.

Breathe in, Bleed Out was a quick read that started promising enough I had high hopes and was pretty excited to see where it went. Felt that way for about half of the book, then it slowly started to lose me... I didn't really find a single character all that likable and I wasn't really rooting for any of them to survive.

Didn't have any idea who the killer would be by the end - but that was maybe because I just didn't care enough to figure it out?

I would definitely give this author another chance in the future, this book just didn't do it for me.

This was a refreshing book! It’s a modern day slasher unlike any other I’ve read. The setting was so unique and brought an amusing flair. I laughed more than I should have! The way it was laid out and executed gave the story a good flow and pacing. I was so invested in what was going to happen next. I found the various subplots entertaining and interesting. I was kept guessing and so curious how everything would play out. I do feel like there were some loose ends, but overall satisfied! The authors love of slasher films shines bright in this story!

What made me want to read this book is the cover. It looks so cool and 90s slasher vibes.

This book did not disappoint. It hooked me from page one and did not let go. I was kinda right with the twist but not 100%. That is what makes reading slasher books so thrilling.

This one in particular was a plot that I never read before. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the story of what happened to Ben and Hannah.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

I’m kind of on the fence with this book. I like the writing and I think it’s very cinematic, but it doesn’t stand up well to scrutiny. It’s fast paced and has a fun vibe despite all the characters kinda sucking to one degree or another, but the last 10% really ruins all the rest for me. I’m not sure how to explain without spoiling anything, but the ending lacks logic and relies heavily on coincidence and luck. It’s a Scooby Doo-style slasher and I’m glad I read it for that alone, but I doubt I’ll recommend it to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC and the chance to read this book in return for an honest review.
This book threw me for some loops a couple of times. I thought for sure I knew where the plot was going but ended up wrong most of the time.
I think the author did a great job giving us a wide range of characters, with various flaws and personalities that made them either likable or not at all. This book reminded me of all the classic slasher movies from my childhood that I love. It was a fast paced, and almost nostalgic read. It was interesting to read and get to the end where we figure out who is weeding out our characters. I thought I had it figured out but was pleasantly surprised by it being someone I would have never thought of.
This is why I am rating it 4.5 stars. Thank you again to the author, publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

I don't know what I expected with this story, but what I read.....not what I expected. The twists in the story will have you stopping to think. Who did it? Are they sure? I wasn't a fan of the MC, Hannah. She annoyed me. I wanted to jump in the book just to push her down. But I think that was the point. In the end, this was a great, very enjoyable story.

Hannah has been haunted by her dead fiancé, Ben, ever since she alone made it out of the cold wilderness during their tragic proposal trip. Struggling to cope with grief and survivor’s guilt over not being able to save or bring Ben back, Hannah reluctantly agrees to join her friends on a restorative spiritual retreat. Hoping to find inner peace and move on from her past, she instead begins to question her sanity as things at the new age retreat don’t quite add up. When her friends start going missing and paranoia spreads, Hannah must confront what’s real and what isn’t while trying to escape another killer spirit set on pickaxing them all to death.

What a fun slasher of a ride. It reminded me of pop slasher films like Scream, but set in a desert retreat. We’ve got a cast of friends with history, a protagonist we’re not sure we can fully trust, a shady guru, and a suspiciously quiet retreat assistant.

The gore and horror are straightforward yet unsettling. It gave me that classic slasher feeling of mentally yelling “No, no, no!” or “Look out!” while reading it. I also appreciated the vivid imagery the writing evoked.

While the ending felt a bit rushed, it still wrapped things up satisfyingly. Overall, this was an enjoyable summer slasher read with a nice mix of psychological suspense and horror.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance reader’s copy

Thank you to NetGalley and Camp NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before its September release. Let's take some deep breaths and dive in!

Our main character Hannah finds herself at an exclusive retreat with some friends in hopes of a new start and resolving past trauma. Unfortunately, in true slasher horror fashion, things take a horrible turn for the worst. Hannah won't be getting the fresh new start she envisions. In fact, this retreat just piles up the trauma and bodies faster than you can say child's pose.

Is it a vengeful spirit? A slighted stranger? The overly fake spiritual guiding guru? Just Hannah's unraveling mental health? With so many good choices for who or what the suspect could be, I was left trying to figure out the murderer until the end. Be prepared for some satisfyingly gruesome deaths in this desert slasher. Five knives from me!

A fun and quick read with a new-to-me author! Definitely gives 90's slasher film vibes with some off-the-wall scenes at times. As a Scream fan who enjoys reading horror novels, this one was a good time for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! #CampNetGalleyWin

TL;DR:
A blood-slick slasher wrapped in sage smoke and self-help slogans. You’ll breathe in suspense and bleed out shocked.. This book is a total slasher treat with a horror core and a wellness-retreat wrapper. It’s sharp, fast-paced, and full of blood-soaked chaos in all the best ways. The tension ramps up fast and doesn’t let go. If you like your thrillers with a twist of humor and a whole lot of bodies, this one delivers. Keep reading for the full review.

Synopsis:
After surviving a tragic trip into the wilderness without her fiancé, Hannah’s been haunted—literally and figuratively. His death was mysterious, and she's not exactly eager to share what really happened. When her friends invite her to a “healing” retreat in Joshua Tree, she agrees to go. It's supposed to be spiritual and soothing, full of yoga, meditation, and self-discovery. But the vibes take a deadly turn when a masked killer crashes the party. Now, with the bodies stacking up and her grip on reality slipping, Hannah has to decide what’s real, what’s revenge, and whether she’s actually losing her mind… or just next in line.

Spillin’ the Book Tea:
This was my first Brian McAuley read, and let me just say, it will not be my last. I was hooked from page one. His writing is clever without being smug, and the pacing had me flying through chapters like I was sprinting through the retreat myself. You get classic slasher tension, but with a fresh voice that never takes itself too seriously.

The setup feels like a mix between a self-help seminar and a horror flick you probably shouldn't be watching alone. And just when I thought I had a theory about who was behind the mask, McAuley said, “Cute guess” and flipped everything on its head. The killer reveal? I did not see it coming. That’s rare, and I live for that.

Also? The vibe shift from spiritual detox to full-blown chaos is seamless. One minute you’re breathing deep and soaking in the desert calm. The next, you’re wondering if the yoga mat is about to become a body bag. If you’re a fan of smart slashers that blend real trauma with gory fiction, this one is a must.

The Vibes It Brings:
🧘‍♀️ Wellness retreat with sinister undertones
🔪 Slasher mystery with a fresh feel
🌵 Creepy desert isolation
🕯️ Cult-y charisma and spiritual manipulation
👻 Haunted heroine with secrets
🤯 Mind games and unreliable reality
🎭 Who’s-behind-the-mask tension
🏃‍♀️ Final girl energy (and then some)

Final Thoughts:
Breathe In, Bleed Out is a bloody good time with bite. McAuley nails that sweet spot between slasher fun and psychological dread. It's fast, fearless, and honestly kind of addictive.

This is my first slasher book. The opening scene has you hooked. Brian McAuley does a great job painting Hannah’s anguish and the troublesome dreams she is having. Fast paced and an enjoyable read.

Rating: 4.5 (rounded up to 5 for NetGalley).

Did I pretty much read this in one sitting? Yep. The first chapter had me gasping and drew me right into the story.

This is an amazing slasher horror, reminiscent of old favourites like Scream or Halloween, but throws in a bit of psychological horror too, with the MC questioning her reality. I was convinced I had figured out who the killer was around 30% in, and I was wrong! I was kept guessing as to who the real killer was with all the red herrings, and I genuinely didn't expect it to be who it was.

It was also really thought-provoking, with great insight into human nature. The characters were well written and realistic, which I enjoyed.

This was the first book I've read by Brian McAuley, but I will be seeking out some more of their work!

A psychological thriller/slasher that will give you nightmares.
A story of Hannah, a young women who survived a harrowing experience that ended with her boyfriend dead.
Hannah is holding on to secrets and guilt that manifests into nightmares and hallucinations. Her psychiatrist has recommended that she stop self isolating and reconnect with old friends. So when her friend Tess recommended going to a new retreat that is supposed to help reconnect with yourself, Hannah thinks this is the perfect opportunity.
What unfolds at this retreat will keep you guessing till the end. Everyone thinks Hannah really is crazy and she even begins to think so herself as people begin to disappear and things don’t seem to make sense. Who can you trust, if you can’t trust yourself?

Thanks to Net Galley and the author for the opportunity to review the advanced copy
I enjoyed the author’s note at the end and will share a quote I love…
”You can keep your Superman, I believe in the Boogeyman”

This book had me questioning any thoughts on taking a yoga retreat in the desert!!

The opening scene sets you reeling right away and has you questioning your sanity right along with Hannah, our main character, as she experiences wicked nightmares and vivid hallucinations following the tragic death of her “fiance”.

Her best friend Tess talks her into attending a restorative yoga retreat with a few friends to reconnect and heal.

It’s a wild ride that will keep you guessing until the end! I got this as part of NetGalleys - Camp NetGalley summer ARC series.

I am extremely grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reviewing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Slasher fans, REJOICE - you have just found your next read! Breathe In, Bleed Out was the The addictive, satirical gore-fest that I didn't know I needed.

Main character Hannah is hanging on by a thread after her fiance died under mysterious circumstances. She struggles to carry on with her medical internship while managing her grief and tenuous grip on reality with therapy and a blossoming addiction to Xanax. After a near-fatal mishap in treating one of her patients, Hannah realizes that she must take drastic measures to hold on to her job and her sanity. Along with four of her college friends - each the embodiment of an iconic horror movie stereotype - Hannah escapes to the Mojave Desert to find healing at the Avidya Spiritual Retreat. Led by an eccentric, linen-clad guru known as Pax, the retreat promises renewal through raw food, yoga, vision quests and absolutely no electricity or technological devices.

It all seems to be just what the doctor ordered...until the crystal ceremonies and sound baths turn into a series of inventive, brutal, slasher-style killings. Hannah stands out as the final-girl-in-waiting but will she be the last one standing?

I absolutely DEVOURED this book and every single one of the insanely creative kills. Every horror movie/slasher trope is played to absolute perfection: isolated setting, friend group with issues and complicated history, masked killer...or killers?, tragic backstory final girl and gratitous, prop-heavy kills. There are twists and red-herrings galore and, even though I was able to guess the identity of the killer before the final reveal, I enjoyed every minute of the ride.

This book is as much a whodunnit as a slasher. There were plenty of unlikeable characters and I rooted for some to live and some to die. I only deduct tiny points for some of the overwrought satire surrounding wellness culture and and there was some stuff about Indigenous culture that felt sort of out of place given the genre but I loved how the culty guru aspects were woven into the narrative.

If you love Final Destination, the Scream movies, mystery-driven suspense and bloody jump scares - this is a MUST read. Do not miss the informative author's note at the end for some fascinating background on the genre and his writing process. Fantastic read for spooky season! Also - peep that giallo-style cover! 4.5 stars

“Breathe In Bleed Out” is a fast-paced, campy slasher, a first read in this genre for me, which lured me with its gorgeous cover art.

The novel follows Hannah, a traumatised LA-based trainee doctor struggling to cope with the sudden brutal death of her fiancé. She is plagued by vivid nightmares and increasingly dependent on anxiety medication, until it affects her job. Hannah is coaxed by her best friend into joining a disconnected wellness retreat in the desert, a chance to re-bond with her estranged group of friends. The landscape is beautiful, healing and bathed in ancient lore, but we quickly realise that something is off and a series of brutally gruesome murders begins, gradually terrorising Hannah as she tries to figure out who to trust and what is going on.

McAuley delivers a fun, Scooby-Doo-esque horror story complete with masked villains, red herrings, cartoonishly evil characters and twists.
Wellness culture is sharply satirised, from crystals, sage and essential oils, to a pseudo-enlightened white yogi which forms, if not deeply explored, a critique of cultural appropriation.

My favourite element in this novel is the setting. The desert retreat is both beautiful, eerie and steeped in lore, which I wish had been explored a bit more. However, the book’s treatment of mental health feels oversimplified to me, occasionally hard to believe, and some elements feel far-fetched and bordering on ridiculous.

This novel will appeal to slasher fans and Fans of campy horror, desert settings, and satirical takes on wellness culture.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing for ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoy watching a good slasher movie (Scream 1 & 2 being my favourites). Turns out the movie franchise is a favourite of the author as well, one that started his love affair with the sub-genre and eventually got him to write his own slasher books.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is a fun and fast paced slasher novel combining the 'popularity' of off the radar, rustic wellness retreats, a scary urban legend and the gory mayhem of a sadistic killer.

A good slasher requires inventive killing methods and the killings in this book are quick and pretty gruesome.  I would have liked more of a backstory to Hannah and her dead fiancé's relationship but overall this was an enjoyable read.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and the author Brian McAuley for the digital ARC of the book.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is my pick for the #CampNetgalley 2025 challenge.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Breathe In, Bleed Out initially pulled me in from the book cover. I love a good thriller, so I was tuned in. When we start, we meet Hannah, the main character, who is going through a lot. She lost her fiancé (who we find out later was left to die by her and technically not her fiancé) horribly, having nightmares from it, messing up at work, and now going on this weird-sounding wellness retreat with her best friend Tess and her other three old friends. From the jump, the retreat sounds sketchy, and she feels it. On their way there, they stop at a bar and run into a marine who has it out for them and is a secret serial killer. Who would have thought? Going back to Hannah, she has a doctor who will play a huge part later, but is quiet in the first 3/4 of the book. Honestly, I didn’t suspect him. I was aiming more towards Tess. Back to the marine…he’s crazy. As the crew leaves for the unmarked retreat, he follows suit and wants to end them all. Luckily for him, the serial killer gets killed, but another serial killer?! Crazy, I know.
As the days go on, Hannah is weirded out by the guru Pax, who is running the joint with his assistant Kimi, who obviously doesn’t want to be there. Hannah starts her investigation on this place because, honestly, it’s just weird. Why would anyone think stuff like this helps? Thanks, Tess, for suggesting it and not being the killer. SMH. One by one, Hannah’s friends get killed off (except Tess), and she’s certain it’s an old miner from an old tale. Honestly, I’d have to write an essay to bring all the details in, but bear with me here, I’m missing a lot. To cut to the end, her doctor was crazy and needs his own therapist…just saying. Thankfully, it wasn’t Tess, but the girl still has problems. One word that Hannah leaned on throughout this book was release, and that’s what she got at the end when she finally released her pain from Ben and probably all her other problems, cause she has a lot.
Overall, this was a fun ride. I enjoyed the book and trying to guess who the killer was. I did have one theory that it was Ben and he wasn’t actually dead, but that would have been too crazy. I'm excited to look into this author more!