I never expected that ending…..nope, no spoilers here. What a really bloody, bleeding book! I love horror and this one is a true slasher! Hannah and her friends drive out to what they are thinking is a restful retreat, yoga and all…..but! Well, you’ll just have to read it. Great fun and highly recommended, but leave the lights on!!!

⭐️ 4.5 Stars ⭐️

"No more running. It's time to exorcise my demons."

I must admit, this is one of the first books I have read from this genre. I didn't know what to expect, but holy moley was it an enjoyable ride. Breathe in, Bleed out was a well rendered and expertly fleshed out novel. The continued suspense almost added a sense of a predator readying to pounce at any given moment. This book will very likely be one of my most memorable reads this year.

Hannah was a very likeable (main) character. She felt REAl. Her perceptions and how she moved through scenarios remained true to the events that shaped her. Her growth and development made me feel attached to her and her success. She wasn't ashamed of who she was but she knew her limits; nor was she an overly-snarky-unlikeable-FMC. In my opinion, Brian McAuley did exactly as the genre seeks to: provides a window into the painfully-human motives that drive these stories.

For those looking to pick up a slasher and/or get started in the genre, this is an excellent read. Not in-your-face horror but a constant suspense and who-dunnit twisting story ever keeping you on your toes, especially as it begins to pick up pace.

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and of course, Brian McAuley for the ARC.

Such a good read! It read like a slasher movie, it had me guessing all the way until the end! There were so many twists and turns and the miner lore was perfect for the vibes.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is my favorite slasher and one of my favorite overall horror books of 2025! The book is a slasher that is rooted in wellness culture and the dark tendencies of the new-age spiritual movement. As someone who lives in a small-town spiritual area, this story thoroughly thrilled and spoke to me at the same time.

The book deals with mental illness, grief trauma, friendship, and other big themes, and you will get your slasher victims' bloody demises, so go in prepared for an intense, but rewarding ride. Brian McAuley stated that he wanted to write a fresh take on slasher killers, and he most definitely succeeded. It's best to go into the book without knowing much else!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers at Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC copy! This horror book is one of those reads that will stick with you long after you close its pages. A horror book rarely gets the ratings this one has received, but every star is well deserved. If you loved Scream, Halloween, or In a Violent Nature, this read will give you another iconic story to love and ponder! I wish I could lose my memory and read it again for the first time.

This slasher story was a fun one to read! I am new to this author and I will say that I am very impressed by his writing! I will be reading more books from him! This was a very fast paced read, filled with nightmares and terrifying scenes! It is a very dark and tense book, that is filled with a lot of mystery! I had no idea who the killer was and I absolutely loved the twists this novel had! It was definitely action packed, filled with a gripping plot and was full of suspense. This came with a diverse cast of characters, some were likable and some were not. This slasher novel took me on an adventure that I will not forget! While reading this, I felt like I was watching a movie!

“Breathe In, Bleed Out” is a slasher novel that revolves around a character named Hannah. She is dealing with a very traumatic death of her fiancé and starts having nightmares and difficulty in her life. Hannah ends up going to a retreat with her friends, which was supposed to be a lovely getaway. She plans on healing in this retreat, but things don’t go as planned. It ends up being a disaster, as they start getting murdered one by one! Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

This book would be perfect for fans of slasher films and novels! It reminded me of the “Scream” movies! Content warnings include violence, gore, mental illness, torture, trauma, grief, death, murder and occult elements.

Thank you to Camp NetGalley, author Brian McAuley and Poisoned Pen Press for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 2, 2025!

Quick fun read. Tells the story of Hannah who we find out has some trauma of losing her fiancé Ben in a freak accident. In walks Tess to help her out of her depression and help to get her back in her path. Hannah was recently put on indefinite probation for giving Mr. Fox a bit more morphine that he should have received . All that was due to her addiction to Xanax to help her with the pass of Ben. In comes Tess, Luna, the DJ.. I forgot his names and Jarrod. All friends from college and a wellness retreat that turns into a nightmare . Thriller/slasher book for Sure. I was pretty certain the whole time it was Kimmi or Pax.. was wayyyy off which I liked.

An easy 5 stars, I absolutely loved this book!
It’s a sharp, modern slasher that cleverly satirizes the LA wellness industry. Witty, bloody, and completely unputdownable.

I’ve read two of Brian McAuley’s other books and really enjoyed them, but in my opinion this is his best work yet.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Quick very high level summary.
Hannah, haunted by the mysterious death of her fiancé, Ben. After a major incident in the hospital she works at her friend invites her to seek healing at an indentation only, exclusive tech free retreat. Once she arrives at the retreat she soon realizes its truly life or death as the attendees are being picked off one by one.

My Take.
This one started off a bit slow for me. There was quite a bit if character and plot development in the first 30% of the book but the ending made it all worth it. Once Hannah and her friends arrive at the retreat things really start to pick up and take off. At times it can feel a bit predictable but overall this is a fun read with an interesting twist at the end.

No matter how hard they try, men will never fail to not be a problem in the world.
The plot was engaging, and the characters were well-developed, making it hard to put down. Each chapter left me eager to see what would happen next, and the story's twists kept me guessing until the very end. Overall, it was a captivating read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The summer slasher novel I’ve been looking for! This was such a fun read and had all my favorite slasher elements. This one had me guessing until the very end who was the face behind the mask.

A fun, twisted slasher set at a culty spiritual wellness retreat — the kind of place that’s already unsettling even without people being slowly picked off. Our main character Hannah is also haunted (literally) by visions of her deceased ex-fiancé, adding another layer of creepy to the experience. Lots of psychological tension combined with a whodunnit made this one a super enjoyable read.

In the enjoyably detailed author's notes at the end of this one McAuley expresses his love for the slasher genre, specifically 'Scream'. That adoration is evident in 'Breathe In, Bleed Out', which itself involves a small group of bickering 20-somethings, a remote healing spa, hallucinogenic paranoia, and naturally a high body count.

Snappy, self-referential dialogue and observations (more than a couple of Scooby-Doo nods which made me chuckle) as McAuley's troubled lead Hannah struggles to come to terms with a personal tragedy as she reluctantly immerses herself on a group self-help deep in the California desert. The vibe quickly goes south for just about everyone involved, and before long the thin line between hallucinations and reality gets blurred.

This was a really fun and bloody read, and certainly seems like it could have been a film during the glory days of the 'Scream' franchise.

Highly recommended for slasher genre aficionados....

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

What a great play on the classic slasher genre. It’s got a creepy wellness retreat in the middle of nowhere, cult vibes, urban legends, and crazy death scenes. What more could you ask for?

Brian McAuley has a wicked sense of humor! Skilled at manipulating the twists and turns he kept me guessing until the very end of this horror who done it. Hannah and friends attend a spiritual retreat in SoCal where they may face more than their own awakenings. McAuley has a wonderful grasp of trauma and treatment. I really enjoyed this well put together romp.

Breathe In, Scream Out doesn’t waste time pretending it’s something it’s not. This is a blood-soaked dive into classic slasher territory — and it’s proud of it. Every trope is here: the isolated setting, the final girl, the masked killer with a tragic backstory, and a body count that rises with inevitability. And somehow, it all works because of how predictable it is.

What sets this one apart isn’t originality — it's commitment. The kills are satisfyingly brutal, the tension is expertly paced, and the characters, while archetypal, are just self-aware enough to keep things sharp. You’ve got the jock, the goth, the shy girl, and the best friend who probably shouldn’t have gone into the woods alone.

The writing is tight, the atmosphere oozes with throwback dread, and the dialogue walks the line between pulpy and punchy. It knows exactly what kind of story it’s telling, and leans into the genre’s best instincts without apology.

If you’re looking for innovation, look elsewhere. But if what you want is a slasher that checks every box with precision and love — a film that practically screams “watch me with popcorn and the lights off” — Breathe In, Scream Out delivers exactly what it promises. No subversions, no twists for twist’s sake — just a solid, bloody good time.

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley is like stepping into a gritty VHS-era slasher film, rewound and reimagined for modern horror lovers, with all the gore, snark, and psychological tension you could want. The story unfolds like a slow-creeping fog, taking its time to settle before chaos erupts—and when it does, it’s blood-soaked, brutal, and utterly unrelenting.

McAuley’s writing style continues to be a standout. It’s sharp without being overwrought, visceral without losing control. There’s a cinematic edge to the way scenes unfold, and reading it felt like watching a cult horror classic unfold on screen. If horror is your comfort genre, this book feels like a blanket of blood and clever callbacks.

Hannah, our protagonist, is one of those complicated characters you can’t stop watching. She’s raw, angry, and cracked open by her past, yet never reduced to just her trauma. There’s something about the way McAuley balances her vulnerability with grit that makes her magnetic. The side characters span a range of slasher tropes—from doomed friends to shady authority figures—and yet they still feel distinct, messy, and real.

The pacing at the start is a slow simmer—it lingers in atmosphere, teasing dread before diving headfirst into carnage. When the horror kicks in, it’s full throttle: inventive kills, disorienting twists, and psychological unraveling that toes the line between delusion and possession. It keeps you guessing, unsettled, and glued to the page.

This book has some razor-sharp one-liners and satirical moments that make the horror go down easy, in the best way. McAuley knows how to inject levity without pulling punches.

For readers who like:
-Classic slasher horror
-Blood, guts, and mind games
-Razor-edged humor

Final Verdict
Breathe In, Bleed Out is a pulse-pounding love letter to horror that’s self-aware without being smug, and gory without losing its soul. It’s a smart, nasty, wildly fun ride that proves Brian McAuley is fast becoming one of the most exciting voices in horror fiction today.

Grateful to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Brian McAuley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

This was my pick for Camp NetGalley. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this campy horror book. Hannah is an emotionally and psychologically unstable FMC. She lost her fiancé in a tragic accident about a year ago and her best friend convinces her to try out a super-exclusive wellness retreat with some friends.

This book did such a great job of developing the individual characters and their relationships with each other. The suspense and terror built to a crescendo and I couldn't finish it fast enough.

This book kept me guessing until the final reveal. It was a terrific horror book. Five stars!

I didn't know what to expect. I had never read anything by Brian McAuley before. But, he has a new fan. I read this all in one sitting.
I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to read this for an exchange of my honest opinion by NetGalley.
The book starts off with a little intrigue as the MC is recalling (through a dream) what happened the night her fiancé Ben died.
During the year or so that's passed, Hannah (who is a doctor) has numbed herself with prescription drugs and self isolation. She's seeing things that might not be there and it's interfering with her sleep and her job.
After pushing her best friend Tess away the whole time, she finally gives in and joins her and others from her friend group for an off the grid spiritual (of sorts) retreat. She's been put on indefinite leave at work. So maybe it's time.
This turns into a fight for her life.
Is Hannah still seeing things? Or are her and her friends being targeted by a killer? Could the killer be a ghost? or a flesh and blood person?
Who is the guru Pax? Is he behind all this?
I was invested in Hannah and her survival. The character is fleshed out. This book is the right mix of atmospheric scares, and gore. It's not overdone.
I enjoyed the very current setting of a weird wellness retreat.
This was slasher horror done right. Signed a lover of all things horror and a horror snob.

“Breathe In, Bleed Out” surprised me! The first 30% of the book established characters that admittedly I didn’t care too much about, but it did a good job setting us up for the action to follow. Was the killer in Hannah’s mind? What was real? Why was she being followed by 2 ghosts?

The plot had excellent twists and the suspense was palpable. This was a very fun slasher story and a bloody good read!

I have read and enjoyed all of Brian McAuley's books so far and this one was no exception. It was a fun, reflective and a slashery fun time! It was a 4-5 star read for me until the end, and I was so disappointed in the MC actions with her friend Miles and the inconsistency with that scene. I can't say what without spoiling but man that brought it down to a 3 star but thank you for a fun gory time.