Breathe In, Bleed Out was such a quick read for me. I really enjoyed it. I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was wrong! I will definitely check out more by this author.

I had a good time with Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley, even though something about Hannah bothered me in a way I couldn't quite put my finger on. Hannah and her friends head to a spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree where she's hoping to heal from the trauma of her fiancé Ben's death during a wilderness trip, but someone starts picking off attendees in increasingly gruesome ways instead. McAuley clearly knows his slasher tropes and the kills are genuinely creative and gross in all the best ways, plus his satire of wellness culture hits the right notes without being too heavy-handed. But Hannah just never clicked for me - she seemed weirdly assertive and confrontational for someone who's supposedly been isolating herself and falling apart, like she had zero problem getting in people's faces or standing up for herself. Maybe that's just how this particular character was written, but it made it hard for me to buy into her supposed fragility or really care whether she survived to the end. The book works as a fun, bloody romp through familiar territory, but I kept wishing I could actually root for the final girl instead of just waiting for the next creative death scene.

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley is a slasher novel that follows Hannah and her lingering grief, along with four of her friends, to a wellness retreat as they set their individual intentions to conquer some demons. Oh, and a pickax-wielding-killer stalking their every move. Or is this just one of Hannah’s grief-induced hallucinations? McAuley slays with this horror trope! The narrative was full of suspense and twists and kept me on edge until the last page.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.

A blend of spiritual and horrific, perfect!

A story of the trauma of loss and the life where one must move on to continue being a part of the world. At times the story was heavy, really getting into Hannah’s head. Other times it was confronting the everyday demons her friends faced.

The twists were fun and every time I thought I had it figured out, I quickly realized I was probably wrong. It was like scream and Scooby Doo unleashed at a Yoga retreat.

I finished this all in one go because it was just thrilling.

What I got from this: Heal, grow, let go and most of all don’t get murdered

Thank you to NetGalley & NetGalley camp for this arc.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this read. I wanted to branch out of my normal genres and give this one a go because it seemed like a lot of shows or movies I’ve enjoyed, but the further I got into the more uncomfortable I got. I’m sure people who enjoy horror and slashers will absolutely love this book! I’d recommend to those individuals for sure.

3/5 ⭐️ for me.

Another fun and gore-filled slasher from McAuley. I'm still waiting for him to capture the magic that is Curse of the Reaper, but this has all of the Scream vibes in all the right places. I'll be recommending to my fellow horror/slasher fans!

Breathe In, Bleed Out is a quick and campy slasher novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor does it require the reader do so - which makes for a fun, somewhat gory ride.

The LA-to-Joshua Tree cliche of “escaping the city and finding oneself through disconnection” makes for the perfect backdrop for the horrors that unfurl as the group embarks on a week an an isolated wellness retreat only to find themselves picked off (and somewhat apart!) one by one.

The gore wasn’t excessive or prolonged, so readers with some aversion to those elements will still have fun. While I didn’t guess the big reveal nor did I feel there was a lot of depth to the journey we’re taken on, the ending felt appropriate and satisfying.

All in all, this was a solid 3.5/5 stars for me, rounded up. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is a lean, sharp, and blood-soaked horror thriller that delivers exactly what its promises: inventive kills, psychological tension, and a cerebral twist on retreat culture. Brian McAuley cements his role as a modern slasher maestro with this one—not just for gore junkies, but for anyone seeking smart, visceral entertainment
Overall: A wild slasher ride through desert mysticism—bloody, bizarre, and thoroughly enjoyable. If you’re in the mood for visceral horror and killer spa weekends gone wrong, this one’s a scream.

Breathe In, Bleed Out is a razor-sharp, blood-soaked thrill ride that hooked me from the first breath—and refused to let go. Brian McAuley delivers a brutal, brilliant blend of recovery narrative and supernatural horror that’s as gut-wrenching as it is gripping. I tore through it in a single sitting, equal parts horrified and deeply moved.

At its core, this is a story about addiction, grief, and the monstrous things we carry inside us. The horror doesn’t just come from what lurks in the shadows—it comes from within, from guilt, from trauma, from the slow, painful crawl toward redemption. McAuley doesn’t shy away from the brutality of recovery, but he balances the darkness with a raw emotional honesty that hit me hard.

The pacing is tight, the scares are inventive, and the stakes feel real. But what truly sets this book apart is the voice—wry, haunted, and unapologetically human. The protagonist is flawed, funny, and heartbreaking all at once, and I found myself rooting for him even when he was making the worst decisions.

If you like your horror smart, character-driven, and laced with real emotional depth, Breathe In, Bleed Out is a must-read. Gory, gripping, and surprisingly tender—it left me reeling in the best way.

3.75 ⭐️ I love me a good slasher!! And when it finally got to the good stuff it was game on! It took a little bit to get there and I was ever so patiently waiting for some gore to hit.

I loved the FMC. Talk about an unreliable narrator!! One minute I was thinking girlfriend was crazy and then the next I was like oh… shoot.

Once things picked up I couldn’t put the book down. A nice who done it that kept me guessing until the very end. I guessed literally every single character in the book but the actual killer. I even had to sit back and think if I ever even considered them at all.

Super fun and enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me a copy of this book for my thoughts and review.

This is the first book I've read by Brian McAuley, and now I'm going to have to read everything else he's ever written.

This book was the perfect summer slasher. It was gory, fast paced, and unpredictable - I didn't actually manage to guess who the killer was!

The characters were so loathable and loveable, they were written really well. I loved the setting, I've not read anything set at a wellness retreat before and it was a nice difference to the usual kind of slasher.

I think this would would translate really well into a film, and it's one I'd definitely be watching. I loved the authors note on slasher films, especially the focus on Scream as that is also my favourite slasher!

If you're feeling spooky and wanna read a slasher for summerween then I would definitely recommend Breathe In, Bleed Out. It will be publishing on 2nd September 2025! 🖤

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Must read for all Slasher Fans!! If you love Scream and Midsommar than this book is for you!!

This is my 2nd book by Brian McAuley and the man knows how to write good slashers, he definitely keeps you guessing, and when you think you know guess again. I really enjoyed this read, the story line was great and well paced, the killing scenes were great and creative. Looking forward to adding this to my selves when it comes out. Highly recommended and look forward to reading more from Brian McAuley.

I really enjoyed this one! It felt like watching a slasher film. As a big scream / scooby doo fan it’s fair to say I love a whodunnit and Breathe In Bleed Out checked all my boxes. I pegged literally all the characters as the killer at one point or another (apart from the actual killer). Hannah as the narrator is brilliant because I was constantly second guessing whether what we’re being told is actually happening.
While it did take a minute to get to the actual killing I think the time is well spent to introduce the characters familiar, but endearing, stereotypes and their motivations and when it did start they were gory and very creative. This novel is a homage to the slasher genre with some creative story telling decisions in there and my first Brian McAuley novel but it definitely will not be the last :)

This was a fun and quick read. I saw a lot of homage to slasher films. My only complaint is I felt eh reveal was very obvious.

Thank you @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for E-ARC of Breathe in, Bleed out by Brian McAuley in exchange for an honest review.

When I first heard Brian was releasing a new book, I was so excited I didn't even look up what it was about, he has become an auto buy author for me. So of course i rushed to Netgalley to see if i could get an early copy!

This did not disappoint, such a fun slasher with heart.
Brian's writing is very descriptive that when you read his books you can easily visualize it in your head, I mean it does makes sense as he is a screenwriter.

If you are a fan of Scream or any slasher franchise, PICK THIS UP!
If you are a fan is isolated murder mysteries, PICK THIS UP
If you love horror and what something fun, PICK THIS UP!

This was an enjoyable Slasher read. I did find it to be kind of a slow burn but once things picked up the storyline really took off. The ending was abrupt and felt too rushed in my opinion. I was kind of hoping for more but overall this was a good read.

Breathe In, Bleed Out follows Hannah. She recently lost her fiancé, Ben, on a treacherous hike. She has yet to heal from that and Ben has been haunting her ever since the accident. Only Hannah knows the real story of what happened to Ben. Her friend group gets an invite to a spiritual retreat and they persuade Hannah to join them. They want to help her move on. However, once the friends arrive at this retreat they begin to suspect foul play or rather Hannah is the first to pick up on it and try to get her friends to understand. The twist was done very well and I honestly didn't see it coming. I recommend this one to those who enjoy Slasher's and a good plot twist.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Breathe In, Bleed Out releases on September 2nd, 2025.

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Bryan McAuley is the perfect super fun slasher novel, for people who think slasher novels are super fun to read! Part horror, part mystery, with a sprinkle of camp and social commentary, this novel has all the ingredients to keep horror fans turning the pages deep into the night and hoping to see the pages projected on to the big screen.

- For twisty mystery fans of Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers who aren't afraid of a little gore and a lot of blood.

- For fans of My Heart is Chainsaw trilogy by Stephen Graham Jones with extra camp.

I absolutely loved every second of this one. Slashers are some of my favourite kinds of horror reads and this ticked every box for me. The story follows Hannah, who’s dealing with some serious trauma after losing her fiancé. Her best friend signs their group up for an exclusive wellness retreat out in the middle of nowhere, but it doesn’t take long for things to spiral into a fast-paced, bloody slasher.

It’s gory, twisty, and does such a great job blurring the lines between reality and madness. I loved how the author nailed that classic slasher vibe but still managed to keep it feeling fresh and unpredictable. The dark humour and sharp one-liners were a great touch too.

The writing style was another highlight for me. It’s so direct yet vivid, and it hooks you in straight away. The characters are a fun mix of likable and unlikable. Hannah has so much depth, and her history of trauma adds an extra layer to the story.

This was such an entertaining read and I think it would make a fantastic movie!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

Since the death of her fiancé last year, Hannah has slowly been isolating herself from the responsibilities and people in her real life. She’s been suffering from nightmares, taking too much Xanax, and screwing up at work. When her bestie gets their friend group booked at a spiritual Healing Retreat in Joshua Tree, Hannah is skeptical but figures that she has nothing else to lose. Shortly after they arrive, people start dropping dead; murdered in increasingly gruesome ways.

The slow start with the bickering back and forth between one really immature and annoying friend group was almost enough to put me off of the book but if you can get past that, I think that you are in for a treat here. McAuley delivers on the psychotic, campy slasher vibes but he also nails it with the whole “Los Angeles wellness culture” thing; a little over the top at times, sure, but fun nonetheless.

I did want more from our characters though, especially Hannah who this entire book revolves around. She felt one-dimensional to me and if you’re making a slasher, you have to have a final girl that people are excited to root for.

It seems odd to say that a book so bloody can be so comforting but I don’t need to explain it to you, my fellow slasher lovers. Pick it up for yourself and see what the hype is all about on Sep 02 2025. Overall, 3.5/ 5 stars from me. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A slasher about a wellness retreat gone wrong! i had a lot of fun reading this and i enjoyed all the tension between all the characters. it took a little long to get to the slasher part as this book is not very long but it was worth it.