WOW!

This book was such a good take on the slasher genre! It's a vivid book that made me feel like watching the movie. The characters also felt like they were more developed as people, than just characters to kill (which is an infamous complaint about slasher media.) I found each character really compelling but none more than our protagonist, Hannah. Her growth as a character and her trauma as a survivor was real and cinematic (not gonna lie if this turns into a movie, I want to audition). Oh, and not to mention the setting!! Loved it all around, but I also just love a good slasher piece!

This book was everything I was hoping it would be and more! If you’re a fan of the Scream franchise, this will fill the Ghostface shaped hole in your heart.

I really enjoyed the characters and was quickly invested in them and their dynamics as a friend group.

I also loved the setting and the way the author uses this to add to the backstory of what is happening, as well as to discuss things like wellness culture and cultural appropriation.

The mystery aspect also adds another fun layer, throughout the book I was trying to figure out who was behind it all and why- I didn’t guess right.

The death scenes were creative, you can definitely feel the authors love for the genre coming through in the story and all the sprinkles of inspiration from other slashers without it feeling like it was something I had already seen before.

If you like this genre, definitely add this to the TBR!

I recommend this one if you enjoy a little bit of campy and a little bit of gore with your slasher horror. I really enjoyed this.

Our main character is grieving the loss of her fiancé. A year into her grief she is pushing away her friends and struggling with work. Her friends take her away for a wellness retreat in Joshua Tree. And then all hell breaks loose.

This felt nostalgic for me. I love the campy horror slashers of the 80’s and 90’s and I got a lot of those vibes reading this. I read this as part of Camp NetGalley for 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC. All thoughts expressed are my own. Expected publication date is September 2, 2025.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1️⃣/2️⃣

This was a great slasher story with excellent character development.


Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley, for the pleasure of reading Brian McAuley's book at Camp NetGalley.

While struggling to process the traumatic death of her fiancé Ben, Hannah’s professional and personal life frays at the seams. When she makes a nearly-deadly mistake at the hospital where she works, she’s put on leave and then reluctantly agrees to a trip to an exclusive and technology-free spiritual retreat with her estranged friends.

What could go wrong at an isolated location in the California desert dedicated to “wellness” and under the control of an enigmatic “guru” with eclectic beliefs? Apparently far more than Hannah and her friends could ever anticipate.

Breathe In, Bleed out is a fast-paced slasher/thriller with a flawed main character, whose hardships help to explain-but not justify-the more unpleasant aspects of her personality and behavior. Tormented by nightmarish visions, Hannah’s methods of coping with her fiancé‘s death are a combination of avoidant and self-destructive. As such, her desire to eventually embrace an unorthodox possibility for healing is very relatable.

Although the rest of her friend group doesn’t receive quite as much development as Hannah does before the situation starts to go very wrong, there are moments where they are portrayed sympathetically. Hannah’s best friend Tess and Guru Pax’s assistant Kimi are my second favorite characters after Hannah.

The villain of the story is very fitting for Breathe In, Bleed Out’s setting and their identity was something I hadn’t guessed, due to assuming the reveal would go in a different direction. The deaths are gory and creative-one in particular had me mentally wincing-and the mystery aspect kept me invested in the story.

Breathe In, Bleed out is a layered novel that touches upon the difficulties of personal healing, the dangerous unchecked aspects of wellness culture and the exploitative nature of cultural appropriation. The Author’s Note at the end of the book is also fantastic and provides wonderful insight into the author’s history and thought process.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and (Camp) NetGalley for providing access to this ebook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I loved this! The writing was amazing and hooked me right away. I enjoyed the set up before things really took off. It was fast paced and fun!

Breathe In, Bleed Out was a surprisingly good time! I thought I loved slashers, but this was beyond enjoyable, and I can't believe I've never read anything from this author before. I will most definitely be checking out his other books. I already want to read this again during spooky season and then watch some horror movies.

This was my first time reading horror, and it gave I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Scream, with a splash of Final Destination in the kills.

The tension built slowly—maybe too slowly—but once things started happening, it got intense. I just wish the pacing had picked up sooner.

The twist? Not what I expected, which I did enjoy.

Overall, it felt like watching a late-night horror movie.

Restorative, relaxing, running for your life???

After the death of her fiancée, Hannah and her friends head to an exclusive spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree. Hoping for some healing, Hannah finds herself not in the peaceful oasis she needed but she and her friends are being picked off one by one by a mysterious killer! ⛏️

Super yoga zen vibes sideswiped by the horror genre slasher! What a perfect Summerween read for #CampNetGalley- it only would have been topped by actually reading this at a yoga retreat in Joshua Tree!

I was sucked in from the start and enjoyed the realness, depth and variety of the character cast- all perfect in the set up of the story! Very 80s slasher, remote camp feel and made for a great Kate night read under the stars!

Thank you to author, Brian McAuley, Publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I received an epub and am leaving my review voluntarily.

Special thank you to #Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC.

Fun and loving tribute to 90s slasher horror, BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT is a blessed celebration to all who miss the camp and wildness that was SCREAM and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. Not only do you get treated to a new slasher villain and a whole new cast of victi… ummm, characters, amidst a remote desert backdrop, but Brian McAuley does an exceptional job narrating the whole experience. McAuley’s narrative is definitively the key piece that holds the glue together, because like its 90s slasher predecessors, the joy in its production is what maintains its silliness and main protagonist altogether.

Hannah lives in a heavy world of guilt and trauma after her husband’s death. Coping by gaming her therapy to be her drug dispensary, her habits catch up to her after she nearly kills a man while interning at an LA hospital on her birthday. Her birthday has more surprises when her best friend invites herself for more than just dinner: a chance to free Hannah by escaping Los Angeles at a remote, signal-free yoga retreat. What can go wrong?

Once again, I have to say the writing is top notch. The chapters end much like a commercial break on tv and just picks up with the pace moving along smoothly. Although loose threads are left around in some spots and you may be left scratching your head at other points, the overall satisfaction, plus the most important conclusion, happens here. Hannah from the start is not the most likeable protagonist, which usually is not really good news for one in a slasher, but the chance to grow and see her develop with her friends is a zen in itself if you stick around. If you came for Waylon Barlow, the villain who waits for you, you will end up staying for Hannah and satisfy that 90s slasher flick itch you never knew you needed.

Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley. Is this the best slasher book I’ve read? And the best cover? Honestly, it’s right up there! A mix between Midsommar, Scream, Friday 13th, My Bloody Valentine and so many more legendary films, but in a book. I wasn’t surprised to read at the end that the author is a massive horror movie geek and has been since 10 years of age. I’m with you, my friend! Ugh the k!lls were gory and original, there was confusion-is this real- is this fake- the final girl vibe was strong. I went in blind and I think you should too. I need a trophy copy of this because I blimmin loved it! As a horror lover, I salute you Brian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thankyou SO MUCH to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Brian McAuley for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest review.
*No fluffy white doggos were harmed in the making of this pic or the contents of the book 🤗

This was so much fun!

Medical intern, Hannah, is overcoming her trauma after her boyfriend dies on a wilderness hike. No one knows how he died and she’s not explaining. Hannah is struggling with horrible nightmares that are manifesting as daytime hallucinations. After being put on leave at work, her friends convince her to attend a weekend wellness retreat in Joshua Tree. At first, all the sound baths, yoga, and meditation are helping her find some peace. But when she experiences a frightening hallucination while out hiking and her friends start to go missing, Hannah begins to wonder if something really sinister is happening or if she is truly going mad.

I don’t read a lot of horror because it is usually slow and I can’t handle gore. This story was fast paced and the violent scenes were minimal and not overly descriptive. I was engaged from the first chapter and intrigued to find out what happened to Hannah’s boyfriend. And I never guessed the ending, the villain was a total surprise. Filled with Scream and Scooby Do vibes, this would make a perfect beach read!

I am grateful to #campnetgalley for offering this book, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on September 2, 2025

Breathe In, Bleed Out tells the tale of a grief-stricken woman trying to find peace at a spiritual retreat with her friends. However, she ends up experiencing nothing like peace as a mysterious killer begins picking people off one by one.

The isolated setting of the desert with no connection to the outside world lets the despair and helplessness really sink in. At its core this book was full of horror tropes that readers have come to know and love. There are gory and unique kill scenes that will be seared into your brain. There is also an exploration of grief and the power it can hold over your mind which was a unique aspect.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend to any horror fan, especially those who are into iconic horror films such as Scream.

I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to horror. Although it's a genre I rarely explore in literature, I do have a few favorites when it comes to film adaptations—ones I consider lighter, though no less gory. Reading "Breathe In, Bleed Out" was an unexpectedly intriguing experience for me.

From the very first page to the last, I couldn’t put it down. I felt deeply connected to the struggles of the protagonist, Hannah, who—following the death of her fiancé (as far as we know)—has been dealing with the painful consequences of grief. Hoping to ease the pain and reconnect with her college friends, she accepts an invitation to attend a “vibes”-themed but highly suspicious retreat.

As each friend starts to disappear, Hannah believes she’s pushing them away with her depressive and cold personality—a theory reinforced by the retreat’s guru, who convinces her that their absence might be a reaction to her. But, as any good slasher horror story goes, we know exactly what’s really happening to them.

The book reminded me of films like House of Wax, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. It was fast-paced, engaging, and disturbingly relevant. The reveal of the killer was both creative and unexpected, leaving me eager to reread the book to catch all the clues I might’ve missed along the way.

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

I was soo excited when I got approval for this book on NetGalley a few weeks ago. The cover is gorgeous, and the reviews I saw were glowing. I started the book and for me…it was a bit slow. I think I was expecting the slasher element to begin before half the story was over. Once we got about 50% in I loved the pacing, the thrills, and the continual twists. I felt like the final twist, although good because of how impossible it was to guess, seemed a bit rushed. We got to the twist and then…it ended…which left me wanting just a little bit more. So although I loved the second half of this book, for me this rating was pretty mid for me.

I want to thank NetGalley, Poisoned Press Books, and Brian McAuley for this free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 / 5 stars

Hannah is not okay. She’s haunted by the mysterious death of her fiancé Ben, her night terrors are getting worse, and her psychiatrist just recommended inpatient treatment after a workplace incident she’d rather not talk about. So when her semi-estranged best friend Tess invites her to a high-end healing retreat in Joshua Tree — all sound baths, yoga, and detox vibes — Hannah figures it’s worth a try. A weekend of crystals and hot springs might not fix her trauma, but it beats sitting in a psych ward.

Unfortunately, the desert isn’t as chill as promised. The guru confiscates everyone’s phones and car keys. The retreat’s shiny spirituality comes with a side of gaslighting and cultural appropriation. And Hannah keeps seeing an old-timey goldminer lurking in the scrub. Probably just another hallucination — unless it’s something worse. Then the guests start disappearing.

This slasher romp was so much fun to read and has a surprisingly thoughtful core. McAuley balances the blood-soaked fun of classic horror with Hannah’s grief and guilt in a way that shouldn’t work, but totally does. The structure is clever: Hannah’s chapters are narrated in tight, introspective first person, while the kills play out in cinematic third. That tonal shift gives space for both tension and catharsis — and even though I’m not typically a slasher fan, I tore through this in under 24 hours. The deaths are grisly without being too gory, which is important for weenies like me.

Hannah herself is a prickly, spiraling protagonist, less Final Girl than gothic heroine, and I appreciated how her trauma wasn’t just backstory — it’s the engine of the plot. Yes, there’s mystery about what really happened to Ben, but this isn’t just about uncovering a secret. It’s about confronting it.

This one’s perfect for readers who want a Spooky Season read that goes down easy but still has teeth — especially if you, like me, are just starting to dip your toes into the slasher genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brian McAuley for the opportunity to read the ebook ARC of this title.

The epitome of a summer slasher, Breathe in, Bleed out with leave your chakras shaken. What happens when a group of barely tolerable group of LA 20 something’s end up at an extremely rural renewal retreat?

I'm relatively new to the horror genre, and I didn't think I'd like slashers, but there was something about this book that allowed me to peek through my fingers at the gruesome goriness!

Cult like atmosphere? Check!
Mysterious guru and creepy accomplice? Check!
Remote setting? Check!
Infighting among friends? Check and check!

Hannah has lost her boyfriend in a hiking accident, although we get the feeling there is more to it. She is wracked by all kinds of guilt and keeps hallucinating he's haunting her. Her visions are so disorienting that she messes up at work, and is put on leave. She decides to reach out to her former friend, who invites her to a spa - all details are shrouded in mystery since it's by invitation only. Of course, it's in a secluded area. Of course there's a charismatic guru. And of course, people are unalived. I told you this was a slasher right? :-) To say more would be to give too much away, but just know that this is the perfect gateway book for someone new to horror!

Thank you to Camp NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance reader's copy.

Hannah has never been the same since a terrible accident occurred when she was hiking in the wilderness. Her Fiancee, Ben, died on that trip and the vivid memories of what happened haunt her days. She hasn't told anyone what exactly happened. In a last bid to escape her daemons, she agrees to go on a yoga retreat in the Joshua Tree with her childhood friends. Months of Therapy haven't quite fixed her, so she explores a more traditional avenue of inner healing. She never could have predicted what happens at the seemingly serene Joshua Tree. Never did she expect to be fighting for her life for a second time...

My first slasher novel!!!! It won't be my last. I am happy I picked a different genre to explore. The plot is unlike anything I've read before, and I feel the setting could be unique to the horror genre. The characters are wildly contrasting, I always enjoy this. There's humorous parts to the novel. It's clear that the author is experienced as the chapters flow well. The excitement of the plot peaks and troughs which makes a fast paced read.

3.5 stars, rounded up for the iconic slasher book cover. I don’t consider myself to be a big horror fan, but this was a pretty fun read. Extremely gory and deranged, however there was a bit of a campy element which took some of the edge off for me. The only downfall for me was the ending, but that being said, I ate this up in under 24 hours.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC!