This read was such a fun surprise. I went in thinking it’d be cozy and light, but it actually got creepy real quick and I was not prepared.

Kate is a total badass and I’m also obsessed with the creations and supernatural campground residents. Like why do I kinda wanna hang out with some of them?

Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to continue reading the series!

Thank you @sagapress for my arc copy 💖

🗓️ Out 8/5/25

✨What it is about:
Kate runs a cursed campground full of creepy creatures and deadly folklore. She’s got strict rules to keep campers alive, but of course not everyone listens. Now something even worse is coming for the land and her family, and the bodies are piling up fast.✨

💭My thoughts:
Goat Valley Campground is a super creepy place that’s been in Kate’s family for generations, and it has a nasty habit of killing them off. After her parents are killed, Kate’s job becomes keeping the campers alive while also keeping the monsters on the grounds in check.
The book is written as a short collection of stories meant to “scare” campers into following the rules… so they don’t end up dead. It’s a quick read, packed with chaos, spooky moments, and even some dark humor. The monsters were interesting, and although Kate acted recklessly (with little consequence), she kind of grew on me by the end.
There’s definitely some violence, gore, and creatively written creatures. Horror isn’t a genre I read often, but I like to dip into it now and then, and this felt like a great pick for fall. It seems like this is the first in a series, and I’m definitely curious to see what comes next.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Read if you like:
🏕️Horror
🏕️Small town
🏕️Sarcastic tone and dark humor
🏕️Magical realism
🏕️Atmospheric reads
🏕️Campgrounds

⚠️CW: Body horror, graphic violence, and gore, death.

“I don’t have a list of rules because I’m trying to ruin your fun. I have a list because I’m trying to keep you from coming back to camp and finding your tent collapsed and full of rainwater and having no dry clothes or place to sleep. I’m trying to keep you from spending half of your precious vacation setting up tents because you didn’t plan where everything would go in advance. And I’m trying to keep you from doing small, simple things that could result in a horrific and most assuredly agonizing demise.”

How To Survive Camping: The Man With No Shadow is a fun, fast-paced read. The first few chapters feel like individual short stories, which I believe is how they were originally posted to Reddit, but by the end the narrative comes together into a well-defined story. When I saw the Goodreads’ description of this book claiming that it was a campy and cozy horror novel that is perfect for fans of Welcome to Nightvale, I knew I had to pick it up. This was fun and campy, but I didn’t get cozy vibes from it – the story is actually quite violent and gory. However, there were some lighthearted moments, dark humor, and the descriptions of some of the monsters could be absurd.

The main character, Kate, was difficult to like and she was the main reason I didn’t love this book. However, her character growth was absolutely incredible, and I enjoyed reading from her perspective much more by the final chapter. I also really enjoyed reading about all of the different campground monsters and I feel connected to a few of them – I look forward to picking up the next book in this series when it comes out to see what hijinks occur during the next camping season!

Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this novel.

I had listened to this story a long time ago on the No Sleep podcast and then read parts of it again on the No Sleep subreddit. Even after re-reading I still loved it.

I’m a huge fan of fantasy and folk-horror and then blends both in a small town/campground atmosphere. Kate has inherited her family’s legacy of Goat Valley campground. Along with all the usual camping rules, there are a few very unique rules to follow. Because Goat Valley isn’t just a campground; it’s a barrier between worlds. There are demons, Gods and monsters in the campground. And Kate’s family are in charge of protecting the people of the town and the campers.

A weird, eerie and sometimes hilarious set of intertwining stories that deal with all sorts of otherworldly creatures.

Thank you to Saga Press for the ARC!

Listen. I was sold with the "Welcome to Nightvale" comp. And honestly? That's EXACTLY what this is.

The book is told in a series of short stories, meant to be warnings tied to the camp ground rules--because people don't follow a piece of paper, but they sure will be more cautious if they're scared into it. Someone telling you not to follow the lights makes you shrug. A story about someone following the lights and then getting sucked into a house of darkness minus an arm and partial ribcage? Maybe you'll think twice.

This was SO FUN. Short stories, short chapters, and an FMC who's so over people, the burden she's been tasked with, and the fact that no one understands what she has to put up with. On top of it all, the monsters on the grounds are acting up and a new enemy has taken control. Further evidence that camping isn't worth it, and if a camp ground has a lot of accidents,,,maybe don't visit there.

This is such a fun story--it's creepy, a little gross, and very much a Nightvale adjacent setting. If you want a fast read that's also a little creepy, a little gross, and never want to go camping again--this is a must read! Great lore, great characters, and great set up for more. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Wow this is a creative idea. What if there was a haunted playground, spirits and folkloric creatures abounding, and everyone knew about it? What if the family who ran it had to kill townspeople and tourists from time to time if they didn't follow the rules? (After all, how hard is it to remember to only buy ice from children WITH a wagon?) The townspeople put up with the campground because it brings tourists in and boosts the economy, but when Kate takes over and creatures are getting out and getting more victims than before, the "New Sheriff" and the townspeople decided her family is no longer suitable to run the campground and deal with the work that comes with it. But will her family listen, and why have the creatures grown more restless recently. More importantly, what happened to her parents.... and how many brothers does she REALLY have? An interesting foray into a niche of magical realism that I recommend to horror fans, science fiction fans, and anyone who wants the answer to any of the questions posed in this review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.

How To Survive Camping is such a fun concept for a horror book. I went into this thinking I was in for a fun, spooky, camping guide, and I did get that, but it's also incredibly gruesome. The gore is WILD.

Kate is trying her best to protect her town from these inhuman monsters, while also fighting with the town because they don't think she's doing her job well enough. I really felt for Kate - she's put in an impossible situation, doing the best she can to prevent the most casualties. And sometimes, that means people have to die.

I really enjoyed this, but I do wish this was more like a guidebook full of camping tips like we get at the very beginning. The story is full of action and intense scenes though, and I was hooked until the end.

I adored this book! I can’t wait to read more from this author! It was such a unique reading experience!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Kate is a campground manager who has a set of rules to keep her guest safe and alive. The story starts off as a different monster/ cryptid per chapter, but eventually the main bad monster is introduced. This is The Man With No Shadow. I really enjoyed how everything tied together. I liked how Kate was a no nonsense type of character. I really enjoyed the side characters, especially the man with the skull cup. I do feel like some of the chapters dragged a bit. Overall 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

How to Survive Camping: The Man With No Shadow is everything I want in a horror read—creepy, clever, and crawling with atmosphere. Bonnie Quinn delivers a perfect blend of folklore, found-family survival, and slow-burning dread that had me devouring pages with my heart in my throat.

Set in a cursed campground with rules that must be followed (or else), the story feels like a campfire tale told by someone who’s actually lived through it. The narrator’s voice is sharp and grounded, balancing humor with an undercurrent of deep trauma and unease. And the entity at the center of this entry—the Man With No Shadow—is pure nightmare fuel. Subtle, relentless, unforgettable.

I love how Quinn layers her horror: it’s not just the monsters in the woods, but the grief, the guilt, the isolation that haunt just as hard. And yet, through all the darkness, there’s a fierce sense of survival and community that gives the story real heart.

If you’re into cosmic horror with emotional depth, rules-based terror, or stories that feel like Welcome to Night Vale wandered into The Blair Witch Project, The Man With No Shadow is a must-read. I’m obsessed with this series—and this installment might be my favorite yet.

Goat Valley Campground is full of dangerous monsters and if you hope to survive you must follow Kate, the camp manager’s Rules. For generations Kate’s family has kept the monsters contained, and attempted to keep their campers and town safe. However recently with campers not following the rules, monsters claiming more victims, and issues with employees Kate has her work cut out for her.

I read this while camping and sitting in front of a campfire so the vibes were perfect. I wasn’t even sure what a cozy horror was when I picked this up but this was fun. Not too scary but just spooky enough. There were a few parts that seemed a bit disjointed but overall I enjoyed it and will be picking up the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advance copy!

Kate is a campground manager. There are rules for her campground, and they are there to keep you alive. Monsters roam the woods, and Kate's family has been keeping them at bay for the campers and nearby town for a long time. When more and more incidents begin happening, Kate is thrust into a time of tumult and danger where she needs to be at the top of her game.

I had the pleasure to read this while camping. It was fun and interesting and kept my attention the whole time. I really enjoyed all the monsters, and how the story unfolded. The ending was a little confusing, but I enjoyed the story enough to want to read more.
A fun cozy horror novel, perfect for camping in the fall!

I rated this 3.75/5 rounded up to 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!

This is the campiest (no pun intended) book about a haunted campground. I love that throughout the book the camp director keeps adding more rules to the rule set based on events that are happening at the campground.

Is it horror stories and suspenseful mystery? Yes. Is it also humorous and campy – oh yes! It is lighthearted and cozy horror. I loved the FMC’s obvious numbness to the paranormal and fantastical that happens at her campground. Little children selling ice without a wagon that may kill you? Meh, just don’t buy ice from them. Potential undead musicians that may eat you if you look into their eyes? Just dance until the music is done and walk away without looking at them. Easy peasy, right? I got the scary Appalachia feelings throughout this book with the eerie TikTok music paying in the background. It was creepy, but I laughed out loud several times.

Fun summertime read for anyone who likes creepypasta or slightly off reality like Welcome to Night Vale. It reads a lot like a creepypasta (and I believe that is its origins) but, like its serialized bite-size internet roots, it’s addictive, and I can see myself reading every one of these.

This book was unique in that I don't think I have ever read anything like it before. A campground that has rules that must not be broken if you want to survive. There are different monsters and individuals that inhabit the campground that can be deadly if you don't follow the rules.
If you want to read something truly unique and a great read, pick this up!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very dark and kind of gross, this was my favorite read of the spring. I love a cozy horror, which this definitely was not! It was more of a mundane horror, because when you witness atrocities every day, they no longer frighten you in the same way. Kate is such a powerhouse of determination and rage as she works to keep her family campground's guests safe from the monstrosities that lurk on the grounds. Her rules are the only thing standing between life and death for many, but when the rules start to fail as a new entity makes a grab for power, she must learn how to go on the offense while the whole town is against her, and her allies start to feel more like enemies. The beings that Kate comes face to face with are definitely not the kind of "spooky but misunderstood" monsters that have become popular in today's literary scene, they are the terrors from your grandparents' stories that WILL drag you off into the woods if you misstep and WILL curse your family line for being rude to them. Definitely the kind of dry humor that horror readers eat up, without missing any of the disturbing scenes that hit you like a truck when you get to them.

Just wrapped this one up by @bonnie.k.quinn and absolutely loved it.

The story: Kate inherits her family’s Goat Valley Campground and along with it, “old land” that attracts all manner of supernatural creatures. In order the keep them contained and the campers and neighboring small town safe, she and her staff must be vigilant with their rules, regulations and rituals. But when more people than usual start dying around her, she must dig deeper to try to solve a decades-old mystery and take on some of the darkest monsters out there.

Some of my favorite things about this book:

🪓Dark humor
🪓Folklore monsters
🪓The characters - loved them all, whether human or inhuman
🪓Super unique and well-paced story
🪓The Camp Rules listed, such as:
1. Don’t follow the lights.
2. You can buy ice from the children who approach your camp ONLY if they have a wagon. If a group approaches you without a wagon, do not buy ice from them. Act like they don’t exist.
3. Place solar lights around your text stake. If all the lights go out, keep your eyes shut. Get back in your tent and do not leave until sunup. Whatever you do, do not look outside.
4. Be wary of a friendly man who may approach you in shaded areas. If he doesn’t cast a shadow in sunlight, end the conversation immediately and leave as quickly as you can.
5. If the man with the skull cup offers you a drink, accept it or you will die a gruesome death.
6. Pack some heavy blankets. It can get cold at night.😂

This was really fun with quite a few laugh out loud moments, but also has plenty of gore, Kate is one of my favorite characters I’ve come across lately.

This is out next month (August) so be sure to add this one to your #tbr - it’s definitely a favorite of 2025 so far!

🏕🩸🦌Let's go camping!🦌🩸🏕

I just want to start off saying, I am obsessed and excited that this is a series. This has been living rent-free in my brain since I've finished it, and I can't wait to read the next one! And if this isn't on your radar, immediately add it to your TBR!

This has all the best of the literary world. Folk horror, lore, comedy, and best of all, sequels!

Kate is the camp master & owner, she has a very specific set of rules to follow for a great time in Goat Valley Campgrounds and to help you survive the night. Sometimes people have a grand time, and sometimes you just have to clean up guts and gore while drinking your morning coffee. The choice is really yours. If you abide by the rules, you're sure to enjoy your stay!

Between the man with no shadow, the skull cup guy, the wise lady of the woods, the yule cat, the crying girl, the children with no wagon, and many more demons and friends in the woods, you're sure to have an unforgettable time!

I could see this becoming a TV show or an animated series, reminds me of Delicious In Dungeon meets The X-Files. There are so many entertaining and promising possibilities!

Just remember kids: don't buy ice from kids with no wagon and never follow the lights in the woods.

I would love to thank Saga Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this epic ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review! Can't wait for the next one!

As a longtime fan of Welcome to Night Vale, I couldn’t hit “request” fast enough when I saw this title pop up. If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of Reddit’s NoSleep series, this will feel like coming home—in the creepiest, most delightful way possible.

The monsters are wild and imaginative, but it’s Kate—the campground’s reluctant caretaker—who grounds the story. This was one of those reads that completely pulled me in. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s got that perfect blend of horror and I highly recommend this!

Entertaining and genuinely enjoyed my time with this read. How to Survive Camping: The Man With No Shadow was previously published independent and has now been picked up by Saga Press. I really do enjoy how this book starts off with Rules and as you read along. I love books that have folk lore and urban legend type characters. I wish I read more. I do see the author wrote more in the series and I hope to see those also published through Saga!
Thank you Saga for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.