How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates reminded me a little of Ruth Ware's One Perfect Couple - a reality TV show gone-wrong. Here however, the events border on the macabre... almost taking us into cult-like horror territory. I was unsure if Coates was inspired by any particular TikTok or YouTube star, though got some Elon vibes from festival host and mega-influencer Eton. We spend most of our time however with his right-hand-woman Petra, true crime host Logan, and Ruth whose boyfriend won tickets to the festival.

We quickly learn of Ruth's past, as the 'Petition Child' the sole survivor of a cult's mass-suicide twenty years earlier. Eight year old Ruth had visions of their painful deaths beforehand (so very literally didn't drink the 'koolaid') and the group believed her death would save them and humanity. Other than foster parents and her case worker, boyfriend Zach is the only person who knows of her history. Or so she thinks....

Elon's arranged a series of competitions and games throughout the festival with money being generously offered as prizes though Petra, Logan and Ruth become increasingly conscious of something being amiss. Petra in particular starts to worry when some of the 600 guests are reported missing.

Things turn quickly and this becomes a fight for survival. And, although I liked Ruth's story underpinning the plot, disbelief needs to be suspended as the festival's taken over by those with a dire agenda. I'm not sure if my reluctance to see the events as feasible relates to my inability to feel sufficiently passionate about anything...*shrugs* or understand the mindset of those who are brainwashed into extreme views and behaviour. Fans of the more macabre or those interested in group-think will probably enjoy that element more than me. This was the first book I've read by the Aussie author though, so I did wonder if Coates was also drawing an analogy between those who become members of less-healthy (extreme) cults or groups and some of the hard-core fans of YouTubers and TikTokers.

3.5 stars

HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET had an interesting premise but lacked in execution. I’ve enjoyed othet Darcy Coates novels, but this one was convoluted, confusing at times, and not as compelling. I’m generally not as into cult novels either. so perhaps that had an impact on my overall enjoyment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review HOW BAD THINGS CAN GET.

Darcy Coates does it again with How Bad Things Can Get! What starts as a flashy influencer festival on a remote island quickly spirals into a full-on nightmare, and I couldn’t look away. The mix of cult history, survival horror, and influencer culture made for such an addictive read. Creepy atmosphere, nonstop tension, and some seriously brutal moments—this had me flipping pages way past bedtime. Definitely one of her darker, more intense books, and I loved every second.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

How Bad Things Can Get Review! 🏝️

Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this gifted E-read, in exchange for an honest review! How Bad Things Can Get is out now!

I don’t think I’ve read a Coates book that I didn’t like. This one was very fun and I like how the setting was different than her normal haunted house settings. I want to say this is one of the goriest book she’s written. The start up was a bit slow and it took me a while to get into, but after it while it started to get crazy! I love a good cult book and if you do too, this one is for you! 4.75 ⭐️

Synopsis: A huge online influencer decides to invite hundreds of fans to an isolated island with him to party and play games. Unlimited drinks, hundreds of inebriated people, and an island with a terrifying history of violent cultists? What could go wrong?!

Another ARC I was behind on posting 😬 but this one just came out so I’m not terribly behind!
Can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is actually my first time reading this author 🫣 why I waited so long? No clue. I will probably be the minority in this, but I didn’t love this one. It was too slow in the beginning and took me until around 35% to start to get into it. This type of book and how it was described I feel like I may enjoy more as a movie vs reading it. It had some elements I enjoyed and some things I didn’t. Overall it was a decent read and can’t wait to see what others think of this one!

This is exactly the kind of creepy, bingeable story you pick up “just to peek at a few chapters” and suddenly realize you’ve inhaled half the book. The author managed to put a fun, glossy spin on horror with her influencer-in-paradise-gone-wrong setup and it was entertainingly unsettling watching curated posts and sponsored smiles unravel into cult-ish dread.

The influencer trope worked well here - fun, satirical, and scarily believable. It nailed the shiny surface level lifestyle before twisting into something much darker. And the cult vibes? Chef’s kiss. They creep up slowly until you realize you’ve been pulled in the same chilling grip as the characters. My only critique is that some parts were a little predictable, but honestly the ride was fun so I didn’t really mind.

Darcy Coates once again proves why she’s a master of atmospheric horror. The island setting is eerie and claustrophobic, pulling you into a story packed with tension, blood, and relentless twists. At times, the surprises veer into over-the-top territory, but that only adds to the popcorn-thriller energy that kept me flipping pages late into the night. The cult element was especially intriguing, blending survival horror with themes of trust and betrayal. While the book started off a little slow, the momentum built quickly into a gripping, violent ride that was equal parts disturbing and addictive.

“How Bad Things Can Get”had an intriguing premise and a few moments that really pulled me in, but overall it didn’t fully live up to my expectations. The atmosphere was dark and moody, but there were moments when I wasn’t sure what was going on—some parts of the book weren’t very clear and even felt slightly confusing. I also wished for deeper character development to make me care more about the outcome. It wasn’t a bad read, but it just didn’t hit as hard as I hoped.

I was so excited to receive this ARC because cults and influencer culture are two of my favorite themes, and on paper this book sounded like a perfect match for me. Unfortunately, the execution was uneven. I ultimately finished engaged and gave it 4 stars, but it is a “barely 4” read for me.

The first third was difficult. At 9% I found myself frustrated by the pacing. It felt slow, with overly descriptive passages about the island’s geography instead of building tension. By 30%, I realized I was scrolling my phone instead of reading, a clear sign the story was not hooking me. Ruth’s cult history was interesting on the surface, but she and the rest of the cast felt thin and underdeveloped. One line I did appreciate early on was: “But lies were like half-wild dogs. They could just as easily turn around and bite you as defend you.” It captured a foreboding sense of Ruth’s past coming back to haunt her, even when the pacing felt sluggish.

Around the halfway point, the murders began and the creepy employees with their eerie, unnatural smiles entered the spotlight. They were unsettling enough that they reminded me of the previews for the movie Smile. The atmosphere finally ramped up, and Ruth gained some depth. Still, other characters were frustratingly thin. All I knew about Petra was that she tried to keep Eton in check. All I knew about Eton was that he liked games and was a bit childish. There were also intriguing threads that I kept waiting to see explored, especially Ruth’s possible psychic ability. Quotes like “Did you see the future? Or did they create the future to match what you saw?” suggested fascinating directions, but the book never fully developed them. By the end we do learn that Ruth was never actually chosen for a special role in the cult, which makes the lack of clarity about her visions and their purpose feel even more unfinished.

One personal highlight came from Petra’s confession: “I’m…tired. I feel like I’ve spent my life cleaning up after other people. Everyone else has fun, and then I follow behind, picking up their toys and putting them away.” That line resonated deeply with me because it mirrors my own life experience of always carrying responsibility while others get to be carefree. It was a rare flash of emotional realism in an otherwise thinly drawn cast.

By 75%, the book had transformed into something gripping. The murdering was in full swing, the employees’ smiles were haunting, and the violence was visceral and horrifying. I finally felt the tension, fear, and excitement I had been craving, and it became a white-knuckled sprint to the end. However, the character problem never fully resolved. Carson, for example, did not even receive a POV chapter until 86%, and then he was killed shortly after. His death should have been devastating, but because I barely knew him, it felt hollow. This highlighted one of the book’s biggest missed opportunities. Earlier character development could have made these moments unforgettable instead of just shocking.

The final quarter was compelling and kept me reading quickly, but once I stopped, I realized I did not feel much. It was a storm of graphic violence and survival horror without the emotional anchors that would have made it truly impactful.

How Bad Things Can Get is visceral, atmospheric, and at times impossible to put down. Darcy Coates knows how to craft dread and deliver a brutal, high-stakes climax. But the lack of character depth, especially outside of Ruth, and the underdeveloped cult and psychic thread kept it from being the five-star read it could have been.

Fans who want fast, bloody horror with creepy atmosphere will find plenty here to enjoy. Readers like me, who crave deeper character investment alongside the horror, may leave wishing for more.

I love Darcy Coates books, and this was no exception! While I’ve read several locked door island thrillers this year (and loved most of them) this one had an interesting twist and a turn I didn’t see coming. It was hard to put down!

One word of caution- I would consider this more horror than thriller based on the gore, but I expected that based on her other works.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

How bad things can get by Darcy Coates was a ride from the opening line, until the end. It has themes of suvival, cults and the power of social media. It has all her familiar, easy but articulate writing as she tells a story about an infamous cult and a child who survived, years ago.

This story weaves easily with our present day story, of festival goers who get invited to a social media personality island to participate in some games.

I really enjoyed our cast of characters and wondered how Darcy would deal with the massive amount of people at the festival but she did really well conveying the feeling of a crowded island. It wasn't too much but definitely added to the story. As I read I was stuck by how social media personalities can create, almost in their own way, a cult following.

There were some gruesome bits in here, just a warning if you are squeamish. I understand that while I don't like reading these bits, it's important for the story to really hit home - how far do people go when they believe in something?

I give this 4 stars out of 5. It was fast paced, easy to read, and it weaves the concept of old cults with our newer ones (social media) very well. Give it a read!

Thank you to poision pen press and Netgalley for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75

It really is Fyre Festival meets Squid Games with a bit of cultish debauchery.

I liked this one. The story definitely lives up to it's name. I found myself saying multiple times to myself, "damn, she actually went there." When things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, they did - and I loved the story because of it.

The writing was clunky at times. And the scene jumps were a bit jarring. But the story sucked me in and the bits of horror she fed us, were delicious.

Recommend for thriller/horror fans of cults, Island festivals, and MrBeast.

Whoa! What a story!!! Definitely not for the faint of heart! Imagine attending a 5-day games festival in a remote island somewhere in the Carribean only for it to turn into a deadly event?!?! Yikes!!!

This book is part slasher horror, part mystery thriller with a large heaping of cultish backstory. It started nice and slow with the atmospheric setting getting readers excited about the festival. Even I was giddy with anticipation for the cash prizes that were up for grabs! After the first game, the horror escalated quickly and didn’t let up until the end! The vivid descriptions of the gruesome killings made my eyes bulge but I was wholly engaged and unable to stop reading! It’s probably the cult angle — they always intrigue me, and the sightings/visions — I love a bit of paranormal element! The characters were also quite interesting. I liked Ruth, the lone cult survivor, who I wanted to have a happy ending. Her story made me so sad. I also liked Petra, who organized the festival and always cleaned up her boss’ messes. The ending wasn’t what I expected but it was fitting and bittersweet. Thank you @poisonedpenpress and @darcybooks for my digital copy of this book. As always, I enjoyed the writing of Darcy Coates. Her stories never fail to scare me to smithereens!

Wow! Just when I thought Darcy Coates could not get any darker! This novel is not for the feint of heart. It starts with a bang and only escalates from there. Coates draws a macabre picture. Definitely the top of the horror genre.
Thank you NetGalley, Darcy Coates and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to put myself through the wringer and devour this book.

I thought this was a really interesting and clever book that made you feel like you were within the reality game show that the characters on the island were brought into. I also thought it was interesting tying the cult aspect into the book. I had read Coates before but this is a lot different than her typical gothic thriller novels.

Ruth, the only survivor or death cult Petition, is joining three friends for an island getaway courtesy of super Mogul Elton. The weekend promises to be part of fun and games in a beautiful private destination. However, Ruth begins to suspect something is a foot when she is chosen for one of the first games. She also sees an island goer that has been attacked. Other people are missing. Is some sort of cover-up going on? Something darker?

This book is very gory and when things get bad, they get BAD!!!! I enjoyed the book and thought it was a little bit better than most by Coates. However, if you do not like blood and gore, stay away from this book. Many many many deaths.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Darcy Coates and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this book.

How bad can things get? Well, this book certainly answers that question! Darcy Coates has quite the talent to weave horror together, whether it is supernatural or just human nature, into stories that are both disturbing yet fascinating and make you totally forget your chores as you keep reading to find out if there is any hope of survivors by the end.

This particular tale starts like a dream with a contest and a trip to a lovely island with pristine beaches and fill those beaches with social media stars out for a good time and possibly to win contests set by a famous influencer known wild games and huge cash prizes. What could go wrong? Maybe corners cut for safety, or the history of the island and another one with death cults? It is a nice slow burn horror with a sense of unease that grows as things go askew in horrible ways while people remain blind, except for a few like Ruth, with a secret of her own, or Logan, who is investigating the social influencer. I love the different view points so that the reader can get the whole terrible scene unfolding on Prosperity Island. Though be warned, not everyone survives!

I will happily read all that Darcy Coates writes because they are impossible to put down! Like this one that I am so happy to have gotten the chance to devour (but not like the honey! lol)

An online influencer hosts a party on Prosperity Island-5 days of fun. Ruth, the only survivor of an infamous cult, wants to blend in, keep her identity a secret and and enjoy the time like everyone else. Quickly, guests start to go missing and the attendees are questioning whether they've been invited for a more sinister reason. I felt as if it started off a bit slow, but it picked up quickly as the island was full of chaos. There were several main character POV's, suspense, twists and an overall slasher feel.

This is my first Darcy Coates book. I love horror books that take place on an island or theme park, so I started reading this immediately. I could not put it down. I loved the horror of it but also the "games" aspect as well. It reminded me of certain influencers that we have today and the big impact that they have on their fans. I felt sad, mad and even scared at times which is the best way to feel when reading a book. I will definitely be picking up more Darcy Coates books and am very happy to have been chosen for this ARC. This one will be recommended to everyone I know that reads horror books and enjoys a good thriller.

VIBES:
* Isolated Island
* Cult
* Influencers
* Body horror
*Slow tension build - Strong finish

The story blends influencer culture and cult mythology into a cliff-edge thriller. A fresh, modern take on a thriller/horror.

A slow start then the plot unfolds slowly. The second half of the book brings some gritty and visceral scenes for the horror element

An immersive, atmospheric read that builds tension in an oppressive and eerie island setting.