Release Date - September 26, 2017
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 289 pages
My Rating - 5/5
**received for an honest review from publisher**
Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.
One-by-one, the students of Osborne High are dying in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, the dark secrets among them must finally be confronted.
International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and completely impossible to put down.
I wasn't surprised when Stephanie Perkins announced that her next novel would be horror. Anyone who follows her online can easily see her love of the genre. I would be an understatement to say that I was excited. I was even more excited when it was revealed that it would be slasher horror. I have always preferred this particular subsection of the horror genre as I am more terrified of real people doing horrific things than anything supernatural based. After getting my hands on Stephanie's newest novel I was pleased to discover that it was just was amazing as I had hoped. It's a smart, self aware love letter to the horror movies Stephanie so obviously enjoys and that is something that shines through this entire novel.
This novel has been compared to the movie Scream and the comparison, for me, feels pretty accurate. It revolves around a cast of high school students, has a pretty large body count, and sprinkles in some romance and friendships along the way. It's got all of the qualities that made Scream resonate and be the classic it is today. It also packs a lot of the same self awareness and humour within its pages. If you're a fan of that movie, I think you'll enjoy the time you spend within these pages.
The romance, for me, was classic Stephanie Perkins. You'll instantly be invested in these characters, and the romance that is the central focus of the novel. It's filled with the moments that make Stephanie's novels such a delight to read. It feels natural within the plot and doesn't overshadow the horror elements which was the most pleasant surprise for me. It's a balance between the two that really works.
The horror element, to me, felt very tongue in cheek. There are some tropes that Stephanie is slyly having fun with. These tropes will be recognizable to those who already have a love of horror, particular this brand of horror, and make the reading experience all the more enjoyable. It ends up being a read that is both unsettling and a lot of fun. It plays with the whole "the call is coming from inside the house' trope rather effectively. This killer's particular way of doing thing was especially unsettling to me. Your house is supposed to be a safe haven, and this rips that entire notion away from you. You'll leave this book jumping at small noises and question every item that isn't where you think it should be.
The above mentioned feelings are largely due to the pitch perfect atmosphere and tone that is within the novel. Stephanie sets the scenes perfectly and allows the tension to amp up. She knows that the build up is just as good as the bloody pay off and uses her words to create that apprehensive feeling within the reader. That tension is what made the novel for me.
As much as I appreciate the scares, I also loved that this novel never forgets that horror is also supposed to be fun. There is a humour that makes them more easily accessible and that is found right along side the bloody thrills in this one. It allows the characters to be ones that we care about so that we can immerse ourselves in the story a little more. It allows us to connect to the main character and root for them to be among the survivors.
Stephanie Perkins showcases that she can easily switch genres and produce gripping, entertaining reads that captivate your interest. She is capable of sending chills down your spine and making you a swoony mess with her romances in equal measure. I highly recommend this one for the upcoming Halloween season followed by a watch of the Scream movie even it if means sleeping with the lights on and triple checking you've locked the door.
This novel has been compared to the movie Scream and the comparison, for me, feels pretty accurate. It revolves around a cast of high school students, has a pretty large body count, and sprinkles in some romance and friendships along the way. It's got all of the qualities that made Scream resonate and be the classic it is today. It also packs a lot of the same self awareness and humour within its pages. If you're a fan of that movie, I think you'll enjoy the time you spend within these pages.
The romance, for me, was classic Stephanie Perkins. You'll instantly be invested in these characters, and the romance that is the central focus of the novel. It's filled with the moments that make Stephanie's novels such a delight to read. It feels natural within the plot and doesn't overshadow the horror elements which was the most pleasant surprise for me. It's a balance between the two that really works.
The horror element, to me, felt very tongue in cheek. There are some tropes that Stephanie is slyly having fun with. These tropes will be recognizable to those who already have a love of horror, particular this brand of horror, and make the reading experience all the more enjoyable. It ends up being a read that is both unsettling and a lot of fun. It plays with the whole "the call is coming from inside the house' trope rather effectively. This killer's particular way of doing thing was especially unsettling to me. Your house is supposed to be a safe haven, and this rips that entire notion away from you. You'll leave this book jumping at small noises and question every item that isn't where you think it should be.
The above mentioned feelings are largely due to the pitch perfect atmosphere and tone that is within the novel. Stephanie sets the scenes perfectly and allows the tension to amp up. She knows that the build up is just as good as the bloody pay off and uses her words to create that apprehensive feeling within the reader. That tension is what made the novel for me.
As much as I appreciate the scares, I also loved that this novel never forgets that horror is also supposed to be fun. There is a humour that makes them more easily accessible and that is found right along side the bloody thrills in this one. It allows the characters to be ones that we care about so that we can immerse ourselves in the story a little more. It allows us to connect to the main character and root for them to be among the survivors.
Stephanie Perkins showcases that she can easily switch genres and produce gripping, entertaining reads that captivate your interest. She is capable of sending chills down your spine and making you a swoony mess with her romances in equal measure. I highly recommend this one for the upcoming Halloween season followed by a watch of the Scream movie even it if means sleeping with the lights on and triple checking you've locked the door.
Sounds fun! Do you anticipate horror as a new YA trend? Or just a few one-offs?
ReplyDeleteGreat review, as usual.
Amy :D