Dr. Webb has developed VR technology that allows people to face their trauma while virtually living out nightmares. Esther is a skeptic journalist who wants to debunk Webb’s work, but when someone else is also interested in the technology and will do anything to get to it, the two will have to work together to survive.

There is a lot of plot and twists packed into this scant 4.5 hour audiobook, and I’m here for it. It moved quickly, and I feel like the characters were pretty well developed for a shorter book. I loved the premise and the dichotomy of Webb and Esther as well as the sisters taking part in the study, their relationship and background. Still waiting on more from the Into the Drowning Deep universe, but in the meantime, I’ll continue picking up anything Grant writes.

This one is available now in print and audio wherever you get your books.

4.25 stars rounded down to 4. A short sweet sampling of why Seanan continues to be my literary Queen. 👑

Final Girls is a short story that really makes you think about memory modification and implanted memories. When someone can believe something so fully even though it never really happened and how it can change their feelings towards a person or place, that's what's explored here. Normally I include a synopsis/tidbit about the story, but to fully appreciate and experience Final Girls I feel like it's important to go into it with no expectations on where the story will go. I did this the first time I listened to it and it fell short for me....but upon listening to it a second time after wiping the slate clean I can't imagine how it could be better. I'm giving this 4.25 and not 5 simply due to the fact that it took me twice to fully grasp everything this story had to offer.

4.25 rounded down to 4, recommended for readers who knows and love Seanan and her writing style. For those who aren't, I heavily recommend Every Heart a Doorway as a jumping off point. Age recommended for 14+ as some heavy issues are talked about, but nothing on page as well as violence.

This was such a unique science fiction novella that explored the psychological effects of becoming a "final girl". Horror fans will really enjoy this one because there were some fantastic quotes sprinkled throughout the narrative. This was an enjoyable read that packed a lot into a short number of pages.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

So I went into this unaware with what kind of book it was. I got to roughly halfway through when I decided it was too scary for me. The first death is truly scary and bloody. I was hoping for more of a focus on what happens inside the virtual world. To have danger inside and outside is a little too much for me.

An engaging quick listen for in between longer books but certainly not Grant/McGuire’s best. I felt like there were some key moments left unexplored for the sole purpose of surprising Marlene (when we, the readers, wouldn’t need to be surprised).

Though we do always love a ride-or-die female friendship, and the narrator really played up Grant’s familiar caustic/irreverent tone.

"Slow 80s clap"...absolutely fantastic! This was old-school horror mixed with the new and was a perfect blend.
I loved every second of this audio book and wish I had found it when it first came out as a hardback. Mira Grant is a true magician with a story and on the list of my new favorite authors. The audiobook was released on 11/8/2022
Highly, highly recommended.
Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audibook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion

Wow, Final Girls by Mira Grant is quite the ride - one I wasn't expecting. The premise itself was extremely intriguing and leant for a strong base for a captivating story. However, when I started this I realized how short it was and feared I wouldnt be satisfied because I'd want to see this concept played out fully. I was sadly right in my assumption and do wish we had gotten a full length book because its such a fantastic premise. I think the length is the main reason I didnt love this book as much as I hoped I would. The ending left me feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. The language in this is very flowery and atmospheric which detracted from the story itself in my opinion but I'm sure other reasons found this is as a pro of the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick read with a great audio performance! Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire) is so great at packing a ton of action and development into short format stories, and Final Girls is no different. I really loved the premise of confronting your fears through living them in specifically engineered virtual realities in some horrific exposure therapy. I also enjoyed the bond between our two protagonists - Grant never fails to reel me in with a sister-like relationship.

From a talented author and with a promising premise, but the execution left me wanting. I felt like the storyline was rushed and the characterization thin, I never got really pulled into the story. Timely for halloween but ultimately a disappointment from a usually very reliable storyteller.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Just a little slow and unbelievable at some points. Slow start and end. Very slow and just couldn’t engage in it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an interesting premise and I got quite wrapped up in the story, but I wish it were a longer novel rather than this novella-style book. The premise here requires a good bit of unpacking, which feels like it could have been more effective if the book were longer.

“What if you could fix the worst parts of yourself by confronting your worst fears?”

Final Girls falls in the realm of what I would describe as science fiction with a mental health medicine focus. I loved how Grant took the idea of how fear affects the mind and body and explored that in a new way. I think the main thing that might've have contributed to this was my lack of interest in most of the characters. Also, don’t describe it as horror if there isn’t more stabby stabby. This premise is amazing, and I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of it, but the execution flopped for me.
Overall, Final Girls is a fascinating futuristic sci-fi novella with some interesting ideas to explore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this audiobook.
On Sale Now.

What an interesting plot! I don’t read many novellas but was a big fan of Grant’s Feed series so I wanted to check this out. I love a final girl trope and this was a super unique take. Esther’s skepticism was excellent and I really identified with her. If you’re looking for a quick audiobook, definitely check this one out!

I'm picky when it comes to audiobooks, usually because the narrator doesn't (in my opinion) get the inflection/tone right and it sours the experience for me. That and I have a more difficult time following the story, even if it's my favorite book in a series!

That wasn't the case here. Grant's writing was engaging and the narrator did a solid job of lending a different and believable voices to each character. It wasn't until it was almost finished that I realized how short it was, more of a novella length, and I have to admit I was disappointed. While the length does work perfectly for this story, I was so engaged with it all, I was invested enough to have been willing to stick around to see more of the aftermath of how the main characters were coping (and not) with these fused-yet-not identities they've been left with as a result of the events.

As is, a solid thriller snapshot with horror elements brought into play, almost in a Cabin in the Woods meta sorta way.

This was so good. That ending though! Mira Grant does not disappoint. I would have loved to read more. I did not see the twists coming. The narrator was great. I cannot wait to read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you follow my reviews, you know that I have been reading every "Final Girl" book this year. I believe this is the last one, as it was not available at my local library so I was holding off on it, but then I saw that it was offered through NetGalley and problem solved!

However, the book itself is pretty disappointing. There was nothing wrong with the narrator of the audiobook, but the content of the book itself. Firstly, we start off with a brand new trauma therapy that is meant to rewire the neural connections and resolve past trauma by inducing a "horror movie" scenario with virtual reality. The science of this is never fully explained, or even partly explained.

Second, the plot revolves around a journalist who is critical of experimental therapies ever since her father was falsely accused and died due to her retrieving false memories. This journalist decides to go under the treatment, which is exciting in itself, but once they are under the story quickly devolves into a generic zombie story which goes horribly wrong when someone breaks into the treatment facility and hacks the program.

The characters in the story all have basic motivations, but any deeper development is practically nonexistent other than the journalist. And the ending is completely unsatisfactory because SPOILER ALERT the therapy does go so wrong that it destroys the brains of the journalist and scientist and then it just ends.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

Um wow ok. This was completely different than what I expected. More of a science fiction horror book than a typical thriller. Not really my cup of tea.
Thank you Net Galley for the advance copy in exchange for a review.

Just when you thought the "final girl" meme was getting jaded, Grant pops up with a whole new twist! This time, it's virtual reality as a way to "heal psychological wounds." But when journalist Esther Hoffman agrees to subject herself to the treatment as part of her effort to debunk the whole thing, events get very real. The inventor, Dr. Jennifer Webb decides to make it a shared experience, without informing Esther, and goes under the drugs in tandem. But Jennifer has enemies willing to take advantage of her helpless state, and suddenly the two women are working together to save both their lives. A powerfully plotted and original novella. I listened straight through the 3+ hour audiobook without a break--couldn't turn it off. Well performed by Jennifer Pickens, although her delivery is slow enough that I needed to speed up the playback to 1.25..

After a phony regression therapy issue ruined her life, Esther Hoffman embarked on a journalism career based on debunking pseudoscience. When she hears of Dr. Jennifer Webb's experiments with a combination of medical sedation and virtual reality, Esther knows she'll have to get a firsthand look at Dr. Webb's technology in order to disprove its benefits.

This book was a quick read, and it was definitely entertaining while I was listening. I feel like the idea of facing your fears in a controlled virtual environment is brilliant, but for whatever reason it just wasn't as compelling as I thought it would be. That being said, I think it is an awesome concept and it would probably be very compelling as a miniseries. You'd probably get a lot of fans of shows like 'Orphan Black' watching.

A short, intriguing audiobook with an interesting premise that I wasn't familiar with going into it - I simply saw Mira Grant and the title and requested the book! - this sci-fi technological twist on the classic final girl centred slasher was something new and interesting. I think it was definitely a better reading experience to go in with no idea of the plot, because it added an extra sense of tension and the key plot points revealed in the synopsis felt like twists.

I've previously read Grant's work as Seanan McGuire, and I love her style of writing - it's always one of the major strengths of her books, in my opinion, when they are shorter reads so you can't spend as much time really digging into the character development and relationships.

This was a quick, enjoyable read, excellently narratated, that made a fantastic companion on my commute. It had quite a lot to say in a short amount of time, but wasn't heavy handed in the showing-not-telling. I'll definitely look out for more of McGuire/Grant's horror, alongside her other work I already enjoy! I'd recommend this to other readers of horror, and think it would make quite a good 'gateway' into the horror genre for those who are unsure.