TW/CW: Language, fatphobia, bullying, family drama, abusive relationship, gaslighting, toxic friendships, gore, blood, gory scenes, violence, guns

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Best friends and high school seniors Sadie and Logan make their first mistake when they ditch their end-of-year field trip to the amusement park in favor of exploring some old, forgotten backroads. The last thing they expect to come across is a giant, abandoned corn maze. But with a whole day of playing hooking unspooling before them, they make their second mistake. Or perhaps their third? Maybe even their fourth. Because Sadie and Logan have definitely entered this maze before. And again before that. When they stumble on the corpses in the maze, identical to them in every way (if you can ignore the stab and gunshot wounds)--from their clothes to their hidden scars to their dyed hair, to that one missing tooth--they quickly realize they’ve not only entered this maze before, they’ve died in it too. A lot. And no matter what they try, they can’t figure out what—or who —is hunting them.
Release Date: September 12th, 2023
Genre: YA Horror
Pages: 400
Rating: ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Creepy scenes
2. Fun writing
3. Parts made me laugh
4. Atmospheric

What I Didn't Like:
1. At times felt repetitive
2. Book is too long (could have been 100 pages less)
3. Boring halfway through

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

The poke at Supernatural ending 10 years earlier. Agree.

Helena being in the maze since the 30s and able to still not eat or drink because time must move so slowly in the maze.

Having to relive all these same moments is boring

Final Thoughts:
If you like Ben Farthing's "I Found... " series this book feels like it could belong in that world with our characters lost in a corn maze

I think this wouldn't be the book for someone that hates knowing the same stuff over and over, but the characters not knowing anything.

I ended up dnfing this book. I felt like the story and the atmosphere were really good, but it's too long. I found myself completely bored by page 250 since the same stuff kept happening. By 60% of being through the book you would think they would have progressed but it felt like they were still asking the same questions as on page 100.
The same deaths are happening in front of them again and again which is odd because Helena mentions that it's rare to run into the same thing more than twice, and maybe that will all play out if I would have read more. I don't know.

I had hopes for this book. There’s something about the fat girl, knowing she’s fat, being worried about it in high school and how she fares on rides that really gets to me. Talk about a lived experience. The idea of her and her best friend getting lost in a corn maze rather than going on the school field trip should be up my alley. However, it feels like the reader is dropped in the center of a story that’s already started. There is almost no buildup. It’s just we’re in the corn maze and there are bodies. This book has a promising premise and maybe I’d enjoy it more written rather than audio. Or maybe it’s the AI reader because it is a galley copy. Either way this book is officially a DNF. I didn’t care about the characters once they entered the maze and now, they’re introducing clones of the characters that are the dead bodies it just it feels like a mess.

Sadie and Logan are supposed to be on their senior class trip, but they skip it and take a drive around some back country roads instead. When they come upon a giant corn maze, there's no way they can resist entering. What a fun way to spend the day, right? Only it's not. It's not at all. Sadie and Logan will die there. Again and again. As impossible as this seems, the appearance of their own corpses and the forlorn piles of possessions say otherwise, and they aren't the only ones. So many people have apparently entered the maze only to die multiple times, and their abandoned identifications indicate it's been going on for years.

What began as an entertaining excursion has quickly become a game of survival, and it's one the corn maze seems destined to win.

When you read, or listen to, the first lines of this book, do not assume you know what you're in for the way I did. This is not your run-of-the-mill corn maze horror tale. but rather a successful mashup of one along with "In the Tall Grass," an escape room and video game play. On top of that, it also handles topics such as neurodiversity. bisexuality, fat shaming, trauma, and mental abuse. This is a small package that packs a big punch.

I have seen others mention the repetition. Yes, there is some, but that's to be expected with a premise such as this. It needs to be conveyed that each reincarnation (for lack of a better word) of Sadie and Logan are replaying previous experiences based on different levels of memory retention. Each time, they might remember a bit more and will get farther, or choose another path, because of it. If you're a fan of psychological horror or thrillers, as I am, this repetition won't bother you at all. You'll perhaps revel in it and begin to glean bits of information from it just as they do.

I had put this book on the back burner for a bit, but a long drive and some deep cleaning sessions required an audiobook. This was the only one left in my queue, and I'm glad I finally got to it. I just wish I hadn't waited so long. This is author Sarah Hollowell's second novel, and I will absolutely be looking up her first.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio and Sarah Hollowell for providing the VoiceGalley advanced audio edition of "What Stalks Among Us" for which I've chosen to write this objective review.

Sadie and Logan are two seniors who decide to skip their end of year trip to an amusement park. While driving on the back roads, they notice a corn maze. Sadie loves corn mazes so she talks Logan into going through it, only to find their dead bodies scattered throughout the maze. They realize someone, or something, is hunting them, so they must find a way to escape before they’re killed…again.

This is too much of a slow burn for me. The beginning starts off strong, getting right into the corn maze and dead bodies, but after that there is a lot of repetition. Sadie and Logan are repeatedly killed by a woman named Helena in the maze, and they must figure out how to get past her. They learn a little bit more each time, but this is where the story gets repetitive. It also took a completely different turn than I was expecting. This story is advertised as a speculative thriller, but it’s more of an allegory for the mental gymnastics that abuse puts someone through and how difficult it can be to overcome. It has a good message, but it’s not what I thought I was getting into. Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Sarah Hollowell for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadie and Logan are immediately lost in a corn maze when we start the book. We learned that they are skipping a school field trip and took a drive out into the country. Immediately the corn maze gives weird vibes and Sadie and Logan start to find abnormal things, such as their own dead bodies. Thus begins a winding journey through a maze with no exits and seemingly no rules.

This book was overall enjoyable, but went on a little too long with the repetition of things. I did like seeing their friendship grow and the discussion of mental health, abuse, and friendship throughout the story. I like that there was a happy ending for the characters.

Likes:
-Sadie and Logan’s friendship! I absolutely love seeing a strong friendship where it is clear they really care for each other.
-Very creepy; if I was stuck in a corn maze finding bodies that looked like me I would be freaking out. Even listening to someone else experiencing it in fiction creeped me out
-Lots of moments that make you wonder what is going on (this is a positive for me but might not be for everyone)
-Great representation; the MC is a fat bisexual girl with anxiety and ADHD. She is also recovering from the trauma of an abusive relationship. In my opinion these were all handled well.

Not for me:
-The narrator was not my favorite and it did take away from my enjoyment ever so slightly
-Honestly sometimes I just related a little too much to Sadie and her inner dialogue was too close to my own. Not really a bad thing just kind of a lot at times for me personally.

I sadly didn't care for this book. Its premise is one we've seen done several times and this didn't bring anything fresh or new to the story. It felt way to much like it was trying NOT to be Into the Tall Grass that it was just a parody. I'm really disappointed cause I love Hallowell's first book. I guess for me I just feel if your going to tackle something we've seen done a million times it needs to be at least try and bring something new.

What Stalks Among Us is a creepy psychological thriller about two best friends trapped in a corn maze with corpses that look just like them. A Field of Dreams meets Twilight Zone. What Stalks Among Us puts facing trauma face to face (literally) at the forefront of this eerie story.

I use synthetic voices to frequently listen to books that don't have official audiobooks so I'm used to them. But the one they used for this book was incredibly hard to listen to and distracted from my experience with the story. I wish Netgalley and/or publishers would offer samples of the narration even if it is voice synthesis.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio, Clarion Books for providing me with a review copy.

An excellent psychological thriller! I love that What Stalks Among Us is set entirely in the creepy corn maze and that we’re dropped immediately into the thick of it; that choice had me hooked from the beginning. I thought the world of the maze was really well built, and I liked the video game and escape room logic of it. The character development was excellent as well, and it handled emotionally abusive relationships and how they can affect a person really sensitively.

Hooked, right from the start. 2 teens out driving around, ditching a school field trip, stumble on a corn maze. What harm can it be to just go in, especially when it's a secret love of Sadie's. The shoosh of the corn, the cut out path - she loves solving the puzzle of a maze. But it doesn't take long for the two teens to realize this corn maze isn't like every other corn maze.

I loved the shock of each discovery. The first half of the book is filled with fascinating piles of mystery along with surprising bodies. Each new discovery was a piece of the puzzle I was trying to see the big picture to.

And I really liked Sadie. She was such a unique character with her insecurities and her previous relationship experience. She felt very real and I liked how she analyzed her surroundings and aimed to solve their current issues. I also really liked Logan. His patience to help Sadie, his attempts to get her to talk, his easily naming what she was too scared to. It was such a great dynamic and I loved these two.

Great creepy Halloween vibe with two adorable characters. This one was so fun, I loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

What Stalks Among Us tells a story of two neurodiverse high school kids, Sadie and Logan, who spontaneously skip a senior class field trip to go on a drive together instead. They end up in the middle of nowhere lost in a creepy corn maze. But this isn't just ANY young adult corn maze killings tale! Sadie and Logan are shocked to find that they've been- or other versions of themselves have been- in this maze before and have died here.
In order to escape the maze, the pair will have to figure out clues left behind by "other Sadie" and "other Logan", solve the mysteries of where the maze came from and determine how to get past whatever stalks them as they fight their way to the door to the outside and freedom.
While I enjoyed this book for the most part, had I read a physical or ebook copy I might be inclined to leave a higher rating. The author's fresh spin on the teen corn maze horror subgenre kept my attention throughout. I appreciated the nod to ADHD and the subplots regarding working through past trauma. I felt the neurodiverse tendencies described in the book were spot on. What I didn't like was all of the time spent in Sadie's head for her inner monologue. It did not translate well to audiobook format and was hard to follow at times. There weren't clear clues within the narration to distinguish between spoken dialogue and Sadie's inner voice talking.
That being said, I will still be recommending What Stalks Among Us to my fifteen year old horror film obsessed child. They prefer audiobooks to cope with their own ADHD but in this case I believe the physical book will be the way to go.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author Sarah Hollowell or providing What Stalks Among Us for review.

This is the story of two teenage best friends who skip a fieldtrip and go on an adventure that leads them to a magical corn maze. The maze appears to be alive in that the placement of the rooms change and the pathways appear and disappear. They aren't alone in the maze and making the right choices about who they can and can't trust could make the difference between getting out alive and being trapped forever. The tension and horror of the situation is beautifully captured as they die and respawn countless times in their search for the exit.

Along with wonderful horror/suspense vibes, this book also has some great commentary on mental health, fatphobia, and abusive relationships.

Although I read this in the middle of summer, it made me want to go to a corn maze sooo badly. This would be a great fall read to get yourself jazzed (or terrified) for corn maze season.

Loved that it takes place in a haunted corn maze in Indiana. Sadie is a fat, bi, and anxious teenager. She and her best friend, Logan, skip the class trip to the amusement park. Instead they drive around until they find something to pique their curiosity. Only this time, the adventure turns into an ever circling, ever changing, multiverse-esque nightmare. The narrative deftly captures the spiraling tension as the teens die and reawaken again and again and again as they attempt to leave the corn maze. Things appear to change when they meet Helena, another young person trapped in the maze. However, her story is full of secrets. Sadie and Logan have to decide whether or not to trust her before their attempts run out.

This book is self-aware and creepy. It is about finally being able to acknowledge abusive relationships and fighting for a way to survive. Survival is messy and dangerous.

There's a lot going on here and it took a bit to follow it all but once I did, I was hooked. Interesting characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

🌽what stalks among us🌽

🌽Haunted Corn maze with
escape room vibes and video game solutions
🌽Supernatural activities
🌽Social Commentary on fatness, anxiety, mental health, friendship, honesty, truth
🌽Young adult horror

Fun chaotic read that keeps you guessing! Yes, it gives you the spooky season vibes but also an honest look at social stigmas that give you something to think about. Sadie’s inner monologue is quite relatable!

QOTD: What are your thoughts on corn mazes?

🏷️: #bookreview #books#library #kindle #bookstagram #booktok #bookylouwho #libbyapp #yarn #crochet #read #whattoreadnext #summer2023 #summerreads #summerreading

I also received an e-ARC of this novel and thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I cannot wait for its release!

Sadie and Logan decide not to go to their field trip to the fun park, Sadie is worried that she will not fit into the rides. Logan, being a great friend, takes her on a drive. Meandering through backroads they find what looks like an abandoned corn maze. Entering the maze was the worst decision of their lives.
It soon becomes apparent that things in the maze aren't what they seem, especially when Sadie- who is WITH Logan- finds his dead body.
Oh-my-gosh.... I thought I figured what would happen next. Wrong. I thought I figured out what was happening. Wrong. I thought I figured out clues. Wrong. As quick as I decided I knew what was happening and who to trust, and who to stay away from, another event happened that showed me just how wrong I really was.
I really liked the story and will recommend to some of my students, but many will not be mature enough for the content. I will recommend this to some of my book-friends to read.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is wonderful - but it is best going in blind! So if you haven’t read any other reviews, I suggest stopping now!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of What Stalks Among Us, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I rate this book 4.5/5, rounded up to 5. I listened to an advanced copy, and reading some of the early reviews, it seems there is a mix up with the order of chapters towards the end. But knowing that going in, I followed along easily. I’m sure that will be fixed prior to final print.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a very well done analogy of trauma. The characters were very well written, and the situations and emotions surrounding them felt very authentic.

Both Sadie and Logan were great characters. I enjoyed how Sadie’s backstory came up in bits and pieces. You could sense her became stronger towards the end, and even before the ending, I felt a lot of hope coming from the story. This is the type of story that allows you to reflect both on the story and how this cycle can be seen in your life.

One issue I had was that some of the maze wandering a felt a little repetitive and my mind would wander. But there were many little details like a scene repeating (time loop) or the character watching themself in the maze, and because my mind had wandered, some details were lost or unclear.

Even though there were some maze events that I didn’t fully grasp, the overall message about abuse, trauma, and recovery was still very powerful. Sadie was a compelling character and I finished the book wanting to know more about her past as well as how her journey in life progressed. And Logan was such a supportive friend, someone you want in your corner, but also someone you want to be for others as well.

There were many great messages in this story and though marketed as YA, as an adult, I enjoyed it and it provoked thoughtful reflection.

This YA thriller starts with Sadie and Logan ditching school to enter an abandoned corn maze and suddenly find themselves surrounded by hay and dead bodies - except the dead bodies are copies of their own.

They realize they’ve been to this maze before and died here too.

Sadie and Logan aren’t the only ones in the maze and they need to figure who is stalking them through the corn.

This was a very twisted read while packing a lot into the second half with social commentary.

Not horror in a gory, campy way; horror in a what kind of world do we live in way.

This was absolutely fantastic, you think you know what's happening just for everything to be different. It keeps you on your toes literally from page 1. There's a beautiful and important message lying underneath the twists and turns and the author did such a good job expressing it. Honestly it's best to dive into this blind as much as possible! The characters were all very well written and developed. I enjoyed this so much! cannot wait to buy the physical copy!