"I Was a Teenage Slasher" by Stephen Graham Jones delves into the heart of small-town Texas life in 1989. Through the eyes of Tolly Driver, a young man cursed with the compulsion to kill for revenge, readers are taken on a chilling journey through the complexities of adolescence and the darkness that lurks within.

Set in the oil and cotton-driven town of Lamesa, Jones expertly captures the atmosphere of a community where everyone's secrets are known, and no one is safe. Through Tolly's unique perspective, the author explores themes of isolation, injustice, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator.

With his signature blend of horror and empathy, Jones crafts a narrative that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. "I Was a Teenage Slasher" offers a fresh take on the classic slasher genre, inviting readers to root for a killer while grappling with the tragic consequences of his actions.

Fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix will find much to love in this gripping summer teen movie of a novel gone full-blooded tragic. Jones' masterful storytelling and vivid prose make "I Was a Teenage Slasher" a must-read for horror enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a dark, twisty tale.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Saga Press for my e-arc. I'm a big fan of SGJ and his voice. This book is no exception. I found it to be really unique take on the slasher genre. It's genuinely messed - the graphic gory kills are not messing around. Despite that, it's also a very heartfelt read I really liked Tolly and Amber by the end. If you like SGJ, this is another hit. If you haven't read SGJ, I'm not sure what you'll think. He has a unique way of writing horror that you either love and can't get enough of or don't understand at all. I'm on the side of love, for sure, and feel honored I got to read this one in advance!

Oooookay SGJ! When it comes to horror, I've never been much of a slasher gal, I'll be honest. I've just really never thought I would be interested, never spent much time exploring the genre. But now I'm converted, I'm ready to deep dive into anything and everything that I can get my hands on, whether it's movies or books.

I Was A Teenager Slasher was SO. MUCH. FUN. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough. For a non-slasher fan like me, it was both 'educational' and just such a creative, entertaining way to learn some of the lore.

I adored Tolly and Amber and really enjoyed the humanizing of the killer, what a trip. Their story shows the beauty of real, true friendship and just how far you will go for your best friend. From a now converted slasher girlie to everyone who might be like me and to everyone who already loves it all, this is a definite must read and surely will be one of my top books of the year. I'll now be running to consume everything else that Stephen Graham-Jones has ever written.

Go read this one, trust me.

Stephen Graham Jones might be my favorite horror writer. If you liked the Indian Lake trilogy or Cabin in the Woods, you'll like this book. This book doesn't just fill you with dread as you follow Tolly as he reluctantly carves through Lamesa, but also anger.

Tolly is cursed to be a slasher, but he's also motivated by a serious wrong done to him by his classmates. I know, I know, it's framed as an accident like most slashers are (think Jason's origin story in Friday the 13th). You see Tolly is deathly allergic to peanuts and at a high school party a drunk Tolly makes a fool of himself. In the process of being a fool, he jumps in the pool and splashes popular girl Mel as she's flirting with an older college guy. An enraged Mel rallies her marching band friends and ties Tolly down to a patio lounger while also force-feeding Tolly a drink that has peanuts in it. And thus Tolly's origin story is created and from here he's destined to get his revenge.

This story is told through an autobiography lens, Tolly is in his 30s looking back on the events that took place 17 years ago in Lamesa. He never tries to excuse his actions, but instead tries to explain what happened and what drove him to massacre 6 people in small town Texas. Let's be clear, this book lives in the grey, none of the characters (except Amber, Amber is a gem oh, and Tolly's mom and probably Justin) are blameless. Not that they deserve to die, but they aren't clean either. They're guilty of their own sins and now are being punished.

I love how this book outlines a good slasher and the rules that have to be followed. Tolly is incredibly ordinary as a teenager, but as a slasher, he's deadly for no reason other than revenge. Hit him with a car and he'll get back up. There were two things I didn't love and kept it from being a 5-star review. The first is the chapter style; I wish some of the flashbacks had been broken out more instead of the large chapter format. The second is Tolly's mask, I get the reason for the belts and the symbolism is nice, but I just kept picturing Jim Carrey with tape around his face. And the nickname Strappy? Awful. Just nope.

If you like a good slasher flick and a quick horror read, this book is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

This one was a ton of fun to read. Played with horror movie tropes and what if you knew you were a slasher, final girl, parent of a slasher, sheriff…etc

Getting to see through the eyes of a teen who is supernaturally changed into a slasher was different. At first I wasn’t sure about the supernatural aspect but after reading for awhile I really enjoyed it.

Of course my favorite character was Amber. Strong, spunky best friend to unwilling teenage slasher Tolly. She gave the whole book heart.

Fun summer read. Definitely recommend!

While the story is entertaining, it does rely on some familiar tropes of the slasher genre. Additionally, the ending may not be for everyone. Still, I Was a Teenage Slasher is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of horror fiction who are looking for something a little different.

I feel like a broken record when it comes to reviewing SGJ he churns out masterpiece after masterpiece and I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER is no different, I've read a lot of SGJ and each time he manages to surpass all my expectations, turning the slasher genre on its head, this was a bittersweet coming of age story that's wrote in a confessional style, making it feel raw and intimate, being inside the head of a 17 year old makes for a ton of nostalgia, something in the delivery felt personal, the humanity infused in his stories always makes the experience feel authentic and somewhat special, Tollys relationship with Amber was sweet and solidifies a theme that unites all of Jones work, the importance and power of friendship, the juxtaposition of killer but also, a pretty great guy are done extremely well and the characters are what propel this story into the realms of legendary, sure there's the gruesome horror we all love but the emotion, the heartbreak? Unexpected, this is not your standard slasher story, mum, I've fell in love with a slasher, thankyou to the amazing @sagapressbooks @stephengrahamjones for the proof copy

_I Was a Teenage Slasher_ by Stephen Graham Jones is a fun horror read that transports the reader to 1989 small-town west Texas where a slasher is about to emerge. The story follows Tolly Driver and his best friend Amber, considered outsiders by their peers, when Tolly becomes infected and is forced to seek revenge. The characters are well-developed and the conversational style of writing aids the reader in identifying with the characters.

Stephen Graham Jones you simply can't do wrong!! Jones' love for the slasher genre is so palpable that it always makes me forget that I, myself, am not a fan of it. Nevertheless it's so easy to get caught up with it when you're reading his books. It was interesting seeing how he would flip the narrative lens from his Indian Lake trilogy to take on the perspective of the slasher, but wow does he pull it off. Gory and brilliant, I highly recommend.

I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical of this premise — I’m always gonna be on the Final Girl’s side and I wasn’t sure how this would play out, but I already know I’m gonna be thinking about this book for years. This played around with the slasher genre in such interesting ways, asking questions and embracing the genre in delightfully tongue-in-cheek ways, while also managing to be a rip-roaring bloody good time. Also, funny? This book is so much funnier than it has any right to be. 5/5, I had a blast.

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"I Was a Teenage Slasher" by Stephen Graham Jones is a visceral and gory horror/thriller that takes you into the mind of a former teenage slasher as he reflects on his past and grapples with the consequences of his actions. While this book does have a teen narrator (technically an adult reflecting on his experiences as a teen) I definitely would not recommend this book for younger YA readers due to the mature themes as well as the detail of the gore in the book. There aren’t too many deaths in this book, but the descriptions are pretty graphic (especially if you know all the farm equipment used).

Narrated from the perspective of Tolly Driver, an outcast who finds himself transformed into a slasher-movie villain after a fateful night at a party in 1989 Lamesa, Texas, the story explores themes of the blurred lines between reality and horror as Tolly is cursed into becoming a teenage slasher, following the standard tropes of 80s/90s slasher movies, like killing for revenge one by one as well as the concept of the final girl.

Jones' storytelling is both chaotic and immersive, plunging you into Tolly's scattered thoughts and confusion as he navigates his newfound abilities and grapples with the darkness within him. I did find this specific narrative style pretty challenging to follow as it was essentially a stream of consciousness where Tolly would lose focus, go on tangents, etc; the writing was basically all over the place with the storytelling. While this style did provide some immersion into Tolly’s mind (the writing definitely made him feel like a teenager) and world, especially when the curse begins, I did find it difficult to understand exactly what was going on.

The story's exploration of Tolly's transformation into a slasher is both creative and compelling, offering a unique twist on the traditional tropes of the genre. I have never read a book before where the “slasher” is essentially a curse, but I really enjoyed reading Tolly’s transformation, especially in the 2nd half of the book. Jones crafts a chilling portrayal of the physical and psychological toll of becoming a monster, capturing the visceral horror of Tolly's descent into darkness.

The descriptions of the murders are very vivid and visceral. As someone who isn’t very familiar with farm tools/equipment, some of the deaths were difficult to imagine (I did have to google some of the terminology used), but they were definitely unique. I especially liked the pool/party scene in the beginning of the book. For a slasher, I was expecting a bit more death, but overall I enjoyed the story as well as some unexpected romance in the book.

Overall, "I Was a Teenage Slasher" is a must-read for fans of horror fiction, offering a fresh and haunting take on the classic slasher genre. Due to my unfamiliarity with some aspects of the book as well as the writing style I just couldn’t connect with, I would rate this 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

I really, really enjoyed this! It was fun, fast-paced, and hard to put down. Tolly is a high schooler in Lamesa, Texas in 1989. He and his best friend, Amber, goof off around town during the day and enjoy typical teenage hijinks. Tolly tells the story, and we know from the start that he was a teenage slasher... but exactly how did he get himself in that position? And why is he typing his story out now, as an adult? Jones does a wonderful job taking readers by the hand and diving in head-first. If you're a lifelong horror fan, a lover of the genre and all the hallmarks of it (like me), you'll have extra fun reading this.

I’ve never not loved a book by Stephen Graham Jones, and this one is no exception. As expected, his writing style is unapologetically raw and unpolished, reminiscent of a stream-of-consciousness narrative. I’ve always been a fan of his prose, which has an intimate, almost conversational quality to it.
However, this time around, I did struggle with it a bit - the chapters are quite long, and while I understand the storytelling purpose behind it, there were times when it felt overwhelming and difficult to pick back up. That being said, I didn’t love the story any less.
I Was A Teenage Slasher is yet another love letter to the horror genre, and a great addition to Jones’s catalog after completing the masterful Indian Lake trilogy. While Jade Daniels’ story challenged the idea of the Final Girl trope, this book reimagines the slasher himself with its own unique blend of humor, horror, and social commentary.
This book defies the traditional notion of a villain origin story, instead presenting a complex and multifaceted narrative. While it may explore the roots of evil, it also raises profound questions about the limits of our control and agency in life. The protagonist is not meant to elicit sympathy, but rather, we can empathize with their struggles and circumstances, making for a thought-provoking and haunting read.
Fans of Jones will find this latest installment to be a satisfying and intense read. Expect the same level of visceral horror, unexpected plot turns, and eerie supernatural elements that have become synonymous with the author’s style. If you’re a new reader? Hold on tight.

A book with an unusual and unique premise—what if the slasher genre was real and could be “caught” like an infection. One minute you are being held down, tied up, and teased at a high school party and the next you have caught the slasher virus. You start realizing you can slowly walk in a way that catches even the fastest runner. You somehow know where the final girl is at all times. Police seem to avoid you. Smart people become dumb around you. You now have a mask. Doors are always unlocked for you. The moment a virgin decides to, well not be a virgin, is the moment you pop up with a knife that always makes a noise when you move it. The person who says “illl be right back” won’t. These are the slasher movie rules and they are now the rules of Tolly Driver’s life. He doesn’t want to be a slasher but he is not given much choice. His best friend Amber tries to help him avoid his fate but will she just become another number on the victim count?

This was a crazy but fun read. At times the inner workings of Tolly’s mind were at bit wordy and took a bit too long to get to the point. But all in all, a good read that didn’t take itself too seriously.

Coming off the heels of a completed slasher trilogy, Stephen Graham Jones, returns to the same well again but finds a new way to bring heart, sadness, and a new way of understanding the genre. The book is an interesting mash-up that sort of reads like a cross between a self-aware “Cabin in the Woods” with a campy 1950s style horror classic like “I Was a Teenage Werewolf.” While writing a story where the slasher is an anti-hero could lend itself to a problematic piece, Jones deftly sidesteps those concerns by writing two of his best characters yet. You can tell just how personal this story was to the author and the heart of the story bleeds out on every page. Overall, it was a fantastic follow-up to the Indian Lake Trilogy and I highly recommend it for anyone who is fans of Jones’s earlier work.

Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for the digital arc of this book. I WAS A TEENAGE SLASHER will be out July 16, 2024!

Calling all 80’s slasher fans, this is your summer read! This book is so different and unique in the slasher genre, as told from the perspective of the killer as he writes a letter to his best friend recalling memories from high school and his experience as a teenage slasher. This book is irreverent and clever, and I had a really good time reading it.

So, so good. Can’t wait until official release to talk about it!! Don’t know of another author, not named King, that can release two books of this quality in a single year!

The setting is west Texas where people are proud of their belt buckles, boots and wrangler jeans. The summers are hot and dusty. A good swim is probably in a stock tanks unless one is extremely rich. That is where this one starts and a dead kid from the not so distant past arrives at the party along with the two main characters who weren’t really invited to the party either.
Stephen Graham Jones is at the top of his game with this book. He can write a slasher scene that is both horrific and at the same time humorous.
What a great summer read and I don’t even watch slasher films! Take a wild ride and try a little horror as your beach read this summer. You won’t be disappointed.

This fun, heartbreaking, and bloody story is wholly original! While not as deep as some of Jones' other titles, it was moving and readable al the same. I would recommend this to horror fans and non-horror fans alike.

I would never have thought this book would have made me cry but Stephen Graham Jones does it again, and it hurts so good. This book is brilliant, gory, funny, and emotional. Read it!