A love letter to a place I hold dear; a story of revenge, relationship, and redemption; a time capsule of my youth. This book hit me hard in all the feels and brought me back to driving the flattest roads in my VW Jetta like it was yesterday.

SGJ takes the horror movie trope to another level, bringing us the heart of a slasher on a dripping, silver platter. I think you’ll love the biting nostalgia, the gripping tension, and the bloody, beating heart of this novel. So well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I keep saying horror isn't really my thing, yet I will sit here and read every single thing this man puts out into the world.

This was really well crafted, but again, I never suspected it wouldn't be. I want to repeat much of what has already been said, in the way that this book reads like a teenage summer slasher film, but in book form. It was entertaining, it was gory, and it was paced well.

You know the character work is great when you know you shouldn't feel bad for someone, yet still.... it's written in a way where you feel sympathy for them.

It hit on small town nostalgia, and was a really great time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Saga Press for an early copy.

A unique book in the Stephen Graham Jones canon, as one of our great horror and thriller writers takes us to Texas where teenagers grapple with strange forces and a monstrous new villain arises. But just like any other super-powered human, the slasher deserves an origin story. This book is a love letter to horror movies, a main character going through a most unsettling life change. In a heady mix of bubblegum pop comedy and horror movie violence, Jones creates a convincing explanation for both the emotional and physical feats carried out by infamous slashers.

I thought I knew what I was getting into with this story. From the synopsis, I felt like I was in for a serial killer memoir type story. I think the biggest thing that didn't work for me in this story was the stream of consciousness style narration. It could feel really meandering at times, and I could never really lose myself in the story because my brain had to work so hard to make sure I was paying attention, haha. This was overall a unique idea, but the execution was a bit hard for me to get through. I can absolutely see why people will enjoy this, it just wasn't quite for me!

DNF at 20% once a zombie was introduced. I really just wanted a straight forward serial killer diary, but this one was just quite bizarre.

Man, do I love a Stephen Graham Jones slasher novel! Jones is an automatic must-read for me and his books are guaranteed winners. "I Was a Teenage Slasher" is particularly entertaining because it is told from the viewpoint of the serial killer, a 17-7ear-old boy who becomes "infected" with what I think of as "slasheritis" after a gruesome event at a high school party. It is definitely the most unusual coming of age story I have ever read. I found myself routing for Tolly, even as the body count rose; he is the perfect anti-hero. The author's stream of consciousness writing style gave an authentic voice to a teenage boy who is struggling with his identity (and his bloodthirsty desire for revenge) in small town Texas. It's hard to believe a slasher novel containing such graphic violence could also be humorous and poignant, but this book will both turn your stomach and tug at your heartstrings.

I loved how Tolly's evolution as a killer follows all of the slasher movie tropes and I saw Amber's character as a definite nod to another slasher film enthusiast, Jade Daniels. It is a really fun read and fans of Jones's previous works will love this one too. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this highly entertaining book!

This just jumped to the top of my favorite books by Stephen Graham Jones. I feel strongly about several of his books but you add the power of love (Huey Lewis) with a young male protagonist for a coming-of-age, reluctant serial slasher + best friend story and I'm all the way in.
-Tolly Driver and his damn nut allergy, right?
-And small towns (Lemesa, TX)
-Big hair glam rock music
-1989 (I was in 8th grade)
-Best friends (there is nothing like your childhood friends-I wish someone could tell you that those don't last forever, we'd probably cherish them more)
-high school parties
-the horror of pumpjacks (I hate those things!)
-grain silos
-slasher rules
-Do you know how Spiderman is like a reluctant hero? THAT but opposite, a reluctant antihero
-Duck Hunt
-Belts
-Moms & their sons
-VW Rabbits (why did every girl I know want one of those cars?)
-the descriptions of violence and gore--nobody does it quite like SGJ. One scene, one description of something made me actually gag
-Solve for X (it was mentioned several times-not a coincidence)

I just loved being in Tolly's head the whole time and I'm sad it's over. This is a home run, blockbuster summer horror book. Quintessential. Can't miss it. Better than an 8th-grade sleepover trying to be the last one to fall asleep so you don't get pranked so you have to stay up and watch Saturday Night Live and MTVs Headbanger's Ball

Do not fall asleep on this one!

Hey, look! There’s a new Stephen Graham Jones book out!

I mean, naturally, I picked it up for review, so here we are.

I Was a Teenage Slasher is the story of Tolly Driver, a 17-year-old boy in the small town of Lamesa, Texas. While not a stunningly popular kid in his school, Tolly is largely unremarkable before everything goes wrong at his classmate Deek’s party. Before that night, he was known mostly for his deathly peanut allergy and for the tractor collision that killed his father. It’s the summer of 1989, and all hell is about to break loose.

See, another student who was trying to fit in with Deek’s gang died during a hazing ritual. In true slasher fashion, he rises from the dead and comes back for a roaring rampage of revenge, meting out justice to all of the other high schoolers who didn’t prevent his death in the first place. In the aftermath of that encounter, Tolly ends up getting some of the killer’s blood into an open cut on his own forehead. Now things are getting weird. Vehicles fail to start when he’s around. The kitchen knife makes an audibly sharp SHTING sound when pulled from the wood block, but only when he does it. Is Tolly Driver the new killer?

I Was a Teenage Slasher isn’t the first time Stephen Graham Jones has tackled horror from the killer’s perspective. This is his wheelhouse, after all. He plays with classic slasher movie tropes much as he did in his Angel of Indian Lake Trilogy. This time, though, we’re dealing with a delightfully reluctant killer who gradually becomes aware of what’s happening to him, but unable to stop himself. After all, he’s not the final girl. No matter what, he’s definitely going to be notable now.

My utmost thanks to Saga Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this one in exchange for a fair review. I Was a Teenage Slasher is out in the world as of yesterday, 7/16/24. Run out and get it. Just… watch your back.

This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2024/07/17/i-was-a-teenage-slasher-a-review/

WOW! I am sitting here at my desk at work having just finished reading this book - Tolly's story - and I honestly don't even know how to move on from here. What to do? What to read next (even though I have 4 other books currently going).... This book just completely turned the Slasher genre on it's head - for reasons that I can't say right now because of spoilers. But if you have read this book, you will know - or if you don't know, message me and we can talk. My heart was completely shattered at the end of this book, and I was not expecting that at all. I knew I'd cry because my best friend Lezlie did and I cry more than she does but WOW. That ending was perfect and amazing and will stay in my head and heart forever.
CAWPILE Breakdown:
Characters: 5/5 - Tolly Driver is one of my favorite characters I've read all year. Tolly will forever live in my heart. His story was just so beautiful and heart breaking and I need everyone to read it.
Atmosphere/Setting: 5/5 - This is only my second Stephen Graham Jones book I've read, but one thing that I know is that SGJ never fails to deliver on atmosphere and setting, and he certainly didn't here. This book was 100% 1989 Texas. I never once questioned when or where we were, and I could always see this setting and feel the atmosphere.
Writing Style: 5/5 - I wanted to rate this lower because the first 25% of the book I had a hard time following Tolly's narration because it went back and forth, sped up and slowed down and rewound. But SGJ's writing is just so good that once I got past that part, I never looked back. It's just soo good, it deserves more than 5/5 rating.
Plot: 5/5 - Even though at one point I knew who the Final Girl was, I didn't want that to be the case. And I honestly loved where this story went. SGJ took the slasher genre and completely turned it on its head -changed that genre forever - with the ending of this book. (I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS ENDING!)
Intrigue: 5/5 - What can I say? Even though I knew who the Final Girl was... I didn't want her to be and I was still intrigued on everything.
Logic/Relationships: 5/5 - Once I understood the slasher genre (I had very little experience up until now), everything made sense to me. I could anticipate things but in a non-spoiler way. The relationships built in this book, every single one of them, were just breathtaking - literally. Perfect. Heart breaking. Several moments, especially at the end, that I had to take a break away from this book because the relationships just broke my heart.
Enjoyment: 5/5 - This book was everything. As I wrote at the beginning I am sitting here after just finishing this book and just lost in the world, in the characters, in the love.... Where do I go from here? I hardly ever feel this way after finishing a book - no matter how much I love it - and so that is a testament to the power and beauty of Stephen Graham Jones writing.
Total: All 5s! 35/7 = 5/5

During the summer of 1989, Tolly Driver attended a high school party with his best friend Amber. After his classmates play a deadly prank on him, Tolly is cursed to seek revenge and becomes a teenage slasher.

What I loved:
✨1989 vibes: from heavy metal music to TV shows to pop culture, the story drips with 1989!
✨Ode to slasher films: Amber constantly reminds Tolly of the slasher genre “rules,” from masks to super strength to the Final girl. If you love slasher films, you'll love this story!
✨Slasher POV: Tolly tells how and why he became a slasher in 1989 through a memoir-style story. SGJ allows Tolly's teenage angst to shine in a strange, wonderful, and, yes, quite dark coming-of-age story as Tolly struggles to fit in, contemplates love, grieves for his father, and worries about his mother.
✨Narration: Michael Crouch’s talent shines as he truly embodies Tolly Driver! Crouch highlights Tolly’s humanity, evoking sympathy for his plight as a slasher. You can't help but root for the villain.

Please check the trigger warnings since the story is not for the faint of heart. Here are a few: blood, gore, murder, bullying, severe peanut allergic reaction

How unique and amazing to read this book through the slashers eyes, leading to empathizing with him. I loved Tolly and watching him grow in this coming-of-age slasher. This book was like nothing I’ve ever read. I thought the friendship between Tolly and Amber was so perfect as well! Any slasher/horror fans, highly recommend grabbing this one! Out now!

Another banger from one of my absolute favorite horror authors!

I love how it started out slowly and gave the background memoir details and then escalated into the chaos.

The twist on the traditional slasher with nods to the classics was awesome, this is something SGJ does incredibly well in all his books. Overall a really solid read that makes you root for the slasher. Looking forward to whatever SGJ does next.

Tysm for the ARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press as well as Mr. Stephen Graham Jones for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #SagaPress #IWasATeenageSlasher #StephenGrahamJones

Title: I Was A Teenage Slasher
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Saga Press
Publication Date: July 16, 2024
Themes: Coming of Age, Slasher, small town, monstrous humans, friendship, mother/son relationships
Trigger Warnings: Gore, murder, abuse, bullying, death of loved ones, cruelty, animal deaths, suicide talk, peanut allergy reactions

Well, as always, thank you so much to Stephen Graham Jones for this. A very unique love letter to the slasher. This book almost helped my post-Jade Daniels blues. This is not because this book has anything specific to do with Mr. Jones’ epic Indian Lake Trilogy, more because his love for horror, especially slashers, is very evident as it was in those books. This, more than anything else, is why I enjoy his books so much. This one may have been my favorite so far.
Tolly is a good kid who is stuck in an unfortunate situation. He’s cursed to carry out grisly murders as a form of revenge. Prepare to empathize with the slasher, although the Final Girl still gets our love too.

Right from the start, this is an obvious SGJ book. Anyone who has read his previous books knows what I mean. His unique writing style and amazing gore is evident here as always. The story is told from Tolly’s point of view which makes it almost impossible not to find him endearing. Through his eyes the reader is given a VIP seat to some of SGJ’s grisly murders and the reluctance of our “hero”. It brings with it a rich blend of emotions that leaves the reader raw and wanting more. I recommend going into this one knowing as little as possible so that you can develop your own opinion of Tolly.

I have nothing critical to say other than, if this is your first SGJ book, give yourself time to adjust before deciding to quit. The writing is different and the subject is violent and brutal. GIve yourself the time this story deserves. I promise you won’t regret it.

All in all, this was a fantastic book. Happy Publishing Day to this fun and unique offering to the slasher genre. Enjoy!

Posted on Goodreads:

4/5⭐️
This book is unhinged. This follows a 17 year old Tolly Driver who is a bit of an outcast and having difficulty with the passing of his father. He attends a party where he gets very drunk, pisses off a few of the kids and they in exchange tie him down and give him peanuts.

He’s allergic to peanuts. After this, something changes in him and he goes off on a slashing adventure.

I did enjoy that it was told from the slasher’s point of view some years later. However, I feel it falls flat on making me feel anything for him. I wanted to be more invested in his agenda whether negative or positive. I was more like meh. Ok then. Kinda mood. That make sense.

It’s filled with a good amount of gore and the description of his “transformation” into the slasher plus the added sound effects were my fave parts.

This book has so much slasher movie references that in some instances it was a bit much. But, still it was enjoyable.

Thank you netgalley, saga press and sgj for the opportunity to read this novel.

Small town teenager Tolly Driver had all the potential, until he was cursed to become a Slasher in his small West Texas town and gets even with those that have treated him wrong.

Told in a memoir format, Tolly gives us his perspective on going from a normal teenage in 1989 to a murderer in his small town. Filled with lots of gore and guts, this book is super unique. With a casual writing style, it’s an easy and fairly engaging read. But the pacing was off for me and even though the ending surprised me, I felt it dragged on.

Overall, things I loved about this book – set in Texas, campy 80’s horror vibes, and plenty of character development and insight. Things I didn’t quite love – Tolly’s stream of conscious narration that tended to ramble and ended up making the story feel long and unfocused.

If you are looking for something different with lots of campy horror vibes and a little bit of heart, then this is a perfect pick for you!

I Was a Teenage Slasher is out now. Thank you to Saga Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
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A teenage slasher memoir written by the great SGJ - or really anything written by Stephen Graham Jones - is always an auto buy. And yes, even though I read this for NetGalley, I totally ordered because that's what I do. The entire premise of this book - Tolly writing his own story - is creative and new. I love a slasher trope and a final girl trope and really just anything like this. Don't wait for spooky season to read this. Run!!!

While this has already been such a great year for horror fans, I’m thrilled to say we have yet another reason to stay up late with the lights on. I wondered just how Stephan Graham Jones was going to follow up his excellent Indian Lake trilogy and now I have my answer: I Was a Teenage Slasher. While not as epic as the Indian Lake trilogy, I Was a Teenage Slasher is a wondrous, extremely personal, coming of age/autobiographical confessional of Tolly Driver and his journey to becoming a killer. It’s a wild story (peanut allergies are no joke!) that had me fully engaged from start to finish. I’ve always loved SGJ’s style, but the small town setting in this book feels so authentic it makes me wonder how much he pulled from his own childhood. I’d like to thank S&S/Saga Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of I Was a Teenage Slasher.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1RSRH14GK09UH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Be happy you weren't there...be happy you're only reading about it.

This is my first Stephen Graham Jones book, but I a now immediately going to read his Indian Lake Trilogy, because this book is fun. It might sound strange to describe a book with a title of "I Was a Teenage Slasher" as fun, but I knew right from the first chapter, when it all went so differently than I was expecting, that I was going to be obsessed with Tolly Driver. To havre a slasher book written from the perspective of the killer, and in a way that you're actually sympathetic toward him? Epic.

A new horror novel set in small town Texas that is told as an autobiography from the point of view of a teenage slasher (a la horror movies).

I thought this was a really unique idea, but the way Tolly's voice was written was too juvenile at times for me. I understand it is supposed to be like an autobiography but it was still a little too scattered.

This was a unique and interesting read. It wasn't really what I expected going into it, but overall, I enjoyed it! This was the first book from Stephen Graham Jones that I've read, but I'll definitely check out some others from him now too.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.