A little more YA than I’m used to, but still really enjoyed this!! I did wish that all of the craziness started a little earlier in the book though, rather than around 70%. It ended up feeling a little rushed. Overall I thought it was a really entertaining read to start of spooky season! :)

I tend to really love YA horror but this read really young in my opinion. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend for middle grade but if you’re not really into horror but want something quick, supernatural, a little urban legend, with some Get Out themes - this is perfect for you. I enjoyed the story and it was perfectly fast paced, but it just felt a little young is all. Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone publishing for the copy.

After finding out this author grew up in the Bronx, I had to read this book. I'm really not a horror fan but this book made me a fan. I really enjoyed how the author combined history about Lake Lanier within the story. This book was historical fiction, I learned alot about Oscarville. Never heard or read about it in books. The horror of what our ancestors went through for folks to dominate power. I'm happy at the end Taylor found herself but it was Josephine who helped her along the way. If you're looking for a horror book that gives lessons along the way this is the book for you.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at 38%
The concept of this could’ve been great, but I just could not deal with the writing in this book. Maybe it’s just written too young for me??

"Welcome to hell. Pick a bunk."

When a Black teenager is arrested for shoplifting lipgloss (after being thrown under the bus by her white "friends"), instead of jail time, she is sentenced to a work release program at a summer camp. But soon after Taylor arrives, she quickly finds out there is something not quite right about the camp.

This book had all the makings for a great YA horror read: a camp setting, an urban legend, supernatural elements, and even actual historical facts. And it definitely delivered!

I loved so many things about this book but I think the thing that stuck out the most to me was the diversity!
Especially in the horror genre, that can sometimes be hard to come by. Most of the characters are Black, and quite a few are LGBTQ+ ❤️

I loved the way the characters were written and how they expressed themselves. Taylor's struggles with racism in everyday situations and how she chose to handle them are important highlights that add to her character. Also, she is hilarious. She was obviously taking what was going on at Camp Lanier seriously, but still managed to find humor in things (a great example: "because then I fainted, but like a gangsta.")

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book! It didn't necessarily scare me, but it is YA and I am hard to scare. But it definitely has a creepy atmospheric vibe to it! It was a very fun and quick read!

Big thanks to netgalley for this ARC! I will def be keeping an eye out for more from this author!

An enjoyable fun and fast paced book that feels like a camp fire story. I throughly plan to do some research now after reading this.

Spooky Season is HERE. 👻😮‍💨 I’ve heard stories about Lake Lanier for years and this book did not disappoint me.

———

Taylor is sent to spend the summer at Camp Lanier for a work release program after she is caught shoplifting and is thrown under the bus by her “friends”.

She is made an alternate counselor because she goes to a good school and is deemed more trustworthy than the other kids that are there for work release. She is paired up with the Victoria, a camper turned counselor who comes to the camp every year because she is a lesbian and wants to avoid her homophobic grandma. Soon she starts hearing screaming that only she can hear and seeing a little girl dressed in a white gown around the camp.

At first, she shakes it off as nothing but when she touches the strange little girl one night at the dock, she is taken into the water and shown Oscarville, the black town that was wiped out and its residents murdered by white men who were looking to build Lake Lanier. She is pulled out of the water by two other work release kids, Mia and Liam. They start talking about Oscarville, the lake, the family that owns it and all the deaths that happen at the camp.

After Mia goes missing and is reported as yet another runaway, Liam and Taylor and Victoria team up to find out what’s really happening to these kids and what’s really going on at Camp Lanier.

———

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


⚠️ MILD SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️

This book was SO SPOOKY. I was expecting there to be a more ghostly reason for the missing kids but honestly, it’s scarier the way it was written. One family and their enduring commitment to racism, violence and murder is fed by the government and is finally stopped by one Black girl and the ghosts of all the people who have been a victim of them.

I was expecting it from Rose and her father but Jason seemed so nice, he really snuck up on me. 😤 Their end was poetic. Jail would have been too good for them. I was kicking my feet and twirling my hair when the life was draining from their little beady eyes.

The bodies floating to the top of the water at the end was 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 so creepy and so perfect. The Hudsons were gone and the lake could stop holding its secrets.

I love that Taylor found herself with Liam and Victoria and they all stuck together to the end and past it. I will never accept ANY criticism on this book.

I was hesitant when I first started reading this since it's centered around YA. But, I was pleasantly surprised at this creepy, vibey, supernatural story! It's campfire tales, amplified. No disappointment here! Than you for the ARC!

Sylvester Barzey’s "Camp Lanier" is a gripping horror novel that intertwines racial history with supernatural terror. The story follows Taylor Johnson, a Black student at a predominantly white private school who, after being unfairly implicated in a shoplifting incident with her wealthy White classmates, is sentenced to community service at Camp Lanier. Her summer quickly turns nightmarish as she experiences unsettling hallucinations, hears mysterious cries at night, and uncovers the camp’s dark past. Driven to uncover the truth, Taylor learns about the horrors linked to the camp and its connections to the eerie urban legend of Lake Lanier. Her interactions with other camp members, especially Liam and Mia, reveal the chilling present-day realities of Camp Lanier. "Camp Lanier" is a must-read for horror and supernatural fiction enthusiasts, offering a chilling narrative that explores both historical and modern-day fears with a unique twist.

First of all, this cover is amazing!! Camp Lanier is a spooky blend of ghost story and slasher. I loved the setting of a remote summer camp, nestled at the edge of a cursed lake. Caught for shoplifting, Taylor is sentenced to spend her summer at Camp Lanier, a camp for troubled teens. When she arrives, she realizes strange things are afoot. Teens going missing and a creepy little girl only Taylor can see. As she begins learning the history of the camp and the lake no one is allowed to go near, she finds herself in a nightmare.

This was a fun ya summer horror. I liked Taylor's strong personality and her desire to learn what really happened at Camp Lanier. I did feel the ending was a little abrupt and the book definitely needs to go through another round of editing. Overall, it was a fantastic read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone for the opportunity to read this book.

A nice little horror/ ghost story to keep you entertained.

Knowing the history and myths around Lake Lanier, I was very interested to read this book. And it did not disappoint. Although I'm sure it's meant as a YA or NA (Young Adult or New Adult) level read... I (48 year old) still found it a held a powerful message about past, current, and future actions within society, and how we're all caught up in a ripple affect they cause, unless we find a way to stop it. It's a message people of any age (or nationality - Aussie here) should hear and act positively upon.

Sorry if I got to arty farty there, it's what I do when strongly impacted byvthe signs and symbolism of a well written book.

Okay, to plain speak it - this is a great summer camp ghost / horror story for all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life... IF you like summer camp ghost / horror stories. And who doesn't? But it is told from a perspective not often shown, and one I hope to see more of.

Totally enjoyable, highly recommend.

The characters are very relatable but could use a little rounding, and the plot is clean and easy to follow, but I would live to see a little more tension building. I dont just want to read what the characters are feeling but to feel it with them. Thank you for sharing!

Camp Lanier is a blend of supernatural horror and a touch of urban legend.. The cover alone sets the tone with its stunning visuals, promising all the campy slasher horror vibes.

The novel dives deep into the chilling urban legends surrounding Lake Lanier, seamlessly weaving supernatural elements with historical facts. It’s packed with campfire creepy vibes, ghostly sightings, and an atmosphere that keeps you on edge throughout.

The protagonist, Taylor, stands out as a well-written character who feels real and relatable. Her journey from skepticism to uncovering dark truths at Camp Lanier is gripping, making her someone you root for from start to finish. The supporting cast adds depth, each contributing to the eerie atmosphere and unfolding mystery.

While the book stays true to its YA roots and doesn’t delve into hardcore horror, it maintains a fast-paced narrative that hooks readers till the end. Though somewhat predictable, it remains an enjoyable ride for anyone into ghost stories and urban legends.

Overall, "Camp Lanier" is a must-read for fans of YA horror looking for a spooky summer escape. It blends fam

CAMP LANIER – by Sylvester Barzey

First, I want to say how much I LOVE the cover! Second, I want to talk about story wherein, Taylor Johnson—the main character and narrator—due to her poor choice of ‘friends’, finds herself facing two years in jail or spending her Summer at CAMP LINIER.

From the opening scene, Johnson comes off as an unlikable character as she aligns herself with bullies for friends at her new school, and seems perfectly fine with their actions.

It isn’t until Johnson arrives at camp—when the setting, along with a few characters, make their intentions known that I begin to root for her.

Barzey does an excellent job bringing the creep factor to various scenes, though at times they feel clipped as we move from one scene to the next, especially with the repetition using fade-outs.

‘Urban legends say that an all Black town was forced out to create the lake, and it has been cursed ever since….’

‘But if the ghosts aren’t real, why is she the only one who can hear someone crying at night?’

CAMP LINIER is what I would call a Young Adult Horror Story, a fictional tale set in a real location historically steeped in racism—Oscarville, in Forsyth County, Georgia.

Recommend!

Be sure to read the Author's Note at the end, which explains a bit of the history regarding the setting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sterling & Stone Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of CAMP LANIER at the request of an honest review.

I actually DNF around 36%. I did not like the writing and I found some of the characters to be juvenile and problematic. However, I do appreciate the Author’s Note and highlighting the history of Oscarville. If this is what the author was trying to do, it just needed to be better executed.

Living in Georgia, I knew I had to read this book. I love it, felt like I was watching a horror film. I love the history the author adds a the end. Definitely will look more into Lake Lanier and the town of Oscarville.

This was a nice quick and easy read. I thought it would be a bit more thrilling, but it was still good.
It touches on racism and ghost stories surrounding Lake Lanier. You hear so many stories about this infamous lake in Georgia. I like the concept of the book. It would fit to be a YA thriller book.

Good, fun YA read.

This had a mix between slasher horror and mystery as well as some paranormal sightings. Good story with themes and content warnings of racism, white supremacy, death, and drowning.

Thank you Sterling & Stone, Netgalley and Sylvester Barzey for the eArc of Camp Lanier.

Firstly, I loved the cover illustration, it drew me in and inspired me to read the blurb, What can go wrong with a camp for teens and urban legends?! Taylor is about to find out after being a little light fingered.

Camp Lanier is a really fun read for those who love a bit of everything. It has creepy vibes, sinister, a bit of teen angst, slasher moves and based around urban legends of Camp Lanier and its lake, I found it a really easy read, it just flowed and before I knew it, I was approaching 2/3 of the book . I was say it's a medium paced and it picks up speed through the second half of the book. I loved the characters Taylor and Vicky were my favourite badass female roles but everyone had their own voices/characterisations. Underlaying the slasher/supernatural vibes of this book, lays an important message that Sylvester gets across. That the systemic racism is still at large in our world. Past and present and to be honest, it's more horrifying than any horror movie. As a personal note to myself, I really need to read more BIPOC authors and Sylvester inspires me to do so because if you pick up on the underlaying message like I did, it invokes some pretty strong emotions!

4.5 stars for Storygraph and 5 stars for Netgalley, Amazon and Goodreads.