Camp Lanier is the camp that no one really knows about on the outside it looks
like they are helping troubled youth however there is so much to this camp. I
think that there was a lot of build up to the story and it definitely made this one worth the read. It was more for a ya audience though it still was a great read for older fans of thrillers.

Stars: 3.5
Format: E-Book
Review: Let me be honest. I am a white 40-something-year-old woman reading a book that doesn’t necessarily relate to any experience I have been through, but I sincerely appreciate the insight into a world and family dynamic unlike my own. At the surface level, this book is an entertaining YA horror set in a summer camp background. How could that not be a fun ride? I loved the family dynamic and how relatable it all felt. I was also someone who experienced the sleepaway camp, and I would have been coming unglued if I had read this before going. The creep factor was there and I can imagine having some of the same thoughts as Taylor if I was having the same experience. At a much deeper level, it was an insight into the every day "horrors" experienced by an entire community of individuals. I don’t have the right words to articulate my appreciation for those aspects of the story other than to say I am glad that I read it.
Pros: A unique premise and enjoyable storytelling. This was a quick and creepy read.
Recommend (Yes/No/Maybe): Yes! Absolutely
Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me the opportunity to review the title.

3 stars

Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me. It felt like a regular summer camp story with a horror subplot. All of the characters were very one dimensional and I had a hard time rooting for them.
The actual horror aspects themselves also felt a little underdeveloped and I really wanted more from that. It felt like anytime something interesting happened it just jumped back to camp activities.
It was a short book so the story moved pretty fast but I feel like the author could’ve built the story up a little more and it would’ve been more interesting

Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling and Stone for the Arc!

I normally really enjoy a supernatural twist on history and the premise of this didn't disappoint. The writing style was what held me back from rating it higher. It felt like at times there was too much information and at others not enough. I'm interested to read something else by this author to see if this book was a one off for me, or if I'm just not a fan of the way they write.

If you're looking for an easy read with a supernatural twist I recommend giving it a chance.

Horror is a genre I'm still discovering. I know that a story that lies heavily on supernatural stuff and evil spirits of a sort is probably a miss for me. Although there are exceptions. Not only that, but I'm learning that I can enjoy a story that uses supernatural elements. It's how they are used that matters. And in Camp Lanier, it was a great mix.

When Taylor arrives at camp, she quickly realises some strange things are happening. No one can go swimming in the lake. No one can walk alone around camp. Last year, a girl went missing at camp, leaving behind a very desperate mother. And there's one creepy little girl in a white dress walking around alone. Taylor's first impressions of camp are not the best. And things only go downhill from there.

Camp Lanier is actually based on the true story behind Lake Lanier. A past filled with racism, injustice, destruction and brutality. The book brings to life a reality in which everything comes back to the present as a curse to Camp Lanier. That's the primary point of the supernatural. To be a bridge between the past and the present. To set an ambient. Although, they aren't the danger of camp. That's why I enjoyed this book so much. There's no need for supernatural beings when the Man is capable of such heinous crimes, both in the past and the present.

And speaking of ambient, the story developed too quickly. I like a fast-paced story, and the writing grabbed me from the first page, although I wish it was longer. To build more suspense. Give more time to know the other characters. Getting a better feeling of being at camp, and also populate it more. For a summer camp (which I've never been to), it felt a little empty. Taylor spent a lot of time alone or with just one other character. And while there are other people around, it's just momentary, and then they sort of disappear. They don't even exist in the background. Maybe Camp Lanier is too big for the people that attend it. Although since one of the rules was no one walks around alone, Taylor has a lot of opportunities to deal with creepy little girls on her own.

Despite that, I had a great time. I was pleasantly surprised with the path the story took. I enjoyed the occasional social commentary still very much needed nowadays. And it was a very enjoyable horror. Creepy enough, not exactly scary, but I could feel the thirst for revenge. Taylor is a great main character, keeping the story moving and not letting go when things get creepy. Pursuing justice above all, and I love those types of stories. The world is already too unjust, and it’s always good to read an alternate reality in which justice is made. Even if it takes years for a determined black teenager to arrive and a ghostly little girl to pair up and take down camp.

This was a very interesting read. I enjoyed it and loved it.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this in advance

This started off really, really bad. Taylor was clearly an idiot. How horrifying to consider yourself friends with girls who are shoving a kids head in a toilet. To help them, to continue to hang with them and call them friends. And to allow them to peer pressure you into shoplifting. So incredibly stupid. Barzey tries to make it a race thing but it's not. It is stupidity--no race involved. These "friends" throw her under the bus when she is caught shoplifting and she STILL DOESN'T GET IT! The book gets good once Taylor gets to Camp Lanier. It's like a completely different story. Victoria is a great character. Full of spitfire and I loved her immediately. The racist behavior of the Hudson crew is evident and rage-inducing--this is where the actual racism comes into play. The visions Taylor has, the ghosts, the bodies in the lake. It's all creepy and fantastic. Great end to book as well. Just wish the first 20-30% could have been improved because I almost DNF'd. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

This was mostly good but honestly it really doesn't read like horror. It has a couple of moments that one my classify as horror but the majority of the book is more of a drama. I also felt like the book couldn't decide what type of horror it wanted to be. Too many tropes and none of them properly explored. I also dislike the attitude of the main character most of the time. I think it's great to be proud of oneself and to know one's own strengths, but Taylor's attitude was a bit much in this area. She comes off as conceited and full of herself quite often. I did enjoy the ending quite a bit though. It was very satisfying.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I really enjoyed this book.

I went back and forth for so long about how much was supernatural and how much was real that was happening. For that reason this really made me think and wonder what I believed was happening as a reader. I really enjoyed the story having so many layers, the camp and the history of the town and adjacent towns. I found that very fascinating!

I love complicated characters and challenging characters which this book had. I also really enjoy groups of friends and found family as a trope. I really appreciated the themes and delicate topics discussed and addressed in this story and the way they were approached.

Overall this was a good read and a fun horror/Thriller novel! I will definitely recommend it to my friends!

I really love the cover! I think that is what stuck out immediately.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.

Oh wow!!! This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last! Such a good story! I needed a good horror book and this one hit the spot!! Great job!!

Camp Lanier is a must purchase. I was looking for a welll-written horror/slasher and this gave what needed to be given! Mr. Barzey is here to tell yall black women be surviving and i thank him for this. I mean the graphic art alone tells a story! He so eloquently infuses American History in a way that invokes fear yet keeps you engaged.
Highly recommend!

As someone who grew up in the south familiar with Lake Lanier - both going there and the horrific realities/the ghost stories surrounding it - this book RULES. Historically tapping into such a tragic history in such a creative and compelling and frightening way - the best ghost stories have an underpinning of truth.

I loved this! its the perfect horror book with a good plot and some real background! I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

(thank you netgalley for this arc-copy!)

Part ghost story, slasher, and revenge story, this book had it all. I’m a big fan of urban legends, so this book really scratched an itch. Definitely give it a read!

This one wasnt for me. The main character was supposed to be in high-school and yet it felt like she was mentally 12. Some of the chosen words that she was saying felt like maybe they should have been edited out by a sensitivity reader. Maybe better for somebody else.

Camp Lanier was HEAVY due to the history being told and the racism undertones, yet still gave campfire story chills. You can tell this was a labor of love and the author put in the emotional labor, it was palpable. I’m still reeling with that feeling in my chest.

Do not skip the authors note with the history of Oscarville, its perfection. Yes it’s YA, it’s marketed AS YA horror, it sits perfectly in its genre with how gore and scare is portrayed. As an adult horror fan, this met AND exceeded my expectations.


Definitely of one my favorite reads so far this year.

This was the exact kind of summer YA horror I was looking for. It grabbed me right away and I read it in nearly one sitting. One of the strongest points of the story for me was how strong the narrative voice. Told in the first person by Taylor, the main character, it had such a distinctive voice that not only felt like a real teenager but like she was a real person in general and I was right beside her. I was fascinated by how the author included real points of history in the story, as well as the authors note that went more into depth on this harrowing and horrifying bit of history I had not heard of before.

Fantastic 10/10
If you want a fast-paced horror/thriller book, this is the one. I was hooked from the beginning
I read a lot of horror and thriller books, and Camp Lanier is my favourite!
The author's imagination is incredible! Some parts of this book are based on actual events which the author explains.
This book has you rooting for the characters. You almost feel as though you’re in the book yourself! Not many authors can do this, but wow, I was jumping at some parts of the book, and believe me, I’m an avid horror fan and not many books have that effect on me; this book takes you on a ride! If you love horror, ghosts, twists, rooting for your favourite characters and a book that will make you jump and want to be in the book, then this is for you. I’m already looking at the author’s other books; this book is the best I have read yet!

This was a deliciously creepy book that kept me on the edge of my seat! Taylor, a black girl on a basketball scholarship at a mostly white school, falls into trouble and gets sent to Camp Lanier to avoid jail. But this isn't a regular camp. Sinister events start happening, and Taylor experiences strange hallucinations (or are they?) that reveal the camp's dark past.

This book is shorter, but it delivers an intense and gripping story. The spooky atmosphere and eerie happenings make it a thrilling read. Taylor's realness and snark add humor to the dark storyline, and I found myself chuckling at times despite the very real danger.

What makes this book even more interesting is that the lore behind the camp's town is based on a true story. I love books that teach me something new without feeling like a lesson, and this one did just that. It’s entertaining but also touches on deep issues like systemic racism, showing how it still exists in modern society.

Overall, this was is a fun and thought-provoking read. It’s perfect for a Summerween read if you’re looking for something spooky with a lot of heart.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.