This was such a an interesting premise. I found myself sinking lower in my chair in anticipation of what was around the next corner.

2 stars, YA for YA.

Billed as “Rear Window” meets “The Ring.” Uh huh.

Teresa is agoraphobic after a car accident that killed her best friend and her world is shrinking. First she could only be on her family’s property, then only in the house. Now she’s limited to her room. So she never leaves her own bedroom and nothing ever happens to her so there’s no story here and we can all go do something else, like go watch that “Seinfeld” where they go to India for a wedding and it’s told in reverse. That’s a good one.

Or so it would have been back in my day (imagine this said in the cracked voice of the old crone that I suppose I now am) when we had to internet. And no web cams. And you didn’t have relationships with people you didn’t actually know. But the world spins on, and Teresa has all kinds of contact with the outside world through the people she has met online.

O e night that world goes horribly wrong when she sees and records a shadow on her favorite personality’s online stream (it’s worth noting that Teresa isn’t talking to friends from school or anything. She watches “personalities” who monetize their content and she’s hoping against hope to be able to do the same one day, but she’s not having tons of luck with that. So, yes, she wants to be an “influencer,” one of the truly abhorrent things about the internet.).

But I digress. This personality’s personality (ha!) starts to change. And then he dies. Online. In front of thousands. What has Teresa recorded and what is happening?

So, this isn’t a copy of “The Ring” or “Rear Window,” and it’s pretty disturbing to think about teenage kids doing any of this. At the same time I can see this totally creeping out 12 year olds who I am assuming would be the target audience. Oh, and all the stuff about West Virginia’s quiet zone is totally true. I don’t even think residents can have garage door openers there. The observatory is really cool and worth visiting if you are ever nearby.

A nice, easy read with a good dash of spooky for flavor! I fall over myself getting my hands on epistolary-type novels and this was no exception. Overall, it reminded me of a YA retelling of The Ring.

For those who like thrillers and/or ghost stories, with the pitfalls of modern tech thrown in, this one should be an easy buy.

A ghost story meets Creepypasta in the modern world of streaming.
Teresa hasn't been able to leave her house since the car accident that killed her best friend left her with a debilitating panic disorder. When Teresa turns to streaming for a social outlet, she finds herself falling quickly from a tenuous fame into a much darker world than she could ever imagine.

This book was a very FUN kind of spooky, while also not shying away from some particularly dark subjects. I thought they were handled generally well. The panic disorder was very well done, in my opinion, as someone who also has a panic disorder. I also loved the variety of LGBT+ rep!
I am a big Twitch watcher and a lover of Creepypastas and ARGs (Alternate Reality Games) so this was just up my alley. I thought the formatting was excellently done, really highlight the multimedia context of messaging today through multiple apps and on video sites.

I would definitely recommend this to other tech and horror lovers!

This was a really awesome spooky YA horror story. The online aspect was very chilling and it was creepy. Good if you love creepy ghost stories! A quick, easy read. Thanks Netgalley for an ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

3.5 out 5.

I loved the epistolary (text messages, server messages, video transcripts) element of this book and I'm a sucker for whenever a book does this well.

For the first 60-65% of the book, I was in it. I was following along and having fun. After that, it dropped for me. Ultimately, I don't think the real stalker was set up well enough since I thought it was going to be a red herring for the longest time (admittedly, even when it was being explained that this is the stalker person). The epilogue (since the book is 22 chapters plus an epilogue) felt sort of handwavey and I wished there had been more to it.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Was it a lot of fun? Yes. Did I have to throw out even more suspension of disbelief even though I had already thrown out a lot? Yes.

This book Is basically about a ghost that possesses people while they are streaming on the computer. The main character has some past trauma, so she has very bad anxiety. The way her anxiety was written in the book she was giving me anxiety ugh lol. She is a paranoid Polly. There is one major moment of gore in the book. Mainly a thriller book not a horror one. The story was a decent story. If you like a crazy ghost story, give it a try.

Thank you, Netgalley for this copy!

My heart went out to the MC for her tragic loss that spiraled her into living a life as a shut-in to her own bedroom.
Her only friends were online and it's during a streaming session that she sees what looks like a murder.

It got weirder from there - is it a stalker? Is it a spirit? Is it a hoax?

The writing was easy to read but I wasn't a huge fan of so much of the book being written in "online forums/chat messaging" type and it was often repetitive.

All in all I had an okay time.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc for this!

deadstream follows our main character, an online streamer who has to try and solve the mystery of some creepy stuff going on in other people's streams before they get caught up in it themselves.

this was a solid read. i loved the pacing up until the end and i think it used mixed media elements very well. it definitely built up a feeling of dread and tension in the beginning (i personally am terrified of anything found footage esque so this was definitely scary for me, but not overly so).

the thing that ultimately disappointed me was the ending. it requires a certain suspension of disbelief i just couldn't bring up myself, and it all felt a little too campy in the end and the tone didn't really match with the rest of the book for me.

While at times I had to remind myself that it’s YA (and how old I am?) it was a very gripping fast paced book! As someone who loved The Ring I was drawn to what felt like a new age version. It did not disappoint! I also love the mixed media. It’s a nice quick fun and entertaining read!

*Deadstream* by Mar Romasco-Moore is a fascinating mix of psychological tension and supernatural horror, with a eerily relevant storyline in our increasingly digital world. It’s an intriguing tale of isolation, fear, and finding strength in the face of unimaginable terror.

Teresa’s journey is both relatable and haunting. After the trauma of a car accident and the loss of her best friend, her struggle with agoraphobia is portrayed with sensitivity and depth. Her retreat into the world of streaming feels so authentic, capturing both the comfort and the disconnect of online life. When the mysterious shadowy figure threatens her safe haven, the tension ramps up, blending psychological and supernatural elements in a way that kept me on edge.

What I appreciated most was the way the story pushes Teresa to face her fears. The entity’s unsettling presence and the chilling command to “open the door” create a sense of urgency that makes her transformation feel earned and compelling. The book doesn’t just deliver scares—it also offers a story of personal growth and resilience, which adds a surprising layer of warmth to the narrative.

The pacing is solid, and the mystery of the shadowy figure kept me guessing. While some parts felt a little predictable, the concept and Teresa’s emotional arc were strong enough to hold my attention. The digital horror element felt fresh and creative, and the commentary on the intersection of technology and isolation made it all the more thought-provoking.

If you’re into horror with a psychological twist and a strong emotional core, *Deadstream* is worth a read. It’s creepy, inventive, and surprisingly heartfelt, making it a unique addition to the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

This was a quick read with an interesting premise and a satisfying resolution. There are some valuable discussions about streaming culture, how things posted online can grow and consume someone, grief and trauma, identity and growth. A solid scary read for a middle grade/YA audience.

This book captivated me from start to finish, offering an insightful and compelling portrayal of online culture and live-streaming communities. The narrative was engaging throughout, and the ending delivered a well-executed and unexpected twist that left a lasting impression.

Honestly I didn’t go into this book with very high expectations based on the summary, but I actually really enjoyed it. It was addictive and I finished it within a day. The beginning chapters were extremely gripping, although it started to lose be a bit towards the end. Can’t say I really enjoyed the ending too much, but it was alright.

If you’re looking for a quick YA horror read, this is definitely your book.

There was an attempt at a bit of depth and reminding us how we all use our devices too much, but it didn’t really hit much.

And the subplot is LGBT inclusive, although the romance seemed a biiiit out of place when it showed up, as the characters took a break from an intense life or death moment to… realize their feelings and get back to saving the world the next day.

But those points aside, it was an entertaining read and rather well written, and switching viewpoints between watching streams, reading chats, and Teresa’s POV worked rather well in my opinion.

The whole book took place over the course of just a couple of days (although I lost track of how long it had been at times).
I’d definitely recommend this book as a way to get out of a reading slump due to its fast paced nature.

This really does have potential, and it kept me fairly entertained. However, I felt like it was lacking an emotion aspect. Teresa certainly showed signs of trauma but it didn't feel fully fledged out. And the addition of gender confusion felt half-done and not talked about enough for me to have found it to be an important part of the plot if it was meant to be. I thought it was a really cool take on modern technology and how it can affect us, paranormally or not. I just think it could be fleshed out a little better!

This was exciting and different!
Teresa survived a car accident that unfortunately killed her best friend, she is experiencing survivor's guilt on surviving the accident that killed her friend. That survivor's guilt has caused anxiety and made it so bad that she could not leave her home and most of the time her room. However, she enjoys streaming and has made friends over the internet with whom she enjoys watching other streams.
One night while watching a stream the streamer said there was something weird going on with the door and hallway and then they saw a shadow in the stream and the stream went dead. Many assume it is play-acting or something else Teresa is not quite convinced and then that streamer starts streaming again but he is acting very odd and she decides to investigate. Once she does she knows something is wrong while trying to ask her followers to help the streamer she releases the streamer's address and ultimately gets banned from streaming because she broke the rules. Feeling stuck she watches as the sinister events unfold and then the sinister history of everything that was going on! Teresa has to overcome her fears to help her new friends and to help shut down the spooky shadow that is now going after other people!
Originally I thought that this story was not going to be something I'd enjoy but this is a new level of horror with the spooky aspect! I loved it and this is definitely one that you are not going to want to miss!
Thank you Penguin Group Viking books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one! A new fear has now been unlocked!

Over all 3.5 stars. I am a big fan of horror and this was a great try. I think there are lots of potential here but would have loved to see more.

This was good. I can definitely can see a teenager really liking this story. Although it was a bit juvenile for me, I enjoyed the premise of this story.
I will definitely be recommending this to my teenagers

Tried but couldn’t get into this one. I think it’s more because I’m not invested in the streamer realm. It was kind of repetitive in certain areas as well.

YA horror really is a hit or miss, but this definitely hit all the right notes and enjoyable for all ages. I really enjoyed the pace, suspense and twists of this read that gave so much in fewer pages than anticipated. This book did a great job of portraying online use, the danger that can be imposed on us with over use and made the reader subconsciously start to think of the internet in a new way. I highly recommend this YA thriller for anyone who loves a fast, twisting story with a solid underlying theme that is relatable for all generations.