To be honest, I don't love a thriller that ends with the main character being the killer after all. I don't know why- especially for YA, I prefer a story that ends with a new group of friends and traumatized teens (don't read into that)- but a story starting with "how is she back? I killed her!" and the ending being "she did TRY to kill her but it didn't work" just doesn't feel satisfying to me. I was hoping the whole time I was wrong and her dad would've been a bad guy, but NAN wasn't a bad guy, but it just didn't end up that way. It's not your fault! The story was done well and the characters felt real and realized, I just didn't enjoy the ending because of my own personal taste. I think I might have enjoyed it more on audiobook, which is how I listened to AGGGTM which this was comped too, but overall it was just a fine book for me. But it is a GORGEOUS cover and I do look forward to reading more from Rory!

"Kill Creatures" by Rory Power is an atmospheric YA thriller that pulls readers into the dark and haunting world of Saltcedar Canyon. The story follows Nan, who has spent a year mourning her three 'best friends' who mysteriously disappeared. On the anniversary of their loss, a memorial vigil turns shocking when one of the missing girls reappears alive. But for Nan, this isn’t a miracle—she knows they were dead because she’s the one who killed them.

The premise is gripping, and the stunning cover captures the eerie tone of the book perfectly. The fast-paced narrative is packed with tense moments that keep readers flipping pages, though the plot's resolution feels predictable given the dynamics between Nan, Luce, Edie, and Jane. Their relationships are layered with jealousy and resentment, which are explored but don’t leave a lasting impression.

Power’s writing is solid, creating an unsettling atmosphere that underscores the themes of violence, secrets, and revenge. While it’s not groundbreaking in the thriller genre, it’s a compelling introduction for readers looking to dip their toes into darker, twisty narratives.

Overall, "Kill Creatures" delivers a solid, suspenseful read about flawed characters and their entangled, toxic relationships. While not wholly original, based on reviews, it’s a quick, engaging book that fans of "A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder" and "Gone Girl" will appreciate.

An absolutely phenomenal book that took me on the YA thriller read of my life. Could not put it down! Highly recommend for YA book groups. WIll be purchasing for libraries.

OMG this is the first book I have read by Rory and it will not be the last. I freaking loved this book. It had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Then when I would read on I was lie oh no because just when I thought the story was going one way it would veer off to the other side and I did not see that coming.

Nan, Luce, Jane and Edie are having a wonderful summer when things go wrong and all four girls go up to Devil's Trail and only one of them returns. Nan is the only one who comes back from that trip. The other three parents are searching for their child when the boats and hikers go out in search of them. But they find nothing until the year anniversary comes and the town is holding a vigil for the three missing girls.

Then their is commotion on the water and Nan has no idea what is going on. Then she hears from her mother that one of the girls has been found. Nan starts to freak out because the dead don't come back to life but one of the girls does and she has a story to tell and Nan is freaking out because she knows the truth and if it gets out it could be bad for Nan and her family.

Thank you Net-galley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I was excited to see a new title by Rory Power, as I have enjoyed their past two releases. This book was new and different, as it didn't have any supernatural or speculative aspects to the plot. I enjoyed the darkness and the fact that there was no distinct "good character' to root for. That being said I think all of the characters lacked a certain depth necessary to writing morally grey/dark characters, they all seemed a bit like a characature or an idea instead of someone real.

While it fell a bit flat I enjoyed the originality of the concept and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

This was FUN! A quick read with a mystery and tension that kept me glued to my Kindle, eager to find out what exactly happened the day Nan killed her best friends - and now Nan was going to deal with one of said dead best friends being alive. The ending was twisted and satisfying at the same time. Also? That cover is just stunning! Absolutely will be buying a physical copy when it releases.

I really liked this! It's quick, suspenseful, emotional, and it's impressive how much Power made me care in such a relatively short book. I especially enjoyed the aspects of this that are reminiscent of classic teen horror like "I Know What You Did Last Summer," or even "Pretty Little Liars." But my favorite part was the unreliable narrator aspect and Power's playing with perspective; I think the reason I became so invested is because this book plays into a very real fear that you never know how someone *actually* feels about you. What if someone you thought was your best friend actually only tolerated you? I think my only real complaint is that I wish there was more of this. I would've liked to just sit in this story and with these characters, but obviously the suspenseful nature is helped by the fast pace and mysterious circumstances.

This was such a great read, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and enjoyed going through this journey. The characters were interesting and worked with this story going on. Rory Power has a strong writing style and am excited to read more in this world.

This book is creepy. I do not read a lot of horror books, but this one had me captured from the get.

Can you imagine having memorials and then the person just shows up!

The plotline nmoves quickly, but I love that! I do not need a million details as my imagination felt totaly engrossed. The end of the story is kind of not what I expected, so extra points for making me say 'wow'.

Kill Creatures is a well-written YA thriller about the way memory is/can be a variable as we are. The 'Amy Dunne inspired this' by the author was what made me want to read this, but if you're looking for a YA Gone Girl, this is not quite it. Still a solid look at unreliable narrators, etc.

#KillCreatures by #RoryPower is a tightly packed suspenseful thriller. It seems so many mysteries are full of unnecessary pages, but this book is start-to-finish the details the reader needs, which makes it a great read for any teen reader. The story opens with Nan attending a memorial service for her three friends who disappeared and were assumed dead the previous year. Nan says she doesn't remember what happened, but she does because she's the one who killed them (No spoilers; it's in the Amazon description!) When one of the girls reappears a year later, the details start to unravel. Told in alternating "Now" and "Then" chapters, the reader starts to piece together the pictures of how that night unfolded and the elements of jealous and revenge that led to that moment. This is a definite purchase for any school library where teens like thrillers. Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for this ARC.

Twelve months ago, Nan's three best friends went missing in the canyon. Despite the community's best efforts, the girls were never found, leaving everyone to assume the worst: Luce, Edie, and Jane were dead. Nan knows this to be true better than anyone. She is, after all, the one who killed them.

On the day the girls' families hold a vigil in their honor, the impossible happens: Luce is found. Alive. The story alternates between two timelines, weaving together the days leading up to that fateful night a year prior and the aftermath of Luce's return.

When I say I could not put this book down, y'all... It's fast-paced, tense, and twisty from start to finish, and the epilogue had me absolutely floored. It's really exciting when a thriller manages to truly catch me off guard, and Kill Creatures did just that. Nan was the perfect unreliable narrator, and it was hard not to root for her a little bit, even knowing from the beginning that she did something awful. Living in her head was a trip, and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

My biggest piece of advice when thinking about picking up this book: for one DO IT!! But really, go into this one blind as possible…

I adore this author… will read ANYTHING they write… So I knew I was going to read this no matter what is was about. I didn’t even bother reading the synopsis. Okay, enough fangirling…

We follow Nan as her little coastal town is preparing to honor the (possible) deaths of three of her best friends who went missing a year ago. She can confidently say they are dead and not missing because she is the one who killed them DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!!

This entire book had me life WTF and I loved every single second of it. You are kind of thrown into this story, truly not knowing what is going on… but as soon as the story starts to pick up, the intensity holds strong and doesn’t let up. It had me completely hooked!

I cannot recommend this book more. This book is for the odd ones. The ones who are picked last. The ones who feel left out. Read this if you like eerie small town vibes, weird friendship dynamics, unsettling vibes, or whodunnits…

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rory Power’s “Kill Creatures” is a tense, twisty thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. With its compelling mystery, chilling atmosphere, and deeply unreliable narrator, this YA book will keep you questioning everything until the very last twist. There are content warnings provided at the beginning as this book does involve some blood/gore. Unlike Power’s previous books, “Kill Creatures” is very straightforward but is still one of the most interesting books I’ve read from Power.

The story follows 17-year-old Nan, the sole survivor of a nightmarish trip to Devil’s Eye Canyon a year ago, when her three closest friends—Luce, Edie, and Jane—disappeared. But Nan holds a terrible secret: she knows what happened that night because she killed them. Or so she believes. The story alternates between two timelines—“Then,” where the friendships and events leading up to the tragedy unfold, and “Now,” as Nan’s carefully constructed version of events begins to unravel when Luce suddenly returns, alive and claiming to remember nothing.

Nan is an unreliable narrator in every sense of the word. Her fragmented perceptions of reality, obsessive attachment to her friends, and increasingly desperate attempts to conceal her secret create a psychological depth that is both fascinating and unsettling. As the story progresses, Power masterfully peels back layers of Nan’s perspective, revealing a shocking truth that completely reframes the narrative.

The book’s pacing is pitch-perfect, with short chapters that make it nearly impossible to put down. Power keeps you guessing with a blend of secrets, drama, and twists that grow increasingly wild. While the initial “twist” may seem straightforward, the story’s revelations become more intricate, culminating in an epilogue that delivers a final gut punch.

Thematically, “Kill Creatures” explores obsession, guilt, and the fragile nature of memory. Nan’s distorted view of her friendships—especially her role as the odd one out in the group—adds an emotional layer that resonates, even as her actions remain morally ambiguous. The LGBTQ+ representation, with Nan’s identity as a lesbian woven into her character, feels natural and significant without overshadowing the main plot.

For readers who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, “Kill Creatures” is a must-read. It balances gripping suspense with nuanced character development, all wrapped in Power’s sharp, atmospheric prose. Whether you’re a longtime fan of her work or discovering her for the first time, this book is a thrilling, shocking ride that you won’t forget. Highly recommended for fans of dark, psychological YA mysteries!

Oh. My. LORD. This was such a rollercoaster. You flip between two timelines (before the accident and after it) and with an unreliable narrator, that twist was something I did NOT expect. WOW. 10/10, chefs kiss. This might be Ms. Power's best book so far. I read it in two sittings (not by my choice, I would have read it in one if work didn't get in the way) and I wish I could reread for the first time all over again. HIGHLY recommend to all of my thriller lovers!!! Be careful of who you call your friends!

I absolutely inhaled this because it is the exact kind of weird and deranged I love. It's about familial trauma, and about girls being horrible people. It's incredible.

Book:
KILL CREATURE by Rory Powers
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the Earc(Jun3)

Review:
5⭐
KILL CREATURES is a twisted story that follows Nan across two timelines. A year ago, her friends went missing, but she knows they're dead because she's the one who killed them. When one of her friends resurfaces, alive, Nan begins to wonder if that night happened---if the other girls will come back too.
KILL CREATURES basically read itself. From page one, I was hooked, reading it in just under day---that's how easily devourable this was. As the story progressed, with short chapters that I appreciated, I found myself questioning everything. What happened that night? Did it actually happen. I swear, I was on the edge-of-my-seat. With this book, there was never a need for a whodunit, because that was already solved, or was it???
This book delivered. Secrets, drama, and twists. Oh the twists. When the first was revealed, I was okay, this is crazy. But the twist kept twisting until there was all this stuff that blindsided me: repeatedly. Then came the epilogue and that revelation shocked me more than anything.
KILL CREATURES was everything I wanted and more. It was gripping and wild, twisty and unbelievable. 10/10 would recommend.

Wow, when I opened up this book I didn’t expect to fly through it in less than 6 hours. I just could not stop reading. It’s so fast paced and engaging that it’s impossible to put down.

This is a gripping, twisty young adult mystery that you’ll devour in one sitting! The plot is thoroughly intriguing, keeping you hooked from start to finish. Rory Power is a brilliant author, and her previous works, especially Wilder Girls, are also exceptional—ones I highly enjoyed and recommend to any thriller enthusiast!

The story revolves around 17-year-old Nan, who recently lost her three best friends. A year ago, she joined Luce, Edie, and Jane on a night boat tour that ended in Devil’s Eye Canyon. Nan was the only one who returned. No one knows what happened to the other three girls—except Nan. She knows because she killed them.

On the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, the residents of Saltcedar, including the families of the missing girls, gather for a vigil. But during the ceremony, something unexpected happens: Luce returns. Nan suspects the girl claiming to be Luce is an impostor because Nan is certain she killed her, smashing her head with a rock. Luce wasn’t breathing when Nan left her. But now, she’s alive and claims to remember nothing.

Could it be true? How did she survive the head trauma, and where has she been hiding for the past year? Why has she returned now? Is she planning revenge? Meanwhile, someone knows what Nan did. Someone has found the keepsakes Nan secretly took from the dead girls. But who? Nan must act quickly to protect her secret—but what if there are even darker truths waiting to be uncovered?

Overall, the twisty ending was masterfully executed. While I predicted a few elements, I didn’t see the full picture coming. It’s a short, fast-paced, surprising, and well-developed thriller with a fantastic ending. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking something gripping, smart, and quick to read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for providing this addictive YA thriller’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.