This book is a fun romp through a horror story. Many of the characters are unlikable, which is fine because you’ll root for them to be killed. I think I was just expecting something different but I’m not sure what.

Holy cow for characters. I had to make a list and write small descriptions to just keep everybody straight. The story line was completely bizarre and random. I’m a huge horror fan but this one was a little to much of a fantasy.

This book was the perfect mix of horror, mystery, and thriller all in one. I thought the characters were really thought and the story just flowed. I couldn't put this down and was able to get this done in a day.

Well, this book was a lot of things! It was entertaining, captivating with its fast paced storyline, really disturbing at some points (in a scary good way), but the real horror-part lacked a bit for me. Maybe it was the pacing, I didn't really had the time to immerse in the haunted house 'mindset', if you know what I mean.

So we have a dead author and 7 people who are invited to the will reading. Later on it becomes clear that everyone wronged him in some way and this entire set-up is a kind of punishment for them all (no more spoilers I promise). And here comes one of my most beloved tropes, deadly trials! It was clever, how all the participants had to face their past, I enjoyed reading their reactions and inner thoughts. The multi POV was phenomenal for this! The most chilling part for me was the flashbacks, when we get to know the unfiltered stories of the 7 others crossing Mr. Queen.
Personally I liked that the house was creative with its punishments, I've read reviews saying it was odd at times but it was OK for me.
Melanie's part in the story didn't entirely sit well for me, especially her last scenes in the mansion (again, I don't want to spoil anything). I guess I understand what happened and understand her reasons, but also.... I don't think all of her actions were legitimate. Hence the 4 stars.

Overall, it was an entertaining read and one you can easily binge through! Thanks for the ARC opportunity to the publisher and author!

Creepy home where people are trapped? Sign me up. This hooked me right from the start. It's crazy how much you think about this book after you read it. Absolutely crazy. Thank you Netgalley and Mallory for the ARC.

I didn’t love the characters and I ended up fairly confused. Felt like I missed something. Gory enough too I can’t see wanting to reread it or recommend to a fellow lover of thrillers maybe this is more horror judging by name which is not my go to genre

Just fantastic! Horror, thriller, supernatural, all rolled into one amazing book! Fantastic plotline, amazing setting (super creepy) and loved the ending! This one was a 5 star read, for sure! Loved it!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This was overall an enjoyable horror story with thrilling parts. There was some gruesome scenes that make your jaw drop but I loved those parts. I just couldn't connect with any characters and parts of it seemed so far fetched. An easy read that will keep you hooked.

This was so much fun, I read it in one sitting!

Fast paced and girls you right from the start

It combines everything you love about mystery, horror and thrillers and blends it in to one fantastic, gripping story!

Highly recommend this

Thanks again to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this arc

While it took me several days to read this book, this is one of those books that could easily be read in one sitting.

The plot is very fast paced, and the story doesn’t really lag at any moments at all. And the premise is super fun: a bunch of horror authors are invited to the will reading of another big horror author. Only, they’re not really attending a will reading, but instead find themselves trapped in a horror story of their own. Riveting.

I strongly disliked all of the characters, which was absolutely the author’s goal. These are not good people, no matter how they try to spin the story. They lie, they manipulate, they do everything in the worst possible way, and yet you still find yourself rooting for at least some of them to make it out alive.

The story itself is written in third person, alternating between the thoughts of seven characters. Interspersed throughout the chapters are also short stories that hold crucial elements to the plot. I was obsessed with the way this story was laid out, and right when I thought I knew everything, I was completely wrong.

There’s a secondary mystery sprinkled throughout the book: why is each character involved in the story, especially one who seems to do no wrong. You’re in for a treat if you think everything is as it seems.

I’m looking forward to seeing reactions to this book after its official publication. Also, a horror book with sprayed edges? Yum.

Thank you very much to Poisoned Pen Press, Mallory Arnold, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I had a really good time. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received it.

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is an excellent thrilling story. It is like reading a combination of Agatha Christie's And There Were None combined with Clue, Saw, and House on Haunted Hill. It combines mystery with horror with supernatural elements to make a fantastic story with twists you don't expect. I absolutely loved everything about this story. The characters are all duplicitous, you don't trust any of them at face value which makes for a very suspenseful story. I hope Mallory Arnold keeps writing because I will buy all her books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy.

Enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It was a little by the numbers at times and cheesy but in a way that I had fun with it. Terrible characters but in the way that they’re meant to be terrible people so you enjoy seeing their stories progress. Only complaint is the ending felt a bit rushed and thrown together, would have liked it to be a bit stronger.

Arc Review: A group of writers are invited to infamous horror king Mortimer Queen’s house of horrors for a reading of his will. The sole survivor gets everything. This story was written so well and had me hooked from the very beginning!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The plot and characters were interesting. I liked how the locked rooms were executed.
Some of the writing was repetitive, particularly certain words and phrases. For example, within the first seven chapters there were many mentions of spines and backbones.
I guessed the ending fairly early. I think the clues were a little too obvious too soon.

This is a horror novel disguised as a mystery in the best way!

Six horror novelists and one ordinary girl must play a game to escape the legendary author Mortimer Queen's hungry manor alive. When they discover they are not meant to be his heirs but instead his victims, only one thing is certain: whoever survives will have a story to tell.

This novel keeps its readers guessing in the best way. It tells versions of events, and doesn't give away which versions can be believed until the final moment. The perspective shifts to each character, and even then it manages not to give away the truth! Fans of game based horror like "Ready or Not" or "Saw" will relish this well-plotted tale.

Very meta take on the genre. The switching perspectives made for a great look into every character's mind, and still had me doubting my conclusions at every turn. I kept flip flopping on who I thought was lying or telling the truth, right up until the final reveal, it was wonderful. The way that everyone said Mortimore exaggerated the truth threw everything he said and did into doubt until the very end because he had a grudge against everyone, and everyone had a grudge against him, and nobody could be trusted to tell the truth.
My only complaint is that the apparently people-eating house was never explored in more depth: why could Mortimore Queen devise these challenges and riddles and how the house lays out the rooms, in life or beyond the grave? What made it like this in the first place? What did his ancestors do to feed the house? How did Mortimore feed the house before his death? Why is Gia there but not Mortimore? WHAT is Gia? But honestly, not having the answers to these questions didn't detract from the experience at all and I still thoroughly enjoyed the whole book.

Imagine being invited to a will reading for a famous horror author you barely knew—would you go? That’s exactly how this story begins, with Melanie Brown deciding to attend the will reading for Mortimer Queen, a well-known horror writer. Upon arriving at his mansion, she discovers she’s not alone: six other horror authors have also received identical, mysterious invitations with no additional details. Little does Melanie know, this will be no ordinary will reading.

This book was a thrilling read. It took me a little while to get a handle on the various characters, and the timeline jumps a bit, but once the suspense picked up, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. While I did predict a part of the plot early on, I feared it would dampen my enjoyment (I typically appreciate unpredictability in thrillers), it ended up not affecting my overall experience. The story had enough depth to keep me fully engaged until the very end.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping mystery/thriller with a twist of revenge.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who enjoys horror and mystery, I was excited to dive into Mallory Arnold’s debut novel, How to Survive a Horror Story. The premise immediately grabbed my attention: seven authors are invited to a secluded manor, each hiding secrets tied to the late horror legend Mortimer Queen. What starts as an exciting weekend to potentially claim a share of Queen’s fortune quickly turns into a deadly game, with the manor itself seeming to punish anyone who fails its challenges.

At first, Arnold’s use of multiple points of view felt a little disorienting, but as the story progressed, I began to appreciate how it allowed for a deeper look into each character’s motivations and dark pasts. The atmosphere of the manor was eerie and suspenseful, and the way the characters’ backstories connected to the central mystery kept me hooked throughout.

Although the plot followed some familiar horror tropes, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The mix of suspense, dark humor, and supernatural elements brought a fresh spin to the genre. While the ending was somewhat predictable, it still felt satisfying and wrapped up the web of secrets and twists nicely.

Overall, How to Survive a Horror Story is a strong debut that brings a unique twist to classic horror themes. Arnold does an excellent job blending suspense with character-driven storytelling, making it a fun and engaging read. I’m looking forward to seeing what she writes next.

Without question, Mallory Arnold will be remembered as one of the best authors of all time! I was completely blown away by her first book. It still stupefies me to think it was her first ever publication. I am immensely proud of her accomplishment, and I have no doubt that many people share my sentiments. Given how bright and brilliant she is, I truly wish I had the opportunity to join her book reader club or reading squad. I'm hoping she's currently working on yet another masterpiece! I sincerely appreciate Poisoned Pen Press's support in enabling her to fulfill her ambition. Publishing houses like yourself make it possible for readers like me to read a terrifying new narrative twist, and I am eternally grateful. I'm happy to report that, in contrast to my normal ability to predict narrative twists and know how the book would end before the halfway point, I was completely unaware of the story's direction this time. I just grinned widely and enjoyed the ride. An incredible, wonderful, scared-witless, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I appreciate you making such a masterpiece for future generations, Mallory.