How to Survive a Horror Story was a fun horror book. It has one of my favorite tropes of people being locked in a mansion with no way out. It's funny, but also has moments that are scary. I would recommend to people looking for a horror book with a healthy dose of humor in it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of How to Survive a Horror Story.

This was an interesting concept! I was drawn in by the spooky setting and the motley cast of characters, but I quickly tired as the story really dragged on through the middle. The writing is overly descriptive in a way that does not add to the story and the book would benefit from being 50-100 pages shorter. I also really struggled to understand what genre this was supposed to fall into. It isn't scary enough to be horror, it is too gory to be a cozy mystery, and it isn't twisty enough to be a thriller. Overall, it just felt like it still needs a lot of work.

2.5 stars

This was like… a deranged Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Except instead of spoiled, sugar addicted kids, it had greedy, selfish adults with dark secrets. Instead of Oompa Loompas, we get Gia.

After the death of famous horror author Mortimer Queen, seven strangers are invited to his manor for the reading of his will. Though they all have reasons to be confused or suspicious about the invite, greed and curiosity draws them in. What follows is a twisted game in which they must solve puzzles and face their past misdeeds - or fall victim to the manor itself.

I thought this was a unique and intriguing concept, and the mystery of the weird, murderous house grabbed my interest right away. However, though both the beginning and the end had my undivided attention, the middle dragged a lot, and I had a really hard time convincing myself to pick this book back up each time. It takes until around the 25% mark to really introduce the conflict, and once it did, I found everything a bit silly and ridiculous. This is not my usual genre, so I’m definitely not an expert, but I think this reads more like a dark comedy than a horror or thriller. If it leaned into that a bit more, I think I would have enjoyed it more.

At the beginning of the story, the characters have a discussion about what makes a horror story great - the journey, the characters, or the gory deaths. In this book, I thought the journey was the best part. Having the characters move through the house solving puzzles that force them to reflect on their past mistakes was such a cool concept. However, the more I read, the more I realized I didn’t actually care about any of them. It switched back and forth between their point of views, and I kept getting stuck when certain characters came up because I just wasn’t interested. Some of them were truly unlikable, while others just didn’t intrigue me. When the “gory deaths” occurred, only a few of them actually packed a punch.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t a good fit for me. However, it is a quick and easy read, and if you enjoy locked door mysteries, horror (dark comedy?), and sort of weird, sort of gross stories about vengeance and revenge, this might be for you!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for my honest review! Out July 8th.

It started out so well and strong and then suddenly everything started getting ridiculous. As the book progressed, my frustration grew and pushing through just became a chore.
I think the main issue was the author's indecisiveness about the genre. She was stuck at every corner trying to choose between horror and thriller, she tried mixing both genres together, but I think it came out lame and kind of vague.
The book didn't deliver for either genre, and leaving aside the structure and plot line, the characters were all pretty lame. Also, the fact that there was one character who actually didn't deserve to be there was just wild for me.
I think the idea was great as a concept, but the execution was extremely weak.
It was a miss for me.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Darkly funny and surprisingly heartfelt, this book turns fear into fuel with sharp writing and relatable anxiety. It’s part self-help, part satire, and totally original. A great read if you’ve ever laughed nervously through a panic attack.

How to Survive a Horror Story is a wild ride. I enjoyed the story from start to finish. There are some life lessons hidden in this book!

I recommend this novel to all readers who love mysteries, drama, and horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC!

A beautiful debut and a wonderful novel to start getting into horror. The humor intertwined in the novel softens the blows of dread and horror throughout, making it a palatable meal, instead of a plate to choke down. I love the premise of a dark entity drawing from people that.... write dark entities. I could not recommend this enough, and while it originally wasn't on my preorder list, it was immediately added.

Rate this book 4.5 out of 5
This was such a great read! I’ve never read horror before, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but How to Survive a Horror Story completely surprised me—in the best way. It wasn’t your typical horror story full of just scares and gore. Instead, it had this unique blend of mystery, suspense, and a touch of dark humor that kept me turning the pages.

What really hooked me was the mystery behind why all the characters were in the house. I kept trying to figure it out right alongside them, and the tension just built in such a compelling way. I found myself constantly wondering what the ending was going to be, and I genuinely didn’t see it coming.

If you're someone who hasn't read horror before (like me), this is a fantastic place to start. Highly recommend!

This was definitely an original plot! It keeps you engrossed the whole way through. The characters are not likeable, per se, but they aren’t supposed to be, so don’t let that deter you from getting into the story. The payoff at the end is well worth it. That said, it’s also pretty gross with its vivid horror imagery--if you’re into that stuff (as I am), this will be a book you definitely want to read.

This one had a cool premise, but it didn’t really land for me. The idea of a spooky game in a haunted manor had potential, but the execution felt kind of clunky. The pacing was uneven, the characters didn’t stand out much, and the scares were more quirky than creepy.

It wasn’t a total miss—there were some fun moments and clever lines—but overall, it just didn’t hook me the way I hoped. I wanted more tension, more atmosphere, and more depth. If you’re really into locked-room mysteries with a horror twist, it might work for you, but it just wasn’t my thing.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Seven authors have been invited to the home of Mortimer Queen, a legendary horror author, to hear his last will and testament. Each of them has a history with the author that makes them question why he would even leave them in the will. But how can they resist. They are soon to discover that they are actually there to play a game. Play if you want to survive.

This was a unique twist on the locked room trope. I enjoyed the way it all played out and the short stories thrown in. I thought I knew how it would end but I was wrong and am not disappointed. I could tell from the first page it would be good and was immediately hooked.

Release Date: 8 July 2025

How do you survive a horror story? If you’re inside Queen Manor… the odds aren’t in your favour.

Mallory Arnold’s debut is an absolute thrill—darkly funny, full of meta-horror charm, and dripping in dread. A group of writers is lured to a will reading that quickly turns into something far more sinister. The challenge? Solve riddles and escape Queen Manor, or be devoured by it. Literally.

This novel plays gleefully with classic horror tropes: the haunted house 👻, the locked-room setup 🔐, the group of strangers with secrets 🕵️‍♂️, even the cursed legacy 🩸. Told through multiple POVs, it delivers both pace and personality, while inviting readers to consider the price of fame, ambition, and what stories we’re willing to tell—or bury.

I really enjoyed this one. The concept had me hooked from the beginning, and once I suspended my disbelief and just went along for the ride 🎢, I was completely invested. The shifting viewpoints added depth, and the tone struck a clever balance between satire and suspense. It’s sharp, self-aware, and at times even heartfelt.

There’s affection and disdain woven through every character—and that’s part of the fun. You’re not always sure who to root for, but you do want to see who (if anyone) makes it out alive 🪦.

This is a strong debut and a must-read for fans of smart, trope-savvy horror with a wickedly literary edge ✍️. Think Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone meets The Fall of the House of Usher—with teeth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to be an advanced reader for this novel. I leave this review voluntarily.

While this books synopsis definitely caught my attention I also knew it might not be the right pick for me (just because I prefer the more dark, twisted, psychological thrillers).
Either way I persevered and would round this one up to a 3,5 star read. If you like a bit of murder mystery, creepy manor and witty characters this might be the perfect pick for you. The story itself was original and well written and enjoyable but I personally felt no real connection to the characters which for me is a big aspect of what keeps me interested.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HORROR STORY by Mallory Arnold. A fun, fast-paced horror story involving a bunch of horror authors as they attend a “will reading” for another famous author within their genre.

A creepy manor, puzzles, testing of loyalties, and dark secrets that are forced to the surface. It’s that… or no way out.

This book was a BLAST to read! It kept me engaged and curious the entire way through!

Such a fun read! The summary was a quick grab for me that I was immediately locked in and interested. Reminds me of "Inception" where you question reality and have the thought of "wait what's true? what actually happened?". Definitely a fun read once it's published this summer!

Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC!

I liked the darkness of it and the questionable reality--how did we know which story was true? Or were they all made up? That's what kept me locked in on this one. I loved the gray-ness of it!

Haunted House, Escape Room and possible Unreliable Narrators, this is a tropey horror book of fun!

Honestly this book does have everything a horror fan could want- gruesome deaths, overdone characters ( in a good fun way ok), scenes that require you to ignore logic and scary women.

7 horror writers locked in a house trying to escape the horrors committed in their real lives. Sounds convoluted but it’s really just a fun romp through the best parts of what makes horror fun.

3.75 stars - worth the pick up when it comes out!

Welcome to Queen Manor, where the inheritance isn't measured in dollars, but in blood. Mallory Arnold's How to Survive a Horror Story throws a group of writers into a deadly game, and you're invited to watch every pulse-pounding, terrifying moment.

Forget your typical will reading. When these authors gather at the estate of the legendary Mortimer Queen, they expect a windfall. Instead, they're trapped in a gothic nightmare, forced to solve riddles to survive the house itself. And Queen Manor? It's not just old; it's hungry, built on a dark legacy that demands a terrifying toll.

Arnold masterfully blends the locked-room tension of a classic whodunit with the chilling atmosphere of a haunted house tale. Think Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone meets The Fall of the House of Usher, and you're halfway there. This is a bright, biting, and relentlessly thrilling ride that will have you on the edge of your seat, contemplating the very nature of horror and the dark origins of its greatest stories.

How to Survive a Horror Story is a must-read for anyone who loves a clever, creepy, and utterly captivating thrill-ride. Prepare to enter Queen Manor... if you dare.

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a brilliantly original debut that blends horror, mystery, and dark humor. Set in a creepy manor where writers must solve deadly riddles or be swallowed by the house, the story is gripping from start to finish. Arnold’s sharp writing, eerie atmosphere, and twisty plot make this a standout. It’s clever, creepy, and impossible to put down—a must-read for horror fans.

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the concept of a haunted house and making horror writers try and survive each grueling room.
Each character was so unique while playing into horror tropes. And I loved that I was never quite sure who was telling the truth.
A story perfect for anyone who loves a gory revenge story that will keep you on your toes.