Okay... I guess it's just not my kind of book. I tend to really like thriller books but this one in particular was not what I expected.
One of my main problems is that it's too descriptive with things that aren't necessary. It's a thriller book, not a fantasy one in a made up world and so I don't think it's necessary to describe everything so much, I think at times that took me out of the reading quite a bit.
Mind you, I think it's pretty funny, especially for a thriller and it's a book that reads pretty fast. I think the idea, although it was nothing very new, was pretty good but the execution could have been better.
The characters, beyond the fact that each one was hiding things, seemed to me rather flat and in the end, instead of trying to escape from the mansion, they wasted time with nonsense and the ending leaves you with more questions than answers.

📖 Book Review 📖 Listen, I’m not rooting for chaos and mayhem to unfold after an untimely death in real life, but on paper: I am all in. Mortimer Queen has left quite the legacy and an assorted band of writers has gathered per his last will and testament. Told from multiple perspectives, the eccentricities of Mortimer Queen and each person’s relationship to the horror author unfold in the most delightfully delicious and dark manner. What starts as a quiet evening soon evolves into a game when the house comes alive with fear. Mallory Arnold flawlessly breathes an air of magic into her writing that flies off the page, creating an atmospheric read that envelops the reader. How to Survive a Horror Story is a perfectly paced, suspenseful, and absolutely thrilling ride!

I absolutely loved the sound of this book. Horror is one of my favourite genres so I was naturally drawn to the book.

The set up of the book were brilliant. It gave me a very Clue-meets-Saw vibe. The characters, although you didn't know their stories yet, you knew they were unlikable and certainly the way they were acting solidified your opinions early on. The characters had to solve clues to survive and move, each of the clues related to something that the characters had done to the author, and even thought it meant another character might die, they still did not want to admit their wrong-doings - great character flaw, I loved it.

However as the book moved it, the style became a little less polished and I felt some of the motives became less deserving e.g. Crystal - totally understood that one, but Buck seemed a little harsh in the end. But I guess that sums up the author up, he also came over as an incredibly unlikable character. That also made the overall reason for the whole thing a little out of character, to suddenly help someone, didn't seem like something he would do.

I think before release, the book needs another go through and some of the conversation and style needs to be tidied up towards the end.

I enjoyed the premise of this book. It was like a mix of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mexican gothic. I feel like this story is going to be stuck in my brain for awhile.

Great book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this one! Pitch black comedy meets horror. How To Survive A Horror Story has Clue-meets-Grady Hendrix vibes. A group of writers gather for the reading of a famous horror author’s will. They’ve all wronged the deceased in some way (or have they?) Now they must escape his house of horrors in order to survive. Mysteries. Lies. Unhinged antics. Carnivorous books.

How to Survive a Horror Story is about seven writers who are invited to a mysterious mansion that belonged to the famous horror author, Mortimer Queen, following his recent death. Each one of them is connected with the deceased in one way or another, and what they thought would be a simple will reading turns into a deadly game of survival.


The Good Stuff

The reason I initially picked out this book was because I thought the premise was interesting and up my street. All seven characters are quite different and unique, each with their own secrets and backstory that slowly unravel throughout the book. Their voices and thoughts are distinct enough for me to differentiate between them. One of the side characters, the woman working for Mortimer, was especially creepy, but I wished Arnold would have integrated her into the plot more as there was a lot of potential.

That being said, the author still managed to create a creepy atmosphere in the mansion that had me feeling suffocated and intrigued at the same time. I also enjoyed her writing style, and felt that it was an easy read.


The Not So Good Stuff

Don't get me wrong. I don't think characters have to be likeable for the book to be good, but I do think they have to be interesting at the very least. Their motivation needs to be compelling enough for me to care about their journey. None of the characters were interesting, and I didn't root for any of them. Even the one that was supposed to be 'likeable' was not very pleasant. In fact, she was quite contradictory. For instance, on one page, she wished someone would just die so she didn't have to listen to their gruesome cries anymore, and on the next she sincerely hoped they would get away. If the author intended for that character to have a dark side, I feel that it wasn't executed well.

On top of that, all the characters fell quite flat. It's difficult to pull off multiple POVs because you never get enough pages to let a character shine and for their motivation to show through So it was no surprise that I thought the characters seemed to be placed in certain scenarios for the convenience of the plot. For example, one character saw someone do something horrible to another character, but when they were alone with them, they didn't think to question the actions of the perpetrator, and they only conveniently remembered the moment when it suited the plot.

I wished I could say that I thought differently about the plot. Whilst the characters had the aforementioned flaws, I also found that the story itself lacked any depth. The riddles in each room became quite repetitive and predictable, and there were no real surprises awaiting the reader at the end. In addition, it was difficult for me to move past the plot holes. Wounds will suddenly disappear or move position from one chapter to the other, making me believe that the novel hasn't gone through a consistency read.




This review will be published on my blog and Goodreads two weeks before relase of the book.

www.theshameshelf.com

"How to Survive a Horror Story" by Mallory Arnold is a delightfully clever and witty guide that offers readers a unique perspective on the horror genre. This engaging book provides a comprehensive analysis of common horror tropes, from the "final girl" to the "creepy cabin in the woods."

While I enjoyed some parts of the book, it ultimately left me with mixed feelings. It has paranormal and spooky elements, I did not find it to be something that would keep me up at night or to be too gruesome to make me put it down and not finish. Good plot, interesting characters/dialogue. I would consider recommending it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Actual rating: 3,5 stars

The premise of How to Survive a Horror Story is fantastic, and while I enjoyed the novel, I’m still torn about its execution. The balance between horror and humour struggles a bit, as the two elements don’t always mesh well, despite some good attempts. It’s not quite the scary, spine-chilling experience I was hoping for, but it’s definitely a page-turner.

I wouldn’t, however, classify this as a true horror novel, as the gore and spookiness are pretty limited. It definitely felt more like a mystery, which wasn’t quite what I expected from the premise. That said, the novel kept me intrigued from beginning to end, and I was genuinely curious about how things would play out.

The characters, though somewhat exaggerated at times, were all well-developed, and the pacing was spot on, keeping the story moving along without dragging. The setting of the manor is an interesting one, though I found the riddles’ underlying theme predictable once it became clear. That predictability took away some of the suspense and mystery I was hoping for, but it didn’t completely spoil the fun.

Overall, while it may not have fully delivered on its horror promises, How to Survive a Horror Story is still an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

I honestly really liked it and liked the concept! Many of the situations were unique and kept my attention. I honestly read this one super quickly due to the fact that it was such an easy read. I never found myself bored. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher was because I was upset with the ending. I believe it was hypocritical of the characters and that frustrated me but the fact that it brought out that emotion tells me the book was well done. As a glass half full kind of girl myself it’s difficult to see and understand the opposing perspective. Overall, a great read!

Thank you for the ARC!

A group of 7 authors are invited to a mysterious manor for a will reading, all hoping for some of his fortune.

Horror isn't my typical genre but I did really like this book with mystery & thriller and the drama! Yes, I was here for it and the gothic vibes. The title and cover attracted me to it. It kept you on the edge of your seat despite being a little slow in some places. I liked that there were some characters we liked and some we definitely didn't, but it was definitely a great read and I liked the multiple POVs. Would recommend!

When renowned author dies several colleagues are mentioned in the will and brought to his mansion. Little do these other authors know it’s not to be handed a bunch of money. This is not your average will reading.

I read the story as an ARC. Therefore, I know there needs to be a little bit more tightening up before the book is actually published. Which makes me wonder, I’m not sure how this book is going to be marketed. As a serious horror story? Or as a horror story that is slightly ridiculous, such as, the Scream movies.  

As long as we’re not taking ourselves too seriously with this book, it was very entertaining. The format of the rotating POV of multiple characters combined with the short stories was very pleasing to follow. The short stories section were not repetitive and also very entertaining. The format could have been a flop but the author did an excellent job keeping the reader engaged.

I know some reviewers mentioned they liked the supernatural side of the story. I personally think it would be better without. I mean the way the house 'reacts' you can’t help that. But the supernatural aspect that comes with the house employees I would have left out. 

Again, I’m reading an ARC so things could change by the time the book gets published. I hope the purpose of this book was a satire on horror stories and if so, it deserves my three stars. If this is a book that will be marketed as a real, true horror/slasher novel - I’m not sure my rating will stand. I would lower my rating to 2 stars. I could not take this book seriously as a true 'horror novel'.

The plot felt slow paced, but at the same time fast paced. If that makes sense? The story itself took a bit to get rolling, but once it started rolling, it didn’t stop. I was surprised, pleasantly, at some of the situations the characters are put through and what happens to those characters. No spoilers allowed, but some of these chapters were wild and unexpected in the best way.

Overall, a nice little read. It was easy. Short enough. Satisfying. I would not recommend this book. I would not not recommend this book.

**Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was captivating and thrilling! I will definitely be showing this to my mystery/thriller book club after it is released to the public.

Thank you so much for the ARC! I was a little disappointed in the pacing of the book. It felt like it dragged in quite a few places. I didn't find any of the characters very likeable which made it hard for me to really care. I actually thought about DNFing it in some parts, but decided to power through. Not very impressed with the ending. It was just fine. It was an escape room vibe if that's your thing. Not my favorite.

How to Survive a Horror Story is a wild ride through revenge, betrayal, and morally messy characters. Everyone has something to hide - and none of them are particularly likable. Mortimer, the self-proclaimed judge of justice, dishes out fates that seem excessive for some, yet fitting for others. The quirky names and dark humor add some levity to the twisted drama. The pacing starts slow, but once it picks up you'll be hooked, even if the characters' backstories sometimes drag. It's not your typical horror - more creepy than terrifying - but it keeps you on the edge. If you're a fan of light horror with a side of moral ambiguity, this is a book to read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC to preview.

3 Stars – A Fun Premise, but the Execution? Meh.

Look, I wanted to love this. A creepy, puzzle-filled manor? A bunch of writers competing for a dead horror icon’s fortune? A house that literally eats people? Sign me up. But somewhere along the way, the thrill of the premise got lost in execution.

First off, this book is predictable. Like, if you’ve read even a handful of horror stories, you’ll probably guess most of the twists before they happen. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but it did make the tension fizzle when I already knew where things were headed.

Then there’s the writing style, which just didn’t work for me. I can usually roll with a quirky or self-aware narrative, but something about this one kept pulling me out of the story instead of immersing me in it. I’d get sucked into a scene, only for the writing to trip me up like a badly placed rug in a haunted house.

That said, it’s not bad, just not as gripping as I hoped. If you love locked-room horror with a bit of snark, you might have a better time with it. But for me, it was more of a good concept, meh execution kind of read.

Loved this story. Expertly wielding multiple POVs, Arnold pays homage to fans of Clue and The Haunting. Several seemingly random authors are gathered for the reading of a will. As usual in these types of stories, they are unsure about the how and why of being selected. Once at the house, events start to unfold to answer said question. I finished leaving satisfied by the ending.

Fast paced thriller/mystery with horror elements. I really enjoyed the chapters being in different character’s perspectives. Any Agatha Christie or horror lover will appreciate this book! Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.