This was not the story I was expecting when I requested this book. The main character was not great and made the worst decisions and I ended up DNF-ing it since I couldn't make myself continue reading.

Came expecting horror jumanji, left with a magic (or is it??) storage wars.

I really liked the concept of this team of arcane investigators, Shondra was likeable, believably awkward, and really leaned into her nerdiness and what made her different. However, the book was more cozy than horror and there were a lot of unanswered questions (yes this is book 1 in a series but when the FMC spends the whole book thinking about her dad her passed away and missing him it seems wild to me that when another character mentions having known him and her missing uncle she just drops the conversation because something else comes up… and then never brings it up again?!)

I think I would probably read the next book as it was fun, fast paced and a little freaky.

This is my first read from Paige Andrews and John Peragine, I was drawn to this book by its description and this amazing cover (wow!). The book does read like it is intended for a younger audience, I thought it was a unique take on paranormal horror, but I would personally categorize this as more of a suspenseful mystery than horror. This story will definitely speak to readers who are familiar with nerd culture, or enjoy collecting things (you'll see why!). The strength of this book is setting the mysterious atmosphere, the fun supernatural premise, and humor woven into character dialogue.

We follow college student Shonda as she gets swept up into a world of haunted artifacts, unveiling some of her own generational connections to the supernatural. I think the story was fast pace but did feel rushed in certain points. Shonda is understandably anxious being thrown into this situation and internalizes what is happening, couple this with friction from family dynamics, and there is plenty for her to go through for character development.

Thank you to Sterling & Stone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this book.

Play or Perish kicks off with a strong opening chapter that immediately pulls you in. It sets up the story so well that you just have to keep reading.

The book has a great sense of humor—funny and full of charm without trying too hard. It also throws in plenty of references to books, games, and TV shows, which makes it even more enjoyable if you love pop culture.

Shonda’s family is constantly trying to push her into the life they think she should have, but she refuses to let them control her. Despite their pressure and attempts to bully her into following their plans, she stays true to herself and carves out her own path. It’s satisfying to watch her stand her ground, even when it’s not easy.

Beyond Shonda’s struggles, the book is filled with quirky and memorable characters. From eccentric side characters to people like the doll lady (who is as odd as she is unforgettable), there’s no shortage of unique personalities that make the world feel lively and unpredictable.

Overall, Play or Perish is an entertaining and clever read. It would work so well as a series—I’d definitely pick up more books set in this world. If you’re looking for something funny, engaging, and full of great references, this one’s worth checking out.

This was so fun to read! It was as if storage wars/ antique roadshow had a baby with riviera.
Fast paced and full of absolute magic, good humour and paranormal horror it was an addictive easy read.
I also learned a few things while reading this - the dybbuk and Jewish mythology was something I had no knowledge of prior to this.
I think this would appeal to a lot of people, particularly with the contemporary setting.
Thanks for the ARC !

Play or Perish is an exciting start to a series that blends supernatural horror with adventure and mystery. The story follows Shonda Henry, a young woman who stumbles into the hidden world of haunted artifacts after a chilling encounter at a college party. As she searches for answers about a mysterious cursed box and her missing uncle, she becomes entangled in a high-stakes battle between those who destroy these artifacts and those who seek to exploit them.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is the concept itself—cursed objects and a secret underworld where they’re collected or destroyed is an engaging premise. The cast of characters adds a lot of life to the story, each bringing something different to the table. However, Shonda herself can be frustrating at times, which may make it harder for some readers to fully connect with her.

The pacing is solid for most of the book, but the ending feels rushed, with events jumping rapidly from one to the next. It doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book, but it does make the final act feel a bit messy. Also, while this is marketed as adult horror, it reads more like YA—there’s horror in the background, but it’s not the primary focus.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! The concept is fun, the mystery is intriguing, and despite some flaws, I’m excited to see where the series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC!

Warehouse 13 meets Friday the 13th The Series in a hauntingly fun thrift store where arcane objects are retrieved, exorcised, or destroyed! And in some cases, just hang out. With the rivals trying to get the goods for profit there is always competition afoot! And our protagonist gets the nerves and clumsiness, but maybe has more to offer than she realizes. Funny without getting silly, genuine chuckles as well as some tense moments. Can't wait for the next one!

"Cursed objects. Ruthless collectors. A world of haunted treasures.

Shondra Henry wasn't looking for trouble, but it found her anyway. A paranormal encounter at a college party exposes her to a world of spirits and haunted artifacts she can't seem to shake. In the aftermath, she discovers her connection to the spirit world might be deeper than she thought.

Searching for answers about a mysterious box, the evil it contained, and what it might have to do with her missing uncle, Shondra becomes drawn into the shadowy underworld where arcane relics are bought, sold, and fought over in high-stakes estate auctions.

Before she knows it, Shonda finds herself working with a team dedicated to tracking and destroying cursed artifacts against an organization that would rather exploit them for power.

When a board game turns deadly, Shondra has a choice: play by the rules or break them.

She better choose carefully, because once you enter the world of haunted artifacts, you don’t leave unscathed."

Jumanji meets Warehouse 13.

This book leans more mystery than horror to me.
As a fellow blerd (black nerd), I felt seen. I caught all the references to video games, TV/Film, tabletop games, and extremely niche pockets of the internet. "All your base are belong to us."
This book will be enjoyed by fans of Warehouse 13 and Dungeon Crawler Carl. I cannot wait for the rest of the series. It feels like the authors are just getting started with what they can do with these characters and the concept of a group of people who hunt down curse objects.

First off, I found the description pretty misleading. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but the "deadly" game play is like 2.5 seconds of the book...

Is Cozy horror a genre? Cause if so, this is it, and it was NOT for me. I almost DNF 4 times, but I'm new to NetGalley, so I committed to review it.

It was majorly cheesy. And the main character
.. STOP DOING STUPID S**T.

I think this book has an audience, but I'm not it.

I liked this book. I thought it had a unique and original storyline. I have definitely never read a book like this before. The characters were good, the main character could be annoying at times, but it added to the story. I read the synopsis for this book and just knew I needed to read this book.

This book was okay. It was a victim of the "great premise, not-so-great execution."

In theory, this is a really cool book. We have spooky collector businesses (and the drama of competing businesses, who knew that was a thing you'd have to compete for), an ensemble cast of characters, the cool combination of spooky and humor.

I just couldn't connect with the characters the way I wanted to. I love a great ensemble cast of characters, I want to fall in love with everyone in the book, wanting to know everything about them and why they're making the decisions they're making, seeing them bounce off of other characters. But I didn't really get that in the way I wanted, I liked the interactions, but not the characters. And that was weird. I think I mainly didn't vibe with the main character, but I just really couldn't connect with any of them.

I just wanted everything to mesh together better. But I really can see a lot of people liking this, overall, it is a really unique book and a really unique kind of story. And character preferences are just that, preferences. So some people may absolutely love this main character even if I didn't.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

A super fun, rollicking adventure about a group that investigates and destroys arcane objects. I appreciated the book's balance of humor and darkness. If you enjoy the work of Mike Mignolia, you'll love it.

This was a story I both really enjoyed and really didn't.

The positives were the setting, the idea of two competing businesses trying to get arcane items. I really enjoyed the characters and the way in which there was an attempt at putting a science spin on the concept of ghosts and magic. The whole array of supporting characters were great, and well rounded, giving a whole lot of found family vibes.

My main issue was with the main character. I just didn't like her. I found her constant 'woe is me, everything is my fault' attitude annoying and the while I suppose I was meant to think she was brave or something, I just found myself rolling my eyes every time she did the exact thing she was told not to. And then was shocked every time that there were consequences to her actions. Her mother was bewildering and I didn't buy the sudden character pivot that occurred about 75% of the way through.

The geeky storyline read like a plup novel which I think was the point, and worked well. It's just a shame they didn't actually play more of MoM.

The way in which a larger world is set up was great too, I wanted to know more about the MC's mysterious uncle and of course the painting. Oh the painting. That thing was so creepy and well done and I really hope the second book builds on it, because I need more of that painting. Just not, physically, anywhere near me.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~