This was a really fun and addictive read.
It felt like a combination of final destination and Texas chainsaw massacre - without the chainsaw.- full of fickle fraying friendships , suspense and a lot of guilty parties the ending took me by total surprise.

A great read!

I can always count on Brian McAuley to give me nostalgic horror vibes in his books. Breathe In, Bleed Out was no different. I had such a fun time with this one. It felt like I was reading a 80s horror film. I loved all the characters. They fit their roles so perfectly. Brian knows how to write a bloody kill scene so well. The deaths in this book were insane and filled with gore in the best way possible. The killer let me down a tiny bit in the end but overall I really enjoyed this book. If you love slashers you should definitely check this one out.
4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good slasher, and Breathe In, Bleed Out hits every mark.

The story centers on Hannah, a young woman reeling from a traumatic event, caught in a spiral of self-blame, pills, and pity. Her best friend Tess has finally had enough of the wallowing and drags their friend group (aka a collection of frenemies) to a wellness retreat in the California desert. But is this retreat Hannah’s chance to finally heal… or the start of a blood-soaked unraveling?

The misdirections were sharp and genuinely kept me guessing. I was just as suspicious of everyone as Hannah was. The setting was Immaculate. The characters were very well fleshed out (pun fully intended). There are ones to love, ones to loathe, and some to side-eye. And the gore? Glorious. A few deaths definitely gave Final Destination energy and will be haunting me for a while.

Brian McAuley nails the slasher tone with razor-sharp one-liners and a wicked sense of humor. I was gasping, laughing, and gagging through the whole thing; it’s a full-body experience. It’s not a story to take too seriously; it’s pure vibes, and it delivers.

The pacing was spot on too. From page one I was hooked, and by the end, I had devoured the whole thing without leaving a crumb.

I’ll be recommending this to all my fellow slasher lovers. It’s a masterclass in the genre, and I can’t wait to dive into more of McAuley’s work.

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

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc! This review is my honest opinion!
wooooow! This is my first read from Brian McAuley and it won't be the last! What a blast! I was hooked since the beginning, Hannah is one hell of a main character. Since the very fisrt chapter I was intrigued in her and her story, she feels so real, loved the humor.
I really liked the set up of the retreat and boy oh boy! did I like the events that unfolded there! I won't spoil anything but if you love slasher films this is perfect! Also can we talk about the author's note at the end? Loooooved it so much!
Over all a really engaging and fun read full of slashering shenanigans!!

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Brian for the advanced copy of Breath in and Bleed out.

I rate this book a 5/5.

I knew when I read the first chapter that I would love the book. I am a big fan of slasher movies, and this was exactly it. I later found out that the author loves the Scream franchise, and it shows!

I already found spiritual retreats to be creepy and odd, so this was a good way to make me feel uneasy.

I loved the character of Hannah, I honestly thought she was the person who was slashing everyone from the beginning. I also felt bad for Jared when his time came, poor guy haha.

It was an easy read, with quick chapters, which I prefer!

Congratulations Brian on your new book, I can see it being well liked, and maybe a future slasher movie?

Slasher fans have been feasting these last few years with some fantastic literary works by giants like Stephen Graham Jones. I’m adding Brian McAuley to that list.

I read McAuley’s first book, Curse of the Reaper, last year and absolutely loved it, as it examined an aging slasher star grappling with being replaced for the big budget remake. Then I devoured his two Candy Cain novellas from the Killer VHS series, which were fun B-movie slashers in bite size book form.

Now enter Breathe In, Bleed Out, McAuley’s upcoming slasher novel from Poisoned Pen Press. This novel, a slasher set at a mindfulness retreat, is heavily influenced by Scream, in that it is both a blood-pulsing slasher coiled around a whodunit mystery. The character deaths are creative (a couple felt very Final Destination-esque) and the plot is propulsive. He employs red herrings and plot reveals in ways that do not feel cheap or unearned.

I loved the main character, Hannah, as she struggles to cope with her fiancé’s death prior to the events of the novel and her dealing with her unraveling sanity as she is constantly being gaslit by characters with questionable motives. Who can Hannah even trust?

I loved this book so much and so devoured it. If you’re a fan of slashers, this is a must-read. You’ll have a bloody good time.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

A friend once told me that a writer needs to have their finger on the pulse of society; in which case, Brian McAuley is a heart rate monitor—the voice of a generation.

"Breathe In, Bleed Out," like all of McAuley's work, is layered so seamlessly that as you wander through these blood-soaked pages, you might just need to take a minute to remind yourself that you are not actually there.

Inspired by the greats of '80s and '90s horror/slashers, McAuley has woven a contemporary tale that will surely come to be regarded as iconic for this decade.

Themes that are explored within this masterpiece, include but are not limited to, mental health, toxic relationships, cultural appropriation and substance abuse.

This book is a must-read for every slasher fan!

Brian McAuley delivers a gripping, fast-paced horror mystery that’s impossible to put down once you’ve started.
The story follows Hannah, a young woman struggling to cope with the death of her fiancé, Ben. In an attempt to heal, she joins a spiritual retreat in the desert alongside a group of friends. But what begins as a peaceful escape quickly turns into a deadly nightmare, as the idyllic retreat becomes a hunting ground and the guests are picked off one by one.

Hannah must face both her haunted past and her unresolved grief — before she too becomes the next victim.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

Publication date : Sept 2, 2025

Hannah has been through some trauma and her best friend signs their friend group up for an exclusive wellness retreat out in the middle of nowhere. Things quickly go south and this turns into a fast paced slasher! I could not put this down. Hannah wasn’t my favorite main character, but the story itself made up for the issues I had with her. The remote setting, an old urban legend, and a strange yoga guru all made for an interesting storyline! The twist at the end was wild and pulled everything together. If you love a good slasher check this out!

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me an advance copy of Brian McAuley's latest #thriller, Breathe In, Bleed Out, in exchange for an honest review.

#BreatheInBleedOut is an homage to bloody slasher films; predominately, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, My Bloody Valentine, and Scream. Short, witty, and entertaining, I highly recommend this book for fans of horror-comedy and to any reader (or film buff) who wished this fun subgenre was translated into novel format. Set at a wellness center in present-day Joshua Tree, the protagonist won't be the only questioning the authenticity of spiritual gurus and remote spa resorts by the conclusion.

Poor Hannah is reeling from the aftermath of a terrible tragedy: her fiancé is dead. To make matters worse, she was the last person to see him alive. A deadly combo of guilt and grief cause Hannah to spiral, leading to a life of isolation, disassociation, and reliance on medication. When the mounting pressure of dodging loved ones, mixing questionable substances, and experiencing nightly hallucinations culminates in a work incident that threatens to destroy her burgeoning medical career, she agrees to attend a weekend getaway at a spiritual retreat with her five best friends from college.

The pros: the unique desert setting, the inventiveness of the murder scenes, the one-liners, and last, but certainly not least, the "big bad", along with the backstory of the gold-miners. I would genuinely read a spin-off solely about The Barlow Gang.

The cons: abrupt ending, some characters require further development, certain passages could use a bit more description, and the red herrings as well as tension could benefit from some tightening.

Overall, a bloody, fun joyride through the desert and the poses of a meditative yoga retreat. 3.5 stars, rounded-up.

This is my fourth book by this author and it did not disappoint! It was so fun and had me hooked right from the beginning. I feel like slashers aren’t done very well usually in books but this author nails is every time!

Hannah’s fiancé Ben died during a camping trip where the two got engaged. Since that day, she is having nightmares and lost her job as a medical intern at an L.A. hospital. She attends a getaway with her two best friends Tessa and Hannah. They are headed to the Avidya Healing Retreat in Joshua Tree, run by Guru Pax. The peaceful journey of self-discovery quickly descends into a violent fight for self-preservation when a mysterious killer starts picking off retreat attendees in increasingly gruesome ways. Hannah will have to confront her dark past and uncover the true nature of a ruthless monster.

The short chapters made it very fast-paced and I was eager to find out what was going to happen next. The kills were gruesome and the ending was unexpected. You're in for a bloody ride with this book.

10/10, NO NOTES 👏🏼

Brian McAuley has yet to disappoint me with his work and Breathe In, Bleed Out was no exception. And the cover? I knew I was in for something special.

A slasher set at a wellness retreat in the California desert? Say less 😮‍💨 This book was the slasher novel of the dreams I didn’t know I had.

As a lifelong horror lover and a yoga teacher of ten years (who has fully stepped away the last few years) who has also attended various retreats and festivals (in Joshua Tree no less) I honestly kind of felt like this was tailor made for me??? It was a pretty accurate look of how f*cked the wellness community can be 🫠

And the one liners? Someone make this into a movie ASAP. “Let’s go, hat head” and “welcome to the cloud, prick” will be living in my head for the foreseeable future.

And we can’t forget the look at grief and letting go and the demons Hannah had to battle and come to terms with in order to heal.

I could NOT put this down. Seriously just wow. I loved this, and I think it’s a great addition to the slasher genre. The emotional journey I went on trying to figure out the killer was crazy and insane and I’ll remember it forever. I had a great time with this book. It was fun as hell and I can’t recommend it more highly.

Be sure to put this one on your list. Coming September 2025

What’s a better way to get over a gruesome tragedy, the loss of your fiancé and your job, than with a wellness retreat in the desert with your best friends?

These are really well written characters. I had very strong emotions toward each of them. The story plot was *chefs kiss* and I definitely did not see that ending! I read this book in a matter of hours. What a thriller!

So happy that my 100th book of the year was a great one!

Im really sorry but whats about the writing? Maybe its myself but the last two Books wasnt something for me because of the writing.
I dont get the Talks and toughts. Maybe ill give it a try later but by now I’m done by Not Finishing it.

I love a good slasher and this hit the mark! It was a fun mix between Midsommar and And Then There Were None. The short chapters made it very fast-paced and I was eager to find out what was going to happen next. While the ending was surprising, it did seem a little rushed. I think if there were a few more chapters to really flesh things out that could've helped! Overall, I enjoyed this book and I couldn't put it down!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this fun book! This was a great time and fun premise. I’ll definitely keep reading this authors work.

This is everything that I have ever wanted in a book and more. What a great read. This was really the perfect slasher book, filled with inventive, gory kills, misdirection, and even some humor. McAuley’s writing is just ridiculously good and filled with eerie suspense. This was such a fun read and the setting of the book was everything. McAuley transcends the genre with this one. The characters were wonderfully done and each was so well developed. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed every damn second. There were so many twists and turns and I honestly never once guessed the ending. I implore you to pick this one up in September when it is published!

What a fun and entertaining slasher novel! The story takes place in the isolation of the desert at a healing retreat, now let the bloodbath begin! I will defiantly be checking out other works from Brian McAuley

The main character Hannah, is grappling with the death of her fiancé, attends a spiritual retreat in the desert with a group of friends, hoping to heal. The retreat's idyllic atmosphere soon unravels as a killer begins to target the attendees, forcing Hannah to confront her past and fight for survival as the body count rises with the gruesome murders she must confront her own unresolved grief.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

Publication date : Sept 2, 2025