I received this ARC from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I've read by Cindy R.X He, and just like the first one, I couldn't put it down. I loved the different POVs, and I think it really helped build the suspense. It was incredibly fast-paced, never boring, and slightly creepy. My official rating is 4.5. The ending did surprise me, but I kind of wish it went in a different direction. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

The story starts slow, but the tension builds until the final page. I found the characters appropriately written for their age and circumstances, and the story did keep me engaged throughout.

I was both grateful and bummed by the content warnings at the beginning. I probably wouldn't have requested this book if I'd known of these subjects, but in the end, they weren't as prominent as I'd feared they could have been. Unfortunately, some were also spoilers for the story twists ahead, especially as people were eliminated, but some of those plot points hadn't come up yet, so it made the ending more predictable.

In the end, it's a better read than anticipated, but it's still not the perfect book for me.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the ARC for my early review.

“This Is Where We Die” was a cute YA, thriller, but definitely wasn’t without its issues. The *trigger warnings* gave away a large “secret” in the plot and kind of takes you out of the story. Secondly, the dialogue didn’t seem to match the time/age of the kids in the book. They talk about TikTok and other uber modern conveniences, but then say things like, “he’s a dirty dog”, and it just doesn’t seem to flow or feel natural. I still had an alright time reading this one, but I don’t think I’d pick it up again. Definitely reads as a YA novel.

I literally feel out of breathe as I finish this book! What a run!! Six “friends” who all survived a tragic ski adventure are determined to spend their graduation weekend together. They rent a fancy house on a private island and go out early before the rest of their classmates. They travel light except for the memories of their two friends who died on the ski trip. However, it becomes painfully (and increasingly gory) to them that someone is determined to see them all die for what they have done. They hypothesize as quickly and as often as you the reader does but the surprise at the end is epic!

Thank you NetGalley, for this arc.

3.75⭐️

Overall, I found this to be a fast paced, easy read. With so many characters, though, I kept getting confused on whose POV I was reading. But, I did enjoy this book. I had some guesses on the who, but did not figure it out (which I love when I am surprised).

This is an easy, fast paced read that kept my attention the whole time.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Cindy R.X. He delivers a tense, fast-paced thriller in “This Is Where We Die,” a story of secrets, survival, and revenge. Blending elements of a locked-room mystery with psychological horror, this story follows six friends haunted by a dark past as they find themselves trapped on an isolated island with a killer determined to make them pay. Before going into the book, there are content warnings provided at the beginning (one is a spoiler for a major secret that is still kinda obvious in the story). Be especially cautious with this book if you are sensitive to food-related trauma.

Two years ago, eight friends went on a ski trip—only six made it back. What really happened during those three weeks trapped in a deadly blizzard has remained a closely guarded secret, hidden behind wealth, privilege, and silence. But now, as Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie celebrate their graduation on a remote island, their past finally catches up with them.

At first, the island seems like the perfect getaway—lavish accommodations, no distractions, and the promise of an unforgettable party. But when one of them turns up dead, paranoia sets in. Is there someone else on the island hunting them down? Or is one of their own picking them off, one by one? As the night progresses, alliances shift, trust shatters, and the group realizes that survival might not be possible for all of them.

The book maintains a relentless pace, keeping the tension high with each new revelation. Told through multiple perspectives, the story masterfully builds suspense by slowly unraveling the truth of what happened on the ski trip through flashbacks, while also keeping readers guessing about the present-day killer. The inclusion of rumors and speculation at the end of some chapters adds an extra layer of intrigue, reinforcing the idea that the truth is never as simple as it seems.

While the characters are largely unlikable—immature, selfish, and morally gray—they feel realistic for a group of traumatized teenagers struggling to cope with their past. The dynamics between them, full of resentment, fear, and guilt, make for a compelling read. Their descent into paranoia and desperation is chillingly believable.

The final twist, revealing the killer’s identity and motive, is shocking yet satisfying. While you may predict aspects of it early on (I guessed the killer pretty quickly), the full explanation adds depth to the story, even if it could have been developed further. The book wraps up all loose ends while still leaving an eerie, lingering sense that the trauma of the past will never truly disappear. More flashbacks detailing the immediate aftermath of their survival could have added even more tension and depth to the story. Additionally, while the story excels at keeping readers engaged, some moments require a suspension of disbelief, especially in how the characters react to their predicament. Certain plot elements, such as the logistics of the island setting, could have been explored with more detail to enhance the realism.

Overall, “This Is Where We Die” is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that blends survival horror with a deadly game of revenge. With strong tension, a compelling mystery, and a shocking final twist, it’s a book that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Though not without its flaws, it delivers a chilling story about the weight of secrets, the cost of survival, and the inescapable pull of the past.

This book was incredibly boring and disgusting to me. There were too many characters involved, the ending was not surprising, and I did not like the writing style. The cover of this book is what caught my attention, only to discover that this book was not what I was expecting at all. There are six point of views in this book. I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars rating! It was not my cup of tea at all. However, some people may love this book.

This book comes with tons of trigger warnings that include: death, murder, substance abuse, cannibalism, starvation, food trauma, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, and suicide.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Cindy R.X. He and Sourcebooks Fire for this digital reader’s advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Chilling and thrilling story about a group of friends who already survived a crisis once, only to find themselves in a situation with no exit again.

A little problem of the plot was that one of the trigger warnings became a huuuge immediate spoiler that left no mystery of what happened in the past.

We are given a perfect view into the evens provided by pows of all the characters being alive in the moment. It raises questions of trust, confuses the tracks, and hides the truth despite the clear view of everyone.

It was interesting to try to solve the mystery, the ending didn't fully satisfy me, but it had all the answers. I loved how the present story mixed with memories and that side conversation discussing what happened.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you Cindy R.X. He, Sourcebooks Fire, Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book is so good I finished it in less then a day! Eight friends when on a ski trip. Sadie, Will, Ant, Charlie, Isla, and Emily returned. There’s been a lot of cover up of what happened on that trip and the remaining six are haunted by what they did, some more then others. Now they’ve just graduated and plan to go to a remote island for their graduation party. The island, presumed to be owned by a rich celebrity, had a large house, valet services, and a chef. They are so excited and they need this. Other students are joining them on Saturday but the first night will just be them. They haven’t been alone together since the ski trip. And when they arrive they are shocked to find themselves alone, no cell service and no WiFi. It’s ok the others will arrive soon. Then the unthinkable happens and one of them dies. It was just an accident right? But as more people fall they’ll realize that either they aren’t alone in the island or one of them is a killer. And when it becomes clear that this is about the ski trip they might just turn in one another. Can any of them make it off the island alive? What really happened when they went skiing? First of all if I were these six I would never go anywhere alone with these people again! And definitely would stay away from anything remote! Fast paced and intriguing! There are a few of the characters that I liked and some that I could not stand! They are all shades of gray none of them innocent, but I definitely rooted for some more then others! A mystery all about revenge and justice! I flew through the pages so if your into mysteries that keep you hooked and have you devouring them, I’d recommend Cindy R.X. He’s This Is Where We Die!