There’s a reason CJ Smith’s hometown of Satterville is known as Slasherville: it was the site of not one, but two Friday the 13th-style massacres. CJ’s dad survived the first attack; only CJ survived the second. And thanks to the mysterious writer Moon Satter’s bestselling novels based on the events, the town—and CJ—will always be defined by this horrific past.
Then a new, unpublished Moon Satter manuscript shows up addressed to CJ. But unlike the others, this story isn’t about the past. Instead, it predicts new murders. On the day the book says the first murder will occur, CJ sets out to stop it. But in saving one classmate, the final girl ends up dead. CJ and their friends have suddenly gone from extras to leads—and they’ll have to use everything they know about the rules of horror to make it out alive.
Horror seems to be swinging back around to self-aware victims, if this fun new novel is anything to go by. CJ's father was one of only a few survivors of a slasher rampage; a few years later, a copy cat killed the survivors and their families, leaving only CJ and her brother. Their mother and twin baby siblings were in hospital that night and so survived, but the weight of the two murder sprees hangs heavily on the family. The rest of the town has adopted their identity as the most famous slasher town in America and holds a festival every year on the anniversary of the second attack. This year is a little different, though. This year it's starting all over again.
I love a character who's aware of what's happening around them, though Nadia's insistence that they were living in a novel got a little bit grating. However, CJ's understanding the rules of horror and turning them against her tormentors were some of the highlights of the story for me. She's a great character. I was surprised at how quickly she got close to Nadia and Sebas after years of not getting close to anyone, but I guess being stalked by a masked killer will do that to you!
I made a guess about the villain as soon as they appeared on screen and I was right, but reading the story was still fun and watching the characters figure it out was great. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a bit of meta in their horror.
Movie Recommendation: Scream. The movie that defined self-aware horror and gave us characters who know the rules of survival. With sharp writing, clever twists, and a masked killer stalking the town, it’s the perfect match for this novel. And if you love it, there are plenty of sequels to enjoy!
Book Recommendation: There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. Moving to a new town is hard enough without a masked killer targeting your classmates. Makani thought she had left her past behind, but as the body count rises, she realises she’s in more danger than she ever imagined. With a strong friend group (including a sheriff who actually helps), this gripping slasher will keep you turning the pages.
How to Survive a Slasher publishes on the 11th March, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment