After surviving a car accident that claimed the life of her best friend, Teresa is now terrified to leave the safety of her bedroom. Since then, her only solace and window to the outside world has been the online community she found through streaming.
But one night, the safe world Teresa created starts to break down. A shadowy figure appears in the background of her favorite's streamer's video, and his behavior mysteriously changes over the next few days before he dies in front of thousands of viewers. Teresa finds herself at the center of a life-and-death investigation as the world tries to figure out what or who this figure could be . . . especially as it begins appearing in the other people's streams, compelling them to "open the door" and let it in—including Teresa’s own. In order to save herself and the rest of the internet from this relentless entity, Teresa must venture outside of the mental and physical walls she’s created. But will she be able to conquer her fears before anyone else loses their life?
A creepy, fast paced read set in the world of live streaming. It's not a section of social media I've ever been really interested in, but Mar made it really easy to follow and understand what was happening.
Teresa's agoraphobia is really well handled, showing how terribly upsetting it is for both her and her family. She doesn't want to be trapped in her room, but her own mind is going too far in its efforts to keep her safe. It's not something she can simply will herself past, as some people might think, but a barrier as strong as the one that keeps us from touching fire.
The story itself veers from techno horror to straight up horror at various times. I loved the found family feeling - Teresa's online friends are important and real, which is great as not every novel acknowledges this truth.
A brilliant, if creepy read. Highly recommended.
Book Recommendation: The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
This psychological thriller dives into the mystery surrounding a group of cheerleaders’ deaths five years ago and the twisted truths that come to light. While it doesn’t focus entirely on online spaces, the novel cleverly weaves in social media, internet rumours, and digital investigation as the protagonist, Monica, begins to uncover the secrets behind her seemingly perfect friends. It has that same unsettling vibe of things appearing normal online, only for the dark truth to slowly creep in.
This psychological thriller dives into the mystery surrounding a group of cheerleaders’ deaths five years ago and the twisted truths that come to light. While it doesn’t focus entirely on online spaces, the novel cleverly weaves in social media, internet rumours, and digital investigation as the protagonist, Monica, begins to uncover the secrets behind her seemingly perfect friends. It has that same unsettling vibe of things appearing normal online, only for the dark truth to slowly creep in.
Movie Recommendation: Unfriended (2014)
This psychological horror movie takes place entirely on a computer screen and deals with the horrors of cyber bullying and supernatural forces invading online spaces. When a group of friends is haunted by the ghost of a girl who committed suicide after a humiliating video of her went viral, their lives quickly spiral out of control. It’s a chilling exploration of how our online interactions can have real-world consequences, similar to the creeping dread of Teresa’s experience in Deadstream.
This psychological horror movie takes place entirely on a computer screen and deals with the horrors of cyber bullying and supernatural forces invading online spaces. When a group of friends is haunted by the ghost of a girl who committed suicide after a humiliating video of her went viral, their lives quickly spiral out of control. It’s a chilling exploration of how our online interactions can have real-world consequences, similar to the creeping dread of Teresa’s experience in Deadstream.
Deadstream publishes on the 1st April, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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