April 24, 2023
Frightening thrills and bloody kills abound in this meta twist on classic horror films from Bayron (This Wicked Fate). Black teenage lesbian Charity has spent the last few summers as a counselor at Camp Mirror Lake, a terror-simulation experience in which guests pay to be scared by participating in recreations of scenes from the 1980s cult classic The Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. After two years playing insignificant characters, Charity can’t wait to embody the coveted Final Girl in the camp’s send-off game. But when her fellow counselors start disappearing and menacing figures are spotted lurking around the lake, the game begins to feel way too real. Charity, her girlfriend Bezi, and the rest of her coworkers find themselves fighting for their lives over the course of one horrifying night that offers no promise of survival. Rushed exposition and a racially diverse but little utilized supporting cast dampen the novel’s clever, audience-winking start and ambitious trope subversions. Nevertheless, Bayron’s abundant use of familiar twists and turns draw on the genre’s classic predecessors to craft a gory and darkly funny read that is sure to satisfy slasher fans. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jamie Vankirk, Rainbow Nerds Literary.
October 1, 2023
Gr 10 Up-Graphic content warning here: with detailed slashings and multiplying corpses, gore fans won't be disappointed. Actor Tedla makes her audiobook debut-albeit with a less-than-stellar production team too lazy or inexperienced to clean up noticeably clumsy after-original-recording insertions and errant clicking noises. Glitches aside, Tedla admirably, steadfastly exudes enormous, addictive energy. Bayron's early exposition initially drags, setting up why Charity asks her girlfriend and another close friend for help during the final days of her summer job at Camp Mirror Lake's interactive horror show-but as night falls, of course, the true fright fest kicks in. Tedla is consistently convincing, as the teens run from an old woman with a rifle, masked strangers, a murderous owl, bloody sacrifice-with no cell service. VERDICT The fear is real: Tedla's expertly modulated adrenaline spikes will likely eclipse technical irritants.
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