LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
Revealing that it definitely doesn’t only happen in the movies, Kalynn Bayron’s You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight is founded on a killer summer camp concept. Short and sparky, it crackles with crisp writing, shock twists and chilling atmosphere, and comes recommended for YA readers who relish fast, furious fearsome fiction, and non-readers who love scary movies.
In classic horror movie style, the set-up involves a gory game gone wrong: “Camp Mirror Lake is a full-contact terror-simulation experience…As far as slasher films go, it’s somewhere between Friday the 13th and Scream”. Camp Mirror Lake is also the location of an actual eighties’ cult horror movie. With last night approaching, teenage camp manager Charity is excited about playing the “final girl” role in the big finale. With unreliable co-workers, she enlists the help of her girlfriend and best friend.
When an old woman turns up with a gun warning, “If you knew what I know…” and the police get involved, the last game is called off. As Charity and co. prepare to close camp for the season, the scares get very, very real, with genuine disappearances and shocks aplenty.
Alongside the scares, there’s also a nod to the coming-of-age theme of shifting friendships —“Are we growing apart or are we just learning a new way of being friends?” Readers are in for a thrilling ride!
Joanne Owen
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You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight Synopsis
This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson's White Smoke, Friday the 13th, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Get Out.
Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the final girl at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business.
But in the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they'll need to figure out what this killer is after. Is there more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected?
About This Edition
ISBN: |
9781526658463 |
Publication date: |
20th June 2023 |
Author: |
Kalynn Bayron |
Publisher: |
Bloomsbury YA an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
Format: |
Paperback |
Pagination: |
227 pages |
Primary Genre |
Young Adult Fiction
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Other Genres: |
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Press Reviews
Kalynn Bayron Press Reviews
Like any good horror movie, this one is full of twists and turns, with one heck of a kicker at the end - NPR
'In this latest novel, Bayron (My Dear Henry, 2023) integrates the traditional conventions of a slasher novel with the story of a queer, Black girl protagonist who subverts the trope of Black people dying first. Bayron's foray into the YA horror space helps continue the effort of decentering whiteness in the genre. The overall campiness of the novel will appeal to fans of '90s horror films, and make the book as fun as it is terrifying' - Booklist
Praise for This Wicked Fate:
'The book centers Black characters, and its prose sings. This Wicked Fate is a delightful novel about literal Black Girl Magic, found family, and queer love, with adventures and a satisfying twist on Greek mythology' - Foreword Reviews, starred review
'Sharp banter, dynamic characters, and a warm sapphic romance give this even more verve' - Booklist
Praise for This Poison Heart:
'Mesmerising and beautiful' - Tracy Deonn, NYT bestselling author of Legendborn
'This duology closer delves deeper into mythology while depicting textured, realistic relationships' - Kirkus Reviews
'A delicious mix of intoxicating fantasy and coming of age, steeped in Greek mythology and peppered with references to the Jordan Peele films Get Out and Us' - Observer New Review
Praise for Cinderella is Dead:
'Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairy-tale ... She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after' - Brigid Kemmerer
Author
About Kalynn Bayron
Kalynn Bayron is a debut author and a classically trained vocalist. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. When she's not writing, you can find her listening to Ella Fitzgerald on loop, going to the theatre, watching scary movies and spending time with her kids. She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her family.
More About Kalynn Bayron