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Death Games #1
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead
Kristen Simmons's masterful breakout novel for young adult readers, Jumanji but Japanese-inspired, about estranged friends playing a deadly game in an eerie folkloric underworld.
Four years ago, five kids started a game. Only four survived.
Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors—Dax, Maddy, Emerson, and Owen—have reunited for one strange and terrible reason: they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.
Together they return to the tunnel where their friendship ended with one goal: find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished—an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.
As soon as they begin, they're dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen's grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the rules:
They have one night to complete seven challenges or all of them, Ian included, will be stuck in this world forever.
Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices—blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.
And once again, not everyone will make it out of Meido alive.
Four years ago, five kids started a game. Only four survived.
Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors—Dax, Maddy, Emerson, and Owen—have reunited for one strange and terrible reason: they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.
Together they return to the tunnel where their friendship ended with one goal: find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished—an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.
As soon as they begin, they're dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen's grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the rules:
They have one night to complete seven challenges or all of them, Ian included, will be stuck in this world forever.
Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices—blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.
And once again, not everyone will make it out of Meido alive.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2023
101 people are currently reading
13675 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Simmons
26 books2,013 followersKristen Simmons is the critically-acclaimed young adult author of the dystopian Article 5 trilogy, The Deceivers boarding-school thriller series, and speculative fiction stand-alones, PACIFICA, METALTOWN, and THE GLASS ARROW. She has co-written the magic-wielding, gladiator fantasies, SET FIRE THE GODS and RISE UP FROM THE EMBERS, and created the yōkai horror, FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD. She is also the author of spicy adult thrillers, including The Masseuse Series and The Talent Trilogy (for mature audiences only).
Her work has received star reviews, librarian recognitions, and been nominated for the Edgar Award and Anthony Award for best young adult mystery. Several of her titles are included in junior high and high school reading curricula, and are used in reluctant reader programs nationwide.
Kristen’s writing is inspired by her work with trauma survivors as a mental health therapist, specializing with soldiers with PTSD and individuals in foster care. She currently lives with her husband and son in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she spins stories, herds a small pack of semi-wild dogs, and teaches Jazzercise.
Follow Kristen on Facebook (Author Kristen Simmons) and Instagram at @kris10writes.
Her work has received star reviews, librarian recognitions, and been nominated for the Edgar Award and Anthony Award for best young adult mystery. Several of her titles are included in junior high and high school reading curricula, and are used in reluctant reader programs nationwide.
Kristen’s writing is inspired by her work with trauma survivors as a mental health therapist, specializing with soldiers with PTSD and individuals in foster care. She currently lives with her husband and son in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she spins stories, herds a small pack of semi-wild dogs, and teaches Jazzercise.
Follow Kristen on Facebook (Author Kristen Simmons) and Instagram at @kris10writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 486 reviews
June 24, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is a YA-Horror release featuring Dark Fantasy elements based on Japanese folklore. To my delight, eerie imagery abounds!
In this story, we are following four teens, Madeline, Emerson, Owen and Dax. Four years ago, they, along with their friend, Ian, played a game in a local cave, as you do. Unfortunately, Ian never made it out. He disappeared and is assumed dead.
Unsurprisingly, the remaining kids were traumatized by the events of that day. A lot of blame got tossed around, anger and vitriol. They've been estranged ever since.
They never recovered from losing Ian and each struggled in their own ways. Madeline, for example, focused all her time on her swimming, cutting herself off from everyone. Taking it further, Emerson dropped out of school completely. All around, not a good time for anyone.
It's now the end of their Senior year. They're approaching adulthood, but things feel unfinished. That's when a haunting presence, who looks like the long-missing Ian, begins summoning the group of friends back together again.
Reuniting, the group decides they need to finish the game they started all those years ago. They return to the cave to pick up where they left off. They're at a loss though. Ian's ghost dragged them here, but how is this going to help him?
As they restart the game, the teens are quickly sucked out of their reality and into a dangerous hellscape of Japanese underworlds. That's where they meet Shinigami, the wise old woman who finally tells them the rules.
Collect seven stones by completing seven challenges. They have until dawn, or they risk getting stuck in the underworld forever. If they're successful, it's possible they could return home with Ian at their sides.
This forces the estranged teens to put their grievances aside. They've got to forget the past four years of bitter dislike and come back to a place where they can work together effectively and efficiently. They accept the challenge.
I really enjoyed my time with this story. I found it to be incredibly gripping and unique. I loved all the dark horror imagery based on Japanese folklore and the gaming element, including all of the challenges, was just such an experience.
I loved how quickly Simmons started with the dark content. It's pretty much immediate, as you are meeting each of the four mains, you're meeting them as they are encountering the eerie Ian-image for the first time. I thought that was a great way to kick it off.
I've read a couple of stories that follow this type of trip through the underworld facing different challenges plot, but this is the first time that it was a group, versus one individual. I liked the group because it added a lot of interesting personal dynamics.
There were times, in a couple of the challenges, where the imagery for me did get a little muddled; like I couldn't really picture what was happening anymore. Overall though, I think Simmons did a wonderful job painting a picture for us on the page with her words. It was captivating.
There were some great twists as well. A big one, I definitely didn't see coming. I wasn't expecting anything twisted, so good on Simmons for fooling me like that.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy YA Horror with Dark Fantasy elements, particularly if you are a fan of Japanese folklore. Conversely, if you love Japanese folklore, or Anime, I also think this one is worth giving a shot, even if you aren't necessarily a big YA-Horror Reader.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen and Macmillan Audio, for providing me a copy to read and review. I'm not sure, but I'm smelling a sequel on the horizon...
Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is a YA-Horror release featuring Dark Fantasy elements based on Japanese folklore. To my delight, eerie imagery abounds!
In this story, we are following four teens, Madeline, Emerson, Owen and Dax. Four years ago, they, along with their friend, Ian, played a game in a local cave, as you do. Unfortunately, Ian never made it out. He disappeared and is assumed dead.
Unsurprisingly, the remaining kids were traumatized by the events of that day. A lot of blame got tossed around, anger and vitriol. They've been estranged ever since.
They never recovered from losing Ian and each struggled in their own ways. Madeline, for example, focused all her time on her swimming, cutting herself off from everyone. Taking it further, Emerson dropped out of school completely. All around, not a good time for anyone.
It's now the end of their Senior year. They're approaching adulthood, but things feel unfinished. That's when a haunting presence, who looks like the long-missing Ian, begins summoning the group of friends back together again.
Reuniting, the group decides they need to finish the game they started all those years ago. They return to the cave to pick up where they left off. They're at a loss though. Ian's ghost dragged them here, but how is this going to help him?
As they restart the game, the teens are quickly sucked out of their reality and into a dangerous hellscape of Japanese underworlds. That's where they meet Shinigami, the wise old woman who finally tells them the rules.
Collect seven stones by completing seven challenges. They have until dawn, or they risk getting stuck in the underworld forever. If they're successful, it's possible they could return home with Ian at their sides.
This forces the estranged teens to put their grievances aside. They've got to forget the past four years of bitter dislike and come back to a place where they can work together effectively and efficiently. They accept the challenge.
I really enjoyed my time with this story. I found it to be incredibly gripping and unique. I loved all the dark horror imagery based on Japanese folklore and the gaming element, including all of the challenges, was just such an experience.
I loved how quickly Simmons started with the dark content. It's pretty much immediate, as you are meeting each of the four mains, you're meeting them as they are encountering the eerie Ian-image for the first time. I thought that was a great way to kick it off.
I've read a couple of stories that follow this type of trip through the underworld facing different challenges plot, but this is the first time that it was a group, versus one individual. I liked the group because it added a lot of interesting personal dynamics.
There were times, in a couple of the challenges, where the imagery for me did get a little muddled; like I couldn't really picture what was happening anymore. Overall though, I think Simmons did a wonderful job painting a picture for us on the page with her words. It was captivating.
There were some great twists as well. A big one, I definitely didn't see coming. I wasn't expecting anything twisted, so good on Simmons for fooling me like that.
I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy YA Horror with Dark Fantasy elements, particularly if you are a fan of Japanese folklore. Conversely, if you love Japanese folklore, or Anime, I also think this one is worth giving a shot, even if you aren't necessarily a big YA-Horror Reader.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen and Macmillan Audio, for providing me a copy to read and review. I'm not sure, but I'm smelling a sequel on the horizon...
Want to read
February 12, 2022- Jumanji meets I Know What You Did Last Summer
- Japanese-folklore inspired underworld
- a deadly game between four estranged friends
SOLD
- Japanese-folklore inspired underworld
- a deadly game between four estranged friends
SOLD
September 15, 2023
This book was advertised as a Japanese folklore Jumanji and it delivers on it. I didn’t think everything was totally explained and there were some big logic leaps but overall this was a fun, creepy story. I didn’t really like any of the characters and would have liked them to all be developed a little more. I didn’t feel like I felt much of a difference in the voices of the kids (although I did think he narrator did a good job trying to bring them to life). Maddie, Owen, Emerson, and Dax used to be close friends but when their friend Ian disappeared they all drifted apart. It’s been 4 years when they have a visit from an impossible visitor they come back together. When Ian went missing they had started a game and it turns out they need to finish that game to save him but only if they can finish the game before dawn (why this revelation didn’t come for 4 years I have no idea).
September 12, 2023
2.5 ☆
this books comparison to Jumanji is valid, but instead of the story being fun and entertaining it felt like a chore to get through. there’s a lot of POVs and i kept confusing them since the characterization felt so flat. while the inclusion of Japanese folklore mixed with horror was interesting, it didn’t feel authentic to the story at all. the writing was fast paced but kind of messy, it just seemed like there were too many ideas being thrown together. I did like some of the darker descriptions during the challenges and the ending took a turn that surprised me, but by then it was hard to be too impressed cause I had already checked out.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc, all opinions are my own.
this books comparison to Jumanji is valid, but instead of the story being fun and entertaining it felt like a chore to get through. there’s a lot of POVs and i kept confusing them since the characterization felt so flat. while the inclusion of Japanese folklore mixed with horror was interesting, it didn’t feel authentic to the story at all. the writing was fast paced but kind of messy, it just seemed like there were too many ideas being thrown together. I did like some of the darker descriptions during the challenges and the ending took a turn that surprised me, but by then it was hard to be too impressed cause I had already checked out.
thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc, all opinions are my own.
June 28, 2023
I’ll preface this review by saying that I received Kristen Simmons’s book “Find Him Where You Left Him Dead” as a giveaway from Goodreads and Tor Publishing. Thanks to both for the free copy.
Four years ago, five eighth-grade friends walked into a cave to play a game. Only four of them walked out. Nobody knew what happened to the fifth. At least, nobody was talking.
Now, Madeline spends every waking moment studying or swimming. Emerson plays video games all day. Owen is obsessively into theatre. Dax is a drop-out who plays guitar at a coffeehouse where nobody pays him any attention. None of them have really spoken to each other in years.
One night, each of them is visited by the ghost of their missing friend, Ian, who tells them to play the game again, before dawn, so he can come back.
Thus begins Kristen Simmons’s young adult horror novel “Find Him Where You Left Him Dead”, which reads like a dark-fantasy “Jumanji” based on Japanese folklore.
Simmons does several things well in this. She creates very real, believable, and likable teen characters, all of whom would fare well in a Stephen King novel. She also sets the book, from page one, at a frenetic pace, one that keeps the reader intrigued and guessing all the way through.
She also incorporates a lot of fascinating Japanese folklore in this, much of which is downright creepy. (This may be why Japanese horror movies are some of the creepiest damn horror movies.) From the legendary monsters such as oni and tengu to the female demon Kuchisake-onna with her “Joker”-like ear-to-ear smile, “FHWYLHD” is populated with some intensely horrifying monsters.
My one complaint with all this is that Simmons doesn’t provide a lot of exposition—-usually a good thing. In this case, however, a few more expository sentences may have come in handy to explain what these Japanese demons and creatures were and their cultural significance. A minor complaint, though, as I thought the use of real folkloric legends was way cool.
Overall, this was a very exciting YA horror novel, full of plot twists and believable teen drama. (Simmons is, according to her bio, a mental health therapist specializing in trauma survivors, so a lot of the stuff these kids are going through feels very authentic.) It also hints at a possible sequel and series.
Four years ago, five eighth-grade friends walked into a cave to play a game. Only four of them walked out. Nobody knew what happened to the fifth. At least, nobody was talking.
Now, Madeline spends every waking moment studying or swimming. Emerson plays video games all day. Owen is obsessively into theatre. Dax is a drop-out who plays guitar at a coffeehouse where nobody pays him any attention. None of them have really spoken to each other in years.
One night, each of them is visited by the ghost of their missing friend, Ian, who tells them to play the game again, before dawn, so he can come back.
Thus begins Kristen Simmons’s young adult horror novel “Find Him Where You Left Him Dead”, which reads like a dark-fantasy “Jumanji” based on Japanese folklore.
Simmons does several things well in this. She creates very real, believable, and likable teen characters, all of whom would fare well in a Stephen King novel. She also sets the book, from page one, at a frenetic pace, one that keeps the reader intrigued and guessing all the way through.
She also incorporates a lot of fascinating Japanese folklore in this, much of which is downright creepy. (This may be why Japanese horror movies are some of the creepiest damn horror movies.) From the legendary monsters such as oni and tengu to the female demon Kuchisake-onna with her “Joker”-like ear-to-ear smile, “FHWYLHD” is populated with some intensely horrifying monsters.
My one complaint with all this is that Simmons doesn’t provide a lot of exposition—-usually a good thing. In this case, however, a few more expository sentences may have come in handy to explain what these Japanese demons and creatures were and their cultural significance. A minor complaint, though, as I thought the use of real folkloric legends was way cool.
Overall, this was a very exciting YA horror novel, full of plot twists and believable teen drama. (Simmons is, according to her bio, a mental health therapist specializing in trauma survivors, so a lot of the stuff these kids are going through feels very authentic.) It also hints at a possible sequel and series.
October 5, 2023
❥ 3.5/5 This was such an interesting story!
What I liked: I heard “Jumanji but Japanese folklore inspired” and was like yep, I’m in. And I truly think that’s where this book succeeded. I loved getting to see the MCs travel through different levels of the game, and then go learn more about the folklore that inspired them. I also liked the twist we got towards the end and thought it was a really interesting way to explain everything that happened throughout the book. Although it took me a while to feel attached to them, I was biting my nails at the end waiting to see if all of characters would make it out alive.
What I didn’t like: It did take me a bit to really feel invested in the main characters and their quest, possibly because of the many POVs. Most of the negative reviews I’ve seen were DNFs, which is unfortunate because I think the second half is where things really draw you in. While I wouldn’t say I was really scared, the monsters were objectively scary (I definitely wouldn’t want to encounter them in real life). I was a little disappointed that things didn’t wrap up neatly, as I feel like book 2 will end up being a revisit of book 1, but we’ll see!
Overall: I would recommend this for people who want to read about a deadly game inspired by Japanese folklore, if you don’t mind waiting a little bit to feel invested in the characters/story.
Content warnings: discussions of racism, blood/gore, death in a fire
————————————
Thank you Tor for providing me an ARC!
What I liked: I heard “Jumanji but Japanese folklore inspired” and was like yep, I’m in. And I truly think that’s where this book succeeded. I loved getting to see the MCs travel through different levels of the game, and then go learn more about the folklore that inspired them. I also liked the twist we got towards the end and thought it was a really interesting way to explain everything that happened throughout the book. Although it took me a while to feel attached to them, I was biting my nails at the end waiting to see if all of characters would make it out alive.
What I didn’t like: It did take me a bit to really feel invested in the main characters and their quest, possibly because of the many POVs. Most of the negative reviews I’ve seen were DNFs, which is unfortunate because I think the second half is where things really draw you in. While I wouldn’t say I was really scared, the monsters were objectively scary (I definitely wouldn’t want to encounter them in real life). I was a little disappointed that things didn’t wrap up neatly, as I feel like book 2 will end up being a revisit of book 1, but we’ll see!
Overall: I would recommend this for people who want to read about a deadly game inspired by Japanese folklore, if you don’t mind waiting a little bit to feel invested in the characters/story.
Content warnings: discussions of racism, blood/gore, death in a fire
————————————
Thank you Tor for providing me an ARC!
September 26, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.
I liked this, but there are some pretty significant things keeping me from giving this any higher than three stars. The biggest problem being that several of the twisty details and reveals make no sense, and we get no explanations for them. Some of this I guess I can write off if it turns out this will be a series, which the very last sentence seems to imply is the intent, but I was left really dissatisfied and I don't actually know if this is book one, so I'm still counting this as a ding.
This is a story about five kids who started playing a Japanese card game, and then under circumstances they never talk or think about, left one of their friends behind for dead. Now, four years later and seemingly haunted by the ghost of their friend, they have reunited to finish the game in hopes that they can bring him back from the creepy Japanese underworld slash gameworld he has been stuck in for four years.
Right away, I thought the decision to have four POVs was the wrong one. This is a short book, and two narrators would have bene more than okay. I would have chosen Emerson, but probably Maddie would have been the one the author would have chosen, and then Dax. The decision to have all the kids be characters just meant that it took me way too long to actually get invested in the story and the characters, not until the 50% mark. And there really wasn't any narrative purpose behind having them all as POV characters.
The second thing, as mentioned above, is how incomplete this book feels. It needed fifty more pages at least. The ending was the worst, as we go from the kids playing the game, to somehow having everything wrapped up and fixed in literally an instant. I literally listened to the ending three times just to make sure I hadn't accidentally tuned out and missed something, but I didn't. It read like the author couldn't figure out how to explain what happened so she just decided to skip the explanation entirely. The explanation, and the climax, which is only the most important part of the book. I kind of can't believe her editor let her get away with it.
The game aspect wasn't really used enough, in my opinion. The only truly satisfying game portion of the book involved the kids playing Truth or Dare with younger versions of themselves. That was the only genuinely great part of the story.
There is also an entirely unresolved subplot involving an empress wanting to come back from the dead and rule the world. Again, if there is a sequel, I suppose this isn't an issue, but it's unclear.
All in all, not mad I read this, but I could have been reading something better.
I liked this, but there are some pretty significant things keeping me from giving this any higher than three stars. The biggest problem being that several of the twisty details and reveals make no sense, and we get no explanations for them. Some of this I guess I can write off if it turns out this will be a series, which the very last sentence seems to imply is the intent, but I was left really dissatisfied and I don't actually know if this is book one, so I'm still counting this as a ding.
This is a story about five kids who started playing a Japanese card game, and then under circumstances they never talk or think about, left one of their friends behind for dead. Now, four years later and seemingly haunted by the ghost of their friend, they have reunited to finish the game in hopes that they can bring him back from the creepy Japanese underworld slash gameworld he has been stuck in for four years.
Right away, I thought the decision to have four POVs was the wrong one. This is a short book, and two narrators would have bene more than okay. I would have chosen Emerson, but probably Maddie would have been the one the author would have chosen, and then Dax. The decision to have all the kids be characters just meant that it took me way too long to actually get invested in the story and the characters, not until the 50% mark. And there really wasn't any narrative purpose behind having them all as POV characters.
The second thing, as mentioned above, is how incomplete this book feels. It needed fifty more pages at least. The ending was the worst, as we go from the kids playing the game, to somehow having everything wrapped up and fixed in literally an instant. I literally listened to the ending three times just to make sure I hadn't accidentally tuned out and missed something, but I didn't. It read like the author couldn't figure out how to explain what happened so she just decided to skip the explanation entirely. The explanation, and the climax, which is only the most important part of the book. I kind of can't believe her editor let her get away with it.
The game aspect wasn't really used enough, in my opinion. The only truly satisfying game portion of the book involved the kids playing Truth or Dare with younger versions of themselves. That was the only genuinely great part of the story.
There is also an entirely unresolved subplot involving an empress wanting to come back from the dead and rule the world. Again, if there is a sequel, I suppose this isn't an issue, but it's unclear.
All in all, not mad I read this, but I could have been reading something better.
September 10, 2023
Contemporary fantasy meets horror and Japanese folklore in Find Him Where You Left Him Dead. I liked this, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. A lot of the book feels on the younger side of YA, though later in the book things get a bit more intense.
Early on, a lot of the horror elements feel pretty campy, but it turns into this fast-paced novel following a potentially deadly game that these friends must complete several years after they left their friend for dead. The characters spend a lot of the novel feeling more like a collection of tropes and attributes than fully fleshed out people. I wasn't entirely bothered by that because of the pace of the book and how much was happening, but it is a weakness. That said, we do get some good representation of biracial characters (one is half-Japanese and struggles with feeling not enough for both sides of his heritage- something the author might share as well), and we have queer characters including an ace girl, which is cool!
I do think there is a glaring plot hole in the setup of this book- if their friend went missing and they said they were at the coffeeshop all day, people would definitely interview witnesses and find out they lied. But again, to a certain extent that all feels like a means to an end which is this game in a sort of pocket universe with Japanese folklore come to life. Yeah it doesn't all make sense, but I don't know how much it matters for the story we're getting. It would have been nice to get some attempt at verisimilitude though.
If you aren't familiar with it, Japanese folklore can be creepy as hell and this draws on all of that. I liked the way it managed that integration and I think this would make for a good starter horror novel for a teen. Not a perfect book. but a solid choice and one I had a reasonably good time with. I don't feel like the cover gives the right vibes though. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Early on, a lot of the horror elements feel pretty campy, but it turns into this fast-paced novel following a potentially deadly game that these friends must complete several years after they left their friend for dead. The characters spend a lot of the novel feeling more like a collection of tropes and attributes than fully fleshed out people. I wasn't entirely bothered by that because of the pace of the book and how much was happening, but it is a weakness. That said, we do get some good representation of biracial characters (one is half-Japanese and struggles with feeling not enough for both sides of his heritage- something the author might share as well), and we have queer characters including an ace girl, which is cool!
I do think there is a glaring plot hole in the setup of this book- if their friend went missing and they said they were at the coffeeshop all day, people would definitely interview witnesses and find out they lied. But again, to a certain extent that all feels like a means to an end which is this game in a sort of pocket universe with Japanese folklore come to life. Yeah it doesn't all make sense, but I don't know how much it matters for the story we're getting. It would have been nice to get some attempt at verisimilitude though.
If you aren't familiar with it, Japanese folklore can be creepy as hell and this draws on all of that. I liked the way it managed that integration and I think this would make for a good starter horror novel for a teen. Not a perfect book. but a solid choice and one I had a reasonably good time with. I don't feel like the cover gives the right vibes though. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
October 13, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a great book! When I saw that this book was described as a Japanese-inspired Jumanji, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. I was hooked by this story right away and found myself trying to carve out extra reading time in my day just to get back to the book a little faster. I loved the fact that the story was brutal at times and the setting was incredibly unique.
Madeline, Emerson, Owen, Dax, and Ian were best friends until things went horribly wrong during a game that left Ian missing and presumed dead. They are brought together again four years later after they see a vision of their lost friend. Realizing their friend may not be dead, they go back to the place where they lost him and are thrust back into a game that is more dangerous than they could ever imagine.
The story is told from 4 main points of view and I loved getting to see things from each of the main character’s perspectives. The odds were definitely stacked against this group of characters since the world they found themselves in was horrific at times. I was impressed by the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into this story that I did not see coming. It was great seeing the relationships between these characters strengthen over the course of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was captivated by this entertaining novel with great characters and a perfectly creepy tone. I felt like the Japanese folklore added a wonderful element to this story. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Tor Teen.
This was a great book! When I saw that this book was described as a Japanese-inspired Jumanji, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. I was hooked by this story right away and found myself trying to carve out extra reading time in my day just to get back to the book a little faster. I loved the fact that the story was brutal at times and the setting was incredibly unique.
Madeline, Emerson, Owen, Dax, and Ian were best friends until things went horribly wrong during a game that left Ian missing and presumed dead. They are brought together again four years later after they see a vision of their lost friend. Realizing their friend may not be dead, they go back to the place where they lost him and are thrust back into a game that is more dangerous than they could ever imagine.
The story is told from 4 main points of view and I loved getting to see things from each of the main character’s perspectives. The odds were definitely stacked against this group of characters since the world they found themselves in was horrific at times. I was impressed by the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into this story that I did not see coming. It was great seeing the relationships between these characters strengthen over the course of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was captivated by this entertaining novel with great characters and a perfectly creepy tone. I felt like the Japanese folklore added a wonderful element to this story. I hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.
I received a review copy of this book from Tor Teen.
Want to read
February 8, 2023IT HAS A COVER NOW!! I need this book in my life!!
Read
June 28, 2023DNF 28% I really felt nothing for the characters. I really didn't care if they died.
September 5, 2023
“You have such beautiful skin. It will look lovely on my trees.”
I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Jumanji that’ll make you think twice before you play games with your friends.
If you know me you know that I adore KS and her work. She has this special way of instantly connecting you to her characters and that helps you get more invested in the story. She certainly knows how to shock her readers and I love it. Here she dips her toes into the land of the horror. I’m glad she has come to the dark side because we have the best cookies.
Another thing that grabbed my attention with this book is that it was Japanese folklore-inspired. That mixed with horror and a neat little game made me drop everything and start this book.
For this being her first horror novel, I applaud her. This is no easy feat but she pulled it off well. It makes me excited to see what other horrors are swimming around in her brain. This wasn't as horror-heavy as I thought it was going to be but it was still a read that I devoured.
This was an okay read. I think I enjoyed the first half more than the second. There were times I had to reread certain chapters or pages because I thought I had missed something. Things did move a tad bit slow and fast at times. Which is weird to say because they are very opposite things but that was how I felt at times. The ending will definitely leave you wanting more.
I Know What You Did Last Summer meets Jumanji that’ll make you think twice before you play games with your friends.
If you know me you know that I adore KS and her work. She has this special way of instantly connecting you to her characters and that helps you get more invested in the story. She certainly knows how to shock her readers and I love it. Here she dips her toes into the land of the horror. I’m glad she has come to the dark side because we have the best cookies.
Another thing that grabbed my attention with this book is that it was Japanese folklore-inspired. That mixed with horror and a neat little game made me drop everything and start this book.
For this being her first horror novel, I applaud her. This is no easy feat but she pulled it off well. It makes me excited to see what other horrors are swimming around in her brain. This wasn't as horror-heavy as I thought it was going to be but it was still a read that I devoured.
This was an okay read. I think I enjoyed the first half more than the second. There were times I had to reread certain chapters or pages because I thought I had missed something. Things did move a tad bit slow and fast at times. Which is weird to say because they are very opposite things but that was how I felt at times. The ending will definitely leave you wanting more.
June 14, 2024
The beginning was promising but then everything got messy (not in a good way) for the rest of the book. Kept reading to see where it was going but it was a bit of a struggle to stay interested.
Would not recommend.
Would not recommend.
September 17, 2023
3.5*
The premise of this story is very cool, and I loved that it was steeped in lore and culture. That isn't to say I didn't have any issues, however. So let's dive into it, but know that the good definitely outweighed the bad at the end of the day.
What I Enjoyed:
►The aforementioned Japanese mythology was amazing. This was a very cool aspect of the book, and I learned a lot of new things! In fact, I would happily learn a lot more about this mythology because that part was so interesting to me!
►The characters were likable. I mean- they were flawed, very flawed in some cases, don't get me wrong. But, they had also all been through it, too. So it at least made sense. I liked that they had to face their demons, literally and figuratively, as well. They also all had to rebuild their relationships with one another if they ever had any hope of making it out alive, so that was also cool.
►It eventually did have a lot of cool twists. Like I said below, I am glad I kept reading, because there were some very cool surprises and exciting bits! It just took a minute for the book to feel high stakes, but it did after the first half for sure!
What I Struggled With:
►The beginning was rough for me. The first third of the book just felt low stakes, like I didn't feel that any of the characters were really in any kind of danger? It just felt formulaic and I almost gave up, truth be told. I am really glad I didn't, but if I was a person who DNFed more easily, I fear I would have.
►Likewise, the ending was a bit... ambiguous. The last thing I wrote in my Kindle notes was "is this a series?!" because the ending would lead me to believe that it was. If it isn't... I am not super satisfied?
Bottom Line: I am glad I stuck with it, but I do wish for a bit stronger beginning and end- though hey, maybe it is a series?
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
TW: "This story takes place in a world of monsters. Please be aware that there is blood, gore, death, abandonment, and grief in these pages. It’s a book about finding courage, trusting, healing, and fighting to make your way home, together."
The premise of this story is very cool, and I loved that it was steeped in lore and culture. That isn't to say I didn't have any issues, however. So let's dive into it, but know that the good definitely outweighed the bad at the end of the day.
What I Enjoyed:
►The aforementioned Japanese mythology was amazing. This was a very cool aspect of the book, and I learned a lot of new things! In fact, I would happily learn a lot more about this mythology because that part was so interesting to me!
►The characters were likable. I mean- they were flawed, very flawed in some cases, don't get me wrong. But, they had also all been through it, too. So it at least made sense. I liked that they had to face their demons, literally and figuratively, as well. They also all had to rebuild their relationships with one another if they ever had any hope of making it out alive, so that was also cool.
►It eventually did have a lot of cool twists. Like I said below, I am glad I kept reading, because there were some very cool surprises and exciting bits! It just took a minute for the book to feel high stakes, but it did after the first half for sure!
What I Struggled With:
►The beginning was rough for me. The first third of the book just felt low stakes, like I didn't feel that any of the characters were really in any kind of danger? It just felt formulaic and I almost gave up, truth be told. I am really glad I didn't, but if I was a person who DNFed more easily, I fear I would have.
►Likewise, the ending was a bit... ambiguous. The last thing I wrote in my Kindle notes was "is this a series?!" because the ending would lead me to believe that it was. If it isn't... I am not super satisfied?
Bottom Line: I am glad I stuck with it, but I do wish for a bit stronger beginning and end- though hey, maybe it is a series?
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
June 10, 2025
I saw someone describe this as Jumanji meets I Know What You Did Last Summer and I honestly can’t think of a better description for this book! I really loved the Japanese inspiration the author took, I haven’t read much in that kind of setting and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint was the ending, I really saw this as a standalone and was a little disappointed to see there would be a second book.
December 5, 2024
That was a fun read. For me, not for the characters lol!
April 21, 2023
This book reminded me of Jumunji, but Japanese horror edition. The book starts out with each member of the friend group having a horrific supernatural experience involving the ghost of their friend who had died 4 years prior. You don’t find out much about the game, other than the fact that it was a card game they found in a cave they explored, but half the cards were missing. Once the supernatural experiences occur, they decide to go back to the cave aka the scene of the crime, and quite literally sink through the ground and end up in a dark wood. They are invited inside a cabin by a mysterious old woman who already knows their names and tells them that the only way to find their friend (who may not be dead like they initially thought) and get out of the game is to retrieve seven stones. If they don’t complete this by morning, they are stuck in the game forever.
I was super excited to read this but honestly…it wasn’t scary. I suppose Jumunji isn’t really scary either, but it’s also not intended to be a horror movie. I went into this expecting horror, but I don’t know if I’d even categorize this as that. Before even the first 30% of the book when they were still on the first of the seven challenges, I was already checked out. I kept finding myself procrastinating reading the rest of this. I could feel myself slipping back into what a reading slump feels like while I was trying to get through this, which is discouraging because I JUST got out of a reading slump. To be completely honest, I got super bored before I was even halfway through and just skimmed the rest. Which was a bummer because I was really expecting to like this one a lot!
This was a hard one for me to get through. Which is strange because a creepy horror game sounds like something I would love, so I wasn’t expecting to not enjoy this. I wanted to like this one, but I guess it wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
I was super excited to read this but honestly…it wasn’t scary. I suppose Jumunji isn’t really scary either, but it’s also not intended to be a horror movie. I went into this expecting horror, but I don’t know if I’d even categorize this as that. Before even the first 30% of the book when they were still on the first of the seven challenges, I was already checked out. I kept finding myself procrastinating reading the rest of this. I could feel myself slipping back into what a reading slump feels like while I was trying to get through this, which is discouraging because I JUST got out of a reading slump. To be completely honest, I got super bored before I was even halfway through and just skimmed the rest. Which was a bummer because I was really expecting to like this one a lot!
This was a hard one for me to get through. Which is strange because a creepy horror game sounds like something I would love, so I wasn’t expecting to not enjoy this. I wanted to like this one, but I guess it wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
March 20, 2024
1/5☆|ya, horror, thriller|14+
This wasn't even scary AT ALL, only the beginning sort of, like horror who? Where? Didn't get that. It was just weird and confusing. I adore the Jumanji movies and Japanese culture and their mythology is interesting to me. That is why I've been looking forward to reading this but it was extremely disappointing. Holly Jackson is seriously the queen of thrillers, I guess I'll have to do a reread of AGGGTM or Five Survive (not complaining ofc) because this was NOT it.
This wasn't even scary AT ALL, only the beginning sort of, like horror who? Where? Didn't get that. It was just weird and confusing. I adore the Jumanji movies and Japanese culture and their mythology is interesting to me. That is why I've been looking forward to reading this but it was extremely disappointing. Holly Jackson is seriously the queen of thrillers, I guess I'll have to do a reread of AGGGTM or Five Survive (not complaining ofc) because this was NOT it.
October 10, 2023
This is a YA horror/ suspense story. Both of the narrators were pretty decent.
Overall I enjoyed the storyline. I thought the game aspect and all the Japanese mythology was pretty neat.
The characters were probably the worst part of this, they all kinda blend together.
Overall I enjoyed the storyline. I thought the game aspect and all the Japanese mythology was pretty neat.
The characters were probably the worst part of this, they all kinda blend together.
2023
September 16, 2025Halloween TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen
March 19, 2024
Well this was certainly fun!
I don't know a lot about Japanese folklore but the stories I've read have been fascinating and this one wasn't any different. Simmons created this world within our world where magic and monsters live and where 4 friends must work together or risk being lost forever.
Years ago, a game went horribly wrong and someone never came home. Now the remaining friend group no longer speaks to each other but all that changes when the ghost of the lost friend starts haunting each one. Now they must come together to find out the truth of what happened that day and figure out for once and for all if Ian is alive.
This other world, Meido, that Simmons created was super creepy! And the fact that there was a game aspect underneath made it even creepier because games are supposed to be fun. Each level was a riddle of sorts that the group would need to figure out in order to advance. And let me tell you, these levels were so unique and original that I was constantly guessing at the outcome.
There were a few twists and turns throughout the book, a few I guessed at, and some I was pleasantly surprised at. I went in thinking this was a standalone so was a little shocked when it ended on a cliffhanger, but I am super happy that I will be getting more in this world!
I don't know a lot about Japanese folklore but the stories I've read have been fascinating and this one wasn't any different. Simmons created this world within our world where magic and monsters live and where 4 friends must work together or risk being lost forever.
Years ago, a game went horribly wrong and someone never came home. Now the remaining friend group no longer speaks to each other but all that changes when the ghost of the lost friend starts haunting each one. Now they must come together to find out the truth of what happened that day and figure out for once and for all if Ian is alive.
This other world, Meido, that Simmons created was super creepy! And the fact that there was a game aspect underneath made it even creepier because games are supposed to be fun. Each level was a riddle of sorts that the group would need to figure out in order to advance. And let me tell you, these levels were so unique and original that I was constantly guessing at the outcome.
There were a few twists and turns throughout the book, a few I guessed at, and some I was pleasantly surprised at. I went in thinking this was a standalone so was a little shocked when it ended on a cliffhanger, but I am super happy that I will be getting more in this world!
March 13, 2024
All I saw was the “Jumanji but Japanese-inspired and really disturbing” endorsement and I was sold. But if I had looked a little closer, I would have seen that it was written by Blake. That should have told me everything I needed to know because I didn’t like her book either.
Anyways…
This isn’t Jumanji or really disturbing. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
Anyways…
This isn’t Jumanji or really disturbing. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
August 1, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘼 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 "𝙅𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙟𝙞 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙅𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚-𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙" 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.
I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this one. It’s not something I would typically pick up, but I found myself super engaged to the story.
Four years ago, five friends walk into a cave to play a game, but only four of those friends walk out…
This is a YA story, but I feel like each character was thoroughly developed. I was intrigued by all four of them: Madeline, Emerson, Owen, and Dax. We also get all four POVs!
This is definitely an intense horror-action story, and I can see why it’s being compared to Jumanji but Japanese-inspired. The book is disturbing and creepy. I was kept on the edge of my seat after finishing each chapter. I had to know what happened to the fifth friend and why he never came out.
I have not read anything like this horror fantasy book, but I had such a fun time reading it. There were a few twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming, and I surprisingly liked these characters. The ending was completely wild and compelling, I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Teen for the review copies in exchange for my honest review!
𝘼 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 "𝙅𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙟𝙞 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙅𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙚-𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙" 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙.
I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this one. It’s not something I would typically pick up, but I found myself super engaged to the story.
Four years ago, five friends walk into a cave to play a game, but only four of those friends walk out…
This is a YA story, but I feel like each character was thoroughly developed. I was intrigued by all four of them: Madeline, Emerson, Owen, and Dax. We also get all four POVs!
This is definitely an intense horror-action story, and I can see why it’s being compared to Jumanji but Japanese-inspired. The book is disturbing and creepy. I was kept on the edge of my seat after finishing each chapter. I had to know what happened to the fifth friend and why he never came out.
I have not read anything like this horror fantasy book, but I had such a fun time reading it. There were a few twists thrown in that I didn’t see coming, and I surprisingly liked these characters. The ending was completely wild and compelling, I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Tor Teen for the review copies in exchange for my honest review!
January 3, 2025
„Zanim nadejdzie świt” to książka, która zapewni Wam niesamowicie dużo emocji i przede wszystkim rozrywki!!! Podczas czytania czułam się dokładnie tak jak wtedy gdy pierwszy raz oglądałam Jumanji🦧. Pomimo tego że przez pierwsze 100 stron było mi trochę ciężko wgryźć się w historię, to cała reszta fabuły to wynagrodziła 🥰
! Jeśli ktoś ma arachnofobię tak jak ja to niech lepiej uważa na gigantyczne pająki 🙈
! Jeśli ktoś ma arachnofobię tak jak ja to niech lepiej uważa na gigantyczne pająki 🙈
October 21, 2024
"Zanim nadejdzie świt" to horror młodzieżowy, którego opis od razu mnie przyciągnął i sprawił, że książka stała się jedną z najbardziej wyczekiwanych przeze mnie premier tego roku. Ale czy spełniła wszystkie moje oczekiwania? No nie do końca.
Z początku byłam bardzo podekscytowana historią przypominającą Jumanji, w której główni bohaterowie muszą zmierzyć się z różnymi wyzwaniami, od których zależy czy wrócą do domu czy może przepadną na zawsze, niestety zadania same w sobie nie były zbytnio interesujące. Nastawiałam się na troszkę więcej grozy, więcej emocji, po prostu - gier, które rzeczywiście będą w jakiś sposób straszne, ale przede wszystkim interesujące, ponieważ jako czytelnik, w pewnym momencie zaczynałam się nudzić, choć początek historii BARDZO mi się podobał. Sam świat miał ogromny potencjał, jednak czegoś mi w nim zabrakło, do tego przez to, że mamy perspektywę kilku osób, miałam ciągłe wrażenie, że wiemy o nich o wiele za mało, zwłaszcza patrząc na ich wspólną przeszłość, a o teraźniejszości, to już w ogóle nie wspominając.
Na pewno ogromnym plusem były postacie poboczne z którymi nasi bohaterowie musieli się zmierzyć i to właśnie oni byli najciekawszym elementem w całej fabule i interakcje z nimi motywowały mnie do dalszego czytania, ponieważ samo funkcjonowanie gry strasznie mnie interesowało i chciałam dowiedzieć się o niej jak najwięcej.
W skrócie: z jednej strony było mi wszystkiego mało, z drugiej trochę się wynudziłam, ale sama historia zapowiadała się świetnie I choć niestety w moich oczach jest trochę zmarnowanym potencjałem, to wiem, że znajdzie się spore grono, które ją polubi, żałuję jedynie, że sama do niego nie należę 😩
Z początku byłam bardzo podekscytowana historią przypominającą Jumanji, w której główni bohaterowie muszą zmierzyć się z różnymi wyzwaniami, od których zależy czy wrócą do domu czy może przepadną na zawsze, niestety zadania same w sobie nie były zbytnio interesujące. Nastawiałam się na troszkę więcej grozy, więcej emocji, po prostu - gier, które rzeczywiście będą w jakiś sposób straszne, ale przede wszystkim interesujące, ponieważ jako czytelnik, w pewnym momencie zaczynałam się nudzić, choć początek historii BARDZO mi się podobał. Sam świat miał ogromny potencjał, jednak czegoś mi w nim zabrakło, do tego przez to, że mamy perspektywę kilku osób, miałam ciągłe wrażenie, że wiemy o nich o wiele za mało, zwłaszcza patrząc na ich wspólną przeszłość, a o teraźniejszości, to już w ogóle nie wspominając.
Na pewno ogromnym plusem były postacie poboczne z którymi nasi bohaterowie musieli się zmierzyć i to właśnie oni byli najciekawszym elementem w całej fabule i interakcje z nimi motywowały mnie do dalszego czytania, ponieważ samo funkcjonowanie gry strasznie mnie interesowało i chciałam dowiedzieć się o niej jak najwięcej.
W skrócie: z jednej strony było mi wszystkiego mało, z drugiej trochę się wynudziłam, ale sama historia zapowiadała się świetnie I choć niestety w moich oczach jest trochę zmarnowanym potencjałem, to wiem, że znajdzie się spore grono, które ją polubi, żałuję jedynie, że sama do niego nie należę 😩
October 29, 2023
Japanese inspired version of Jumanji is an oddly specific yet accurate description of this book. It was entertaining and deep. It had several twists that took me by surprise, while some did not. There are plenty of little bits at the end that leave it open for a sequel, which I would absolutely check out. I did like listening to this, because I know I would have been stumbling and questioning myself on the Japanese words in this. Overall, this was a perfect read for spooky season.
Four years ago, they played a game in a cave by the river, and one of them didn’t make it out. Now he appeared to all of them and told them they had to find him by morning or else. Back at the cave, they end up inside a Japanese game where the only way to get out is to finish playing. Each card represents a different challenge and after they finish one, they will be able to move on to the next. With one night to complete all the tasks, trying to decipher everything in a foreign language, and something chasing them through the game, this task seems daunting.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook, all thoughts are my own.
Four years ago, they played a game in a cave by the river, and one of them didn’t make it out. Now he appeared to all of them and told them they had to find him by morning or else. Back at the cave, they end up inside a Japanese game where the only way to get out is to finish playing. Each card represents a different challenge and after they finish one, they will be able to move on to the next. With one night to complete all the tasks, trying to decipher everything in a foreign language, and something chasing them through the game, this task seems daunting.
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook, all thoughts are my own.
August 29, 2023
This took me by surprise in a great way! Maybe I just didn't read the blurb well, but I was not expecting paranormal trials or Japanese mythology, both of which are things I love. The story also jumps right in, with short chapters and ghosts(?) to draw you into the plot and get things going.
The group of former friends have to complete seven challenges before dawn if they want to return home and I enjoyed seeing them work through their past issues and feelings, while also fighting deadly creatures. The plot kept me intrigued and the bits of romance sprinkled in were a nice addition.
What I struggled with were the uneven chapters and how long some of them were. In the beginning the chapters are fairly short, but once the game starts they become four times as long and slowed the pace down a bit. I think several of them could have been cut into two chapters and it would have broken up the story a little bit.
I had a great time reading this and I hope there's a sequel in the works!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the copy.
The group of former friends have to complete seven challenges before dawn if they want to return home and I enjoyed seeing them work through their past issues and feelings, while also fighting deadly creatures. The plot kept me intrigued and the bits of romance sprinkled in were a nice addition.
What I struggled with were the uneven chapters and how long some of them were. In the beginning the chapters are fairly short, but once the game starts they become four times as long and slowed the pace down a bit. I think several of them could have been cut into two chapters and it would have broken up the story a little bit.
I had a great time reading this and I hope there's a sequel in the works!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the copy.
May 22, 2023
Thank you so much to Tor Teen, NetGalley, and Kristen Simmons for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I want to start off by saying that I really thought I was going to enjoy Find Him Where You Left Him Dead. I have read two of Kristen Simmons’ other books, (The Deceivers and Scammed), and I was blown away by how compelling their plots were, how lovable the cast of characters in the books were, and how believable and heartwarming the characters’ relationships were. Plus, I am a huge fan of YA paranormal horror books, so when I first saw this book listed on Kristen Simmons’ Goodreads page in 2021, I knew I had to get my hands on it. A book in a genre I love by a favorite author of mine should have been so much fun to read, and I was fully expecting to adore this one.
I also want to say that I only request ARCs that I am expecting to rate 4 or 5 stars. Again, I went into this book really expecting to love it. Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by it.
First off, Kristen Simmons begins this book with one of my pet peeves: introducing us to the characters by stating what hobbies they have rather than creating distinct personalities for them. Yes, I remember that Dax plays guitar and Maddy swims, but their voices were so unmemorable, and their personalities so bland, that I would not have been able to differentiate the characters if their names hadn’t been at the top of the chapters they narrated. It’s fine for characters to have hobbies, but I hate it when hobbies are the only source of characterization for a character, and that was definitely the case here.
The opening chapters of the story were fairly mundane, even though they each ended with a paranormal event. It’s strange how a certain writing style can turn what would be a terrifying event into a run-of-the-mill reading experience. I kept telling myself that the book would get better once the plot got going, but once the characters entered the underworld (Meido), my reading experience deteriorated further.
There’s a difference between having your characters be unclear about the world they’re in and just not explaining details that should be explained. I understand that Kristen Simmons made the stylistic choice for the world and the structure of the challenges to be confusing; however, that choice made it difficult for me to get invested in the story.
Stories that deal with survival games, like Squid Game, Alice in Borderland, and even The Hunger Games are compulsively consumable because of their rigid structure; we know that the characters are going into a game setting where the rules are unclear at first. But once the characters are in the arena, the rules are explained very clearly, so the audience can watch the games with bated breath, hoping that their favorite characters don’t break the rules, and knowing the exact moment when they do, because the rules are exact and absolute. Remember in Squid Game, when you watched a character make a crack in their ppopgi, and you were seized with horror, knowing what was about to happen as a result? There are no moments like that in this book.
It’s so hard to feel any sort of suspense when you don’t know what constitutes a mistake in Meido. It’s also hard to feel suspense when you don’t really get to know (and therefore don’t care about) any of the characters in the book.
The character relationships in this book are quite weak as well. The protagonists are estranged childhood friends, and the story is supposed to follow their journey as they repair their fraught friendships amidst the horrors they face in Meido. However, Kristen Simmons employs another pet peeve writing tactic of mine: she repairs the characters’ friendships by essentially making them forget that they stopped being friends. This really isn’t a spoiler, because the character relationships are such a weak element of the book, and the story is not impacted by them much at all (and yes, that is another problem I have with the story).
It is so uninteresting to read about a character relationship that is fixed with a convenient magic wand. This erased any semblance of tension that existed between the characters, and ensured that I wouldn���t be able to believe anything about their relationships with each other. There was no organic, on-page relationship development here; just the writing telling me over and over that these characters were best friends again.
There’s also a painfully forced romance that is created with a similarly convenient story device rather than any on-page chemistry building, which is yet another pet peeve of mine.
Continuing to talk about convenience in relation to this book, the story was not compelling during any of the challenges, because they were won so easily that there was never any time for me to worry about whether or not the characters would make it.
Kristen Simmons’ take on Japanese mythology and Meido was interesting, but even some of the myths present in the story were not explained clearly enough to haunt or scare me. For example, I did not know that Kuchisake had a sequence of asking questions that were impossible to answer until I looked it up. To me, Kuchisake was just a creepy, lovesick man, not a character who would either cut your face or flat-out kill you depending on how you answered his questions.
Also, there were several jokes about concussions here. One of them was along the lines of “Haha, she’s acting funny, has she sustained a trauma to the head?” Concussion jokes will never be funny. People who act strange after sustaining a head injury feel scared and out of control, and making a joke about it is cruel on a level I didn’t know Kristen Simmons was capable of. I don't think Kristen Simmons was being deliberately cruel, but it was thoughtless, and I'm sad that concussion jokes have been so normalized in media. I know several people who have struggled with long-term concussion recovery, and the innumerable amount of concussion jokes that pollute the media will never be funny to me.
Additionally, this book is not a paranormal horror, it’s a fantasy. A paranormal horror typically has a few elements of horror while remaining grounded in reality, and this book had a completely different world with a fantastical geography and fantastical creatures. Plus, since all of the creatures are revealed at once, there is no build-up of fear where the reader is wondering, “what could be behind all these strange occurrences?” There is no psychological aspect to the horror in this book at all, so to me, it’s not really a horror book.
I think this book would be more successful if it was marketed as a YA fantasy book, but even then, the characters are so one-dimensional, and the plot so half-baked, that I don’t see how anyone could enjoy this book without major revisions to the story. I know that I read an ARC, so I hope there is time for major changes to be made before this book is published.
The sentence structure of the prose was very confusing at times, which could be attributed to the fact that I read an ARC, or it could be a flaw in the prose, I’m not sure.
There were a few twists at the end of the story, some of which I was pleasantly surprised by, and one that was so blatantly foreshadowed, I saw it coming from the beginning. I appreciate that Kristen Simmons carefully planned the twists in the story, and that some of them were surprising while still being believable. That’s something I can always count on when reading a book by Kristen Simmons.
I am surprised that Kristen Simmons wrote this book, though. I am so used to reading compelling, stellar works of literary brilliance from her that I am truly baffled at how the amazing concept of this novel could be executed in such a lackluster manner. It was tedious to read, and it took me several months to finish because I was so uninvested that it was hard to pay attention to the story.
Overall, Find Him Where You Left Him Dead was a complete miss for me. If you’re looking for a compelling YA paranormal horror that follows a group of teens as they navigate a paranormal world and have to pass through different gates to make it home, I suggest picking up Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall instead. It has basically the opposite of all of the story flaws I’ve been talking about; it has memorable characters with believable relationships, lots of psychological horror and mystery, and a clearly-defined structure.
I want to start off by saying that I really thought I was going to enjoy Find Him Where You Left Him Dead. I have read two of Kristen Simmons’ other books, (The Deceivers and Scammed), and I was blown away by how compelling their plots were, how lovable the cast of characters in the books were, and how believable and heartwarming the characters’ relationships were. Plus, I am a huge fan of YA paranormal horror books, so when I first saw this book listed on Kristen Simmons’ Goodreads page in 2021, I knew I had to get my hands on it. A book in a genre I love by a favorite author of mine should have been so much fun to read, and I was fully expecting to adore this one.
I also want to say that I only request ARCs that I am expecting to rate 4 or 5 stars. Again, I went into this book really expecting to love it. Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed by it.
First off, Kristen Simmons begins this book with one of my pet peeves: introducing us to the characters by stating what hobbies they have rather than creating distinct personalities for them. Yes, I remember that Dax plays guitar and Maddy swims, but their voices were so unmemorable, and their personalities so bland, that I would not have been able to differentiate the characters if their names hadn’t been at the top of the chapters they narrated. It’s fine for characters to have hobbies, but I hate it when hobbies are the only source of characterization for a character, and that was definitely the case here.
The opening chapters of the story were fairly mundane, even though they each ended with a paranormal event. It’s strange how a certain writing style can turn what would be a terrifying event into a run-of-the-mill reading experience. I kept telling myself that the book would get better once the plot got going, but once the characters entered the underworld (Meido), my reading experience deteriorated further.
There’s a difference between having your characters be unclear about the world they’re in and just not explaining details that should be explained. I understand that Kristen Simmons made the stylistic choice for the world and the structure of the challenges to be confusing; however, that choice made it difficult for me to get invested in the story.
Stories that deal with survival games, like Squid Game, Alice in Borderland, and even The Hunger Games are compulsively consumable because of their rigid structure; we know that the characters are going into a game setting where the rules are unclear at first. But once the characters are in the arena, the rules are explained very clearly, so the audience can watch the games with bated breath, hoping that their favorite characters don’t break the rules, and knowing the exact moment when they do, because the rules are exact and absolute. Remember in Squid Game, when you watched a character make a crack in their ppopgi, and you were seized with horror, knowing what was about to happen as a result? There are no moments like that in this book.
It’s so hard to feel any sort of suspense when you don’t know what constitutes a mistake in Meido. It’s also hard to feel suspense when you don’t really get to know (and therefore don’t care about) any of the characters in the book.
The character relationships in this book are quite weak as well. The protagonists are estranged childhood friends, and the story is supposed to follow their journey as they repair their fraught friendships amidst the horrors they face in Meido. However, Kristen Simmons employs another pet peeve writing tactic of mine: she repairs the characters’ friendships by essentially making them forget that they stopped being friends. This really isn’t a spoiler, because the character relationships are such a weak element of the book, and the story is not impacted by them much at all (and yes, that is another problem I have with the story).
It is so uninteresting to read about a character relationship that is fixed with a convenient magic wand. This erased any semblance of tension that existed between the characters, and ensured that I wouldn���t be able to believe anything about their relationships with each other. There was no organic, on-page relationship development here; just the writing telling me over and over that these characters were best friends again.
There’s also a painfully forced romance that is created with a similarly convenient story device rather than any on-page chemistry building, which is yet another pet peeve of mine.
Continuing to talk about convenience in relation to this book, the story was not compelling during any of the challenges, because they were won so easily that there was never any time for me to worry about whether or not the characters would make it.
Kristen Simmons’ take on Japanese mythology and Meido was interesting, but even some of the myths present in the story were not explained clearly enough to haunt or scare me. For example, I did not know that Kuchisake had a sequence of asking questions that were impossible to answer until I looked it up. To me, Kuchisake was just a creepy, lovesick man, not a character who would either cut your face or flat-out kill you depending on how you answered his questions.
Also, there were several jokes about concussions here. One of them was along the lines of “Haha, she’s acting funny, has she sustained a trauma to the head?” Concussion jokes will never be funny. People who act strange after sustaining a head injury feel scared and out of control, and making a joke about it is cruel on a level I didn’t know Kristen Simmons was capable of. I don't think Kristen Simmons was being deliberately cruel, but it was thoughtless, and I'm sad that concussion jokes have been so normalized in media. I know several people who have struggled with long-term concussion recovery, and the innumerable amount of concussion jokes that pollute the media will never be funny to me.
Additionally, this book is not a paranormal horror, it’s a fantasy. A paranormal horror typically has a few elements of horror while remaining grounded in reality, and this book had a completely different world with a fantastical geography and fantastical creatures. Plus, since all of the creatures are revealed at once, there is no build-up of fear where the reader is wondering, “what could be behind all these strange occurrences?” There is no psychological aspect to the horror in this book at all, so to me, it’s not really a horror book.
I think this book would be more successful if it was marketed as a YA fantasy book, but even then, the characters are so one-dimensional, and the plot so half-baked, that I don’t see how anyone could enjoy this book without major revisions to the story. I know that I read an ARC, so I hope there is time for major changes to be made before this book is published.
The sentence structure of the prose was very confusing at times, which could be attributed to the fact that I read an ARC, or it could be a flaw in the prose, I’m not sure.
There were a few twists at the end of the story, some of which I was pleasantly surprised by, and one that was so blatantly foreshadowed, I saw it coming from the beginning. I appreciate that Kristen Simmons carefully planned the twists in the story, and that some of them were surprising while still being believable. That’s something I can always count on when reading a book by Kristen Simmons.
I am surprised that Kristen Simmons wrote this book, though. I am so used to reading compelling, stellar works of literary brilliance from her that I am truly baffled at how the amazing concept of this novel could be executed in such a lackluster manner. It was tedious to read, and it took me several months to finish because I was so uninvested that it was hard to pay attention to the story.
Overall, Find Him Where You Left Him Dead was a complete miss for me. If you’re looking for a compelling YA paranormal horror that follows a group of teens as they navigate a paranormal world and have to pass through different gates to make it home, I suggest picking up Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall instead. It has basically the opposite of all of the story flaws I’ve been talking about; it has memorable characters with believable relationships, lots of psychological horror and mystery, and a clearly-defined structure.
September 30, 2024
„Zanim nadejdzie świt” przekonało mnie do siebie głównie tym, że książka ma klimat filmu „Jumanji”, którego jestem ogromną fanką. I wiecie co? Czytając tę książkę, faktycznie da się to odczuć. Jednak pomimo tego, że jestem dużą fanką „Jumanji”, tak „Zanim nadejdzie świt” nie zrobiło na mnie jakiegoś większego wrażenia.
Opis książki intryguje, nie ma co ukrywać. Piątka dzieciaków, które kiedyś rozpoczęły grę, której jedno z nich nie przetrwało. Po czterech latach duch ich zmarłego przyjaciela, którego pozostawili na śmierć, wzywa ich, aby ukończyli grę. Ich głównym celem jest sprowadzenie Iana do domu. Ponownie wracają do tunelu, w którym ich przyjaźń się rozpadła. Nic nie jest takie samo, w końcu na przestrzeni lat się zmienili, jednak gdzieś w głębi duszy każde z nich pamięta, jak wspaniałą i silną więź kiedyś ze sobą mieli. Owen, Emerson, Dax i Madeline rozpoczynają grę na śmierć i życie, a stawka jest ogromna, bo albo sprowadzą Iana do domu, albo pozostaną razem z nim w świecie gry już na zawsze.
Pomysł na fabułę był genialny, autorka zadbała o szczegóły i fantastyczne elementy, których czasami było tak dużo, że aż się gubiłam. Minusem dla mnie są długie rozdziały książki, które czasami liczą po 50/60 stron, a to sporo… Niektóre z opisów też mnie nudziły, muszę przyznać, że nie było ich mało, jednak z drugiej strony jest to fantastyka, więc autorka musiała wszystko idealnie opisać, aby jak najlepiej przybliżyć czytelnikowi wykreowany przez siebie świat. Niektóre z nich przyprawiały mnie o ciarki, nie spodziewałam się tak krwawych i brutalnych (w granicach przyzwoitości jak na książkę 14+) scen. Jak czytałam tę książkę w nocy i nagle na całej ulicy wysiadł prąd, to muszę przyznać, że lekko się zlękłam, bo mimo wszystko w jakiś sposób wpłynęły one na moją psychikę.
Kilka perspektyw w książce to coś, co ubóstwiam, a tutaj właśnie tak jest. Mamy rozdziały napisane oczami każdego z bohaterów w narracji trzecioosobowej, więc to uważam za zaletę tej historii. W dodatku każdy z bohaterów ma zupełnie inny charakter, co widać gołym okiem.
Jeśli chodzi o relacje romantyczne, to nie ma ich tutaj sporo, raczej jest to wątek poboczny, a historia bardziej skupia się na przyjaźni bohaterów. Dla mnie to akurat jest bez różnicy, jednak wiem, że nie każdy lubi czytać książki bez głównego wątku romantycznego, więc o tym wspominam.
Muszę przyznać, że najbardziej wkręciłam się w historię, kiedy zostało mi jakieś 100 stron do końca. Wtedy podziały się takie zwroty akcji, że do tej pory staram się zrozumieć, co się właściwie wydarzyło, a czytałam o nich z otwartą buzią, bo szczęka mi opadła z wrażenia. Chyba jedne z lepszych plot twistów, o których czytałam w całym swoim życiu.
Zakończenie jest dla mnie jedną wielką zagadką i zastanawiam się, czy będzie jakaś kontynuacja tej książki, bo tak wywnioskowałam po ostatnim zdaniu historii. Jeśli tak, koniecznie po nią sięgnę, bo mimo że książka mnie czasami nudziła, to bawiłam się przy niej całkiem dobrze, a pragnę poznać odpowiedzi na pytania, które zrodziły się w mojej głowie.
Opis książki intryguje, nie ma co ukrywać. Piątka dzieciaków, które kiedyś rozpoczęły grę, której jedno z nich nie przetrwało. Po czterech latach duch ich zmarłego przyjaciela, którego pozostawili na śmierć, wzywa ich, aby ukończyli grę. Ich głównym celem jest sprowadzenie Iana do domu. Ponownie wracają do tunelu, w którym ich przyjaźń się rozpadła. Nic nie jest takie samo, w końcu na przestrzeni lat się zmienili, jednak gdzieś w głębi duszy każde z nich pamięta, jak wspaniałą i silną więź kiedyś ze sobą mieli. Owen, Emerson, Dax i Madeline rozpoczynają grę na śmierć i życie, a stawka jest ogromna, bo albo sprowadzą Iana do domu, albo pozostaną razem z nim w świecie gry już na zawsze.
Pomysł na fabułę był genialny, autorka zadbała o szczegóły i fantastyczne elementy, których czasami było tak dużo, że aż się gubiłam. Minusem dla mnie są długie rozdziały książki, które czasami liczą po 50/60 stron, a to sporo… Niektóre z opisów też mnie nudziły, muszę przyznać, że nie było ich mało, jednak z drugiej strony jest to fantastyka, więc autorka musiała wszystko idealnie opisać, aby jak najlepiej przybliżyć czytelnikowi wykreowany przez siebie świat. Niektóre z nich przyprawiały mnie o ciarki, nie spodziewałam się tak krwawych i brutalnych (w granicach przyzwoitości jak na książkę 14+) scen. Jak czytałam tę książkę w nocy i nagle na całej ulicy wysiadł prąd, to muszę przyznać, że lekko się zlękłam, bo mimo wszystko w jakiś sposób wpłynęły one na moją psychikę.
Kilka perspektyw w książce to coś, co ubóstwiam, a tutaj właśnie tak jest. Mamy rozdziały napisane oczami każdego z bohaterów w narracji trzecioosobowej, więc to uważam za zaletę tej historii. W dodatku każdy z bohaterów ma zupełnie inny charakter, co widać gołym okiem.
Jeśli chodzi o relacje romantyczne, to nie ma ich tutaj sporo, raczej jest to wątek poboczny, a historia bardziej skupia się na przyjaźni bohaterów. Dla mnie to akurat jest bez różnicy, jednak wiem, że nie każdy lubi czytać książki bez głównego wątku romantycznego, więc o tym wspominam.
Muszę przyznać, że najbardziej wkręciłam się w historię, kiedy zostało mi jakieś 100 stron do końca. Wtedy podziały się takie zwroty akcji, że do tej pory staram się zrozumieć, co się właściwie wydarzyło, a czytałam o nich z otwartą buzią, bo szczęka mi opadła z wrażenia. Chyba jedne z lepszych plot twistów, o których czytałam w całym swoim życiu.
Zakończenie jest dla mnie jedną wielką zagadką i zastanawiam się, czy będzie jakaś kontynuacja tej książki, bo tak wywnioskowałam po ostatnim zdaniu historii. Jeśli tak, koniecznie po nią sięgnę, bo mimo że książka mnie czasami nudziła, to bawiłam się przy niej całkiem dobrze, a pragnę poznać odpowiedzi na pytania, które zrodziły się w mojej głowie.
August 3, 2023
This was such a fun read!! A Japanese inspired Jumanji is how I’ve seen it described and I would say that is spot on. I’d call this horror-lite, it definitely falls in the creepy more than scary category. The characters were all interesting, well developed and realistic. I enjoyed all four of the POVs and had no trouble remembering who was who. There is a lot of action and some disturbing creepy scenes that I loved. The demons are based on Japanese folklore that I wasn’t familiar with and I would have liked a bit more exposition but was still able to follow it easily.
It’s a really unique plot that had several surprises I didn’t see coming. I read that this is the first in a planned duology and the ending definitely felt like there is more to come while still giving some closure. I definitely would recommend this book - I couldn’t put it down and flew through it in one sitting!
Thanks @torteen for the ARC! Add this to your TBR for when it comes out this Fall!
It’s a really unique plot that had several surprises I didn’t see coming. I read that this is the first in a planned duology and the ending definitely felt like there is more to come while still giving some closure. I definitely would recommend this book - I couldn’t put it down and flew through it in one sitting!
Thanks @torteen for the ARC! Add this to your TBR for when it comes out this Fall!
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