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Death Games #2
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark
"Death is not an ending, it’s simply the next chapter. Do not be afraid to turn the page...."
It’s been one month since Ian’s reunited friends escaped the hellish game of Meido and saved him. The survivors may have sealed the gate to the world of the dead shut and destroyed Empress Izanami, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still reeling over the challenges they endured in her grim game. They can relax back in the world of the living, taking solace in the fact that they rescued Ian from the nightmare that tried to steal him away. There’s just one problem―Ian didn’t come home alone.
The empress―now possessing Ian's heart―hitched a ride into the world of the living and the only way to free Ian from her grasp, yet again, is to find three artifacts for her, sacred objects which have been hidden across many realms.
Unwilling to leave Ian behind a second time, Ian’s friends dive into a new deadly game, with challenges that not only test their mettle, but demand sacrifices―including their very lives. If they don’t solve each terrifying new task and retrieve the empress’s artifacts, Ian will be lost forever, but if they do, it's the end of their world as they know it.
There’s only one person the empress hasn’t accounted for, but he hasn’t been human in a long time, and he may not have the time to master his yōkai powers fast enough to save his friends.
It’s been one month since Ian’s reunited friends escaped the hellish game of Meido and saved him. The survivors may have sealed the gate to the world of the dead shut and destroyed Empress Izanami, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still reeling over the challenges they endured in her grim game. They can relax back in the world of the living, taking solace in the fact that they rescued Ian from the nightmare that tried to steal him away. There’s just one problem―Ian didn’t come home alone.
The empress―now possessing Ian's heart―hitched a ride into the world of the living and the only way to free Ian from her grasp, yet again, is to find three artifacts for her, sacred objects which have been hidden across many realms.
Unwilling to leave Ian behind a second time, Ian’s friends dive into a new deadly game, with challenges that not only test their mettle, but demand sacrifices―including their very lives. If they don’t solve each terrifying new task and retrieve the empress’s artifacts, Ian will be lost forever, but if they do, it's the end of their world as they know it.
There’s only one person the empress hasn’t accounted for, but he hasn’t been human in a long time, and he may not have the time to master his yōkai powers fast enough to save his friends.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
13 people are currently reading
4499 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Simmons
26 books2,015 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 38 reviews
March 16, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the pre-release copy of She Waits for You Beyond the Dark. Below is my honest review.
This is the direct sequel to Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, and you *need* to read that one before picking this one up. It picks up almost immediately after the events of that book, so this one will spoil it drastically and continues the story.
I requested this one not realizing it was a sequel, and once I added it to my Goodreads shelf, I saw it was marked as #2, so I bought and read book #1 to be ready. And I loved BOTH of them.
This one finds our little group up one and down one, basically a wash. But that doesn't stop Meido from creeping its way back into their lives and sucking them into a new game, one that holds the fate of the friend group AND the entire living world by a thread.
The fictional take on Japanese mythology and lore and horror is absolutely wild fun, and I highly recommend this duology for fans of YA horror with a cultural take.
This is the direct sequel to Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, and you *need* to read that one before picking this one up. It picks up almost immediately after the events of that book, so this one will spoil it drastically and continues the story.
I requested this one not realizing it was a sequel, and once I added it to my Goodreads shelf, I saw it was marked as #2, so I bought and read book #1 to be ready. And I loved BOTH of them.
This one finds our little group up one and down one, basically a wash. But that doesn't stop Meido from creeping its way back into their lives and sucking them into a new game, one that holds the fate of the friend group AND the entire living world by a thread.
The fictional take on Japanese mythology and lore and horror is absolutely wild fun, and I highly recommend this duology for fans of YA horror with a cultural take.
Want to read
January 1, 2024January 1st, 2024
God, I am so happy this is a thing, and it seems to come out in less than a year! Those cliffhangers at the end of book one... My oh my!
God, I am so happy this is a thing, and it seems to come out in less than a year! Those cliffhangers at the end of book one... My oh my!
December 3, 2024
Here’s a draft for your review:
---
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark by Kristen Simmons is a thrilling conclusion to the duology that began with Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, and I’m happy to say it left me feeling completely satisfied.
This second installment had much better pacing than the first, which made it even more enjoyable to read. The continuation of Japanese folklore was just as compelling, and the gruesome, chilling descriptions really brought the story to life. I especially loved how the characters felt so complex—some walked the line between good and bad, creating fascinating dynamics that kept me hooked. And the ending? It delivered exactly what I was hoping for. I’m always a sucker for a well-done ending, and this one hit the mark perfectly.
While I devoured the book and loved so much about it, there were a few parts that I felt could have been written or described a bit better. Nothing major, but it stood out enough to make me pause here and there.
Overall, She Waits for You Beyond the Dark is an intense, satisfying conclusion that ties up the duology beautifully. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll love where this one takes you.
---
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark by Kristen Simmons is a thrilling conclusion to the duology that began with Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, and I’m happy to say it left me feeling completely satisfied.
This second installment had much better pacing than the first, which made it even more enjoyable to read. The continuation of Japanese folklore was just as compelling, and the gruesome, chilling descriptions really brought the story to life. I especially loved how the characters felt so complex—some walked the line between good and bad, creating fascinating dynamics that kept me hooked. And the ending? It delivered exactly what I was hoping for. I’m always a sucker for a well-done ending, and this one hit the mark perfectly.
While I devoured the book and loved so much about it, there were a few parts that I felt could have been written or described a bit better. Nothing major, but it stood out enough to make me pause here and there.
Overall, She Waits for You Beyond the Dark is an intense, satisfying conclusion that ties up the duology beautifully. If you enjoyed the first book, you’ll love where this one takes you.
July 5, 2025
Though I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure it was necessary, other than to give all the friends a happy ending. This time the games are played in Jigoku as well as Meido and involve a lot more with the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor. Again, there's a lot of Japanese and Buddhist folklore, which is very cool, but not as impactful if you aren't already familiar with it.
The author is from Cincinnati, like me, so it is really fun to see the local references.
Perhaps I will try other titles from her.
Recommend.
The author is from Cincinnati, like me, so it is really fun to see the local references.
Perhaps I will try other titles from her.
Recommend.
August 11, 2024
Oh man, this was dark and so good, loved where it went!
February 27, 2025
Of course I had to give this sequel a try, to know what happened after the ending of book one. I'm glad that I read this, that I know how it all ends. But I'm disappointed to say that I sadly did not like it much. The ending was good. But I had no feelings at all for it. A two star, like the first one. I didn't hate it, but I did not like it either.
It shall not be easy to write down my thoughts for this book. As I have many of those. I so wish I could have loved this sequel. I'm sad that I'm giving it the same rating that I gave book one, a year and half ago. But it is my honest thoughts. And I wish it had been better. There were parts that were great and that I enjoyed a lot.
But then there were all the other parts that I just did not care for at all. I did not actually like any of the characters. Maybe just that one villain from the other world, the guy with all of the spiders. He was pretty awesome. But the others I did not love at all. I did not feel any of their emotions. I did not care what happened to them. And that is not a plus at all. I liked learning about this extra world. I did not like the real world at all. I liked the creatures. But I found none of it to be creepy or scary I do not get why I did not care for this book. I just found it hard. I wanted to love it, I really did. But I sadly did not. Maybe it was the writing. I had some issues. But still. It was not that bad. I didn't re-read book one before I started, but I peeked, and somewhat read the important parts.
This book starts one month after Find Him Where You Left Him Dead ended. They managed to save Ian from Meido, got him back home again. But they lost Dax back there while doing so. I was happy that Ian was back home with his family. He seemed like a sweet boy. The beginning of this book focused a lot on the unspoken romance between Ian and Owen. I did like them together. But it was a little silly to me too. They had been apart for four years. And I felt like they should have gotten to know each other again first.
Then there was Maddy and Emerson. Back to being best friends. And I just did not understand it at all. Sigh. And Emerson had a whole lot of issues too, believing that Maddy would leave her and that she did not care. This happened a lot in the book, so it ended up being a bit too much for me. I did like when she got past it, but found that whole part to be all kinds of silly and weird, where that took place near the end of it all. I did like Emerson, though, for the most part. Did not like how she seemed to hate Dax. So rude.
How they all seemed to hate Dax. Because they learned what he truly was. But even so. The rest of them became friends again so fast. And yet they are hating on Dax for something he could not control. I did not approve. And it made me dislike them all. Except for Maddy. She loved him. But that was so very rushed that it hurt my heart a little. Still. At least she cared. And Dax was the person that I liked the very most in this series. His past was heartbreaking. And I loved it so much. He got a little weird in this book, though.
I'm not going to write too much about the plot of this book. Like the first one, it takes place over one day only. Which I liked and did not, haha. I do wish there had been a longer time, where the characters got to spend more time together and actually get to know each other. I missed that. With everything taking place in just one day I felt like it was all too rushed. All the feelings, all the things that happened. It would have felt more real for me, I think, if it had been a little slower. Maybe. Or I wouldn't have liked that either, haha.
The story is that the empress did not die in book one. She is now inside of Ian and she's using him to get back to life again. And so to save Ian, Owen agrees to another game in Meido, to find three pieces of an item. This is not a good thing to do. But so they are all sucked back into the game. But it is different this time. I did like all the changes and the games. I just didn't care. It took them forever to find Dax again. So rude. I liked that one guy from book one with all the spiders. He was crazy, but pretty awesome as well.
I honestly wish this book had been more scary. I do suppose it is meant to be scary. But I didn't feel it, not once. Which makes me sad. There was a game that happened in a spiral. Where they had to die several times to try to win it. And I just did not care. It wasn't dramatic or epic or anything. Made me feel nothing. Sigh. Then there were all of the characters and their emotions. I did not feel any of them. Dax had some anger, and it was so silly to me to read about. And Emerson with her alone issues. Still I wanted to care.
I think one of the things that bothered me most about this was how great friends they were supposed to be. As I didn't get that at all. None of them spoke together for four years. They were best friends before that. Then so many years of nothing from any of them. And then they spend about a day together in the game, in Meido, And now they are all best friends again and Maddy and Dax are so very in love. I didn't buy it, sadly. I guess that is also why it was hard for me to connect with these characters and this story.
But even though She Waits for You Beyond the Dark was not a book for me, I still very much adore this author. I have read and loved several of her books. This duology just ended up not being for me. And yet I do think many others will love it. I just could not. I'm glad that I read this final book, though, as I usually do not when I don't like book one. But I wanted to see how it all ended. So I'm happy that I did, even if I wasn't in love with the book. Parts of it were great. And it's a story I will remember, even so. Give it a try.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2025...
It shall not be easy to write down my thoughts for this book. As I have many of those. I so wish I could have loved this sequel. I'm sad that I'm giving it the same rating that I gave book one, a year and half ago. But it is my honest thoughts. And I wish it had been better. There were parts that were great and that I enjoyed a lot.
But then there were all the other parts that I just did not care for at all. I did not actually like any of the characters. Maybe just that one villain from the other world, the guy with all of the spiders. He was pretty awesome. But the others I did not love at all. I did not feel any of their emotions. I did not care what happened to them. And that is not a plus at all. I liked learning about this extra world. I did not like the real world at all. I liked the creatures. But I found none of it to be creepy or scary I do not get why I did not care for this book. I just found it hard. I wanted to love it, I really did. But I sadly did not. Maybe it was the writing. I had some issues. But still. It was not that bad. I didn't re-read book one before I started, but I peeked, and somewhat read the important parts.
This book starts one month after Find Him Where You Left Him Dead ended. They managed to save Ian from Meido, got him back home again. But they lost Dax back there while doing so. I was happy that Ian was back home with his family. He seemed like a sweet boy. The beginning of this book focused a lot on the unspoken romance between Ian and Owen. I did like them together. But it was a little silly to me too. They had been apart for four years. And I felt like they should have gotten to know each other again first.
Then there was Maddy and Emerson. Back to being best friends. And I just did not understand it at all. Sigh. And Emerson had a whole lot of issues too, believing that Maddy would leave her and that she did not care. This happened a lot in the book, so it ended up being a bit too much for me. I did like when she got past it, but found that whole part to be all kinds of silly and weird, where that took place near the end of it all. I did like Emerson, though, for the most part. Did not like how she seemed to hate Dax. So rude.
How they all seemed to hate Dax. Because they learned what he truly was. But even so. The rest of them became friends again so fast. And yet they are hating on Dax for something he could not control. I did not approve. And it made me dislike them all. Except for Maddy. She loved him. But that was so very rushed that it hurt my heart a little. Still. At least she cared. And Dax was the person that I liked the very most in this series. His past was heartbreaking. And I loved it so much. He got a little weird in this book, though.
I'm not going to write too much about the plot of this book. Like the first one, it takes place over one day only. Which I liked and did not, haha. I do wish there had been a longer time, where the characters got to spend more time together and actually get to know each other. I missed that. With everything taking place in just one day I felt like it was all too rushed. All the feelings, all the things that happened. It would have felt more real for me, I think, if it had been a little slower. Maybe. Or I wouldn't have liked that either, haha.
The story is that the empress did not die in book one. She is now inside of Ian and she's using him to get back to life again. And so to save Ian, Owen agrees to another game in Meido, to find three pieces of an item. This is not a good thing to do. But so they are all sucked back into the game. But it is different this time. I did like all the changes and the games. I just didn't care. It took them forever to find Dax again. So rude. I liked that one guy from book one with all the spiders. He was crazy, but pretty awesome as well.
I honestly wish this book had been more scary. I do suppose it is meant to be scary. But I didn't feel it, not once. Which makes me sad. There was a game that happened in a spiral. Where they had to die several times to try to win it. And I just did not care. It wasn't dramatic or epic or anything. Made me feel nothing. Sigh. Then there were all of the characters and their emotions. I did not feel any of them. Dax had some anger, and it was so silly to me to read about. And Emerson with her alone issues. Still I wanted to care.
I think one of the things that bothered me most about this was how great friends they were supposed to be. As I didn't get that at all. None of them spoke together for four years. They were best friends before that. Then so many years of nothing from any of them. And then they spend about a day together in the game, in Meido, And now they are all best friends again and Maddy and Dax are so very in love. I didn't buy it, sadly. I guess that is also why it was hard for me to connect with these characters and this story.
But even though She Waits for You Beyond the Dark was not a book for me, I still very much adore this author. I have read and loved several of her books. This duology just ended up not being for me. And yet I do think many others will love it. I just could not. I'm glad that I read this final book, though, as I usually do not when I don't like book one. But I wanted to see how it all ended. So I'm happy that I did, even if I wasn't in love with the book. Parts of it were great. And it's a story I will remember, even so. Give it a try.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2025...
February 20, 2025
🌙"Death is not an ending, it’s simply the next chapter. Do not be afraid to turn the page..."🌙
One month after escaping the hellish game of Meido and saving their friend Ian, the group of survivors thought they'd found peace. The gate to the world of the dead is sealed, and Empress Izanami is gone—at least, that's what they thought. However, Ian didn’t come back alone.
Possessed by the Empress, Ian’s heart is now the key to a new deadly game. To save him, his friends must embark on a perilous journey to retrieve three sacred artifacts scattered across different realms. The stakes are higher than ever, and this time, the consequences are personal.
In She Waits for You Beyond the Dark, Kristen Simmons takes readers on a supernatural roller coaster, blending Japanese folklore with contemporary horror in a way that keeps you hooked until the very end. While this sophomore installment doesn’t quite reach the same heart-pounding intensity as its predecessor, it still delivers an engaging and satisfying conclusion to the duology.
Strengths 💫
• Improved pacing and smoother flow compared to the first book
• Deeper exploration of the Empress and Emperor mythology 🗡️
• Satisfying conclusion to character arcs 📈
World-Building & Character Development 🏮👥
• Rich supernatural elements and yōkai lore that enhances the mythology 🌺
• Diverse representation, including mixed-race identity (Owen and Maddy) and asexual/aromantic representation (Emerson) 🌈
• Evolving character relationships, particularly Emerson's growth and the team's dynamic 💭
The Horror Elements & Areas for Improvement 🦇🎯
• Chilling descriptions and suspenseful, high-stakes challenges that set a dark atmosphere 🌑
• Some repetitive POVs and character separations that reduce group dynamics 🗣️
• Limited intensity in the gaming scenarios compared to the first book 🎮
Rating: 3.75/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
While She Waits for You Beyond the Dark doesn’t quite reach the same heart-stopping intensity as its predecessor, it does a great job tying up the duology. The pacing is much better, and the mythology becomes richer and more detailed, which helps to offset the somewhat reduced intensity of the gaming scenarios.
Perfect for Readers Who Enjoy:
• YA horror with a supernatural twist 👻
• Folklore and mythology-driven stories 🖤
• Diverse representation and complex character dynamics 🌈
Final Thoughts
Simmons weaves a satisfying conclusion to the Death Games duology that is full of twists and turns. The characters feel more fleshed out, and the pacing is smoother. While it might not carry the same shock value as the first book, the journey is just as emotionally charged. Fans of character-driven supernatural stories with rich world-building will definitely find enjoyment in this book. 🌟
A huge thank you to Tor Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy for review. 📚
February 5, 2025
In this sophomore installment of the Death Games duology, Kristen Simmons delivers a supernatural thriller that blends Japanese folklore with contemporary horror, though it doesn't quite capture the heart-stopping intensity of its predecessor. 🌙
World-Building & Mythology: 🏮
Simmons continues to weave Japanese folklore into modern storytelling with:
• Rich supernatural elements 🐉
• Complex realm-crossing mythology 🌺
• Detailed yōkai lore ⛩️
Character Development: 👥
While the character work remains strong, particularly with Emerson's growth arc and the compelling representation of:
• Mixed-race identity through Owen and Maddy 🤝
• Asexual/aromantic representation via Emerson 💫
• Complex character relationships 💭
Structural Elements: 📖
The narrative faces some challenges:
• Split POVs that sometimes create repetitive revelations
• Separated character groups that diminish group dynamics
• Pacing that flows more smoothly than the first book ⏳
Strengths: 💫
• More consistent chapter length
• Deeper exploration of the empress/emperor mythology
• Satisfying conclusion to character arcs
• Improved overall flow 📈
Areas for Improvement: 🎯
• Less intense gaming scenarios than the first book
• Limited character interaction due to group separation
• Some underdeveloped character arcs (particularly Ian and Owen)
• Occasional unclear descriptions 📝
The Horror Elements: 🦇
• Chilling descriptions
• Supernatural suspense
• High-stakes challenges
• Dark atmosphere 🌑
Rating: 3.75/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
While "She Waits for You Beyond the Dark" may not quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it succeeds in delivering a satisfying conclusion to the duology. 🎭 The improved pacing and deeper mythological elements help offset the reduced intensity of the gaming scenarios. 🎮
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy for review. 📚
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
• YA horror with folklore elements 👻
• Character-driven supernatural stories 🖤
• Complex mythology 🗡️
• Diverse representation 🌈
This book is best approached after reading the first installment, as it builds directly on previous events and character relationships. While some elements may not shine as brightly as in the original, Simmons crafts an engaging conclusion that will satisfy fans of the series. 🌟
World-Building & Mythology: 🏮
Simmons continues to weave Japanese folklore into modern storytelling with:
• Rich supernatural elements 🐉
• Complex realm-crossing mythology 🌺
• Detailed yōkai lore ⛩️
Character Development: 👥
While the character work remains strong, particularly with Emerson's growth arc and the compelling representation of:
• Mixed-race identity through Owen and Maddy 🤝
• Asexual/aromantic representation via Emerson 💫
• Complex character relationships 💭
Structural Elements: 📖
The narrative faces some challenges:
• Split POVs that sometimes create repetitive revelations
• Separated character groups that diminish group dynamics
• Pacing that flows more smoothly than the first book ⏳
Strengths: 💫
• More consistent chapter length
• Deeper exploration of the empress/emperor mythology
• Satisfying conclusion to character arcs
• Improved overall flow 📈
Areas for Improvement: 🎯
• Less intense gaming scenarios than the first book
• Limited character interaction due to group separation
• Some underdeveloped character arcs (particularly Ian and Owen)
• Occasional unclear descriptions 📝
The Horror Elements: 🦇
• Chilling descriptions
• Supernatural suspense
• High-stakes challenges
• Dark atmosphere 🌑
Rating: 3.75/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
While "She Waits for You Beyond the Dark" may not quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it succeeds in delivering a satisfying conclusion to the duology. 🎭 The improved pacing and deeper mythological elements help offset the reduced intensity of the gaming scenarios. 🎮
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy for review. 📚
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
• YA horror with folklore elements 👻
• Character-driven supernatural stories 🖤
• Complex mythology 🗡️
• Diverse representation 🌈
This book is best approached after reading the first installment, as it builds directly on previous events and character relationships. While some elements may not shine as brightly as in the original, Simmons crafts an engaging conclusion that will satisfy fans of the series. 🌟
December 26, 2024
Thank you, Kristen Simmons and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!
I will definitely say I enjoyed this one better than the first book. The chapters were definitely better as in length, and they didn't drag. The story I really enjoyed as it dealt more with the empress and the emperor, but not only that, the characters are definitely more likable, and I rooted for them the whole time. I had so many emotions reading throughout this book. And the ending was truly spot on. It left me feeling satisfied, and everyone went what they deserved in the end. I also think this book was a lot smoother from chapter to chapter. It was easier to understand what was going on and I do say you will need to read the first book to understand certain friendship dynamics that have happened and to understand certain things that are mentioned in this book.
What's happened since Ian and his friends returned from Meido? Well, a lot, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Things are not as they seem. The Empress is still very much alive and wants to bring her world to ours still. Now Owen and the others are back for another round but for the Emperors game. Will they win and make it out? Will they finally end the empress terror and stop her before it's too late? What's going to happen to our main characters, and what challenges will they face this time? Read and find out.
I truly enjoyed this book. It took me on a roller-coaster of emotions, and I just about cried here and there for our heroes. I had a hard time putting this book down, and when it ended, I was very satisfied with how it ended.
I will definitely say I enjoyed this one better than the first book. The chapters were definitely better as in length, and they didn't drag. The story I really enjoyed as it dealt more with the empress and the emperor, but not only that, the characters are definitely more likable, and I rooted for them the whole time. I had so many emotions reading throughout this book. And the ending was truly spot on. It left me feeling satisfied, and everyone went what they deserved in the end. I also think this book was a lot smoother from chapter to chapter. It was easier to understand what was going on and I do say you will need to read the first book to understand certain friendship dynamics that have happened and to understand certain things that are mentioned in this book.
What's happened since Ian and his friends returned from Meido? Well, a lot, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Things are not as they seem. The Empress is still very much alive and wants to bring her world to ours still. Now Owen and the others are back for another round but for the Emperors game. Will they win and make it out? Will they finally end the empress terror and stop her before it's too late? What's going to happen to our main characters, and what challenges will they face this time? Read and find out.
I truly enjoyed this book. It took me on a roller-coaster of emotions, and I just about cried here and there for our heroes. I had a hard time putting this book down, and when it ended, I was very satisfied with how it ended.
March 28, 2025
Welcome back to “the game” where the Five’s (yes, 5 with both Dax and Ian the most at risk) lives are once again hanging in the balance. but it’s not just Meido any longer, and it’s not entirely clear where they are for half the story. While I may be older than the target audience, I love a mythology inspired story and quite enjoyed the first book, so I gave this a try, and I’m going to be honest with my review. It’s hard to describe where this story went exactly right, because in many ways that is where it went wrong. We again get POVs from 4 of the 5 main teens, but sometimes we jump too often and with Dax going in and out of his Yurei mindset, that can be confusing. We have new “levels” of the game that are beautifully described (like the death spiral with a Huge scary skeleton) but then we jump around so often as the group is not together for much of the story, I didn’t enjoy following those jumps.
I also grew to REALLY not like Owen in this sequel. And he narrates the most I think. The tasks were easily solved or obvious and not as exciting as the first game of Meido, and the resolution (which was almost a sweet love story) didn’t happen until the last 10 pages where it felt very rushed.
My favorite parts, silly as it is, often involved Kuchisake (my favorite quotes were “on the count of spleen (best over rice)” and “I’ll be outside eavesdropping if you need me”)…
Thanks to Net Galley and McMillan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Overall, if you have a teen in your life interested in horror or mythology, I think they’d rate this higher and enjoy it quite a bit!!!
I also grew to REALLY not like Owen in this sequel. And he narrates the most I think. The tasks were easily solved or obvious and not as exciting as the first game of Meido, and the resolution (which was almost a sweet love story) didn’t happen until the last 10 pages where it felt very rushed.
My favorite parts, silly as it is, often involved Kuchisake (my favorite quotes were “on the count of spleen (best over rice)” and “I’ll be outside eavesdropping if you need me”)…
Thanks to Net Galley and McMillan for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Overall, if you have a teen in your life interested in horror or mythology, I think they’d rate this higher and enjoy it quite a bit!!!
March 10, 2025
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark is CONCLUSIVE GREATNESS!
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark is the epic conclusion to Kristen Simmonns's Death Games duology. This story is chock full of adventure, romance, mystery, puzzle-solving, and excitement. Kristen Simmons knows how to write exhilarating fiction. This novel grabs readers by the first few pages, picking up with an intimately cute moment (right where the first book left readers). Owen and Ian start us off, and then the pace is set at a blistering rate.
Emerson & Maddy are both seeking their own versions of answers and then everyone winds up back in the game. I enjoyed the lore of this series the most. It is creative with inventive new ties and connections for readers to explore while having some fun mythology to learn on the side. This book in the series has more mythology involved while giving us some of the favorite side characters from the first book. The puzzles in this book have a new sort of life with some of the revealed twists. These puzzles are at times daunting, but altogether are fun to solve with the characters and I found myself shouting the answers when I could because of the tension and suspense that comes with solving them.
Kristen Simmons knocked this series out of the park and gave readers an exciting conclusion to an excellent series. Readers are surely going to love this finale to a cast of fantastic characters!
She Waits for You Beyond the Dark is the epic conclusion to Kristen Simmonns's Death Games duology. This story is chock full of adventure, romance, mystery, puzzle-solving, and excitement. Kristen Simmons knows how to write exhilarating fiction. This novel grabs readers by the first few pages, picking up with an intimately cute moment (right where the first book left readers). Owen and Ian start us off, and then the pace is set at a blistering rate.
Emerson & Maddy are both seeking their own versions of answers and then everyone winds up back in the game. I enjoyed the lore of this series the most. It is creative with inventive new ties and connections for readers to explore while having some fun mythology to learn on the side. This book in the series has more mythology involved while giving us some of the favorite side characters from the first book. The puzzles in this book have a new sort of life with some of the revealed twists. These puzzles are at times daunting, but altogether are fun to solve with the characters and I found myself shouting the answers when I could because of the tension and suspense that comes with solving them.
Kristen Simmons knocked this series out of the park and gave readers an exciting conclusion to an excellent series. Readers are surely going to love this finale to a cast of fantastic characters!
August 14, 2024
Thank you Edelweiss and Tor Teen for allowing me to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved the first book in this series and was excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of the second book.
This book still rated highly for me, but it was a bit of a let down compared to the first book.
To me, this book missed the same heart-pounding scenarios that the first one had. The game in this one feels significantly less high stakes than the game in "Find Him Where You Left Him Dead".
I have a personal dislike for books where the main crew is split up for the majority of the story while the story is being told in multiple points of view. For me, it feels a lot like the story goes in circles as we watch characters make discoveries another character already made 3 chapters ago.
I will say, though, that Simmons writing is as good as ever. She does a wonderful job of creating characters that readers can connect to.
I greatly appreciate the representation of mixed folks that Simmons gives through her character Owen and Maddy. I am also ecstatic about the asexual/aromantic representation we get with Emerson.
Overall, this is a series I will continue to recommend and hype up because I think it has great potential with a broad audience.
I absolutely loved the first book in this series and was excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of the second book.
This book still rated highly for me, but it was a bit of a let down compared to the first book.
To me, this book missed the same heart-pounding scenarios that the first one had. The game in this one feels significantly less high stakes than the game in "Find Him Where You Left Him Dead".
I have a personal dislike for books where the main crew is split up for the majority of the story while the story is being told in multiple points of view. For me, it feels a lot like the story goes in circles as we watch characters make discoveries another character already made 3 chapters ago.
I will say, though, that Simmons writing is as good as ever. She does a wonderful job of creating characters that readers can connect to.
I greatly appreciate the representation of mixed folks that Simmons gives through her character Owen and Maddy. I am also ecstatic about the asexual/aromantic representation we get with Emerson.
Overall, this is a series I will continue to recommend and hype up because I think it has great potential with a broad audience.
February 23, 2025
An intense second chapter (really the final book in the duology not a second chapter specifically) to what Simmons introduced readers to which is a mashup of Japanese folklore and myth with the mysterious games of popular series like The Inheritance Games with a multiple point of view cast.
As with the first one, the constant back and forth with all of the characters actually slowed the pace a little but it's an intricate story with horror elements and a race to save Ian from the clutches of the Empress who will not release her grip. But his friends want him back, for good this time.
Readers will also enjoy a story like The House Where Death Lives or Damned If You Do.
As with the first one, the constant back and forth with all of the characters actually slowed the pace a little but it's an intricate story with horror elements and a race to save Ian from the clutches of the Empress who will not release her grip. But his friends want him back, for good this time.
Readers will also enjoy a story like The House Where Death Lives or Damned If You Do.
March 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
This was a fun fast paced and suspenseful novel. Having read the first book back in September of 2023, I was unfortunately very forgetful of the plot. It mostly came back, but some things I was still confused on. I loved the group of friends even though it’s always weird to see them all fall in love with each other. I identified with Emerson a lot with her being very aro ace coded. Or at least aro. There was a lot of talk about how she couldn’t feel romantic love but she loved her friends. I loved the Japanese mythology and was only familiar with a little bit of it so that was nice to learn. I also like books about deadly games so this was cool. Honestly poor Ian had the roughest time in this series. Gone for 4 years and then having to deal with this shit after a month? I would be just anxious as he is. I really liked the ending too. Although it seems very cookie cutter, I’m a sucker for it.
This was a fun fast paced and suspenseful novel. Having read the first book back in September of 2023, I was unfortunately very forgetful of the plot. It mostly came back, but some things I was still confused on. I loved the group of friends even though it’s always weird to see them all fall in love with each other. I identified with Emerson a lot with her being very aro ace coded. Or at least aro. There was a lot of talk about how she couldn’t feel romantic love but she loved her friends. I loved the Japanese mythology and was only familiar with a little bit of it so that was nice to learn. I also like books about deadly games so this was cool. Honestly poor Ian had the roughest time in this series. Gone for 4 years and then having to deal with this shit after a month? I would be just anxious as he is. I really liked the ending too. Although it seems very cookie cutter, I’m a sucker for it.
August 13, 2024
Good follow up to the first book. Find Him Where You Left Him Dead is a must read first, because this is a direct continuation. The plot moved just as quickly as the first book and used elements from the first without being repetitive. I wish we could have learned more about Ian, but with the plot the way it was. he did not get much of him, and Owen was just annoying. I felt he did not have much growth in the novels and he stayed a bit static. Emerson had some great growth and plot points. I wish the characters would have interacted more like they did in the first story, but understood the separation for plot purposes. It was a decent wrap up for the ending.
August 16, 2024
This had everything I wanted from a sequel! We get to see characters we already love grow, change, and grieve while getting to more heavily and heartily explore the game world Simmons has created. The states were higher, as were the emotional payoffs!
Why am I now a Kuchisake STAN?!
I had to stop at the 90% mark and give myself a day to prepare for leaving this world, as I have SO enjoyed my time. The ending was of course everything I wanted it to be.
I received an ARC copy via Netgalley for my open and honest review.
Why am I now a Kuchisake STAN?!
I had to stop at the 90% mark and give myself a day to prepare for leaving this world, as I have SO enjoyed my time. The ending was of course everything I wanted it to be.
I received an ARC copy via Netgalley for my open and honest review.
November 12, 2024
I received a free advance digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Working on getting through the rest of the advanced books I received.
I loved this one even more than the first book! Warning this one does seem darker in its content. The games aren’t as clear to begin with since the group and cards are split up at first. I found the further look into Izanami’s backstory very interesting. A little sad this is only a duology because I love these characters and the games.
February 9, 2025
2 stars
I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Either I missed something by not reading the first book or maybe I wasn't the targeted audience. I could not for the life of me get into this book and according to the reviews I seem to be the only one.
I got about halfway through the book but I just can't keep going. Maybe one day I'll read the first one and it will make more sense.
I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Either I missed something by not reading the first book or maybe I wasn't the targeted audience. I could not for the life of me get into this book and according to the reviews I seem to be the only one.
I got about halfway through the book but I just can't keep going. Maybe one day I'll read the first one and it will make more sense.
March 10, 2025
I found it hard to relate to or like any of the characters. Every one of them had thought processes in their POV that made me not like them. I didn't have any emotions in general while reading this book. I wouldn't have cared if any of the characters died or had been left behind. I didn't hate the book, I didn't love the book. Overall I just think it was okay.
I also felt like the pacing was off and the book in general was all over the place and didn't flow well.
I also felt like the pacing was off and the book in general was all over the place and didn't flow well.
March 22, 2025
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but this one didn't do it for me. Maybe it's been too long since I read the first one, but I wasn't really connecting with any of the characters. I also felt like in the first book, the challenges took time to figure out, and each character brought something to the table. This just felt like things happening to them. I hope others enjoy it, though. I may just not be the target audience.
May 6, 2025
I won this book as an advanced copy in a giveaway, and so I read the first book to prepare. The sequel is certainly an improvement in some areas. In the first book, all the dialogue and chemistry between the characters feels extremely forced and awkward. In the second book it all comes very natural, but at the cost of the characters’ personalities. The plot of the second book is much more interesting, but it feels less focused thematically. Overall, it’s solid for what it is.
May 1, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC.
This was such a good ending to this duology (or what I assume is a duology). I really enjoyed these characters and getting to see a different aspect to meido and the story of character in there (don't want to give away and spoilers). But I really enjoyed this adventure and I look forward to reading more of Kristen Simmons' work.
This was such a good ending to this duology (or what I assume is a duology). I really enjoyed these characters and getting to see a different aspect to meido and the story of character in there (don't want to give away and spoilers). But I really enjoyed this adventure and I look forward to reading more of Kristen Simmons' work.
Want to read
January 21, 2025So, I entered the giveaway for this book and I won the book but I never received my book. Can someone tell me how I can receive my book? There isn't a option of the giveaway page that says "I haven't received my book" so I need help.
February 28, 2025
I didn’t know what to expect when I won this book especially since I didn’t read the first one, because of that I was a little lost but I have to say I didn’t like this. It had some good parts and the ending was good but this wasn’t for me.
March 14, 2025
I really enjoyed the first book in this duology, so I thought I would enjoy this one as well, but sadly, I just couldn't get into this one.
I'm not really sure why it didn't work. I"'m hoping it's just the current mood I'm in, so I'm definitely going to give this one another shot in the future.
I'm not really sure why it didn't work. I"'m hoping it's just the current mood I'm in, so I'm definitely going to give this one another shot in the future.
Want to read
June 16, 2024This book needs to be in my hands asap, that cliffhanger in book 1 was.... omgah... I need this!!!!
October 6, 2024
This was a great sequel to the first book. It gave Stranger Things season 2 mixed with Japanese mythology vibes. It wasn't too gorey or explicit in the violence.
February 3, 2025
Oh my goodness what a fantastic read!!! Every chapter was exciting from beginning to end. Leaving me with wanting more and longer for other book to follow!
February 17, 2025
DNF I couldn’t get into it. I finally gave up before finishing. 2 stars because it’s easy to read.
March 10, 2025
Thank you Macmillan for the free arc via netgalley. Enjoyable sequel. Great sparky writing. Non stop adventure that keeps you engaged. interesting characters.
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