The Residency

The Residency #1

by Kayla Frederick, Chisto Healy (editor), Mike Salt (cover_art)

Art is pain. Or so they say.

As a struggling artist in New York City, Ira is desperate to get her shot at the big time. When an invitation to a week long art residency on a private island in the Bahamas drops in her inbox, she leaps at the chance.

But something is off about Turquoise Bay and its owner, The Curator.

When Ira and seven other artists end up locked in an underground bunker, the only way out is to play the Curator's games.

Will they survive?

Or will they die for their art?

Genres: Horror, Splatterpunk

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Raised in Michigan but moved to Texas and has experienced the best and worst of both. Kayla has interests in the dark and macabre. She enjoys '80's music and movies. A little neurotic and a huge lover of Halloween, creepy stories and cats are totally her jam.

To keep up with her, sign up for her newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/cwZHEz

Reviews

[Lady MacDeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eight very different artists, each receive an invitation, out of the blue, from someone only known as The Curator, offering them a week long art residency on an island in the Bahamas…too good to be true?? You bet!!

Once the artists have arrived, they all start thinking that there is something odd about their host, and the staff, but still jump at the chance to continue, hoping that they will be “the one” to win the life changing, prize money at the end of the week.

Then they are locked in a bunker, and have to make their way through several rooms, each with a puzzle to complete…

This book was a lot of fun, and if you are a fan of the “Saw” franchise, or escape rooms, then you will absolutely love this. It’s bloody, grisly, and gory, and just my kind of read.

Thank you to the author, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One decision can change a person’s entire life. Like a pebble tossed into a pond, every action ricochets, affecting the choices a person can make in the future. The ripple effect. Something as insignificant as opening an email can put a chain of events in motion…
Opportunity of a lifetime, the subject line read.”

If you’re a fan of the show “Squid Game”, the movie “Escape Room”, or Duncan Ralston’s book “Puzzle House”, you’ll enjoy Kayla’s new novel: “The Residency”

A number of down-on-their-luck artists are invited to attend a residency on a luxurious and isolated island. They have the opportunity to hone their craft, and one lucky person will win a monetary prize as well. Little to do they know, their blood will soon flow like paint on a canvas.

I really enjoyed this thrilling, high stakes, horrifying tale. There are some very intense and graphic scenes which kept me glued to the story; I had to know what happens to all the characters!

Fantastic writing, a stellar cast of characters, and a phenomenal plot make this a must-read! I could really see this being turned into a movie or tv series one day.

Thank you to the author, publisher & BookSprout for a copy.

[Cherise Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONE DECISION CAN change a person’s entire life. Like a pebble tossed into a pond, every action ricochets, affecting the choices a person can make in the future. The ripple effect.

The Residency by Kayla Frederick.

Something compelled me to start reading this one yesterday and, I was immediately hooked. The sense of dread is overwhelming in this one, you can smell the carnage from a mile away. I couldn't wait for it to unfold.

Think Saw and Squid Games combined. This is the result and I'm not mad at it at all. The book is well crafted with very different and complex characters. Some you immediately love and others you instantly hate. That makes the book even more interesting. The author really took her time introducing each of these characters and building the suspense.

When the carnage begins, it was well worth the wait. Each scene had me holding my breath and at the edge of my seat. I couldn't read fast enough with this one. I was glued to the pages of this book and couldn't look away. Such a good read with a great ending. Biggest takeaway, don't allow desperation to lead your life. You just may end up in a sick and twisted game of survival of the fittest.

Thank you to Booksirens and Kayla Frederick for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Kyra Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and fast-paced survival horror read. Kayla Frederick was able to pack so much in under 200 pages. I will admit the plot is very common among these types of books, but the author was able to deliver the storyline uniquely. Definitely one of those horror books that makes you feel like you're watching Saw or similar horror movies. Thank you for the ARC through booksirens! 

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art is pain....yeah... apparently it is!

This was such a cool concept! Seriously thrilling from start to finish! If you enjoy things like Saw, Squid games, etc... this is the book for you.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, eight artists are invited to a remote art residency on a private island in the Bahamas. However, when they arrive, they realize they are being forced to play deadly games by the mysterious owner, The Curator. The only way to escape is to survive the challenges, but the question remains: will they make it out alive, or will they die for their art?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the overall premise of the story. I was on the verge of giving it five stars, but the ending fell a bit short compared to the rest of the book's captivating descriptions. It was unexpected, yet not as dramatic as I had anticipated.

The plot was well-crafted with intricately detailed chapters. There were a few characters to keep track of each facing great challenges related to art. The secluded island setting added a chilling atmosphere to the story, leaving the poor artists clueless about what awaited them. Once I figured out this is not a game, I was hooked...

The book was fast-paced, intriguing, and gripping from start to finish. If you appreciate a narrative that escalates from subtle to intense, this is the perfect read for you. It's a real page-turner and ideal for the upcoming season. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR list!

Thank you, Booksporout for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becca]

my recommendation on this is fleeting a bit but if you are in the macabre this is a great book for you to read if you are not interested in a lot of drama and very distinct triggers I would avoid this book it is very in-depth very hard to deal with toward the end and emotionally if you're not good as grounded it is so mind-blowing and unfortunately realistic that is going to last with you for a while.

[David Appleby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. Full disclosure this is based on a review copy I received.

Do not get on a plane when a stranger offers you a free ticket!

Fantastically written and a few great jump shock moments. Not a spoiler exactly but nothing is quite what it seems and frequently worse.

Great read. Loved it

[Alison Faichney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read by Frederick and it was a solid read. Eight struggling artists (all with entirely different mediums) are invited for a week at the private island of a mysterious benefactor. Things go south pretty quickly and the comparisons to Saw and Escape Room are apt. There are some really gnarly kill scenes written with a fair amount of detail. The book is fast paced and very accessible.

I do feel as though this is a trope I’ve been reading quite a bit of, lately. I had to suspend plausibility pretty hard for this one and struggled to connect with the characters. I do feel the characters are well nuanced and didn’t fall into neat little cliche boxes like other books but I just didn’t feel much emotion for them. We get a bit of back story here and there but I do feel like more dimension would make it easier for the reader to care for the characters. The Curator is a fairly typical villain and again, I struggled with the “how” and “why” for much of this book. I understand desperation, but the book just didn’t hit that mark for me. There were also a few time lapses where it was like the characters simply powered down into stasis.

It’s a short read and the pacing is excellent. If you’re into gory escape room/Saw-esque challenges then I’d absolutely recommend this read. I definitely look forward to checking out more from Frederick in the future.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Residency" delivers exactly what it promises: a fast-moving, gripping, and quite gory tale of lovely drawn, relatable characters, who end up biting more than they can chew when they accept a madman's invitation. There are several gruesome scenes, a sense of adventure throughout, and a terrific ending; I never got bored, despite the familiar set up (Squid Game or Duncan Rlaston's "Puzzle House" come immediately to mind). It should be stressed that though the main characters are all artists of some kind or another, and the villain of the piece has a lot to say about art, this is not an art book lol: the violence gets quite messy, and things spiral out of control very fast. Despite the thoughtful and easy-going beginning, prepare to witness the situations getting progressively worse. Although I felt some parts needed far more explaining, especially at the end, it ended up being the perfect quick read for someone looking for a gory and non-stop action story!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Residency by Kayla Frederick
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow! What a wild and intense horror story!
I feel like it is a crazy version of Saw meets Squid Games!
8 artists are invited to an island to compete for a prize of $500,000! It’s a very original and unique story and I was terrified and horrified most of the way through! The ending was also a shocker!
This book is a fast and super exciting read. It’s also very well written and is very descriptive; so I was able to imagine all the horrifying scenes!

Thank you to Kayla Frederick for an arc copy of this amazing story!
*It comes out October 1st and is a must read!!*

[Leigh Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished The Residency by Kayla Frederick and it was an absolute blast!

✔️ Rich weirdo in an isolated mansion
✔️ Desperate people in a desperate situation
✔️ Creative kills
✔️ Characters worth rooting for

The Residency is a quick read with a pace that builds throughout. The kills were Saw-esque in their originality and brutality. Highly recommend this one!

[Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw meets The Menu in this survival horror (rather than a thriller, in my opinion).

The beginning was slow: too many characters introduced in too few pages with too little depth for me to care at all.

More interesting was the dynamic that they developed once the residency takes place.

Kayla doesn't reinvent the wheel of this trope but it does give it a different color and an interesting set of characters.

I feel like I would have enjoyed more space for less characters, or more background stories shared in bits throughout the story, rather than the quick stories shared back to back in the first 30%.

It was fun and short, well written and with a good pace once the action started.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

[Klara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Colors, she thought. The only color she could think of was red —blood. All of them had blood on them whether their own or someone else's.”


Thank you to BookSirens, to the author, Kayla Frederick, for providing me with this e-copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


This book kept me hooked—it was hard to put it down. From the start, I was expecting some spooky, dark, and horror elements. And there were plenty, but for some reason, they didn’t affect me as much as I thought they would. I guess that’s good since I could sleep at night, but I was maybe expecting a bit more.

As for the story, you can tell from the beginning that things aren’t going to end well. I mean, who in their right mind sends that kind of email? And who would accept it? Then again, none of them seemed entirely stable. They all had some trauma or battle in their pasts. Throughout the book, I couldn’t decide who my favourite was, but I wanted all of them to survive. My hopeful side kept wishing that whoever made it out would find everyone else alive. Well, spoiler alert—that didn’t happen.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struggling artists all looking for their big break are about to get much more than that when they’re all invited to an exclusive contest. The reward? $500,000 that could do wonders for their careers. Who could turn that offer down - not any of them!

Contestants:
Ira - art is too grotesque for mainstream
Isabella - illegal art / street art
Issac - Isabella’s twin / street art
Tonya - graphic design
Derrick - sketch artist
McKenzie - does tattoos (sunflower)
Cameron - sculptor
James - illustrator

Oof! This was a fabulous read. So much fun. Escape Room meets Saw. I loved all the torturous rooms.

My only complaint about the book is that it took the first 100 pages to build up to the actual good parts. But this also gives us some backstory to build on. And once we get to the rooms we quickly forget all that anyways.

Thanks for the rec @belle lovestoread they never disappoint 😘😘

[Lacey Devane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man was this a fun crazy ride!!!!!! Gave me Saw & Escape Room vibes and also Puzzle House by Duncan Ralston! If you like any of those you are definitely going to have a great time reading this!! I went into this almost completely blind, all I read was the first few lines of the synopsis;
8 artists.
1 art residency.
1 chance to leave alive.
After that I was like yep I’m in 😂 and boy it was not what I expected at all! I definitely recommend giving this a go when it comes out October 1st!

[Meredith Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

7 artists agree to enter a competition on a remote, tropical 🏝️ island for sponsorship and 1/2 a million dollars.

The book starts out by introducing you to the characters and how they became to be invited to the island competition. Each character gets their own chapter, of which I’m not usually a fan, but it really flows with the story.

You really become attached to the characters early on and really feel for them with their individual struggles.

[Shelley Amazon ca reviews as Purrrplehaze · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eclectic group of artists are invited by a millionaire to take part in a contest to the 'last artist standing' where the prize is a windfall of cash. Which, of course, they all need.

Not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, this book doesn't leave much to the imagination.

For those who like a bit of gore, this is for you.

I received a review copy of this book from the author through Bookfunnel, and I am giving you my honest review.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow! What did I just read?

It starts with an invitation: "...congratulations, I am informing you that you have been hand-selected for an artist residency I am hosting at my home on Turquoise Bay Island." The invitation includes a competition, and the winner receives $500,000. Despite being suspicious, eight struggling artists take The Curator up on his offer to fly out to his island on a private jet.
You know it can't be that easy, right?

The eight artists are locked into a bunker and in true Squid Games fashion must face an elimination challenge in each chamber, until there is only one left standing. And even then, it’s not over. Gory, graphic, and an accident you can’t look away from, you’ll finish this short novel in a day!

Thanks to Booksirens and Kayla Frederick for an advance reader’s copy!

[Heather Faircloth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one blew my mind!!! So very well written with so many twists and turns. Will definitely be reading more from Kayla Frederick!!

[Kacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was batshit and idk how I feel about it.

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin’s Review

5 Star Rating
3 Skull Dread Rating

Scary As Hell

Kayla Frederick’s The Residency is a freaky and intense horror novel that had me glued to the pages from start to finish! 😱📖 The story follows eight artists who receive an invitation to a special art residency on a private island, lured by the promise of a big cash prize and a chance to enhance their skills. But things quickly take a sinister turn when they discover the competition is deadly. 💀🏝️

The challenges they face are both terrifying and imaginative, adding a unique twisty turn to the horror genre. 🎨🔪 The book is fast-paced, and the ending has an unexpected twist that kinda took me by surprise! 🤯 If you love horror stories filled with suspense and creepy moments, The Residency is a must-read! It's a gripping tale that you won’t want to put down! 🙌✨ Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun and scary read! 📚🔥

#TheResidency #KaylaFrederick #HorrorBooks #BookReview #MustRead #Suspense #Thriller #ReadersOfInstagram #BookRecommendations #BookLovers #ScaryStories #EdgeOfYourSeat

[Cassidy Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book and finished it in one day! It’s a shorter story and an easy read. The book has multiple different point of views from the main characters but it’s not so many that it’s hard to keep up with.

I loved the story line as it had many horror events take place where I couldn’t imagine being in that situation myself. The book starts by explaining the lives of the main characters. They all have something to do with being some type of artist. It then goes into them receiving an art residency where they all end up at the same place to better their art skills. But the twists are insane. None of them really knew what they were getting into. That is what kept me reading and wanting to constantly know what happens next. The author did a great job of putting pictures in my head about the craziness that was going on from the different perspectives.

I enjoyed knowing the perspectives of the people that were hosting the art residency as that played a huge part in what the residency was actually for.

The ending was completely unexpected. I just knew what was going to happen, but I really didn’t. The only reason this book received 4 stars out of 5 for me was because I wish I had more explanation of the ending and why it turned out the way that it did.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would love to have more stories like this from the author to read in the future!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Megan Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives all the Saw-like spooky vibes. At just under 200 pages it was a quick read, and I liked how the chapters changed narrators each time, so we could get a fresh perspective on the horror surrounding the characters.

I will say one thing that I found confusing/strange was the fact that the author made a point when introducing the characters of Isaac and Isabella to let us know that Isabella was older, but all the other characters kept referring to them as “the twins”. At one point in the story Isabella does attempt to correct them saying she’s older, but 1. It feels like it’s too far into the story when this happens, so I spent the whole time until that point trying to figure out why Isabella told us in her first chapter that Isaac had just turned 18 if the two of them were twins and 2. Even after she attempted to correct them, the other characters still referred to them as the twins. I realize this isn’t a big thing, but it was a discrepancy that caught my eye and really bugged me the whole time which took a little enjoyment out of the story for me.

I feel like there could have been a little more backstory on the curator and Victoria, to maybe explain what happened to the curator’s wife to make him ultimately become the monster he is, but overall I did enjoy this book

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is billed as being for fans of Puzzle House and the Saw franchise, and it is definitely that! The initial chapters are a bit slow, as they help set the reader up with the various residency participants, giving a little background info about them and how they came to be part of the residency. Once they all get together with the Curator, though, then the story starts going full tilt and doesn't let up until the end.

There are some gory descriptions (it's a horror novel and it's similar to the Saw franchise, so that much should be obvious from the start), but it's nothing too over the top or that seemed gratuitous and unnecessary compared to the rest of the scene. I would definitely recommend this for fans of the genre who want a quick read that'll really punch you in the gut with what people are capable of.

4 stars

**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eight artists are invited to a private island by a mysterious man known only as the Curator. They are told the winner of the competition will receive a life changing amount of money. Only when they arrive, they start feeling like something isn't right. Soon they are led to an underground bunker where they are told the competition will take place. And they very quickly realise they are competing for more than just money.

This one was soo good. It was only a short book (140 pages) but there was so much packed in that it felt longer. I couldn't read this quick enough, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. I absolutely love movies like Saw and Escape Room, so this was right up my street. If you're a fan of those sort of movies and/or books like Escape Room or Puzzle House, this is a must-read for you.
Such a great book and I can't wait to read more from this author.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished The Residency by Kayla Frederick .

I was enjoying this and fine, then Pg.68 ish I realized this was not a game.
No one was safe.
And I better not get attached to anyone.

This book got my heart racing and I enjoyed that so much.
I dont know what ending I expected but wow Kayla wow lol

This is
4.5/5 Stars

I gotta go take a cold shower, my heart is still racing a little from those last few chapters lol

Releases 10/1 get it!!!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Residency" by Kayla Frederick is a captivating examination of creativity under duress, set on a remote island where eight artists anticipate inspiration but instead face horror and impossible choices. As the story unfolds, they encounter bizarre and violent events that test their sanity and morals. With striking descriptions and a powerful interplay between art and madness, Frederick crafts a thought-provoking and chilling tale that kept me fully engaged.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Kayla Frederick

When an invitation of a once of a lifetime residency comes in the mail, the main character jumps at the chance to go. Upon arriving at the island and meeting the other characters that were also invited, something feels off.

It's full of suspense and death 💀. A true gore hound delight.

5 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪 🔪

[Asia Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun! If the Saw franchise was influenced by art, you would get The Residency. I really had no idea who would make it to the end and I had to keep reading (every chance at free time I had) to find out.