Welcome to Europea Halls. Only the select few have made it into these prestigious dorms in the capital of the EU, Brussels.
When six best teenage friends get stalked by a serial killer, the campus is on high alert. As the body count piles up, it seems the killer knows a thing or two about slasher movies. Can these girls fight back in time to discover the truth behind the gruesome murders, or will no-one live to tell the tale?
A Ya Slasher Novel inspired by 90s Slasher Movies such as "Scream" , "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Urban Legend" with a modern European twist.
Who will the Final Girl be or have the rules changed this time around?
Brilliant slasher bringing all the vibes of a horror movie. Great bunch of characters too. Diverse and likeable. Easily bingeable! Thoroughly enjoyed my time at Europea Halls (can't say the characters did though)
The definition of a fun 90s slasher. It has all the right elements to be a franchise and it will leave you excited for more.
We are in a prestigious school in Brussels. Our main characters are a group of friends that live together in the dorms. Even though they came from very different backgrounds, they have become best friends and have their own whatsapp group.
One day a killer on the loose attacks and kills one of the girls. After that first shock they will soon realize that she was just the first victim and the killer is not going to stop until all of them are dead. Will they be able to stop the killer on time?
The book is told from the perspective of each of the girls so we can read and learn what each of them are thinking and learn a bit more about their backgrounds.
I truly enjoyed this slasher because it was a lot of fun, it was action packed and it had all the blood and guts that you can expect from a good slasher.
The only small criticism I have is that the girls all read so similar to each other that it was hard for me to distinguish them. But this did not have any impact at all on my enjoyment of the book and I would re-read this anytime.
I did guess part of the ending but that is because I have read and watched too many slashers. How many are too many though?
I am definitely going to continue with the trilogy.
Europea Halls is de eerste slasher die ik ooit heb gelezen, en ik vond het ge-wel-dig! Een heerlijke pageturner die me helemaal in de sfeer van 'Scream' bracht.
Er gebeurt veel, maar dat draagt juist bij aan het spanningseffect. Ik kon het boek niet neerleggen en heb het in twee zittingen uitgelezen.
I just finished Europea Halls, the debut by Alan Shivers and the first in the Europea Halls trilogy. This YA slasher is a fun story inspired by the slasher movies from the '90's and for me it was like going back down memory lane. The Scream movies, I know what you did last summer and its sequel, Urban Legend and so many other movies like that are what inspired this book and, what's even more fun, are also the slasher movies that the main characters refer to in this story. It may be very clear, this book does not take itself seriously.
And that makes this such a fun read. It's fast paced, funny, bloody and sometimes even gorey and perfect for some scary fun and a good game of guessing the killer.
But is it perfect? Nah. It's not, but neither are the above mentioned movies. And it doesn't matter really. What did matter to me though is the writing and mainly the fact that I noticed this book was not written by a native English speaker. I know he 'purposely' wrote it to be European English (It's even mentioned in the end of the novel), but that would only explain it if it was just the dialogues. And still, even if that's the case, the dialogues would differ per person. Every main character comes from a different country. They all would have had different accents. But the entire book was written in this way, and that bothered me a little bit. I know it's self published, but it would be better with a good native speaking editor. And mind you, editing can also help getting rid of the overload in double spaces and some wonky sentences. The action scenes leave a little bit to desire sometimes. Some are rushed, some are physically nearly impossible, and sometimes even the choice of words would help a scene a bit more. And lastly, I didn't care for chapter 25. If you read it, you might find it funny, cheeky, maybe even brilliant. I just didn't like that at all.
That all said, it doesn't mean this is a very bad book. Not even close, because I did enjoy reading it and am giving it 3.5 stars, but am not making it 4 just because Goodreads still hasn't given us the opportunity to give half stars. Anyhoo, I hope many people will read this as I think Alan Shivers is an author to look out for when he develops his writing. I'm pretty sure the sequels will be just as fun as well.
This was a frantic, bloody riot that started with a bang and *moved* throughout. Some clever set pieces, great kills and a fun killer reveal made this every bit the homage to 90s slashers that I wanted it to be.
There were parts I could pick away at - everything was quite top level, and I would have loved it taking more time to build dread and develop the characters - but this is a YA novel so I don’t think that would be a fair criticism. I did sometimes mix up the characters, but broadly it was a well-drawn cast and the friendship group felt real and established.
I really like the setting too; I don’t consume much of anything set in Belgium, let alone slasher novels, and it was nice to be in Europe for a change.
Anyway, very little to fault here and I imagine teenage me would have tore this up. There are already two sequels out there and, you know what, I might well give them a go next time I’m looking for a quick read.
Thanks to #indievisible for the review copy, and for continuing to help support indie artists.
Very reminiscent of the good old 90s slasher films - Scream, Urban Legend, etc. Well written and enjoyable. Quite the "whodunnit" mystery as there are several potential suspects. The chapters are split into each characters POV, which I did find a bit confusing at times when dialogue started.
The author contacted me and promoted his book and the book sounded very interesting to me. I was able to buy with quite the discount. It arrived yesterday and I immediately started reading as I just couldn't put it down and finished it late last night.
Six students living in Europea Halls, quite the prestigious dorms. When the girls get stalked and people are getting killed all around them, the campus is on high alert. Will they survive this slaughter?
This book is inspired by 90s films such as Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. When I was young I watched these films and I liked them a lot and that's also something that appealed to me in this book. The story is fast-paced which makes it an absolutely thrilling read; it's a rather unputdownable thriller. The characters are a mix of six different European nationalities which makes it extra fun to read about because of the different backgrounds of each of the characters. The ending is absolutely brilliant, I did not see that coming.
Slasher fans rejoice! EUROPEA HALLS is here to give you all that you've been wanting in a horror book. There's a serial killer VICIOUSLY stalking and killing, and there's a group of 6 teenage BFFs whose lives are at stake. So 6 options for a final girl icon here. It's giving academia horror. I'm getting Scream meets a little campus action a la Urban Legend (or even Scream 2, as it has that prestigious, bourgeois campus, too).
While this is marketed as YA, I am not sure it totally fits for me. Yes, there are teen protagonists. But this is the same way I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAS SUMMER (1997), SCREAM (1996), etc have them. But I do not necessarily think they are YA horror movies. The way this is written could have any reader champion one way or the other. But I think the right audience and crowd will be able to help spread this book all over the age groups and ranges. All I know is that it WORKED for me and I absolutely loved it.
The characters are fleshed out extremely well and there's lots of great rep going on. You really get a sense of the way all these girls connect with one another. These girls are like an amalgamation of the teens in SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE 2 (1987), THE CRAFT (1996), and Nancy & Tina from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984) all rolled into one group.
The attacks and kill scenes are BRUTAL. They are a little quick(ish) in the earlier kills. But that goes with the territory. Some of my favorite kill scenes in horror movies are the earlier, quick(er) ones. But then we get less characters alive and finally to a staple of slasher horror: CHASE SCENES! And there is this one chase scene in Europea Halls that is giving Wendy from PROM NIGHT (1980) meets Helen from I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (1997) and I never wanted it to end. It had my heart racing and it was so stressful. And we get another chase scene with lots of tension soon after!
I loved the reveal and ending. I loved all the twists. And I am extremely loving the fact that a sequel has already been announced/teased at the end -- because Scream's Stu Macher never goes out of style: "Cause let's face it, baby, these days, ya gotta have a sequel!"
They call themselves MIOLAA, their group chat named after each member of their friendship group – Marieke, Ingvild, Oliwia, Lucija, Ayat and Alzbeta. They are all boarders at the exclusive private Europea School in Brussels and bond over their shared experience of living in a new country away from home.
On a visit to her parents country home, Alzbeta is visited by the boyfriend of Lucija, Matej and when he leaves strange things begin happening around the house. The TV’s on each floor turn on, there are footsteps following her from room to room and she realises she is not alone in the house anymore, as she runs into the forest to reach her nearest neighbours she knows she is being hunted. Soon all of the girls realise they are being stalked by a killer bent on their destruction who torments them with text messages, the police think it has something to do with their chat group but as the victims pile up who will save them from their masked predator.
A debut from an indie horror writer, this is dedicated to all those fantastic slasher movies we loved in the 80’s and 90’s. This has the feel of Scream with the academic setting of Urban Legend and a healthy dose of stalker vibes from Friday the 13th. It felt so nostalgic but is set very much in the present day. Who is the killer and why have they selected this random group of students? The boyfriend seems too obvious and they all seem to be normal college girls just trying to get through school and enjoying socialising in a vibrant city.
There is tension, paranoia and guilt from the girls as their lives are consumed by police protection, the media and their own growing feelings of distrust with each other and those around them. The violence when it comes is brutal and unexpected, fast and furious. The finale is frankly a bloodbath with an ending that hints that a sequel is pending.
A really fun fast paced debut, read if you like your horror with added slash!
Marieke, Ingvild, Oliwia, Lucija, Ayat, and Alzbeta are friends who all attend the prestigious boarding school Europea Halls. Five of them have been friends for years, and when Lucija came to the school a few months ago, they took her in. They form a group chat, MIOLAA, and everything seems perfect. Until Alzbeta is brutally murdered outside her parents' home. Ayat follows soon after and the girls discover texts were sent to each of their phones before they died, first MIOLA, then MIOL. Running on the assumption the killer is going in order, they try and keep themselves safe whilst trying to work out who could possibly be doing this. Who will survive?
This was a great slasher, paying homage to movies such as Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. It's a YA slasher, but that doesn't stop it from being fairly bloody and brutal at times. This was a brilliant debut.
This book was addicting, annoying, stressful, fast paced, gory, shocking but a very fun read overall! If you like the Scream franchise, you’ll like this one a lot.
*massive spoilers*
The killer’s motive was dumb, just like most horror movies, and the girls were making the worst decisions ever, just like most horror movies. I can’t tell you how many times I had to put my kindle down to take a breath. But honestly, that’s what I really liked about this book. People make dumb mistakes when they’re scared, and these girls are just too young to be put in a situation like this. I’m excited for book 2, even though I have no idea who would possibly have more of a motive to kill the survivors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is a YA horror novel. While I enjoy reading YA, this actually felt like a young YA even though the characters were teens. They were immature, one dimensional teens more concerned with their freedom, drinking, hookups and girl stuff (for lack of a better word) than the fact that they were being killed off one by one. They didn't take any of it seriously and barely got upset for their fallen friends.
With this in mind, I had to change my view on this story. I was taking it too seriously. While their emotions and actions weren't necessarily realistic, they made for a campy, young B-Movie type, slightly humorous horror. Once I changed my perspective, I could enjoy it for what I think it was meant to be.
I will say that the scenes involving the killer were very bloody and suspenseful. I actually looked forward to the killings, lol, because they invoked some fear. These moments kept me tense and reading quickly to find the outcomes. These were my favorite parts of the book.
I guessed one twist early on, but there still was another twist that I wasn't expecting.
The ending was satisfying but still left it wide open for a sequel.
All together, if you're looking for a short,fun, and a little silly YA horror read that gives you a few Scream/I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes, this book is for you.
The author of this book gave me an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun read! I am a big fan of slashers in general and to be honest, I never had any luck finding a good one in a book format. I tried my luck with Europea Halls which I got recommended on Tik Tok. Premise sounded very interesting so I said why not. Another plus? One of the characters is Czech, which is pretty uncommon to find in foreign books. So... did it deliver?
I was genuinly surprised by how much I liked this short story. It was pretty fast paced with short chapters which is one of the most important things for slasher imo. Reader doesn't have time to get bored and is still expecting a new death. Characters were pretty likable, I especially loved Polish girl, Oliwia and Ingvild. Some of deaths were pretty gruesome, so if you can't handle it well, just avoid it. Reveal of the killer was pretty surprising, I honestly had no idea, same goes for the motive.
I never expect slashers to be deep or anything - I want a fun fast paced story with good kills, lot of blood and interesting killer. I got it and I can't wait for a sequel that comes out in a week!
I couldn’t put this down once I started it!! It grips you from the beginning, making you ask Who? and Why?
This slasher tale revolves around a group of six 17- and 18-year old female friends in a private boarding school. Their backgrounds and origins are different, but they are bonded and very close. When one of the six come up murdered, a clue - a text from the killer, actually - implies that she will not be the only one. Another friend is murdered. Another text. The friends are being picked off, one by one. By who? Why is this friend group being targeted?
This story is reminiscent of the highly popular slasher films of the 90’s. Think Scream, Urban Legends…. the scary movies I loved as a teen.
This is the perfect tale for spooky season! Perfect that it is being released October 1! Highly recommend if you enjoy well written, not too terribly gory, suspenseful thrillers. 5/5!
The author was going for 90s slasher vibes and he accomplished it. In a big way. That opening chapter is everything I look for in a slasher, and it had all the tension and gore factor as watching an actual movie, which I loved. I could visualize all of it. This book didn't slow down from beginning to end-- I knew once I picked it up I would be up late reading because I was trying to find the hints, and the peaks at who the killer is.
If you love slashers, want a quick Halloween read! Pick this up! It's also on kindle unlimited!
Started and finished in the same 24 hours. Very quick and easy read. The author pays homage to the horror tropes a la “Scream” and is mostly successful in creating a fun slasher. I will complain (like many others) that the lack of motive for the eventual reveal was slightly disappointing and having the character just shrug and say, “why do I need a reason” felt a bit of a cop out but given this isn’t a stand-alone book, the loose motive likely allows for set up of the next chapter do the saga. I’ll give it a go!
As a person new to slashers this was a fun start. It was trilling unexpected and so much fun to read. I’m super curious what is going to happen in the next book so I can’t wait for that.
What about this book it’s so fast paced that if you don’t pay attention for 1 sentences you have missed something important. The plot twist where amazing and sometime expected some not so.
If you love YA horror with the campy 90s nostalgia you will love this. I was asked to do an advanced reading for this book by the Author and truthfully I was hooked. I have always been a horror fan especially the campy ones. If you lived or liked Scream and I know what you did last summer you will truly want to read this. The twist la and subtle hints kept you guessing.
Oh this was such a fun slasher!! Did I yell at some of the characters for doing stupid things? Yes. Were some of things highly improbable for someone to physically do? Also yes. But it all made for a campy slasher, very reminiscent of the Scream franchise! 🙌
Definitely recommend this to my fellow slasher lovers!! Looking forward to the remaining two books in the trilogy!! 👏
This was a fun read. You could tell the author wrote this as a love letter to Scream and other 90's horror slasher movies. It had all the old school elements. I really didn't see the twist of the killer/killers coming. That was a surprise for me.
I’m going to continue this series to see if it gets better, but I feel the characters lacked depth and needed fleshing out a bit. Also, the gen z cringe was a little much. I just wasn’t routing for any of the characters
loved this book!! i am a huge afraidy-cat but couldn’t put it down. perfect for YA now that we’re entering spooky season (as an adult, i still loved it!) …think classic campy horror. great read 🔥🔥
This is an amazing slasher with great characters, major tension and epic kills. So much nostalgia from some of the best 90s slasher movies! Can't wait to read the next book!
This was soooo much fun and it brought me back to all my favourite slasher tropes! Scream, I know what you did last summer, I still know what you did last summer ☀️ I'm totally in my Alan shivers era right now
Alright, we all know I can be pretty stubborn sometimes…but every once in a while I like to throw a wrench in my own stubbornness and step out of my comfort zone. I haven’t read any YA since Clown in a Cornfield…(which I liked!)…but yeah I said maybe another day YA. Then Alan Shivers comes around with Europa Halls & something told me I needed to go for it. I ended up being thoroughly impressed (and embracing the big middle finger to my stubbornness) because while this slasher might be ok for younger readers…it did NOT shy away from any of the action, blood, or creepiness whatsoever & I loved the whole thing! 🙀
Quick synopsis: 6 best friends in a prestigious school in Brussels are being stalked by a masked killer, out for blood. You’ve all seen the popular 90’s slashers that reinvigorated the genre, right? Well, so have these girls. So they won’t go down without a fight. Still, we know eventually we will have to get to our final girl for our final fight. An epic one at that, which had some moments that actually made me wince at.
So Shivers ended the book noting how much he loved Scream & this felt like a near perfect homage to it. For those who find comfort in horror/slasher movies like I do, this book will feel like a big, warm, sticky, rib-crunching hug. The fact that the cast was from multiple parts of the world, in basically bloody Euro-Disney? Icing on the cake. It added a welcome, well-rounded feel that gave the slasher genre a healthy update but kept the foundation intact. I’m glad I took a chance on it and recommend you all do the same. PLUS, there’s 2 more books in the story that I have already added to my TBR, so I’m looking forward to those too!
I was interested in reading this book because I’ve been seeing ads of it on instagram for a week and I love slashers. I gave my best with reading this book but I couldn’t like it. I did finish it but just out of spite. The dialogue was so off that is just skimmed some of it.
I really really really wanted to like this book! The author is a fellow Belgian, and Belgian horror writers are extremely rare.
This book is made out of every possible slasher cliche there is. There is not a single original thing about it. A damned shame, if you ask me.
That being said a male author trying to write teenage girl characters is a no no. I cringed every other sentence. Why he didn’t base his book on a group of boys, I haven’t a clue. We don’t talk like that, we don’t have the, yes I’m repeating myself, cliche behavior. I’m sorry Alan, but no, just no.
The author also uses a lot of figure of speech which gets annoying at times.
I had the plot figured out quite early on. I will not be reading the other parts in this series.
I’m truly sorry to be giving this review, I love supporting Indie authors. I didn’t want to leave a 1* and not explain myself.