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Camp Carnage
In the summer of 1986, Billy Collins is sent to his own personal Hell - summer camp. The remote Camp Genesis offers desperate parents a place to "straighten" out their gay teenagers with the help of the puritanical Katherine Creevey.
Besides the typical horsing around, campfire tales and summer games, the Genesis program forces gay and questioning teens into humiliating gender-based lessons. While Billy wants nothing more than to escape Camp Genesis, he can't help worrying that something even more sinister is hiding just out of sight.
Unknown to Billy, two campers were murdered three years ago. Just days after Billy and the new campers arrive, people start to go missing, and it's up to Billy and his new friend Jem to find out what's really going on. Is a maniac on the loose? Is history repeating itself? One thing's for sure - at Camp Genesis, you have to fight to survive...
Besides the typical horsing around, campfire tales and summer games, the Genesis program forces gay and questioning teens into humiliating gender-based lessons. While Billy wants nothing more than to escape Camp Genesis, he can't help worrying that something even more sinister is hiding just out of sight.
Unknown to Billy, two campers were murdered three years ago. Just days after Billy and the new campers arrive, people start to go missing, and it's up to Billy and his new friend Jem to find out what's really going on. Is a maniac on the loose? Is history repeating itself? One thing's for sure - at Camp Genesis, you have to fight to survive...
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2014
114 people are currently reading
1244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
June 26, 2018
3.5 stars, but I'll bump it up.
I grabbed this book for free on Kindle the other day. I didn't really know what to expect, and not gonna lie, was a bit apprehensive about it. When I saw the other Goodreads reviews, however, I decided to give the novel a chance.
Author Elliot Arthur Cross clearly knows his horror. I think Camp Carnage's strengths were in taking horror tropes like the final girl, the virgin, the slut, and flipping them around. The killer's nickname made me laugh out loud. Also - I had no idea who the killer was, so kudos. Most of the cast of characters were fairly developed and I found myself caring about them. My favorite character was Jem, the lesbian who kicks ass.
Some parts of the story did feel a bit rushed, and thin at times, but overall I enjoyed it. If you're a fan of slasher films, I'm pretty certain you will enjoy this too.
I grabbed this book for free on Kindle the other day. I didn't really know what to expect, and not gonna lie, was a bit apprehensive about it. When I saw the other Goodreads reviews, however, I decided to give the novel a chance.
Author Elliot Arthur Cross clearly knows his horror. I think Camp Carnage's strengths were in taking horror tropes like the final girl, the virgin, the slut, and flipping them around. The killer's nickname made me laugh out loud. Also - I had no idea who the killer was, so kudos. Most of the cast of characters were fairly developed and I found myself caring about them. My favorite character was Jem, the lesbian who kicks ass.
Some parts of the story did feel a bit rushed, and thin at times, but overall I enjoyed it. If you're a fan of slasher films, I'm pretty certain you will enjoy this too.
December 29, 2021
Hmm... I have very mixed feelings about this.
March 12, 2019
4.0 Stars
This was such an entertaining slasher horror story with strong elements of diversity. Given the synopsis, I was initially concerned that the story could be problematic. However, in the hands of these authors, that was not an issue. For a slasher story, there was a fair amount of time spent character development to create well rounded individuals. For this reason, the LGBTA+ representation felt quite appropriate. Personally, I would have liked a little more gore from a slasher story, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. I would definitely recommend this one to fellow horror readers.
This was such an entertaining slasher horror story with strong elements of diversity. Given the synopsis, I was initially concerned that the story could be problematic. However, in the hands of these authors, that was not an issue. For a slasher story, there was a fair amount of time spent character development to create well rounded individuals. For this reason, the LGBTA+ representation felt quite appropriate. Personally, I would have liked a little more gore from a slasher story, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. I would definitely recommend this one to fellow horror readers.
July 9, 2018
"Who gives a fuck who fucks who?"
I read Camp Carnage as a buddy read with my friend Alex, and we both had fun reading this one. This is a camp and slasher story, which has become one of my favorite storylines, but this one is different since it's set at a conversion camp. It's a really sad setting, and some parts of the book are stressful.
The campers make the book. They make the best of their very shitty situation, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. The characters had more depth than the average slasher, and it was fun. I might actually label this as horror comedy because there were several parts that were pretty amusing.
This book has a lot of heart - I wasn't sure about it until I checked out some GoodReads reviews, but I'm glad I read this one. I was wrong about who the slasher was, and enjoyed guessing throughout the book. I hope the authors end up continuing their horror series! If you're looking for YA LGBTQ+ horror, this is a fun one to pick up.
I read Camp Carnage as a buddy read with my friend Alex, and we both had fun reading this one. This is a camp and slasher story, which has become one of my favorite storylines, but this one is different since it's set at a conversion camp. It's a really sad setting, and some parts of the book are stressful.
The campers make the book. They make the best of their very shitty situation, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. The characters had more depth than the average slasher, and it was fun. I might actually label this as horror comedy because there were several parts that were pretty amusing.
This book has a lot of heart - I wasn't sure about it until I checked out some GoodReads reviews, but I'm glad I read this one. I was wrong about who the slasher was, and enjoyed guessing throughout the book. I hope the authors end up continuing their horror series! If you're looking for YA LGBTQ+ horror, this is a fun one to pick up.
December 6, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5 (rounded down)
Campy YA 80’s queer slasher.
That about sums it up.
In all honesty, I went into this with low expectations. I wasn’t expecting much (at all), but was pleasantly surprised. It’s your better-than-average self-published book. The story itself is fairly unique in its slasher approach (and I do love me a good slasher), and the unpredictable nature it took on made me giddy. Because in this book, no one is safe! You like a certain character? Well, just like in Game of Thrones, they’re most likely gonna bite the dust. I both appreciated and hated this, because I really enjoyed quite a few of the characters, but applauded the decision to keep it surprising til the end by having no limits to who will die.
Aside from it taking a few chapters to hook me, as well as some flimsy plot holes and unanswered questions, I’d gladly read more from these authors.
Campy YA 80’s queer slasher.
That about sums it up.
In all honesty, I went into this with low expectations. I wasn’t expecting much (at all), but was pleasantly surprised. It’s your better-than-average self-published book. The story itself is fairly unique in its slasher approach (and I do love me a good slasher), and the unpredictable nature it took on made me giddy. Because in this book, no one is safe! You like a certain character? Well, just like in Game of Thrones, they’re most likely gonna bite the dust. I both appreciated and hated this, because I really enjoyed quite a few of the characters, but applauded the decision to keep it surprising til the end by having no limits to who will die.
Aside from it taking a few chapters to hook me, as well as some flimsy plot holes and unanswered questions, I’d gladly read more from these authors.
August 31, 2014
Imagine an 80s summer camp slasher movie that features gay kids getting massacred, and you’ve got the novel Camp Carnage by Elliot Arthur Cross and Joshua Winning. Set in 1986 (complete with 80s pop culture references), this page-turning gay horror novel has basically re-imagined Friday the 13th—at a conversion camp!
The cast of characters includes a jock, a jerk, a black kid, a fat kid, an insecure kid, a creepy caretaker…you know the drill. And then there are the bitchy camp counselors. Their goal at this camp is to kill the queer in each of the kids. But someone has decided it’s just easier to kill them!
The killer’s weapon of choice is most often gardening shears, and some of the kills are harsh! While the killer is never described as wearing any iconic mask, at one point a mask/hoodie combination is mentioned briefly. The killer also does not get a name until near the end of novel, when someone comes up with a bit of a play on words that totally fits the issues being dealt with in the novel.
Even though Camp Carnage takes place at a “conversion” camp, it doesn’t become heavy-handed. The subject is handled gently, yet a couple of great scenarios play out that demonstrate just how insane the idea of curing homosexuality is and the warped thinking of those who believe it works.
As a slasher, the book is perfectly paced (with kills coming at just the right times). As gays start to drop like fruit flies, the mystery of who could be behind the murders begins to unfold. And as the book races to its big climax, we’re treated to all the favorite slasher staples: chase scenes, body reveals, the killer getting back up, and of course…the promise of a sequel!
The cast of characters includes a jock, a jerk, a black kid, a fat kid, an insecure kid, a creepy caretaker…you know the drill. And then there are the bitchy camp counselors. Their goal at this camp is to kill the queer in each of the kids. But someone has decided it’s just easier to kill them!
The killer’s weapon of choice is most often gardening shears, and some of the kills are harsh! While the killer is never described as wearing any iconic mask, at one point a mask/hoodie combination is mentioned briefly. The killer also does not get a name until near the end of novel, when someone comes up with a bit of a play on words that totally fits the issues being dealt with in the novel.
Even though Camp Carnage takes place at a “conversion” camp, it doesn’t become heavy-handed. The subject is handled gently, yet a couple of great scenarios play out that demonstrate just how insane the idea of curing homosexuality is and the warped thinking of those who believe it works.
As a slasher, the book is perfectly paced (with kills coming at just the right times). As gays start to drop like fruit flies, the mystery of who could be behind the murders begins to unfold. And as the book races to its big climax, we’re treated to all the favorite slasher staples: chase scenes, body reveals, the killer getting back up, and of course…the promise of a sequel!
Want to read
October 25, 2021This is currently free on AZ and looks like it might be suitable for Halloween...
December 31, 2022
A quick slasher novella set at a gay conversion camp in the 80s. There were some good scares, tense scenes, and occasionally some moving moments dealing with homophobia and the horrible ways that the campers are treated by the staff at the camp. However I didn’t totally love this.
The POV switches between a lot of different characters and it left me feeling like I never got to know any of them enough. A few of the characters got more development, but I kept mixing up a lot of the side characters.
The POV switches between a lot of different characters and it left me feeling like I never got to know any of them enough. A few of the characters got more development, but I kept mixing up a lot of the side characters.
October 25, 2022
"From the shade of a lone oak tree, a figure watched the kids as they arrived. Unseen and unnoticed by all of them, he squinted and pouted miserably."
Okay so the horror for me starts with the fact that camps like this exist. Camps that have the sole purpose of "curing" the gay kids. That alone is a terrifying thought. There is a lot of anti-gay in this book, its kind of the point of the story, but if you feel uncomfortable with things like that, I would advise you to avoid. There is also some racism aimed at the one black character, so again, avoid if this is a trigger for you.
The story itself was quite enjoyable. And unlike in a lot of other 80s style camp horrors, there is no 'monster', no cannibal living in the woods eating people. I can't say too much more without spoiling it so I would recommend you go ahead and read this one.
A fairly quick and easy read, great for spooky season.
Okay so the horror for me starts with the fact that camps like this exist. Camps that have the sole purpose of "curing" the gay kids. That alone is a terrifying thought. There is a lot of anti-gay in this book, its kind of the point of the story, but if you feel uncomfortable with things like that, I would advise you to avoid. There is also some racism aimed at the one black character, so again, avoid if this is a trigger for you.
The story itself was quite enjoyable. And unlike in a lot of other 80s style camp horrors, there is no 'monster', no cannibal living in the woods eating people. I can't say too much more without spoiling it so I would recommend you go ahead and read this one.
A fairly quick and easy read, great for spooky season.
October 14, 2021
It’s the summer of 1986, and Billy is on his way to Camp Genesis, a conversion camp for gay kids where they’re forced to participate in gender-based activities to learn to be “straight.” But the camp has a dark history, and when one of the campers goes missing, Billy and his friends discover that it isn’t the first strange and possibly deadly thing to happen there. Once, there may have been a killer stalking the camp, and they might just be back for another round. Trigger warnings: character death (on-page), suicide reference, blood/gore, stabbing, hanging, homophobia/sexism (countered, but rampant given the setting), gaslighting, slurs, bullying, threats, religious themes, drug use, underage drinking, vomiting.
This is a perfect read for fans of the slasher genre, but by nature, those tend not to be all that deep. My favorite part of Camp Carnage is the way it’s set at a conversion camp, which is frankly more nightmarish than any killer with a pair of garden shears. Horror is uniquely situated to provide social commentary on the things that frighten us or the things that are already frightening or wrong about society, and I like the message here about how damaging this kind of camp is. It leans heavily into gross gender roles to “correct” gayness and, honestly, that makes me feel a little stabby too (although I ultimately get mixed messages from the killer on their motives, and that ambivalence detracts some from my willingness to believe).
For all the attempts at providing depth and background to the characters, this is a slasher novella, and we know that most of them are only there for body count. I had trouble keeping track of anyone outside the main three or four. Billy didn’t make much of an impression on me, but I like Jem’s eighties fashion and spunky attitude. Way less fond of Kyle’s toxic bullying, but I guess every story needs an internal antagonist too. There’s plenty of gore and kills here for the horror fans, but I was hoping for a bit more than that overall. Thanks to Roberta at Offbeat YA for buddy reading this with me! As usual, I think we have more fun picking apart the character motivations and tossing conspiracy theories back and forth than we do actually reading. 🥰
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
This is a perfect read for fans of the slasher genre, but by nature, those tend not to be all that deep. My favorite part of Camp Carnage is the way it’s set at a conversion camp, which is frankly more nightmarish than any killer with a pair of garden shears. Horror is uniquely situated to provide social commentary on the things that frighten us or the things that are already frightening or wrong about society, and I like the message here about how damaging this kind of camp is. It leans heavily into gross gender roles to “correct” gayness and, honestly, that makes me feel a little stabby too (although I ultimately get mixed messages from the killer on their motives, and that ambivalence detracts some from my willingness to believe).
For all the attempts at providing depth and background to the characters, this is a slasher novella, and we know that most of them are only there for body count. I had trouble keeping track of anyone outside the main three or four. Billy didn’t make much of an impression on me, but I like Jem’s eighties fashion and spunky attitude. Way less fond of Kyle’s toxic bullying, but I guess every story needs an internal antagonist too. There’s plenty of gore and kills here for the horror fans, but I was hoping for a bit more than that overall. Thanks to Roberta at Offbeat YA for buddy reading this with me! As usual, I think we have more fun picking apart the character motivations and tossing conspiracy theories back and forth than we do actually reading. 🥰
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
August 21, 2020
Why hello Kindle Unlimited book that is set at a horrific summer camp.
Camp Carnage was a pretty interesting read. I didn't really know what to expect because I am a horrible person who didn't really read the synopsis. I mean I glanced at it but didn't really sit down and pay attention to what it actually said. Oops?
Even though I didn't do any of that, I enjoyed the book. It has been a while since I've read a slasher book so I was really pumped for everything that was happening. I love when everyone is up for grabs and I have no idea who is behind it. Mostly because I'm a horrible detective and such...
I'm not sure if this was supposed to be as funny as it was.. but I'm not mad about it either. I also feel like things weren't lining up so perfectly in this book for me. It just felt like I was left with more questions than answers towards the end for me.
In the end, I look forward to my next slasher book.
Camp Carnage was a pretty interesting read. I didn't really know what to expect because I am a horrible person who didn't really read the synopsis. I mean I glanced at it but didn't really sit down and pay attention to what it actually said. Oops?
Even though I didn't do any of that, I enjoyed the book. It has been a while since I've read a slasher book so I was really pumped for everything that was happening. I love when everyone is up for grabs and I have no idea who is behind it. Mostly because I'm a horrible detective and such...
I'm not sure if this was supposed to be as funny as it was.. but I'm not mad about it either. I also feel like things weren't lining up so perfectly in this book for me. It just felt like I was left with more questions than answers towards the end for me.
In the end, I look forward to my next slasher book.
August 2, 2020
When I was a kid I went to vacation bible school every summer. Then, when I was a little older I went to sleepaway church camp every summer. Even though the camp in this book is a very different type of church camp than the ones I attended, the familiarity of the setting was one of the aspects of the book that drew me in right away. Once at the camp, I related to the characters' awkwardness and insecurities, and the romance of summer camp crushes. The horror and the slashing was great of course, but what got to me the most was the book's theme of the vital importance of self-love, self-acceptance, and the acceptance of our fellow human beings. It's time to truly love and accept each other, y'all, or else someone is going to gut your ass with a big honkin' butcher knife! :D Seriously, though, this is a fantastic little read with what I feel is an original take on our much beloved slasher genre. Check it out, and let the blood flow like Capri Sun! :)
October 10, 2015
I'm a little biased because I helped edit this but, seriously, it's so smart and fun. The cast is memorable and vivid, the plot is gripping, and I love the way the authors embrace and subvert some of the classic horror tropes (the "final girl" here is a breath of fresh air). And I swear one unexpected scene will haunt me for life...
July 7, 2020
Camp Carnage, where was the CARNAGE?!?!?!
I had so many issues with this little horror book. It started out kind of fun - I got the 80s slasher vibe right away (which is very my thing) - though taking place at a conversion camp where you kill of the queer teens left and right is a little odd but fine. I just went with it, but the problems just kept coming. First, it literally has the word carnage right in the title - you see that right? I swear there is more blood in a Goosebumps novel. I get that not all horror is violence and gore, but if you are selling me an 80s slasher with that title - I want a good payout. It was really lackluster kills to say the least. I might overlook that if the story was strong, but it just wasn't. I liked a couple of the characters. They were fairly developed but then we get the typical bullshit same ole' same ole' horror tropes - we have a fat kid and what do we know about him? We know that fat kid is fat. Hard pass. What about black kid? What do we know about him? Well, we know black kid is black and we know he has a lisp that everyone makes fun of. Great....
There is also a scene where the priest makes the kids all bully the bully with really bigoted insults and it's the most uncomfortable and unnecessary thing ever. This isn't a hard hitting contemporary, it was done in a very exploitative way. I felt sick reading it honestly. I get that some of the horror community will drag me and say I'm being too PC, but no - it was just an all around no for me and I read and watch all kinds of trash horror (and love it).
The second I heard the name of the killer, I knew who the killer was and there was just zero suspense and not enough laughs. I'm still giving it two stars because I did like some of the characters and their writing was stronger.
I picked this up for like like a dollar, you can get it on Kindle Unlimited as well.
I had so many issues with this little horror book. It started out kind of fun - I got the 80s slasher vibe right away (which is very my thing) - though taking place at a conversion camp where you kill of the queer teens left and right is a little odd but fine. I just went with it, but the problems just kept coming. First, it literally has the word carnage right in the title - you see that right? I swear there is more blood in a Goosebumps novel. I get that not all horror is violence and gore, but if you are selling me an 80s slasher with that title - I want a good payout. It was really lackluster kills to say the least. I might overlook that if the story was strong, but it just wasn't. I liked a couple of the characters. They were fairly developed but then we get the typical bullshit same ole' same ole' horror tropes - we have a fat kid and what do we know about him? We know that fat kid is fat. Hard pass. What about black kid? What do we know about him? Well, we know black kid is black and we know he has a lisp that everyone makes fun of. Great....
There is also a scene where the priest makes the kids all bully the bully with really bigoted insults and it's the most uncomfortable and unnecessary thing ever. This isn't a hard hitting contemporary, it was done in a very exploitative way. I felt sick reading it honestly. I get that some of the horror community will drag me and say I'm being too PC, but no - it was just an all around no for me and I read and watch all kinds of trash horror (and love it).
The second I heard the name of the killer, I knew who the killer was and there was just zero suspense and not enough laughs. I'm still giving it two stars because I did like some of the characters and their writing was stronger.
I picked this up for like like a dollar, you can get it on Kindle Unlimited as well.
August 7, 2020
I’m never going to camp!
The idea of a summer camp sounds horrifying enough, never mind the fact it’s a camp for ‘curing’ gay teens, and a killer is picking off the campers one by one.
This book seemed to be trying to tell two stories, both interesting, but conflicting. One was a fun, campy horror and the other was about conversion camps. I found the serious bits didn’t have enough gore and development of the killer, while the horror bits seemed to trivialize the real horror of the camp and the struggle of the teens. I also felt cheated by the ending.
However, I tore through the book to find out the killer, and they made me care for the bully character, which is an achievement.
The idea of a summer camp sounds horrifying enough, never mind the fact it’s a camp for ‘curing’ gay teens, and a killer is picking off the campers one by one.
This book seemed to be trying to tell two stories, both interesting, but conflicting. One was a fun, campy horror and the other was about conversion camps. I found the serious bits didn’t have enough gore and development of the killer, while the horror bits seemed to trivialize the real horror of the camp and the struggle of the teens. I also felt cheated by the ending.
However, I tore through the book to find out the killer, and they made me care for the bully character, which is an achievement.
August 28, 2020
Hace mucho tiempo que no me divertía tanto con un libro, de verdad hace mucho tiempo.
Camp Carnage, es la típica historia #slasher (al estilo de #FridayThe13th, #SleepawayCamp) con un twist #LGBT, sigue a un grupo de jóvenes en los 80’s que son enviados a un campamento “anti-gay” y resulta que hay un asesino que los va matando uno a uno.
Me encariñé de todos los personajes pero si algo amé de este libro es que nadie (realmente nadie) está a salvo y además las muertes son suficientemente sangrientas.
¿Qué más puedo decir? Si te gusta el género slasher y buscas una lectura rápida, divertida y con contenido LGBT (que en mi opinión está muy bien representado) ¡#CampCarnage es para ti!
Lee mi reseña completa en: juanjoeljimenez.wordpress.com
Camp Carnage, es la típica historia #slasher (al estilo de #FridayThe13th, #SleepawayCamp) con un twist #LGBT, sigue a un grupo de jóvenes en los 80’s que son enviados a un campamento “anti-gay” y resulta que hay un asesino que los va matando uno a uno.
Me encariñé de todos los personajes pero si algo amé de este libro es que nadie (realmente nadie) está a salvo y además las muertes son suficientemente sangrientas.
¿Qué más puedo decir? Si te gusta el género slasher y buscas una lectura rápida, divertida y con contenido LGBT (que en mi opinión está muy bien representado) ¡#CampCarnage es para ti!
Lee mi reseña completa en: juanjoeljimenez.wordpress.com
July 21, 2021
Perhaps because of the language of too high a level for me which made reading very difficult, perhaps because I found it an absolute waste of time to read all the relationships between the characters (perfect, complete and beautifully constructed, yes, I admit it with pleasure) of this "horror" or maybe because I found it a mix of cliches and stereotypes of the LGBT world but I was expecting something totally different and I was a little disappointed.
In any case, a rather original idea, it made me think a lot about the fact that this kind of reality really exists and is a shame for the human society of our century.
In any case, a rather original idea, it made me think a lot about the fact that this kind of reality really exists and is a shame for the human society of our century.
October 18, 2018
This was so addicting! I don't think I have read a slasher before, so much fun!
The summer camp setting is so fun and so vivid. I couldn't help but envision Heavyweights while reading this, only with a "pray the gay away" mindset..... and a lot of murders. Loved the characters and loved the jump scares.
Pick this up if you want a campy slasher, it's free on Amazon!
The summer camp setting is so fun and so vivid. I couldn't help but envision Heavyweights while reading this, only with a "pray the gay away" mindset..... and a lot of murders. Loved the characters and loved the jump scares.
Pick this up if you want a campy slasher, it's free on Amazon!
July 25, 2021
If you take the 80's movie "The Burning" and crossed it with another 80's movie "Silent Night, Deadly Night" you have this 80's tale of young gay kids sent to a summer camp to turn them 'Straight' by their evil parents!! Well, there is a killer amongst them. Skip It!
This book though only 189 pages....takes FOREVER to get to the 'carnage' in the title....then it is only in the last 30 some pages.....boring. Though it could have been a great 5 star read, if it had only kicked in a LOT SOONER! Skip it.
2.5 🔪
This book though only 189 pages....takes FOREVER to get to the 'carnage' in the title....then it is only in the last 30 some pages.....boring. Though it could have been a great 5 star read, if it had only kicked in a LOT SOONER! Skip it.
2.5 🔪
October 9, 2021
Mini blurb: A group of queer teens at a conversion camp are the target of an unknown killer. Will they make it out of there alive? And will they manage to hold on to their queerness until the end?
***
Classic slasher story that offers a couple of fresh twists with regards to the setting and the final girl trope. I wish that some characters had been fleshed out more and some others had gotten more closure, plus there's a scene that deceived me into thinking the book would cross over to the supernatural side, though it probably wasn't meant to be read that way. Still (bloody) entertaining and queer-reaffirming, and even if at first I considered the person who ended up being the killer a possible candidate for the role, I almost immediately dismissed them, so I guess I got successfully fooled 😉 (then again, we were missing a fundamental piece of evidence in order to point our fingers at them).
Note: definitive review (due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series).
Also: regardless of Camp Carnage being a collaborative effort, I can attest that Joshua (now Josh) Winning's writing has matured a lot since 2.014 (the year this book was published), and even if slasher thrillers aren't your thing, I hope you'll be willing to give his upcoming (as of now) adult-with-YA-appeal fantasy book, The Shadow Glass, a try! I beta-read it, and it's a...winning piece 😉).
***
Classic slasher story that offers a couple of fresh twists with regards to the setting and the final girl trope. I wish that some characters had been fleshed out more and some others had gotten more closure, plus there's a scene that deceived me into thinking the book would cross over to the supernatural side, though it probably wasn't meant to be read that way. Still (bloody) entertaining and queer-reaffirming, and even if at first I considered the person who ended up being the killer a possible candidate for the role, I almost immediately dismissed them, so I guess I got successfully fooled 😉 (then again, we were missing a fundamental piece of evidence in order to point our fingers at them).
Note: definitive review (due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series).
Also: regardless of Camp Carnage being a collaborative effort, I can attest that Joshua (now Josh) Winning's writing has matured a lot since 2.014 (the year this book was published), and even if slasher thrillers aren't your thing, I hope you'll be willing to give his upcoming (as of now) adult-with-YA-appeal fantasy book, The Shadow Glass, a try! I beta-read it, and it's a...winning piece 😉).
August 17, 2018
Camp Carnage was initially a book that I bought when I was in this "slasher" book mode (but let's face it, I am ALWAYS in that mode!) I buddy-read this with a friend and we both seemed to enjoy it. It was like I was reading an 80's movie set at summer camp. The main difference with this camp: it is a gay-conversion camp! So the stress and hormones are all already a little bit higher than just your average summer camp.
What I enjoyed most were the death scenes because they were so reminiscent of how great, cheesy, and sudden they can be in some of the 80's slasher films like Friday the 13th, The Burning, and Slumber Party Massacre.
This book was interesting to me because I was always afraid I would be sent to a camp like this if my parents or family ever knew the truth about me when I was young enough to still be under their parental and legal control. I can't imagine what these kids must go through, but in this book they seem to take it all in stride.
This book did a great job at making me feel like I was at a camp - and I know that because I have never actually been to one and while reading ALL I could think about was how cool it would be to spend a summer at camp (minus the gay-bashing and converting at this one...) So if you can make me long and crave for something I never had or got to experience, you are doing something right by me!
4 out of 5 stars for this one!
What I enjoyed most were the death scenes because they were so reminiscent of how great, cheesy, and sudden they can be in some of the 80's slasher films like Friday the 13th, The Burning, and Slumber Party Massacre.
This book was interesting to me because I was always afraid I would be sent to a camp like this if my parents or family ever knew the truth about me when I was young enough to still be under their parental and legal control. I can't imagine what these kids must go through, but in this book they seem to take it all in stride.
This book did a great job at making me feel like I was at a camp - and I know that because I have never actually been to one and while reading ALL I could think about was how cool it would be to spend a summer at camp (minus the gay-bashing and converting at this one...) So if you can make me long and crave for something I never had or got to experience, you are doing something right by me!
4 out of 5 stars for this one!
December 2, 2017
Camp Carnage (Night Terrors Series Book 1)
You think the worst thing that can happen is having to go to dinner camp ! Think again . There's a crazy person, a killer, loose in the night . These kids think "coming out" is the worst thing that can happen , but it's just the start . You will totally enjoy the THRILLING happenings in this story. Leaves you guessing as to who can be so VICIOUS and CUNNING and not get caught. I RECOMMEND this GRIPPING THRILLER ! ENJOY.
You think the worst thing that can happen is having to go to dinner camp ! Think again . There's a crazy person, a killer, loose in the night . These kids think "coming out" is the worst thing that can happen , but it's just the start . You will totally enjoy the THRILLING happenings in this story. Leaves you guessing as to who can be so VICIOUS and CUNNING and not get caught. I RECOMMEND this GRIPPING THRILLER ! ENJOY.
September 16, 2023
I like slasher horror and I especially like the idea of one set at a gay conversion camp in the 80s, but unfortunately this book didn't really pay off with those elements, particularly as for most of the book there was no fear or tension, just a few disappearing characters that people weren't that worried about. Summer camp slasher horror needs more time with them running around the camp/woods in fear, in my opinion.
There were a lot of third person POV characters, which didn't quite work as you could tell that when it switched to someone unusual's POV, it meant they were in trouble. Some of the characters were interesting, and there was attempts to subvert horror tropes with the main characters, but they almost all boiled down to stereotypes and there wasn't space to play around with any of those really, making it feel a bit lazy. Also the reveal of the killer needed to be more fleshed out, as it felt like you still didn't really get what their motivations were by the end, and it could've been more drawn out and scary, but instead there was a lot of sudden deaths before and after the revelation and then it's over.
The camp itself is horrifying, and there were some attempts to show some of the darkest sides to conversion camps through an attack therapy type scene, but again, this could've been drawn out further, as from the perspectives you got, it mostly seemed like the teens resented the camp just because it was lame and the adults claimed they could 'fix' them when the teens knew they couldn't, rather than something horrifying and manipulative. Overall, the book was okay to read, but it could've done a lot more and felt more satisfying by the end.
There were a lot of third person POV characters, which didn't quite work as you could tell that when it switched to someone unusual's POV, it meant they were in trouble. Some of the characters were interesting, and there was attempts to subvert horror tropes with the main characters, but they almost all boiled down to stereotypes and there wasn't space to play around with any of those really, making it feel a bit lazy. Also the reveal of the killer needed to be more fleshed out, as it felt like you still didn't really get what their motivations were by the end, and it could've been more drawn out and scary, but instead there was a lot of sudden deaths before and after the revelation and then it's over.
The camp itself is horrifying, and there were some attempts to show some of the darkest sides to conversion camps through an attack therapy type scene, but again, this could've been drawn out further, as from the perspectives you got, it mostly seemed like the teens resented the camp just because it was lame and the adults claimed they could 'fix' them when the teens knew they couldn't, rather than something horrifying and manipulative. Overall, the book was okay to read, but it could've done a lot more and felt more satisfying by the end.
July 26, 2021
3.5 Stars
This book was a pleasant surprise.
I went in with low expectations, but I ended up with a very entertaining read. I loved the fact that you were in constant intrigue trying to discover who the killer was or who the next victim was going to be. I also enjoyed that none of the characters were safe so you had to be very careful getting attached to them, even if some of them were truly likeable. I found that the final twist was a little predictable, but overall it's a pretty good 80's slasher with a lot of diversity.
This book was a pleasant surprise.
I went in with low expectations, but I ended up with a very entertaining read. I loved the fact that you were in constant intrigue trying to discover who the killer was or who the next victim was going to be. I also enjoyed that none of the characters were safe so you had to be very careful getting attached to them, even if some of them were truly likeable. I found that the final twist was a little predictable, but overall it's a pretty good 80's slasher with a lot of diversity.
October 9, 2021
Yes. Like But I'm a cheerleader and the burning had a gayby
Really great book. Loved the writing and the characters were all memorable. Although I guessed who the big bad was, I still really was entertained by the book!
Really great book. Loved the writing and the characters were all memorable. Although I guessed who the big bad was, I still really was entertained by the book!
September 4, 2023
Very much 80’s slasher vibes
November 7, 2025
I’ll give it 3.5, the last 30 pages were the only pages that I would consider horror at all. It was a good book but I wouldn’t call it great by any means
July 18, 2024
great summer camp slasher, great characters, couldnt guess the killer!
August 7, 2014
AWE-SOME!!!!! What a fun thriller this was.There was never a dull moment and was definitely a page turner. I loved this book! Seriously loved it! I didn't want it to end. I read the last 2/3 in one sitting.
It doesn't take long for this thriller to get under way. A camp to reform homosexuals? Could such a barbaric thing even exist? I'm sure it does, wouldn't surprise me. This is a camp where you trust no one! The kids and the staff are not who they appear to be. Everyone seems to hiding secrets, but one of the secrets is much more murderous than all the others.
This story really transported me back to my teen years, and I'm not so sure that's a good thing LOL. I was a very rebellious teen and would have fit right in with these misfit campers.
I loved the whole camp scene. It took me back to all my favorite summer camp movies - "Meatballs" with Bill Murray, "Little Darlings" with Tatum O'Neal & Kristy McNichol (Kristy was my idol all through my teen years!). And finally - "Friday The 13th" - I have seen this movie so many times I can't count them on both hands.
What makes this story so great is the characters. The character development was excellent.
I LOVED all the characters! I especially loved Jem, she was my favorite. She kind of reminded me of me in high school, sassy little tough girl. But I loved everyone, all their personalities were done so well. It felt so real.
The descriptions in this book are great as well. Even during the murder sprees I had no trouble picturing everything. Hmm guess I've seen way too many horror movies!
If you are not afraid of a little blood and guts - mua ha ha ha! I dare you to read this! It was a surprise for me right up to the end, I did not have it figured out.
Great job Elliot and Josh! Two thumbs up!
Thank you Joshua Winning for sending me this e-book for my honest review! Loved it and I can't wait for the next one.
It doesn't take long for this thriller to get under way. A camp to reform homosexuals? Could such a barbaric thing even exist? I'm sure it does, wouldn't surprise me. This is a camp where you trust no one! The kids and the staff are not who they appear to be. Everyone seems to hiding secrets, but one of the secrets is much more murderous than all the others.
This story really transported me back to my teen years, and I'm not so sure that's a good thing LOL. I was a very rebellious teen and would have fit right in with these misfit campers.
I loved the whole camp scene. It took me back to all my favorite summer camp movies - "Meatballs" with Bill Murray, "Little Darlings" with Tatum O'Neal & Kristy McNichol (Kristy was my idol all through my teen years!). And finally - "Friday The 13th" - I have seen this movie so many times I can't count them on both hands.
What makes this story so great is the characters. The character development was excellent.
I LOVED all the characters! I especially loved Jem, she was my favorite. She kind of reminded me of me in high school, sassy little tough girl. But I loved everyone, all their personalities were done so well. It felt so real.
The descriptions in this book are great as well. Even during the murder sprees I had no trouble picturing everything. Hmm guess I've seen way too many horror movies!
If you are not afraid of a little blood and guts - mua ha ha ha! I dare you to read this! It was a surprise for me right up to the end, I did not have it figured out.
Great job Elliot and Josh! Two thumbs up!
Thank you Joshua Winning for sending me this e-book for my honest review! Loved it and I can't wait for the next one.
January 26, 2018
Really enjoyed it! If you like YA and slasher movies, this one is for you!
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