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Rituals of the Night #1
Dead by Morning
Obsession is deadly.
Luna Ketz is no stranger to that. A cynical high school senior caught between her parents’ expectations and her own future, she has little time, or patience, for boys. Especially not Chance Welfrey, the odd classmate with an unsettling gaze and a fixation she doesn’t return.
Luna doesn’t think twice about him… until girls at their school start disappearing. Girls who crossed her. Girls she secretly wanted gone.
A phone call from a long-lost friend shatters what little normalcy Luna has left, pulling her into a terrifying world hidden beneath the veil of sleep. A realm where the boundaries of reality blur and a killer moves freely.
Luna is in danger and although she can avoid the killer during the day, she cannot avoid him in her dreams.
Luna Ketz is no stranger to that. A cynical high school senior caught between her parents’ expectations and her own future, she has little time, or patience, for boys. Especially not Chance Welfrey, the odd classmate with an unsettling gaze and a fixation she doesn’t return.
Luna doesn’t think twice about him… until girls at their school start disappearing. Girls who crossed her. Girls she secretly wanted gone.
A phone call from a long-lost friend shatters what little normalcy Luna has left, pulling her into a terrifying world hidden beneath the veil of sleep. A realm where the boundaries of reality blur and a killer moves freely.
Luna is in danger and although she can avoid the killer during the day, she cannot avoid him in her dreams.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
103 people are currently reading
2788 people want to read
About the author
Kayla Frederick
24 books133 followersRaised 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
April 2, 2017
A Perfect Example of where excessive obsession disorder can lead someone to!
Luna's life was going smooth and great until she met Chance.
Chance, the most popular boy in school, girls will die to get a date with him, but his interest is Luna.
Luna detests Chance. She would do everything to get rid of him and make him understand that what she has for him is Pure Hatred.
But making Chance go off the lane has never been simple.
Sounds like a normal high school love story, ain't it?
No. It's not.
Somewhere in between the characters turn out to be deadly evils and since then you know you are hooked with it and won't be sleeping anytime soon until you get to the last pages.
But only to find out that :
The Story is not over Yet.
My heart was beating faster with each page.
It was shocking and frightful.
Kayla's aim was to stun the readers with her writing and surprising story and she has successfully done so.
Violate's refusal to believe any of Luna's pleas added more fuel to my excitement.
Very well written is a small compliment I can offer.
Be Obsessed or Be Average!
This is the mantra I function with.
With Dead by Morning, Kayla Krantz has taken 'obsession' to entirely different level. Sometimes you feel haunted about it and other times, you are too scared to feel anything.
I thought it was going to be a teenage romance where the girl is stubbornly refusing the boy's proposal but ultimately his determination will win her and they'll live happily ever after.
Never had I imagined that being obsessed about another human being in a bad way, could never leave one to happy endings.
The best thing about this book is that people of every generation can enjoy and thrilled with it.
It would remind you of Stephen King's writing but Kayla has shown her writing prowess superbly.
She will definitely leave a footprint in your mind.
This is those kind of book that even thinking of it would bring you goosebumps.
Verdict: If you are up for a horrific story, This is for you.
Luna's life was going smooth and great until she met Chance.
Chance, the most popular boy in school, girls will die to get a date with him, but his interest is Luna.
Luna detests Chance. She would do everything to get rid of him and make him understand that what she has for him is Pure Hatred.
But making Chance go off the lane has never been simple.
Sounds like a normal high school love story, ain't it?
No. It's not.
Somewhere in between the characters turn out to be deadly evils and since then you know you are hooked with it and won't be sleeping anytime soon until you get to the last pages.
But only to find out that :
The Story is not over Yet.
My heart was beating faster with each page.
It was shocking and frightful.
Kayla's aim was to stun the readers with her writing and surprising story and she has successfully done so.
Violate's refusal to believe any of Luna's pleas added more fuel to my excitement.
Very well written is a small compliment I can offer.
Be Obsessed or Be Average!
This is the mantra I function with.
With Dead by Morning, Kayla Krantz has taken 'obsession' to entirely different level. Sometimes you feel haunted about it and other times, you are too scared to feel anything.
I thought it was going to be a teenage romance where the girl is stubbornly refusing the boy's proposal but ultimately his determination will win her and they'll live happily ever after.
Never had I imagined that being obsessed about another human being in a bad way, could never leave one to happy endings.
The best thing about this book is that people of every generation can enjoy and thrilled with it.
It would remind you of Stephen King's writing but Kayla has shown her writing prowess superbly.
She will definitely leave a footprint in your mind.
This is those kind of book that even thinking of it would bring you goosebumps.
Verdict: If you are up for a horrific story, This is for you.
May 8, 2023
Many thanks to BookSirens, Kayla Krantz, and the publisher for a chance to review this book. I was given an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I have not felt compelled, in any way, by the author, the publisher, or BookSirens to alter my sincerest thoughts on this book. Every word of this review is solely and completely mine.
It is difficult to enjoy a book when the main character is completely unlikable. At every turn, the audience is told that this girl is smart, and yet there is constant evidence to the contrary. She says she hates being stalked by a guy, and yet she finds ways to interact with him. She says that she is uncomfortable with the unwanted attention, but she does nothing to ameliorate it. At a certain point she has the police’s attention, the thug is in her house, and instead of communicating that the kid has a knife in his pocket, she provides him with an alibi. It just seems so unbelievably naive and pointless.
Yes, I know there are predatory people and yes, they take advantage of those who are weaker, but this very much seems like the main character makes her own bed. I read every word and I did it with reticence, hoping that there would be courage in Luna’s actions. I’m sorry but I disliked this book, a lot.
It is difficult to enjoy a book when the main character is completely unlikable. At every turn, the audience is told that this girl is smart, and yet there is constant evidence to the contrary. She says she hates being stalked by a guy, and yet she finds ways to interact with him. She says that she is uncomfortable with the unwanted attention, but she does nothing to ameliorate it. At a certain point she has the police’s attention, the thug is in her house, and instead of communicating that the kid has a knife in his pocket, she provides him with an alibi. It just seems so unbelievably naive and pointless.
Yes, I know there are predatory people and yes, they take advantage of those who are weaker, but this very much seems like the main character makes her own bed. I read every word and I did it with reticence, hoping that there would be courage in Luna’s actions. I’m sorry but I disliked this book, a lot.
March 20, 2018
Another reviewer wrote that this was infuriating and she couldn't have been more correct. Luna was not only a one dimensional Mary Sue (beautiful, smart, different from all of the other girls, feisty and a virgin with a special power few ever possess) but she was dumber than a box of hair.
Example: say a guy you know worships the devil, killed two of your classmates, has roughed you up and has also been terrorizing you IN A DREAM HE CREATED. Now, let's pretend he passed out at your feet in THE FOYER OF YOUR HOUSE. What would you do? If you are Luna, you and your friend set him up on the couch, you let the friend leave, and watch Hellboy sleep before nooding off ON HIS LEGS. Yes, you read all of that correctly.
But then, she got it honest. When her parents are told that she (skinny, elfin beauty) beat up Chance aka Hellboy (large, muscular dude) they insist she apologize and go out on a date with him.
Oh, goody. We've gotten around to talking about Chance. He is just as one dimensional as Luna except he is a psychopath whose only redeeming qualities are that he is good looking and understands how stupid Luna is.
The other characters are either there*to test your patience (her parents, the police), die (not a single female character seems to serve any other purpose but Luna) or magically move the plot along (Max was a walking, talking magical tool that moonlighted as an info dump).
Much like 2016, I think I have found my worst read of the year early.
*I fixed my editing mistake. This book is still terrible.
Example: say a guy you know worships the devil, killed two of your classmates, has roughed you up and has also been terrorizing you IN A DREAM HE CREATED. Now, let's pretend he passed out at your feet in THE FOYER OF YOUR HOUSE. What would you do? If you are Luna, you and your friend set him up on the couch, you let the friend leave, and watch Hellboy sleep before nooding off ON HIS LEGS. Yes, you read all of that correctly.
But then, she got it honest. When her parents are told that she (skinny, elfin beauty) beat up Chance aka Hellboy (large, muscular dude) they insist she apologize and go out on a date with him.
Oh, goody. We've gotten around to talking about Chance. He is just as one dimensional as Luna except he is a psychopath whose only redeeming qualities are that he is good looking and understands how stupid Luna is.
The other characters are either there*to test your patience (her parents, the police), die (not a single female character seems to serve any other purpose but Luna) or magically move the plot along (Max was a walking, talking magical tool that moonlighted as an info dump).
Much like 2016, I think I have found my worst read of the year early.
*I fixed my editing mistake. This book is still terrible.
April 4, 2017
This was a wildly entertaining book to kick off what looks to be a gripping series. It has the perfect blend of horror and supernatural, with a little bit of Nightmare on Elm Street sprinkled in. The main characters, Luna and Chance, look to have a relationship that won't end until someone dies, and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out over the next couple books. I recommend this book for any fans of horror/slasher/supernatural, especially if you enjoy YA type of stories!
November 6, 2017
holy shit, this book was infuriating. GAWD -1 STAR
April 8, 2020
This is not a book for the lighthearted. This is a book that pulls no punches and takes the reader down a very dark path and never really brings light to the story in any way, shape or form.
Fans of the Brad Pitt classic, Seven, will love this book.
Dead by Morning takes on horror and I personally think this book touches upon the real horrors young people face today. There isn't much that can compare to the horror of bullying. Bullying is a cancer that is wiping out humanity everywhere it happens. In my view, bullying should be a felony punishable by ten years in prison.
A further horror seen in this book is the horror of arranged marriage. Since I last checked, this is 2020 and not 1820. There is NO place for an arranged marriage and any parent who forces that horror on a child should get life in prison.
The other horror that sadly exists today is the horror a child faces because they are a person of color or different religion today. Some of these poor kids don't get enough by being ostracized at school but then have to face the worry their family might not be there when they come home.
A taut, dark thriller that will grip and rend a reader. Not for the faint-hearted but very well written and well detailed in description.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Fans of the Brad Pitt classic, Seven, will love this book.
Dead by Morning takes on horror and I personally think this book touches upon the real horrors young people face today. There isn't much that can compare to the horror of bullying. Bullying is a cancer that is wiping out humanity everywhere it happens. In my view, bullying should be a felony punishable by ten years in prison.
A further horror seen in this book is the horror of arranged marriage. Since I last checked, this is 2020 and not 1820. There is NO place for an arranged marriage and any parent who forces that horror on a child should get life in prison.
The other horror that sadly exists today is the horror a child faces because they are a person of color or different religion today. Some of these poor kids don't get enough by being ostracized at school but then have to face the worry their family might not be there when they come home.
A taut, dark thriller that will grip and rend a reader. Not for the faint-hearted but very well written and well detailed in description.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
August 12, 2016
**SPOILER FREE**
Holy crap!! If high school were like this for me...
This book is a dang good read! I know if was aimed at the younger generation but I believe we all can enjoy going back in time and relieving.. even if it was...
Fast paced well written. The plot of the story is crazy! Heart beating ride when reading this one!
*Received for an honest and unbiased review*
Holy crap!! If high school were like this for me...
This book is a dang good read! I know if was aimed at the younger generation but I believe we all can enjoy going back in time and relieving.. even if it was...
Fast paced well written. The plot of the story is crazy! Heart beating ride when reading this one!
*Received for an honest and unbiased review*
June 6, 2016
Dead by Morning is an excellent YA horror novel, the first in the Rituals of the Night series. I can't wait for the next one to come out.
Luna is smart and a bit of a geek and outsider at her high school. Her best (and only) friend is Violet who has a crush on Chance, the charming golden boy of the school. However, Chance only has eyes for Luna, maybe because she is so vehemently uninterested in him. Chance schemes and uses Luna's father, David, to wiggle his way into her life, ingratiating himself so that Luna must date him and go to the next dance. Chance also gets the popular girls in school to help Luna with a dress and to befriend her.
However, Chance is more than just a pretty face. Several girls in the school are missing and Chance has used his Ted Bundy-like appeal to cover his involvement. Then Chance starts to invade Luna's dreams.
There are a lot of twists in this story which kept me reading and not wanting to put the book down. If you like Steven King's Carrie and books of that time, you'll enjoy reading Dead by Morning.
Luna is smart and a bit of a geek and outsider at her high school. Her best (and only) friend is Violet who has a crush on Chance, the charming golden boy of the school. However, Chance only has eyes for Luna, maybe because she is so vehemently uninterested in him. Chance schemes and uses Luna's father, David, to wiggle his way into her life, ingratiating himself so that Luna must date him and go to the next dance. Chance also gets the popular girls in school to help Luna with a dress and to befriend her.
However, Chance is more than just a pretty face. Several girls in the school are missing and Chance has used his Ted Bundy-like appeal to cover his involvement. Then Chance starts to invade Luna's dreams.
There are a lot of twists in this story which kept me reading and not wanting to put the book down. If you like Steven King's Carrie and books of that time, you'll enjoy reading Dead by Morning.
February 5, 2017
In this first installment of the trilogy Luna is what appears to be your average high school student, not a part of the in crowd but that's ok with her, she doesn't like them anyway, and she has her best friend Violet to hang out with. Chance is the most handsome and popular boy in school. Popular with everyone but Luna that is. She can't stand him, yet he stalks her on a daily basis. Other girls would love to have his attention but he is only interested in Luna and will not take no for an answer.
I thought this was gearing up to be your typical stalker thriller, but there is more to it than that. Chance has the ability not just to mess with Luna in this world but can even invade and control her dreams. There is a reason Luna is the only one who sees through Chance's false charm. There is a reason Luna is afraid to tell what she knows, and maybe nobody would believe her anyway. This story has a lot of elements going on at once. I hate to say maybe it was too many, but in a way for me it seemed to muddy up the story line a bit. There is a lot of action and suspense in this young adult thriller, and while it left me anxious to find out where it was heading and what would happen next there were some things that bothered me. Luna's home life left a bit to be desired. Her mother is only described as a strict business woman, other than that she is not really in the picture. This leaves Luna alone with her father David whose actions felt very unrealistic to me. (For example "punishing" Luna by forcing her to go to dinner and a dance.) On the one hand Luna is afraid for her life and the lives her friends (with good reason I might add!) yet on the other hand she is also easily manipulated with just a threat of being grounded. I did enjoy parts of this very creative tale.
I received a complimentary copy for review
I thought this was gearing up to be your typical stalker thriller, but there is more to it than that. Chance has the ability not just to mess with Luna in this world but can even invade and control her dreams. There is a reason Luna is the only one who sees through Chance's false charm. There is a reason Luna is afraid to tell what she knows, and maybe nobody would believe her anyway. This story has a lot of elements going on at once. I hate to say maybe it was too many, but in a way for me it seemed to muddy up the story line a bit. There is a lot of action and suspense in this young adult thriller, and while it left me anxious to find out where it was heading and what would happen next there were some things that bothered me. Luna's home life left a bit to be desired. Her mother is only described as a strict business woman, other than that she is not really in the picture. This leaves Luna alone with her father David whose actions felt very unrealistic to me. (For example "punishing" Luna by forcing her to go to dinner and a dance.) On the one hand Luna is afraid for her life and the lives her friends (with good reason I might add!) yet on the other hand she is also easily manipulated with just a threat of being grounded. I did enjoy parts of this very creative tale.
I received a complimentary copy for review
April 2, 2017
What a brilliant introduction to the series Dead By Morning makes. Here’s a horror story with heart – but it’s of the pulsating, thrilling kind.
Luna and Chance are the main characters, but readers will enjoy the interplay and realism between Luna and her father. This is a well written coming of age story that seems to be going one place before Chance decides to take things into his own hands – literally.
The horror genre has been done to death, but there are shades of great originality within the pages, and though it is a long story, it does pull you along.
I didn’t know what to make of Chance – and in the first third of the book, I bet readers won’t either. It works because we are not spoon-fed information before it happens. It is almost like we are inside Luna’s head, just a nano-second before things just happen to her.
This is a strong debut that cannot be dismissed as yet another YA story. There are more in the series so I would like to see where this goes.
Luna may not be a character one instantly warms to, but she is drawn out of realism, and I actually prefer a girl with flaws than some honey-dewed Mary Sue. It was the braver decision by the author to create her this way, and the story is all the more powerful for it.
One of the best blood-curling stories I have read for a long time.
Luna and Chance are the main characters, but readers will enjoy the interplay and realism between Luna and her father. This is a well written coming of age story that seems to be going one place before Chance decides to take things into his own hands – literally.
The horror genre has been done to death, but there are shades of great originality within the pages, and though it is a long story, it does pull you along.
I didn’t know what to make of Chance – and in the first third of the book, I bet readers won’t either. It works because we are not spoon-fed information before it happens. It is almost like we are inside Luna’s head, just a nano-second before things just happen to her.
This is a strong debut that cannot be dismissed as yet another YA story. There are more in the series so I would like to see where this goes.
Luna may not be a character one instantly warms to, but she is drawn out of realism, and I actually prefer a girl with flaws than some honey-dewed Mary Sue. It was the braver decision by the author to create her this way, and the story is all the more powerful for it.
One of the best blood-curling stories I have read for a long time.
October 26, 2016
A perfect blend of genres. A thriller that keeps the pages turning, a psychological horror that makes you lay at night wondering if you want to go to sleep. Dead By Morning offers the lot on a platter, and Kayla Krantz delivers it superbly. I believe she wrote the beginning of this series with an edge to make you want to continue. the characters were interesting, the plot was well thought out and I thought a mixture of originality with good old fashion tropes that we all learn to love and enjoy. I recommend this read, it is a page-turner that will keep you occupied and enjoyable to the very end, which makes you desperately want to pick up the next in this intriguing and dark series.
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April 25, 2021
Chilling!
This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I couldn’t put it down. I am downloading the next book in a series immediately.
This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I couldn’t put it down. I am downloading the next book in a series immediately.
August 7, 2016
I rate this book 3.5/5
This review is featured on my blog: Writerly Bookish Stuff.
A horror with a narcissitic, satanic antagonist that believes he is above the law, above right and wrong, and definitely above God. This makes Chance an unpredictable, fear inducing killer from the beginning, and he is just school kid.
Chance has a fascination with Luna that sees him weaving himself into her life at school and at home. When Luna learns of his sinister ways, he piles on the threats and ups his level of control over her by gaining the trust of her father. He seems a little torn over his emotions, but when he slips into'that' mind set, he cannot control himself.
Chance's obsession with Luna is cryptic, the author leaves us wondering as to what is so special about her. It is only when 'Dreamworld' comes into play that some things are answered. Luna's friend Max seems to know a lot about Dreamworld, but the reader is unsure why. I know there will be many installments in this series, so I hope more comes to light on Max.
Sometimes I found Chance's luck at avoiding arrest, and making people keep quiet, a little unbelievable, yet it added to making him appear more of a threat. I would have liked more conclusion on Max's knowledge of Dreamworld, but I guess book two will provide that.
A teen read with young characters, a ruthless antagonist, and a supernatural element.
This review is featured on my blog: Writerly Bookish Stuff.
A horror with a narcissitic, satanic antagonist that believes he is above the law, above right and wrong, and definitely above God. This makes Chance an unpredictable, fear inducing killer from the beginning, and he is just school kid.
Chance has a fascination with Luna that sees him weaving himself into her life at school and at home. When Luna learns of his sinister ways, he piles on the threats and ups his level of control over her by gaining the trust of her father. He seems a little torn over his emotions, but when he slips into'that' mind set, he cannot control himself.
Chance's obsession with Luna is cryptic, the author leaves us wondering as to what is so special about her. It is only when 'Dreamworld' comes into play that some things are answered. Luna's friend Max seems to know a lot about Dreamworld, but the reader is unsure why. I know there will be many installments in this series, so I hope more comes to light on Max.
Sometimes I found Chance's luck at avoiding arrest, and making people keep quiet, a little unbelievable, yet it added to making him appear more of a threat. I would have liked more conclusion on Max's knowledge of Dreamworld, but I guess book two will provide that.
A teen read with young characters, a ruthless antagonist, and a supernatural element.
August 17, 2015
Once I hit chapter 4, putting it down was nearly impossible. It went nothing like I expected in the best way possible. The story starts off pretty casual with Luna, a sarcastic and easily annoyed character and Chance the dream boy who is always bothering her. From here you expect the cliché girl who hates the guy, but starts liking him due to circumstances.
However, that didn't happen. The story itself is so full of twists and unforseen situations that every chapter leaves you in disbelief and dying for more information. I would explain more, but I don't want to spoil anything for future readers. If you like psychological horror with a bit of a supernatural twist, this is the best book for you.
However, that didn't happen. The story itself is so full of twists and unforseen situations that every chapter leaves you in disbelief and dying for more information. I would explain more, but I don't want to spoil anything for future readers. If you like psychological horror with a bit of a supernatural twist, this is the best book for you.
August 31, 2016
I found Dead by Morning to be quite shocking. I'd never read a book like it before. Since the author is very talented, the reader is easily captured. Although Chance has many female followers, Luna refuses to fall into his trap. He doesn't give up and even gets her father to force her to go out with him to a restaurant and to the school prom. When Chance murders teenagers, the story hit me to the bone. What kind of a monster is this boy?
Highly recommend for teenagers.
Highly recommend for teenagers.
July 8, 2016
I really liked this book. It kept me intrigued the entire way through wondering what Chance planned for her and why he wanted her. The biggest mystery was at the very end where it hints to the next book and now I can't wait to read more. I haven't read a thriller since high school, but this one was the perfect one to get me started. I'd forgotten how entertaining they can be.
July 18, 2022
Twisty, Unpredictable, & Frightening!
When does obsession cross the line? How do you fight your nightmares when they merge with reality?
Aimed at a teen audience, this thriller combines psychological suspense, a slight paranormal twist, an obsessive, destructive, anti-hero, and a killer with a murderous mean streak. Lots of twists and turns. I loved that I couldn't predict what would happen next. Moments of pure terror suck the reader in. If you like these types of stories, you'll enjoy this one!
When does obsession cross the line? How do you fight your nightmares when they merge with reality?
Aimed at a teen audience, this thriller combines psychological suspense, a slight paranormal twist, an obsessive, destructive, anti-hero, and a killer with a murderous mean streak. Lots of twists and turns. I loved that I couldn't predict what would happen next. Moments of pure terror suck the reader in. If you like these types of stories, you'll enjoy this one!
March 26, 2021
If I’m going to review this, I am going to be totally honest. I’m not going to be rude and start shouting “THIS BOOK IS AWFUL!” because that wouldn’t be fair. The story turned out to be decent in the end, despite what my updates have previously said.
The first half of the book (no, seriously, I’m talking before I hit 45-50% on my Kindle), it felt like too much teenage drama for me and not enough murder, dreams or nightmares, which was the reason I was drawn to read this book in the first place. I love anything to do with dreams, nightmares, demons, witches and other supernatural stuff when it comes to reading fiction. I love the idea that anything can happen, whether it be dark or light and, call me a sucker for it, but I also love the stereotypical light vs. dark aspect of stories. I felt like this JUST missed the mark for me but I can see why others would enjoy this.
This, for me, felt like it was trying to be different in a lot of ways. The teenage angst with Luna resembled a lot of teenage-paranormal romance stories I’ve read before which, weirdly enough, made me not like her. I didn’t feel a connection nor did I feel like she had enough personality for me to want her to survive. She could’ve been killed off and honestly, I would have been fine with it. Her friend Max, I felt, had more of a personality and more of a role to play in the story than the main character, which is something you don’t necessarily see all of the time from a secondary character. I’d have liked to have seen a little bit more of a personality shine through from Luna. I understand that she’s a misfit and a bit of a loner but I felt, with a little more personality, I would have liked her more. I would rather have had the feud between Max and Chance at centre stage but then I also understand why Luna was essential to the story.
For the most part, I actually really enjoyed DreamWorld and I would have much preferred more of the book to be covered in that world, rather than in the real world. The way they used their real fears in the DreamWorld under a disguise (such as being afraid of dogs) was quite inventive. I also loved the ideas and rules of DreamWorld, which was the reason why I didn’t DNF it, as I came very close to doing.
My problem with the book lay with its characters. Out of all of them, Max and Chance were the only ones who didn’t really infuriate me and with good reason. I felt their motives were justified in detail and their decisions were thought out. Everyone outside of those characters made the weirdest decisions and the explanations for them weren’t strong enough. For example, before Chance’s big reveal, Luna didn’t want Chance in her house to talk to her father. So instead of telling her Dad that she didn’t want Chance in the house, she let him in where he would talk to her Dad and get her in trouble. I’d have liked a little explanation of her thought processes as, for me, if I was in her shoes, I wouldn’t care about worrying my Dad at all, I wouldn’t let him in. He would have to barge his way through and explain that properly to her Dad. Another thing is her father was very protective of Luna and knew she had no friends and yet he was fine with her talking to a boy who he had no idea about? It just felt unrealistic. Also, the amount of things that Chance had got away with without any repercussions for his actions was crazy and I couldn’t get on board with it.
However, I loved the aspect of DreamWorld and seeing how everything panned out. Is it enough for me to read the other books in the series? Unfortunately, not for me. However, I do the appeal in this and I do believe this shows a lot of promise. It’s not a bad book at all and with a little more work on the characters and their personalities and detailing their decisions, it could turn out to be a promising and exciting series.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
The first half of the book (no, seriously, I’m talking before I hit 45-50% on my Kindle), it felt like too much teenage drama for me and not enough murder, dreams or nightmares, which was the reason I was drawn to read this book in the first place. I love anything to do with dreams, nightmares, demons, witches and other supernatural stuff when it comes to reading fiction. I love the idea that anything can happen, whether it be dark or light and, call me a sucker for it, but I also love the stereotypical light vs. dark aspect of stories. I felt like this JUST missed the mark for me but I can see why others would enjoy this.
This, for me, felt like it was trying to be different in a lot of ways. The teenage angst with Luna resembled a lot of teenage-paranormal romance stories I’ve read before which, weirdly enough, made me not like her. I didn’t feel a connection nor did I feel like she had enough personality for me to want her to survive. She could’ve been killed off and honestly, I would have been fine with it. Her friend Max, I felt, had more of a personality and more of a role to play in the story than the main character, which is something you don’t necessarily see all of the time from a secondary character. I’d have liked to have seen a little bit more of a personality shine through from Luna. I understand that she’s a misfit and a bit of a loner but I felt, with a little more personality, I would have liked her more. I would rather have had the feud between Max and Chance at centre stage but then I also understand why Luna was essential to the story.
For the most part, I actually really enjoyed DreamWorld and I would have much preferred more of the book to be covered in that world, rather than in the real world. The way they used their real fears in the DreamWorld under a disguise (such as being afraid of dogs) was quite inventive. I also loved the ideas and rules of DreamWorld, which was the reason why I didn’t DNF it, as I came very close to doing.
My problem with the book lay with its characters. Out of all of them, Max and Chance were the only ones who didn’t really infuriate me and with good reason. I felt their motives were justified in detail and their decisions were thought out. Everyone outside of those characters made the weirdest decisions and the explanations for them weren’t strong enough. For example, before Chance’s big reveal, Luna didn’t want Chance in her house to talk to her father. So instead of telling her Dad that she didn’t want Chance in the house, she let him in where he would talk to her Dad and get her in trouble. I’d have liked a little explanation of her thought processes as, for me, if I was in her shoes, I wouldn’t care about worrying my Dad at all, I wouldn’t let him in. He would have to barge his way through and explain that properly to her Dad. Another thing is her father was very protective of Luna and knew she had no friends and yet he was fine with her talking to a boy who he had no idea about? It just felt unrealistic. Also, the amount of things that Chance had got away with without any repercussions for his actions was crazy and I couldn’t get on board with it.
However, I loved the aspect of DreamWorld and seeing how everything panned out. Is it enough for me to read the other books in the series? Unfortunately, not for me. However, I do the appeal in this and I do believe this shows a lot of promise. It’s not a bad book at all and with a little more work on the characters and their personalities and detailing their decisions, it could turn out to be a promising and exciting series.
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
October 13, 2016
With a antagonist like Chance what more could go wrong..??
I was given a copy of Dead by morning for an honest review of my thoughts. Dead by morning is a serial killer thrill novel with many turns and twists. I found myself truly captivated by the character's within.
The books follows Luna in her attempt to outsmart and outrun the intimidating Chance. While everyone at school considers Chance to be the bees knees Luna just feels there is something off about him. She has no desire for the most popular guys attention and in fact it sincerely irks her. Why can't he just stick to the cheerleaders?
Dead by morning takes off with an unexpected twist when Luna's best friend Violent decides to lie and tell Chance that Luna is simply being coy. Upon asking her to the homecoming dance in front of everyone in the hallway at school and being flatly rejected Chance turns sour. He manages to find numerous ways throughout the novel to integrate himself into her life forcing her to spend time with him. Luna begins to have horrible inexpiable nightmares as young teenage girls within her community start turning up dead. With the help of her long lost friend Max she starts to unravel the enigma behind Chance. Luna fights to save the lives of her friends, herself, and take down Chance.
The characters in this novel are by far one of my recent favorites. Luna has moments of both strength and weakness which makes for a very believable and authentic character. Chance is one of those strong characters that were portrayed so well that it more than once made me want to throw my ereader because he was just that damn frustrating. How does he does he manage make everyone believe the crap he's spilling? Max and Violet make great support characters.
The only real negative I have with the book is her family dynamic. I understand Chance is portrayed as this great charismatic boy who on the surface every father would want for their daughter, but I just can't see any father putting Luna through what he did. Surely while he may at the start have thought going out making a new friend would be good for her as she clearly did not like and was openly distraught at spending time with him no father would chose a boy he met weeks? days? ago over his daughter. Also letting another teenage boy have control over her grounding? possession of her phone? Letting him in and out of their house even when no parents are present not at all worried about him taking advantage of his daughter. For this I had to take away the one star I just can't wrap my head around a dad who cares so much he wants her have friends and be happy, but would then in turn watch her openly miserable and not care.
Kayla Krantz did an overall superb job of taking the reader on a thrilling journey into the mind of a serial killer and his prey. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot that left me going ohh no that did not just happen more than a few times. I recommend this book to anyone interested in horror mixed with just a tinge of dark magic.
October 10, 2016
Dead by Morning (Ritual of the Night #1) by Kayla Krantz
Death wears a beautiful face in the spine-chilling thriller Dead by Morning, the first in the Ritual of the Night series written by author
Kayla Krantz. Here is the synopsis:
Obsession is deadly. No one learns that better than Luna Ketz, a pessimistic high school senior. She wishes more than anything to graduate but
things don’t always go as planned. Luna quickly finds herself trapped in a web of lies and murders, spun by the least suspected person in her
hometown. It’s not long before she realizes she’s being targeted by the person she despises most in the world. When Luna figures out who is
behind the killings, things make a turn for the bizarre when she is contacted by a friend she has not heard from in years. It is then Luna
realizes she is very much in danger, but although she can avoid the killer in reality, she cannot avoid him in her dreams.
There's something about nightmare killers that is especially troubling. Like a Nightmare on Elm Street before it, Dead by Morning plays on the
fear that a lot of people have, and that is that our dreams will somehow follow us into our waking world. The book was well written and
progressed at a steady pace. The characters and the events of the book were quite shocking, and watching main character Luna struggle with what
might be the worst parents in the world, students and friends who have fallen under a killer's charming facade, and a killer who's obsession
begins to tear her world apart was both intriguing and heart-pounding to read.
Overall, Dead by Morning was a fantastic read and a great start to an amazing series that promises a wealth of world-building mystery. The
interactions between Luna and the killer throughout the book are chilling to read and I think both teenagers struggling through high school
and adults who enjoy a good mystery and horror story will enjoy this novel. Everyone should pick up a copy of Dead by Morning by Kayla Krantz
today!
Death wears a beautiful face in the spine-chilling thriller Dead by Morning, the first in the Ritual of the Night series written by author
Kayla Krantz. Here is the synopsis:
Obsession is deadly. No one learns that better than Luna Ketz, a pessimistic high school senior. She wishes more than anything to graduate but
things don’t always go as planned. Luna quickly finds herself trapped in a web of lies and murders, spun by the least suspected person in her
hometown. It’s not long before she realizes she’s being targeted by the person she despises most in the world. When Luna figures out who is
behind the killings, things make a turn for the bizarre when she is contacted by a friend she has not heard from in years. It is then Luna
realizes she is very much in danger, but although she can avoid the killer in reality, she cannot avoid him in her dreams.
There's something about nightmare killers that is especially troubling. Like a Nightmare on Elm Street before it, Dead by Morning plays on the
fear that a lot of people have, and that is that our dreams will somehow follow us into our waking world. The book was well written and
progressed at a steady pace. The characters and the events of the book were quite shocking, and watching main character Luna struggle with what
might be the worst parents in the world, students and friends who have fallen under a killer's charming facade, and a killer who's obsession
begins to tear her world apart was both intriguing and heart-pounding to read.
Overall, Dead by Morning was a fantastic read and a great start to an amazing series that promises a wealth of world-building mystery. The
interactions between Luna and the killer throughout the book are chilling to read and I think both teenagers struggling through high school
and adults who enjoy a good mystery and horror story will enjoy this novel. Everyone should pick up a copy of Dead by Morning by Kayla Krantz
today!
September 29, 2016
So the plot is this: from the opening pages, loner high-school student Luna is being hounded by the most popular boy around. Her few friends and all her enemies envy her.
But Luna senses that Chance is a bad apple, yet no one, especially not her father, support her in her view - in fact,her father actively takes his word over hers. When Chance asks her if she enjoys killing and casually murders a wounded bird in front of her, the reader too can be forgiven for recognising a few red flags of their own regarding the mysterious Chance.
In her dreams meanwhile, Luna ends up having nightmares in what appears to be some kind of virtual reality world where an unknown stranger has her imprisoned in a lonely old hovel in the middle of nowhere.
This virtual-world idea is exploited to the hilt by the newest crop of SF writers Here though, Luna's world is more magical than cyberpunk, but bullets soon start penetrating real as well as virtual life.
Chance's story gets darker and darker and the threats against Luna and her old classmate get more and more real, as her schoolmates start getting picked off and murdered. Will Luna and her true love be up to defeating the evil that is beginning to ensnare them?
This is an entertaining enough yarn - it does keep the attention of the reader - I assume the writer has aimed Dead by Morning at the young adult niche market. Enjoyable enough if you enjoy that sort of thing.
But Luna senses that Chance is a bad apple, yet no one, especially not her father, support her in her view - in fact,her father actively takes his word over hers. When Chance asks her if she enjoys killing and casually murders a wounded bird in front of her, the reader too can be forgiven for recognising a few red flags of their own regarding the mysterious Chance.
In her dreams meanwhile, Luna ends up having nightmares in what appears to be some kind of virtual reality world where an unknown stranger has her imprisoned in a lonely old hovel in the middle of nowhere.
This virtual-world idea is exploited to the hilt by the newest crop of SF writers Here though, Luna's world is more magical than cyberpunk, but bullets soon start penetrating real as well as virtual life.
Chance's story gets darker and darker and the threats against Luna and her old classmate get more and more real, as her schoolmates start getting picked off and murdered. Will Luna and her true love be up to defeating the evil that is beginning to ensnare them?
This is an entertaining enough yarn - it does keep the attention of the reader - I assume the writer has aimed Dead by Morning at the young adult niche market. Enjoyable enough if you enjoy that sort of thing.
June 10, 2016
Being stuck in the middle of an ordinary life, unnoticed and left alone is exactly what Luna liked about her high school status. She had her studies and a best friend, it was perfect. But when Chance, the most popular boy in school who isn’t quite as perfect as he seems, becomes unnaturally obsessed with her and starts to haunt her every waking hour, Luna’s perfectly quiet world gets turned upside down. People are seeing her and paying attention now, something she had hoped to avoid—and being on the radar of the popular crowd, looks inevitable now. With Chance on her heels, every step she takes, Luna has no other choice then to learn how to deal. At least she can escape him in her dreams...or can she?
When people start missing in her hometown, Luna hopes to escape the madness when night comes and for sleep to find her but the journey inside her head makes all the chaos in her waking hours look like child’s play. Luna’s nightmares take her on a horrific and vivid trek that may just be her undoing or worse, someone else’s.
Every page you turn, takes you deeper into the innards of this twisted and unsettling tale. Continually making you wonder about what dark sordid things await or which direction the story is going to throw you. For those who like not knowing what to expect next mixed in with a smidgen of death and deception, Dead by Morning is the book to read.
When people start missing in her hometown, Luna hopes to escape the madness when night comes and for sleep to find her but the journey inside her head makes all the chaos in her waking hours look like child’s play. Luna’s nightmares take her on a horrific and vivid trek that may just be her undoing or worse, someone else’s.
Every page you turn, takes you deeper into the innards of this twisted and unsettling tale. Continually making you wonder about what dark sordid things await or which direction the story is going to throw you. For those who like not knowing what to expect next mixed in with a smidgen of death and deception, Dead by Morning is the book to read.
October 12, 2017
3* for the psycho part of it !!
Leaving aside that this was too morbid for me, the story is about a psycho killer, so I am willing to overlook that.. The book was frustrating..Too many things going wrong..I felt all characters in the book were stupid.. Maybe fear makes them stupid, but I really couldn't understand why everyone were ignoring the signs before them..
The dream sequences had some originality to it.. Many a times in the book, I was like "Noooo.. Noo... Stupid stupid people".. There were many gaps in the story as well.. When Chance merged with this dream character, his eyes changed.. but what else was affected ?? Did he not get any super powers ?? What's with the tear of knowledge thing..it does not seem powerful at all..and if Chance could merge, can't Max and Luna ?? And apparently Luna's and Max's dream characters are mega lame..Why ?? Couldn't they have been bad-ass too.. We could have had a fair fight..Well, whatever.. And let me not even start with Luna's parents.. is Chance supposed to have powers of persuasion ?? Because otherwise, I feel bad for Luna..
Leaving aside that this was too morbid for me, the story is about a psycho killer, so I am willing to overlook that.. The book was frustrating..Too many things going wrong..I felt all characters in the book were stupid.. Maybe fear makes them stupid, but I really couldn't understand why everyone were ignoring the signs before them..
The dream sequences had some originality to it.. Many a times in the book, I was like "Noooo.. Noo... Stupid stupid people".. There were many gaps in the story as well.. When Chance merged with this dream character, his eyes changed.. but what else was affected ?? Did he not get any super powers ?? What's with the tear of knowledge thing..it does not seem powerful at all..and if Chance could merge, can't Max and Luna ?? And apparently Luna's and Max's dream characters are mega lame..Why ?? Couldn't they have been bad-ass too.. We could have had a fair fight..Well, whatever.. And let me not even start with Luna's parents.. is Chance supposed to have powers of persuasion ?? Because otherwise, I feel bad for Luna..
May 17, 2016
If you like Stephen King, this is the author to read. Kayla Krantz does an amazing job of bringing you into the story and giving you characters you love to hate. Every time you think you know what is going to happen, the plot twists and you're left wanting more.
Luna Ketz doesn't have many friends. She just wants to get through school and get out into the world. That would be a lot easier if Chance Welfrey wasn't waiting for her around every corner. Who knew one boy could be so annoying? He's not even the worst thing to bother her lately; girls at school are going missing and her best friend is betraying her. Not even her dreams are safe when she stumbles into nightmares which follow her into her waking hours. Nothing is as it seems, and poor Luna is trapped in the middle.
You'll have a hard time putting this down before it's over, and when you do finally turn that last page, you'll be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next book!
Luna Ketz doesn't have many friends. She just wants to get through school and get out into the world. That would be a lot easier if Chance Welfrey wasn't waiting for her around every corner. Who knew one boy could be so annoying? He's not even the worst thing to bother her lately; girls at school are going missing and her best friend is betraying her. Not even her dreams are safe when she stumbles into nightmares which follow her into her waking hours. Nothing is as it seems, and poor Luna is trapped in the middle.
You'll have a hard time putting this down before it's over, and when you do finally turn that last page, you'll be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next book!
June 26, 2016
Dead by Morning isn't for the fainthearted. This YA horror is every girl's worst nightmare- the good looking boy who everyone wants to date singles out Luna, the quiet, studious loner.
Popular and every parent's ideal date for their daughter- Chance is anything but- a manipulative and violent individual with an appetite for evil. Luna's life takes a decided turn for the worst.
A story of obsession, terror and teenage angst, this novel ticks all the YA horror boxes.
Popular and every parent's ideal date for their daughter- Chance is anything but- a manipulative and violent individual with an appetite for evil. Luna's life takes a decided turn for the worst.
A story of obsession, terror and teenage angst, this novel ticks all the YA horror boxes.
September 17, 2016
Kayla Krantz has spun an engaging YA tale in Dead by Morning. It begins innocently enough, but turns dark quickly— and that's a good thing. I found the writing to be solid. The story was a creative mix of YA drama and classic horror/suspense, including elements reminiscent of Nightmare on Elm Street. Young adult horror fans should check out Dead by Morning today!
April 27, 2017
very excited to start reading this!! heard many great reviews and even better cause it's free on amazon!!
February 19, 2021
Dead by Morning: A Dark Fiction Novel (Rituals of the Night Book 1) Kindle Edition
by Kayla Krantz
Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for the complimentary copy. I received the complimentary eARC after buying it. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
Using the DreamWorld/Otherworld in the novel, Ms. Krantz lays out a premise that is as much fun as the 1980s-1990s Nightmare on Elm Street. It is a truly wonderful in terms of world building – building the DreamWorld. However, the overly bulky prose does make it hard to get through the story.
Written in the third person limited, the story should move along. Unfortunately, Ms. Krantz will change speaker/thinker mid-paragraph with no warning. This makes it difficult to get through the text when you have go back a chapter to figure out who is speaking or thinking this time.
Her characters are fairly well-drawn. They tend to be all good or all evil. There isn't a lot of nuance in the villain. As a serial killer, he should have been, in the very least, charming. I'm not quite sure why the heroine's religion was introduced in the beginning and was not brought back up until around chapter 23. Clearly, she doesn't believe in Chekhov's statement “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.”' In other words, everything that is introduced in a story needs to have a function.
The cast was overly large, particularly in the high school group. Hopefully, they faded into each other, only their hair color and eye color separating them. One of the key characters appears in the very beginning, then is not brought back until 65% of the book had passed. Trying to keep track of all the characters (Susan, Sarah, Violet, Amy, Chance, bad Chance, Luna, Luna's father, Michelle, Max, the various teachers and so many more), is frustrating, particularly when they appear for a short while then disappear only to reappear. Stephen King and Dean Koontz can pull both of those – the large cast who disappear and reappear Ms. Krantz isn't either that talented or that seasoned. Max's character is perhaps the most interesting, but he appears in less than a dozen scenes. Luna starts out with a sister who, apparently, was sent to Egypt for a marriage. That sister seems to have been lost, as in Chapter 24, her father, David (a name change because of prejudice of Muslims) says “You're my only daughter.” Luna's mother, who works while David stays home, never appears. With the loss of both the mother and sister, I was deeply frustrated.
It took nearly 80% of the book to find out why Chance wants Luna so badly. No, there will be no spoilers.
I also had an issue with the lack of parental supervision. And an issue with these 17 year old, high school juniors no preparing for college or whatever they plant to do. This was frustrating because it makes no sense.
The text itself can be confusing, typos, misspelling, and words just not in the sentences. Clearly, an editor was necessary, considering the number of characters, character arcs and cleaning up the text.
The few scenes involving strife between the characters in the DreamWorld were too few. There wasn't a final conflict with the big bad. Also, the DreamWorld is referred to in multiple names – DreamWorld, Otherworld, Otherrealm. I can see that in Luna's case, as she had no idea it existed.
Not a bad book, not a great book. A serviceable book if you literally have nothing else to read, including the back of cereal boxes.
3 stars out of 5
https://smile.amazon.com/Dead-Morning...
by Kayla Krantz
Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for the complimentary copy. I received the complimentary eARC after buying it. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
Using the DreamWorld/Otherworld in the novel, Ms. Krantz lays out a premise that is as much fun as the 1980s-1990s Nightmare on Elm Street. It is a truly wonderful in terms of world building – building the DreamWorld. However, the overly bulky prose does make it hard to get through the story.
Written in the third person limited, the story should move along. Unfortunately, Ms. Krantz will change speaker/thinker mid-paragraph with no warning. This makes it difficult to get through the text when you have go back a chapter to figure out who is speaking or thinking this time.
Her characters are fairly well-drawn. They tend to be all good or all evil. There isn't a lot of nuance in the villain. As a serial killer, he should have been, in the very least, charming. I'm not quite sure why the heroine's religion was introduced in the beginning and was not brought back up until around chapter 23. Clearly, she doesn't believe in Chekhov's statement “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.”' In other words, everything that is introduced in a story needs to have a function.
The cast was overly large, particularly in the high school group. Hopefully, they faded into each other, only their hair color and eye color separating them. One of the key characters appears in the very beginning, then is not brought back until 65% of the book had passed. Trying to keep track of all the characters (Susan, Sarah, Violet, Amy, Chance, bad Chance, Luna, Luna's father, Michelle, Max, the various teachers and so many more), is frustrating, particularly when they appear for a short while then disappear only to reappear. Stephen King and Dean Koontz can pull both of those – the large cast who disappear and reappear Ms. Krantz isn't either that talented or that seasoned. Max's character is perhaps the most interesting, but he appears in less than a dozen scenes. Luna starts out with a sister who, apparently, was sent to Egypt for a marriage. That sister seems to have been lost, as in Chapter 24, her father, David (a name change because of prejudice of Muslims) says “You're my only daughter.” Luna's mother, who works while David stays home, never appears. With the loss of both the mother and sister, I was deeply frustrated.
It took nearly 80% of the book to find out why Chance wants Luna so badly. No, there will be no spoilers.
I also had an issue with the lack of parental supervision. And an issue with these 17 year old, high school juniors no preparing for college or whatever they plant to do. This was frustrating because it makes no sense.
The text itself can be confusing, typos, misspelling, and words just not in the sentences. Clearly, an editor was necessary, considering the number of characters, character arcs and cleaning up the text.
The few scenes involving strife between the characters in the DreamWorld were too few. There wasn't a final conflict with the big bad. Also, the DreamWorld is referred to in multiple names – DreamWorld, Otherworld, Otherrealm. I can see that in Luna's case, as she had no idea it existed.
Not a bad book, not a great book. A serviceable book if you literally have nothing else to read, including the back of cereal boxes.
3 stars out of 5
https://smile.amazon.com/Dead-Morning...
May 12, 2025
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 bloody, brooding, and batshit stars
Let’s start with a trigger warning buffet, shall we?
TRIGGERS: Abuse, stalking, manipulation, gaslighting, animal death, murder, attempted sexual assault, mental instability, obsessive behavior, cultish undertones, parental neglect.
Now for the meat of it:
This book is what you’d get if Pretty Little Liars mated with a psychological horror film, then sent its offspring to small-town high school hell with a sociopathic boyfriend-shaped curse attached. Dead by Morning is the literary equivalent of watching a slow-motion car crash—you want to look away, but damn it, your curiosity has beef with your morals.
The Plot (or the emotional hostage situation):
Luna Ketz just wants to survive high school, dodge her overbearing dad, and maybe not die before graduation. But alas, enter Chance Welfrey—a walking red flag disguised as a high school boy with serial killer charm, delusions of grandeur, and a spiritual ritual addiction. No notes, just vibes. Dark, disturbing, “has a body in the trunk” vibes.
Chance: This guy is basically if Ted Bundy had a Hot Topic membership and a love of theatrics. He’s got that mind, and baby, you’re not ready for it. He’s controlling, obsessive, unpredictable, and the kind of boy your mother warned you about… right before filing a restraining order.
Luna: I actually respect Luna. She’s sharp, cautious, and constantly trying to GTFO of her toxic orbit. Unfortunately, she’s surrounded by Judas-tier “friends” and a father who seems one unpaid bill away from complete emotional collapse. But Luna tries. And fails. And tries again. It’s the emotional whiplash for me.
Favorite Part (a.k.a. the moment my soul left my body):
Chance stepping on an injured bird to “put it out of its misery” and calling it mercy while trying to flirt with Luna? Sir, this is a smoothie shop, not a horror audition. Also, that blood ritual in the woods? Let’s just say, I’m never trusting a boy with a dagger and a God complex ever again.
Spice Level: Negative. The only thing hot here is the intensity of the red flags.
Writing Style:
Kayla Frederick knows how to build tension. The dialogue is believable, the inner monologues painfully relatable, and the slow, creeping horror feels like someone breathing on your neck while you read. My only beef? It’s a slow burn with a cast of characters who often feel like knives waiting to be unsheathed. You start craving either closure or catharsis—and this book knows how to tease.
Final Thoughts:
It’s messed up. It’s dark. It’s stressful. And yet—it’s compelling. If you love unstable antiheroes, eerie coming-of-age horror, and female leads who’d rather burn bridges than be manipulated—this one’s for you.
But if you’re looking for happily ever afters, turn back now. This book doesn’t do comfort. It does chaos.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. But only to readers with a strong stomach, a taste for the morally gray, and a love of watching characters spiral like it’s an Olympic event.
Let’s start with a trigger warning buffet, shall we?
TRIGGERS: Abuse, stalking, manipulation, gaslighting, animal death, murder, attempted sexual assault, mental instability, obsessive behavior, cultish undertones, parental neglect.
Now for the meat of it:
This book is what you’d get if Pretty Little Liars mated with a psychological horror film, then sent its offspring to small-town high school hell with a sociopathic boyfriend-shaped curse attached. Dead by Morning is the literary equivalent of watching a slow-motion car crash—you want to look away, but damn it, your curiosity has beef with your morals.
The Plot (or the emotional hostage situation):
Luna Ketz just wants to survive high school, dodge her overbearing dad, and maybe not die before graduation. But alas, enter Chance Welfrey—a walking red flag disguised as a high school boy with serial killer charm, delusions of grandeur, and a spiritual ritual addiction. No notes, just vibes. Dark, disturbing, “has a body in the trunk” vibes.
Chance: This guy is basically if Ted Bundy had a Hot Topic membership and a love of theatrics. He’s got that mind, and baby, you’re not ready for it. He’s controlling, obsessive, unpredictable, and the kind of boy your mother warned you about… right before filing a restraining order.
Luna: I actually respect Luna. She’s sharp, cautious, and constantly trying to GTFO of her toxic orbit. Unfortunately, she’s surrounded by Judas-tier “friends” and a father who seems one unpaid bill away from complete emotional collapse. But Luna tries. And fails. And tries again. It’s the emotional whiplash for me.
Favorite Part (a.k.a. the moment my soul left my body):
Chance stepping on an injured bird to “put it out of its misery” and calling it mercy while trying to flirt with Luna? Sir, this is a smoothie shop, not a horror audition. Also, that blood ritual in the woods? Let’s just say, I’m never trusting a boy with a dagger and a God complex ever again.
Spice Level: Negative. The only thing hot here is the intensity of the red flags.
Writing Style:
Kayla Frederick knows how to build tension. The dialogue is believable, the inner monologues painfully relatable, and the slow, creeping horror feels like someone breathing on your neck while you read. My only beef? It’s a slow burn with a cast of characters who often feel like knives waiting to be unsheathed. You start craving either closure or catharsis—and this book knows how to tease.
Final Thoughts:
It’s messed up. It’s dark. It’s stressful. And yet—it’s compelling. If you love unstable antiheroes, eerie coming-of-age horror, and female leads who’d rather burn bridges than be manipulated—this one’s for you.
But if you’re looking for happily ever afters, turn back now. This book doesn’t do comfort. It does chaos.
Would I recommend it?
Yes. But only to readers with a strong stomach, a taste for the morally gray, and a love of watching characters spiral like it’s an Olympic event.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews