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How to Survive Camping #2
The Lady in Chains
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2020
About the author
Bonnie Quinn
11 books277 followersI am a Senior Software Developer and author. I'm active in the Reddit r/NoSleep community and wrote the popular "How to Survive Camping" series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
Review of advance copy
Ah, people still not following the damn rules. How troublesome.
The Lady in Chains is the second book in the wonderful How to Survive Camping series. It was originally a series of Reddit posts designed on the classic Creepypasta format... but much like the campgrounds itself, it has becomes so much more.
The story starts with a "bad year" beginning. Running a supernatural hotspot/camping ground has its issues and one of them is bad years. Years where the supernatural beings start putting up a bit more of a fuss, years where more campers happen to die mysterious deaths and years where new entities start wanting to cause trouble.
The new entity this time is the Lady in Chains... and she seems pretty hellbent on killing our narrator Kate for some reason... and frankly it couldn't have happened at a worse time as SWORD (essentially the Renaissance Festival) is in town and Kate needs them to not die, because that's a big event for the campground. I mean, supernatural issues aside, she has a business to run.
This is another darkly comedic entry in the series. It's a "cozy horror" as I noted in my review for the first book, which is to say it's very funny, feels oddly slice of life-like during many scenes, but if you had the sort of life where spider creatures suddenly decided to invade your grocery store and trees were filled with human intestines. All in all, a lot of fun and very much up my alley.
I'm giving it the same rating as the first book. If I had to choose I'd say I liked the first slightly better, but this is another great time and I look forward to the third.
October 1, 2025
It's just as great as the first one, The Man With No Shadow.
There is a strong continuity of the story but with new threats and higher stakes.
I loved the evolution of the characters and their relationships and I really hope to see a third book soon.
Thank you Saga Press for this ARC!
There is a strong continuity of the story but with new threats and higher stakes.
I loved the evolution of the characters and their relationships and I really hope to see a third book soon.
Thank you Saga Press for this ARC!
September 20, 2025
3.5 but I have to round up for the fun factor.
Okay. I genuinely can’t tell if I’ve just read too many monster romances, or if this series is really gonna do it 👀 Either way I will not apologize for my inability to be normal about the Man with the Skull Cup. Sometimes a malevolent entity who poisons people for fun can also be babygirl. God forbid a guy have a hobby.
I think the writing is objectively a bit worse, and certainly rougher in a technical sense, compared to the first book. Here’s hoping it goes through some more line edits before publication. But I’ve just come to enjoy this world so much, and I love the incredibly gradual character development going on from book to book. That makes this one feel more rewarding in the end, even if the first one was more tightly written and paced.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Okay. I genuinely can’t tell if I’ve just read too many monster romances, or if this series is really gonna do it 👀 Either way I will not apologize for my inability to be normal about the Man with the Skull Cup. Sometimes a malevolent entity who poisons people for fun can also be babygirl. God forbid a guy have a hobby.
I think the writing is objectively a bit worse, and certainly rougher in a technical sense, compared to the first book. Here’s hoping it goes through some more line edits before publication. But I’ve just come to enjoy this world so much, and I love the incredibly gradual character development going on from book to book. That makes this one feel more rewarding in the end, even if the first one was more tightly written and paced.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 18, 2026
Spring has sprung, summer is on the way, and the Goat Valley Campground is ready to welcome another season of campers. They should be fine as long as they read the rules. Kate, the manager, has always sent out a pamphlet on how best to deal with any supernatural beings in order to survive any they may encounter.
As usual, there are those who don't take it seriously, but worse, this is a bad year for the campground with entities that Kate has not had to deal with before. How many campers and dwindling family members can one manager be expected to save every year? Surely not all of them. This year, not even the townspeople are safe from supernatural deaths, so what chance do the campers have?
This was a fun read that solidifies my decision to keep out of the woods. It's funny, creepy, and not too gory, although some people do get liberated from their body parts. If your vacation plans include camping this year, this is the book to bring.
My thanks to S&S/Saga Press for the e-ARC
As usual, there are those who don't take it seriously, but worse, this is a bad year for the campground with entities that Kate has not had to deal with before. How many campers and dwindling family members can one manager be expected to save every year? Surely not all of them. This year, not even the townspeople are safe from supernatural deaths, so what chance do the campers have?
This was a fun read that solidifies my decision to keep out of the woods. It's funny, creepy, and not too gory, although some people do get liberated from their body parts. If your vacation plans include camping this year, this is the book to bring.
My thanks to S&S/Saga Press for the e-ARC
April 28, 2026
weird and wacky and a great read! i did not realize it was second in a series but i didn’t feel like i was super confused, but maybe recommend going in order. i’ll def be reading the first book!!
July 7, 2025
070725
these books are compiled from reddit posts, and the first one definitely showed the lack of cohesive backbone of plot (not in a bad way) until later in the story. here, the setting and stakes are established and that made it easier to develop a main storyline, I'd guess. "tighter" is a word that came to mind again before I saw my initial review.
initial review:
Quinn's writing remains a favorite. This arc is tighter around the main antagonist and continues to offer surprises and escalations of in-world concepts and horrors.
these books are compiled from reddit posts, and the first one definitely showed the lack of cohesive backbone of plot (not in a bad way) until later in the story. here, the setting and stakes are established and that made it easier to develop a main storyline, I'd guess. "tighter" is a word that came to mind again before I saw my initial review.
initial review:
Quinn's writing remains a favorite. This arc is tighter around the main antagonist and continues to offer surprises and escalations of in-world concepts and horrors.
March 25, 2026
Kate the campground manager has some new rules to survive camping at Goat Valley. It’s a new year but another bad one which means the monsters are acting up even more than normal, but which one started it?
The Lady in Chains was even better than book one. Just as fun with creepy monsters and weird things going on at camp but it all just flowed better. This sequel has more of the overarching story and the pacing felt more even. I love our FMC, Kate who is flawed and angry but trying her best and we get to see a lot of that in this book. I have really enjoyed this series so far and I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advance copy.
The Lady in Chains was even better than book one. Just as fun with creepy monsters and weird things going on at camp but it all just flowed better. This sequel has more of the overarching story and the pacing felt more even. I love our FMC, Kate who is flawed and angry but trying her best and we get to see a lot of that in this book. I have really enjoyed this series so far and I can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advance copy.
May 1, 2026
With this second installment of “How to Survive Camping”, I once again find myself wondering WHY anyone in their right mind would ever camp at Kate’s campground. Then again, if you continue to read the series, it’s pretty obvious that a lot of the campers are, in fact, decidedly not in their right minds, so that tracks.
It’s a new year, and we return to observing the daily tasks of running a campground where supernatural beings also reside, and, as per usual, things start to go wrong almost immediately. However, something about the incidents feels off…almost as if it’s fixing to be an extremely bad year, which only happens every so often. Kate is hard pressed to figure out what malevolent being or beings could be behind it, and she decides to look at The Harvesters a little more closely. This is ill-advised, as you might imagine, since said group roam around the forest and ask for just a little part of your body, and if you refuse, they take a LOT part of your body. Best to agree to give them the tip of your finger, or a toe, instead. The Harvesters are even mentioned in the “Rules to Help You Survive Your Camping Experience”, so you can’t say you weren’t warned.
The problem is, The Harvesters don’t take kindly to being investigated. To put it mildly.
Read on to find out who or what is causing all the commotion this year at the campground!
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
It’s a new year, and we return to observing the daily tasks of running a campground where supernatural beings also reside, and, as per usual, things start to go wrong almost immediately. However, something about the incidents feels off…almost as if it’s fixing to be an extremely bad year, which only happens every so often. Kate is hard pressed to figure out what malevolent being or beings could be behind it, and she decides to look at The Harvesters a little more closely. This is ill-advised, as you might imagine, since said group roam around the forest and ask for just a little part of your body, and if you refuse, they take a LOT part of your body. Best to agree to give them the tip of your finger, or a toe, instead. The Harvesters are even mentioned in the “Rules to Help You Survive Your Camping Experience”, so you can’t say you weren’t warned.
The problem is, The Harvesters don’t take kindly to being investigated. To put it mildly.
Read on to find out who or what is causing all the commotion this year at the campground!
Thank you to NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
done-with
October 15, 2025I was so excited for this title when I first requested it. I got approved, then realized it was the second in series (why oh why don't publishers/NetGalley routinely disclose this upfront?) and headed to my library to find the first. The descriptions consider these "cozy horror". I think that's more than a bit of a misnomer. I saw one reviewer call it "cottageGore" and that's way more accurate to my mind...
This is a very cool and fun concept, and if it was a bit cozier I think it would have been a much better fit for me. As it was, the gruesomeness of the first book took me by surprise. So did the disjointed nature of the narrative, until I realized this story started life on Reddit. If I'd known that going in, it would have helped, because my expectations would have been different.
This second book was somewhat less disjointed and felt much more polished, but it also felt like a rehash of the first book albeit with a tighter edit. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to keep me engaged. It felt like I'd just read the book, just with different bad guys and campers... Kate is a fine protagonist and her campground and family drama are really cool ideas, but they still feel a little unfinished to me - and that's where the books lose me. The series wasn't a great fit for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
This is a very cool and fun concept, and if it was a bit cozier I think it would have been a much better fit for me. As it was, the gruesomeness of the first book took me by surprise. So did the disjointed nature of the narrative, until I realized this story started life on Reddit. If I'd known that going in, it would have helped, because my expectations would have been different.
This second book was somewhat less disjointed and felt much more polished, but it also felt like a rehash of the first book albeit with a tighter edit. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to keep me engaged. It felt like I'd just read the book, just with different bad guys and campers... Kate is a fine protagonist and her campground and family drama are really cool ideas, but they still feel a little unfinished to me - and that's where the books lose me. The series wasn't a great fit for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
October 3, 2025
This is one of those rare sequels that is every bit as good as the first one. In fact, I think it's better than the first. The plot twists have been turned up a notch, the relationships and stakes have been ratcheted up, the horror is more horrifying and suspenseful. The camping events and situations are more creative than the first book. The villain is better and more unexpected. The wittiness is about equal to the wittiness and humor of the last book. If you liked the first book, you will definitely want to pick this one up in April 2026. With one exception-- if you are extremely arachnophobic, this might not be the book for you and you should set it down slowly and back away. I am NOT arachnophobic, and I still got slight heebie jeebies from the chilling spider-y descriptions in this book. So many spiders. Unless you *like* to keep the lights on at night, in which case, this is the perfect amount of spiders for you.
Thanks to the publisher for this terrific ARC. If only I was a better reviewer, I could better describe just how great I think this book is.
Thanks to the publisher for this terrific ARC. If only I was a better reviewer, I could better describe just how great I think this book is.
April 17, 2026
If you want to take your mind off of this bad year, why not read about the Bad Year at Goat Valley Campground? Home to the inhuman (and sometimes many limbed) entities that enjoy such amenities as: Friends to share a suspicious drink with.
Dance parties.
A warm cup of tea.
Someone you can cry to all night long.
And some beautiful totally normal trees.
I cannot thank Saga Press, and Netgalley enough for the opportunity to read an ARC of the second book in what I suspect will be my favorite series. The Man with no Shadow was the first book I read in 2026 and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Kate’s misadventures in Goat Valley.
The Lady in Chains exceeded any expectations I had and reminded me why I love this story so very much.
As a longtime obsessive reader, I appreciate the nods to folklore and fairytale Rules. If you know, you know. And if you don’t? Back away slowly with no sudden movements.
Obviously I can’t give any spoilers, but there is a bit of a twist toward the end that really got me. And honestly? I can’t wait to see what happens next because of it.
I absolutely implore anyone who enjoys fantasy and paranormal stories to pick this up. It might just pick you up in return.
You can now preorder your very own copy of The Lady in Chains. Release day is April 28th ( so soon!) and enjoy it yourself.
Bonnie Quinn has a reader for life. Looking forward to more terrifying shenanigans.
Dance parties.
A warm cup of tea.
Someone you can cry to all night long.
And some beautiful totally normal trees.
I cannot thank Saga Press, and Netgalley enough for the opportunity to read an ARC of the second book in what I suspect will be my favorite series. The Man with no Shadow was the first book I read in 2026 and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Kate’s misadventures in Goat Valley.
The Lady in Chains exceeded any expectations I had and reminded me why I love this story so very much.
As a longtime obsessive reader, I appreciate the nods to folklore and fairytale Rules. If you know, you know. And if you don’t? Back away slowly with no sudden movements.
Obviously I can’t give any spoilers, but there is a bit of a twist toward the end that really got me. And honestly? I can’t wait to see what happens next because of it.
I absolutely implore anyone who enjoys fantasy and paranormal stories to pick this up. It might just pick you up in return.
You can now preorder your very own copy of The Lady in Chains. Release day is April 28th ( so soon!) and enjoy it yourself.
Bonnie Quinn has a reader for life. Looking forward to more terrifying shenanigans.
September 9, 2025
Who doesn’t like ghost stories whispered under the blankets? The ones that make you sit a little closer to the light, and check the shadows twice before you go to bed.
This is one of those books.
I should say, first, that I didn’t read the first one. I came in like a camper who didn’t read the manual tent half-collapsed, flashlight flickering, bugs already in the socks. But somehow, that felt exactly right. Because Goat Valley Campground doesn’t feel like a place where anyone is ever truly prepared. Not even the people who’ve lived there their whole lives. Not even Kate.
Kate is the campground manager. She’s also the kind of person who’s tired in her bones, not because she’s weak, but because she’s held too much weight for too long. She’s lost her family. She’s lost her safety. And if she doesn’t hold everything together just right, she may lose everything else too.
Kate carries the weight of her family’s history, a cursed legacy she can’t outrun. This year, everything is getting worse. Even the monsters are scared.
Kate is all about trying to keep everyone safe. Follow the guidebook. It usually helps…except for now. When the bad year is too bad. When allies don’t wear badges, and enemies don’t knock first. It’s about a campground with teeth and one strong campground manager.
I’m going back to start with Book One. Because there are stories here buried in moss, and tangled in chains, and carved into the spine of this cursed little campground.
Don’t worry this book isn’t too scary. It’s not the kind of story that keeps you up out of fear, exactly. More like the kind that keeps you up because it feels alive. Like a campfire tale told just a little too well. It’s fun, it’s strange, it crackles with something old and clever. You find yourself leaning in, smiling at the weird bits, and then pausing just for a moment when a branch snaps in the dark outside your window. Not scared. Just… alert. Because some stories make the night feel louder.
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, and the author Bonnie Quinn for the ARC. I can’t wait to see what comes next and what comes crawling out of the woods next time.
This is one of those books.
I should say, first, that I didn’t read the first one. I came in like a camper who didn’t read the manual tent half-collapsed, flashlight flickering, bugs already in the socks. But somehow, that felt exactly right. Because Goat Valley Campground doesn’t feel like a place where anyone is ever truly prepared. Not even the people who’ve lived there their whole lives. Not even Kate.
Kate is the campground manager. She’s also the kind of person who’s tired in her bones, not because she’s weak, but because she’s held too much weight for too long. She’s lost her family. She’s lost her safety. And if she doesn’t hold everything together just right, she may lose everything else too.
Kate carries the weight of her family’s history, a cursed legacy she can’t outrun. This year, everything is getting worse. Even the monsters are scared.
Kate is all about trying to keep everyone safe. Follow the guidebook. It usually helps…except for now. When the bad year is too bad. When allies don’t wear badges, and enemies don’t knock first. It’s about a campground with teeth and one strong campground manager.
I’m going back to start with Book One. Because there are stories here buried in moss, and tangled in chains, and carved into the spine of this cursed little campground.
Don’t worry this book isn’t too scary. It’s not the kind of story that keeps you up out of fear, exactly. More like the kind that keeps you up because it feels alive. Like a campfire tale told just a little too well. It’s fun, it’s strange, it crackles with something old and clever. You find yourself leaning in, smiling at the weird bits, and then pausing just for a moment when a branch snaps in the dark outside your window. Not scared. Just… alert. Because some stories make the night feel louder.
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press, and the author Bonnie Quinn for the ARC. I can’t wait to see what comes next and what comes crawling out of the woods next time.
May 5, 2026
Loved this so much!!!! Can't wait for the next!!!! Author has the greatest imagination or is it real? Hmmm lol
May 3, 2026
It's difficult to try being a better person while everyone around you constantly reminds you why you're not. I love seeing Kate being incredibly bad at being good. And I think I loved this book even more than the previous one and the lore of the land is thought out incredibly well. Looking forward to book 3!
May 3, 2026
Kate needs a holiday
May 15, 2026
I'm obsessed with this series. I also spent a larger portion of the book than I'd like to admit reminding myself that this is not a dark romance, no matter how hard I ship The Man with the Skull Cup with Kate.
I was such a fan of this book. The lore has deepened, the stakes have been raised, and the emotional connection it made with me was definitely unexpected.
I'm going to keep this short and sweet and spoiler-free. I love the writing, I love the humanity Kate faces, the moral ambiguity of basically everyone, and the increased page-time that Sorcha got this time around. A true queen, that one. I'm super excited for the next book.
I was such a fan of this book. The lore has deepened, the stakes have been raised, and the emotional connection it made with me was definitely unexpected.
I'm going to keep this short and sweet and spoiler-free. I love the writing, I love the humanity Kate faces, the moral ambiguity of basically everyone, and the increased page-time that Sorcha got this time around. A true queen, that one. I'm super excited for the next book.
April 20, 2026
I hate saying this but this book was nowhere near as good as the first and that devastated me.
It still had the same sort of vibe of the first book, with fun camping and creature shenanigans, as well as an inner story about trauma and how that’s passed down from generation to generation, but it feels like we lost a lot of what made the first book so fun and impactful.
There was a lot more telling than showing this time around, which was disappointing. The main character was constantly being told stories but we didn’t get any of her reactions to them, nor did we actually really see how the stories played out. It was really disappointing because there was so much cool stuff there! I wish we would have actually seen more.
Also, I felt like the message and the character development were a bit all over the place this time. I feel like we undid a lot of the character development Kate underwent in the last book. I wish she would have been able to find a nonviolent solution to the main problem, and I wish the narrative didn’t really set her up as actually being in the right for being violent.
I get that she needs to protect herself and fight for herself, but I feel like it would have been more impactful for her to have been able to find out that there is a non-violent solution. It would also be cool to have her grapple with the fact that her mother was wrong and the sort of hero worship she has for her mom is wrong.
Don’t get me wrong I really had fun with this book!! I read it really fast and I’m sure I’ll reread it again like I do with the first book. It was just really disappointing compared to the original.
It still had the same sort of vibe of the first book, with fun camping and creature shenanigans, as well as an inner story about trauma and how that’s passed down from generation to generation, but it feels like we lost a lot of what made the first book so fun and impactful.
There was a lot more telling than showing this time around, which was disappointing. The main character was constantly being told stories but we didn’t get any of her reactions to them, nor did we actually really see how the stories played out. It was really disappointing because there was so much cool stuff there! I wish we would have actually seen more.
Also, I felt like the message and the character development were a bit all over the place this time. I feel like we undid a lot of the character development Kate underwent in the last book. I wish she would have been able to find a nonviolent solution to the main problem, and I wish the narrative didn’t really set her up as actually being in the right for being violent.
I get that she needs to protect herself and fight for herself, but I feel like it would have been more impactful for her to have been able to find out that there is a non-violent solution. It would also be cool to have her grapple with the fact that her mother was wrong and the sort of hero worship she has for her mom is wrong.
Don’t get me wrong I really had fun with this book!! I read it really fast and I’m sure I’ll reread it again like I do with the first book. It was just really disappointing compared to the original.
May 18, 2021
Read this one on Reddit and it was just as perfect as the first one - The Man with No Shadow! This one had so many twists and turns and a VERY surprising ending. The author is just an exceptional writer.
Can’t recommend this enough - especially for all horror story lovers!
Can’t recommend this enough - especially for all horror story lovers!
April 24, 2026
This sequel really leans into what made the first one so addictive: strange rules, creeping dread, and that constant feeling that something is just off. It’s one of those rare follow-ups that not only lives up to the original, but in a lot of ways surpasses it. The stakes feel higher, the relationships carry more weight, and the horror is sharper, more suspenseful, and genuinely unsettling.
The atmosphere is still the standout. It’s tense without being overwhelming, and the episodic structure keeps things moving while building a bigger, more ominous picture of the campground and its lore. The events themselves feel more creative this time around, and the central threat is more unexpected and chilling. The Lady is especially memorable, eerie in a way that lingers long after you put the book down.
There’s still that same wit and humor woven throughout, which helps balance the darker moments nicely. That said, some sections felt a bit repetitive, and the pacing occasionally dragged compared to the first installment. I also found myself wanting a little more depth in certain character moments.
One small warning: if you’re even a little arachnophobic, proceed with caution. The spider imagery gets intense. Even without a fear of spiders, some of those scenes are enough to make your skin crawl.
Overall, it’s a strong continuation that expands the world in intriguing ways and easily keeps you hooked. A solid 4 stars.
The atmosphere is still the standout. It’s tense without being overwhelming, and the episodic structure keeps things moving while building a bigger, more ominous picture of the campground and its lore. The events themselves feel more creative this time around, and the central threat is more unexpected and chilling. The Lady is especially memorable, eerie in a way that lingers long after you put the book down.
There’s still that same wit and humor woven throughout, which helps balance the darker moments nicely. That said, some sections felt a bit repetitive, and the pacing occasionally dragged compared to the first installment. I also found myself wanting a little more depth in certain character moments.
One small warning: if you’re even a little arachnophobic, proceed with caution. The spider imagery gets intense. Even without a fear of spiders, some of those scenes are enough to make your skin crawl.
Overall, it’s a strong continuation that expands the world in intriguing ways and easily keeps you hooked. A solid 4 stars.
May 7, 2026
Proof that sometimes it really pays off to stick it out with a series that you’re initially not sure about.
I was on the fence about this series after the first book. It seemed like the story couldn’t make up its mind about what it wanted to be: Absurdist comedy à la Welcome to Nightvale, or more plot-driven light Horror.
The plot really found its stride in the second book, and that’s mostly because the author made a decision to turn this into something more complex that the first book allowed.
While this still has some excellent bits of horror-based humor (the Yarn Ball, hilarious), the plot thickened into something a lot more intricate than just who’s going to survive this particular season at the campground.
The big question that didn’t get answered in the first book was simply, why?
We don’t need a why for the creatures’ existence or their sometimes malevolence. Things like this often simply are. But we did need more on why the campground is changing, what causes the “bad years,” and what Kate’s role is in all this.
In this installment we finally get a reason, and it’s a really, really good one. This combined with a lot of backstory on Kate’s family really fleshed out a narrative that felt a bit thin after the first book. Quinn managed this while maintaining the humor and atmosphere that got my attention in the first novel, which is no small feat in a book that is relatively short.
In all, a fantastic read. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I was on the fence about this series after the first book. It seemed like the story couldn’t make up its mind about what it wanted to be: Absurdist comedy à la Welcome to Nightvale, or more plot-driven light Horror.
The plot really found its stride in the second book, and that’s mostly because the author made a decision to turn this into something more complex that the first book allowed.
While this still has some excellent bits of horror-based humor (the Yarn Ball, hilarious), the plot thickened into something a lot more intricate than just who’s going to survive this particular season at the campground.
The big question that didn’t get answered in the first book was simply, why?
We don’t need a why for the creatures’ existence or their sometimes malevolence. Things like this often simply are. But we did need more on why the campground is changing, what causes the “bad years,” and what Kate’s role is in all this.
In this installment we finally get a reason, and it’s a really, really good one. This combined with a lot of backstory on Kate’s family really fleshed out a narrative that felt a bit thin after the first book. Quinn managed this while maintaining the humor and atmosphere that got my attention in the first novel, which is no small feat in a book that is relatively short.
In all, a fantastic read. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 20, 2026
Welcome back to Goat Valley!! Campground manager Kate has some very important rules to follow: The woman with extra eyes will help you, give the faceless people whatever they want, and the lady in chains is NOT in distress…
This book is fun and scary and perfect for a summer time read. It’s hard to properly put this book in a category - I mean what is cozy horror / campy exactly? Yes, this book is creepy AF but also campy, it’s definitely horror, but also has this great balance of humor and weirdness and yet all just makes sense together.
Kate is doing her best - dealing with both monsters and the general public (the author makes a point to ask which is tougher? Hmmm?) and a family curse…but she is understandably struggling with it all. I was really rooting for her!
💡Yes I had to sleep with a night light on for a few days and if I think about it too much I get this creepy skin crawly thing that I don’t want to talk about 👀
There is a chapter called “Let Me Ruin Food for You” and all I can say is, proceed with caution 😳
✨What To Expect:
⛺️Campy…AND Camping
🩸Cozy Horror
😈Mysterious Monsters
👻Supernatural Vibes
🔮Family Curse
🕸️There are like, a lot of spiders
This book is fun and scary and perfect for a summer time read. It’s hard to properly put this book in a category - I mean what is cozy horror / campy exactly? Yes, this book is creepy AF but also campy, it’s definitely horror, but also has this great balance of humor and weirdness and yet all just makes sense together.
Kate is doing her best - dealing with both monsters and the general public (the author makes a point to ask which is tougher? Hmmm?) and a family curse…but she is understandably struggling with it all. I was really rooting for her!
💡Yes I had to sleep with a night light on for a few days and if I think about it too much I get this creepy skin crawly thing that I don’t want to talk about 👀
There is a chapter called “Let Me Ruin Food for You” and all I can say is, proceed with caution 😳
✨What To Expect:
⛺️Campy…AND Camping
🩸Cozy Horror
😈Mysterious Monsters
👻Supernatural Vibes
🔮Family Curse
🕸️There are like, a lot of spiders
May 6, 2026
3.85 stars
This book was good and it was definitely enjoyable. However, I unfortunately don't think it was as good or enjoyable as the first one. I feel like the first one was more chaotic, had a much larger ensemble of all sorts of beings and creatures and cryptids, while also focusing on a much larger overall antagonist and plot. However, I felt like this book took away that ensemble of chaos and all these crazy beings, and instead introduced us to just a few new entities but *mainly* focusing on the plot with the lady in chains. Which for me I just wanted more of that wtf horror from the first book and while there definitely was some of that in this sequel, there wasn't nearly as much as I wanted and therefore I felt a bit more of a lack of excitement. So, should you read this sequel after reading The Man With No Shadow? Absolutely. Will I be reading the sequel to this when it comes out in October? Absolutely. But so far, I do think that the first book is still the best in the series
This book was good and it was definitely enjoyable. However, I unfortunately don't think it was as good or enjoyable as the first one. I feel like the first one was more chaotic, had a much larger ensemble of all sorts of beings and creatures and cryptids, while also focusing on a much larger overall antagonist and plot. However, I felt like this book took away that ensemble of chaos and all these crazy beings, and instead introduced us to just a few new entities but *mainly* focusing on the plot with the lady in chains. Which for me I just wanted more of that wtf horror from the first book and while there definitely was some of that in this sequel, there wasn't nearly as much as I wanted and therefore I felt a bit more of a lack of excitement. So, should you read this sequel after reading The Man With No Shadow? Absolutely. Will I be reading the sequel to this when it comes out in October? Absolutely. But so far, I do think that the first book is still the best in the series
May 15, 2026
How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains continues to prove why this series is one of my favorite palate cleanser reads between giant dense fantasy books. The balance of horror and humor is SO good. One second something is horrifying, and deeply unsettling, and the next Kate is dealing with campers like this isn’t the most cursed campground imaginable. The tonal whiplash somehow works perfectly every single time.
This series is dark, gory, and absolutely packed with death, but it never loses its weird sense of humor or the morally-gray-campground-manager-just-trying-to-survive-another-day-at-work vibe that makes these books so addictive.
I also continue to love the man with the skull cup. Deeply concerning favorite character choice? Probably. But I support him regardless.
Honestly, this series has taught me something important about myself: I would absolutely be the overly trusting person that gets murdered by an ancient entity in the woods. No survival instincts whatsoever. Kate would be exhausted dealing with me. Long live Beau.
I cannot wait for the next book.
This series is dark, gory, and absolutely packed with death, but it never loses its weird sense of humor or the morally-gray-campground-manager-just-trying-to-survive-another-day-at-work vibe that makes these books so addictive.
I also continue to love the man with the skull cup. Deeply concerning favorite character choice? Probably. But I support him regardless.
Honestly, this series has taught me something important about myself: I would absolutely be the overly trusting person that gets murdered by an ancient entity in the woods. No survival instincts whatsoever. Kate would be exhausted dealing with me. Long live Beau.
I cannot wait for the next book.
May 22, 2026
Thank you Saga for my free copy of The Lady in Chains (How to Survive Camping #2) by Bonnie Quinn — out now!
» READ IF YOU «
⛺ need more Goat Valley campground in your life immediately
🕷️ have a healthy tolerance for spiders
🦴 love getting a deep-dive on family AND monster lore
» SYNOPSIS «
Kate is back, and it’s an especially bad year at Goat Valley campground—the entities seem extra dangerous, and Kate’s having a hard time putting a finger on exactly why. Some of them come to her for help, which puts KATE firmly in the crosshairs of an especially deadly monster. She's going to need allies, but who can she really trust?
» REVIEW «
Coming back to Goat Valley felt like coming home! That is, if home was deeply cursed and exceptionally scary. And filled with spiders, like, everywhere. Blech. This second series installment did a great job of expanding the lore (both of Kate’s family and the campground’s monsters) in a way that felt natural and interesting to the plot, rather than force-fed.
The Lady in Chains? Freaky, dude. The chainsaw guys at the end of haunted houses always get me (ask Fracassi), and I think the Lady would also send me sprinting! And don’t get me started on the Man with the Skull Cup?!?! No spoilers. But yeah. Gimme book three please. For me, there was a little momentum dip in the middle of the story, but otherwise? Fully invested in and committed to this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
» READ IF YOU «
⛺ need more Goat Valley campground in your life immediately
🕷️ have a healthy tolerance for spiders
🦴 love getting a deep-dive on family AND monster lore
» SYNOPSIS «
Kate is back, and it’s an especially bad year at Goat Valley campground—the entities seem extra dangerous, and Kate’s having a hard time putting a finger on exactly why. Some of them come to her for help, which puts KATE firmly in the crosshairs of an especially deadly monster. She's going to need allies, but who can she really trust?
» REVIEW «
Coming back to Goat Valley felt like coming home! That is, if home was deeply cursed and exceptionally scary. And filled with spiders, like, everywhere. Blech. This second series installment did a great job of expanding the lore (both of Kate’s family and the campground’s monsters) in a way that felt natural and interesting to the plot, rather than force-fed.
The Lady in Chains? Freaky, dude. The chainsaw guys at the end of haunted houses always get me (ask Fracassi), and I think the Lady would also send me sprinting! And don’t get me started on the Man with the Skull Cup?!?! No spoilers. But yeah. Gimme book three please. For me, there was a little momentum dip in the middle of the story, but otherwise? Fully invested in and committed to this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
May 6, 2026
TL;DR: A great continuation of this story with higher stakes.
Source: NetGalley, thank you so much!
Plot: Kate finds out what happens when those she trusts betrays her, and how she deals with it.
Characters: I love them, all of them. Even the Crying Girl. I want to know and see them more.
Setting: The campground is my dream camping spot now. That’s how much I love this.
Horror: Excellent. This is top tier supernatural horror for me with a dash of humor.
Thoughts:
The Lady in Chains is one of those excellent examples of quirky, but well crafted folk horror that I love. It has a dash of humor, a lot of spooky and supernatural moments and creatures, and it often hides a deeper message or meaning. For me these stories seem to really focus on the gray area that a lot of these folk stories and creatures live in.
This is exceptionally true with the second volume here. Kate is struggling with the consequences of her actions in the previous books, and what those actions mean for the campground and herself. A Bad Year is coming, and with it the inhuman creatures on the grounds are going to have to pick a side. The problem is, can Kate survive this? And what happens when she is betrayed by someone she trusted?
While I saw through some of what was happening here I loved every moment of it. From Kate struggling to her discoveries and all the little snippets of lore and creatures we get. It’s unique, fresh, and fun for me and I think for the genre as a whole. If you’re looking for something to scratch the Nightvale itch, this is perfect for that. This is a must read series for me and one I really recommend for fans of quirky horror.
Source: NetGalley, thank you so much!
Plot: Kate finds out what happens when those she trusts betrays her, and how she deals with it.
Characters: I love them, all of them. Even the Crying Girl. I want to know and see them more.
Setting: The campground is my dream camping spot now. That’s how much I love this.
Horror: Excellent. This is top tier supernatural horror for me with a dash of humor.
Thoughts:
The Lady in Chains is one of those excellent examples of quirky, but well crafted folk horror that I love. It has a dash of humor, a lot of spooky and supernatural moments and creatures, and it often hides a deeper message or meaning. For me these stories seem to really focus on the gray area that a lot of these folk stories and creatures live in.
This is exceptionally true with the second volume here. Kate is struggling with the consequences of her actions in the previous books, and what those actions mean for the campground and herself. A Bad Year is coming, and with it the inhuman creatures on the grounds are going to have to pick a side. The problem is, can Kate survive this? And what happens when she is betrayed by someone she trusted?
While I saw through some of what was happening here I loved every moment of it. From Kate struggling to her discoveries and all the little snippets of lore and creatures we get. It’s unique, fresh, and fun for me and I think for the genre as a whole. If you’re looking for something to scratch the Nightvale itch, this is perfect for that. This is a must read series for me and one I really recommend for fans of quirky horror.
April 24, 2026
Thank you to the publisher, Saga Press, for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a great entry in this series! The author definitely found her footing more in this book. The first kind of felt like she was just throwing entities at random to check boxes off but the story flowed well and the introduction of characters and new monsters was seamless.
This new arc in the Goat Valley Campground focuses largely on creatures we’ve met before and dives more into the Kate’s parents and how their choices are affecting her ability to manage everything going on. The campground is going through a historically bad year and it’s up to Kate and her allies (but unfortunately, mostly Kate) to figure out how to keep herself and her campers alive.
I’m so excited to read the next installment in this series!
What a great entry in this series! The author definitely found her footing more in this book. The first kind of felt like she was just throwing entities at random to check boxes off but the story flowed well and the introduction of characters and new monsters was seamless.
This new arc in the Goat Valley Campground focuses largely on creatures we’ve met before and dives more into the Kate’s parents and how their choices are affecting her ability to manage everything going on. The campground is going through a historically bad year and it’s up to Kate and her allies (but unfortunately, mostly Kate) to figure out how to keep herself and her campers alive.
I’m so excited to read the next installment in this series!
May 19, 2026
4.5 Stars.
I loved this book so much!!! I want to build a little cottage in Goat Valley Campground and live there forever!
Compared to the first book… this was such a STRONG sequel!! It really didn’t leave anything to be desired because you get the exact same vibes, just with higher stakes, and we love that.
One thing I actually think improved here was the structure. The first book felt a lot more episodic, while this one had a much more linear and focused storyline, and I really appreciated that. The horror also felt scarier and way more constant from the very beginning. There were several scenes that genuinely creeped me out, especially the Brussels sprouts/spider scene and the first big appearance of the Lady in Chains. That entire scene with the chains attacking the (if you know you know) in the forest felt so cinematic in my head.
I also still love the campground setting just as much as in the first book. There’s something so weirdly cozy about the small-town atmosphere. Honestly, I think the cozy moments make the horror even more effective because the book can switch from comforting to horrifying with almost no warning.
My biggest criticism is probably that some of the creatures talk a little too much. I think part of what makes them creepy is the mystery surrounding them, so when they start having long conversations with Kate, they lose a little bit of that horror factor for me. I also still don’t fully love the man with the skull cup because sometimes he comes across as a little too childish for me to take seriously as a campground “entity”.
But overall, this was still an excellent sequel for me. It kept everything I loved about the first book while raising the stakes and making the horror feel even more intense.
Can’t wait for the third book!!
I loved this book so much!!! I want to build a little cottage in Goat Valley Campground and live there forever!
Compared to the first book… this was such a STRONG sequel!! It really didn’t leave anything to be desired because you get the exact same vibes, just with higher stakes, and we love that.
One thing I actually think improved here was the structure. The first book felt a lot more episodic, while this one had a much more linear and focused storyline, and I really appreciated that. The horror also felt scarier and way more constant from the very beginning. There were several scenes that genuinely creeped me out, especially the Brussels sprouts/spider scene and the first big appearance of the Lady in Chains. That entire scene with the chains attacking the (if you know you know) in the forest felt so cinematic in my head.
I also still love the campground setting just as much as in the first book. There’s something so weirdly cozy about the small-town atmosphere. Honestly, I think the cozy moments make the horror even more effective because the book can switch from comforting to horrifying with almost no warning.
My biggest criticism is probably that some of the creatures talk a little too much. I think part of what makes them creepy is the mystery surrounding them, so when they start having long conversations with Kate, they lose a little bit of that horror factor for me. I also still don’t fully love the man with the skull cup because sometimes he comes across as a little too childish for me to take seriously as a campground “entity”.
But overall, this was still an excellent sequel for me. It kept everything I loved about the first book while raising the stakes and making the horror feel even more intense.
Can’t wait for the third book!!
September 21, 2025
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!
What a wonderful sequel! Truthfully, I found myself having enjoyed the first book more, but I was glad to be back in this world again. This time around felt much more focused on an actual plot progression. This had its benefits, but I think I enjoyed the first book more with its lack of coherent plot. I really enjoyed the gore aspect this time around, especially with the Harvesters. There is so much creativity with the creatures in this world that I really love. I cannot wait for the next book!!
What a wonderful sequel! Truthfully, I found myself having enjoyed the first book more, but I was glad to be back in this world again. This time around felt much more focused on an actual plot progression. This had its benefits, but I think I enjoyed the first book more with its lack of coherent plot. I really enjoyed the gore aspect this time around, especially with the Harvesters. There is so much creativity with the creatures in this world that I really love. I cannot wait for the next book!!
December 19, 2025
{thanks to Netgalley for the ARC}
This series is so good, and this continuation of the story added so much to so many characters and so many aspects of the setting. For a series i originally picked up based on pretty cover art, I really lucked out. I imagine it must’ve been so fun to read it in its original format on reddit, though the impatient part of me is happy to have books to mow through. I can’t wait for book 3!!!
This series is so good, and this continuation of the story added so much to so many characters and so many aspects of the setting. For a series i originally picked up based on pretty cover art, I really lucked out. I imagine it must’ve been so fun to read it in its original format on reddit, though the impatient part of me is happy to have books to mow through. I can’t wait for book 3!!!
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