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The Killing Rules
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Expected 4 Aug 26Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 23:12:55
5 copies available
U.S. only
Seventeen-year-old Harper Westbrook isn’t afraid of monsters…she is one.
For the past three years, she’s been one of the Blood Bound―girls and women cursed with a bloodlust only satisfied by killing terrible men. Once every three months, she trades in her pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe. Her life is led by a strict set of rules to keep her dark secret as hidden as the bodies she buries.
And her number one rule? Stay away from Grayson Jones.
The boy she was totally falling for until the night her curse manifested, everything went horribly wrong, and she killed his father. It was self-defense. Or at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.
Grayson is an investigative reporter for their school paper, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth behind his father’s gruesome death.
As he follows new clues down darker and darker paths―to an unbelievable world of mythical beasts and the men who hunt them―Grayson doesn’t realize he’s on a collision course with Harper’s biggest secrets. Now, she must stop him before he exposes her family to the Hunters, even if it means risking her life and heart.
Because who could ever love a monster like her?
For the past three years, she’s been one of the Blood Bound―girls and women cursed with a bloodlust only satisfied by killing terrible men. Once every three months, she trades in her pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe. Her life is led by a strict set of rules to keep her dark secret as hidden as the bodies she buries.
And her number one rule? Stay away from Grayson Jones.
The boy she was totally falling for until the night her curse manifested, everything went horribly wrong, and she killed his father. It was self-defense. Or at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.
Grayson is an investigative reporter for their school paper, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the truth behind his father’s gruesome death.
As he follows new clues down darker and darker paths―to an unbelievable world of mythical beasts and the men who hunt them―Grayson doesn’t realize he’s on a collision course with Harper’s biggest secrets. Now, she must stop him before he exposes her family to the Hunters, even if it means risking her life and heart.
Because who could ever love a monster like her?
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 4, 2026
About the author
Bree Despain
18 books2,718 followersThe Short: Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. The Dark Divine is Bree's debut novel.
The Long: As a kid, Bree would staple folded papers to make her own "novels." As a teen, she wrote stories in notebooks while her friends waited for the next page to be finished. Her teachers told her she should be a writer. But Bree thought only special people could be writers, so as the years past, she settled into the idea of becoming a lawyer or something else just as ordinary.
Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner city teens from Philadelphia and New York. With a renewed passion for story, and the young adult audience, she returned to Brigham Young University, filled her schedule with creative writing and literature classes, and started writing stories again. But regular life kicked in, and she soon found herself married with a new baby, working full-time, and with very little writing done.
That’s when the universe threw a pick-up truck in her path. The car accident left Bree with an understanding that life was too short to not do what you absolutely love. A few days later, her husband brought home a used laptop computer, placed it by her bedside, and said, “You’d better start writing.” Her life has never been the same since.
In a moment of karmic perfection, Bree received the offer to purchase The Dark Divine on the 6th anniversary of the car accident that put her back on the path to becoming an author.
The Long: As a kid, Bree would staple folded papers to make her own "novels." As a teen, she wrote stories in notebooks while her friends waited for the next page to be finished. Her teachers told her she should be a writer. But Bree thought only special people could be writers, so as the years past, she settled into the idea of becoming a lawyer or something else just as ordinary.
Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner city teens from Philadelphia and New York. With a renewed passion for story, and the young adult audience, she returned to Brigham Young University, filled her schedule with creative writing and literature classes, and started writing stories again. But regular life kicked in, and she soon found herself married with a new baby, working full-time, and with very little writing done.
That’s when the universe threw a pick-up truck in her path. The car accident left Bree with an understanding that life was too short to not do what you absolutely love. A few days later, her husband brought home a used laptop computer, placed it by her bedside, and said, “You’d better start writing.” Her life has never been the same since.
In a moment of karmic perfection, Bree received the offer to purchase The Dark Divine on the 6th anniversary of the car accident that put her back on the path to becoming an author.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"For the past three years, she’s been one of the Blood Bound―girls and women cursed with a bloodlust only satisfied by killing terrible men. Once every three months, she trades in her pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe." Those are the first two sentences in the synopsis for The Killing Rules by Bree Despain. Girls and women who punish bad men? Heck yes. Trading in pom-poms for a lethal throwing axe? This just made me giggle. I guess I have a dark sense of humor sometimes. What a fun YA read this was!
Three years ago, Harper and Grayson were starting to fall for one another. They'd been bus buddies for a long time, and their relationship was gradually blossoming into something more. And then Harper killed Grayson's father when her Blood Bound powers first manifested. Her grandmother, who raised her, created a list of "Killing Rules" to help keep her safe. Number 1 on that list was "Stay away from Grayson Jones." Grayson, though, is still desperate for answers about who killed his father, and when another murder that's similar to his father's happens close to home, he decides to put his burgeoning investigative reporter skills to work. This will bring Harper and Grayson back together in unexpected ways.
This story is narrated entirely in the first person by Harper and Grayson in alternating chapters. The author has done quite well at crafting these two characters. Neither is perfect nor terrible. Their motivations and logic make sense for the teenagers they are. If anything, they both exude higher levels of maturity and self-awareness than one might have expected. I found myself rooting for both of them, although I didn't see how the ending could possibly be good. Well, it was good and relatively happy overall, but the events of the final chapter made it feel almost implausible. However, why quibble about that? The entire journey there was pretty fun.
The story touches upon several themes. The ones that felt most important to me are patriarchy and gendered power, inherited legacies and generational cycles, female rage, love and acceptance, and choice versus destiny. Only girls and women become Blood Bound, and they kill terrible men. Meanwhile, the exclusively male Hunters seek to kill the Blood Bound. This story is about the girls who refuse to just sit back and take it. The bloodlust is strongly connected to anger at violence against women and the fantasy of turning that violence back on its perpetrators. I totally empathize with that. The central emotional question is essentially, Can someone know the worst, darkest parts of you and still love you?
The writing style is fast-paced, cinematic, and highly accessible, driven by Harper's conversational first-person voice. Despain favors punchy sentences, short paragraphs, and vivid sensory details that make the suspense and action easy to visualize. The prose is straightforward rather than lyrical, prioritizing momentum and immersion, while Harper's sarcasm and dark humor add personality to even the most violent scenes. Graphic moments are visceral but rarely lingered over, allowing the novel to balance supernatural horror, mystery, romance, and humor without becoming overwhelmingly grim. Overall, the writing is darkly funny, suspenseful, and extremely bingeable.
The Killing Rules was a fun "girl-power" read, although I suspect both Grayson and Harper could use some therapy after everything that happens in it. This is evidenced by the following trigger warnings: death, blood, violence, firearms, murder, graphic imagery and language, kidnapping, bullying, stalking, imprisonment, animal abuse, and sexual harassment. Child trafficking, child abuse, torture, grooming, Nazis, and death of family members are also mentioned as part of the story.
This book is a great fit for readers who enjoy fast-paced YA supernatural thrillers with morally gray heroines, dark humor, and a healthy dose of female rage. Fans of monster mythology, secret societies, complicated first love, and stories that blur the line between justice and vengeance will find plenty to sink their teeth into here. Readers who enjoy Holly Jackson's propulsive, twisty YA mysteries may also want to give this one a try.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓— pom-poms, throwing axes, and female rage
💬 Let’s Discuss: Do you think violence can ever be considered justice, or does it always become vengeance?
I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Mayhem Books through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
📚 More book reviews and bookish content:
Three years ago, Harper and Grayson were starting to fall for one another. They'd been bus buddies for a long time, and their relationship was gradually blossoming into something more. And then Harper killed Grayson's father when her Blood Bound powers first manifested. Her grandmother, who raised her, created a list of "Killing Rules" to help keep her safe. Number 1 on that list was "Stay away from Grayson Jones." Grayson, though, is still desperate for answers about who killed his father, and when another murder that's similar to his father's happens close to home, he decides to put his burgeoning investigative reporter skills to work. This will bring Harper and Grayson back together in unexpected ways.
This story is narrated entirely in the first person by Harper and Grayson in alternating chapters. The author has done quite well at crafting these two characters. Neither is perfect nor terrible. Their motivations and logic make sense for the teenagers they are. If anything, they both exude higher levels of maturity and self-awareness than one might have expected. I found myself rooting for both of them, although I didn't see how the ending could possibly be good. Well, it was good and relatively happy overall, but the events of the final chapter made it feel almost implausible. However, why quibble about that? The entire journey there was pretty fun.
The story touches upon several themes. The ones that felt most important to me are patriarchy and gendered power, inherited legacies and generational cycles, female rage, love and acceptance, and choice versus destiny. Only girls and women become Blood Bound, and they kill terrible men. Meanwhile, the exclusively male Hunters seek to kill the Blood Bound. This story is about the girls who refuse to just sit back and take it. The bloodlust is strongly connected to anger at violence against women and the fantasy of turning that violence back on its perpetrators. I totally empathize with that. The central emotional question is essentially, Can someone know the worst, darkest parts of you and still love you?
The writing style is fast-paced, cinematic, and highly accessible, driven by Harper's conversational first-person voice. Despain favors punchy sentences, short paragraphs, and vivid sensory details that make the suspense and action easy to visualize. The prose is straightforward rather than lyrical, prioritizing momentum and immersion, while Harper's sarcasm and dark humor add personality to even the most violent scenes. Graphic moments are visceral but rarely lingered over, allowing the novel to balance supernatural horror, mystery, romance, and humor without becoming overwhelmingly grim. Overall, the writing is darkly funny, suspenseful, and extremely bingeable.
The Killing Rules was a fun "girl-power" read, although I suspect both Grayson and Harper could use some therapy after everything that happens in it. This is evidenced by the following trigger warnings: death, blood, violence, firearms, murder, graphic imagery and language, kidnapping, bullying, stalking, imprisonment, animal abuse, and sexual harassment. Child trafficking, child abuse, torture, grooming, Nazis, and death of family members are also mentioned as part of the story.
This book is a great fit for readers who enjoy fast-paced YA supernatural thrillers with morally gray heroines, dark humor, and a healthy dose of female rage. Fans of monster mythology, secret societies, complicated first love, and stories that blur the line between justice and vengeance will find plenty to sink their teeth into here. Readers who enjoy Holly Jackson's propulsive, twisty YA mysteries may also want to give this one a try.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓— pom-poms, throwing axes, and female rage
💬 Let’s Discuss: Do you think violence can ever be considered justice, or does it always become vengeance?
I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Mayhem Books through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
📚 More book reviews and bookish content:
https://www.ispeakbooknerd.com
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a true surprise!
As soon as I read the description, I knew it was right up my alley. In the end, though, it turned out to be very different from what I expected—and in the best possible way.
I’m so thankful to Brittany at Entangled Publishing for sending me a complimentary eARC ahead of publication.
Told through dual POVs, this book has all the fun of a light YA horror thriller, but it goes far beyond that. Whether intentional or not, the allegories woven throughout the story offer so much to explore, especially for teen readers.
I completely coasted on vibes and devoured every page. I’m usually a very fast reader, but I intentionally stretched this one out over several days because I didn’t want it to end.
I loved how conflicted both the FMC and MMC were as individuals and enjoyed watching them navigate their personal journeys as well as their shared one. I also appreciated the supporting cast—they added depth to the story without becoming overwhelming or difficult to keep track of.
Overall, this was such a well-rounded and enjoyable read. I can’t wait to recommend it to like-minded adult readers as well as the teens in my life. It’s the perfect Summerween read. While it’s technically horror, it isn’t overly gory and strikes a great balance between suspense, atmosphere, and heart. And the fact that it’s a horrormance? The best of both worlds.
As soon as I read the description, I knew it was right up my alley. In the end, though, it turned out to be very different from what I expected—and in the best possible way.
I’m so thankful to Brittany at Entangled Publishing for sending me a complimentary eARC ahead of publication.
Told through dual POVs, this book has all the fun of a light YA horror thriller, but it goes far beyond that. Whether intentional or not, the allegories woven throughout the story offer so much to explore, especially for teen readers.
I completely coasted on vibes and devoured every page. I’m usually a very fast reader, but I intentionally stretched this one out over several days because I didn’t want it to end.
I loved how conflicted both the FMC and MMC were as individuals and enjoyed watching them navigate their personal journeys as well as their shared one. I also appreciated the supporting cast—they added depth to the story without becoming overwhelming or difficult to keep track of.
Overall, this was such a well-rounded and enjoyable read. I can’t wait to recommend it to like-minded adult readers as well as the teens in my life. It’s the perfect Summerween read. While it’s technically horror, it isn’t overly gory and strikes a great balance between suspense, atmosphere, and heart. And the fact that it’s a horrormance? The best of both worlds.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Killing Rules is one of those books that took me by surprise in the best possible way. It was fun, entertaining, and completely original. I mean, a high school cheerleader with a thirst for blood, ridding the world of bad men...Like, how could you go wrong?! And when you add in a dash of romance, you've got the perfect recipe for a great weekend read.
What else can I say? This story kept me on my toes, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the little twists along the way. This book is a bit of a departure from the genres I typically read, but I honestly enjoyed every second of it.
This is my first book by this author, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
What else can I say? This story kept me on my toes, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the little twists along the way. This book is a bit of a departure from the genres I typically read, but I honestly enjoyed every second of it.
This is my first book by this author, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Killing Rules centers around Harper, a high school cheerleader who has inherited a killing curse with the ability to kill bad men. I really enjoyed the paranormal twist to this woman serial killer story and it is nothing like any others that I’ve read (which has been quite a few).
Some of the writing felt very YA, but I had so much fun reading it. The overall messaging was powerful and all the characters were likable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Some of the writing felt very YA, but I had so much fun reading it. The overall messaging was powerful and all the characters were likable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Who doesn't love a thriller with a strong female lead? Cursed or gifted is the question in this page turner. Can a girl who provides her own type of justice lead a normal life and find love ? Harper has lived by the rules her grandma gave her for years but life is suddenly becoming very complicated. Will she be able to stick to the rules or find her own path is the question?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Yes to this young adult book! Loved it so much. A kick-butt cheerleader taking down bad men, a mystery, a love story all wrapped into one. It was such a good read. Can't wait for others to read it in August!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews