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How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains
- GenresHorror
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About the author
Bonnie Quinn
11 books268 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 26, 2026
How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains is the second in this series from Bonnie Quinn, and it was a lot of fun to return to Kate’s campground.
The setup of the series: Kate is the manager of a small private campground that’s been in her family for generations. She has to keep renting out campsites to afford to live there and maintain the property - which she must do to keep the many dangerous supernatural creatures confined so they aren’t at large to destroy the world. To help keep the campers safe, she is writing a series of guidebooks with rules to follow, such as, “Pack some heavy blankets. It can get cold at night,” and “If the man with the skull cup offers you a drink, accept it.”
This is a spin-off of Quinn’s NoSleep stories from Reddit (and the podcast), expanding the world with more history and entities, and, assuming they continue in this way, each novel has introduced a new “big bad” that threatens to destroy the fragile eco-system that keeps the camp running and the world safe.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, and I liked this one even better. Like a good horror sequel, it amped up the scares, and I enjoyed learning more about Kate and the camp’s history.
Tip: if you love roasted Brussels sprouts as much as I do, you may want to skip a couple of pages when Kate mentions them in Part 1: Chapter 2, aptly titled, “Let Me Ruin Food for You”.
And great news! The 3rd book is scheduled to release later this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advance copy for my unbiased review.
The setup of the series: Kate is the manager of a small private campground that’s been in her family for generations. She has to keep renting out campsites to afford to live there and maintain the property - which she must do to keep the many dangerous supernatural creatures confined so they aren’t at large to destroy the world. To help keep the campers safe, she is writing a series of guidebooks with rules to follow, such as, “Pack some heavy blankets. It can get cold at night,” and “If the man with the skull cup offers you a drink, accept it.”
This is a spin-off of Quinn’s NoSleep stories from Reddit (and the podcast), expanding the world with more history and entities, and, assuming they continue in this way, each novel has introduced a new “big bad” that threatens to destroy the fragile eco-system that keeps the camp running and the world safe.
I enjoyed the first book in the series, and I liked this one even better. Like a good horror sequel, it amped up the scares, and I enjoyed learning more about Kate and the camp’s history.
Tip: if you love roasted Brussels sprouts as much as I do, you may want to skip a couple of pages when Kate mentions them in Part 1: Chapter 2, aptly titled, “Let Me Ruin Food for You”.
And great news! The 3rd book is scheduled to release later this year.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the advance copy for my unbiased review.
May 6, 2026
i just love this series. it’s cozy yet gory and disturbing? again i read this series on r/nosleep years ago as it was being put out so it’s just such a treat to see it come together as a book series. i also am so in love with the cover art and am happily purchasing them for a collection. cant wait for the next one in september!!!
May 9, 2026
These are just so much fun. Great storytelling, incredibly monsters and humans, and I feel so connected to Kate. Cannot wait to keep reading this series.
April 29, 2026
The Goat Valley Campground still stands after the near catastrophic events of the previous book, but things aren't getting easier for Kate. New creatures are arriving, and some of the old ones are starting to act strange. Territory disputes place campers, employees, and Kate's family in danger. And things seem to be spreading outside the campground. Can Kate figure out what is going on, why the Lady in Chains has returned (and wants her dead), how to keep her campers alive, and not allow her campground to go into the red all the while?
If you've been around a while, you will know why I adore books like this. I love when there are supernatural, inhuman creatures living in our world, uneasily alongside humanity. I love when there are rules that needed to be followed, traditional tales to be heeded. And How to Survive Camping provides that in spades. Add in some fun human characters, a creepy yet cozy setting, and a book within a book, and you've got a winning combination for making Rebecka very happy. So much so that I read this in two sittings, while I should have been, I don't know, sleeping, for example.
Kate is our main character again, with a first person point of view. She remains determined, brave (or perhaps foolhardy), and angry. Angry that this is her lot in life, angry her family has to pay such a high price, angry that things just won't calm down around Goat Valley, no matter how hard she works. This anger can make her difficult sometimes, but it also makes her determined, keeps her alive. Despite the anger, she shows compassion, and genuinely and perhaps cursedly (is that a word? If not, I'm making it up) loves her land and wants to keep everyone and everything on it at peace.
The creatures were fascinating and fun to learn about. There are returning players, like the Man With the Skull Cup and the Lady With Extra Eyes. And there were some new players introduced as well. The Harvesters were really cool, visually and in regards to how they operate (pun intended). The Lady in Chains was a sinister and imposing presence. I love that this series doesn't limit itself to one culture to pull its creatures from, rather allowing us to experience a global collection drawn to the land that Kate manages. And some wholly original creations too, of course.
Ah, the land. Goat Valley Campground. I love this setting. It is clearly dangerous, especially when the rules aren't followed, and there are some places that could be charitably described as foreboding. And yet, I always feel so cozy visiting there in my imagination. Maybe because it is a campground and many find camping cozy (I've never been, and I don't really ever want to if I'm honest, so my love of the camping here is purely from a distance). Perhaps because it is described so lovingly. It is as unpredictable as its inhabitants, and I love how everchanging it seems to be. The setting is taken full advantage of in the story, and it really feels as if the inhabitants actually live there. It isn't just static in the background.
As for the story, it was really good. I think I'd still give the first one the gold in this regard, but this was a fantastic follow up. It added more to the story that we have been and will be following. More lore and history was cleared up, both for us as readers and for Kate as the protagonist. It is definitely leading to more. It felt fast paced, perhaps more so than the first, and there were a lot of threads to follow, but they all contributed to the story overall, weaving together an engaging web (again, pun intended). If you liked the first one, I think you'll like this one too.
Overall, I gave this four stars. It felt like there was just a little something missing, keeping it from the five, but I honestly couldn't say what it was. Just a preference for me perhaps. It was more of the same, but in the best way possible, and I cannot wait for the third book to release. I never read these when they were Reddit stories, so I am completely, brilliantly, along for the ride with no prior knowledge. If you enjoyed the first one, I think you will enjoy this, and if you've not read the first one, but this all sounds interesting to you, give the first (The Man With No Shadow) a go. You can thank me later.
Fast Fanciful Fix
- so much fun!
- even more creatures to learn about
- if you have arachnophobia you're going to have a hard time with this
- who thought the stakes could get higher?
- the campground is a fun, somewhat cozy setting
- the set up if the guidebook is brilliant
- I hope a bestiary of some kind gets released alongside this series
If you've been around a while, you will know why I adore books like this. I love when there are supernatural, inhuman creatures living in our world, uneasily alongside humanity. I love when there are rules that needed to be followed, traditional tales to be heeded. And How to Survive Camping provides that in spades. Add in some fun human characters, a creepy yet cozy setting, and a book within a book, and you've got a winning combination for making Rebecka very happy. So much so that I read this in two sittings, while I should have been, I don't know, sleeping, for example.
Kate is our main character again, with a first person point of view. She remains determined, brave (or perhaps foolhardy), and angry. Angry that this is her lot in life, angry her family has to pay such a high price, angry that things just won't calm down around Goat Valley, no matter how hard she works. This anger can make her difficult sometimes, but it also makes her determined, keeps her alive. Despite the anger, she shows compassion, and genuinely and perhaps cursedly (is that a word? If not, I'm making it up) loves her land and wants to keep everyone and everything on it at peace.
The creatures were fascinating and fun to learn about. There are returning players, like the Man With the Skull Cup and the Lady With Extra Eyes. And there were some new players introduced as well. The Harvesters were really cool, visually and in regards to how they operate (pun intended). The Lady in Chains was a sinister and imposing presence. I love that this series doesn't limit itself to one culture to pull its creatures from, rather allowing us to experience a global collection drawn to the land that Kate manages. And some wholly original creations too, of course.
Ah, the land. Goat Valley Campground. I love this setting. It is clearly dangerous, especially when the rules aren't followed, and there are some places that could be charitably described as foreboding. And yet, I always feel so cozy visiting there in my imagination. Maybe because it is a campground and many find camping cozy (I've never been, and I don't really ever want to if I'm honest, so my love of the camping here is purely from a distance). Perhaps because it is described so lovingly. It is as unpredictable as its inhabitants, and I love how everchanging it seems to be. The setting is taken full advantage of in the story, and it really feels as if the inhabitants actually live there. It isn't just static in the background.
As for the story, it was really good. I think I'd still give the first one the gold in this regard, but this was a fantastic follow up. It added more to the story that we have been and will be following. More lore and history was cleared up, both for us as readers and for Kate as the protagonist. It is definitely leading to more. It felt fast paced, perhaps more so than the first, and there were a lot of threads to follow, but they all contributed to the story overall, weaving together an engaging web (again, pun intended). If you liked the first one, I think you'll like this one too.
Overall, I gave this four stars. It felt like there was just a little something missing, keeping it from the five, but I honestly couldn't say what it was. Just a preference for me perhaps. It was more of the same, but in the best way possible, and I cannot wait for the third book to release. I never read these when they were Reddit stories, so I am completely, brilliantly, along for the ride with no prior knowledge. If you enjoyed the first one, I think you will enjoy this, and if you've not read the first one, but this all sounds interesting to you, give the first (The Man With No Shadow) a go. You can thank me later.
Fast Fanciful Fix
- so much fun!
- even more creatures to learn about
- if you have arachnophobia you're going to have a hard time with this
- who thought the stakes could get higher?
- the campground is a fun, somewhat cozy setting
- the set up if the guidebook is brilliant
- I hope a bestiary of some kind gets released alongside this series
April 29, 2026
How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains
By Bonnie Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains is Bonnie Quinn at her absolute best—sharp, eerie, funny in that “laugh so you don’t scream” way, and packed with the kind of supernatural chaos that makes Goat Valley Campground feel like a character all its own. This installment takes everything that made the first book great and deepens it: the lore, the danger, the emotional stakes, and Kate’s role as the reluctant, rule‑wielding guardian of a place that’s always one bad night away from devouring everyone inside it.
The narrative is outstanding—confident, atmospheric, and paced with the precision of someone who knows exactly when to twist the knife. Quinn balances cozy horror with genuine dread, letting the campground’s weirdness breathe while still delivering high-tension encounters that feel earned rather than gratuitous. Kate’s voice remains the anchor: practical, wry, and increasingly aware that her job is less “campground manager” and more “intermediary between humans and the things that want to eat them.”
The plot escalates quickly and cleverly. Dormant monsters begin to stir, and the return of the Lady in Chains—a creature feared by both humans and the inhuman—throws the entire supernatural ecosystem into upheaval. Her old grudge with the harvesters reignites a conflict that puts every camper, every creature, and especially Kate in the crosshairs. Add in a spider infestation, shifting alliances, and the man with the skull cup taking a sudden interest in Kate, and you’ve got a story that never stops tightening the tension.
What makes this book sing is how seamlessly Quinn blends campy fun with real emotional weight. The horror is playful but never toothless; the cozy moments are warm without undercutting the danger. And the worldbuilding continues to expand in ways that feel organic, hinting at deeper mysteries still waiting to surface.
A phenomenal entry in the series—rich, weird, heartfelt, and absolutely addictive. So looking forward to the next book.
Happy camping from the Void 🔥⛺️📚
By Bonnie Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
How to Survive Camping: The Lady in Chains is Bonnie Quinn at her absolute best—sharp, eerie, funny in that “laugh so you don’t scream” way, and packed with the kind of supernatural chaos that makes Goat Valley Campground feel like a character all its own. This installment takes everything that made the first book great and deepens it: the lore, the danger, the emotional stakes, and Kate’s role as the reluctant, rule‑wielding guardian of a place that’s always one bad night away from devouring everyone inside it.
The narrative is outstanding—confident, atmospheric, and paced with the precision of someone who knows exactly when to twist the knife. Quinn balances cozy horror with genuine dread, letting the campground’s weirdness breathe while still delivering high-tension encounters that feel earned rather than gratuitous. Kate’s voice remains the anchor: practical, wry, and increasingly aware that her job is less “campground manager” and more “intermediary between humans and the things that want to eat them.”
The plot escalates quickly and cleverly. Dormant monsters begin to stir, and the return of the Lady in Chains—a creature feared by both humans and the inhuman—throws the entire supernatural ecosystem into upheaval. Her old grudge with the harvesters reignites a conflict that puts every camper, every creature, and especially Kate in the crosshairs. Add in a spider infestation, shifting alliances, and the man with the skull cup taking a sudden interest in Kate, and you’ve got a story that never stops tightening the tension.
What makes this book sing is how seamlessly Quinn blends campy fun with real emotional weight. The horror is playful but never toothless; the cozy moments are warm without undercutting the danger. And the worldbuilding continues to expand in ways that feel organic, hinting at deeper mysteries still waiting to surface.
A phenomenal entry in the series—rich, weird, heartfelt, and absolutely addictive. So looking forward to the next book.
Happy camping from the Void 🔥⛺️📚
May 6, 2026
Final Rating: 3.5
I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as the first book.
I don't think it's necessary to read the first book, although this is definitely a continuation they repeat a lot of the information that you need from the first book (which was part of my issue with this second book). It was fairly repetitive, and things like every time her brother was mentioned it was "my brother, Tyler" instead of just "Tyler" or it would consistently say "I'm the campground manager" as if I didn't know that.
I did however like learning more about the characters such as The Man With the Skull Cup and The Lady With Many Eyes, and the backstory on The Lady in Chains was fun to learn about. I'd love to learn more about how the world views monsters like this in general - is 'old land' common knowledge, and do people know these creatures actually exist and aren't just stories? Are there other places like this? Why a campground, and why do people stay there?
I know this started on the r/nosleep subreddit, and I think this story probably worked better in that format where people might be only seeing one post rather than following up with it as it goes on, as the story does feel a little disjointed at times - episodical but not as connected as I would want it to be.
I love cozy books, and I love horror, so I think I'm still just trying to find my footing when the two are combined together. While this wasn't my favorite read, I'll definitely be reading the next book and see what I think of that one!
I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as the first book.
I don't think it's necessary to read the first book, although this is definitely a continuation they repeat a lot of the information that you need from the first book (which was part of my issue with this second book). It was fairly repetitive, and things like every time her brother was mentioned it was "my brother, Tyler" instead of just "Tyler" or it would consistently say "I'm the campground manager" as if I didn't know that.
I did however like learning more about the characters such as The Man With the Skull Cup and The Lady With Many Eyes, and the backstory on The Lady in Chains was fun to learn about. I'd love to learn more about how the world views monsters like this in general - is 'old land' common knowledge, and do people know these creatures actually exist and aren't just stories? Are there other places like this? Why a campground, and why do people stay there?
I know this started on the r/nosleep subreddit, and I think this story probably worked better in that format where people might be only seeing one post rather than following up with it as it goes on, as the story does feel a little disjointed at times - episodical but not as connected as I would want it to be.
I love cozy books, and I love horror, so I think I'm still just trying to find my footing when the two are combined together. While this wasn't my favorite read, I'll definitely be reading the next book and see what I think of that one!
April 29, 2026
When I requested this book from Netgalley, I was unfamiliar with the r/nosleep source material or that it was a sequel. I did my due diligence and read the first one, although it really wouldn't have been necessary. I love some of the comp titles here like Welcome to Night Vale and Gravity Falls however the humor and charm I've loved from those worlds, I didn't find fully realized in the first book and there was even less in this one. There isn't a whole lot of camping atmosphere either. What I think it does do well is imagine interesting characters and concepts but there's something about how it's written that doesn't work for me but clearly does for many other readers. All my favorite parts were breezed past in a single sentence while other ideas slowly repeat themselves throughout the story, an example being when we've been interacting with her brother Tyler for hundreds of pages and they reintroduce him 80% of the way through the book. I'll be stopping with the series here although the concepts are fun so if there was ever an adaptation as comics or some other visual media, I'd probably check it out.
Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for providing eARC for review.
Thank you to Saga Press and Netgalley for providing eARC for review.
April 27, 2026
Lady in Chains is the second installment in this spooky horror series. While I did enjoy it more than the first book, I've decided this series isn't really for me. The story of the Lady in Chains was more interesting to me than the Man with No Shadow, so that was a plus. Quinn did a better job of moving the story along in this installment, but I still found myself a bit bored at times and annoyed with most of the characters at some point. I liked that we got t0o see more of the Man with the Skull Cup and he got more of a personality, so that was nice. I also liked seeing Kate criticized a bit more and her doing at least a little self-reflection. It was also easier to keep track of the characters in this book.
Overall, I don't think I will be continuing this series, but I liked having the opportunity to give it one more chance, and I'd say it was worth it.
3.75 stars rounded up
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for this eARC.
Overall, I don't think I will be continuing this series, but I liked having the opportunity to give it one more chance, and I'd say it was worth it.
3.75 stars rounded up
Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for this eARC.
May 4, 2026
It's a bad year. It's one of the things Kate most dreads about being a campground manager of old land that is full of monsters. She's got to keep her campers and employees safe while dealing with the increased activity. Yet something is specifically targeting her, and the Lady in Chains won't rest until Kate is dead. Kate must find a way to defeat the Lady in Chains and not let everything else get out of hand.
This is the second book in the cozy horror series, How to Survive Camping. It's just as gripping as the first and hits a little more emotional now that we know the characters more. I love that we get to see more of the Man with the Skull Cup and how he evolves, as well as the Lady with Many Eyes. The Lady in Chains is an excellent villain because not only is she connected to Kate on more than one emotional level, she also believes she's right, and I love a villain who thinks they're the good guy.
This is the second book in the cozy horror series, How to Survive Camping. It's just as gripping as the first and hits a little more emotional now that we know the characters more. I love that we get to see more of the Man with the Skull Cup and how he evolves, as well as the Lady with Many Eyes. The Lady in Chains is an excellent villain because not only is she connected to Kate on more than one emotional level, she also believes she's right, and I love a villain who thinks they're the good guy.
April 29, 2026
oops, reading out of order is starting to be a common occurrence.
It's really amazing seeing creativity pour out and need to be shared. Starting on nosleep and here we are! Cover art is really cool, Love the high contract and super saturated colors! I saw the 1st book in store and it had the deckled edges and I was even more excited to read the 2nd one!
We have creatures, forests, rules, camp! It's not a perfect read if you are actually going away to camp. Or maybe you don't want to sleep at all.
It's really amazing seeing creativity pour out and need to be shared. Starting on nosleep and here we are! Cover art is really cool, Love the high contract and super saturated colors! I saw the 1st book in store and it had the deckled edges and I was even more excited to read the 2nd one!
We have creatures, forests, rules, camp! It's not a perfect read if you are actually going away to camp. Or maybe you don't want to sleep at all.
May 12, 2026
My Reading Experience: I flew through this book. It was a quick and super entertaining read. It was SO much fun! It was creepy and full of danger, sacrifice and lore.
Final Recommendation: If you love creature features, outdoor horror, family loyalty and a cursed campground on ancient land with a morally questionable but hilariously compromising narrator, read this book! I can’t wait for the next one!!!!
Final Recommendation: If you love creature features, outdoor horror, family loyalty and a cursed campground on ancient land with a morally questionable but hilariously compromising narrator, read this book! I can’t wait for the next one!!!!
April 28, 2026
Love this series. The idea of a park where people know they will find monsters and still go to take selfies with them lol This one has spiders everywhere and we learn more about the lady in chains and the Mc family's past as well. Dark but hilarious. Can't wait for the next one. There are rules, follow the rules. Ahah
May 8, 2026
A thousand stars for this series. I have the dumbest smile on my face when I read these books. They are just SO FUN. But I swear if Kate and The Man with the Skull Cup don't end up madly in love and living happily ever after in book 3, I'm going to freak out.
April 24, 2026
Excellent continuation to the story! Good humour and notable character development. I really enjoyed this book and very much look forward to the last installation in the series
May 10, 2026
I love Kate and the haunted adventures of the campground. But I was not prepared for the sheer amount of spiders in this volume.
May 11, 2026
counting down the days until the next one drops!!!!!
May 5, 2026
Another amazing episode in Kate’s story. Even better than the nosleep original series with the author’s writing only getting stronger. Can’t wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews