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Fairly Bad Ways to Die
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Expected 6 Apr 27Win a free print copy of this book!
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15 copies available
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Long live the Faire! If you can survive it…
For Chloe, the Southwest Renaissance Faire is home. It's where she performs with her folk-punk band, Chloe and the Well Met, where she feels closest to her late mother, and where she imagines a life on the road, far from the rules of ordinary life.
Until a fateful final joust, when a staged fight turns real—and someone dies.
One year later, the Faire returns under new corporate ownership, bigger and more profitable than ever. Chloe's band lands a coveted spot on the main stage, but the magic feels thinner, the stakes higher. Beloved performers have vanished and longtime traditions have been gutted. Then a masked figure begins stalking the grounds, turning spectacle into something far more dangerous. Weapons meant for show draw real blood, and no one can tell where performance ends and violence begins.
As fear spreads and her community begins to fracture, Chloe must confront what's being lost—and what's worth fighting for.
Because this time, the Faire isn't just an escape.
It's a trap.
For Chloe, the Southwest Renaissance Faire is home. It's where she performs with her folk-punk band, Chloe and the Well Met, where she feels closest to her late mother, and where she imagines a life on the road, far from the rules of ordinary life.
Until a fateful final joust, when a staged fight turns real—and someone dies.
One year later, the Faire returns under new corporate ownership, bigger and more profitable than ever. Chloe's band lands a coveted spot on the main stage, but the magic feels thinner, the stakes higher. Beloved performers have vanished and longtime traditions have been gutted. Then a masked figure begins stalking the grounds, turning spectacle into something far more dangerous. Weapons meant for show draw real blood, and no one can tell where performance ends and violence begins.
As fear spreads and her community begins to fracture, Chloe must confront what's being lost—and what's worth fighting for.
Because this time, the Faire isn't just an escape.
It's a trap.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 6, 2027
About the author
Brian McAuley
7 books542 followersBrian McAuley is the USA Today Bestselling author of BREATHE IN, BLEED OUT, which was also nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Esquire dubbed his debut novel CURSE OF THE REAPER one of the Best Horror Books of 2022. Brian’s holiday horror novella CANDY CAIN KILLS garnered praise from Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews, paving the way for CANDY CAIN KILLS AGAIN: THE SECOND SLAYING. His short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. As a WGA screenwriter, Brian has written film and television projects for Netflix, Syfy and Lifetime Networks. He teaches as a screenwriting professor at ASU’s Sidney Poitier New American Film School. Connect with him on social media @BrianMcWriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A slasher set at a renaissance faire is such a fun concept! I absolutely love a horror book with a unique locale so I was buzzing to read this one. Plus, I have read (and loved) all Brian McAuley’s previous books so I just knew this would be executed his usual campy and engaging fashion.
The kills were plentiful and creatively brutal, each time a chapter started with a side character’s perspective I was sat eagerly awaiting our creepy plague doctor’s arrival!
Honestly, this did have me googling to find out if there are ren faires in my area lol (there isn’t ☹️)
The pacing was great, with almost nonstop action and short chapters I flew through this in a few hours, not being able to put it down.
I didn’t personally connect as much with the characters in this book as I did with the ones in BIBO, but I think it’s great it had some non binary and polyamory representation.
I also think this would be an accessible place to start if you’re new to the horror genre.
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC
The kills were plentiful and creatively brutal, each time a chapter started with a side character’s perspective I was sat eagerly awaiting our creepy plague doctor’s arrival!
Honestly, this did have me googling to find out if there are ren faires in my area lol (there isn’t ☹️)
The pacing was great, with almost nonstop action and short chapters I flew through this in a few hours, not being able to put it down.
I didn’t personally connect as much with the characters in this book as I did with the ones in BIBO, but I think it’s great it had some non binary and polyamory representation.
I also think this would be an accessible place to start if you’re new to the horror genre.
Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you're a fan of Brian McAuley's other books, you won't be disappointed with this one. The setting was incredibly well done, and you could tell the author put a lot of thought and detail into the renfaire. So vivid, so whimsical, so fun. The faire felt like it's own character in this, which I loved, and was the best part of this read for me. The kills in this were absolutely grotesque and gory. Even with a high body count, no death scene felt repetitive, with every kill being creative and really making use of the setting.
I liked this, but I think the main thing that kept me from absolutely loving it was the lack of tension. Some of the prose and humor and campiness diluted any fear or tension that was starting to build. Not to say those things weren't enjoyable separately, I love a good campy horror, but it felt like it could have been balanced a little better. This also had a lot of subplots and characters going on and it started to feel a little crowded. I know we needed suspects (and victims) but some of them just seemed irrelevant by the end, such as the protesters. I also unfortunately really did not care about the romance subplot at all. The representation was cool but every time we lingered on the relationship stuff for too long I resisted the urge to skim through it. This is personal preference and nitpicky though.
The Plague reveal did surprise me (I was convinced I knew who it was and my theory was KINDA close, but it was the wrong person) and it wasn't bad, but again, lacked that tension and unease I enjoy in moments like those. Overall, it was still fun, and like I said, the faire was such an awesome setting and it made me wanna go to one real bad. I just will not be eating the turkey legs.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
I liked this, but I think the main thing that kept me from absolutely loving it was the lack of tension. Some of the prose and humor and campiness diluted any fear or tension that was starting to build. Not to say those things weren't enjoyable separately, I love a good campy horror, but it felt like it could have been balanced a little better. This also had a lot of subplots and characters going on and it started to feel a little crowded. I know we needed suspects (and victims) but some of them just seemed irrelevant by the end, such as the protesters. I also unfortunately really did not care about the romance subplot at all. The representation was cool but every time we lingered on the relationship stuff for too long I resisted the urge to skim through it. This is personal preference and nitpicky though.
The Plague reveal did surprise me (I was convinced I knew who it was and my theory was KINDA close, but it was the wrong person) and it wasn't bad, but again, lacked that tension and unease I enjoy in moments like those. Overall, it was still fun, and like I said, the faire was such an awesome setting and it made me wanna go to one real bad. I just will not be eating the turkey legs.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
Read
October 16, 2026The noble scribe of Breathe in, Bleed Out turns his mighty pen—and more than a few swords—to the Renaissance faire of thy nightmares. Mercilessly fun and gleefully disgusting, Fairly Bad Ways to Die reads like a slasher movie in a literary plague mask. I read this brutal book through splayed fingers, but my free hand couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
October 2, 2026
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for my free ARC of Fairly Bad Ways to Die by Brian McAuley — out Apr 6, 2027!
» READ IF YOU «
🗡️ think a Renaissance faire is the most underrated slasher setting EVER
🐴 are a horse girl who's tired of "chomping at the bit" (just me? hm)
🩸 want gory, campy kills that overlay the story's lovely, beating heart
» SYNOPSIS «
Chloe's favorite place in the whole world is the Southwest Renaissance Faire, until the faire-closing joust turns deadly. A year later, the Faire's back under shiny new corporate ownership, and a masked figure is stalking the grounds. The weapons are just props, right? Right?!
» REVIEW «
Y'all, I had SUCH a good time with this book. The kills are graphic and gory in the best, most over-the-top way, and a Renaissance faire has got to be the singularly most epic place for a slasher: blades, jousts, masks, mead, and enough fake blood flying around that nobody looks twice at the real stuff. McAuley absolutely understood the assignment, and has delivered it unto us all! Huzzah!
It's delightfully campy, of course, but it still has real heart, which is what elevates the story for me. Chloe is fabulous, and the book really cares about her community, her future, and how painful it is to watch something you love get chewed up by the startling audacity of corporate greed. And as a self-professed horse girl, it is CHAMPING at the bit, not chomping. Brian, you have me forever for that inclusion. As if I wouldn't read your books anyway. Thank you for each and every one. HUZZAH once more for the King of Slashers!
» RATING «
🗡️ I'm Impaled 🗡️
» READ-A-LIKES «
• Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle
• This B Just Won't Die by Tanya Pell
• Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
• A Knight's Tale (2001 film)
» READ IF YOU «
🗡️ think a Renaissance faire is the most underrated slasher setting EVER
🐴 are a horse girl who's tired of "chomping at the bit" (just me? hm)
🩸 want gory, campy kills that overlay the story's lovely, beating heart
» SYNOPSIS «
Chloe's favorite place in the whole world is the Southwest Renaissance Faire, until the faire-closing joust turns deadly. A year later, the Faire's back under shiny new corporate ownership, and a masked figure is stalking the grounds. The weapons are just props, right? Right?!
» REVIEW «
Y'all, I had SUCH a good time with this book. The kills are graphic and gory in the best, most over-the-top way, and a Renaissance faire has got to be the singularly most epic place for a slasher: blades, jousts, masks, mead, and enough fake blood flying around that nobody looks twice at the real stuff. McAuley absolutely understood the assignment, and has delivered it unto us all! Huzzah!
It's delightfully campy, of course, but it still has real heart, which is what elevates the story for me. Chloe is fabulous, and the book really cares about her community, her future, and how painful it is to watch something you love get chewed up by the startling audacity of corporate greed. And as a self-professed horse girl, it is CHAMPING at the bit, not chomping. Brian, you have me forever for that inclusion. As if I wouldn't read your books anyway. Thank you for each and every one. HUZZAH once more for the King of Slashers!
» RATING «
🗡️ I'm Impaled 🗡️
» READ-A-LIKES «
• Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle
• This B Just Won't Die by Tanya Pell
• Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare
• A Knight's Tale (2001 film)
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The title is the reader's first clue that the author is trying too hard to be witty. The story follows a group of college kids who play together in a band, mainly at the local Ren Faire. They act like high school students and talk like they were raised on social media, but the plot and pacing of this thriller are undeniably propulsive. After the spectacle and shock of the opening scene, the reader is drawn into the cast of characters and becomes invested in their nerdy, internal drama.
Then, the killings begin. The violence and precision of the attacks is, without exaggeration, superhuman, but we're waiting for some exposition with supernatural lore or maybe a realistic explanation behind a character's physical strength--even a government black op gone wrong, anything. If it's as nuanced as the character development thus far, it'll be well done. That explanation never arrives, but what we receive in its place is a totally inappropriate sociopolitical lesson delivered by various characters in the narrative, thinly disguised as dialogue.
The modernism being forced down the reader's throat wouldn't be so objectionable if it were at least consistent, but the story blatantly relies on 80s cliches and movie references to prop up a totally contradictory perspective colored by rainbow-tinted glasses. The conclusion builds in its self-righteous absurdity to a final line that really requires an elegant, sophisticated analogy preceding it for it not to come off as laughable, which McAuley doesn't provide.
The author writes in the Acknowledgments section that the premise for this book came from his habit of remarking to his then girlfriend while attending a Renaissance Faire that it would be a cool place to kill people. And that's about the level of literary intellect that went into fleshing out this, admittedly, very well-written, very juvenile book.
Fans of Scream born in the last 20 years who are too distracted by their phones to pay attention to things like physics and thematic consistency will be thoroughly entertained by this grand guignol.
Huzzah! to the author, Edelweiss and Sourcebooks for the ARC.
Then, the killings begin. The violence and precision of the attacks is, without exaggeration, superhuman, but we're waiting for some exposition with supernatural lore or maybe a realistic explanation behind a character's physical strength--even a government black op gone wrong, anything. If it's as nuanced as the character development thus far, it'll be well done. That explanation never arrives, but what we receive in its place is a totally inappropriate sociopolitical lesson delivered by various characters in the narrative, thinly disguised as dialogue.
The modernism being forced down the reader's throat wouldn't be so objectionable if it were at least consistent, but the story blatantly relies on 80s cliches and movie references to prop up a totally contradictory perspective colored by rainbow-tinted glasses. The conclusion builds in its self-righteous absurdity to a final line that really requires an elegant, sophisticated analogy preceding it for it not to come off as laughable, which McAuley doesn't provide.
The author writes in the Acknowledgments section that the premise for this book came from his habit of remarking to his then girlfriend while attending a Renaissance Faire that it would be a cool place to kill people. And that's about the level of literary intellect that went into fleshing out this, admittedly, very well-written, very juvenile book.
Fans of Scream born in the last 20 years who are too distracted by their phones to pay attention to things like physics and thematic consistency will be thoroughly entertained by this grand guignol.
Huzzah! to the author, Edelweiss and Sourcebooks for the ARC.
Want to Read
July 20, 2026A Ren faire slasher?!? Sign me up posthaste, good sire!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh yeah! this is a treat for fans of bloody gruesome kills, relationship drama, and a unique setting. Do you need any more information? Alright, here it is.
Chloe and the Well Met are a group of young people who play their music for the local Ren Faire in Arizona. A horrible accident one year puts a blight on the faire but they continue to have hopes that it can recover. At the next year's faire, however, something much more evil is coming. Someone dressed as a plague doctor is slaughtering the vendors and Chloe and her friends are scrambling to save not only themselves but the faire itself.
But nothing is at it seems. As the brutal kills continue (you'll read all about them) and the new manager seems to not care at all, more bodies pile up and it becomes apparent that whoever is responsible is trying to do more than just destroy their beloved annual faire. And, yes, the kills are absolutely fantastically awesome for the gorehounds but it's the personal relationships between the characters which gives it a personal boost. It's a slasher, of course, but each horrific kill leads to something more right up until the finale where the killer is revealed.
With a great bloody narrative, interpersonal relationships, and a narrative which keeps you guessing, I highly recommend it.
Chloe and the Well Met are a group of young people who play their music for the local Ren Faire in Arizona. A horrible accident one year puts a blight on the faire but they continue to have hopes that it can recover. At the next year's faire, however, something much more evil is coming. Someone dressed as a plague doctor is slaughtering the vendors and Chloe and her friends are scrambling to save not only themselves but the faire itself.
But nothing is at it seems. As the brutal kills continue (you'll read all about them) and the new manager seems to not care at all, more bodies pile up and it becomes apparent that whoever is responsible is trying to do more than just destroy their beloved annual faire. And, yes, the kills are absolutely fantastically awesome for the gorehounds but it's the personal relationships between the characters which gives it a personal boost. It's a slasher, of course, but each horrific kill leads to something more right up until the finale where the killer is revealed.
With a great bloody narrative, interpersonal relationships, and a narrative which keeps you guessing, I highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"What I've done today will live on forever in the hearts and minds of my audience, thousands of witnesses to my glory." Well this one will live in my heart and mind forever. I can't wait to add it to my bookshelf when it comes out in April.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die is a wholly accurate title for this book. Brian McAuley is so good a writing slashers that it's maybe getting a little concerning? Is he hiding something? Can this man be trusted? In all honesty this book is brilliant. Like with all of his past work, I devoured this in on sitting. Fairly Bad Ways to Die is a fun, fast paced, bloody, emotional romp through the Renaissance Faire. It is full of characters to love and some to hate (but you still get emotionally attached to them and sad when they're brutally murdered). I haven't been to a Ren Faire so I can't really comment on how capitalism has affected them, but I did lose my beloved JoAnn Fabrics to private equity so I get it. I thought there was some very well done commentary on that front.
McAuley managed to make me both never want to set foot in a Renaissance Faire and become a full blown playtron. About halfway through I reluctantly texted my faire going friend and told her I want to join her next time. She has no idea she will be getting an immersive retelling. Eating a turkey leg? Guess what happened in that book. A glass blowing demonstration? Oh boy. Drinking mead? You'll never believe it, but...
Fairly Bad Ways to Die is a wholly accurate title for this book. Brian McAuley is so good a writing slashers that it's maybe getting a little concerning? Is he hiding something? Can this man be trusted? In all honesty this book is brilliant. Like with all of his past work, I devoured this in on sitting. Fairly Bad Ways to Die is a fun, fast paced, bloody, emotional romp through the Renaissance Faire. It is full of characters to love and some to hate (but you still get emotionally attached to them and sad when they're brutally murdered). I haven't been to a Ren Faire so I can't really comment on how capitalism has affected them, but I did lose my beloved JoAnn Fabrics to private equity so I get it. I thought there was some very well done commentary on that front.
McAuley managed to make me both never want to set foot in a Renaissance Faire and become a full blown playtron. About halfway through I reluctantly texted my faire going friend and told her I want to join her next time. She has no idea she will be getting an immersive retelling. Eating a turkey leg? Guess what happened in that book. A glass blowing demonstration? Oh boy. Drinking mead? You'll never believe it, but...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really fun, but BRUTAL slasher! Renaissance faire style! As someone who attends the ren fest every year, this was done with a lot of love. I will never be able to look at anything at the fair the same way again! There were some really funny moments, and references. I loved that it was a whodunnit instead of revealing who the killer was. And there was a lot of diversity with the characters! Love to see it. Well met!
September 25, 2026
RTC but !!!!!! I loved the **** out of this
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Inventive ways for folks to die. Ok characters. Quick read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Just when you thought there can't be a new and fresh location for a slasher tale,
Brian McAuley
comes out swinging. Following his healing retreat slasher, McAuley returns for a renaissance faire horror with
Fairly Bad Ways to Die
. Yes you read that correctly. His latest novel strikes an emotional chord as well as checks the box for bloody good kills in a unique setting.
For Chloe, the Southwest Renaissance Faire is home. It's where she performs with her folk-punk band, Chloe and the Well Met, where she feels closest to her late mother, and where she imagines a life on the road, far from the rules of ordinary life.
Until a fateful final joust, when a staged fight turns real―and someone dies.
One year later, the Faire returns under new corporate ownership, bigger and more profitable than ever. Chloe's band lands a coveted spot on the main stage, but the magic feels thinner, the stakes higher. Beloved performers have vanished and longtime traditions have been gutted. Then a masked figure begins stalking the grounds, turning spectacle into something far more dangerous. Weapons meant for show draw real blood, and no one can tell where performance ends and violence begins.
As fear spreads and her community begins to fracture, Chloe must confront what's being lost―and what's worth fighting for. Because this time, the Faire isn't just an escape. It's a trap.
McAuley is truly the king of slashers over the past few years. We have been immersed in stories featuring Christmas, movies, healing retreats, and now a ren faire. The author has been able to craft truly wonderful horror tales with unique settings that you possibly wouldn't normally expect. This not only gives us a unique perspective, but freshens up the slasher sub-genre in ways that surprised me. Now, I keep wondering what McAuley will think of next.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die is not just another slasher, but with new clothing. It is also has an emotional core between family and friends who fight to survive this horrible story. The tale features all the makings for a traditional slasher novel, but with a twist and kills unique to the setting at hand. McAuley starts off somber, lifts us up with positivity, only to kick our legs out from under us with slashery goodness.
The ren faire is not just a unique place for a slasher story, but a unique place in general. These faires are special places for those attending, but a place where those considered outsiders have found a family. This goes for the attendees and those who put the show on each and every year. It's like returning to camp and seeing those friends all over again, but putting on a show for those paying fans.
McAuley brings the slasher horrors to the pages, but also the horrors of the corporate takeover of something held precious to so many. The mainstreaming and greed seeping into the tents of the ren faire and attempting to profit from the fun that has been taking place for many years. He also blends in the horrors of growing up from your teen years to college and adulthood. Having to find your place in society as a grownup and the possibility of losing what you held precious as a kid, the ren faire and your closest friends.
Not surprising, McAuley weaves in his love for music in Fairly Bad Ways to Die. Our protagonist and her friends are part of a band that plays at the Southwest Renaissance Faire and hopes to take their show on the road. This passion for music spills onto the pages of his passion for slasher horror, proving McAuley's love for the two can mix together in a fantastic tale.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die is another bloody good reminder of why Brian McAuley has become one of my favorite voices in slasher horror. He takes a setting that feels completely unexpected and somehow makes me wonder why no one has been slaughtering their way through a renaissance faire all along. Fairly Bad Ways to Die is a bloody, yet heartfelt slasher that proves McAuley can turn just about any setting into a slasher's playground.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die hits bookstores everywhere on April 20, 2026 from Poisoned Pen Press. The audiobook is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Fairly Bad Ways to Die from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
For Chloe, the Southwest Renaissance Faire is home. It's where she performs with her folk-punk band, Chloe and the Well Met, where she feels closest to her late mother, and where she imagines a life on the road, far from the rules of ordinary life.
Until a fateful final joust, when a staged fight turns real―and someone dies.
One year later, the Faire returns under new corporate ownership, bigger and more profitable than ever. Chloe's band lands a coveted spot on the main stage, but the magic feels thinner, the stakes higher. Beloved performers have vanished and longtime traditions have been gutted. Then a masked figure begins stalking the grounds, turning spectacle into something far more dangerous. Weapons meant for show draw real blood, and no one can tell where performance ends and violence begins.
As fear spreads and her community begins to fracture, Chloe must confront what's being lost―and what's worth fighting for. Because this time, the Faire isn't just an escape. It's a trap.
McAuley is truly the king of slashers over the past few years. We have been immersed in stories featuring Christmas, movies, healing retreats, and now a ren faire. The author has been able to craft truly wonderful horror tales with unique settings that you possibly wouldn't normally expect. This not only gives us a unique perspective, but freshens up the slasher sub-genre in ways that surprised me. Now, I keep wondering what McAuley will think of next.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die is not just another slasher, but with new clothing. It is also has an emotional core between family and friends who fight to survive this horrible story. The tale features all the makings for a traditional slasher novel, but with a twist and kills unique to the setting at hand. McAuley starts off somber, lifts us up with positivity, only to kick our legs out from under us with slashery goodness.
The ren faire is not just a unique place for a slasher story, but a unique place in general. These faires are special places for those attending, but a place where those considered outsiders have found a family. This goes for the attendees and those who put the show on each and every year. It's like returning to camp and seeing those friends all over again, but putting on a show for those paying fans.
McAuley brings the slasher horrors to the pages, but also the horrors of the corporate takeover of something held precious to so many. The mainstreaming and greed seeping into the tents of the ren faire and attempting to profit from the fun that has been taking place for many years. He also blends in the horrors of growing up from your teen years to college and adulthood. Having to find your place in society as a grownup and the possibility of losing what you held precious as a kid, the ren faire and your closest friends.
Not surprising, McAuley weaves in his love for music in Fairly Bad Ways to Die. Our protagonist and her friends are part of a band that plays at the Southwest Renaissance Faire and hopes to take their show on the road. This passion for music spills onto the pages of his passion for slasher horror, proving McAuley's love for the two can mix together in a fantastic tale.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die is another bloody good reminder of why Brian McAuley has become one of my favorite voices in slasher horror. He takes a setting that feels completely unexpected and somehow makes me wonder why no one has been slaughtering their way through a renaissance faire all along. Fairly Bad Ways to Die is a bloody, yet heartfelt slasher that proves McAuley can turn just about any setting into a slasher's playground.
Fairly Bad Ways to Die hits bookstores everywhere on April 20, 2026 from Poisoned Pen Press. The audiobook is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Fairly Bad Ways to Die from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Fairly Bad Ways to Die” takes a Renaissance Faire, throws in a college-age folk-punk band, a masked killer, corporate greed, a whole lot of interpersonal drama, and approximately a million gallons of blood, and somehow turns it all into one extremely chaotic slasher that was a lot of fun if a bit preachy and improbable at times.
For Chloe, the Southwest Renaissance Faire is basically home. It's where she performs with her band, where she feels connected to her late mother, and where she imagines a future outside the boring rules of normal life. But after a staged joust ends with an actual death, things at the Faire are never quite the same.
A year later, the Faire has new corporate owners, old traditions are being gutted, performers are disappearing, and then a masked figure shows up ready to turn the entire place into a murder playground. This setting is perfectfor a slasher.
The whole idea of performance versus reality works so well here. Costumes, fake weapons, staged fights, theatrical performances, crowds, actors, props; when someone starts actually dying, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell what's part of the show and what's definitely not.
The kills are also absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way. They are creative, inventive, bloody, and frequently require you to just stop asking questions about physics and accept that apparently this killer has the strength of a small superhero.
This is a campy slasher, and once I accepted that I was going to have to suspend my disbelief, I had a much better time. And yes, there is a lot of gore. Like, maybe don't read this while eating. There is also an absolutely wild accidental-cannibalism moment that I would very much like to erase from my brain.
I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the masked killer. I genuinely wasn't sure who was behind everything. The Plague Doctor angle kept me hooked, and I was constantly wondering who exactly was killing everyone and why.
The multiple POVs help show just how unsafe the Faire is because pretty much anyone can become a victim. Some characters are terrible enough that you're almost cheering when the killer comes for them, while others are genuinely likable and their deaths actually hurt.
That said, I did struggle a little with the huge cast. Because there are so many characters and the book moves so quickly, I didn't always feel deeply connected to them. Some of them also felt younger than college-aged to me, which made certain parts of the interpersonal drama feel more like high school than college.
There is also A lot happening besides the slasher plot. Chloe and her friends are dealing with relationships, their futures, the band, their changing Faire, LGBTQ+ themes, polyamory, corporate ownership, capitalism, and the fallout from the previous year's death.
The commentary about capitalism and the commercialization of the Faire was definitely not subtle. The book has some very strong opinions about corporate ownership, rising prices, and turning something people love into a profit machine. Sometimes I thought the social commentary worked really well, especially when connected to the loss of the Faire's traditions and community. Other times it felt like the book stopped the slasher to climb onto a soapbox for a minute.
I did find the found-family element to be really sweet. Underneath all the murder and mayhem, Chloe genuinely cares about keeping her band together and protecting the people who have become her family. That emotional core gives the book more substance than just “masked guy kills people at Ren Faire,” even if that would honestly be enough of a premise for me.
Overall, “Fairly Bad Ways to Die” is fast, messy, bloody, campy, and completely committed to its ridiculous premise.
“Fairly Bad Ways to Die” takes a Renaissance Faire, throws in a college-age folk-punk band, a masked killer, corporate greed, a whole lot of interpersonal drama, and approximately a million gallons of blood, and somehow turns it all into one extremely chaotic slasher that was a lot of fun if a bit preachy and improbable at times.
For Chloe, the Southwest Renaissance Faire is basically home. It's where she performs with her band, where she feels connected to her late mother, and where she imagines a future outside the boring rules of normal life. But after a staged joust ends with an actual death, things at the Faire are never quite the same.
A year later, the Faire has new corporate owners, old traditions are being gutted, performers are disappearing, and then a masked figure shows up ready to turn the entire place into a murder playground. This setting is perfectfor a slasher.
The whole idea of performance versus reality works so well here. Costumes, fake weapons, staged fights, theatrical performances, crowds, actors, props; when someone starts actually dying, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell what's part of the show and what's definitely not.
The kills are also absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way. They are creative, inventive, bloody, and frequently require you to just stop asking questions about physics and accept that apparently this killer has the strength of a small superhero.
This is a campy slasher, and once I accepted that I was going to have to suspend my disbelief, I had a much better time. And yes, there is a lot of gore. Like, maybe don't read this while eating. There is also an absolutely wild accidental-cannibalism moment that I would very much like to erase from my brain.
I also really enjoyed the mystery surrounding the masked killer. I genuinely wasn't sure who was behind everything. The Plague Doctor angle kept me hooked, and I was constantly wondering who exactly was killing everyone and why.
The multiple POVs help show just how unsafe the Faire is because pretty much anyone can become a victim. Some characters are terrible enough that you're almost cheering when the killer comes for them, while others are genuinely likable and their deaths actually hurt.
That said, I did struggle a little with the huge cast. Because there are so many characters and the book moves so quickly, I didn't always feel deeply connected to them. Some of them also felt younger than college-aged to me, which made certain parts of the interpersonal drama feel more like high school than college.
There is also A lot happening besides the slasher plot. Chloe and her friends are dealing with relationships, their futures, the band, their changing Faire, LGBTQ+ themes, polyamory, corporate ownership, capitalism, and the fallout from the previous year's death.
The commentary about capitalism and the commercialization of the Faire was definitely not subtle. The book has some very strong opinions about corporate ownership, rising prices, and turning something people love into a profit machine. Sometimes I thought the social commentary worked really well, especially when connected to the loss of the Faire's traditions and community. Other times it felt like the book stopped the slasher to climb onto a soapbox for a minute.
I did find the found-family element to be really sweet. Underneath all the murder and mayhem, Chloe genuinely cares about keeping her band together and protecting the people who have become her family. That emotional core gives the book more substance than just “masked guy kills people at Ren Faire,” even if that would honestly be enough of a premise for me.
Overall, “Fairly Bad Ways to Die” is fast, messy, bloody, campy, and completely committed to its ridiculous premise.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: Fairly Bad Ways to Die by Brian McAuley
A Renaissance faire, a struggling band, a murderous plague doctor, and a body count that escalates with the enthusiasm of a production determined to outdo itself. Fairly Bad Ways to Die has the makings of an entertaining slasher comedy, but beneath its theatrical violence lies a potentially interesting tension between performance and reality. Unfortunately, the novel’s abundance of ideas often comes at the expense of a coherent story.
Chloe and her bandmates are trying to reconcile the practical demands of adulthood with the desire to make something of themselves creatively. For Chloe, the Renaissance faire offers an escape from family expectations and the uncertainty of life after community college. It is a place where she can belong, perform, and imagine a different future. That makes the increasingly gruesome violence more than a disruption of the festivities: it transforms a carefully constructed world of escapism into something genuinely dangerous. The faire’s obsession with authenticity and spectacle provides fertile ground for dark comedy, particularly as the distinction between theatrical violence and actual suffering begins to collapse.
I went into this expecting kitschy slasher fun, a mode Brian McAuley has already demonstrated he can pull off. Breathe In, Bleed Out was the first book I ever reviewed, and I flew through it. I also have a particular fondness for Renaissance faires, including their peculiar atmosphere, so the setting had considerable appeal for me. I enjoyed the band’s lyrics and appreciated the inventiveness of the kills. The problem is that the novel keeps expanding sideways. Between the band drama, romantic entanglements, religious protesters, competing interests within the faire, and the murder mystery itself, the narrative accumulates plotlines faster than it develops them. The frequent shifts in perspective compound the problem, making the story feel less like a series of threads converging toward a meaningful conclusion than a succession of increasingly elaborate set pieces.
My greater frustration is that the characters’ decisions often seem dictated by the demands of the plot rather than by any convincing sense of self-preservation. They have repeated opportunities to leave, yet remain in danger as the spectacle grows more extreme. Slasher fiction certainly permits a degree of implausibility, and absurdity is part of the appeal, but the genre still needs some internal logic to sustain tension. The novel gestures toward interesting questions about belonging, the commodification of experience, and the lengths people will go to preserve an illusion, but its crowded plotting leaves little room to explore them with much depth. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. McAuley understands the pleasures of campy horror, but here, the accumulation of spectacle ultimately dilutes its impact. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
A Renaissance faire, a struggling band, a murderous plague doctor, and a body count that escalates with the enthusiasm of a production determined to outdo itself. Fairly Bad Ways to Die has the makings of an entertaining slasher comedy, but beneath its theatrical violence lies a potentially interesting tension between performance and reality. Unfortunately, the novel’s abundance of ideas often comes at the expense of a coherent story.
Chloe and her bandmates are trying to reconcile the practical demands of adulthood with the desire to make something of themselves creatively. For Chloe, the Renaissance faire offers an escape from family expectations and the uncertainty of life after community college. It is a place where she can belong, perform, and imagine a different future. That makes the increasingly gruesome violence more than a disruption of the festivities: it transforms a carefully constructed world of escapism into something genuinely dangerous. The faire’s obsession with authenticity and spectacle provides fertile ground for dark comedy, particularly as the distinction between theatrical violence and actual suffering begins to collapse.
I went into this expecting kitschy slasher fun, a mode Brian McAuley has already demonstrated he can pull off. Breathe In, Bleed Out was the first book I ever reviewed, and I flew through it. I also have a particular fondness for Renaissance faires, including their peculiar atmosphere, so the setting had considerable appeal for me. I enjoyed the band’s lyrics and appreciated the inventiveness of the kills. The problem is that the novel keeps expanding sideways. Between the band drama, romantic entanglements, religious protesters, competing interests within the faire, and the murder mystery itself, the narrative accumulates plotlines faster than it develops them. The frequent shifts in perspective compound the problem, making the story feel less like a series of threads converging toward a meaningful conclusion than a succession of increasingly elaborate set pieces.
My greater frustration is that the characters’ decisions often seem dictated by the demands of the plot rather than by any convincing sense of self-preservation. They have repeated opportunities to leave, yet remain in danger as the spectacle grows more extreme. Slasher fiction certainly permits a degree of implausibility, and absurdity is part of the appeal, but the genre still needs some internal logic to sustain tension. The novel gestures toward interesting questions about belonging, the commodification of experience, and the lengths people will go to preserve an illusion, but its crowded plotting leaves little room to explore them with much depth. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. McAuley understands the pleasures of campy horror, but here, the accumulation of spectacle ultimately dilutes its impact. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2,5
ok, I loved the trio but i got very angry in this.
The title of the book kinda shows exactly the idea in this, crazy deaths in a Renaissance Faire.
But the deaths were so campy and crazy that it didnt fit the rest of the novel.
It tries to use logic to why not call the police, use the cell or even scream "murder"
There's a scene where the main characters bite a piece of arm thinking that is turkey and they just act like it was only cold meat.
Chloes personality cahnges from i need this band to im okay with no band in one chapter.
If we change some things like make the faire FAR FROM THE CITY, with no car and no cell signal would already make it better.
Also i dont get it how there's moments where the fair is empty (even the parking lot and bathroom) but then the end uin the coliseum is FULL of people, WHERE WERE THIS PEOPLE?
Also this villain is the most skilled ever (can blow glass, thorw knives, axes, super strong)
If the whole book was camp i would not make this questions, but only the deaths were.
And btw it was amazing deaths, love all of them, even not making sense.
PS. love the couple with 3 people.
Coments while reading_________________
Loving the deaths, i forget this would be a slasher ahhahhahahha
also doing in a renessaice fair is SO SMART.
my god this killer really has a lot of time kkkkkkk
i love that they think they eat a human arm and are acting like it has a hair on the food kkkkkk
very creative deads, im sad abou ursula and her boyfriends.
Chloe whole personality was the band and she just went like "maybe the badn is not that important" kkkk
why nobody is calling the police? chloe has her phone.
HOW HE PRANK YOU GUYS WITH HIS FACE FULL OF HOLES, YOU CANT PRETEND THIS, GIVE ME A BREAK BOOK, DONT DO THIS.
stupid reason to not call the police again, "oh there's a child missing and a guy with a knife, help!"
all of my anger could be change if this fair was like REALLY FAR where you have to camp or maybe it doenst have cell signal.
we forget about the arm in the food?
how she was killed in the parking lot and bathroom? where are the people????
Also if she was running zig zag between cars how she was hit in the calf.
"we did everything we could." TELL ME ONE THING YOU DID
ONE!
a catapult? really?
Wish this were better.
ok, I loved the trio but i got very angry in this.
The title of the book kinda shows exactly the idea in this, crazy deaths in a Renaissance Faire.
But the deaths were so campy and crazy that it didnt fit the rest of the novel.
It tries to use logic to why not call the police, use the cell or even scream "murder"
There's a scene where the main characters bite a piece of arm thinking that is turkey and they just act like it was only cold meat.
Chloes personality cahnges from i need this band to im okay with no band in one chapter.
If we change some things like make the faire FAR FROM THE CITY, with no car and no cell signal would already make it better.
Also i dont get it how there's moments where the fair is empty (even the parking lot and bathroom) but then the end uin the coliseum is FULL of people, WHERE WERE THIS PEOPLE?
Also this villain is the most skilled ever (can blow glass, thorw knives, axes, super strong)
If the whole book was camp i would not make this questions, but only the deaths were.
And btw it was amazing deaths, love all of them, even not making sense.
PS. love the couple with 3 people.
Coments while reading_________________
Loving the deaths, i forget this would be a slasher ahhahhahahha
also doing in a renessaice fair is SO SMART.
my god this killer really has a lot of time kkkkkkk
i love that they think they eat a human arm and are acting like it has a hair on the food kkkkkk
very creative deads, im sad abou ursula and her boyfriends.
Chloe whole personality was the band and she just went like "maybe the badn is not that important" kkkk
why nobody is calling the police? chloe has her phone.
HOW HE PRANK YOU GUYS WITH HIS FACE FULL OF HOLES, YOU CANT PRETEND THIS, GIVE ME A BREAK BOOK, DONT DO THIS.
stupid reason to not call the police again, "oh there's a child missing and a guy with a knife, help!"
all of my anger could be change if this fair was like REALLY FAR where you have to camp or maybe it doenst have cell signal.
we forget about the arm in the food?
how she was killed in the parking lot and bathroom? where are the people????
Also if she was running zig zag between cars how she was hit in the calf.
"we did everything we could." TELL ME ONE THING YOU DID
ONE!
a catapult? really?
Wish this were better.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HUZZAH to Brian McAuley for writing an absolute banger of a book! I devoured it like a smoked turkey leg at a Renaissance Faire.
As soon as you read the first page, you will be instantly hooked and will find yourself unable to put it down. The main characters are all so likable, especially Chloe, whom you will find yourself rooting for throughout the entire book. Every character was unique and added a new layer to the story.
The book being a slasher set at a Renaissance Faire was too good! If you’ve never been to a Renfaire, you’ll finish the book having a good idea of what one is.
Now let’s talk…kills…
I’m a huge horror lover and Slashers will always be my favorite. Brian! You are a MASTER at creative kills….I’m in awe of your ability to write these crazy and cool kills and maybe slightly scared (kidding….) Truthfully, though, you really write them so well; thank you!
Now, outside of the horror and gore, there are some other great aspects to this book.
The multiple POVs were done very well, and I found every character introduced as a potential victim or possible killer. I trusted no one.
The song lyrics were so funny and catchy.
Found family.
Chasing your dreams.
Renfaire culture was spot on!
Family dynamics.
Bravery.
A little homage to theatre that I loved!
You fooled me till the very end; bravo!
My all-time favorite horror movie will always be the first Scream. The creative kills AND the whole idea of not knowing who the killer is (that it could be anyone) is what makes Scream so good. Fairly Bad Ways to Die is right up there with Scream, and if you’re a fan of that movie, you’ll be a fan of this book and really Brian’s writing in general. I see so many people always ask for books that give Scream vibes, and I can say with full certainty this one checks all the boxes!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Brian McAuley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read early and review!
As soon as you read the first page, you will be instantly hooked and will find yourself unable to put it down. The main characters are all so likable, especially Chloe, whom you will find yourself rooting for throughout the entire book. Every character was unique and added a new layer to the story.
The book being a slasher set at a Renaissance Faire was too good! If you’ve never been to a Renfaire, you’ll finish the book having a good idea of what one is.
Now let’s talk…kills…
I’m a huge horror lover and Slashers will always be my favorite. Brian! You are a MASTER at creative kills….I’m in awe of your ability to write these crazy and cool kills and maybe slightly scared (kidding….) Truthfully, though, you really write them so well; thank you!
Now, outside of the horror and gore, there are some other great aspects to this book.
The multiple POVs were done very well, and I found every character introduced as a potential victim or possible killer. I trusted no one.
The song lyrics were so funny and catchy.
Found family.
Chasing your dreams.
Renfaire culture was spot on!
Family dynamics.
Bravery.
A little homage to theatre that I loved!
You fooled me till the very end; bravo!
My all-time favorite horror movie will always be the first Scream. The creative kills AND the whole idea of not knowing who the killer is (that it could be anyone) is what makes Scream so good. Fairly Bad Ways to Die is right up there with Scream, and if you’re a fan of that movie, you’ll be a fan of this book and really Brian’s writing in general. I see so many people always ask for books that give Scream vibes, and I can say with full certainty this one checks all the boxes!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Brian McAuley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read early and review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review❣️
A Renaissance Faire, a masked killer, a folk-punk band, and a whole lot of blood? This was such a wild and unusual setup, and I genuinely enjoyed how chaotic things got. The setting was easily one of my favourite parts, especially the way costumes, staged fights, and theatrical performances blurred the line between entertainment and actual danger. The kills were creative, gruesome, and completely over-the-top, making this a fun pick if you enjoy slashers that don't take themselves too seriously.
What worked for me was the mix of mystery, found family, and the changing dynamics within the Faire community. Chloe's connection to her band gave the story an emotional side beneath all the bloodshed, and I liked how the book explored the tension between preserving traditions and turning everything into a business. However, the large cast made it difficult to feel equally invested in everyone. The pacing also felt a little too rushed at times, and some of the characters' drama came across as more immature than I expected.
Overall, this was an entertaining but slightly uneven read for me. I appreciated the unique setting, the creative kills, and the found-family element, but the heavy-handed social commentary occasionally pulled me out of the story, and some moments required me to suspend disbelief a little too much. Still, if you're in the mood for a bloody, unconventional slasher with plenty of chaos and a setting that feels different from the usual horror backdrop, this one is worth checking out. It wasn't a complete hit for me, but it definitely had enough going for it to earn 3.5 stars!
A Renaissance Faire, a masked killer, a folk-punk band, and a whole lot of blood? This was such a wild and unusual setup, and I genuinely enjoyed how chaotic things got. The setting was easily one of my favourite parts, especially the way costumes, staged fights, and theatrical performances blurred the line between entertainment and actual danger. The kills were creative, gruesome, and completely over-the-top, making this a fun pick if you enjoy slashers that don't take themselves too seriously.
What worked for me was the mix of mystery, found family, and the changing dynamics within the Faire community. Chloe's connection to her band gave the story an emotional side beneath all the bloodshed, and I liked how the book explored the tension between preserving traditions and turning everything into a business. However, the large cast made it difficult to feel equally invested in everyone. The pacing also felt a little too rushed at times, and some of the characters' drama came across as more immature than I expected.
Overall, this was an entertaining but slightly uneven read for me. I appreciated the unique setting, the creative kills, and the found-family element, but the heavy-handed social commentary occasionally pulled me out of the story, and some moments required me to suspend disbelief a little too much. Still, if you're in the mood for a bloody, unconventional slasher with plenty of chaos and a setting that feels different from the usual horror backdrop, this one is worth checking out. It wasn't a complete hit for me, but it definitely had enough going for it to earn 3.5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you know me, you know I am Breathe In, Bleed Out's (and therefore Brian's) #1 fan. I have been chomping at the bit for another release. Of course, I demolished this in 2 days, and unfortunately, I wasn't left fully satisfied this time. 3.5 stars rounded up!
First and foremost, I would like to say, while I am not a hater per say, Ren Faire is definitely not my vibe. But neither are woo-woo wellness retreats, so I was ready to dive in. And honestly, the setting and faire vibes were one of the good parts of this book. You can tell he put a lot of thought and research into cultivating the setting and characters which I really appreciate. What I didn't appreciate was the characters themselves. The main group was quite frankly just annoyingly gen-z and one dimensional which made them harder to root for. There were a lot of POV shifts as well that didn't help with this. Now, I love how Brian shifts POVs to carry out the murders. It's one of my favorite parts of BIBO. But I think it's a bit of a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. I understand the want/need for so many to help tell a complete story of the faire and background, but it ended up muddling the story for me. I would have appreciated narrowing of storyline. Especially as I feel like a lot of time was spent on the romance subplot (power to you, but I'm here for graphic murder and suspense.) Brian is clear with his feelings and message surrounding that situation, but it got to the point where it was distracting from the main story and lessened my enjoyment and feeling of suspense. PLEASE don't misunderstand me, my issue is not with the message itself, just the constant driving of it when it doesn't always feel necessary or natural.
I enjoyed the crazy vivid murders themselves. They are so unbelievably fucked up. Are they realistic? Not always! Do they give me a little shiver and scratch the slasher itch? 1000000% This one leaned more dark humor slasher than BIBO which gives it a Scream franchise vibe. Overall, I think this book is a fun time if you love a slasher or a dark comedy vibe!
First and foremost, I would like to say, while I am not a hater per say, Ren Faire is definitely not my vibe. But neither are woo-woo wellness retreats, so I was ready to dive in. And honestly, the setting and faire vibes were one of the good parts of this book. You can tell he put a lot of thought and research into cultivating the setting and characters which I really appreciate. What I didn't appreciate was the characters themselves. The main group was quite frankly just annoyingly gen-z and one dimensional which made them harder to root for. There were a lot of POV shifts as well that didn't help with this. Now, I love how Brian shifts POVs to carry out the murders. It's one of my favorite parts of BIBO. But I think it's a bit of a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. I understand the want/need for so many to help tell a complete story of the faire and background, but it ended up muddling the story for me. I would have appreciated narrowing of storyline. Especially as I feel like a lot of time was spent on the romance subplot (power to you, but I'm here for graphic murder and suspense.) Brian is clear with his feelings and message surrounding that situation, but it got to the point where it was distracting from the main story and lessened my enjoyment and feeling of suspense. PLEASE don't misunderstand me, my issue is not with the message itself, just the constant driving of it when it doesn't always feel necessary or natural.
I enjoyed the crazy vivid murders themselves. They are so unbelievably fucked up. Are they realistic? Not always! Do they give me a little shiver and scratch the slasher itch? 1000000% This one leaned more dark humor slasher than BIBO which gives it a Scream franchise vibe. Overall, I think this book is a fun time if you love a slasher or a dark comedy vibe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
As fun as Breathe In, Bleed Out was and as excited as I was for McAuley's next book, this one just didn't do anything for me.
I will give kudos to the gore, because the kills were very creative and very gruesome. Even some of the surrounding aftermath, like the cannibalism, got me to squirm a bit. But I never got invested in the characters or the story. The only real component of this story that I cared about was the polyamorous relationship that was forming, not because I need romance in everything but because polyamory is still rare. And as much as I wish we'd gotten the characters to discuss that a little more, I know it's a slasher book so there really isn't time for something like that.
Honestly, I didn't feel like there was time for much of anything. The kills are immediate and frequent, to the point that I actually got bored with how repetitive they became. It quite literally became anytime one of our MCs interacted with another character, that other character immediately died. And I was never given a reason to care that any of them died because I got a single scene with them before it happened. I always want more development in my horror books and that was the case here, too.
Also, I wish more thought had gone into who the killer was. The reveal was pretty mundane and uninspired.
As fun as Breathe In, Bleed Out was and as excited as I was for McAuley's next book, this one just didn't do anything for me.
I will give kudos to the gore, because the kills were very creative and very gruesome. Even some of the surrounding aftermath, like the cannibalism, got me to squirm a bit. But I never got invested in the characters or the story. The only real component of this story that I cared about was the polyamorous relationship that was forming, not because I need romance in everything but because polyamory is still rare. And as much as I wish we'd gotten the characters to discuss that a little more, I know it's a slasher book so there really isn't time for something like that.
Honestly, I didn't feel like there was time for much of anything. The kills are immediate and frequent, to the point that I actually got bored with how repetitive they became. It quite literally became anytime one of our MCs interacted with another character, that other character immediately died. And I was never given a reason to care that any of them died because I got a single scene with them before it happened. I always want more development in my horror books and that was the case here, too.
Also, I wish more thought had gone into who the killer was. The reveal was pretty mundane and uninspired.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fantastic setting, fun (if VERY campy plot), and plenty of gruesome, gory, and gross kills! 3.75 Stars
I will say, McAuley is nothing if not consistent. This is my third read by him, and I've definitely figured out what to expect now. The highlight is once again the creativity with the deaths! No two kills are alike, and a few had me wincing. The setting is also very well done. I'm a bit of Ren Faire nerd and the world felt very well designed and researched to me. The overall plot, villain reveal, and the main characters were....fine. Didn't really love them, but didn't mind them either. They were vehicles for the story, and that's good enough (although, the romance subplot did feel very out of place - Chloe goes from fighting with her sneaky backstabbing friends and having her entire life plan squashed by them to...giving it all up for that very out of left field arrangement, all in the matter of two hours??)
Anyway. The only real issue I have, which has come up in his other books as well, is the enormous suspension of disbelief required. I'm plenty used to reading books that require a healthy dose, but his books are on another level. If that doesn't bother you...great! You'll love this book! If you like at least a little bit of plausibility, you may struggle with certain aspects.
Overall - A quick, fun read with lots of violence and creativity, just turn your brain off a bit before starting!
*Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Copy!
I will say, McAuley is nothing if not consistent. This is my third read by him, and I've definitely figured out what to expect now. The highlight is once again the creativity with the deaths! No two kills are alike, and a few had me wincing. The setting is also very well done. I'm a bit of Ren Faire nerd and the world felt very well designed and researched to me. The overall plot, villain reveal, and the main characters were....fine. Didn't really love them, but didn't mind them either. They were vehicles for the story, and that's good enough (although, the romance subplot did feel very out of place - Chloe goes from fighting with her sneaky backstabbing friends and having her entire life plan squashed by them to...giving it all up for that very out of left field arrangement, all in the matter of two hours??)
Anyway. The only real issue I have, which has come up in his other books as well, is the enormous suspension of disbelief required. I'm plenty used to reading books that require a healthy dose, but his books are on another level. If that doesn't bother you...great! You'll love this book! If you like at least a little bit of plausibility, you may struggle with certain aspects.
Overall - A quick, fun read with lots of violence and creativity, just turn your brain off a bit before starting!
*Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Copy!
October 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Now THIS is a novel (no pun intended) slasher setting! A renaissance faire is the perfect place for ridiculous quantities of bloodshed, and boy, does this book deliver on the brief. With some incredibly gnarly kills and a lot of ‘don’t get attached to anyone’, it knows what it’s doing, and it revels in it too.
Is it particularly intellectual? No. If you’re looking for some grand commentary on society, you won’t really find it here as it’s a little hamfisted. This is the part of the book that I think could have been a little tighter- just cleaning up that message and making it a little smarter and a little more interesting to the audience.
There was, however, a really lovely poly romance plot that shows how healthy those relationships can be for some, and a good dose of gender and sexuality diversity too. That’s the kind of rep that matters, and it was really good to see it in a book.
The kills were fantastic (even if I didn’t always agree with who was getting bumped off) and it made for a wild ride from start to finish. The twist was definitely out of left field, but hey, it was fun and it tried to make things as weird as possible, which is appreciated. All in all, this had all the fun of the faire- and, if you’re looking for a good, blood soaked time, this book absolutely has that in spades.
Now THIS is a novel (no pun intended) slasher setting! A renaissance faire is the perfect place for ridiculous quantities of bloodshed, and boy, does this book deliver on the brief. With some incredibly gnarly kills and a lot of ‘don’t get attached to anyone’, it knows what it’s doing, and it revels in it too.
Is it particularly intellectual? No. If you’re looking for some grand commentary on society, you won’t really find it here as it’s a little hamfisted. This is the part of the book that I think could have been a little tighter- just cleaning up that message and making it a little smarter and a little more interesting to the audience.
There was, however, a really lovely poly romance plot that shows how healthy those relationships can be for some, and a good dose of gender and sexuality diversity too. That’s the kind of rep that matters, and it was really good to see it in a book.
The kills were fantastic (even if I didn’t always agree with who was getting bumped off) and it made for a wild ride from start to finish. The twist was definitely out of left field, but hey, it was fun and it tried to make things as weird as possible, which is appreciated. All in all, this had all the fun of the faire- and, if you’re looking for a good, blood soaked time, this book absolutely has that in spades.
October 17, 2026
Fairly Bad Ways to Die was an interesting slasher horror read with a unique setting! I loved the idea of a killer stalking a Renaissance Faire, where costumes, staged battles, and deadly weapons create the perfect atmosphere for a bloody nightmare.
The story follows Chloe as she returns to the Faire a year after a tragic death, only to discover that things have changed. With new ownership, disappearing traditions, and a mysterious masked killer on the loose, what was once a place of happiness and belonging quickly turns into something terrifying.
I really enjoyed the concept and the Renaissance Faire setting, which made this book stand out from other slashers. There were some creepy moments, plenty of tension, and an interesting mystery surrounding the masked killer. However, I felt that certain parts of the story dragged, and I was hoping for a little more suspense and excitement throughout.
Overall, this was a decent horror read with a creative premise and some entertaining slasher elements. While it wasn’t my favorite, I still found parts of it enjoyable. If you love masked killers, bloody horror, and unique settings, this might be worth checking out!
A solid 3-star read for me!
The story follows Chloe as she returns to the Faire a year after a tragic death, only to discover that things have changed. With new ownership, disappearing traditions, and a mysterious masked killer on the loose, what was once a place of happiness and belonging quickly turns into something terrifying.
I really enjoyed the concept and the Renaissance Faire setting, which made this book stand out from other slashers. There were some creepy moments, plenty of tension, and an interesting mystery surrounding the masked killer. However, I felt that certain parts of the story dragged, and I was hoping for a little more suspense and excitement throughout.
Overall, this was a decent horror read with a creative premise and some entertaining slasher elements. While it wasn’t my favorite, I still found parts of it enjoyable. If you love masked killers, bloody horror, and unique settings, this might be worth checking out!
A solid 3-star read for me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one was tough to rate. On one hand I couldn't care less about most of the characters. It's a short book and because you are following a very large cast in third person, it leaves a bit of a disconnect between the reader and most the characters. I think if we had gotten to know the characters longer, their deaths would have hit harder. This book also takes place in broad daylight without most fairgoers noticing, so it leans more on the suspend your belief and just roll with it side. Which makes a few real world issues brieftly brought up stand out like a sore thumb, because it didn't really need to be in the book and doesn't come up again.
On the other hand, the plot was a fun time, and this is where McAuley really shines as a writer. Fast pace & addictive, the prose made for an easy to get into read. The kills were creative and gory. Some that will live in my brain rent free. The whole mystery behind the Plague Doctor had me seated. The next page couldn't come soon enough. Overall Fairly Bad Ways To Die is a book full of camp and twists. If you want a messy slasher set at a Ren Faire but reads like fever dream b-movie, this one will be you.
On the other hand, the plot was a fun time, and this is where McAuley really shines as a writer. Fast pace & addictive, the prose made for an easy to get into read. The kills were creative and gory. Some that will live in my brain rent free. The whole mystery behind the Plague Doctor had me seated. The next page couldn't come soon enough. Overall Fairly Bad Ways To Die is a book full of camp and twists. If you want a messy slasher set at a Ren Faire but reads like fever dream b-movie, this one will be you.
October 18, 2026
One thing I will always love about a Brian McAuley book is his ability to write kill scenes. Fairly Bad Ways to Die was no different. The gore and murder in this book is absolutely top tier horror writing. I loved how the setting played a huge part in this novel. You truly felt like you were running around the Renaissance Faire. Unfortunately the plot of this one wasn’t my favorite. It felt a bit YA. I love a good YA novel but it felt very confusing when the kill scenes were so graphic and clearly not YA. At the end of the day it was to happy for me and that sounds so weird to say. It just felt like a coming of age story mixed with a slasher and it didn’t work for me personally. I do think people will really love this story though. Brian is a truly talented writer and as always I can’t wait to read more from him. I will always pick up his next novel.
3.5/5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5/5 Stars
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️¾ A Perfect October Slasher! 🔪🎃
I haven’t read a good horror book in a while, so this was such a fun change of pace! A Renaissance Faire is the perfect setting for a slasher, with costumes, swords, masks, and plenty of fake blood. The kills are creative, graphic, and definitely gory, so be prepared!
I loved the unique premise and the over-the-top slasher vibes. My only drawback was that I had a harder time connecting with the characters, which kept this from being a full five-star read for me. Still, there was more to the story than just blood and bodies, and I appreciated the heart behind it.
Overall, this was an entertaining horror read and a great choice for spooky season! If you love slashers, a little gore, and a unique setting, definitely add this one to your October TBR! 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️¾ A Perfect October Slasher! 🔪🎃
I haven’t read a good horror book in a while, so this was such a fun change of pace! A Renaissance Faire is the perfect setting for a slasher, with costumes, swords, masks, and plenty of fake blood. The kills are creative, graphic, and definitely gory, so be prepared!
I loved the unique premise and the over-the-top slasher vibes. My only drawback was that I had a harder time connecting with the characters, which kept this from being a full five-star read for me. Still, there was more to the story than just blood and bodies, and I appreciated the heart behind it.
Overall, this was an entertaining horror read and a great choice for spooky season! If you love slashers, a little gore, and a unique setting, definitely add this one to your October TBR! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wish I liked this more, but this book suffers from too manys and too littles: too many characters, too little time spent with any of them to see beneath the surface, too many deaths to be believably hidden for so long, and too many one liners. Every scene felt like it was set up exclusively so the character could make some quip or pun. In the climax chapter, every bit of dialogue was a one liner. It felt like I was just waiting for someone to whip out a pair of sunglasses and drop their proverbial mic. I couldn't take it seriously.
This book feels like a string of loosely connected slasher vignettes tied together at the end by the killer and setting. It might be your thing, but it isn't mine.
This book feels like a string of loosely connected slasher vignettes tied together at the end by the killer and setting. It might be your thing, but it isn't mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very camp novel and I really enjoyed it.
The plot is simple, a masked murderer at a Renaissance fair. Including a romantic subplot involving the main characters which I did not really care for, mainly because the characters themselves were not the most dimensional.
But that is okay because I love a campy slasher.
Was it unrealistic in the sense that there is an obvious murderer going around and no one seems to really care that much? Yeah. But it fits the slasher tropes and I loved it.
It has its flaws but it was a fun read, nothing ground breaking just a good story for slasher fans to read. And if you like the ren faire.
The plot is simple, a masked murderer at a Renaissance fair. Including a romantic subplot involving the main characters which I did not really care for, mainly because the characters themselves were not the most dimensional.
But that is okay because I love a campy slasher.
Was it unrealistic in the sense that there is an obvious murderer going around and no one seems to really care that much? Yeah. But it fits the slasher tropes and I loved it.
It has its flaws but it was a fun read, nothing ground breaking just a good story for slasher fans to read. And if you like the ren faire.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While Fairly Bad Ways to Die opens with a strong, promising blend of slasher horror and dark humor, the narrative unfortunately loses its momentum and becomes muddled in the latter half. The tone shifts abruptly from lighthearted horror-comedy to a disjointed string of graphic deaths that disrupted the pacing. Additionally, the specific stylistic choice regarding character pronouns made the narrative flow confusing and difficult to follow during fast-paced scenes. While the premise was highly unique, the execution ultimately didn't land well for my reading preference.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Murder, mayhem, corporate greed, and folk-punk at a Renaissance Faire!
A wonderfully weird mix of creepy carnival vibes, found family, and the unsettling realization that maybe the people with swords shouldn’t be the ones you trust. The atmosphere was fantastic, the characters were fun, and I was thoroughly entertained. I came for the Renaissance Faire murder mystery and stayed for the chaos.
Many thanks to Edelweiss+ and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
A wonderfully weird mix of creepy carnival vibes, found family, and the unsettling realization that maybe the people with swords shouldn’t be the ones you trust. The atmosphere was fantastic, the characters were fun, and I was thoroughly entertained. I came for the Renaissance Faire murder mystery and stayed for the chaos.
Many thanks to Edelweiss+ and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with a digital ARC prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
this was so good, not that i’m shocked in the least bit. i have loved everything brian has released and it actually makes me so sad i will have to wait a year for the next book.
but this book! this one right here was everything i needed it to be. creative kills, a fantastic setting for a slasher, and characters i want to cheer for.
chloe and the well met is such a unique group but one that you easily feel for and can connect with.
but this book! this one right here was everything i needed it to be. creative kills, a fantastic setting for a slasher, and characters i want to cheer for.
chloe and the well met is such a unique group but one that you easily feel for and can connect with.
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