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Mary, Will I Die?
Bestselling author Shawn Sarles' most terrifying YA horror yet...
It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world.
Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer.
Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone.
That day in school, a new girl arrives. Her name is Mary...
It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world.
Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer.
Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone.
That day in school, a new girl arrives. Her name is Mary...
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2021
90 people are currently reading
4968 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Sarles
6 books218 followersShawn Sarles was born and raised in a small town in western Kentucky. He currently lives in Philadelphia and continues to write horror for teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
August 14, 2023
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Five years ago, four childhood friends decided to play a little game. Elena, Steph, Grace and Calvin were all part of the same carpool and thus, spent some afternoons together.
One afternoon while at Elena's house, the foursome headed into Elena's Grandmother's old bedroom. Even though her Grandmother had passed on, all her old trinkets and belongings were still in the room, including a beautifully-ornate, antique mirror.
As many kids before them tempted with a mirror, they decide to play Bloody Mary.
In their version, the mirror is supposed to reveal their one true love. Regardless of what each one sees, they keep it to themselves and don't speak of it again.
Everything changes for them after that day, but was it because of the game, or just life?
By the time the foursome reach high school, they've completely grown apart. Elena is a bit of a Regina George, Grace is quiet and bookish, Steph is an athlete with a secret and Calvin is a broody artist.
When certain events start haunting the teens, they begin to wonder if that game they played all those years ago could have something to do with it.
As circumstances get increasingly more dangerous, with those around them and even themselves at risk for horrible accidents, they start to panic a bit.
Also, there's a new girl lurking about. What's up with her? Could she be the demon's new host, here to take them all out one by one?!
The four finally decide it's time to put petty squabbles aside and work together to break the curse and banish the demon back to whence it came before it's too late.
Y'all, Mary, Will I Die is a fun time, but I feel like I need to provide a bit of explanation along with this review.
First, this is on the very cusp between YA and Tween. I think that is important to point out, as a lot of YA stories are more on the older end of the spectrum, bordering on NA.
These characters have just started their freshman year of high school. It's the very beginning of the school year, Halloween is actually part of this story, so just keep that in mind if you pick this up.
They act young and think young, but that's okay! Young teens are allowed to have great Horror stories too and this one is so much fun. It gave me nostalgia for the Fear Street books I had devoured as a Tween, but with more detail and better writing.
This narrative alternates between the four main characters chapters and I liked getting to read what each of them were thinking as the curse begins to reveal itself.
Each of the four actually has a different connection to the curse as well, which I thought was cool. For example, my favorite was Calvin, who ever since they played the game was able to see visions of bad things happening to people which would then be revealed through his drawings.
The ending of this went a bit as I anticipated, but I thought Sarles did a good job with it. This reads like a young Teen Scream, so I think if you go in with the right mindset, and enjoy that type of story, you will definitely have a good time with this.
Who doesn't love some Bloody Mary!?
Five years ago, four childhood friends decided to play a little game. Elena, Steph, Grace and Calvin were all part of the same carpool and thus, spent some afternoons together.
One afternoon while at Elena's house, the foursome headed into Elena's Grandmother's old bedroom. Even though her Grandmother had passed on, all her old trinkets and belongings were still in the room, including a beautifully-ornate, antique mirror.
As many kids before them tempted with a mirror, they decide to play Bloody Mary.
In their version, the mirror is supposed to reveal their one true love. Regardless of what each one sees, they keep it to themselves and don't speak of it again.
Everything changes for them after that day, but was it because of the game, or just life?
By the time the foursome reach high school, they've completely grown apart. Elena is a bit of a Regina George, Grace is quiet and bookish, Steph is an athlete with a secret and Calvin is a broody artist.
When certain events start haunting the teens, they begin to wonder if that game they played all those years ago could have something to do with it.
As circumstances get increasingly more dangerous, with those around them and even themselves at risk for horrible accidents, they start to panic a bit.
Also, there's a new girl lurking about. What's up with her? Could she be the demon's new host, here to take them all out one by one?!
The four finally decide it's time to put petty squabbles aside and work together to break the curse and banish the demon back to whence it came before it's too late.
Y'all, Mary, Will I Die is a fun time, but I feel like I need to provide a bit of explanation along with this review.
First, this is on the very cusp between YA and Tween. I think that is important to point out, as a lot of YA stories are more on the older end of the spectrum, bordering on NA.
These characters have just started their freshman year of high school. It's the very beginning of the school year, Halloween is actually part of this story, so just keep that in mind if you pick this up.
They act young and think young, but that's okay! Young teens are allowed to have great Horror stories too and this one is so much fun. It gave me nostalgia for the Fear Street books I had devoured as a Tween, but with more detail and better writing.
This narrative alternates between the four main characters chapters and I liked getting to read what each of them were thinking as the curse begins to reveal itself.
Each of the four actually has a different connection to the curse as well, which I thought was cool. For example, my favorite was Calvin, who ever since they played the game was able to see visions of bad things happening to people which would then be revealed through his drawings.
The ending of this went a bit as I anticipated, but I thought Sarles did a good job with it. This reads like a young Teen Scream, so I think if you go in with the right mindset, and enjoy that type of story, you will definitely have a good time with this.
Who doesn't love some Bloody Mary!?
September 28, 2021
I’m too old for this book. While some YA transcends the reader’s age, this is not that kind of YA. This is great for middle-graders who are curious about horror but don’t want to dive in the deep end just yet.
October 31, 2022
Overall Rating : F
Okay but wasn't this supposed to be a horror novel of an old classic?? Felt like a cheap "scary" story told around a campfire of 6-year olds..
Oh well, you live and learn I guess 🙄
Okay but wasn't this supposed to be a horror novel of an old classic?? Felt like a cheap "scary" story told around a campfire of 6-year olds..
Oh well, you live and learn I guess 🙄
December 14, 2021
The cover is my favorite part of this book. A lot of young adult books transcend age for me, but this one didn’t. I was wanting more than the one dimensional characters and I wanted a bit more of the creepy factor. It wasn’t a bad story and I think for a younger audience it might play a little better. 4 kids at age 9 are playing and one gets the idea to play Bloody Mary in a special mirror with a twist about it either showing your death or your soulmate. Five years later the real story takes place when some (mildly) creepy things start to happen. Reading this was a bit like watching an old episode of Are you Afraid of the Dark without the nostalgia that brings. 2.5 stars rounded up for actual star selection.
March 28, 2024
A take on Bloody Mary sign me up, or so I thought. I wasn't expecting it to be absolutely terrifying but at least a bit creepier than Goosebumps. I did want to see how it ended and if Mary was as dangerous as the legends said so I pushed through.
Would not recommend. Unless you're in middle school then go for it.
Would not recommend. Unless you're in middle school then go for it.
April 12, 2024
This was a pretty average young adult horror story. I did like Grace, Calvin and Steph but Elena got on my last nerve. Also I found the ending to be pretty rushed.
October 2, 2021
I loved this book it was even better than the other book this author has written the atmosphere in the story had just the right amount of creepy I loved the suspense it was a perfect spooky month read. I loved the character even if one took a little while for me to like I especially liked Grace and Calvin they fit so well together I just loved reading about them. The cast of characters were really interesting to read about it shows how people could change and how something like a demon can bring people back together and change them for the better. I really loved the story I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I really enjoyed reading about this different take on the Bloody Mary urban legend it was made into a monster they accidently unleashed. I really enjoyed how this story was told and I most of all loved that happy ending it made everything that happened during the story worth it by the end.
December 4, 2023
This is fun YA paranormal thriller!! I will definitely be forwarding the book on to my grandchildren. I know they’ll love it!!
October 29, 2023
*3.5 stars rounded up*
I enjoyed this one, despite the fact it was aimed at a much younger age group as the main characters are only 14. This was a twist on the legend of Bloody Mary, where four kids say her name 13 times in front of the mirror and then are supposed to see their soulmate or, if they see Mary, their early death.
It was a fun read, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I were *cough* 20 years younger *cough*
I enjoyed this one, despite the fact it was aimed at a much younger age group as the main characters are only 14. This was a twist on the legend of Bloody Mary, where four kids say her name 13 times in front of the mirror and then are supposed to see their soulmate or, if they see Mary, their early death.
It was a fun read, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I were *cough* 20 years younger *cough*
September 5, 2022
3.5 stars. This was fun and spooky! Not mind blowing or anything but a good, quick read for Halloween.
February 27, 2022
Who hasn’t heard of the legendary Bloody Mary? You call her name in front of a mirror and she’ll come and get you or she’ll show you your soulmate. Four kids play the game, and a few years later they’ll have to live with the consequences.
The four main characters in this book couldn’t be more different, but they all seem to have arisen from a trope. There isn’t much more going for them than their stereotypes. They are one-dimensional and flat and I had hoped for more.
There is also basically no real creep-factor with this book. Barely suspenseful with a little action at the end, but that’s about it. This left me wanting more.
As far as YA-horror goes, this was an okay book.
The four main characters in this book couldn’t be more different, but they all seem to have arisen from a trope. There isn’t much more going for them than their stereotypes. They are one-dimensional and flat and I had hoped for more.
There is also basically no real creep-factor with this book. Barely suspenseful with a little action at the end, but that’s about it. This left me wanting more.
As far as YA-horror goes, this was an okay book.
October 21, 2021
Decided to rewrite my review after I gave myself some more time to think about how I felt about this book. Overall it was ok. The writing was kind of one dimensional and the characters were annoying in my opinion, especially Elena. Some of the horror elements were fun, but with a cover like that, I was really expecting more. At the end of the day this book just wasn't for me. I guess I would recommend it to people who wanted a retelling of Bloody Mary, or a horror novel focusing on a group of friends. Also, there was a lot of volleyball mentioned, not that volleyball is a bad thing, but wasn't expecting such a huge sports aspect with the storyline.
March 6, 2022
Trigger warnings: violence, physical endangerment, blood, death of a grandparent (in the past), bullying, car accident.
Was the scariest thing about this book the cover? ABSOLUTELY. But it's a perfect horror book for the younger YA crowd because the protagonists are all at the beginning of their freshmen year, so they're mostly 14. Which is great because so much of YA now features 18 year old protagonists at the expense of the younger end of the readership.
This is less of a Bloody Mary story than I anticipated, but I really enjoyed the different protagonists and jumping between their perspectives. I *did* have a hard time believing that two kids started dating in the 6th grade and were still dating THREE YEARS LATER because, like, that's absurd. Have you MET a 6th grader?! They're 50% teen hormones and 50% tiny children who giggle over farts and poo jokes. They change their minds from minute to minute and flip flop constantly between wanting everyone to think they're cool and wanting to play on the swings. Year 7s aren't much better. So the idea that two 6th graders would be able to maintain a ROMANTIC relationship for *three years*???? Utterly bizarre. It made me wonder if the story originally started out with older protagonists and then the author changed his mind??
Anyway. It was fun! And I enjoyed it more than I anticipated.
Was the scariest thing about this book the cover? ABSOLUTELY. But it's a perfect horror book for the younger YA crowd because the protagonists are all at the beginning of their freshmen year, so they're mostly 14. Which is great because so much of YA now features 18 year old protagonists at the expense of the younger end of the readership.
This is less of a Bloody Mary story than I anticipated, but I really enjoyed the different protagonists and jumping between their perspectives. I *did* have a hard time believing that two kids started dating in the 6th grade and were still dating THREE YEARS LATER because, like, that's absurd. Have you MET a 6th grader?! They're 50% teen hormones and 50% tiny children who giggle over farts and poo jokes. They change their minds from minute to minute and flip flop constantly between wanting everyone to think they're cool and wanting to play on the swings. Year 7s aren't much better. So the idea that two 6th graders would be able to maintain a ROMANTIC relationship for *three years*???? Utterly bizarre. It made me wonder if the story originally started out with older protagonists and then the author changed his mind??
Anyway. It was fun! And I enjoyed it more than I anticipated.
October 4, 2021
3.75 stars
August 22, 2021
Things To Know:
-Multiple points of view
-Violence/Blood
-Creepy
-Teenage drama
Synopsis:
It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world. Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer. Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone. That day in school, a new girl arrives. Her name is Mary
Review:
I rate this 3.5/5 stars.
Mary, Will I Die is a YA horror book. I am a huge fan of horror and I really did enjoy this book. I liked that it was a spin of a “game” that I’m sure we have all heard of at one point in our lives. The story varies but it is always scary.
I think this book would do well as a television adaptation. If I was scrolling Hulu (which seems like where I would find this) and I stumbled upon this I would definitely watch it.
It was a very quick read and I would recommend this book to people who are fans of other YA horror books. It was interesting, somewhat predictable but still very creepy. Thank you Shawn Sarles and thank you Edelweiss for early access to this book!
-Multiple points of view
-Violence/Blood
-Creepy
-Teenage drama
Synopsis:
It starts innocently enough. Four kids - three girls, one boy - are at one of their houses, playing games. One of them has read about "Bloody Mary" and the idea that if you look into a mirror and say her name thirteen times, she will show you the future. Some legends say she'll show you your one true love or a skull to mark your death within five years. Others say that conjuring Bloody Mary will bring her into your world. Both sets of legends are true. The kids go through with the act, saying her name thirteen times. One girl looks in the mirror and sees her longtime crush. One girl looks in the mirror and sees the boy in the group. But she pretends to see something else. One girl looks in the mirror and sees a girl she's never seen before but can't get out of her mind. And the boy . . . he sees a skull. But he pretends to see something else. They try to laugh it off. And mostly they forget about it. Or at least they don't talk about it. Yes, over the next few years, whenever they look into a mirror, it's like there's always another figure standing in the background, getting closer. Just short of five years later, the four of them are no longer friends, having gone on separate paths. The girl whose house it was has always tried to avoid the mirror they used - because she always sensed someone in the background. One morning as she's passing by, she sees much more than her own reflection - it's a scary figure taunting her. She startles and breaks the mirror. When the pieces are put back together (barely), the figure is gone. That day in school, a new girl arrives. Her name is Mary
Review:
I rate this 3.5/5 stars.
Mary, Will I Die is a YA horror book. I am a huge fan of horror and I really did enjoy this book. I liked that it was a spin of a “game” that I’m sure we have all heard of at one point in our lives. The story varies but it is always scary.
I think this book would do well as a television adaptation. If I was scrolling Hulu (which seems like where I would find this) and I stumbled upon this I would definitely watch it.
It was a very quick read and I would recommend this book to people who are fans of other YA horror books. It was interesting, somewhat predictable but still very creepy. Thank you Shawn Sarles and thank you Edelweiss for early access to this book!
July 28, 2022
4.5 This was really good! A fun, creepy retelling of Bloody Mary.
October 2, 2021
I read a lot of YA and even middle grade books, but they aren't usually so immature. The characters don't seem like real people so much as what harried adults think teens are like. The Bloody Mary storyline was fun and creepy, but it wasn't enough to overcome the childishness. Also, there was an unusual amount of detail about volleyball, which I suppose might appeal to volleyball fans but just bored me. Overall it was disappointing, if not terrible.
January 21, 2023
This is a decent book. Not as good as others by this author. There are some lapses in character consistency as well as in the plot. It is also predictable.
December 26, 2021
The story starts with a prologue where the characters are 9 years old and playing the game Blood Mary. The rest of the story takes place 5 years later, when the characters are 14 years old and freshmen in high school.
It surprised me that the characters were so young in this book, but it turned into a nice change of pace from the vast majority of the YA books I read. But I did want to warn you, because it was not what I was expecting and threw me for a second.
The story has 4 points of view: Elena, Steph, Grace, and Calvin. The chapters were not that long, and it was fun jumping from the different characters who were mostly separate at the beginning of the book, but came back together eventually. It had mean girls and loners and a certain girl coming to terms with her sexuality, which was a really good portrayal.
The genre is horror and the cover is pretty intense, but I would call this book 'baby-horror'. Which was great for me, because I am so not a horror, scary-movie person. But I do remember playing the game Blood Mary in front of a mirror when I was a kid at a sleepover.
So, this book was a fun, easy read that was not that scary, but will still put you in a nice Halloween, nostalgic mood, thinking back to when you were a kid at Halloween. It's not a favorite, but I did enjoy it, and I might even come back to read it again when I'm in a Halloween-spooky-young-YA mood. I'm giving it 4.5 stars.
It surprised me that the characters were so young in this book, but it turned into a nice change of pace from the vast majority of the YA books I read. But I did want to warn you, because it was not what I was expecting and threw me for a second.
The story has 4 points of view: Elena, Steph, Grace, and Calvin. The chapters were not that long, and it was fun jumping from the different characters who were mostly separate at the beginning of the book, but came back together eventually. It had mean girls and loners and a certain girl coming to terms with her sexuality, which was a really good portrayal.
The genre is horror and the cover is pretty intense, but I would call this book 'baby-horror'. Which was great for me, because I am so not a horror, scary-movie person. But I do remember playing the game Blood Mary in front of a mirror when I was a kid at a sleepover.
So, this book was a fun, easy read that was not that scary, but will still put you in a nice Halloween, nostalgic mood, thinking back to when you were a kid at Halloween. It's not a favorite, but I did enjoy it, and I might even come back to read it again when I'm in a Halloween-spooky-young-YA mood. I'm giving it 4.5 stars.
August 4, 2021
You might want to cover your mirrors... A fresh take on the chilling Bloody Mary urban myth, this book is so much fun! It's eerie and chilling, with a cozy and creepy autumnal setting. It follows a memorable and engaging cast of characters, each with their own fears and unique story. If you like spooky stories, you'll love this one!!
September 3, 2021
I received this book from The Book Terminal/publisher/author in exchange for an honest review.
So, of course I had to sign up for this tour, hello? The book has been on my must read for some time now. I just LOVE LOVE Bloody Mary stories and I was hyped to get started. But, right from the bat I have to mention that I found this one very tame and so not scary. I mean, there were one or two moments that I was scared a bit, but nothing more. I will talk more about it later in my review, we are first starting with the good.
I love the cover, it is so scary and terrifying and I love that the title is mentioned x times on the cover to fit with the times one has to call her in this book!
We have 4 different POVs and while I wasn’t a fan of one of them (more on that in the next part about things I wasn’t a fan of), I really loved the other POVs. From haunted Calvin, to shy Grace, to Steph who is kick-ass in sports but is unsure about many other things. I loved that we got to see the events unfold from these POVs and I love that each of the three characters is written well and that I was looking forward to them. I am still not sure who is my fav of the three here. Mm, I think I will go with Steph.
This one is a bit hit/miss so it will also be mentioned in the things I wasn’t a fan of, and that is the romance. On the one hand I enjoyed the romance. Calvin and Grace, soulmates or not? Steph and her figuring out about how much she likes girls. I loved that Grace and Calvin, unlike Henry and Elena, aren’t together yet, but are both interested in each other and I had a bit of giggle seeing these two get cute during some of the less fortunate moments. XD
I loved the Bloody Mary we are presented with in this one. I just love how there are things that match with other stuff I read (the calling her, the mirror, soulmates or death), but also that there are other things. Like the German fairytale book, what is up with Elena’s grandmother, the letters on the mirror, and some other stuff. It made for an interesting read as it just went a different direction than I had thought.
I loved that things didn’t immediately start after that (then) kids checked that mirror, instead we go to 5 years from then and see how events unfurl there. How the group is now. How the friendships broke apart.
Now for some things I wasn’t a fan of. I do need to mention these as they do influence my rating. But I will put it all in one spoiler so that the review stays one happy space: One of those and the biggest one of all, it just wasn’t scary. Not at all. I had maybe one or two OH SNAP moments, but that was all. It was just all very tame. And I had the scariest setting to read this book. I was camping on a camp site. It was in the middle of the night so it was pitch and pitch black. The only sounds were frogs and our annoying snoring neighbour. It was just perfect to read a horror book and I was ready for no sleep! Instead… I slept like an angel and had no problem sleeping. I think the biggest problem where that it never felt very threatening, I mean, no one dies or gets very gravely injured, even Henry just has a few stitches and his arm broken, which is terrible but hey the next day he was back at school. Not to mention we get visions that Calvin pens down… it just gets rid of the surprise element. Also I had expected way more stalking of Mary in mirrors and other reflective stuff.
Oh and then there is Mary. I won’t spoil anything, but I had expected grander things. While I did say I liked the romance… I did feel it took away from the book’s creepiness. It was just a tad too big on the foreground for me. I don’t mind romance in horror, but it needs to be in the background for me.
Next is Elena. Or bitchy McBitch face. I guess she wasn’t inherently evil/bad (given that she had that voice in her head), but really, this girl was just the worst and ruined the story for me. Starting with her 9-year old bossy mode and entering the 14-year age with being a total snob, bitch, and what even is team-work? Also girl, flirting with another guy is CHEATING. You have a perfectly sweet boyfriend who loves you and instead you just go for the next hot candy? Bah. I hate people who cheat and this was just horrible, especially given her reaction that he (Henry) was just overreacting. There are many other moments were I was just hoping for Mary to eat her or take her to another dimension.
So yeah, not scary at all, but still a very good read with mostly good characters and an interesting Bloody Mary story.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So, of course I had to sign up for this tour, hello? The book has been on my must read for some time now. I just LOVE LOVE Bloody Mary stories and I was hyped to get started. But, right from the bat I have to mention that I found this one very tame and so not scary. I mean, there were one or two moments that I was scared a bit, but nothing more. I will talk more about it later in my review, we are first starting with the good.
I love the cover, it is so scary and terrifying and I love that the title is mentioned x times on the cover to fit with the times one has to call her in this book!
We have 4 different POVs and while I wasn’t a fan of one of them (more on that in the next part about things I wasn’t a fan of), I really loved the other POVs. From haunted Calvin, to shy Grace, to Steph who is kick-ass in sports but is unsure about many other things. I loved that we got to see the events unfold from these POVs and I love that each of the three characters is written well and that I was looking forward to them. I am still not sure who is my fav of the three here. Mm, I think I will go with Steph.
This one is a bit hit/miss so it will also be mentioned in the things I wasn’t a fan of, and that is the romance. On the one hand I enjoyed the romance. Calvin and Grace, soulmates or not? Steph and her figuring out about how much she likes girls. I loved that Grace and Calvin, unlike Henry and Elena, aren’t together yet, but are both interested in each other and I had a bit of giggle seeing these two get cute during some of the less fortunate moments. XD
I loved the Bloody Mary we are presented with in this one. I just love how there are things that match with other stuff I read (the calling her, the mirror, soulmates or death), but also that there are other things. Like the German fairytale book, what is up with Elena’s grandmother, the letters on the mirror, and some other stuff. It made for an interesting read as it just went a different direction than I had thought.
I loved that things didn’t immediately start after that (then) kids checked that mirror, instead we go to 5 years from then and see how events unfurl there. How the group is now. How the friendships broke apart.
Now for some things I wasn’t a fan of. I do need to mention these as they do influence my rating. But I will put it all in one spoiler so that the review stays one happy space: One of those and the biggest one of all, it just wasn’t scary. Not at all. I had maybe one or two OH SNAP moments, but that was all. It was just all very tame. And I had the scariest setting to read this book. I was camping on a camp site. It was in the middle of the night so it was pitch and pitch black. The only sounds were frogs and our annoying snoring neighbour. It was just perfect to read a horror book and I was ready for no sleep! Instead… I slept like an angel and had no problem sleeping. I think the biggest problem where that it never felt very threatening, I mean, no one dies or gets very gravely injured, even Henry just has a few stitches and his arm broken, which is terrible but hey the next day he was back at school. Not to mention we get visions that Calvin pens down… it just gets rid of the surprise element. Also I had expected way more stalking of Mary in mirrors and other reflective stuff.
Oh and then there is Mary. I won’t spoil anything, but I had expected grander things. While I did say I liked the romance… I did feel it took away from the book’s creepiness. It was just a tad too big on the foreground for me. I don’t mind romance in horror, but it needs to be in the background for me.
Next is Elena. Or bitchy McBitch face. I guess she wasn’t inherently evil/bad (given that she had that voice in her head), but really, this girl was just the worst and ruined the story for me. Starting with her 9-year old bossy mode and entering the 14-year age with being a total snob, bitch, and what even is team-work? Also girl, flirting with another guy is CHEATING. You have a perfectly sweet boyfriend who loves you and instead you just go for the next hot candy? Bah. I hate people who cheat and this was just horrible, especially given her reaction that he (Henry) was just overreacting. There are many other moments were I was just hoping for Mary to eat her or take her to another dimension.
So yeah, not scary at all, but still a very good read with mostly good characters and an interesting Bloody Mary story.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2021
I received this ARC from the author in a contest I won. I offer my review honestly and freely and was not compensated for writing this.
Shawn Sarles has taken on a new horror story and this time it involves the urban legend, “Blood Mary” in Mary, Will I Die? This was a creeptastic tale that will leave you chilled to the bone and being leery of mirrors! Mirrors have always been something that fascinated me as a child after reading Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There. Of course in later years, I became a little terrified of them when they started taking a darker turn!
When four friends decide to amuse themselves with a game of “Bloody Mary” no one expected anything to come out of it. But five years later, these teenagers are realizing just how dangerous that game became. Steph sees the face of a girl she has never met, Grace sees her crush, Calvin, Elena sees her own longtime crush (not Calvin), and Calvin sees a terrifying face. They were all changed by what they saw that day and somewhere down the line, they all drifted apart.
Five years later they are all freshman in high school and living their lives in the most normal of ways. Calvin sees terrifying things now and is always sketching the outcomes, Grace has become a social outcast, while both Steph and Elena are vying for volleyball team captain. But then things start to happen. Little things at first that are barely noticeable and then they escalate. After a classmate is gravely injured the teens find themselves drifting back together as they become connected to something far greater and darker beyond their imaginations.
Then when a new girl comes to school, Steph is taken aback when she realizes it’s the girl she saw in the mirror all those years ago. Is it coincidence that she is showing up just as all the strange things start happening or is it fate? The fact that her name is Mary is also pretty telling!
This book was downright creepy! I love how Shawn was able to incorporate those little instances where you see something out of the corner of your eye or we, the reader see that hand lashing out of the mirror just as the main character walks out of the room! It was just so freaking creepy! Definitely not a story you want to read next to a mirror…or other reflective surfaces, just to be safe (thanks, Supernatural!)!
The story alternates between the four teenagers in third person point of view. I enjoyed getting inside each of the character’s heads. They were all mostly relatable. You had Grace, the social outcast with her social awkwardness (hello self!), there’s Steph who’s going through some self-realization about her identity, there’s poor Calvin who has been haunted by his visions for the last five years and then there’s Elena who I really did not care for the majority of the novel as she has that stuck up, Miss Popular thing going on. But I can happily say that all these characters go through growth and changes and that I was rooting for all of them by the end!
The pacing to this one was pretty moderate. It was a speed that had you needing to find out what would happen next though there were bouts of more “ordinary” moments as well that weren’t really filled with horror or weirdness. Luckily, those didn’t last too long. It did make for a rather quick read as well in that sense as I read over half the book in one day without even realizing it!
I liked that Shawn also included a reason for the spooky happenings, the terror didn’t really come about for no reason. Though I would have liked a little more detail to why and how it happened way back when it started. We get enough of answer that things make sense, but you know me, I always want to know more and find myself asking “why?” a lot! Lol.
If you’re looking for a creepy read this Halloween I would be sure to add Mary, Will I Die? to the list as it was quite the bone-chilling tale! It will have you rethinking the amount of mirrors you want to keep in your house for sure!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
Mary, Will I Die? releases September 7, 2021
Shawn Sarles has taken on a new horror story and this time it involves the urban legend, “Blood Mary” in Mary, Will I Die? This was a creeptastic tale that will leave you chilled to the bone and being leery of mirrors! Mirrors have always been something that fascinated me as a child after reading Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There. Of course in later years, I became a little terrified of them when they started taking a darker turn!
When four friends decide to amuse themselves with a game of “Bloody Mary” no one expected anything to come out of it. But five years later, these teenagers are realizing just how dangerous that game became. Steph sees the face of a girl she has never met, Grace sees her crush, Calvin, Elena sees her own longtime crush (not Calvin), and Calvin sees a terrifying face. They were all changed by what they saw that day and somewhere down the line, they all drifted apart.
Five years later they are all freshman in high school and living their lives in the most normal of ways. Calvin sees terrifying things now and is always sketching the outcomes, Grace has become a social outcast, while both Steph and Elena are vying for volleyball team captain. But then things start to happen. Little things at first that are barely noticeable and then they escalate. After a classmate is gravely injured the teens find themselves drifting back together as they become connected to something far greater and darker beyond their imaginations.
Then when a new girl comes to school, Steph is taken aback when she realizes it’s the girl she saw in the mirror all those years ago. Is it coincidence that she is showing up just as all the strange things start happening or is it fate? The fact that her name is Mary is also pretty telling!
This book was downright creepy! I love how Shawn was able to incorporate those little instances where you see something out of the corner of your eye or we, the reader see that hand lashing out of the mirror just as the main character walks out of the room! It was just so freaking creepy! Definitely not a story you want to read next to a mirror…or other reflective surfaces, just to be safe (thanks, Supernatural!)!
The story alternates between the four teenagers in third person point of view. I enjoyed getting inside each of the character’s heads. They were all mostly relatable. You had Grace, the social outcast with her social awkwardness (hello self!), there’s Steph who’s going through some self-realization about her identity, there’s poor Calvin who has been haunted by his visions for the last five years and then there’s Elena who I really did not care for the majority of the novel as she has that stuck up, Miss Popular thing going on. But I can happily say that all these characters go through growth and changes and that I was rooting for all of them by the end!
The pacing to this one was pretty moderate. It was a speed that had you needing to find out what would happen next though there were bouts of more “ordinary” moments as well that weren’t really filled with horror or weirdness. Luckily, those didn’t last too long. It did make for a rather quick read as well in that sense as I read over half the book in one day without even realizing it!
I liked that Shawn also included a reason for the spooky happenings, the terror didn’t really come about for no reason. Though I would have liked a little more detail to why and how it happened way back when it started. We get enough of answer that things make sense, but you know me, I always want to know more and find myself asking “why?” a lot! Lol.
If you’re looking for a creepy read this Halloween I would be sure to add Mary, Will I Die? to the list as it was quite the bone-chilling tale! It will have you rethinking the amount of mirrors you want to keep in your house for sure!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
Mary, Will I Die? releases September 7, 2021
August 14, 2023
Mary, Will I Die? is a YA Horror involving 4 kids and the Bloody Mary legend. This has it's own twist on the legend. Rumor has it that if you say "Bloody Mary" 13 times while looking in a mirror, you will see your future. You may even see your soul mate. When these four were in middle school, they played the game and each one saw something different. What they saw has affected their lives 5 years later.
I thought this was a fun YA horror. It was definitely creepy. I liked all of the characters. Each one showed a lot of growth by the end of the book. Which is a rare thing these days. There was a great twist regarding the mirror and the demon. I do think that this would be a good horror for upper middle school readers who want to dip their toes into the horror genre. I do recommend this one and think it would be a good addition to any middle grade/YA library.
I thought this was a fun YA horror. It was definitely creepy. I liked all of the characters. Each one showed a lot of growth by the end of the book. Which is a rare thing these days. There was a great twist regarding the mirror and the demon. I do think that this would be a good horror for upper middle school readers who want to dip their toes into the horror genre. I do recommend this one and think it would be a good addition to any middle grade/YA library.
December 30, 2021
going into this book with 0 expectations is the best way to do it. i see a lot of reviews saying how bad it was, which resulted in me expecting it to be bad. because of this, i actually enjoyed it! (whereas some books i expect it to be amazing and end up let down when it's good but not amazing, if that makes sense).
certain things irked me, but mostly Elena and her immature mentality. maybe that's how high schoolers act in America, but they aren't nearly as mean here 😅😅 she's just a bully, and completely unlikeable. the other characters were fun though!
as far as horror goes, it's definitely on the lesser scary side. other reviews mention it's a good entry level horror, which i agree. it's not overly scary if you're a seasoned horror nerd, but it's still a good read.
certain things irked me, but mostly Elena and her immature mentality. maybe that's how high schoolers act in America, but they aren't nearly as mean here 😅😅 she's just a bully, and completely unlikeable. the other characters were fun though!
as far as horror goes, it's definitely on the lesser scary side. other reviews mention it's a good entry level horror, which i agree. it's not overly scary if you're a seasoned horror nerd, but it's still a good read.
February 16, 2022
Mary, Will I Die? - 5/5
By Shawn Sarles
This was 100% a cover buy. Upon reading the synopsis, I realised it was my favourite urban legend! One of my biggest irrational fears is mirrors and who might be residing in them, so I try to pick up as many takes on the legend as I can!
When the book initially arrived, I realised it was marketed as a YA horror (realistically its a baby horror). I completely missed that - but I really enjoyed this!
It wasn’t a terrifying horror, but it was enough to make me feel a little bit spooked. I liked the different POVs from several of the different characters and really liked how this story was filled with kick ass women!
Definitely a great book to add to the Mary collection!
By Shawn Sarles
This was 100% a cover buy. Upon reading the synopsis, I realised it was my favourite urban legend! One of my biggest irrational fears is mirrors and who might be residing in them, so I try to pick up as many takes on the legend as I can!
When the book initially arrived, I realised it was marketed as a YA horror (realistically its a baby horror). I completely missed that - but I really enjoyed this!
It wasn’t a terrifying horror, but it was enough to make me feel a little bit spooked. I liked the different POVs from several of the different characters and really liked how this story was filled with kick ass women!
Definitely a great book to add to the Mary collection!
January 25, 2025
I found this book in the house. It belonged to the High School. I thought it looked interesting. I was somewhat disappointed. 4 friends were playing together in a house. They decide to play Bloody Mary. They unknowingly release a demon that wreaks havoc on them. One by one they become involved with a demon and its attempt to destroy them. And in the background, one of the main characters comes out as gay. They cast the demon out. I didn't love this book, as I have no real memory of the ending. I think they all wind up happy and healthy. I had a hard time with the book from the middle through the end. There are no loose threads, but it was a convenient type of story. And I had a hard time caring about the characters. It may be best suited to middle/high school, rather than an adult reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2022
I really loved this! Bloody Mary is one of my favorite urban legends, and I really like the way the author created a new twist on it. I thought it was a quick easy read, fast paced, and it was definitely very creepy! While the characters are freshman in high school, I didn't feel like this book was too "young" for me to enjoy as a mid twenties adult. Would highly recommend to other Bloody Mary fans!
November 7, 2024
This book lost me the moment main characters discovered a book they believed held all the knowledge they needed to save themselves, but gave up because it was written in German and they couldn’t translate it.
German.
Not ancient Egyptian.
GERMAN.
Also, the story wasn’t scary enough (at all?) and, even though the ending was well-paced and interesting, I was mostly looking forward to getting it over with.
German.
Not ancient Egyptian.
GERMAN.
Also, the story wasn’t scary enough (at all?) and, even though the ending was well-paced and interesting, I was mostly looking forward to getting it over with.
December 20, 2023
Huh. Excellent cover, great premise, some decent creepy-ish descriptions (mainly Calvin’s premonitions and drawings), but the characters were flatter than Stanley and there was so. much. volleyball. I could see 5th/6th graders dipping their toes into scary books maybe liking this, but not an older/YA audience so much.
And have these children never heard of google translate? omg
And have these children never heard of google translate? omg
July 17, 2024
4⭐️
Mary Will I Die is based around 4 kids Elena, Grace, Steph and Calvin. elena in attempt to scare the other kids makes them play bloody mary but in their version mary will either show them their soulmates or you will see her and you will die young. now 5 years later everything seems to be spiraling out of control and they need to fix it.
I really liked this book. it was a very interesting take on a classic sleep over horror story. it was super teenage drama but honestly i was living for it and it was a fun fast read that i would recommend to people if they need out of a reading slump.
Mary Will I Die is based around 4 kids Elena, Grace, Steph and Calvin. elena in attempt to scare the other kids makes them play bloody mary but in their version mary will either show them their soulmates or you will see her and you will die young. now 5 years later everything seems to be spiraling out of control and they need to fix it.
I really liked this book. it was a very interesting take on a classic sleep over horror story. it was super teenage drama but honestly i was living for it and it was a fun fast read that i would recommend to people if they need out of a reading slump.
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