This book is the physical edition of a series of posts from Reddit’s r/nosleep subreddit, containing the first major storyline of “How to Survive Camping”. It is largely unaltered, with only minor edits for readability in print form.
Every year, campground manager Kate sends out a pamphlet titled “How to Survive Your Camping Experience.” In it is a list of rules to help campers have an enjoyable experience and hopefully survive any encounters with the campground’s… other… inhabitants.
With the land turning ancient, it is no longer just the campers that are in danger. Kate is the key to ascension and every inhuman entity is out for her blood. All the lesser creatures are making attempts on her life, from the hammock monster to the gummy bears. Kate isn't willing to let her land go without a fight. If these creatures are going to hunt her, then she'll hunt them in turn and eradicate everything from her land that cannot coexist with humanity. With the help of both her inhuman and human allies, it looks like Kate might actually have a chance at controlling her land. But ancient land attracts ancient things, and the town has a bad history with ancient creatures.
A new entity has come to the campground, bearing an old grudge against one of the inhabitants. Its malevolent designs will put the entire land at risk - unless Kate can stop it.
Bonnie Quinn is one of those authors who's stories may start in humble places but who's worlds they spin are EPIC. Continues to be one of my favorite series of urban horror/fantasy
I love these books. Just the right blend of internet/reddit culture, folk horror, and character building. I know the series probably ends with the next one, and I'm avoiding the website and r/nosleep until it's done, because I want to save it.
Much like the last book, this one really has you connecting differently. In fact, while we do look a little at guests, the majority of this book is about the relationships with the various otherworldlies.
You could really feel the change in dynamics, learning to work with some of the monsters against the worst ones. Not only are there some that she likes but there are some she would die for.
No longer just the keeper of the campground, the protector of the town. We get to watch our leading lady stand tall and show that she is the protector of the campground and all those trapped in it. It’s hard not to feel a little proud.
As always Bonnie’s talent captivated me and while this book is just releasing, I’m already on the next book courtesy of nosleep. When it releases in paperback I will buy that too. I’ll never get bored of these stories
This series is a blessing and this book in particular was an incredibly wild ride from start to finish. I cannot recommend this series enough. READ THIS SERIES!! Seriously! You will enjoy it and be left wishing for more!!
Literally iconic I have no words because my brain feels like soup right now but this instalment was so engaging and heart wrenching that I fell in love with every aspect and character.
This series was a lot of fun. A campground manager tells you about her life on "old land", blog-style. From the routine camping rules and tasks, like planning enough space for tents and ropes, to more site specific rules, like fairy rings and things that get into your tent at night and mimic the voices of those you know. Actually read all of these on reddit's r/nosleep, after a recommendation from a friend. Only then noticed they're also available in a sort of ebook format. It's very much a "entity of the week" formula, with an overarching plot that gets more relevant as time goes on. Expect lots of different types of folklore, folkloric fiction, and popculture references. There is a lot of violence.
This book focuses more on the inhabitants of the campground than people. That's not to say that the people that are in the book play minor roles. There were some important, even heroic, moments for the side characters from the first two books.
We also learn a lot more about Kate, and her struggles with morality. She gets to shine as she tries to save as many people, including the otherworldly inhabitants of the campground, as possible. She also has a couple of dark moments where she has to be honest about herself.
The next book is supposed to be the last. I can see how this book paves the way for the endgame. I'm pretty excited to see what happens to wrap everything up.
Aaugh! The book ends in a cliffhanger which always annoys me whether I planned to continue or not. In this particular narrative, the humans are becoming more inhuman and the inhumans are becoming more human - the dividing line is thinning. More of the truly evil is disposed of but the - I can’t say good - lesser evils are gone too. The author has covered all the rules, their whys and wherefores, and now there is only The Beast.
I was introduced to the Goat Valley Campgrounds series by the nosleep podcast, and I'm SO glad I made the effort to seek out and read the full series of books. Fantastic stories for fans of fantasy and the supernatural
I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first two. So far this series has been fantastic. I love the rules and stories. Great book and I'm excited to read the next one.
I started this series actually on Reddit and this book was where I think I had stopped as I recognized some information but not others. All in all great writing I really love these stories and Bonnie’s writing