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Bad Vibrations
What will you sacrifice to attain true health?
Valerie just arrived at Doctor’s hidden utopia for what was supposed to be a weekend of wellness.
A weekend of eating fruits straight from the farm. Of screaming hula hoop yoga and dynamic meditation to expel toxins Valerie knew were holding her back. A retreat where she’d attain the energy needed to return home and set new personal records at the gym. To land her dream job.
And of course, she’d finally have an appointment with Doctor, the naturopathic yogi guru who discovered the healing powers of drinking blood. He’d cured cancer. Leaky gut. Hashimoto’s thyroid and more.
But it turns out the blood-drinking wellness craze that swept the coasts isn’t too popular in rural Pennsylvania.
Get ready for sex, yoga, and blood.
Lots of Blood.
"Lucy Leitner is the go-to voice in satirical, thought-provoking horror fiction. In BAD VIBRATIONS, Leitner takes hot-button topics that are usually kept in the dark, and thrusts them into the light. She does this without remorse, exposing the filthy, wriggling underbelly of society." - Daniel J. Volpe, author of PLASTIC MONSTERS
Valerie just arrived at Doctor’s hidden utopia for what was supposed to be a weekend of wellness.
A weekend of eating fruits straight from the farm. Of screaming hula hoop yoga and dynamic meditation to expel toxins Valerie knew were holding her back. A retreat where she’d attain the energy needed to return home and set new personal records at the gym. To land her dream job.
And of course, she’d finally have an appointment with Doctor, the naturopathic yogi guru who discovered the healing powers of drinking blood. He’d cured cancer. Leaky gut. Hashimoto’s thyroid and more.
But it turns out the blood-drinking wellness craze that swept the coasts isn’t too popular in rural Pennsylvania.
Get ready for sex, yoga, and blood.
Lots of Blood.
"Lucy Leitner is the go-to voice in satirical, thought-provoking horror fiction. In BAD VIBRATIONS, Leitner takes hot-button topics that are usually kept in the dark, and thrusts them into the light. She does this without remorse, exposing the filthy, wriggling underbelly of society." - Daniel J. Volpe, author of PLASTIC MONSTERS
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2022
16 people are currently reading
757 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Leitner
21 books54 followersLucy Leitner is the author of five novels and many published short stories that blend horror, sci fi, black humor, and irreverence to explore “the terror of knowing what this world is about.” Her books have been classified as transgressive fiction, satire, splatterpunk, and, her personal favorite, “goofball noir.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 12, 2022
Rednecks v’s health nuts, some bloody fun
I was not sure if I’d like this at first, I don’t do a lot with social media, no tiktok, no instagram, and I’m not a health fad type, I’m just a simple guy, that loves horror, comedy and some good old fashioned carnage, what this book has a lot of.
There is two groups, the wacky health nuts, that think if you drink someone’s blood, and do yoga with a hula hoop on a mini trampoline while practicing scream therapy you can live forever, and the local trigger happy rednecks who think that the health nuts are trying to corrupt the town, these two groups end up going to war.
There is also a few twists in the story, which give it more depth, as opposed to just an all-out war between the two groups.
It's short (130 ish pages) but fun.
Thank you Joe Spagnola, S.C. Mendes and Blood Bound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was not sure if I’d like this at first, I don’t do a lot with social media, no tiktok, no instagram, and I’m not a health fad type, I’m just a simple guy, that loves horror, comedy and some good old fashioned carnage, what this book has a lot of.
There is two groups, the wacky health nuts, that think if you drink someone’s blood, and do yoga with a hula hoop on a mini trampoline while practicing scream therapy you can live forever, and the local trigger happy rednecks who think that the health nuts are trying to corrupt the town, these two groups end up going to war.
There is also a few twists in the story, which give it more depth, as opposed to just an all-out war between the two groups.
It's short (130 ish pages) but fun.
Thank you Joe Spagnola, S.C. Mendes and Blood Bound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
3.5 stars.
A look on Cult, influencer, anti vaccine and the new generation raised by social media. I liked the first part because it was purposely cringy. But I didn't understand the main character drinking every words the "cult leader" was saying, and just come back to her sense that quickly.
Bonus 0.5 stars for the horror movies puns and Easter eggs in the book.
Spoiler:
How did she knew about the Ketamine ?
I mean you can know that you were drugged but finding that it was ketamine right away is strange.
A look on Cult, influencer, anti vaccine and the new generation raised by social media. I liked the first part because it was purposely cringy. But I didn't understand the main character drinking every words the "cult leader" was saying, and just come back to her sense that quickly.
Bonus 0.5 stars for the horror movies puns and Easter eggs in the book.
Spoiler:
How did she knew about the Ketamine ?
I mean you can know that you were drugged but finding that it was ketamine right away is strange.
August 1, 2025
Came for vampires... stayed for the yoga, sex, blood and vibes. I definitely went into this expecting something else but I'm not displeased at all with what I got. Satirical Horror at its finest that really calls out the hot mess that is social media influence and health/wellness fads.
I did listen to the audiobook and I think the narrator did a wonderful job! Bad vibrations was a bloody good time and I definitely recommend it
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I did listen to the audiobook and I think the narrator did a wonderful job! Bad vibrations was a bloody good time and I definitely recommend it
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 25, 2023
What if I told you that the newest health and wellness trend you see on IG and Tik Tok is really a master plan for Vampires to brainwash the youth of America to live in a hippie commune and drink blood and have endless sex with everyone including minors!?!?!?!? 😱😨😳
Ok so this book doesn't have vampires whatsoever but we do have a bunch of people that drink each others blood to receive the high vibrations and energy to live a clean and healthy life so they won't be compromised by the diseases of the world.
Bad Vibrations is the first book I have read by Lucy and absolutely won't be the last. She created one of the most unique stories I've read this year that takes a dark Satirical and thought provoking look at the influence social media and health lifestyles have on people while merging it with a Manson Family style dynamic that makes for one bloody and hilarious wild ride.
You are doing yourself a huge disservice if you haven't read this book yet. Lucy is a force in the indie horror world and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!
October 10, 2022
I wasn't sure I'd like this book, but I did. I couldn't put it down. My favorite part is the fact that Valerie comes to her senses about the cult and just wants to leave. An engrossing story of social media influence and the power it can have.
November 26, 2023
I don’t know if I would exactly call this horror. It’s more of a cult thriller. The writing was simple and kind of choppy.
An interesting read, but just not for me.
An interesting read, but just not for me.
March 15, 2023
Omg this was so much fun! I read it in one sitting I couldn't put it down, A satirical commentry on social media influencers and the cult like mentality they can create, the writing is incredibly witty, I need to read more by this author! Fans of Hendrix enjoy this!
December 16, 2022
This book was basically social media influencer blood drinking health nuts vs small town red necks and basically just about the stupidity and influence of social media on society in general. This was a wild read with some dark humor thrown in. If you are looking for a quick crazy read check this one out.
May 8, 2023
*I’m not going to give you the ‘what this book is about’ blurb – you can read that elsewhere.
1. I’m starting this off by saying I relate hard-core to the main character, Valerie. I’m a gym rat. I’ve spent a large portion of my life being active – from high school and college sports to gym memberships as an adult. Admittedly, and somewhat ashamedly, when social media became as big as it is there was a brief (I mean BRIEF) moment I thought I’d try my hand at being a fitness influencer. NOPE. I quickly learned I do not have the particular brand of crazy that is required for that. Not saying I have no crazy, I surely do, just not that kind. All of the characters in this book are ‘slight’ exaggerations of the types of people you’ll encounter in that space and MAN, it brought memories and feelings flooding back to me. Yikes. Glad I dodged that bullet, says the girl who now spends all of her money on independent horror books and conventions 😉
2. I love how Lucy so perfectly likens the fitness influencer industry to a cult. Because, honestly, that’s what it is. Not just influencers; it’s not fair to single them out, but the whole industry. It’s so sad, because there are science-based things that are out there and can be helpful to people who need them. I for one, have a diagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency – so I take a supplement – and I notice a difference. NOT EVERYONE needs this, yet I see it all over everything as a magic cure for fatigue (it’s not). Health and wellness are so individualized and it’s also something VERY valuable – beyond monetarily, so it’s incredibly easy for capitalistic vultures to swoop in and ‘woo’ people into buying unnecessary and, sometimes harmful, items/supplements/ideas. Thankfully, I have noticed more and more fit-fluencers out there calling it like it is, making me wonder what their tipping point in the cult was. Hopefully it wasn’t as drastic as what Valerie encounters in this novella…
3. Little bit of real-life horror mixed with exaggeration and humor, what’s not to love? Especially for anyone who has experience on the health side of any social media!
1. I’m starting this off by saying I relate hard-core to the main character, Valerie. I’m a gym rat. I’ve spent a large portion of my life being active – from high school and college sports to gym memberships as an adult. Admittedly, and somewhat ashamedly, when social media became as big as it is there was a brief (I mean BRIEF) moment I thought I’d try my hand at being a fitness influencer. NOPE. I quickly learned I do not have the particular brand of crazy that is required for that. Not saying I have no crazy, I surely do, just not that kind. All of the characters in this book are ‘slight’ exaggerations of the types of people you’ll encounter in that space and MAN, it brought memories and feelings flooding back to me. Yikes. Glad I dodged that bullet, says the girl who now spends all of her money on independent horror books and conventions 😉
2. I love how Lucy so perfectly likens the fitness influencer industry to a cult. Because, honestly, that’s what it is. Not just influencers; it’s not fair to single them out, but the whole industry. It’s so sad, because there are science-based things that are out there and can be helpful to people who need them. I for one, have a diagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency – so I take a supplement – and I notice a difference. NOT EVERYONE needs this, yet I see it all over everything as a magic cure for fatigue (it’s not). Health and wellness are so individualized and it’s also something VERY valuable – beyond monetarily, so it’s incredibly easy for capitalistic vultures to swoop in and ‘woo’ people into buying unnecessary and, sometimes harmful, items/supplements/ideas. Thankfully, I have noticed more and more fit-fluencers out there calling it like it is, making me wonder what their tipping point in the cult was. Hopefully it wasn’t as drastic as what Valerie encounters in this novella…
3. Little bit of real-life horror mixed with exaggeration and humor, what’s not to love? Especially for anyone who has experience on the health side of any social media!
October 19, 2022
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. Ever since KAREN from the FUCKING SCUMBAGS BURN IN HELL series (check it out if you haven’t already), you make me look over my shoulder as a fat chick. This one now has me worried I would be susceptible to joining a cult (odd, because my brother always told me I would.) Anyway… enough of my rambling, let’s get into BAD VIBRATIONS by Lucy Leitner.
Valerie is on a quest, a bloody quest, for more energy and internal growth. What she gets is a crazy weekend in hell courtesy of her cult friends and their beef with the local yokel police department. Blood will be more than drank and secrets will come out that no one is prepared for. Are her beliefs worth dying for?
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. You did it again! What Leitner does with cultural commentary and current trends is not only impressive but a little shocking. I don’t want to see myself in these trash panda characters, they suck. But that’s what she does best, forces the reader to see the farce of our everyday idiocy and I’m here for it.
Here is the first line and I have randomly thought about it since I read it and still cackle.
“The woman with more chins than teeth asks if I’m here to see the cult.”
If you like insane characters, drinking blood, and cults, this one is for you!
Valerie is on a quest, a bloody quest, for more energy and internal growth. What she gets is a crazy weekend in hell courtesy of her cult friends and their beef with the local yokel police department. Blood will be more than drank and secrets will come out that no one is prepared for. Are her beliefs worth dying for?
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. You did it again! What Leitner does with cultural commentary and current trends is not only impressive but a little shocking. I don’t want to see myself in these trash panda characters, they suck. But that’s what she does best, forces the reader to see the farce of our everyday idiocy and I’m here for it.
Here is the first line and I have randomly thought about it since I read it and still cackle.
“The woman with more chins than teeth asks if I’m here to see the cult.”
If you like insane characters, drinking blood, and cults, this one is for you!
March 16, 2024
Honestly, I was expecting more of a horror story than a thriller. Yes, there’s a cult, some interesting and even funny parts, but the first half I found quite slow/“meh”, and the rest of the story never really redeemed itself in my eyes. There were a-lot of social media/influencer/health fad references which not every reader will understand, but this is kind of the basis of the cult/story. It also speaks to the different people/views/opinions that erupted out of the Covid pandemic.
June 11, 2024
Living in a world of social media influencers this one makes for a great story. Valarie goes on a trip to a wellness weekend and is introduced to the new craze of drinking blood! Cults, sex, blood sucking, a lovely weekend retreat.
September 29, 2022
Now THIS book is what you call fun! You have two different factions here. One is the health crazed nuts who live in a compound in rural Pennsylvania, and these people are really cuckoo. Or, in health parlance, they are a few nuts short of a full bag of trail mix. To them, you will never get sick or die if you do things like drink blood, scream a lot, and hula hoop. (told you they were wacky). Opposed to them are the good ol' boys of rural PA, who, as you may imagine, don't cotton much to dem damn big city liberal neo-hippy scum who live at the compound.
Valerie is the principal character, a wannabe for the hippy team, who picks the wrong time to visit the compound. Suffice it to say, showdown between both sides.
A good amount of killing tossed in here, but it's never overly done, this isn't total splat fiction, just good ol' fashioned horror writing. (bonus points for using bows and arrows instead of relying only on guns) The characters were a lot of fun, but I have to admit, the health hippies were the most entertaining, they were funny as hell in their foolishness. Parts of this book could qualify as a dark comedy, or satire, or whatever you want to call it.
This book is a good, quick 130 page or so read that's worth ponying up the dough for. Fast paced, blood, and some silliness, what else do you need in a horror book?
Valerie is the principal character, a wannabe for the hippy team, who picks the wrong time to visit the compound. Suffice it to say, showdown between both sides.
A good amount of killing tossed in here, but it's never overly done, this isn't total splat fiction, just good ol' fashioned horror writing. (bonus points for using bows and arrows instead of relying only on guns) The characters were a lot of fun, but I have to admit, the health hippies were the most entertaining, they were funny as hell in their foolishness. Parts of this book could qualify as a dark comedy, or satire, or whatever you want to call it.
This book is a good, quick 130 page or so read that's worth ponying up the dough for. Fast paced, blood, and some silliness, what else do you need in a horror book?
February 19, 2023
If you like to read about cults then this horror novella is for you!
Valerie is in her way to a “retreat”. The blood is the life. That’s what the follows of The Doctor believe. Valerie gets more than she bargains for though!
Highly recommend this fast and fun read!
Valerie is in her way to a “retreat”. The blood is the life. That’s what the follows of The Doctor believe. Valerie gets more than she bargains for though!
Highly recommend this fast and fun read!
July 14, 2023
I enjoyed this so much. It had me laughing the whole time.
December 30, 2024
This had been sitting on my shelf since 2023 and I figured it was about time I picked it up finally. The first half of this book was really great. I loved the concept here a lot, big fan of cult horror. I also liked how it was written during COVID times as it brought an additional layer of anxiety to the story. I thought that the cult was incredibly interesting and captivating. It also felt very real, like a VERY possible scenario with the aspects of social media brought into it all.
This is an extreme horror novella so of course shit was going to hit the fan. My gripe though is that it happened around 50% in and dragged out until the end. Personally, it lost steam for me because of this. It became less about the intricacies and messed up details of the cult and more about blood and gore which I felt wasn't written quite as strongly. With that being said, I still enjoyed this read overall, I just wish there was more cult.
Reading this book did remind me how much I enjoy Blood Bound Book publications, I really need to get back into their authors/books in 2025! Despite this not hitting for me as much as I would like, I would still recommend this read. The plot is very interesting and fresh and worth the read for sure!
This is an extreme horror novella so of course shit was going to hit the fan. My gripe though is that it happened around 50% in and dragged out until the end. Personally, it lost steam for me because of this. It became less about the intricacies and messed up details of the cult and more about blood and gore which I felt wasn't written quite as strongly. With that being said, I still enjoyed this read overall, I just wish there was more cult.
Reading this book did remind me how much I enjoy Blood Bound Book publications, I really need to get back into their authors/books in 2025! Despite this not hitting for me as much as I would like, I would still recommend this read. The plot is very interesting and fresh and worth the read for sure!
June 29, 2023
What was the point. If I wanted to experience something pointless I’d just take a hard look at my life.
October 18, 2022
Lucy Leitner has written a hilarious horror filled story about a war between mega health nuts and those that don’t believe in their methods. I laughed out loud so many times reading this!
In a hidden forest resides a group of people that help others overcome health issues, by drinking blood and changing to holistic choices. The town this forest is in, is not happy with this group of people, referring to them as vampires in a cult. There are so many twists and turns in this story to keep you second guessing on who survives the war and who wins. That ending was not what I was expecting!
I have not read anything by Leitner before, but her sense of humor is definitely on par with mine. I need to read more of her stories!
In a hidden forest resides a group of people that help others overcome health issues, by drinking blood and changing to holistic choices. The town this forest is in, is not happy with this group of people, referring to them as vampires in a cult. There are so many twists and turns in this story to keep you second guessing on who survives the war and who wins. That ending was not what I was expecting!
I have not read anything by Leitner before, but her sense of humor is definitely on par with mine. I need to read more of her stories!
June 16, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up! This was a SUPER fuckin' fun satirical horror following a new member of a blood-drinking wellness group. This book is clever in its storytelling and will keep you entertained the whole way through. It was truly a delight to read!
Half a star off because I felt like it lost a teensy bit of steam toward the end. Other than that, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a cultish, funny horror to read.
Content warnings under a spoiler as I'm giving context:
Half a star off because I felt like it lost a teensy bit of steam toward the end. Other than that, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a cultish, funny horror to read.
Content warnings under a spoiler as I'm giving context:
September 22, 2023
Valerie desperately wants to be better, feel better, and she is now at an isolated wellness retreat to reach those goals with yoga and blood. But the locals do not want blood drinking hippies in their town and soon they are at war.
This is hilarious and a brilliant satire on the weirdness of influencers and health gurus. This is a juxtaposed with the locals, rednecks, all beer, smokes and greasy food.
Both groups take themselves far too seriously and believe they are right. There are some great gruesome scenes here, but this is a true horror comedy and it was such fun!
This is hilarious and a brilliant satire on the weirdness of influencers and health gurus. This is a juxtaposed with the locals, rednecks, all beer, smokes and greasy food.
Both groups take themselves far too seriously and believe they are right. There are some great gruesome scenes here, but this is a true horror comedy and it was such fun!
June 4, 2023
This book illustrates how gullible society can be. Folks are always on the hunt for the next best thing. This story is relatable to the world now as well - how social media influencers make such an expression and how much we want to believe that something a group of people are doing has to be good and work for everyone. This book finds the MC believing just that and joins such a group, but the local town folk doesn’t want them anywhere around - leading to a free for all showdown. Fun (somewhat) read, relatable - highly recommend!
June 6, 2023
If you enjoy fun, fast horror novellas and find cults super interesting…this is for you!
I really appreciated the way Lucy pokes fun at and dissects how our society handles wellness. I felt like the messaging regarding social media/influencers was crucial, as well.
I laughed often at the razor sharp wit and brutal societal observations.
Definitely a unique reading experience!
I really appreciated the way Lucy pokes fun at and dissects how our society handles wellness. I felt like the messaging regarding social media/influencers was crucial, as well.
I laughed often at the razor sharp wit and brutal societal observations.
Definitely a unique reading experience!
May 23, 2025
What I Did Like:
+More humor than I was expecting. It’s a horror book but it’s laced with a sort of dry humor that works.
+Cults and horror is a trope that works for me. It’s always terrifying to have characters that blindly follow and repeat other characters. This played on that well, turning it into an effective horror story.
+Plenty of action scenes. As this one heats up you have all sorts of ripped-from-the-big-screen type scenes to keep you turning pages.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of cult horror.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/05/...
+More humor than I was expecting. It’s a horror book but it’s laced with a sort of dry humor that works.
+Cults and horror is a trope that works for me. It’s always terrifying to have characters that blindly follow and repeat other characters. This played on that well, turning it into an effective horror story.
+Plenty of action scenes. As this one heats up you have all sorts of ripped-from-the-big-screen type scenes to keep you turning pages.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of cult horror.
My Rating: 4 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/05/...
May 14, 2023
Cults have to be one of my fave horror sub-genres. I really enjoyed the humor and self-awareness in this book. By the first chapter I was sucked in.
I liked the pacing of this book, it kept things moving quickly. I enjoyed the cast characters, just frustrating enough without overshadowing the plot or becoming distracting. And of course, I always appreciate a main character that makes reasonable and realistic decisions when faced with obstacles.
The ending to survival horror books can make or break the story for me, but I really liked the ending and felt it was a great conclusion.
I liked the pacing of this book, it kept things moving quickly. I enjoyed the cast characters, just frustrating enough without overshadowing the plot or becoming distracting. And of course, I always appreciate a main character that makes reasonable and realistic decisions when faced with obstacles.
The ending to survival horror books can make or break the story for me, but I really liked the ending and felt it was a great conclusion.
July 27, 2023
I received a free copy of this book. I am providing an honest review.
The basics:
Valerie has been failing in all aspects of her life lately: she hasn’t been promoted to director, she hasn’t been lifting more weight, and her relationship is falling apart. Her favorite fitness influencer, @lululunges, recommended the perfect diet to solve all her problems: drinking blood. Valerie books a weekend retreat to meet the famous Doctor that started the blood diet fad. However, the local townsfolk are less than thrilled to about the new cult in town. After the townsfolk violently attack members of Doctor’s community, Valerie must decide what side she’s on.
My thoughts:
This book is split into two sections: the first portion focuses on the weekend retreat, cult, and Doctor. The second section focuses on the violent battle that breaks out between the cult and the townsfolk. I preferred the second section, as it was full of twists, betrayals, and action. I am a pretty squeamish person, so Valerie’s frequent discussion of blood drinking in the first portion left me very nauseous and faint. Despite me feeling so sick while reading Bad Vibrations, I must admit the writing was amazing for me to feel so sick while reading it. As a character, I loved Valerie. While she was so invested in the ideas of the cult initially, she very quickly changed her mind after realizing it was a facade for something much worse. She was wary, perceptive, and driven. Bad Vibrations was a very quick read, coming in at about 140 pages. It also had a lot of great moments of suspense, which I really enjoyed.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone that loves horror with a cult twist.
The basics:
Valerie has been failing in all aspects of her life lately: she hasn’t been promoted to director, she hasn’t been lifting more weight, and her relationship is falling apart. Her favorite fitness influencer, @lululunges, recommended the perfect diet to solve all her problems: drinking blood. Valerie books a weekend retreat to meet the famous Doctor that started the blood diet fad. However, the local townsfolk are less than thrilled to about the new cult in town. After the townsfolk violently attack members of Doctor’s community, Valerie must decide what side she’s on.
My thoughts:
This book is split into two sections: the first portion focuses on the weekend retreat, cult, and Doctor. The second section focuses on the violent battle that breaks out between the cult and the townsfolk. I preferred the second section, as it was full of twists, betrayals, and action. I am a pretty squeamish person, so Valerie’s frequent discussion of blood drinking in the first portion left me very nauseous and faint. Despite me feeling so sick while reading Bad Vibrations, I must admit the writing was amazing for me to feel so sick while reading it. As a character, I loved Valerie. While she was so invested in the ideas of the cult initially, she very quickly changed her mind after realizing it was a facade for something much worse. She was wary, perceptive, and driven. Bad Vibrations was a very quick read, coming in at about 140 pages. It also had a lot of great moments of suspense, which I really enjoyed.
I would highly recommend this novel to anyone that loves horror with a cult twist.
December 21, 2022
"When the tables have turned, you hear yourself becoming a villain."
I didn't know much about this book before starting it, but the vibes were bloody interesting and the author said there were vegans in it so I was influenced. Horror with blood drinking vegans, how can you not be curious about it. The beginning was instantly captivating and the more I read the more drawn I was to this world of people who consented to sharing their blood with each other and living in peace and harmony on their own land of veggies galore. But then the twist came and it wasn't too shocking, but definitely was unexpected because I forgot what genre I was reading for a moment. There is blood, as promised, a lot of it, and by the ending you don't really know who is the good guy anymore, because they all are definitely not the kind to live and let live.
I do want more of the books with vegans, but now I can't say this was the best representation, but I'll take it because it was fun and thrilling until the end.
I did hope for a different kind of ending, but it was still satisfying.
I will definitely be reading more from this author, because this book had some good+bad vibrations.
I didn't know much about this book before starting it, but the vibes were bloody interesting and the author said there were vegans in it so I was influenced. Horror with blood drinking vegans, how can you not be curious about it. The beginning was instantly captivating and the more I read the more drawn I was to this world of people who consented to sharing their blood with each other and living in peace and harmony on their own land of veggies galore. But then the twist came and it wasn't too shocking, but definitely was unexpected because I forgot what genre I was reading for a moment. There is blood, as promised, a lot of it, and by the ending you don't really know who is the good guy anymore, because they all are definitely not the kind to live and let live.
I do want more of the books with vegans, but now I can't say this was the best representation, but I'll take it because it was fun and thrilling until the end.
I did hope for a different kind of ending, but it was still satisfying.
I will definitely be reading more from this author, because this book had some good+bad vibrations.
November 2, 2022
Bad Vibrations by Lucy Leitner
Blood Bound Books, Oct. 2022
ASIN: B0BB86Y3G7
Available: Kindle edition (pre-order) ( Amazon.com )
Bad Vibrations is a wonderfully crazy, somewhat satirical look at a cult of health-crazed nuts that take it to extremes, and how the folks of rural Pennsylvania react to them. It’s messy at times, and will make you laugh out loud at others. This book takes the “crazy cult” plot to a whole new level, and does it in slam-bang fashion.
Poor Valerie! She’s a nice young lady with a decent life and career, but she feels like she just isn’t reaching her true potential. Like many, she turns to the Internet for help and falls under the spell of Doctor, another self-help/health guru, who promises his followers to unlock the secret of “energy” in their lives. Valerie goes to the group’s compound for a weekend stay, but unfortunately, the local residents (who hate those damn health nut hippies) show up also. As you might guess, all hell breaks loose.
Part 1 of the book details Valerie and her introduction to the group, and that’s where most of the satire and humor is. The group’s methods are truly hilarious. Mastering that “energy” consists of things like hula hooping while bouncing on a trampoline, screaming sessions, sex with whoever is around, and the most important part… drinking each other’s blood each evening. No wonder the locals call them vampires! It’s highly entertaining, especially reading how the “healthies” insult strangers. “You have so many free radicals it’s like your body just liberated a gulag!” “Your vitamin D levels are so low they’re hanging out with you!” That part alone is enough to justify the price of the book.
Part 2 is the action section, and that’s where the author puts the pedal through the floorboard. Carnage abounds as tensions between the locals and “vampires” reach the breaking point, and it becomes a big mess of bullets, blades, bows, and flammable liquids. Valerie has to decide who to side with: does she truly believe Doctor and his teachings, or is everybody but her truly nuts? It’s non-stop excitement right up to the last page.
Bottom line: it’s nice to have a book that makes the old “psychotic cult” fiction trope interesting again, and Bad Vibrations does exactly that, it’s a thrilling satire that horror readers should flock to. Recommended.
Reviewed by Murray Samuelson
Blood Bound Books, Oct. 2022
ASIN: B0BB86Y3G7
Available: Kindle edition (pre-order) ( Amazon.com )
Bad Vibrations is a wonderfully crazy, somewhat satirical look at a cult of health-crazed nuts that take it to extremes, and how the folks of rural Pennsylvania react to them. It’s messy at times, and will make you laugh out loud at others. This book takes the “crazy cult” plot to a whole new level, and does it in slam-bang fashion.
Poor Valerie! She’s a nice young lady with a decent life and career, but she feels like she just isn’t reaching her true potential. Like many, she turns to the Internet for help and falls under the spell of Doctor, another self-help/health guru, who promises his followers to unlock the secret of “energy” in their lives. Valerie goes to the group’s compound for a weekend stay, but unfortunately, the local residents (who hate those damn health nut hippies) show up also. As you might guess, all hell breaks loose.
Part 1 of the book details Valerie and her introduction to the group, and that’s where most of the satire and humor is. The group’s methods are truly hilarious. Mastering that “energy” consists of things like hula hooping while bouncing on a trampoline, screaming sessions, sex with whoever is around, and the most important part… drinking each other’s blood each evening. No wonder the locals call them vampires! It’s highly entertaining, especially reading how the “healthies” insult strangers. “You have so many free radicals it’s like your body just liberated a gulag!” “Your vitamin D levels are so low they’re hanging out with you!” That part alone is enough to justify the price of the book.
Part 2 is the action section, and that’s where the author puts the pedal through the floorboard. Carnage abounds as tensions between the locals and “vampires” reach the breaking point, and it becomes a big mess of bullets, blades, bows, and flammable liquids. Valerie has to decide who to side with: does she truly believe Doctor and his teachings, or is everybody but her truly nuts? It’s non-stop excitement right up to the last page.
Bottom line: it’s nice to have a book that makes the old “psychotic cult” fiction trope interesting again, and Bad Vibrations does exactly that, it’s a thrilling satire that horror readers should flock to. Recommended.
Reviewed by Murray Samuelson
July 3, 2024
[BOOKSTAGRAM]
I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Sex. Yoga. Blood.” Interesting, right? I thought so.
In “Bad vibrations”, we ride with Valerie to a rural Pennsylvania town for a weekend retreat at a new wellness community that sprouted after the COVID-19 pandemic, where residents are committed to clean living and energy nurturing… and the newly discovered miraculous properties of blood drinking.
This satire makes fun of the current wellness craze aided and abetted by social media; of the mental hoops people jump through to believe in conspiracy theories and justify horrendous acts in the name of the greater (selfish) good; of the willingness of people to follow someone who tells them what to do; of gentrification.
It was a fast-paced, entertaining read and, as a very short book, you can’t expect much depth, but it read like a crack premise that wasn’t taken very seriously. All the characters seemed stereotypical cartoonish - the cult members: mostly rich, white Millennials with no identifiable jobs except for the protagonist; the cops: ignorant rednecks; all of them talked like they were in a parody. And I suppose they were! But I felt dumber by reading it, like when you watch Scary Movie.
I almost DNF’d near the beginning when the protagonist and the first cult buddies she meet are confronted by two of the townspeople and she thinks they’re “surrounded by enemies, like the Israelis”. I was confused for a sec - did the author mean the cult members were like the Palestinians surrounded by enemy Israelis? But of course she didn’t. Given that the protagonist, while slightly smarter than the rest, was still a brainwashed idiot with rotten opinions, I decided to let it go, but it still left a bad taste tbh.
All in all, this was an ok read; I didn’t hate it but I don’t think this type of satire works for me because it didn’t feel particularly clever.
I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Sex. Yoga. Blood.” Interesting, right? I thought so.
In “Bad vibrations”, we ride with Valerie to a rural Pennsylvania town for a weekend retreat at a new wellness community that sprouted after the COVID-19 pandemic, where residents are committed to clean living and energy nurturing… and the newly discovered miraculous properties of blood drinking.
This satire makes fun of the current wellness craze aided and abetted by social media; of the mental hoops people jump through to believe in conspiracy theories and justify horrendous acts in the name of the greater (selfish) good; of the willingness of people to follow someone who tells them what to do; of gentrification.
It was a fast-paced, entertaining read and, as a very short book, you can’t expect much depth, but it read like a crack premise that wasn’t taken very seriously. All the characters seemed stereotypical cartoonish - the cult members: mostly rich, white Millennials with no identifiable jobs except for the protagonist; the cops: ignorant rednecks; all of them talked like they were in a parody. And I suppose they were! But I felt dumber by reading it, like when you watch Scary Movie.
I almost DNF’d near the beginning when the protagonist and the first cult buddies she meet are confronted by two of the townspeople and she thinks they’re “surrounded by enemies, like the Israelis”. I was confused for a sec - did the author mean the cult members were like the Palestinians surrounded by enemy Israelis? But of course she didn’t. Given that the protagonist, while slightly smarter than the rest, was still a brainwashed idiot with rotten opinions, I decided to let it go, but it still left a bad taste tbh.
All in all, this was an ok read; I didn’t hate it but I don’t think this type of satire works for me because it didn’t feel particularly clever.
August 6, 2025
TL;DR:
“Bad Vibrations” is a shockingly original horror satire with a cult wellness twist. Valerie’s retreat spirals into chaos. The cult elements are insane and the satire hits hard. I came in skeptical and came out a believer. Keep reading for the full review.
Synopsis:
Valerie arrives at Doctor’s secret wellness retreat expecting a weekend of organic farm fresh fruit, screaming hula hoop yoga, and spiritual cleanses. She hopes to return home with new energy, a dream job, and healed body. Instead she finds a guru promoting the healing power of drinking blood. The retreat becomes a bizarre mix of sex, yoga, and ritual going far beyond detox. It turns into a twisted glimpse of obsession and control in rural Pennsylvania.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
I don’t know what I was expecting but this was totally not it. Such an original idea. The cult aspects were insane throughout. I loved the satire—it’s sharp, bold, and unflinching. I went in skeptical and came out a believer in Lucy Leitner’s twisted take. The story keeps flipping expectations and delivers a mix of dread and dark humor. Bad Vibrations is a twisted retreat thriller that shocks with satire and blood‑soaked suspense. Thank you to Leitner, Blood Bound Books, and Booksprout for the audiobook copy and the opportunity to provide this candid review!
The Vibes It Brings:
🧘 Cult retreat with a disturbing twist
🩸 Blood rituals and eerie wellness culture
😳 Wild satire about health obsessions
🏡 Small town setting with unsettling undercurrents
😂 Unexpected dark humor in every scene
Narration:
Loved Kay’s narration. Her voice and tone was perfection. She balanced horror and humor seamlessly. Her pacing kept me tense yet entertained. The emotions felt real in every scene.
Final Thoughts:
This one punches you with its originality. The cult vibe and satire blend into something bizarre and memorable. It never loses its edge and stays gripping until the end. A daring horror satire that sticks with you.
“Bad Vibrations” is a shockingly original horror satire with a cult wellness twist. Valerie’s retreat spirals into chaos. The cult elements are insane and the satire hits hard. I came in skeptical and came out a believer. Keep reading for the full review.
Synopsis:
Valerie arrives at Doctor’s secret wellness retreat expecting a weekend of organic farm fresh fruit, screaming hula hoop yoga, and spiritual cleanses. She hopes to return home with new energy, a dream job, and healed body. Instead she finds a guru promoting the healing power of drinking blood. The retreat becomes a bizarre mix of sex, yoga, and ritual going far beyond detox. It turns into a twisted glimpse of obsession and control in rural Pennsylvania.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
I don’t know what I was expecting but this was totally not it. Such an original idea. The cult aspects were insane throughout. I loved the satire—it’s sharp, bold, and unflinching. I went in skeptical and came out a believer in Lucy Leitner’s twisted take. The story keeps flipping expectations and delivers a mix of dread and dark humor. Bad Vibrations is a twisted retreat thriller that shocks with satire and blood‑soaked suspense. Thank you to Leitner, Blood Bound Books, and Booksprout for the audiobook copy and the opportunity to provide this candid review!
The Vibes It Brings:
🧘 Cult retreat with a disturbing twist
🩸 Blood rituals and eerie wellness culture
😳 Wild satire about health obsessions
🏡 Small town setting with unsettling undercurrents
😂 Unexpected dark humor in every scene
Narration:
Loved Kay’s narration. Her voice and tone was perfection. She balanced horror and humor seamlessly. Her pacing kept me tense yet entertained. The emotions felt real in every scene.
Final Thoughts:
This one punches you with its originality. The cult vibe and satire blend into something bizarre and memorable. It never loses its edge and stays gripping until the end. A daring horror satire that sticks with you.
August 1, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
In the heart of rural Pennsylvania, where wellness retreats meet the unexpected, Lucy Leitner’s “Bad Vibrations” takes readers on an irreverent ride through the landscape of social media influencers, their blind followers, and the mindset of those who oppose them.
Plot: Valerie arrives at Doctor’s hidden utopia—a weekend haven promising true health. The retreat boasts hula hoop yoga, dynamic meditation, and fresh farm fruits. But there’s a twist: The doctor’s healing method involves drinking blood. Yes, you read that right. Blood. The same substance that cured cancer, leaky gut, and Hashimoto’s thyroid. Yet in rural Pennsylvania, this wellness craze isn’t exactly popular...
What Works:
The author's satirical edge: Leitner fearlessly exposes society’s underbelly, weaving hot-button topics into her narrative. Prepare for sex, yoga, and, of course, lots of blood.
Character Depth: Valerie’s journey is both absurd and relatable. Her quest for health becomes a darkly humorous exploration of extremes.
Twists and Turns: Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Leitner throws curveballs that keep you guessing.
What Could Be Improved:
Pacing: While the deliberate pace adds depth, some readers may prefer a faster tempo.
Unconventional Themes: If you’re not open to unconventional wellness practices, this book might stretch your comfort zone.
Ultimately, Bad Vibrations” is a genre-bending cocktail—part satire, part thriller, and wholly unique. Leitner’s prose dances on the edge, daring readers to question their own boundaries. If you’re ready for a wild ride that defies expectations, step into this blood-soaked world.
In the heart of rural Pennsylvania, where wellness retreats meet the unexpected, Lucy Leitner’s “Bad Vibrations” takes readers on an irreverent ride through the landscape of social media influencers, their blind followers, and the mindset of those who oppose them.
Plot: Valerie arrives at Doctor’s hidden utopia—a weekend haven promising true health. The retreat boasts hula hoop yoga, dynamic meditation, and fresh farm fruits. But there’s a twist: The doctor’s healing method involves drinking blood. Yes, you read that right. Blood. The same substance that cured cancer, leaky gut, and Hashimoto’s thyroid. Yet in rural Pennsylvania, this wellness craze isn’t exactly popular...
What Works:
The author's satirical edge: Leitner fearlessly exposes society’s underbelly, weaving hot-button topics into her narrative. Prepare for sex, yoga, and, of course, lots of blood.
Character Depth: Valerie’s journey is both absurd and relatable. Her quest for health becomes a darkly humorous exploration of extremes.
Twists and Turns: Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Leitner throws curveballs that keep you guessing.
What Could Be Improved:
Pacing: While the deliberate pace adds depth, some readers may prefer a faster tempo.
Unconventional Themes: If you’re not open to unconventional wellness practices, this book might stretch your comfort zone.
Ultimately, Bad Vibrations” is a genre-bending cocktail—part satire, part thriller, and wholly unique. Leitner’s prose dances on the edge, daring readers to question their own boundaries. If you’re ready for a wild ride that defies expectations, step into this blood-soaked world.
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