2023-04-24
A “final girl” finds herself in a real-life thriller in which survival isn’t an option.
Seventeen-year-old Charity works at Camp Mirror Lake, a horror-simulation camp in the woods of upstate New York. She’s moved up to being manager as well as Final Girl, the most desirable role in their nightly performance, thanks to her lifelong horror fandom, her mastery of fake blood, and her ability to navigate co-workers with all-too-real murderous impulses. But her real commitment to the faux frights comes from not having much of a home to go back to when the dust clears each season. The camp, owned by a Mr. Lamont, is located on the site where a 1980s cult classic was filmed. When her co-workers mysteriously don’t show for their roles as victims, Charity reaches out to her friend Paige and her girlfriend, Bezi, inviting them to fill in. As an aficionado of the genre and one of the few Black staff members, Charity is well aware of the usual tropes; as Bezi reminds her, “You know what happens to Black folks in slasher movies,” (Charity reassures her, “I’m the final girl….Guaranteed to survive the night”). Unfortunately, the slowly paced story meanders toward a reveal that readers may themselves have already anticipated. Ultimately, the tropes of the final girl and Black people’s roles in horror are reconciled in an inexplicable hurry.
An homage to horror stories that doesn’t quite land. (Horror. 14-18)
A spine-tingling camp slasher with a cast of characters you can't help but root for.” —Ryan Douglass, author of New York Times bestseller THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON
“Delightfully creepy. . . . Plan to read You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight under a blanket with a flashlight, but only if you're willing to stay up late. As horror fans know, there's always one last twist at the end.” —BookPage
“Bayron's abundant use of familiar twists and turns draw on the genre's classic predecessors to craft a gory and darkly funny read that is sure to satisfy slasher fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“In this latest novel, Bayron (My Dear Henry, 2023) integrates the traditional conventions of a slasher novel with the story of a queer, Black girl protagonist who subverts the trope of 'Black people dying first.' Bayron's foray into the YA horror space helps continue the effort of decentering whiteness in the genre. The overall campiness of the novel will appeal to fans of '90s horror films, and make the book as fun as it is terrifying.” —Booklist
“Kalynn Bayron's writing is alchemy itself, blending contemporary fantasy with a dose of haunting mystery and a dropper of gothic fiction. An intoxicating tale about the power of about Black motherhood and daughterhood, and family bonds that can't be broken. Like the poisonous plants Briseis tends to, This Poison Heart is mesmerizing and beautiful.” —Tracy Deonn, New York Times bestselling author of LEGENDBORN, on THIS POISON HEART
“Thrilling and magnetic, This Poison Heart pulses with true Black girl magic and endless mystery.” —Julian Winters, award-winning author of RUNNING WITH LIONS, on THIS POISON HEART
“A verdant read as rich as the greenery within it, This Poison Heart will wrap its vines around you and never let go.” —Kayla Ancrum, author of THE WICKER KING, on THIS POISON HEART
“Bayron takes an old story, turns it on its head, and makes it her own with a stunning display of pacing, character, and legacy.” —E. K. Johnston, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on THIS POISON HEART
“This Poison Heart masterfully weaves a unique story grounded in the depths of Greek mythology and Black girlhood, ideal for lovers of folklore or those who enjoy the thrill of a well-paced and unanticipated adventure.” —Booklist, starred review, on THIS POISON HEART
“Bayron weaves science and Greek mythology into a captivating lore that lends weight to this fantastical contemporary story. She conjures entertaining and realistic dialogue and attentive characterization, while incisive descriptions and sumptuous prose evoke a wonderfully gothic atmosphere.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on THIS POISON HEART
“Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairy-tale. . . . She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after.” —Brigid Kemmerer, author of the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series, on CINDERELLA IS DEAD
