Scan barcode
beesreadingshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
saadiyya_reads786's review against another edition
3.0
Had a fun time reading this book. Reminded me of the 90's movies such as "l Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Scream".
loser127's review against another edition
4.0
Takes old slasher tropes and throws in a bunch of new stuff. Although it is at times hard to follow, and there’s way too many characters for me to remember them, this is definitely an interesting take on the slasher genre. 3.75 stars.
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot! Having previously read this novella [b:Rites of Extinction|44163615|Rites of Extinction|Matt Serafini|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551408916l/44163615._SY75_.jpg|68690403], which had a strong dose of folk horror, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this slasher story also contains an occult group.
In 1988, Melanie was the only survivor of slasher Cyrus Holt. As a counselor at Camp Forest Grove, Melanie spent that summer canoeing, hiking, and falling for her first love, Bill. Then Cyrus Holt showed up... he killed all her friends in gruesome ways before chasing her into the campground's lake for a final showdown. Melanie fought back against the behemoth in a welder's mask, and lived to see another day.
25 years later, Melanie is trying to put the past firmly behind her and teaching at a New England college. After being passed over for tenure in favor of a younger colleague, Melanie is demoralized. Suddenly, a publisher's offer of a book deal if she will return to Forest Grove and write about her experiences becomes much more tempting. As reluctant as Melanie is to reopen old wounds, a change of scenery is much needed and maybe this will be the catalyst for her boss to realize how valuable she is to the department.
When she arrives in Forest Grove, she quickly sees that the town is permanently stuck in the past. Laws against any kind of teen gathering -- from school dances to casual hangouts -- are forbidden. The new police chief, Nathan Brady, is trying to loosen up the town's restrictions without ruffling too many feathers. He is married to Trish, the punk daughter of the last police chief, Ron Sleighton, and his father-in-law is dismissive of Nathan's approach to the job. Melanie can't shake the feeling that Cyrus Holt isn't really dead, and within 24 hours of her return, she is almost certain he is stalking her again. Uncovering long-buried secrets and racing against time to stop a killer whose survival seemed impossible, Melanie, Trish, and Nathan find themselves battling something truly evil.
So much fun! This is a gory slasher story but also a taut mystery. The characterization was strong, which is always a plus in this genre. The story went in some really unexpected directions and there is a POV switch near the end that was so creepy and effective! As a bonus, this is free on Kindle Unlimited (at the time of writing) and is a great story for Spooktober.
In 1988, Melanie was the only survivor of slasher Cyrus Holt. As a counselor at Camp Forest Grove, Melanie spent that summer canoeing, hiking, and falling for her first love, Bill. Then Cyrus Holt showed up... he killed all her friends in gruesome ways before chasing her into the campground's lake for a final showdown. Melanie fought back against the behemoth in a welder's mask, and lived to see another day.
25 years later, Melanie is trying to put the past firmly behind her and teaching at a New England college. After being passed over for tenure in favor of a younger colleague, Melanie is demoralized. Suddenly, a publisher's offer of a book deal if she will return to Forest Grove and write about her experiences becomes much more tempting. As reluctant as Melanie is to reopen old wounds, a change of scenery is much needed and maybe this will be the catalyst for her boss to realize how valuable she is to the department.
When she arrives in Forest Grove, she quickly sees that the town is permanently stuck in the past. Laws against any kind of teen gathering -- from school dances to casual hangouts -- are forbidden. The new police chief, Nathan Brady, is trying to loosen up the town's restrictions without ruffling too many feathers. He is married to Trish, the punk daughter of the last police chief, Ron Sleighton, and his father-in-law is dismissive of Nathan's approach to the job. Melanie can't shake the feeling that Cyrus Holt isn't really dead, and within 24 hours of her return, she is almost certain he is stalking her again. Uncovering long-buried secrets and racing against time to stop a killer whose survival seemed impossible, Melanie, Trish, and Nathan find themselves battling something truly evil.
So much fun! This is a gory slasher story but also a taut mystery. The characterization was strong, which is always a plus in this genre. The story went in some really unexpected directions and there is a POV switch near the end that was so creepy and effective! As a bonus, this is free on Kindle Unlimited (at the time of writing) and is a great story for Spooktober.
lzw's review against another edition
5.0
80’s type slasher vibe
Loved this story, didn’t see the twists coming, great characters, well written, action packed, and loved the slasher vibes reminiscent of Friday the 13th
Loved this story, didn’t see the twists coming, great characters, well written, action packed, and loved the slasher vibes reminiscent of Friday the 13th
morguebooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
catra121's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not quite sure about this one. I get the sense that I should have liked it more than I did...but for some reason I just couldn't get into it and wasnt fully invested in the story. Maybe my timing was just off...this is one I may give another try some day because I really feel like it wasnt the book...it was me.
slimeandslashers's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars, 5 stars, 5 stars!
Under the Blade has so many layers and is way more than just a mere slasher story -- there's much more to this than mindless kills. Don't get me wrong, buckets of blood and crazy kills can be so much fun, especially in a slasher book...but it was very refreshing that this was much more.
I also found the main character to be believable, relatable, and likable. There was one annoying character named Trish, but she didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.
Overall, I loved everything about this book: the characters, the twists and turns, and the ending. This was my first Matt Serafini read, and I honestly can't wait to read more of his work!
If you'd like to hear more of my thoughts on this read, you can check out my in-depth video review here: https://youtu.be/FzmrY5PunM4?t=668
Under the Blade has so many layers and is way more than just a mere slasher story -- there's much more to this than mindless kills. Don't get me wrong, buckets of blood and crazy kills can be so much fun, especially in a slasher book...but it was very refreshing that this was much more.
I also found the main character to be believable, relatable, and likable. There was one annoying character named Trish, but she didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.
Overall, I loved everything about this book: the characters, the twists and turns, and the ending. This was my first Matt Serafini read, and I honestly can't wait to read more of his work!
If you'd like to hear more of my thoughts on this read, you can check out my in-depth video review here: https://youtu.be/FzmrY5PunM4?t=668
spookybecks's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
1.0
Adds nothing special to the slasher genre - same old ableism and misogyny. It's a no from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, and Murder