I received this book from TBR and Beyond Tours and the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

So I was actually part of the tour, but sadly while I did like the book.. I had some issues with it and so I am sharing it outside of the tour 14 days later (which was the soonest I had place on my blog). Because I just don’t think it is classy to be negative about a book on a tour stop. Those times are supposed to be filled with joy and happy feelings.

😍 Loved that it took place in a castle. A spooky castle. With creaky doors. Bad lighting. Oh, and did I mention the storm? Oh yes! We also get some daytime, which was also pretty spooky, but I just love it when scary books have big storms in them. Making it hard to leave a place. Making it hard to run. The descriptions of the castle were perfect, you know, if it wasn’t for the murders and the scary crap happening? I would have liked to step into the book and explore a bit myself. But you know, murders, I will just keep on reading about how the castle looked. XD
😍 Kicking the patriarchy, I mean, at times I was rolling my eyes at how dedicated these girls were, but for most I was rooting for them.
😍 The cover! It is really cool and I love the vibe it gives.
😍 The MC was pretty great, for at least most of the book. I loved that despite not being happy with having to work her parents business (helping them out) she just did it without too much grumbling. I loved how supportive she was of her sister and how she kept cheering her on, telling her to just go for it. To try for those auditions.
😍 I had a laugh at how Alex kept admiring the silverwear in the castle. Oh, look at this insert some term silver ashtray, so fancy. And I was like, Alex, people are dying, not the time, but I still love you. XD I did bring her some comfort, because thanks to those silver pieces she thought of her parents, gaining some motivation (and well, also losing some because OMG will I survive).
😍 That her friends set up a go-fund-me for her. Because they wanted to help! It was just so sweet of them and I loved how they promoted it.
😍 The movies they wanted to make, it sounded so good and I would have definitely liked to see it come true. I liked the additions of scripts here and there.
😍 I loved the extra parts in between with the police officer who was on the case. From interviews to snippets of proof to seeing what the officer was up to. I really love it when books add these extras.
😍 The ending. WTF? It just came out of nowhere. I was like, wait, wait… did I miss something? I mean, there was one hint, but I didn’t think it was that big… I was just so surprised.
😍 The author did a good job making the murders gruesome. I mean, we don’t really see much murdering happening, but we do come across dead bodies and let’s just say, heads will be rolling (and sinking). Haha, now you are probably looking at me with such a weird face, but I think the murders have to fit with the genre. If it is horror/thriller let it be bloody. If it is a children’s book let it be neat and tidy.
😍 I liked how the chapters intros were like this: One day ago || INT. THE END OF THE HALLWAY – NIGHT. It was such a fun touch especially given how the characters loved movies/making them.
😍 I didn’t know that 112 (what we Dutchies use to call when there is an emergency) was also for all of Europe. So cool!
😍 Yesss, let’s go into a hedge maze with a murderer around. YES!

😶 (the neutral-ish face): It was once again so American. I am just stunned each time. Oh you got cancer well have fun paying for the treatment. I mean what the actual FUCK. I am sorry, but even though I know the health system there is a terrible one I just get shocked each time and wonder how people are still not rioting more. Also the whole college thing was just WTF. Essays, movies, begging, more begging, letters, essays. WTF? Why would you go through all that and then also end up in debt? I just don’t get America.

😑 NO VAMPIRES!!! I was definitely under the impression there would be something like that, but no.
😑 While I LIKED the ending and the twist it brought… I would have liked to have seen some small hints to that. Maybe I missed them because I was struggling a bit with the pacing, but it just came out of the blue for me. Unexpected. And because of that I would have rather have it been the other scenario instead of this one. Hope that makes sense? And then there was the epilogue and while I loved parts of it.. there were parts that had me wanting to flip a few tables.
😑 The pacing. The beginning is so gosh-darn slow. I mean, they don’t go to the castle until around 30%. And then instead of having one or two spooky days at the castle, which I would have loved as I would have loved to see more of the castle in a calm-ish setting and the outside as well, it was just BOOM instant action. Their first night is also their last. And then despite it being pretty WOAHHHHHH NOPE it was also so slow. It was really weird.
😑 And thanks to that pacing.. well I just couldn’t find myself rooting much for these characters. I mean, outside of Maddie, Alex (our MC), Jax, and Reagan, I kept forgetting the other characters. Even now I have to look up their names, hello Kenna, Carter, Hazel. When Carter gets killed (not a spoiler as from the start it is clear who survived and not) I was like, who the fuck is Carter? And then later Hazel was named, and I was like? Wait? What? And given everything so far in the book? They weren’t that likeable at points. I mean, I found it rude that Jax, the boyfriend, did that to his girlfriend when applying for college. Reagan was just weird with how he was so constantly around Alex, like dude, she has a boyfriend…. Kenna was at times sweet but such a diva and she seemed to think she was above them. Maddie was OK-ish, but made some weird remarks (or was it someone else, again, bad with names).
😑 While I love that we had at least one couple (I believe we had another one, but again see point above) namely Jax and Alex… I just didn’t see it. I mean, there were points that had me like OHHHH, and awww cute! But there were also moments that I was like, wait, you are dating? You have been dating for a while? OK…

Also unsure about this, but at one point (65%) the chapter title says: One Day Ago, but then the next chapter and a new day (69%) says: Two days ago?

So yeah, I am happy I had the chance to read this book before the release date (reading this May 18-20) and while I had some issues, it was still a good book. With scary moments. I cannot wait what is next for Kelly deVos. So far I read a book filled with zombie-like monsters and now murders in a castle, what will she write about next? I will look forward to it.