Hello Bookworms!

How you doing? Christmas may be over, but winter is here to stay for a while longer. After my last buddy read with book bestie and fellow author Iseult Murphy, we decided to continue the Killer VHS series with Candy Cain Kills (Killer VHS #2) by Brian McAuley.

I connected with McAuley on Instagram a while back, and he seems like such a kind person, so I was aching to give this book a read.

This review is my personal opinion and will soon be followed up with a buddy read and rant with my bestie Iseult. All right, let’s see how this one went!

Series Review Links

Book Review: Melon Head Mayhem (Killer VHS #1)

Blurb

Oh what fun it is to DIE!

When Austin’s parents drag him and his little sister Fiona to a remote cottage for Christmas, he’s less than thrilled about the forced bonding exercise. But after learning that their holiday getaway was the site of a horrific crime, this family on the rocks will have to fight for their lives against a legendary killer… because Candy Cain is slashing through the snow with a very long naughty list.

GoodReads

Amazon

***Brief disclosure***

I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a tiny commission for purchases made through the Amazon links in this post at no cost to you. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

Holy frijoles, this is how you do holiday horror!

In this novel, young Austin and Fiona are making a getaway with their parents to have the perfect iconic Christmas in a cabin at a small town named Nodland. The town is strange, but even stranger are the whisperings that something terrible happened in the very house they’re renting out. When it becomes clear that they are in very real danger, Austin and his family will have to fight for their lives or be sleighed by the Christmas boogeyman that is Candy Cain.

I loved this novel to pieces, but I think what wowed me most was the characters. Austin is a gay teen, and as a gay man myself I felt seen with his backstory and coming of age realizations. His sister Fiona was relatable too. I liked that she was snarky and didn’t want to be treated like she’s made of glass even though she has a disability. Their mom, dad, and Austin’s friends also felt like real people, so major kudos to the author on creating great three-dimensional characters.

Also, just look at that cover art! It’s gorgeous and I absolutely love the illustration.

The plot was true to a slasher and had great buildup, a body count, and plenty of twists and turns away to keep any horror lover engaged. I had a hard time putting this one down, and when I had to I kept thinking that I had to get back to reading asap. The pacing of the novel was great and didn’t move too fast or slow, and McAuley doesn’t shy away from the blood and gore when it’s needed.

In the end, this is one of my favorite Christmas horror books to date, and I can’t wait to read the sequel! Don’t miss out!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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