There’s a lot of family drama going on while they’re out on this camping trip and when I say family drama I mean pretty much everything you can think of, but I won’t go into detail since I don’t want to spoil anything. There were also a lot of side plots happening and overall it felt like the story was a bit all over the place, it wasn’t too messy but it felt like a bit much at the same time. It has a classic slasher/B-Horror movie feel to it and as I already briefly mentioned I think some readers will find this perfectly creepy enough though. That’s pretty much the gist of the story without spoiling anything, some creepy stuff does start happening hence the fact that this IS a horror book but as I said I didn’t think it was all that scary. The guide mysteriously warns them that stories told around a campfire on the full moon tend to come true. The story revolves around a group of family and friends going up into the mountains on a week long camping trip, however, in order to help pass the time they decide to start telling spooky stories around the campfire. While it wasn’t all I was hoping for it was still an enjoyable summer read! I like to think I’m a pretty seasoned horror reader/watcher so it takes a lot to actually scare me, this one didn’t really, but I can see it being enough to creep other readers out.

I have to say I’m always looking for a good YA horror book to read and “Campfire” seemed to fit the bill. ****Trigger Warnings: Parent Death, Grief, Physical Abuse, Drug and Alcohol Consumption, Animal Death (Brief Scene), Violence, and Gore**** ****Thank you to Jimmy Patterson Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!**** Because there were other, more horrifying stories told that night–and Maddie’s about to find out just how they end…

Now Maddie and her family are lost in the deep woods–with no way out–being stalked by their worst nightmares. Caleb, the handsome young guide, shares the local legend of the ferocious Mountain Men who hunt unsuspecting campers and leave their mark by carving grisly antlers into their victims’ foreheads. While camping in a remote location, Maddie Davenport gathers around the fire with her friends and family to tell scary stories.

Campfire by Shawn Sarles