About the Book:

Title: Find Him Where You Left Him Dead 

Author: Kristen Simmons 

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: September 26, 2023

Pages: 272

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Thriller, YA Paranormal, YA Horror 

Synopsis:

Kristen Simmons’s masterful breakout novel for young adult readers that’s “Jumanji but Japanese-inspired” (Kendare Blake) about estranged friends playing a deadly game in an eerie folkloric underworld.

Four years ago, five kids started a game. Only four survived.

Now, at the end of their senior year of high school, the survivors—Dax, Maddy, Emerson, and Owen—have reunited for one strange and terrible reason: they’ve been summoned by the ghost of Ian, the friend they left for dead.

Together they return to the tunnel where their friendship ended with one goal: find Ian and bring him home. So they restart the deadly game they never finished—an innocent card-matching challenge called Meido. A game without instructions.

As soon as they begin, they’re dragged out of their reality and into an eerie hellscape of Japanese underworlds, more horrifying than even the darkest folktales that Owen’s grandmother told him. There, they meet Shinigami, an old wise woman who explains the rules:

They have one night to complete seven challenges or all of them, Ian included, will be stuck in this world forever.

Once inseparable, the survivors now can’t stand each other, but the challenges demand they work together, think quickly, and make sacrifices—blood, clothes, secrets, memories, and worse.

And once again, not everyone will make it out of Meido alive.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the publisher via Netgalley for review. All thoughts are my own*

This book surprised me in a good way! I thought this story was going to be a thriller, but it wound up being based on Japanese Folklore/Mythology in a Jumanji inspired setting. Fans of YA thrillers, paranormal and mythology will enjoy this one. 

Four years ago, five kids started a game and only four of them made it out alive.

The four survivors, Dax, Maddy, Owen and Emerson have been reunited once again. They have all been summoned by the ghost of their friend Ian who didn’t make it and was left for dead.

Together they return to the cave where it all began with the goal of finding Ian and bringing him home. They restart the matching game, Meido, that they never finished. A game that wound up not having instructions, and not being as innocent as they once thought. 

As soon as they begin the game again, they’re sucked into the Japanese underworld which is more terrifying and horrifying than they could have ever imagined. They meet Shinigami, a wise old woman, who explains to them the rules of the game. They have one night to complete seven challenges, or all of them, including their friend Ian, will be trapped in the game forever. They meet many different mythological creatures and strange animals along their journey.

Although the friends were once besties, they now cannot stand being around each other. The game forces them to work together again and make some hard decisions. Will they all make it out alive?

I think the multiple points of view worked really well in this story as we got to know each of the unique characters. I really grew to care about each and every one of them and found myself rooting for them. 

This story will keep you entertained from start to finish. I thought at first that this was a standalone, but I am under the impression there will be a sequel. I definitely recommend! 

 

 

 

About the Author:

Kristen Simmons is the critically acclaimed young adult author of the dystopian Article 5 trilogy, The Deceivers boarding-school thriller series, and speculative fiction stand-alones, PACIFICA, METALTOWN, and THE GLASS ARROW. She has co-written the magic-wielding, gladiator fantasies, SET FIRE THE GODS and RISE UP FROM THE EMBERS. Next up: FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD, the start of a yōkai horror duology.

Her work has received star reviews, librarian recognitions, and been nominated for the Edgar Award and Anthony Award for best young adult mystery. Several of her titles are included in junior high and high school reading curricula and are used in reluctant reader programs nationwide.

Kristen’s writing is inspired by her work with trauma survivors as a mental health therapist, specializing with soldiers with PTSD and individuals in foster care. She currently lives with her husband and son in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she spins stories, herds a small pack of semi-wild dogs, and teaches Jazzercise.

Follow Kristen on Facebook (Author Kristen Simmons) and Instagram at @kris10writes.