The Blonde Dies First

Featured
The Blonde Dies First
Age Range
13+
Release Date
July 30, 2024
ISBN
978-1665922456
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Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it’s a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early—The Best Summer Ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don’t ever mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the Best Summer Ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by…a demon?

But while there’s no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn’t feel very demonic at all. In fact, it’s downright human—going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush, Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle.

Devon has never liked playing by anyone else’s rules though, not even a demon’s, and the longer this goes on, the more she feels Drew and Yaya slipping away from her even as she tries to help them all survive. Can they use their horror movie knowledge to flip the script and become the hunters instead of the hunted? Or will their best summer ever be their last?

Editor review

1 review
The Blonde Dies First
(Updated: August 12, 2024)
Overall rating
 
3.7
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Devon plans the 'Perfect summer' before her twin Drew leaves for college. But not all goes as expected. Drew's friend Avery brings an Ouiji board out at her graduation party. Devon's friends know not to mess with that supernatural stuff. Little do they know that a released demon has its eyes on them. Not even friend Gael's horror knowledge can help. None of them know the demon's plan for all of them.

What worked: Slasher flick meets Scream with a diverse cast of friends. There's mention of the horror trope of who dies first and who saves the day. Only in this case, it's Devon and her friends.

The pacing felt like SCREAM with these friends trying to figure out who might be next. The friendships at times are strained. Devon fears her twin abandoning her for better things. She also crushes big time on Yaya but worries telling her will end their friendship. Plus, there's Keith who stalks Yaya. He's the son of Kendra who took over a brickstone building and looks her nose down at the neighborhood.

The friendships are complex. I liked how the author shows this through action and dialogue. There's the scene at the graduation party where Devon tries to fit in with her sister's private school friends. Then there's Kendra complaining about the neighborhood and that the friends are 'annoying'.

The final reveal was surprising and there's also a hint of a sequel on the last page.

A suspenseful horror story where not all demon stories follow the same storyline.

Good Points
1. Slasher meets Scream with diverse cast
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