TL;DR: A great continuation of this story with higher stakes.
Source: NetGalley, thank you so much!
Plot: Kate finds out what happens when those she trusts betrays her, and how she deals with it.
Characters: I love them, all of them. Even the Crying Girl. I want to know and see them more.
Setting: The campground is my dream camping spot now. That’s how much I love this.
Horror: Excellent. This is top tier supernatural horror for me with a dash of humor.
Summary:
Every year, campground manager Kate sends out a pamphlet titled “How to Survive Your Camping Experience.” It includes a list of rules to help campers have an enjoyable experience and hopefully survive any encounters with the campgrounds other…inhabitants.
With the campground in the throes of a bad year, it will take more than a list of rules to keep everyone safe. Monsters that were previously lying dormant are starting to stir and they’re waking up hungry. Among them is the Lady in Chains, a creature feared by both human and inhuman things alike.
Her reappearance creates an upheaval in the balance of power in the campground by renewing an old grudge with the harvesters, who are willing to sacrifice anyone they get their hands on in order to gain an advantage. On top of all this, the man with the skull cap has started taking an unusual interest in Kate. But with the harvesters on the prowl, the Lady in Chains hunting her down, and a sinister spider infestation, Kate is going to need all the allies she can get, even if those allies aren’t actually…human.
Thoughts:
The Lady in Chains is one of those excellent examples of quirky, but well crafted folk horror that I love. It has a dash of humor, a lot of spooky and supernatural moments and creatures, and it often hides a deeper message or meaning. For me these stories seem to really focus on the gray area that a lot of these folk stories and creatures live in.
This is exceptionally true with the second volume here. Kate is struggling with the consequences of her actions in the previous books, and what those actions mean for the campground and herself. A Bad Year is coming, and with it the inhuman creatures on the grounds are going to have to pick a side. The problem is, can Kate survive this? And what happens when she is betrayed by someone she trusted?
While I saw through some of what was happening here I loved every moment of it. From Kate struggling to her discoveries and all the little snippets of lore and creatures we get. It’s unique, fresh, and fun for me and I think for the genre as a whole. If you’re looking for something to scratch the Nightvale itch, this is perfect for that. This is a must read series for me and one I really recommend for fans of quirky horror.
Sarah Evermotion's Reads 
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