October Fright: (Mini) ARC Review – One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards + Giveaway

Title: One Was Lost
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Series: N/A
Pages: 320
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: October 4th 2016
*I received a copy of this book through a giveaway hosted by Armchair BEA, which does not influence my review.* 

      “Murder, justice, and revenge were so not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior camping trip. After all, hiking through the woods is supposed to be safe and uneventful.
      Then one morning the group wakes up groggy, confused, and with words scrawled on their wrists: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Their supplies? Destroyed. Half their group? Gone. Their chaperone? Unconscious. Worst of all, they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them.
      Suddenly it’s clear; they’re being hunted. And with the only positive word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion…“

In Natalie D. Richards’ One Was Lost, an innocent school camping trip turns deadly and four teens must find a way to survive when they discover someone may be out to harm them. If you’re looking for a novel this month to get you in the mood for Halloween, but isn’t too intense when it comes to horror, One Was Lost might be for you. One of the most interesting things about this book is that although it was told in first person, we still get a chance to get to know the secondary characters beside the protagonist Sera. Lucas, Emily, and Jude had their own stories and brought their own issues to the story. I personally really liked Lucas and felt that we got to know him compared to the other two. One of the reason for this is Sera’s flashbacks, which added depth to their relationship and helped in the development of Lucas’ character. I do think that both Emily and Jude had more to offer and in terms of character development, the book might have worked better with multiple points of view. The story felt very limited and isolating at times and while this echoed what was happening to the characters in the story, there were moments when Sera would mention her relationship with her mother or father and it really made me want to read more about these different relationships. One Was Lost isn’t particularly groundbreaking when it comes to the thriller genre and its scares aren’t necessarily the most unique, but it’s a good book to pick up for October when you want to spend time with reads that will have you checking your locks before bed. Cover is linked to Goodreads.

Rating: 3/5

★★★

Giveaway time! I currently have an ARC of Natalie D. Richard’s One Was Lost that I’d love the opportunity to share with another reader, so I am hosting a little giveaway. A few rules:

1. Giveaway will run from October 2-14th.
2. This giveaway is limited to the US due to shipping costs.
3. You must be 18 or older to enter (or have your parents’ permission).
4. The winner of the giveaway will be selected randomly and emailed on the 15th (you will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen).
5. Prize will be mailed to you within a week of your response.
6. To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below.

A Rafflecopter Giveaway