Dead of Summer (Book 1)

Description: "Don't move. Don't blink. Don't breathe"--Jacket.

Review Quotes:

Praise for The Dead of Summer

"The Dead of Summer is like a Mike Flanagan movie: visceral and unsettling. The perfect creepy read!" -- Tiffany D. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Blood

"La Sala is back with a fresh new freakshow! Not only is The Dead of Summer a terrifying, fast-paced, maritime body horror, it's a timely plea to embrace your community when you can no longer trust those in charge. This is one beach read that will have you sprinting away from the ocean!" -- Adam Sass, award-winning author of Your Lonely Nights Are Over

"A blistering tale of seaside horrors unleashed upon a beloved queer community, The Dead of Summer combines intricate plot with unforgettable characters. Every Ryan La Sala book is a gem." -- Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times bestselling author of She Is a Haunting

"Ryan La Sala's The Dead of Summer is a coastal New England fever dream that is equal parts heart-rending and horrifying. As in his previous work, La Sala masterfully balances elements of humor and horror to create a story that is as propulsive as it is poignant. Often told through a chilling epistolary lens, the truth behind what happened to the residents of Anchor's Mercy is pieced slowly together, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions in a way that will keep them guessing up until the breathtaking end." -- Kelly Andrew, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Made of Death

"Ryan brings their A-game with The Dead of Summer. As much a work of art stylistically as it is structurally, Ryan's sharp, signature prose reminds us all of the siren-song power of their craft. An engrossing read that'll absolutely pull you under." -- Kosoko Jackson, USA Today bestselling author of The Forest Demands Its Due

"The Dead of Summer contains La Sala's signature multitudes: sometimes delightfully campy, always stomach-turningly horrifying, with dread rising like the tide. The perfect beach read to really get that adrenaline going." -- Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture

"La Sala's story puts the 'gore' in 'gorgeous prose.'" --Washington Post

★ "A propulsive paranormal thriller." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ "La Sala once again demonstrates extreme prowess for integrating themes of belonging, grief, and yes, even queer joy into this horrifying and fresh approach to a zombie apocalypse." --Booklist (starred review)

★ "A deeply human, absolutely riveting, and expansively inclusive marine biology nightmare." --School Library Journal (starred review)

"An original, page-turning horror story that emphasizes the importance of queer community." --Kirkus Reviews

Praise for The Honeys

"A dark and redolent tale of familial bonds, grief, and a secretive summer camp tucked away in the heart of forests vast and dizzyingly wild. The Honeys creeped me out and I loved every moment of it." -- Erin A. Craig, New York Timesbestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrow

★ "La Sala gives real-life fears a supernatural twist, cleverly using folk horror and psychological-thriller elements to heighten Mars' understandable tension and infuse this idyllic location with dread.... The eerily ambivalent conclusion is pure horror gold." -- Booklist (starred review)

★ "La Sala's slow plot reveal is gripping, and the narrative's lush prose crafts both deliciously creepy horror scenes and a nuanced, self-assured protagonist consumed by grief and longing for acceptance." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* "This layered, complex, and at times truly disturbing novel creates an ever-heightening level of suspense, ratcheting up to an explosive conclusion that readers will not see coming but will find imminently believable and completely unforgettable. A sparkling and powerful exploration of grief, gender roles, and escaping the strong grip of expectations..." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

"La Sala delivers a sharply observed, imaginative tale of grief, destruction, and the transcendent nature of the reinvention that follows the aftermath of death.... As rich and complex as dark amber honey." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Beholder

School Library Journal Best Book

"Unnerving, intricate, and glittering with La Sala's trademark wit. You'll be scared of your own reflection after this one." -- Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls and Burn Our Bodies Down

"Beholder takes readers through a glass darkly, and into a spellbinding, spine-tingling world no one but Ryan la Sala could have dreamed up." -- Caleb Roehrig, author of Last Seen Leaving and The Fell of Dark

★ "La Sala balances inventive gruesomeness with thematic depth in this bewitching horror novel, a tale laced with spine-chilling gore.... The result is a top-notch horror novel and a tearjerker." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This book is a wild ride..." -- USA Today

"New York City, with all its grime and shine, is a fitting backdrop for this novel, which also weaves in elements of folklore and urban fantasy, giving the story a uniquely ominous and epic feel.... Gritty and imaginative: modern noir that'll leave you wary of your reflection." -- Kirkus Reviews