Dead of Summer
Or so the motto of Camp Crestview says.
Having been a camp counselor for the last three summers, I can handle most situations that come my way courtesy of rowdy children. This year shouldn’t be any different, even with a new counselor who’s everyone’s type and too good to be true. But even so, Kayde Lane is nothing I can’t deal with.
Until I stumble upon him at night with an ax and sinister intentions towards the campers we're meant to protect
Unable to let him kill anyone, I strike a dangerous bargain with Kayde, only to realize the true extent of his darkness. With every demand he makes, pushing me to the brink of my moral boundaries, I'm torn between survival and the haunting allure of his control.
As the nights pass and Kayde's demands escalate, I find myself teetering on the edge of sanity, questioning my own desires and the twisted games he plays with my mind.
Seven nights are all I need to survive with Kayde, and if I can do that, everyone lives.
If I can believe the words of a serial killer obsessed with breaking me, that is.
Dead of Summer is a 160k+ word dark romance M/F standalone. It features a possessive, over the top hero and themes that not all readers may appreciate, and may be triggering to some. For a full list of TWs, please see the author's note.
- Pages
- 556
- First published
- June 20, 2024
Reviews
Finished June 3, 2025
What would you do if you saw an axe murderer in the woods? Guessing not what Summer did. I don't know how you can make a serial killer adorable, but Kayde was. The author did an excellent job of getting the reader to like Kayde even though he had planned to kill the kids & counselors at the camp. I loved the book until around the 70% mark, when it slowed down and the focus wasn't as much on the couple's relationship. It got a little crazy towards the end with the introduction of multiple murderers It wasn't clear why Kayde picked Summer to be the lone survivor. He tells her he wanted her to trauma bond with him and stay with him, but not why he wanted her after just meeting her briefly. Kayde was sweet and caring towards Summer, especially for a sociopath. His ability to often decipher Summer's thoughts and feelings quickly is intriguing, especially the bemused looks he gives her before he realizes what it is she is thinking or feeling. Respect to Kayde for not hiding what he is & he doesn't make excuses for what he did in the past. He is also willing to tell Summer anything she wants to know. The book doesn't tell you how many people Kayde killed (aside from a mercy kill, it only mentions one other from his past, but alludes to more), which leaves you wondering. Melody, the 12-year-old camper, was a great side character. “Because I already know how fucking desperate you are. How much of a slut you are for me.” His fingers tighten sharply just under my jaw. “And I already know how much you’re mine.”
Started April 28, 2025 · Finished April 29, 2025