I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Yule Day Slaughter by Craig DiLouie Series: Slasher Season #2
Published by Run For It on November 17 2026
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 318
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon, Buy on Bookshop.org
Goodreads
The nitty-gritty: The Hungry Hare is back in this fast-paced, bloody conclusion to Craig DiLouie’s folklore-based horror duology.
Craig DiLouie wraps up his Slasher Season duology with plenty of slashery action in The Yule Day Slaughter. Take heed of the title: this book is full of slaughter, but it’s balanced out by great characters who are regular people trying to do the right thing and keep their loved ones safe. I would definitely start with The Summer Fun Massacre, which sets the stage and introduces readers to the Hungry Hare, a vengeful killer who will not rest until its agenda is complete.
It’s been three years since the terrible events at the end of The Summer Fun Massacre. Laura Turner was the “final girl” back then, and she’s since been deputized by Sheriff Tom Bailey and is determined to keep watch in case the Hare returns. The Hare has been quiet, but they weren’t able to kill it last time, so Tom is just waiting for the day when it inevitably comes back to wreak bloody vengeance on the town of Ledger, Texas.
And then weird things start happening. Residents are reporting unsettling cairns showing up on their properties, made of animal bones and dirt. Tom suspects they are signs that the Hare might be waking up, and when someone discovers a shrine made up of dead animals in the nearby Whispering Woods, he knows the monster is back. Most people don’t believe the legend of the Hungry Hare and are convinced the killer is human, but Tom and Laura know better—they’ve seen what it can do first hand.
As they prepare for the final battle, help shows up in the form of the Texas Rangers, but will it be enough?
Ledger has seen a lot of heartbreak over the years, starting in 1983, the first time the Hare struck Summer Fun Camp and killed a bunch of camp counselors. And after the bloodbath from the last book, the townsfolk are still recovering from all the loss. DiLouie does a great job of showing how these characters are mired in heartache and are just trying to get through one more day. When the threat reappears, their despair turns into anger. How can they possibly go through another massacre?
I also loved the way the author uses flashbacks to convey some of the events from the last book. Tom has a lot of loss to deal with, and despite his standing as sheriff and his determination to stop the Hare for good, his inner thoughts show another side, a man who isn’t sure the Hare can even be stopped. He’s willing to give up his life if necessary, which is one reason I love his character so much. Laura plays a big part in this story too. As the final girl from the last book, she knows the Hare will come for her again, and she makes some rash decisions in this book (mostly driven by high emotions).
DiLouie doesn’t save the slaughter for the end of his story, and I was surprised how quickly the Hare makes an appearance and starts its rampage. A lot of bodies pile up, and some of them were tough to read about. The tension ramps up early on and doesn’t really quit, which of course made the pages fly by. I liked the idea of bringing in the Texas Rangers to help, and DiLouie adds a nice twist involving the Tom and the Rangers that worked surprisingly well. The Hungry Hare is one of those supernatural killers that pops up whenever your guard is down and seems impossible to defeat. The creepy rabbit mask adds a nice touch too!
We also learn the Hare’s origins in a flashback chapter told by the local town historian. This was the perfect way to explain how the Hare came to be and just how long his anger has been building up over decades.
I loved the ending, which didn’t shake out exactly the way I expected, which is a good thing. I mean, isn’t the author’s ending usually better than the one in your head? Given the winter/holiday setting, now is the perfect time to read this book if you like your snowy settings with a serving of blood and gore.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Leave a Reply