Pretty Savage

by T.A. Kunz

"An intriguing mystery, Pretty Savage is a tension packed, wild journey with engrossing characters. A true page turner." - #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bad things never happen in the picturesque town of Haddon Falls ... until now.

It all starts with a killer party.

It will end with a savage crime spree.

Seniors Donovan Walsh and Drea Sullivan attend a high school party for very different reasons. But after discovering the body of one of their classmates, they find themselves thrust into the same waking nightmare. From that moment, their lives become intertwined in a search for answers to questions they never should have asked.

As bodies pile high, the unlikely pair dig into Haddon Falls' past and uncover secrets someone would kill to keep hidden. In a small town where every face is friendly and every door unlocked, Donovan and Drea must unravel who is an ally ... and who is willing to bury them-and the truth-six feet under.

"Pretty Savage is a gripping, fast-paced YA thriller featuring a savvy gay male protagonist and his kick-ass female counterpart! Readers who love hints of horror with a blood spatter of romance mixed with page-turning mystery will be left gasping by this wicked masterpiece by T.A. Kunz." -Bestselling and award winning author Raine Thomas

Trigger/Content Warning: Some Profanity/Language, Mentions of Suicide, Death, Violence, Mentions of Attempted Sexual Assault (Not Graphic), Mentions of Death of A Parent, Drinking, Mentions of Drugs - All Involving Teens.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery

342 pages, Paperback

Published July 13, 2021

About the author

T.A. Kunz is the pen name for Adam Kunz, who lives in Orlando, Florida. And unfortunately a lot of the rumors you’ve heard about his state are true. When he’s not writing, Adam spends his time reading, playing video games, watching anime and Korean dramas, and spending time with his partner while cuddling with their two dogs, Nicky and Rusty. Since childhood, he’s had a great fondness for reading and writing. His fiction genres of choice are eclectic, but mainly are in the YA, MG, and NA categories. So, it was no surprise when he decided to write his own books that he’d be a grab bag kind of author in terms of story ideas. And he just loves mashing up genres. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Adam advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. He may or may not have a coffee addiction, the jury’s still out on that one. And his hands-down favorite holiday is Halloween, which holds a very special place in Adam’s heart.

Reviews

[Megan Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book and I enjoyed reading it. It was a book that I loved and I couldn’t put down. I liked the characters and the storyline.

[Candyce Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Savage is a book I couldn't put down once I started. It's everything I was looking for in a thriller with some added horror elements. T.A. Kunz sucked me in with a story full suspense and amazing characters.

No one seems to be safe after Donovan and Drea lose their best friend. This brought them closer and I love how they leaned on each other for support. These characters felt real and I was rooting for them from the start. As more students lose their lives and someone is spotted with a fox mask things get creepy!

What I loved the most about this book was it not being clear who was behind the deaths of these students. I think at some point I thought everyone was suspicious one time or another. Every time I thought I knew who it was something happened that had me doubting my decision. In the end I did figure out who was behind everything before the reveal, but it didn't make me enjoy Pretty Savage any less.

All in all, Pretty Savage is an amazing diverse thriller with characters I ended up really loving. Also, there are two sweet romances in this book, but it didn't take over the story. There was a perfect balance and gave a few moments to breathe during this otherwise intense story. I'll definitely be hoping this author writes more books in the future!

[AJ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of horror and slasher films, stop what you're doing and immediately get this book! It reminded me a lot of an LGBTQ+ Scream, which is something we all need in our lives, right? Speaking of horror films, this one made an amazing one! I personally viewed it as a sort of slasher-esque story considering it follows a group of teenagers, but it was also mixed with many different subgenres of horror and thrillers.

The main thing I want to mention is the LGBTQ+ representation; I don't think I've read a thriller that actually had any, so I was super excited when the author posted in the group for reviews. The cover caught my attention immediately, and as soon as I read the genre and synopsis, I knew I'd love it. In this case, my expectations were not only met, but exceeded!

The characters were so well-written in this book. I found myself questioning nearly all of them at some point, which definitely kept the mystery going for quite a while. The chemistry between all of them was really good as well, which is something I usually find to be a problem in thrillers.

I did guess part of the ending, but it was honestly a lucky guess. I'm pretty sure I went through several different theories before becoming convinced that one of them would be it. Even so, it's been so long since I've actively tried to solve the mystery in a thriller, which was refreshing.

This is one of the most intense thrillers I've read for a while, and I definitely recommend it to any thriller fan or anyone who loves horror films - or books even, as it had a few elements of a horror book! The writing style, the suspense, and the characters were written so well, and I can't wait to read more from the author!

Disclaimer: I received a gifted copy of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read about Pretty Savage, it definitely gave me There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins vibes. I was expecting something a little more fast paced. A little more gory. I will say that this story connects with the fact that this is happening to high school students and everyone has a reason/motive. I felt that this story didn’t actually give me those vibes until almost 70% of the way through.
I liked the double POV in this story between Drea and Donovan. They aren’t actually friends but Lori was Drea’s best friend before she was Donovan’s and then Lori ends up dying so they become friends when everything starts. They worked well with each other and were able to trust each other pretty quickly.
This story was a little slow moving in the beginning but it definitely picks up before the end and gives off that creepy factor. It was out of my comfort zone since I normally read romances but this story did have some romance, drama, and LGBT+ included.
I’m glad Donovan was able to have his happy ending even though Marcus wasn’t so lucky. I wasn’t sure how this book would end but thankfully with how much Drea and Donovan went through they were still able to find answers and have a happy ending.

[Maleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were enjoyable and fun. The plot was so interesting and I obviously don’t want to spoil anything but the twists and turns really through me through a loop for a lot it! If you like suspense this is definitely for you! Also as someone part of the community, it was great to see lgbt* representation in a story!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Savage was an incredible book. It was very hard to put down. I was definitely surprised by who the real mastermind was…and how many people were involved. I also loved the love stories that came from it. Well written, suspenseful, love stories, what more can you ask for?

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Cranky Stars


Lately I’ve switched up my reading genres and these who done it mysteries have been at the top of my list. Pretty Savage delivered on all fronts for me. It was a romance, a classic teenage slasher, a who done it and a mystery (is that the same as a who done it? Anyway) that kept me guessing till the end. I was certain I knew who the killer or killers were, but man did I have the rug yanked out me time and time again. Listen I know I’m well beyond the teenage target audience in fact I’m a mother to two teenage sons and a preteen girl, but I really enjoyed this book. I even went and got One Tiny Secret which I will start very soon.


Donovan is an out gay student who has recently transferred to Haddon Falls to live with his aunts. He thinks maybe this is a good place to start over. He makes friends with Lori and crushes on a guy who comes into the coffee shop where he works. Typical teenage shenanigans. The night he agrees to go to a party is when his life is flipped upside down. Things spiral and death comes knocking. Its during all this he makes friends with Drea who friends with Lori also. She had a secret and was trying to get over some bad stuff she believed happened to her. When the truth comes to light she no longer knows right from wrong. Together her and Donovan form an unlikely friendship when they try to solve the mystery of the person in the fox mask.


I really loved Donovan. He was cautious but a steadfast friend till the end. He truly wanted to see the good in people. I love that he wasn’t bullied for being gay. Drea was the ultimate best friend. She would hunt down the truth even if it cost her. Good book snatch it up and take this trip hopefully you’ll thank me. Just the book to get me out my rut and I’m glad I had a chance to read it.

[Inka York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haddon Falls, the setting for Pretty Savage, has its share of secrets. And they’re about to spill.

The two main characters were well-drawn and engaging, and the story gives you something to root for from the off. Drea takes on the more direct fearless sleuth role, while Donovan, a relative newcomer to Haddon Falls, tries to keep them both out of trouble as he makes new friends.

With the body count mounting, however, none of these characters felt safe for me to hang out with. The menace was ever present and had my stomach diving every time the lights went out. My molars are now dust, and I’m no longer sure how I feel about woodland creatures. Or neon. But pfft—who even needs teeth?

Something to note that I found really encouraging was that there were plenty of LGBTQ+ characters, but zero homophobia. Unless a book is specifically about “being” queer—which is a whole different thing—I find casual homophobia in books purely for the sake of “realism” to be tired and lazy. In the case of Pretty Savage, I found this departure refreshing and comforting, you know, despite the body count.

It was one of those just-one-more-chapter-before-bed books that I’m more than happy I took a chance on.

Overall, the book was well-written, suspenseful, and had me guessing until the very end. The slow unravelling of secrets had shades of 13 Reasons Why about it, but the overall vibe was Nancy Drew but darker. And gayer.

If you like thrillers, suspense and LGBTQ+ reads, teenager or not, I could not recommend this book more.

[Melanie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, TA Kunz has kept me guessing and on my toes. I love a good mystery and TA Kunz always delivers. Who doesn’t love a good mystery!

Donovan and Drea are both easy to like. Donovan reminds me of a friend I had in high school. They both feel like actual people. They aren’t unrealistic characters who have all the answers to all the things and I can appreciate that in a story. Too many characters nowadays just have all the answers and that’s not realistic, especially for a couple of teenagers. I love their senses of humor as well. As someone fluent in sarcasm and making jokes at the wrong time, I love seeing characters who do the same.

I really appreciated the length of this book. It took me 3 days to read it. Far too often either I’m loving a story, and it’s over too fast, or it just drags on forever and is full of filler. Pretty Savage is neither of those things. Every word is essential to the story, and it moves along at a great pace. It doesn’t seem to drag or have unnecessary filler just to add pages.

Kunz’s ability to make me see the story always amazes me. Every single book I’ve read by this author has made me feel like I was watching a movie even more than usual. I would definitely watch this if it were a movie, as long as the director didn’t ruin it lol. I love that I didn’t figure out what was going on until the end. They revealed just enough along the way to make you question yourself when you think you know who the killer is. I hate solving the mystery too early and I didn’t have that problem with this book.

Pretty Savage is a great read. It’s fast-paced, keeps you on your toes and guessing, and wraps you up so completely, you don’t want to do anything else until you find out how it’s going to end. The story revolves around high school students, but I thoroughly enjoyed it even as an older person. Highly recommend.

[Joey Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because of the cover and blurb and was desperate to get started. The story had me hooked from the first page, and I ended up finishing it in one sitting. I adored Donovan and Drea, loving the alternating points of view and the mystery woven into the words. I kept trying to guess what the ending was going to be and was very much along for the ride. Highly entertaining, and well crafted, the characters were all relatable and easy to get to know. One that I very much enjoyed and highly recommend to all those who love a good thriller.

[Shawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

What I liked : gay main character and lots of LGBTQ characters.
The setting Haddon Falls sounds like Haddonfield and it takes place in October.

What I didn’t like : everything else. Death 1 and Death 2 were so spread out that you forgot this was horror/thriller.
All the death took place off page. So annoying.
Slow! Nothing happens until the end and by then it’s too late. I was bored.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was an easy read. I never felt bored, loved the diversity and the twists. I thought another dark twist would come at the end, that didn't happen. However I really liked how the story developed and you're suspicious of everyone and start questioning their motives. Overall it's a good read and if you like thrillers I would recommend this tittle.

[L J Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun slasher with a decent body count & a great cast. I was missing some genuine suspense and the ending seemed rather unnecessarily convoluted but didn’t detract too much from my engagement to the story.
You can certainly tell that the author is a horror fan.

[NotTheTea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Few things reminded me of Jla's book "The dead shot" I think. It's a good one.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a great read, had me at the edge of my seat the whole time a dual perspective new take on murder mystery that you definitely do not want to miss!

[alex (existential crisis™️) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

this was… interesting…

[Elodie Colliard · Rating 4 out of 5]

ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ꜱᴀᴠᴀɢᴇ - @authorkunz⁠
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2️⃣ I really liked the dual point of view. We follow Donovan and Drea in this adventure, both on their personal journey and the misteries surrounding their friend. I n my opinion, Donovan POV was much stronger. I was more able to relate to him & understand his thought process. ⁠
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🌈Queer rep!! Donovan & Connor were SO cute and I mean... Connor is H O T. ⁠
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👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼Side characters for the win! T.A did an amazing job with his supporting cast. Oscars for everybody! I especially loved Harisson and him not falling into the athlete stereotype.⁠
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🪢Twist, twist twist! I loved being kept in the dark and not knowing how it was going to end. The suspense was real people! I was SURE of who the murderer was until I was not 😅⁠
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📺 If it was a TV show, it would 100% be 13 reasons why. The little clues, the dynamics, I thought about it all the time while reading it. ⁠
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❓The ending was absolute madness (in a good way) but it felt a bit rushed for me. We have an explanation, a reason but I wish it was more detailed, took a bit more room in the book. ⁠

[Ken Palminteri · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book read for 2022 and it was so fun. Truly. A nail biter to the end. Gripping and suspenseful. Funny. Reverent. I really enjoyed seeing 2 queer characters at the forefront of the story. I personally enjoyed Donovan’s POV and related to it more. I felt like I could visualize what the author was doing. I’ll say, after the dust was settled, the final stretch of the book…the author totally had me. I thought something was coming. Donovan of course got the happy ending with Connor but, what about Drea? Pleasantly surprised you threw me off my course, Mr Kunz. Well done. Would recommend.