HIS SCREAM QUEEN is the third book in Brooklyn Ann’s horror/romance “B Mine” series, which is heavily influenced by delightfully cheesy “B” horror films from the 1980s. In this installment the themes are prom-pocalypse, makeovers, and demonic possession. Brittney Shaw is the resident “HBIC” or “head bitch in charge” of the popular clique at Amteep High circa 1984. What the reader knows before many of the characters do, is that Brittney is also making sacrifices to a demon to get what she wants. Even though I, as the reader, knew who the villain in this story was and what she was doing before the main characters, it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the story. After the main couple fall for each other, they play detective to piece together the bad things happening around town.

As a reader, I think you either like YA or New Adult fiction or you don’t. I was initially slow to warm to this story because Brittney’s comments and internal dialogue sounded insipid – but that’s because that’s who the character is. As a villainess, Brittney combines a vapid and shallow personality with a malignant evil. As with other books by Brooklyn Ann, the strengths in HIS SCREAM QUEEN are the believability and emotional resonance of the relationships between the characters, and the storytelling. After being dumped by Brittney and seeing her for who she is (although still initially clueless about her violent hobbies), Lucio Argento plans to take away the one thing that seems to matter most to her – being Prom Queen. He finds it particularly fitting if the girl to snatch the crown from her is somebody she bullied for years. I like how Lucio is very up-front with Jamie Blair about his reasons for wanting to mold her into the perfect potential usurper Prom Queen. I hate when a hero’s motivations in a situation like that is kept hidden from the heroine. Although he was a part of the popular clique for a while, Lucio was more of a novelty and outsider. However, his time spent in that group, gives him insight into what Jamie needs to do to win. In addition to the makeover plot and shy girl-meets-cool guy romance, Brooklyn Ann throws in a paranormal and malevolent twist to this tale of teen love. For me, the book gets better as the story progresses. The danger increases tenfold as the feelings between Lucio and Jamie deepen. There are so many things I like about this book. While the characters are realistically flawed, I like the hero’s self-awareness and sensitivity. I like how the hero and heroine bond over playing detective. I also appreciate the Snow White allusions – whether they were intentional or not – like the heroine’s color palette and the evil “queen” summoning something evil in a mirror.

 HIS SCREAM QUEEN has a charming teen romance and an insidious evil that proves to be a compelling mix. The friendships in HIS SCREAM QUEEN are realistic and made the book more enjoyable. Unlike with all the cheesy 80s horror films I’ve watched, Brooklyn Ann makes you feel sympathy for all of Brittney’s human victims. While they may not have been perfect, each of them had qualities that made you believe they’d mature and live a more well-rounded life if given the chance. That vanquishing of hope and promise is somehow more tragic than the actual gory murder method they are eventually subjected to. I look forward to reading Brooklyn Ann’s next “B Mine” romance.