📘 Deadstream
By Mar Romasco Moore
Genre/Category: Suspense / Thriller (YA)

Target Age Group: Ages 14+

Format Read: eBook
 

🌀 Plot Summary (1–2 Sentences)
Teresa, a teen with agoraphobia, is content living within the safety of her room, until her favorite streamer suddenly begins to act zombie-like on a livestream. As more streamers begin to mysteriously die, Teresa must unravel the truth behind a growing internet horror while facing her greatest fear: leaving the safety of her bedroom.
 

✅ Why I Chose This Book
As someone who mostly reads romance, I’ve never really explored the world of thrillers or horror. I used to think books couldn’t really be scary without jump scares or loud noises to startle you. So, I turned to Reddit to see what people considered truly terrifying reads, and Deadstream came up as a top suggestion. The fact that it was loosely inspired by The Ring really caught my attention, and I was curious to see how a book could evoke that kind of fear. Spoiler: it definitely did.
 

🔍 Evaluation

1. Language & Atmosphere
One of the strongest aspects of this book was the author’s ability to create tension through description. The way Moore describes eerie moments—like shadows that look like something else, or reflections in a screen that show someone who isn’t really there, had me constantly on edge. Reading this as an eBook, alone in the dark, actually amplified the fear. There were moments I’d glance at my own door just to make sure it was really shut. It was chilling in the best way.

2. Characterization
Teresa was a standout. Her growth from someone paralyzed by agoraphobia to someone who takes risks and confronts terrifying truths was impressive and believable. I admired her bravery because honestly, if I saw a murder livestreamed, I would not keep investigating. However, I felt like the side character Ozma was underdeveloped. While she shows up to text or call Teresa, the emotional buildup toward their connection felt weak. The romantic element introduced at the end seemed a bit rushed and underexplored, especially given how central Teresa's isolation and fears were to the story.

3. Format & Experience
Reading it digitally added an ironic meta-layer: the cover features a girl lit by a glowing phone screen, and there I was, doing the same thing. It made the experience feel immersive, like I was part of Teresa’s digital world. The eBook format also made it super convenient to carry around, even though I mostly read it in the dark (which definitely heightened the experience!).
 

📚 Reference
Moore, M. R. (2023). Deadstream. Delacorte Press.