Actual rating: 2.75 stars. So 2014 saw the reboot of the Fear Street franchise. As the relaunch title, I think it does an adequate job. I didn't want Actual rating: 2.75 stars. So 2014 saw the reboot of the Fear Street franchise. As the relaunch title, I think it does an adequate job. I didn't want to give it a mere two star rating because I think the writing is actually better than the old school Fear Street books. No stupid decisions or weird out-of-character moments found here. But I couldn't quite give it a three star rating because the last half of the story drags on for far too long. The concept is decent, but it would have worked better if Stine had (view spoiler)[let the murder mystery part of it go on longer and shaved the kidnapping stuff down. (hide spoiler)] That part went on longer than it needed to, hence the 2.75 star rating. Other than that, the Fear Street formula is alive and well. Will I read the others? I don't know. Maybe if one catches my interest....more
This is the last Fear Street book I'll review and the only reason it got two stars instead of one was the fact that two separate people actually told This is the last Fear Street book I'll review and the only reason it got two stars instead of one was the fact that two separate people actually told Reva to her face that she was a horrible person. As it was the last book in the Silent Night trilogy, I'd hoped that Reva would die or, at the very least, be put through the emotional wringer. Alas, it was not to be.
While I approved of the reasoning of the killer, I felt the whole thing was sloppily tied together. (view spoiler)[Grace should have been directly targeting Reva, not the poor models. (hide spoiler)] I actually did like Grant. Not because he (along with EVERY OTHER GUY IN SHADYSIDE!) cheats on his girlfriend, but because (view spoiler)[he feels so guilty, he goes crazy and tries to kill Reva. (hide spoiler)] You'd think that, with the deathrate/number of crazy people in this town, you'd be terrified to cheat on your significant other for fear they'd kill you and/or the people you care about....more
Actual rating: 1.5 stars. I was actually glad there was a sequel to the original Silent Night. I didn't feel like Reva had suffered enough and I wanteActual rating: 1.5 stars. I was actually glad there was a sequel to the original Silent Night. I didn't feel like Reva had suffered enough and I wanted a sequel to rectify that. It looks like I'm still going to have to wait. Reva is just as mean as ever and nothing happens to her in response to that. Yes, people are trying to kidnap her, but they're doing it for the money, not to get back at her. (view spoiler)[I did like how Pam helped them kidnap Reva. It was a small step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. (hide spoiler)] I also wished the first book had been mentioned more. None of the guys are mentioned and Pam(!) works at the department store. Didn't she try to rob it in the prevous book!? Why is her uncle letting her work there!?...more
This book suffers from split personality. There's one plot about robbing a department store and then there's another dealing with "getting even" with This book suffers from split personality. There's one plot about robbing a department store and then there's another dealing with "getting even" with Reva. I liked the robbery plot. It could have been a book on it's own and perhaps if the "getting even" plot had been in the vein of some other Fear Street books (more violent) I would have liked it. Reva is a b---- with a captial B! I wanted her balled up and crying in a corner before I would even think about letting her live. But, alas, she merely gets two lame pranks pulled on her and one (involving a needle and her lipstick) that I wouldn't consider a prank. More like assault....more
I have to admit that this entry in the Fear Street series comes up short. It's actually pretty tame compared to the others and the plot seems very genI have to admit that this entry in the Fear Street series comes up short. It's actually pretty tame compared to the others and the plot seems very generic. I know that could be argued about a lot of these books, but this book just has some random kids getting mixed up in some random stuff. They have no real connection to it. The book does manage to save a little bit of face with the inclusion of the Fear family so while it's not the best Fear Street book, it's definitely not the worse....more
This book could have garnered a three star rating had more stuff just been explained. (view spoiler)[Why did the ghosts come back? Was it just the powThis book could have garnered a three star rating had more stuff just been explained. (view spoiler)[Why did the ghosts come back? Was it just the power of Fear street?(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)](hide spoiler)]...more
It's your typical Fear Street book. Nothing really makes it stand out except there's a lot less violence in this Fear Street book than the others in tIt's your typical Fear Street book. Nothing really makes it stand out except there's a lot less violence in this Fear Street book than the others in the series. There's actually a very interesting ethical/moral/legal question in this book. (view spoiler)[If one potential drowning victim was causing danger to both the lifeguard and another potential drowning victim, should the lifeguard leave the one causing the danger and come back after he has seen to the other one? (hide spoiler)] The ending seems kind of unlikely, but plausible. I know that's a contradiction, but the mind works in mysterious ways so it could potentially be plausible....more
Actual rating: 1.5 stars. It's an interesting set up and the characters are nicely varied, even though we don't actually see much lifeguarding. The reActual rating: 1.5 stars. It's an interesting set up and the characters are nicely varied, even though we don't actually see much lifeguarding. The reason I gave it the rating I did was that there were so many plots in the story, I didn't know what was supposed to be going on. Seriously, it could be ghosts, amnesiac killers, non-amnesiac killers...just pick one and be done with it! This book also jumps p.o.v. so much it's confusing....more
I thought this book was going to pull off a two star rating, but in the very last possible moment it did something that forced me to give it one star.I thought this book was going to pull off a two star rating, but in the very last possible moment it did something that forced me to give it one star. This Cheerleaders book has different characters than the previous ones, but I was okay with that. I was even ok with the warning note Corky left, but I wasn't ok with (view spoiler)[her leaving the spell to call up the spirit! (hide spoiler)] That was soooooo stupid! It's so obvious that this is a writer's convienence, it's not even funny! I liked the way the girls found out the history (Sarah Fear) behind the Evil, although I would chalk it up to a vision, not time traveling as Amanda puts it. The only other thing I hated was the ending. (view spoiler)[It turns out that Amanda and Brandon were actually back in time. This means that the Evil never existed because Sarah/Jane died, right? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently, the Evil is still alive and kicking as seen by the posession of Amanda and Brandon. THEN WHY IS EVERYONE STILL ALIVE AND HAVE NO MEMORIES OF WHAT HAPPENED? (hide spoiler)]...more
**spoiler alert** The best thing about this book is the fact that the girls actually bring back the Evil themselves. They're paranoid that the Evil ha**spoiler alert** The best thing about this book is the fact that the girls actually bring back the Evil themselves. They're paranoid that the Evil has gotten free (and they probably should be because the ending to the trilogy doesn't quite make sense). Besides, if they're worried about the Evil escaping through a hole in the ice, what did they expect to happen once the river thawed? The idea that the evil would inhabit mulitple people at a time was pretty neat, thought the fact that no one on the bus died was so "happy ending". It was only done so Corky wasn't a murderer in the readers eyes. Kimmy's death was a bit of a surprise. If Stine keeps writing the Cheerleaders series, he won't have any of the original cheerleaders around. ...more
Yes, I'm actually giving a Fear Street book four stars. Why? Well, let's see...a character that I hate dies (Awesome!), (view spoiler)[I actually sympYes, I'm actually giving a Fear Street book four stars. Why? Well, let's see...a character that I hate dies (Awesome!), (view spoiler)[I actually sympathize with the killer. It's also really easy to see how what started as revenge (for Erica), could turn into a descent into madness (her ravings about Melissa and Luke). I wish the book could have delved more into that. (hide spoiler)] There were some red herrings, but they turned out to only enhance the book, not distract you. Normally, I don't mind that parents are virtually never seen in Fear Street books, but I did in this one. (view spoiler)[If the parents had been around more, Erica wouldn't have been driven to do what she did. (hide spoiler)]...more
I have to applaud the author for going in a different werewolf direction, but (view spoiler)[the hypnotism seemed really ridiculous. I mean, will everI have to applaud the author for going in a different werewolf direction, but (view spoiler)[the hypnotism seemed really ridiculous. I mean, will everyone still turn into wolves or are they fine now? And why did certain members fall apart? (hide spoiler)] Danielle was an ok character, but I thought she was really stupid when she gets upset because her aunt and shrink are in contact. You're a minor, idiot! Of course your doctor is going to give progress reports to your guardian....more
Except for one slight problem concerning canon, I liked this book. Any questions the reader might have from the Cheerleaders series are answered, inclExcept for one slight problem concerning canon, I liked this book. Any questions the reader might have from the Cheerleaders series are answered, including (view spoiler)[why the Evil seems to "take the side" of the person it inhabits (hide spoiler)]. ...more
This book is your typical Fear book. So why am I giving it one star instead of the usual two or three? I mean, the story itself is sound and beside thThis book is your typical Fear book. So why am I giving it one star instead of the usual two or three? I mean, the story itself is sound and beside the horrible ending of "evil wins, good loses", what's wrong with it? Um....how about the fact that IT'S NOT CANNON??????? In The Burning, Daniel and Nora are married and go straight to tell Simon Fear. Unless they're consummating their marriage on a horse or in a carriage, this book couldn't have happened because Nicholas could never have existed. What makes me angry more than anything is the fact that this book clearly was ghost written as a way for the publisher to make more money off the Fear Street brand....more
I must admit this book certainly lives up to its expectations. The story of Simon Fear and his family is finally told in all its graphic horror. The tI must admit this book certainly lives up to its expectations. The story of Simon Fear and his family is finally told in all its graphic horror. The twist regarding Simon and Angelica was interesting. Regarding the curse, again it seems self-fullfilling and yet there are supernatural aspects to it. I don't think what happened to Nora would really happen, though. (view spoiler)[I loved the introduction of Fear street at the end! (hide spoiler)] It made me wonder: Is the curse really gone? According to the Cheerleaders series, there are Fears still around, so wouldn't the curse still be attached to them? Or has the curse kind of seeped into the ground and that's why so many things happen on Fear Street?...more
I didn't have any serious problems with this book. I liked the way the feud is handled as it's passed down from generation to generation. In the beginI didn't have any serious problems with this book. I liked the way the feud is handled as it's passed down from generation to generation. In the beginning section of the book, the idea behind the curse seems to be more of a self-fulfilling curse, which would be a great layer to add. But then it seems to be that the Goode family can only find the Fiers if they are in possession of the necklace. I hope this becomes a little more clear in the last volume. (view spoiler)[Franklin seems to blame the Fiers for the death of his family, but how can this be when the Fiers are no longer in possession of the talisman and do magic? Are there two curses? Or is there only one curse and it's actually affecting both families? (hide spoiler)] Hopefully, since the final volume is Simon Fear's story, it will be worth it. ...more
So it begins! The story of the cursed Fear family and why so many bad things happen on Fear street. I gotta say the start of this book is very depressSo it begins! The story of the cursed Fear family and why so many bad things happen on Fear street. I gotta say the start of this book is very depressing. I won't spoil anything, but it's pretty horrific. I can see why the Fear family is cursed. Having Nora narrate the story works very well, although the reader could get slightly confused at her place in all this. There were quite a few plot holes: (view spoiler)[Why didn't anyone in the family question why they were leaving Wickham so quickly and quietly? Why didn't William Goode do magic to save his wife and daughter? Why didn't the townsfolk stop the burning when they realized their magistrate had fled? (hide spoiler)] and they're really annoying once you think about them...so don't. However, the ending sets up the rest of the saga rather well. (view spoiler)[It's depressing that Ezra takes on this mission without knowing the whole story, but then again, that's how all long feuds are. (hide spoiler)]...more
I'd say it's a fitting ending to the series. I did like the misdirection and I was glad that (view spoiler)[Meghan wasn't as dumb as she appeared. I wI'd say it's a fitting ending to the series. I did like the misdirection and I was glad that (view spoiler)[Meghan wasn't as dumb as she appeared. I would have liked to have seen the interactions between Dierdre and Meghan, though (hide spoiler)]. I was disappinted that we still didn't learn what made Robin turn evil. He says that it was a promise to his father and that he wasn't really evil. The book would have been much better had Robin actually showed remorse for the murders and if more of a focus on Robin's want of approval from his father had been apparent. As it is, it just reinforces the idea that Fear's are evil and they can't escape it....more
Middle books in trilogies have a big job to do. They have to keep the action going and the reader interested enough to read the final book. This book Middle books in trilogies have a big job to do. They have to keep the action going and the reader interested enough to read the final book. This book does a good job of that. The reader has some questions answered that were left over from the first book and there's a good deal more violence. It also introduces a mystery person. I have to say, though, having a wildlife park with the amusement park is really weird. ...more
So the first 3/4's of the book has nothing to do with Dierdre Bradley or her father (the people in the description). The majority of the book takes plSo the first 3/4's of the book has nothing to do with Dierdre Bradley or her father (the people in the description). The majority of the book takes place 60 years prior and it describes the original plans to build an amusement park. The Fear family plays a big role. If you don't know the history of the Fear family, it might be a bit confusing. The ending is great. It leaves you waiting for the next installment which is always a good thing. (view spoiler)[I was a little confused at why Robin turned evil as well as what happened to Meghan. Hopefully, it will be explained in the next book. (hide spoiler)]...more
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