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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
I grew up devouring the Fear Street books, and to this day the Shadyside High School cheerleaders still have a place in my heart for making me feel all the emotions. And maybe it is because I read the books so long ago that I find myself rating this relaunch title a 1 star.
But I'll be honest, I detested it. I kept at it because it was a review copy from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, but oh my lord it was painful. Truthfully, it felt like the book was written in the mid 90s and just had a few updates to bring it to this techno era: creating a video game storyboard, the lack of use of smart phones that are mentioned sparingly, Facebook. The way the teens spoke felt forced and fake. Even parental involvement felt forced and fake: they don't bat an eye when a new girl they barely know barges into their home unannounced or invited.
And the audio... I think I would have enjoyed it better had I not listened to the audio, I do regret that tremendously. The female narrator was good, but the male was not. The voices, inflections, and volumes he used in the book felt not only forced and fake, but also took me out of the story. And I do believe one of the characters' voices changed towards the end.
But I'll be honest, I detested it. I kept at it because it was a review copy from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, but oh my lord it was painful. Truthfully, it felt like the book was written in the mid 90s and just had a few updates to bring it to this techno era: creating a video game storyboard, the lack of use of smart phones that are mentioned sparingly, Facebook. The way the teens spoke felt forced and fake. Even parental involvement felt forced and fake: they don't bat an eye when a new girl they barely know barges into their home unannounced or invited.
And the audio... I think I would have enjoyed it better had I not listened to the audio, I do regret that tremendously. The female narrator was good, but the male was not. The voices, inflections, and volumes he used in the book felt not only forced and fake, but also took me out of the story. And I do believe one of the characters' voices changed towards the end.
Love, Love, Love this author! This book was just as good as his Fear Street series for me that I grew up reading. I remember begging my mom to buy me R.L. Stine books all the time when I was younger and these books never disappoint me. I guess I will never out grow R.L. Stine and the Fear Street! I am so glad he has started writing this series again for kids to enjoy in a another generation! This book was so great I would reread it and buy it for my niece. * I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Thank you to Netgalley for an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I never read Goosebumps/R.L. Stine as a kid because I was way too much of a scaredy cat. This was my first Fear Street book and I enjoyed it. It was a little bit confusing at first because I had read the synopsis and the synopsis had totally different characters than a good chunk of the beginning of the book, so I thought I was reading a different book at first.
Once I figured out the timeline, both plots were intriguing (even though the past timeline was not a big part of the book). It was easy to figure out who the new girl was, but I think that was kind of implied. It was still a very creepy and scary story. Angel being someone Lizzy knew from her old school and being presumed dead after getting hit by a snowmobile but vanishing minutes later, like yikes! Him coming back and hurting all of Michael's friends, calling and sending him scary text messages just had me on the edge of my seat.
I guessed what the kind of "big reveal" was early on in the book but it didn't really take away from anything.
For a short book, the average R.L. Stine book, it was a complete story, it was all the spooky and creepy and I can't wait to read more of these books!
3.5 stars
I never read Goosebumps/R.L. Stine as a kid because I was way too much of a scaredy cat. This was my first Fear Street book and I enjoyed it. It was a little bit confusing at first because I had read the synopsis and the synopsis had totally different characters than a good chunk of the beginning of the book, so I thought I was reading a different book at first.
Once I figured out the timeline, both plots were intriguing (even though the past timeline was not a big part of the book). It was easy to figure out who the new girl was, but I think that was kind of implied. It was still a very creepy and scary story. Angel being someone Lizzy knew from her old school and being presumed dead after getting hit by a snowmobile but vanishing minutes later, like yikes! Him coming back and hurting all of Michael's friends, calling and sending him scary text messages just had me on the edge of my seat.
I guessed what the kind of "big reveal" was early on in the book but it didn't really take away from anything.
For a short book, the average R.L. Stine book, it was a complete story, it was all the spooky and creepy and I can't wait to read more of these books!
She should be called the revenge girl! And she’d never team up with her wannabe rapist!
This was really good. Really enjoyed it. And didn't see the twist coming.
I found this book to be okay. I know it scared more towards younger kids who like horror but it was very predictable. The going back and forth between times made it very easy to realize that what was going to happen was going to happen. I think that if someone likes RL Stine and these books that they will enjoy listening to it. The narration was really good and the pace moved decently
What a gruesome spooky story! Some of the scenes were gory and disturbing . The story itself was creepy and fun! I definitely enjoyed this redux of a Fear Street book. The main character is likable. As per usual with RL Stine he leaves you wondering what’s going to happen. I also enjoy the references to other stories reminding you that Feat Street is one big universe!
The narrators did a great job invoking the different characters and building the tension!
The narrators did a great job invoking the different characters and building the tension!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher (St. Martin's Press) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Fear Street Relaunch is back!!!
A wave of nostalgia sweeps over me, every time I see R.L Stine's name in bookstores. Reading it years later, I realized I must acquire an extreme case of Pavlovian conditioning on R.L Stine's books. Seeing a neutral stimulus like a book with similar cover and font style like Stine's already elicits conditioned responses like "goosebumps" and an automatic internal replay of spooky stories from childhood. Childhood memories wouldn't be complete without a handful of Goosebumps series. That being said, my heart was bursting in excitement when the publisher approved my request. An advanced digital copy of R.L Stine book? A spine-chilling journey in Fear Street? Let me join the ride down the memory lane. What a great opportunity to revisit the past!
THE PLOT & THE CHARACTERS
This the third book in the Fear Street Relaunch novel and it wasn't even that long, it's only 270 pages in Kindle edition, so I just flew through it. I was extremely glad because I literally finished this book in one sitting! This was definitely a quick read. The story switches back and forth between two different time period and setting. One was in the present year and the latter was set in the year 1950. The first few chapters were already filled with horror and violence. The protagonist's narration sent chills down my spine. Some parts of the story has been told 60 years ago. I wasn't even born that time and reading it halfway through, I would admit I suffer from a bad case of Nostalgiosity.
The story started off in the year of 1950. The narrator in this time period was named Beth Palmieri. Beth's father decided to start a new business in town. Much to the distaste of their competitor, an owner of a big ranch, was the fact that Beth's father used to be their worker; a subordinate. Unexpectedly, business rivalry ends in a grusome murder. When I said that the murder was gruesome, it was indeed gruesome in nature. Beth's father has been ravenoulsy devoured by horses right before her eyes. A handful of horses pounced on her father's body voraciously, how crazy is that? Unfortunately, the witness to the crime was never found since then.
Switching to the present day, sixty years later, our narrator Michael met a strange girl named Lizzy. This lost girl kept on appearing before him saying she was a new girl lost in town. For no apparent reason, this "new-girl-lost-in-school" drama strangely happened multiple times. Michael was so drawn to her beauty that he found himself befriending the lost girl in spite of his girlfriend's disapproval.
THE WRITING STYLE
This is what I like about Stine's writing style, in the absence of unnecessary elucidation, the first few chapters started with pure action! Everything was so fast-paced. On my age though, the narration wasn't that scary for me and the plot twist didn't take me by surprise. Still, in the end, I can say that I enjoyed the entire story. The format of this installment remained faithful to the old school vibe of his previous novels.
I must say that the plot twist was perfect for the target audience. This is the same reason why I gave the book with a high rating. The story's level of excitement, the fast-paced plot, the blend of gore elements and unnerving narration were parallel to the assumed target audience.
OVERALL
If you're looking for an Autumn night's spooky reads, Stine's The Lost Girl is right up your alley. This story has myriad elements that are a sure scare and mind-boggling: flawless historical narratives, eerie setting, unforeseeable plot twists, gruesome murder, tons of secrecy and lastly your typical R.L Stine's storytelling. This is a great installment to Fear Street Relaunch.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy!
Fear Street Relaunch is back!!!
A wave of nostalgia sweeps over me, every time I see R.L Stine's name in bookstores. Reading it years later, I realized I must acquire an extreme case of Pavlovian conditioning on R.L Stine's books. Seeing a neutral stimulus like a book with similar cover and font style like Stine's already elicits conditioned responses like "goosebumps" and an automatic internal replay of spooky stories from childhood. Childhood memories wouldn't be complete without a handful of Goosebumps series. That being said, my heart was bursting in excitement when the publisher approved my request. An advanced digital copy of R.L Stine book? A spine-chilling journey in Fear Street? Let me join the ride down the memory lane. What a great opportunity to revisit the past!
THE PLOT & THE CHARACTERS
This the third book in the Fear Street Relaunch novel and it wasn't even that long, it's only 270 pages in Kindle edition, so I just flew through it. I was extremely glad because I literally finished this book in one sitting! This was definitely a quick read. The story switches back and forth between two different time period and setting. One was in the present year and the latter was set in the year 1950. The first few chapters were already filled with horror and violence. The protagonist's narration sent chills down my spine. Some parts of the story has been told 60 years ago. I wasn't even born that time and reading it halfway through, I would admit I suffer from a bad case of Nostalgiosity.
The story started off in the year of 1950. The narrator in this time period was named Beth Palmieri. Beth's father decided to start a new business in town. Much to the distaste of their competitor, an owner of a big ranch, was the fact that Beth's father used to be their worker; a subordinate. Unexpectedly, business rivalry ends in a grusome murder. When I said that the murder was gruesome, it was indeed gruesome in nature. Beth's father has been ravenoulsy devoured by horses right before her eyes. A handful of horses pounced on her father's body voraciously, how crazy is that? Unfortunately, the witness to the crime was never found since then.
Switching to the present day, sixty years later, our narrator Michael met a strange girl named Lizzy. This lost girl kept on appearing before him saying she was a new girl lost in town. For no apparent reason, this "new-girl-lost-in-school" drama strangely happened multiple times. Michael was so drawn to her beauty that he found himself befriending the lost girl in spite of his girlfriend's disapproval.
THE WRITING STYLE
This is what I like about Stine's writing style, in the absence of unnecessary elucidation, the first few chapters started with pure action! Everything was so fast-paced. On my age though, the narration wasn't that scary for me and the plot twist didn't take me by surprise. Still, in the end, I can say that I enjoyed the entire story. The format of this installment remained faithful to the old school vibe of his previous novels.
I must say that the plot twist was perfect for the target audience. This is the same reason why I gave the book with a high rating. The story's level of excitement, the fast-paced plot, the blend of gore elements and unnerving narration were parallel to the assumed target audience.
OVERALL
If you're looking for an Autumn night's spooky reads, Stine's The Lost Girl is right up your alley. This story has myriad elements that are a sure scare and mind-boggling: flawless historical narratives, eerie setting, unforeseeable plot twists, gruesome murder, tons of secrecy and lastly your typical R.L Stine's storytelling. This is a great installment to Fear Street Relaunch.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy!
Okay... I should have know that I was not going to be a huge fan of this, but I wanted to try it anyway. R.L. Stine was a staple of my childhood reading until I realized that I never liked the cliff-hanger-type endings. I found this book to be incredibly predictable, but given that I am a high school English teacher, this should not be surprising. I can see where this would be a great book for struggling or unmotivated readers and if that is the goal, then it was met...sometimes reading even predictable books is better than not reading at all.
The Lost Girl was very enjoyable and cheesy. I mostly loved the storyline from the 1950's but didn't enjoy the present-day sections as much. The two timelines weaved together quite nicely in this one.
The storyline kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. The gore and violence written in this was excellent and it was probably the best parts of the book.
The characters felt a bit undeveloped, but they were a decent cast. My main issue with the characters is they felt dated and felt closer to stereotypes at times. Some of the twists were good, but some of the final twists were not great. Without spoiling anything I would just say that they just didn't make sense in the context of the 1950's timeline.
I enjoyed the Lost Girl as a whole, as it was just a lot of creepy fun.
The storyline kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. The gore and violence written in this was excellent and it was probably the best parts of the book.
The characters felt a bit undeveloped, but they were a decent cast. My main issue with the characters is they felt dated and felt closer to stereotypes at times. Some of the twists were good, but some of the final twists were not great. Without spoiling anything I would just say that they just didn't make sense in the context of the 1950's timeline.
I enjoyed the Lost Girl as a whole, as it was just a lot of creepy fun.