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A review by annashiv
Fear Street Super Thriller: Nightmares: (2 Books in 1: The Dead Boyfriend; Give Me a K-I-L-L) by R.L. Stine
3.0
Just finished the first book and I'm still not sure how I feel about the end. It was properly set up as best as I can think, and it justified a certain author choice I was questioning the point of up until the end, but it also didn't quite satisfy. Maybe that's the price for that kind of twist - you just aren't as satisfied with a full story but are supposed to appreciate the gimmick.
Anyway, I know the Fear Street doesn't have the best rep, but it's pretty nostalgic to me. I picked this up for that reason, but I was surprised to find it was written and published recently rather than just being a re-release. To be honest, I didn't like the modern touches with mentions of Netflix and FaceTime and the like. I kinda feel like Shadyside should sort of be out of time, always stuck in the 80's or whatever. I think that kind of setting is more interesting for horror. But maybe that's just my nostalgia talking.
The writing is fine, even good at points. Stine does suspense very well. It's just the characters that are maybe a little too one-noted? There were a few times where I thought people don't talk like that, but I didn't find it as bad as some other reviews have suggested. Then again, I'm not a teenage anymore either.
***
And now I've finished the second book. I liked the ending a lot better in this one, even if I kind of saw it coming. It did still surprise me and had a lot of interesting elements. However, leading up to the ending was a bit painful. Again, the modern things put me off and pulled me out of the story, but mainly I was bothered by the events leading up to the end, because it just seemed to not make sense. There were a lot of problems with this story both plot-wise and character-wise. The biggest thing that bothered me was the fire batons. Those aren't really that dangerous. You can clamp onto one of those ends for a second and be just fine and it doesn't burn that hot. If it were as dangerous as all that, there's no way high school kids would be allowed anywhere near it. Anyway, it was just things like that and the fact that the mother didn't do something that I think was played down a lot because the plot called for it.
Still, overall, I enjoyed reading these. It was nostalgic, despite it being modernized. If you know what you're getting into, that these are meant more to be about the twist and gimmicks and suspense, then by all means read it. Just don't expect any likable characters or for them to do logical things or talk normally or rationally. It's fine for what it is, just know it's not trying to do the same things as most of the newer published stuff. I guess that's actually part of why I like it. I don't have to take it too seriously and just see what interesting things Stine comes up with, because he does come up with cool ideas. Just maybe not the greatest execution.
Anyway, I know the Fear Street doesn't have the best rep, but it's pretty nostalgic to me. I picked this up for that reason, but I was surprised to find it was written and published recently rather than just being a re-release. To be honest, I didn't like the modern touches with mentions of Netflix and FaceTime and the like. I kinda feel like Shadyside should sort of be out of time, always stuck in the 80's or whatever. I think that kind of setting is more interesting for horror. But maybe that's just my nostalgia talking.
The writing is fine, even good at points. Stine does suspense very well. It's just the characters that are maybe a little too one-noted? There were a few times where I thought people don't talk like that, but I didn't find it as bad as some other reviews have suggested. Then again, I'm not a teenage anymore either.
***
And now I've finished the second book. I liked the ending a lot better in this one, even if I kind of saw it coming. It did still surprise me and had a lot of interesting elements. However, leading up to the ending was a bit painful. Again, the modern things put me off and pulled me out of the story, but mainly I was bothered by the events leading up to the end, because it just seemed to not make sense. There were a lot of problems with this story both plot-wise and character-wise. The biggest thing that bothered me was the fire batons. Those aren't really that dangerous. You can clamp onto one of those ends for a second and be just fine and it doesn't burn that hot. If it were as dangerous as all that, there's no way high school kids would be allowed anywhere near it. Anyway, it was just things like that and the fact that the mother didn't do something that I think was played down a lot because the plot called for it.
Still, overall, I enjoyed reading these. It was nostalgic, despite it being modernized. If you know what you're getting into, that these are meant more to be about the twist and gimmicks and suspense, then by all means read it. Just don't expect any likable characters or for them to do logical things or talk normally or rationally. It's fine for what it is, just know it's not trying to do the same things as most of the newer published stuff. I guess that's actually part of why I like it. I don't have to take it too seriously and just see what interesting things Stine comes up with, because he does come up with cool ideas. Just maybe not the greatest execution.