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Fear Park #1
The First Scream
Beginning this month is a new Fear Street trilogy that plays into teens' love for amusement parks. A new one is coming to the Fear Street Woods, even though 60 years ago someone tried to build an amusement park in exactly the same spot, and more than a dozen kids got killed before it opened.
Would you open an amusement park on Fear Street? Would you take a risk and go against the ancient curse of the Fear Family?
Dierdre Bradley's father would. He is opening Fear Park in a few days. But he doesn't know someone--or something--will do anything to stop him.
Soon the screams of joy will turn to screams of terror. And Dierdre will be caught in a nightmare right that never ends.
Would you open an amusement park on Fear Street? Would you take a risk and go against the ancient curse of the Fear Family?
Dierdre Bradley's father would. He is opening Fear Park in a few days. But he doesn't know someone--or something--will do anything to stop him.
Soon the screams of joy will turn to screams of terror. And Dierdre will be caught in a nightmare right that never ends.
150 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
9 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,679 books18.6k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 10, 2020
My high school life would have been incomplete without finishing this book. It's pretty scary.
June 28, 2023
Chop chop.
We’re taken back to the 30s for the spooky, sordid origins of Fear Park. Pack your hatchet, it’s going to be a bloody ride.
We’re taken back to the 30s for the spooky, sordid origins of Fear Park. Pack your hatchet, it’s going to be a bloody ride.
July 15, 2023
It would go without saying that there might be a slight chance of spoilers as this is the first part in a trilogy but also it is sort of a continuation of the original Fear Street Saga trilogy and the first book in the Fear Street Sagas, A New Fear.
If you have read none of the aforementioned books you can proceed at your own risk of spoilers but since most of the action is set around an amusement park, I thought this would be a good time to re-read this for the summer so here I am.
Most of the plot is sort of a set-up of what is to come in the following books so I guess a prequel or a time-skip?
We begin in 1935 Shadyside and our first character to focus on is Meghan Fairwood, junior at the high school and girlfriend of the baseball team's star pitcher, Richard Bradley. She's a sweet girl but she can gets as fiery as her red hair and most of the time, it's Richard who ignites the anger.
He's the B.M.O.C. (Big Man On Campus) with his movie star good looks, blond curly, hair so of course it means he acts like a jerk to those who do not fit that mold. He also seems to be possessive of Meghan and always kissing her or pawing at her when she doesn't seem interested.
Richard also talks about himself all the time, bragging about his team and laughing like a horse at stupid jokes he makes or the misery of others. The one who seems to get the most of the torment is Meghan's locker neighbor, Robin Fear.
His father Nicholas has claimed all of the Fear land rightfully his but he isn't a very warm man.
He's in his early thirties and already going bald, thin as a needle with a temper and a love of the occult. It's a shame that's what being a Fear will do to you but it seems his once good looks have passed to his son.
Robin is always so solemn and shy but he has dark eyes and brown hair and would probably be all the more handsome if he could just smile...like he does when Meghan talks to him. They haven't exchanged many words in the six years Meghan has lived in Shadyside and she knows all about the rumors following Robin's family but can't believe they could be true since Robin is sweet and cute.
Robin's home life doesn't seem as if it will be getting easier anytime soon as business arrives on the Fear doorstep. Richard's father and some of his associates come on behalf of the town council and propose to build an amusement park. They want to bring tourism to Shadyside and business for those affected by the stock crash and the depression with jobs after having gone on a trip to visit Coney Island.
The reason they have come to see Nicholas Fear is that they want to use 100 acres of the Fear Street Woods to do so and need approval to use the land. Nicholas is not interested in giving up any of his family land and Robin can see how angry this makes his dad.
There is certainly animosity between Jack Bradley and Nicholas Fear in their business-like demeanor but Richard Bradley seems to have it out for Robin Fear being around his girl after a few misunderstandings where he and Meghan just happen to be around each other when Richard shows up.
When the council receives unanimous votes for the amusement park from the town, Jack Bradley starts to get to work with marking the woods where it will stand but there is no way Nicholas Fear will allow it on his land.
When Jack Bradley is found dead in the woods in the most gruesome way possible by his own son Richard and Meghan, the work is delayed for a while but that won't stop the plan for the amusement park going through as it will now be in the late man's honor.
Teens are hired when school lets out to help take down the stumps from the fallen trees by chopping them up with hatchets for a dollar a day. Meghan and Richard take jobs on the crew and surprisingly, so does Robin. What should be a day of work and fun turns into a horrible moment in time before we flash forward...to present day 1996 Shadyside.
A descendant of Jack Bradley, Jason, is ready to finally open the amusement park after years of strange and terrifying events halting Fear Park's progress on the land in the Fear Street Woods which once belonged to the Fear family.
His daughter Deirdre is going to be helping him out by selling tickets and her boyfriend Paul Malone has a job operating the Ferris Wheel. The admission for that first night is free to garner publicity and because a few of the attractions still aren't completely set up yet.
Deirdre is excited for her father but still thinks it is in poor taste to have a performance attraction every night to relive a ghastly incident of the past. Thankfully, Deirdre only has to witness it for one night because Paul gets roped into it by her dad. Paul will be in charge of the Ferris Wheel the following night instead.
I'm not really sure if it is just relief of something less distasteful or the fact that while Paul is running the Ferris Wheel, Deirdre can sneak off to meet another guy. Rob isn't as handsome as Paul but there is just something about him that is powerful and intriguing that Dierdre just can't resist.
The first night went off without a hitch, a successful test run, but the story is just getting started and the ride is going to be...a killer.
Lots of gore and Fear family shenanigans make this book an interesting and intriguing read. It's always a pleasure to read anything that has a focus on that family just because they are so twisted yet also sad when you think about it. To go into anything else would spoil many, many...many books so let's just leave it at that.
Into horror with a carnival setting? Into horror that takes us back where you can just read the pages and view everything with a sepia tone until the terror starts and goes all full Technicolor like The Wizard of Oz?
Fear Park: The First Scream is for you.
If you have read none of the aforementioned books you can proceed at your own risk of spoilers but since most of the action is set around an amusement park, I thought this would be a good time to re-read this for the summer so here I am.
Most of the plot is sort of a set-up of what is to come in the following books so I guess a prequel or a time-skip?
We begin in 1935 Shadyside and our first character to focus on is Meghan Fairwood, junior at the high school and girlfriend of the baseball team's star pitcher, Richard Bradley. She's a sweet girl but she can gets as fiery as her red hair and most of the time, it's Richard who ignites the anger.
He's the B.M.O.C. (Big Man On Campus) with his movie star good looks, blond curly, hair so of course it means he acts like a jerk to those who do not fit that mold. He also seems to be possessive of Meghan and always kissing her or pawing at her when she doesn't seem interested.
Richard also talks about himself all the time, bragging about his team and laughing like a horse at stupid jokes he makes or the misery of others. The one who seems to get the most of the torment is Meghan's locker neighbor, Robin Fear.
His father Nicholas has claimed all of the Fear land rightfully his but he isn't a very warm man.
He's in his early thirties and already going bald, thin as a needle with a temper and a love of the occult. It's a shame that's what being a Fear will do to you but it seems his once good looks have passed to his son.
Robin is always so solemn and shy but he has dark eyes and brown hair and would probably be all the more handsome if he could just smile...like he does when Meghan talks to him. They haven't exchanged many words in the six years Meghan has lived in Shadyside and she knows all about the rumors following Robin's family but can't believe they could be true since Robin is sweet and cute.
Robin's home life doesn't seem as if it will be getting easier anytime soon as business arrives on the Fear doorstep. Richard's father and some of his associates come on behalf of the town council and propose to build an amusement park. They want to bring tourism to Shadyside and business for those affected by the stock crash and the depression with jobs after having gone on a trip to visit Coney Island.
The reason they have come to see Nicholas Fear is that they want to use 100 acres of the Fear Street Woods to do so and need approval to use the land. Nicholas is not interested in giving up any of his family land and Robin can see how angry this makes his dad.
There is certainly animosity between Jack Bradley and Nicholas Fear in their business-like demeanor but Richard Bradley seems to have it out for Robin Fear being around his girl after a few misunderstandings where he and Meghan just happen to be around each other when Richard shows up.
When the council receives unanimous votes for the amusement park from the town, Jack Bradley starts to get to work with marking the woods where it will stand but there is no way Nicholas Fear will allow it on his land.
When Jack Bradley is found dead in the woods in the most gruesome way possible by his own son Richard and Meghan, the work is delayed for a while but that won't stop the plan for the amusement park going through as it will now be in the late man's honor.
Teens are hired when school lets out to help take down the stumps from the fallen trees by chopping them up with hatchets for a dollar a day. Meghan and Richard take jobs on the crew and surprisingly, so does Robin. What should be a day of work and fun turns into a horrible moment in time before we flash forward...to present day 1996 Shadyside.
A descendant of Jack Bradley, Jason, is ready to finally open the amusement park after years of strange and terrifying events halting Fear Park's progress on the land in the Fear Street Woods which once belonged to the Fear family.
His daughter Deirdre is going to be helping him out by selling tickets and her boyfriend Paul Malone has a job operating the Ferris Wheel. The admission for that first night is free to garner publicity and because a few of the attractions still aren't completely set up yet.
Deirdre is excited for her father but still thinks it is in poor taste to have a performance attraction every night to relive a ghastly incident of the past. Thankfully, Deirdre only has to witness it for one night because Paul gets roped into it by her dad. Paul will be in charge of the Ferris Wheel the following night instead.
I'm not really sure if it is just relief of something less distasteful or the fact that while Paul is running the Ferris Wheel, Deirdre can sneak off to meet another guy. Rob isn't as handsome as Paul but there is just something about him that is powerful and intriguing that Dierdre just can't resist.
The first night went off without a hitch, a successful test run, but the story is just getting started and the ride is going to be...a killer.
Lots of gore and Fear family shenanigans make this book an interesting and intriguing read. It's always a pleasure to read anything that has a focus on that family just because they are so twisted yet also sad when you think about it. To go into anything else would spoil many, many...many books so let's just leave it at that.
Into horror with a carnival setting? Into horror that takes us back where you can just read the pages and view everything with a sepia tone until the terror starts and goes all full Technicolor like The Wizard of Oz?
Fear Park: The First Scream is for you.
August 10, 2024
We all know our beloved Fear Street books can be hit or miss 😅 If you’re chasing that batsh!t crazy high of a good, grody Fear Street read, this is it 🤣🤣🤣
Blood splattered stumps!! Rotting chunks of meat and bone!! Ummm an axe fight in the woods amongst teenagers with flying body parts everywhere? Cool 🤣🤣😈😈
OH and then decades later at Fear Park, there’s a “Hatchet Show”, a faithful reenactment of that blood soaked, body stumpy night wtf 🤣🤣🤣
A wild ride you won’t wanna get off (but thankfully there’s 2 more books in this Fear Park trilogy! 🎢💀💀
Blood splattered stumps!! Rotting chunks of meat and bone!! Ummm an axe fight in the woods amongst teenagers with flying body parts everywhere? Cool 🤣🤣😈😈
OH and then decades later at Fear Park, there’s a “Hatchet Show”, a faithful reenactment of that blood soaked, body stumpy night wtf 🤣🤣🤣
A wild ride you won’t wanna get off (but thankfully there’s 2 more books in this Fear Park trilogy! 🎢💀💀
July 1, 2012
I love the girl playing Deirdre on this cover. She is gorgeous.
So I just went on over to Shadyside Snark and saw that their alternate title for this book was part of my moral of the story! So...
Moral(s) of the Story: Don't let 16-year-olds use hatchets. And don't cheat on your significant other.
Body Count: Too many to name... But main characters that perish are Richard Bradley's father, Richard (in 1953) and one of Deirdre's boyfriends, Paul, in present day.
Usual Suspects: The Fear family/curse
Actual Suspects: See above
Glaring Plot Holes: None, unless RL Stine plans to keep it a secret as to how Robin is able to preserve himself at 16 for 60 years. I guess we're just supposed to believe in his powers and not ask questions.
Plot: The majority of the book (up to page 100) takes place in 1953, where the idea for an amusement park at the end of Fear Street is first announced. I am constantly amused that all the bad shit that happens on Fear Street does not dissuade people from living there or trying to build things there. Apparently it is the only street in Shadyside. Robin Fear is in love with Meghan, but Meghan is in love with Richard. RL Stine has no shortage of douchebags up his sleeve, and so of course this book is full of cheating cheaters. Meghan is torn between her "love" for strong, manly, asshole Richard, while also finding herself being drawn to the aloof Robin Fear.
The first part of the book basically consists of Robin Fear getting weirded out by his father, Nicholas Fear, and pining after Meghan and getting beat up on Richard when he catches the two of them together. Then there are the plans to open Fear Park. Mr. Bradley comes to the Fear house to ask permission. Nicholas steadfastly denies him and even tries to strangle him to death with his mind (I don't know, I didn't write it). Robin stops him, but Nicholas makes his point known - no one will EVER build Fear Park.
Not so fast. Mr. Bradley goes behind Nicholas's back and appeals to the city council, who votes to give up part of the Fear Woods for the park. As they begin work on measuring out the land, the terror abruptly begins. Nicholas and Meghan are strolling through the woods making kissy kissy when they spot a body...
The body of Richard's dad, Mr. Bradley!! He had a mysterious itching break out all over his skin, and he cannot stop scratching himself... so he scratches himself to death! They find his head intact but the rest of his body scratched to the bone. Sick. And kind of awesome.
Robin, of course, suspects that his father is to blame. That's because he is. Nicholas Fear will stop at nothing to prevent this park from being built. Including corrupting his own son. The City Council finally approves for the construction of the park and says that teenagers may apply to work by helping to chop wood for $1 a day (it is 1935, you know). Robin meets with Meghan and tells her that he wants to help chop wood too. He is scared of his father and his plans.
It is clear not only to me, but to you, I'm sure, that giving 16 year olds hatchets to chop wood is a very, very bad idea. But I guess Stine was only thinking about his latest level of depravity. So everyone shows up in work clothes, including Meghan and Richard, and they start chopping the wood. Robin appears a couple hours later completely breathless. Richard gets jealous, again, and starts to swing at Robin...
...But instead of hitting Robin, he hits a nearby fat kid straight through the gut with his hatchet (hmmm, that sounds very suspiciously like something that would happen in Sweet Valley). All of a sudden, the words turn into the Hunger Games with hatchets and the kids start chopping each other up left and right. Purple mist swirls all around the scene. I've got to hand it to RL: that's a really fucked up scene for teenagers to be reading. And it's also better than quite a lot of Stephen King's ideas.
After this, of course, plans are scrapped for Fear Park for the next sixty years. Which brings us to present day (errr... 1996).
Deirdre Bradley, like Meghan before her, is also a cheat. She thinks the guy that likes her, Paul, is great, but she's two-timing him with Rob. She ditches Paul to be with Rob and vice versa. The park has been built (with a few hundred deaths along the way), but now the new Mr. Bradley has decided to give the park a free test run to the public. Way to lose even more money!! So Paul and Deirdre are exploring the park, and they ride the Ferris Wheel and the Inferno rollercoaster. Deidre tells Paul she will meet him at the Hatchet Reenactment show later that night. Yes, Mr. Bradley thinks it's a spectacular idea to reenact a bunch of teens hacking each other to death. Rob sneaks into the showing (he told Deirdre he'd be at home) and sees Paul and her together. He doesn't like it so much. The next day Deirdre has plans to meet Paul, but her guilt is getting the best of her (as well it should). When Paul doesn't show up, she figures he is down at the Ferris Wheel where he is supposed to be working. Well, he is there. Sort of.
The Ferris Wheel is running, but Paul is nowhere in sight. Not in plain sight, anyway. Deidre discovers Paul's body hacked up under the Ferris Wheel. His head has been separated from his body. Miraculously Rob comes to the rescue and envelops Deirdre in a hug. Due to the death of Paul and the ongoing investigation of his death, the official opening of Fear Park is expected to be delayed for several weeks. When it opens, Mr. Bradley has promised Rob (real name Robin Fear!!) a job within the park. He seems more ecstatic than he should be...
To be continued!!
I love amusement parks, ya'll. Perfect time of year for these books.
So I just went on over to Shadyside Snark and saw that their alternate title for this book was part of my moral of the story! So...
Moral(s) of the Story: Don't let 16-year-olds use hatchets. And don't cheat on your significant other.
Body Count: Too many to name... But main characters that perish are Richard Bradley's father, Richard (in 1953) and one of Deirdre's boyfriends, Paul, in present day.
Usual Suspects: The Fear family/curse
Actual Suspects: See above
Glaring Plot Holes: None, unless RL Stine plans to keep it a secret as to how Robin is able to preserve himself at 16 for 60 years. I guess we're just supposed to believe in his powers and not ask questions.
Plot: The majority of the book (up to page 100) takes place in 1953, where the idea for an amusement park at the end of Fear Street is first announced. I am constantly amused that all the bad shit that happens on Fear Street does not dissuade people from living there or trying to build things there. Apparently it is the only street in Shadyside. Robin Fear is in love with Meghan, but Meghan is in love with Richard. RL Stine has no shortage of douchebags up his sleeve, and so of course this book is full of cheating cheaters. Meghan is torn between her "love" for strong, manly, asshole Richard, while also finding herself being drawn to the aloof Robin Fear.
The first part of the book basically consists of Robin Fear getting weirded out by his father, Nicholas Fear, and pining after Meghan and getting beat up on Richard when he catches the two of them together. Then there are the plans to open Fear Park. Mr. Bradley comes to the Fear house to ask permission. Nicholas steadfastly denies him and even tries to strangle him to death with his mind (I don't know, I didn't write it). Robin stops him, but Nicholas makes his point known - no one will EVER build Fear Park.
Not so fast. Mr. Bradley goes behind Nicholas's back and appeals to the city council, who votes to give up part of the Fear Woods for the park. As they begin work on measuring out the land, the terror abruptly begins. Nicholas and Meghan are strolling through the woods making kissy kissy when they spot a body...
The body of Richard's dad, Mr. Bradley!! He had a mysterious itching break out all over his skin, and he cannot stop scratching himself... so he scratches himself to death! They find his head intact but the rest of his body scratched to the bone. Sick. And kind of awesome.
Robin, of course, suspects that his father is to blame. That's because he is. Nicholas Fear will stop at nothing to prevent this park from being built. Including corrupting his own son. The City Council finally approves for the construction of the park and says that teenagers may apply to work by helping to chop wood for $1 a day (it is 1935, you know). Robin meets with Meghan and tells her that he wants to help chop wood too. He is scared of his father and his plans.
It is clear not only to me, but to you, I'm sure, that giving 16 year olds hatchets to chop wood is a very, very bad idea. But I guess Stine was only thinking about his latest level of depravity. So everyone shows up in work clothes, including Meghan and Richard, and they start chopping the wood. Robin appears a couple hours later completely breathless. Richard gets jealous, again, and starts to swing at Robin...
...But instead of hitting Robin, he hits a nearby fat kid straight through the gut with his hatchet (hmmm, that sounds very suspiciously like something that would happen in Sweet Valley). All of a sudden, the words turn into the Hunger Games with hatchets and the kids start chopping each other up left and right. Purple mist swirls all around the scene. I've got to hand it to RL: that's a really fucked up scene for teenagers to be reading. And it's also better than quite a lot of Stephen King's ideas.
After this, of course, plans are scrapped for Fear Park for the next sixty years. Which brings us to present day (errr... 1996).
Deirdre Bradley, like Meghan before her, is also a cheat. She thinks the guy that likes her, Paul, is great, but she's two-timing him with Rob. She ditches Paul to be with Rob and vice versa. The park has been built (with a few hundred deaths along the way), but now the new Mr. Bradley has decided to give the park a free test run to the public. Way to lose even more money!! So Paul and Deirdre are exploring the park, and they ride the Ferris Wheel and the Inferno rollercoaster. Deidre tells Paul she will meet him at the Hatchet Reenactment show later that night. Yes, Mr. Bradley thinks it's a spectacular idea to reenact a bunch of teens hacking each other to death. Rob sneaks into the showing (he told Deirdre he'd be at home) and sees Paul and her together. He doesn't like it so much. The next day Deirdre has plans to meet Paul, but her guilt is getting the best of her (as well it should). When Paul doesn't show up, she figures he is down at the Ferris Wheel where he is supposed to be working. Well, he is there. Sort of.
The Ferris Wheel is running, but Paul is nowhere in sight. Not in plain sight, anyway. Deidre discovers Paul's body hacked up under the Ferris Wheel. His head has been separated from his body. Miraculously Rob comes to the rescue and envelops Deirdre in a hug. Due to the death of Paul and the ongoing investigation of his death, the official opening of Fear Park is expected to be delayed for several weeks. When it opens, Mr. Bradley has promised Rob (real name Robin Fear!!) a job within the park. He seems more ecstatic than he should be...
To be continued!!
I love amusement parks, ya'll. Perfect time of year for these books.
August 13, 2024
RL Stine is a gift to us all. The repetition in the book is there for young audiences but it also had me wondering if that’s why we remember things we consumed as kids so much more than we do as adults, because the writers purposefully repeat details to make sure it sticks…
Anyway, the actual book review - fun! I love a spooky amusement park especially one that feels long ago. And this was way gorier than I expected. This actually had some Fear to it. Ha ha. I’ll definitely be continuing the trilogy.
Anyway, the actual book review - fun! I love a spooky amusement park especially one that feels long ago. And this was way gorier than I expected. This actually had some Fear to it. Ha ha. I’ll definitely be continuing the trilogy.
August 6, 2015
Quite good. RIP everyone who died. Why are the women drawn to Robin? Hope the park will open soon. It would sort of be cool if Fear Street actually existed.
January 15, 2021
What a roller coaster ride! I love when the Fears feature in the stories. They're really fun to read with their strange powers.
I only wonder what happened to Meghan. She seemed to be the protagonist at first, then Robin. Meghan and Dierdre mirror each other, especially in their interest in Robin Fear. Although, Paul is a much better guy than Richard.
Honestly, while I admire the Bradley's persistence, I would not have tried to open Fear Park after the Hatchet incident. After Jack Bradley's death, maybe, in his memory, but definitely not after a bunch of teenagers killed each other. Also, if it's their land, the Fears have a right to agree or refuse. Going behind their back wasn't cool. I guess that it wasn't really theirs but then why did everyone think it was. They even named it Fear Park after the Fears. How could the council just vote to take the Fear's lands? I don't fully understand the legal part there. If it does belong to the Fears and they refuse then build your park elsewhere. Respect their decision.
I quite liked Robin at first. Didn't think he'd turn out to be a villain. He seemed nice enough. I guess after being overpowered by Richard Bradley in front of Meghan he could not remain like that - feeling weak and helpless, unable to defend himself. So he turned to the Fear magic and vowed to ensure that the Bradleys never get away with opening the park. After all Robin has nothing else worth anything but the Fear power. If he did not embrace it he would have continued feeling worthless. Actually, Robin is the best and most engaging character in the story. He's a bad guy but i look forward to him.
I like that the other characters are not necessarily goody two shoes people. They might not be murderers and villains but they're not very decent. Richard is awful. I don't know why Meghan continues to tolerate him. Meghan herself cheats on Richard and cannot make up her mind on which boy she wants to be with. Robin then finds himself in another love triangle sixty years later with Dierdre in the middle. She cheats on Paul with Robin but seems to be more fascinated by Robin rather than actually liking him. Her infatuation feels more magically-induced than Meghan who seemed more genuine.
I only wonder what happened to Meghan. She seemed to be the protagonist at first, then Robin. Meghan and Dierdre mirror each other, especially in their interest in Robin Fear. Although, Paul is a much better guy than Richard.
Honestly, while I admire the Bradley's persistence, I would not have tried to open Fear Park after the Hatchet incident. After Jack Bradley's death, maybe, in his memory, but definitely not after a bunch of teenagers killed each other. Also, if it's their land, the Fears have a right to agree or refuse. Going behind their back wasn't cool. I guess that it wasn't really theirs but then why did everyone think it was. They even named it Fear Park after the Fears. How could the council just vote to take the Fear's lands? I don't fully understand the legal part there. If it does belong to the Fears and they refuse then build your park elsewhere. Respect their decision.
I quite liked Robin at first. Didn't think he'd turn out to be a villain. He seemed nice enough. I guess after being overpowered by Richard Bradley in front of Meghan he could not remain like that - feeling weak and helpless, unable to defend himself. So he turned to the Fear magic and vowed to ensure that the Bradleys never get away with opening the park. After all Robin has nothing else worth anything but the Fear power. If he did not embrace it he would have continued feeling worthless. Actually, Robin is the best and most engaging character in the story. He's a bad guy but i look forward to him.
I like that the other characters are not necessarily goody two shoes people. They might not be murderers and villains but they're not very decent. Richard is awful. I don't know why Meghan continues to tolerate him. Meghan herself cheats on Richard and cannot make up her mind on which boy she wants to be with. Robin then finds himself in another love triangle sixty years later with Dierdre in the middle. She cheats on Paul with Robin but seems to be more fascinated by Robin rather than actually liking him. Her infatuation feels more magically-induced than Meghan who seemed more genuine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2024
So this was a crazy one! We start with Shadyside in 1935 , the town has become run down due to failing business and high unemployment so Jack Bradley wants to build an amusement park. The problem is he'll need a good portion of Fear woods to do it & that's where the main conflict comes in. The woods have belonged solely to the Fear family for many years and Nicholas Fear is determined to keep it that way. He puts a curse on the Jack Bradley while he's in the woods scouting out the area and makes him claw himself to death ... Gruesome death right away here holy shit!
The town is still determined to build the park so they hire a bunch of Shadyside high teenagers to help clear the woods by chopping down tree stumps with hatchets. Of course it all goes wrong when they start hacking at each other instead 😱... Turns out that Nicholas Fear's son Robin has cursed the teens and made them chop each other to bits to help his father stop the building of Fear Park ... !
Fast forward to the "current time " & we meet Jason Bradley who is opening up the amusement park to the public ... However Robin who has made himself immortal by using his dark magic is determined to stop him at all costs by creating all these gruesome accidents ... He causes the Ferris wheel to crush a teen worker under it !! He also tries to kill Jason Bradley's daughter Dierdre Bradley several times. This book was heavy on the bloody scenes!! It was the perfect amusement park slasher and an awesome start to the trilogy!
The town is still determined to build the park so they hire a bunch of Shadyside high teenagers to help clear the woods by chopping down tree stumps with hatchets. Of course it all goes wrong when they start hacking at each other instead 😱... Turns out that Nicholas Fear's son Robin has cursed the teens and made them chop each other to bits to help his father stop the building of Fear Park ... !
Fast forward to the "current time " & we meet Jason Bradley who is opening up the amusement park to the public ... However Robin who has made himself immortal by using his dark magic is determined to stop him at all costs by creating all these gruesome accidents ... He causes the Ferris wheel to crush a teen worker under it !! He also tries to kill Jason Bradley's daughter Dierdre Bradley several times. This book was heavy on the bloody scenes!! It was the perfect amusement park slasher and an awesome start to the trilogy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2012
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 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.
October 10, 2019
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
The First Scream takes place in two different timelines, I guess? We start off in 1935 then move to the present aka 1996. Well, the synopsis makes it seem like most of our time will be spent in the present but noooo! Most of it takes place in the past. Don’t get me wrong, I would’ve enjoyed it more had I not been lied to and anticipating the switch early on in the book! But the present is literally only the last 40 pages of this book! That was a little frustrating. But anyway, this book...
We start off in 1935 where people in Shadyside basically want to take some land in the Fear Street Woods to make an amusement park. Fear family land. Nicholas Fear, Robin’s dad, is not into it. If I’m honest, I think it’s his right to refuse—it is his land after all. But these assholes (one of them being Richard Bradley’s dad, no surprise there) want to take the land by force, which is totally not cool. So this book is basically the Fears fighting the Bradley for Fear land and trying to prevent an amusement park from being built.
One thing I loved about this book is that we get Fears! Simon Fear is Robin’s great-great-grandfather or something. And we also get magic! Fear family magic! It was really cool! I always love when we have Fear family lore! And I actually really liked Robin. I felt so bad for him, the way he was treated. He’s just very shy and lonely, and I totally felt for him.
One character I hated was Richard, Meghan's boyfriend. Ugh! He is possessive and mean and a jerk and just... ugh! I don’t know why she’s with him. He is such an asshole! Meghan seems to be starting to like Robin, but she’s still with the other guy and I don't understand why. He is the worst! This is another case where character just wants them both. I am hating this trope in these books. Just pick the nice one! God! Break up with Richard so you can be with Robin! Ugh! Why is that so hard to do? I did not like the relationships in this book at all.
In the present day, I was also not the biggest fan of Dierdre’s boyfriend Paul. And this character is ALSO into another guy who is not her boyfriend and she is seeing them both at the same time! WTF! I felt bad for Paul even though I didn’t like him, because just... wow. These relationships... I totally hate them. Break up with Paul so you can be with the guy you’re making out with! Ugh!
The book did have some spooky scary gross scenes, which I loved. There was one scene in particular towards the end of the 1935 story where they’re out in the forest clearing trees and OMG! A thing happened... a very violent thing... and I was totally into it! Holy crap! It was insane! And then at the very end of this there is a plot twist that just blew my mind! Wow. 🤯
This series was very intriguing to me because, first of all, I love it when books are set in an amusement park. Especially if said amusement park is creepy and horrible things happen. Lol. But also, Fear Park is never mentioned in any of the other Fear Street books, so that was weird. But this book just ended up being... okay. I hated most of the characters and I was not a fan of all those relationships. I did like seeing the Fears and Fear magic being used and all the gory, creepy things that happened. I wanted to love this, but I just didn’t. I am looking forward to reading more Fear Park though. Maybe I’ll have better luck with the other two books in the series. 🤷♀️
The Fear Street connection: Actual Fears who live on Fear Street!
The First Scream takes place in two different timelines, I guess? We start off in 1935 then move to the present aka 1996. Well, the synopsis makes it seem like most of our time will be spent in the present but noooo! Most of it takes place in the past. Don’t get me wrong, I would’ve enjoyed it more had I not been lied to and anticipating the switch early on in the book! But the present is literally only the last 40 pages of this book! That was a little frustrating. But anyway, this book...
We start off in 1935 where people in Shadyside basically want to take some land in the Fear Street Woods to make an amusement park. Fear family land. Nicholas Fear, Robin’s dad, is not into it. If I’m honest, I think it’s his right to refuse—it is his land after all. But these assholes (one of them being Richard Bradley’s dad, no surprise there) want to take the land by force, which is totally not cool. So this book is basically the Fears fighting the Bradley for Fear land and trying to prevent an amusement park from being built.
One thing I loved about this book is that we get Fears! Simon Fear is Robin’s great-great-grandfather or something. And we also get magic! Fear family magic! It was really cool! I always love when we have Fear family lore! And I actually really liked Robin. I felt so bad for him, the way he was treated. He’s just very shy and lonely, and I totally felt for him.
One character I hated was Richard, Meghan's boyfriend. Ugh! He is possessive and mean and a jerk and just... ugh! I don’t know why she’s with him. He is such an asshole! Meghan seems to be starting to like Robin, but she’s still with the other guy and I don't understand why. He is the worst! This is another case where character just wants them both. I am hating this trope in these books. Just pick the nice one! God! Break up with Richard so you can be with Robin! Ugh! Why is that so hard to do? I did not like the relationships in this book at all.
In the present day, I was also not the biggest fan of Dierdre’s boyfriend Paul. And this character is ALSO into another guy who is not her boyfriend and she is seeing them both at the same time! WTF! I felt bad for Paul even though I didn’t like him, because just... wow. These relationships... I totally hate them. Break up with Paul so you can be with the guy you’re making out with! Ugh!
The book did have some spooky scary gross scenes, which I loved. There was one scene in particular towards the end of the 1935 story where they’re out in the forest clearing trees and OMG! A thing happened... a very violent thing... and I was totally into it! Holy crap! It was insane! And then at the very end of this there is a plot twist that just blew my mind! Wow. 🤯
This series was very intriguing to me because, first of all, I love it when books are set in an amusement park. Especially if said amusement park is creepy and horrible things happen. Lol. But also, Fear Park is never mentioned in any of the other Fear Street books, so that was weird. But this book just ended up being... okay. I hated most of the characters and I was not a fan of all those relationships. I did like seeing the Fears and Fear magic being used and all the gory, creepy things that happened. I wanted to love this, but I just didn’t. I am looking forward to reading more Fear Park though. Maybe I’ll have better luck with the other two books in the series. 🤷♀️
The Fear Street connection: Actual Fears who live on Fear Street!
April 4, 2019
Maybe I'm still burnt out on Fear Street books after last year's read through of the entire series... but this first book in the Fear Park Trilogy was super underwhelming. The pacing was bizarre and the story seemed to be missing chunks. It starts in 1935 with Robin Fear, the son of Nicholas Fear (who was the son of Nora and Daniel, blah blah blah)...and he's got a crush on Meghan who's dating some jerk on the baseball team. He's worried about his dad meddling in the dark arts...especially when the town votes that they think he has too much land and are taking it to build an amusement park on. Yupp. So of course all these bad things happen like the lead contractor picking all his skin off, another worker driving a stake through his foot and the entirety of the class of teenagers volunteering hacking each other to bits. Apparently Robin was behind that...but maybe we'll get an explanation later in the series because then it skips to modern day. The park is finally finished after 60 years of delays. Despite decades worth of mysterious injuries and death...they go through with building the park. Which leads to more death. There's another Fear, who likes Deirdre, who's dad is running the park. End of book 1.
Ughhhh. I remember liking this particular trilogy but I'm wondering why? Like the deaths were unique and cool but with no build up and no closure they felt almost silly and unnecessary. Come on, R.L...you're better than this.
Ughhhh. I remember liking this particular trilogy but I'm wondering why? Like the deaths were unique and cool but with no build up and no closure they felt almost silly and unnecessary. Come on, R.L...you're better than this.
July 3, 2025
Rounded up from 3.5 stars. This is another trilogy I had growing up but never read. This book is split into 3 parts although part one and two could have been all combined since they are a continuous story. But we start in 1935 where Nicholas and Robin fear are the owners of all the woods behind their mansion which is modern day fear street and fear street woods. When Jack Bradley on e of the senior members of the town ask Nicholas for some of the land to build an amusement park to bring money to the town. Nicholas refuses but the town votes and they basically take 100 acres of the woods to build the park. Other characters to mention are Jacks son Richard and his girlfriend and Robins friend Meghan. Of course with Nicholas now angry at the theft of his land vows revenge, which includes some pretty gruesome deaths and a pretty gruesome hatchet scene haha. Cut forward 30 years and the amusement park is finally opening where the Bradley’s are still in charge 60 years later Deidre Bradley are main character father is opening it and really using the tragedy to boost interest including re-enacting the hatchet scene from the past. Deidre is dating Paul but basically cheating with Rob. Of course tragedy strikes but does that stop the Bradley’s from stopping the park from opening. No of course not. Book one ends with Rob offering to work at Deidre’s father’s park and he’s like oh yeah my name is Robin fear. So obvious.
July 28, 2021
Total rating: 3.5 keatas*
Ini review untuk ketiga buku Fear Park karena bukunya bersambung.
Kesan awal waktu membaca Buku 1, agak membosankan diawal. Tapi twist nya betul-betul tidak disangka dan kaget dengan sadisnya.
Saya akan bilang setelah membaca serian Fear Street original, seri Fear Park ini jauuh lebih sadis. Seri original mah ngga ada apa-apanya haha.
Buku 2 dan buku 3 tidak semengejutkan buku 1 tapi kejadian sadisnya lebih banyak.
Kesimpulan:
Buku 1: 3/4 cerita agak monoton, 1/4 terakhir keren. Berhasil memunculkan shock effect untuk saya.
Buku 2 dan 3: ceritanya agak berulang (karena pihak yang jahat sudah ketahuan) tapi tertolong karena kematian disana-sini dan kreatifitas cara matinya *ngga nyangka bakal menulis kata-kata seperti ini hahah*
Ini review untuk ketiga buku Fear Park karena bukunya bersambung.
Kesan awal waktu membaca Buku 1, agak membosankan diawal. Tapi twist nya betul-betul tidak disangka dan kaget dengan sadisnya.
Saya akan bilang setelah membaca serian Fear Street original, seri Fear Park ini jauuh lebih sadis. Seri original mah ngga ada apa-apanya haha.
Buku 2 dan buku 3 tidak semengejutkan buku 1 tapi kejadian sadisnya lebih banyak.
Kesimpulan:
Buku 1: 3/4 cerita agak monoton, 1/4 terakhir keren. Berhasil memunculkan shock effect untuk saya.
Buku 2 dan 3: ceritanya agak berulang (karena pihak yang jahat sudah ketahuan) tapi tertolong karena kematian disana-sini dan kreatifitas cara matinya *ngga nyangka bakal menulis kata-kata seperti ini hahah*
June 13, 2020
Salah satu buku yang tepat untuk 'mempelajari' asal usul Fear Street dan misteri yang menyelubunginya. Entah kenapa tiba-tiba berpikir, kalau di sini mungkin kejadian-kejadian aneh tersebut akan dikaitkan dengan hal ghaib, di mana ketika seseorang ingin membuka lahan dan mengalihfungsikannya, pasti dibutuhkan tumbal bagi penghuni kerajaan jin yang mendiami hutan itu. Dan karena dimulai dengan cara yang tidak baik, maka jalannya pun tidak mulus. Karena bagaimana pun dibutuhkan tumbal-tumbal baru. Mulai melantur, haha. Intinya, buku ini seru dan gore abis. Nggak sabar membaca kelanjutannya
September 14, 2023
Welcome to Fear Park. An amusement park like one you have never been too. The screams are not due excitement.
Imagine having an amusement park being built in town
Imagine your excitement until things go terribly wrong.
The rumours are still there and are true. Everyone has heard of that one day where blood was shed.
Years Later
The amusement park is ready to open. A reenactment has been planned of that day.
Beware of what you want
Listen to the rumours before it is too late.
A brilliant read.
Imagine having an amusement park being built in town
Imagine your excitement until things go terribly wrong.
The rumours are still there and are true. Everyone has heard of that one day where blood was shed.
Years Later
The amusement park is ready to open. A reenactment has been planned of that day.
Beware of what you want
Listen to the rumours before it is too late.
A brilliant read.
September 23, 2025
3.5 stars - Robin Fear helps make sure his dad's wishes don't come true when there is interest in building a theme park on his land. The purple mist has mysterious powers that leaves the teenagers to hack each other to death as one dark, mysterious incident after another delays the opening of the dark. I enjoy these themed miniseries' within the Fear Street universe, and book #1 set up this trilogy well.
November 3, 2023
No wonder the Fear family had such bad reputation. I understand your love for the forests but it's completely messed up to kill those kids. You would think that with all the tragedies and deaths, the Bradley would want to withdraw the idea of opening the park but no, it must go on and so is the Fear's plan to stop it.
June 3, 2025
This was quite the slow burn, I still enjoyed the book despite it. The deaths were pretty brutal! Scratching yourself to death, hacking party, and while not a death, the stake in the foot was gnarly too. The reveal with Robin did surprise me, I totally expected him to be a sweetie. Silly me, he is a Fear 🤷🏼♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2021
The first 70% is slow and reads like a historical Fear Street Saga. Then things finally get going with the hatchets. If you want an amusement park themed horror book I would recommend The Carnival by Eric Morse or Funhouse by Diane Hoh over this.
September 8, 2021
I actually really liked this one. It was still sort of dorky like the others I have read, but it was actually a decent plot. Probably because it is only 1/3 of a story, so by the time you combine all three books it will actually be long enough to actually have a real plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2022
I remember loving this series as a child, my mom and I would take turns reading it at night before bed. I don't think I actually made it to the end of the series because she read it without me while waiting for me to get out of school when I was younger.
June 4, 2017
Fear park and Cataluna were my top 2 favorite series from R.L. Stine I just loved them ............. soooooooo good :)
July 15, 2017
The first book is definitely the best of the trio! The amount of time spent in the past makes for an interesting story, but I found the characters of the past to be far more sympathetic than the ones of present day.
September 30, 2020
it was pretty good intro to the series, not spectacular but also entertaining.
October 13, 2021
i wouldve liked to see longr of 60 years before the time this book written but its realy good
October 25, 2021
Excellent back story of Fear Park.
October 17, 2023
Got review soon.
December 9, 2023
Definitely one of the better fear street novels - this is exactly what fear street readers are looking for. Fun. Creepy. Bloody (which is a rarity in the Fear Street books).
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