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Goosebumps #27
Die Nacht im Turm der Schrecken
Einmal Prinz und Prinzessin sein - für Sue und Eddie geht dieser Wunsch auf unheinliche Weise in Erfüllung. Als sie bei einer Führung durch den Turm der Schrecken hinter ihrer Gruppe zurückbleiben, taucht plötzlich eine geheimnisvolle Gestalt auf und versetzt sie durch Zauberei ins Mittelalter. Was wird nun mit ihnen geschehen?
125 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
144 people are currently reading
4740 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,680 books18.7k 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 465 reviews
August 27, 2017
Sue and Eddie are spending their first day in London. They do all the touristy things - Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square... but then their tour concludes with a trip to Terror Tower, a place where people were imprisoned and tortured. It is here that the siblings first spot the sinister, mysterious man who lurks in the shadows:
Glancing up, my eye caught a dark figure standing on the other side of the Rack. He was very tall and very broad. Dressed in a long black cape, he had pulled a wide-brimmed hat down over his forehead, hiding most of his face in shadow.
His eyes glowed darkly out from the shadow.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! LOL But seriously, I could not picture this guy as anyone but Lamont Cranston .
The tower and it's passageways also seem eerily familiar to Sue.
And as I climbed, I suddenly had the strangest feeling - that I had been here before. That I had followed the twisting stairs. That I had climbed to the top of this ancient tower before.
Of course, that was impossible.
Eddie and I had never been to England before in our lives.
When Eddie and Sue get separated from the group, the man approaches them and demands they come with him. He is very threatening.
He raised a hand. A huge hand, covered in a black glove.
He pointed up at us.
"You will come with me now," he growled.
I just stared at him. I didn't understand.
"You will come now," he repeated. "I do not want to hurt you. But if you try to escape, I will have no choice."
Despite the children's insistence that they don't know who he is or what this is about, the huge man will not be dissuaded. He pulls three stones from his cloak and starts to say something. When the kids make a run for it, the stranger pursues them. Can they escape from him and from Terror Tower?
...
I like the title and the cover art for this book. As for the plot, well... we've got our strengths and weaknesses here.
I like the basic premise. Two siblings, lost in an medieval tower, being pursued by a frightening man dressed all in black. I also like how intriguing it gets when Sue and Eddie
I thought the whole plot was good and I liked the twists.
But there were quite a few things I didn't like.
First of all, I solved the whole "mystery" (or at least had a good idea what was going on) by page 19. Of course, it's fair to comment that I am an adult woman reading a children's horror book. However, Stine has stumped me and surprised me before - so I still think he could've done better on this one. I was not surprised by his 'twists' this time!
Secondly, the adults in this book are horrid. The children, who obviously are in desperate need of help, find none with the cowardly and disgusting grown-ups.
It's not often children's books lead me to cursing out characters, but I was surprised to find myself swearing profusely while reading the last third of this novel.
...
All in all, an enjoyable romp - and (as always) I want to thank R.L. Stine for his great service to the universe in making the horror genre known and available to younger children. Scary, but not too scary, and tons of fun, I know Goosebumps was the gateway drug for many children who later grew up to read King and watch Romero. :)
Glancing up, my eye caught a dark figure standing on the other side of the Rack. He was very tall and very broad. Dressed in a long black cape, he had pulled a wide-brimmed hat down over his forehead, hiding most of his face in shadow.
His eyes glowed darkly out from the shadow.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! LOL But seriously, I could not picture this guy as anyone but Lamont Cranston .
The tower and it's passageways also seem eerily familiar to Sue.
And as I climbed, I suddenly had the strangest feeling - that I had been here before. That I had followed the twisting stairs. That I had climbed to the top of this ancient tower before.
Of course, that was impossible.
Eddie and I had never been to England before in our lives.
When Eddie and Sue get separated from the group, the man approaches them and demands they come with him. He is very threatening.
He raised a hand. A huge hand, covered in a black glove.
He pointed up at us.
"You will come with me now," he growled.
I just stared at him. I didn't understand.
"You will come now," he repeated. "I do not want to hurt you. But if you try to escape, I will have no choice."
Despite the children's insistence that they don't know who he is or what this is about, the huge man will not be dissuaded. He pulls three stones from his cloak and starts to say something. When the kids make a run for it, the stranger pursues them. Can they escape from him and from Terror Tower?
...
I like the title and the cover art for this book. As for the plot, well... we've got our strengths and weaknesses here.
I like the basic premise. Two siblings, lost in an medieval tower, being pursued by a frightening man dressed all in black. I also like how intriguing it gets when Sue and Eddie
I thought the whole plot was good and I liked the twists.
But there were quite a few things I didn't like.
First of all, I solved the whole "mystery" (or at least had a good idea what was going on) by page 19. Of course, it's fair to comment that I am an adult woman reading a children's horror book. However, Stine has stumped me and surprised me before - so I still think he could've done better on this one. I was not surprised by his 'twists' this time!
Secondly, the adults in this book are horrid. The children, who obviously are in desperate need of help, find none with the cowardly and disgusting grown-ups.
It's not often children's books lead me to cursing out characters, but I was surprised to find myself swearing profusely while reading the last third of this novel.
...
All in all, an enjoyable romp - and (as always) I want to thank R.L. Stine for his great service to the universe in making the horror genre known and available to younger children. Scary, but not too scary, and tons of fun, I know Goosebumps was the gateway drug for many children who later grew up to read King and watch Romero. :)
October 2, 2023
gag of the century kinda, i’m doing a vlog where i read the goosebumps books to my fav episodes and it’s been a while since ive seen goosebumps (never read them before) so even tho i know the plot twist i was still gagged as to the reason 😭
October 12, 2018
#27 "It's gonna be a L-O-N-G night!"
Sue and her brother Eddie are touring London and sightseeing in Terror Tower. But when they get separated from their tour guide group they end up getting locked in the tower overnight. Torture chambers in jail cells are abound in the tower. Something may be lurking in the darkness... but everyone in there is dead and gone right?
Sue and her brother Eddie are touring London and sightseeing in Terror Tower. But when they get separated from their tour guide group they end up getting locked in the tower overnight. Torture chambers in jail cells are abound in the tower. Something may be lurking in the darkness... but everyone in there is dead and gone right?
September 12, 2016
The books in this series make for a quick read... They are strange, action packed and engaging.
This book did not disappoint. It's about Sue and Eddie who are visiting london and decide to visit the Terror Tower.
The story takes up an unexpected turn as there is
I really enjoyed how the story progresses and the unexpected twist at the end.
It made me keep guessing if this is going to have a Happy End or Not!!
This book did not disappoint. It's about Sue and Eddie who are visiting london and decide to visit the Terror Tower.
The story takes up an unexpected turn as there is
I really enjoyed how the story progresses and the unexpected twist at the end.
It made me keep guessing if this is going to have a Happy End or Not!!
July 30, 2020
A Night in Terror Tower has a surprising amount of depth to it considering the reader level. The characterisation is pretty good and the plotting is well paced and not without a nice twist or two. A real gem in the Goosebumps series.
December 26, 2023
This is my 50th book of the year! I personally found A Night in Terror Tower to be a pretty run-of-the-mill Goosebumps book. In my opinion this one is actually overrated, as many fans of the series have this in their top ten. It probably won't end up in mine, though it is admittedly better than many Goosebumps books, which are largely recycled trash.
The young protagonists in this one were definitely missing a few brain cells, as it took them until I think page 100 or so to figure out they had travelled back in time. They kept seeing things like people dressed in ancient robes and they'd say things like "Ooh, it must be a costume party!" They didn't even figure it out when the door they had travelled through literally disappeared from behind them and they found themselves in an old stone abbey instead of a modern hotel. Lol. So they were pretty oblivious, and it was very obvious to the reader what had happened, so it was a bit cringey to have to read through that for so many pages.
Overall though, I enjoyed some aspects of the time travel in this book, the sorcerer was interesting, and the story is more cohesive than many Goosebumps books, many of which have enormous and glaring plot holes. This one, not so much. So it wasn't bad. It did feel mostly like filler, though, so I can't give it any higher than three stars for that reason. It's a pretty "meh" book.
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 5.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 5.5
Writing Style: 6.0
Plot: 4.0
Intrigue: 4.5
Logic / Relationships: 6.0
Enjoyment: 4.0
= 35 total
÷ 7 categories = 5 out of 10
= 3 stars
The young protagonists in this one were definitely missing a few brain cells, as it took them until I think page 100 or so to figure out they had travelled back in time. They kept seeing things like people dressed in ancient robes and they'd say things like "Ooh, it must be a costume party!" They didn't even figure it out when the door they had travelled through literally disappeared from behind them and they found themselves in an old stone abbey instead of a modern hotel. Lol. So they were pretty oblivious, and it was very obvious to the reader what had happened, so it was a bit cringey to have to read through that for so many pages.
Overall though, I enjoyed some aspects of the time travel in this book, the sorcerer was interesting, and the story is more cohesive than many Goosebumps books, many of which have enormous and glaring plot holes. This one, not so much. So it wasn't bad. It did feel mostly like filler, though, so I can't give it any higher than three stars for that reason. It's a pretty "meh" book.
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 5.0
Atmosphere / Setting: 5.5
Writing Style: 6.0
Plot: 4.0
Intrigue: 4.5
Logic / Relationships: 6.0
Enjoyment: 4.0
= 35 total
÷ 7 categories = 5 out of 10
= 3 stars
September 13, 2025
Not my favorite of the original 62, but there's still a lot to enjoy here, such as the descriptions of London, the characters, a killer cover by Tim Jacobus, and the very 90's ending...
Admittedly, I did see the twist coming from miles away, but that could be the fact I've grown up a bit since I first started reading these.
Nonetheless, recommended.
While I'm here, I wanted to add that this was the only Goosebumps episode on VHS that I had back in the day.
Admittedly, I did see the twist coming from miles away, but that could be the fact I've grown up a bit since I first started reading these.
Nonetheless, recommended.
While I'm here, I wanted to add that this was the only Goosebumps episode on VHS that I had back in the day.
June 28, 2021
This isn’t one of my top favourite Goosebumps stories but it’s still pretty damn great! I like the idea behind this particular story but I just found the execution lacked the usual sparkle these books have. It was missing that little something extra to truly creep me out and earn its full five star potential. I don’t think I could ever hate a Goosebumps book and even though this one isn’t my fave I do still love it because what I’m really looking for while reading these again as an adult is the nostalgia and the feeling of being a kid again. And this story still serves that in spades despite my little issues with it!
January 15, 2025
Obwohl ich das Buch schonmal gelesen hatte und sogar auf Kassette angehört habe, hab ich alles schon wieder vergessen, es ist aber auch schon sehr lange her. Dementsprechend war ich erneut überrascht bei dem Plot Twist, insbesondere da dieser NICHT (wie eigentlich sonst bei der Gänsehaut Serie) auf der allerletzten Seite geschah. Zum Teil konnte man den Wendepunkt hervorsehen aber da ich so daran gewöhnt war das immer das Ende der Wendepunkt war dachte ich tatsächlich, dass es etwas anderes sein wird.
Anfangs mochte ich dieses ganze Verfolgen nicht insbesondere als ich merkte, dass es sich wahrscheinlich bis zum Schluss hinauszieht aber irgendwie zum Ende hin war es dann doch spannend. Wahrscheinlich wegen dem wer dieser Mann tatsächlich war, was irgendwie schon cool war.
Genauso wie die Kassette bewerte ich dieses Buch 4 Sterne. Ich mochte es sehr und bin froh es erneut gelesen zu haben. Die ganzen Mittelalter vibes beim lesen waren auch echt cool und ich hätte mir auch gewünscht, dass der Mann der die beiden verfolgte, als Buchcover zu haben anstatt das was es Original ist.
Anfangs mochte ich dieses ganze Verfolgen nicht insbesondere als ich merkte, dass es sich wahrscheinlich bis zum Schluss hinauszieht aber irgendwie zum Ende hin war es dann doch spannend. Wahrscheinlich wegen dem wer dieser Mann tatsächlich war, was irgendwie schon cool war.
Genauso wie die Kassette bewerte ich dieses Buch 4 Sterne. Ich mochte es sehr und bin froh es erneut gelesen zu haben. Die ganzen Mittelalter vibes beim lesen waren auch echt cool und ich hätte mir auch gewünscht, dass der Mann der die beiden verfolgte, als Buchcover zu haben anstatt das was es Original ist.
July 23, 2024
I was actually thinking the twist would be something else that I figured out rather early on in the book, but turns out I was wrong, which made me enjoy this more because of that unexpected twist. This is certainly a newer concept that Stine hasn't taken before for one of his books, so another plus there.
The only complaint I have of this book is the horrid excuses for adults around these kids, and the lack of communication. The kids asking what's going on, what do you want, etc etc and the adults not even explaining themselves to them. What ever happened to the tried and true villainous monologue to explain themselves? I'd like that better than the 'you know what I want' repeatedly in response to the kid's panic. That got annoying.
The only complaint I have of this book is the horrid excuses for adults around these kids, and the lack of communication. The kids asking what's going on, what do you want, etc etc and the adults not even explaining themselves to them. What ever happened to the tried and true villainous monologue to explain themselves? I'd like that better than the 'you know what I want' repeatedly in response to the kid's panic. That got annoying.
December 8, 2025
3 - 3.5 stars
A Night in Terror Tower is the 27th book in the Goosebumps series. It is a little fun, a tad creepy, with a little mystery and action. Loved it.
I am re-reading this series for nostalgic reasons.
The Goosebumps series was a staple in our house. My kids absolutely loved them, and to say I read these books with them once is an understatement. We read them many times as each of my three kids became old enough to read them. They still have them and are getting to read them with their kids.
A Night in Terror Tower is the 27th book in the Goosebumps series. It is a little fun, a tad creepy, with a little mystery and action. Loved it.
I am re-reading this series for nostalgic reasons.
The Goosebumps series was a staple in our house. My kids absolutely loved them, and to say I read these books with them once is an understatement. We read them many times as each of my three kids became old enough to read them. They still have them and are getting to read them with their kids.
September 1, 2023
Recently I was given an original print of this by the publisher of my book (releasing soon), who was clearing out some of the older stuff from the library he runs. For that reason, I wanted to love this, but unfortunately this suffered from having too many cool moments early on but having a totally whack ending. The story follows sibling duo Sue and Eddie who visit the legendary Terror Tower in London, and as always (with everything I read), creepy things occur. There were some typical R.L. Stine-esque fakeout scares, and then were some actual things that were super dark for a book intended for young readers. However, this one was pretty disappointing as it went on, and for that reason, a 3/5 makes the most sense. Recommended for Goosebumps fans, but this isn't R.L. Stine's best work by any means.
September 8, 2021
I’ve always had a soft spot for this one, a Goosebumps book set in England was so exciting!
Eddie and Sue are visiting all the tourist locations on their first day in London, the tour takes them to Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and eventually Terror Tower (The Tower of London).
As they progress through the tower, Sue notices a strange man in a black coak watching both her and brother Eddie...
I loved how the story completely changes track at this point, there’s a really high concept idea for a book aimed at younger readers.
The story deals with torture and beheadings which are quite adult themes for this series in general.
I’ve read these books so many times as a kid, the plots are firmly fixed in my mind.
But this one more so, I practically love the ending.
Eddie and Sue are visiting all the tourist locations on their first day in London, the tour takes them to Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and eventually Terror Tower (The Tower of London).
As they progress through the tower, Sue notices a strange man in a black coak watching both her and brother Eddie...
I loved how the story completely changes track at this point, there’s a really high concept idea for a book aimed at younger readers.
The story deals with torture and beheadings which are quite adult themes for this series in general.
I’ve read these books so many times as a kid, the plots are firmly fixed in my mind.
But this one more so, I practically love the ending.
December 31, 2021
I spent a month re-reading all 62 original Goosebumps books to see if they still hold up today, you can check out my 3.5 hour vlog here: https://youtu.be/2C73xc1FS5o
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
October 30, 2022
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
This was my 4th and final Goosebumps book for October, and I’m so glad I saved it for last. I’ve been an Anglophile since I was very young, so I found the London setting incredibly enjoyable. There’s an element of time-travel here, which is always fun, and the pacing is a pretty perfect speed for the intended age group; it’s fast, but easy to follow. The entire tone of the book was madcap and a little wacky, reminding me strongly of an episode of Scooby-Doo. While there were times I was annoyed with our main character siblings for not catching onto what was happening or making decisions I felt were the wrong ones, I found them more likable than some other Goosebumps protagonists. All in all, this was just fun. I really enjoyed my time with it.
This was my 4th and final Goosebumps book for October, and I’m so glad I saved it for last. I’ve been an Anglophile since I was very young, so I found the London setting incredibly enjoyable. There’s an element of time-travel here, which is always fun, and the pacing is a pretty perfect speed for the intended age group; it’s fast, but easy to follow. The entire tone of the book was madcap and a little wacky, reminding me strongly of an episode of Scooby-Doo. While there were times I was annoyed with our main character siblings for not catching onto what was happening or making decisions I felt were the wrong ones, I found them more likable than some other Goosebumps protagonists. All in all, this was just fun. I really enjoyed my time with it.
September 16, 2022
Primer librito que leo de R.L. Stine! Hacía mucho tiempo que quería adentrarme en el mundo de "Escalofríos", recordando aquellas épocas nostálgicas donde me sentaba a merendar viendo la serie cuando era chico!
El libro nos cuenta la historia de Sue y Eddie, dos jóvenes hermanos que se encuentran en la ciudad de Londres realizando un viaje turístico, dentro del tour, visitan la llamada "Torre de Terror" una antigua edificación que data de la edad media, que fué utilizada como prisión. Allí nuestros protagonistas conocerán una perturbadora historia, dentro de la torre, dos hermanos, hijos del rey, habían sido encarcelados y asesinados en el cuarto que ellos estaban visitando ahí mismo. Pero el horror comienza cuando en su paseo, un misterioso hombre, vestido de negro, con una capa y un sombrero de ala, los comienza a acechar, queriendo raptarlos y llevárselos con él. Sue y Eddie, intentaran escapar y salvar sus vidas, pero esto los llevará a toparse con un sinfín de sucesos extraños a través del tiempo.
***
Una novelita super entretenida! no había leído nada de Stine y ahora me culpo mucho por eso! la verdad es que la forma de narrar del autor es fantástica, teniendo en cuenta que son libros juveniles damos por hecho que su prosa no sera muy compleja, eso lo hace ideal para hacer un "corte" si venimos de alguna lectura pesada o un libro largo. Son de esas historias que pueden leerse de una sentada, ágiles, entretenidas y que enganchan de principio a fin, ideal para leer en una noche tormentosa a la luz de las velas, con una taza de chocolate caliente. Lo disfruté muchísimo y ya quiero leer mi próximo libro de Goosebumps!
Le agradezco al amor de mi vida, que me regaló mi primer libro de R.L. Stine y me hizo conocer al autor, te amo mucho mi amor, espero que algún día leamos juntos :)
El libro nos cuenta la historia de Sue y Eddie, dos jóvenes hermanos que se encuentran en la ciudad de Londres realizando un viaje turístico, dentro del tour, visitan la llamada "Torre de Terror" una antigua edificación que data de la edad media, que fué utilizada como prisión. Allí nuestros protagonistas conocerán una perturbadora historia, dentro de la torre, dos hermanos, hijos del rey, habían sido encarcelados y asesinados en el cuarto que ellos estaban visitando ahí mismo. Pero el horror comienza cuando en su paseo, un misterioso hombre, vestido de negro, con una capa y un sombrero de ala, los comienza a acechar, queriendo raptarlos y llevárselos con él. Sue y Eddie, intentaran escapar y salvar sus vidas, pero esto los llevará a toparse con un sinfín de sucesos extraños a través del tiempo.
***
Una novelita super entretenida! no había leído nada de Stine y ahora me culpo mucho por eso! la verdad es que la forma de narrar del autor es fantástica, teniendo en cuenta que son libros juveniles damos por hecho que su prosa no sera muy compleja, eso lo hace ideal para hacer un "corte" si venimos de alguna lectura pesada o un libro largo. Son de esas historias que pueden leerse de una sentada, ágiles, entretenidas y que enganchan de principio a fin, ideal para leer en una noche tormentosa a la luz de las velas, con una taza de chocolate caliente. Lo disfruté muchísimo y ya quiero leer mi próximo libro de Goosebumps!
Le agradezco al amor de mi vida, que me regaló mi primer libro de R.L. Stine y me hizo conocer al autor, te amo mucho mi amor, espero que algún día leamos juntos :)
June 3, 2021
Due ragazzini americani in trasferta a Londra si trovano catapultati nel passato tra maghi e boia che li vogliono morti... Divertente come sempre, soprattutto per il meccanismo - sempre curioso anche nell'estrema semplicità dei Piccoli brividi - dei loop temporali.
August 8, 2015
Well that's one twist that I never even saw coming!!!
Good read indeed!!
Good read indeed!!
August 27, 2022
This book still inspires legitimate fear in me. I don't know which sensitive kid won't clutch their pearls and easily let go of their mother's hands. 10 out of 5 medieval amnesia and abandonment issues. You'll see what I mean when you read it in your past.
May 20, 2024
This one was revolutionary 💯 The twist though...
Reading notes along the way...
◘ These goosebumps audiobooks are magical. TOP TIER CONTENT **
◘ "but I'm 12 and a lot less wimpy than he is...." LOL
◘ It honestly is really scary imagining these medieval torture chambers/castles 😭
◘ GOD this sound effect music track is MANIACLE 😱
◘ Literally feel the unease in my gut.
◘ **Okay I figured it out it's the versions that were published on cassette tapes, not the newer versions which lack the vibes. These original narrations are TOP TEIR.
Reading notes along the way...
◘ These goosebumps audiobooks are magical. TOP TIER CONTENT **
◘ "but I'm 12 and a lot less wimpy than he is...." LOL
◘ It honestly is really scary imagining these medieval torture chambers/castles 😭
◘ GOD this sound effect music track is MANIACLE 😱
◘ Literally feel the unease in my gut.
◘ **Okay I figured it out it's the versions that were published on cassette tapes, not the newer versions which lack the vibes. These original narrations are TOP TEIR.
July 16, 2024
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι από τα αγαπημένα μου, όχι επειδή είναι απαραίτητα ένα από τα πιο ενδιαφέροντα της σειράς, αλλά επειδή "παίζει" με τις δικές μου, προσωπικές παιδικές φοβίες και άγχη. Ένα κλειστοφοβικό, δαιδαλώδες σκηνικό που προσφέρεται για το "χτίσιμο" μιας αγωνιώδους περιπέτειας γεμάτη σασπένς, και η οποία σε κρατάει σε εγρήγορση από την πρώτη μέχρι και την τελευταία πράξη του δράματος, όπου μπορείς πλέον να πάρεις ανάσα ελεύθερα.
April 2, 2025
I wasn't into this one at all.
For starters, that executioner on the cover is not in the book. The kids are chased by a man with a wide-brim hat that I imagine looks like one of the Three Musketeers. This killed any potential horror. Unless you're afraid of rats, this one isn't gonna give you goosebumps.
My guess is that Stine had recently taken a trip to London, toured the Tower of London, and decided to work it into a book, with info from the tour being his only reference point for England.
The story is frustrating. The kids are chased and begin to realize that they have lost their memories. The entire story is written around this big twist ending that isn't all that interesting.
If you do not want spoilers, I will end this by saying that despite how short this one is, it drags, and the ending is disappointing and poorly thought out.
Now for some spoilers! I have to talk about that ending so scroll down for a spoiler filled rant.
SPOILERS!
So, if the kids are from ye ole England, why do they think they are from America, and why do they speak with American accents? If anything, they should have old English accents. The kids could have been tourists from another part of England. I grew up in England and visited London and did all the touristy stuff during a school trip. I have also visited with my family. It's not much different than Americans visiting the Grand Canyon or Disneyland, so again, why are they American?
And why are they in such a hurry to time travel to the distant future. I understand that they are going to be executed, but if they are from another time, this leap to the future seems extreme and scary. Even if the kids think this is their only option, I would think there would be more fear and hesitation.
It's possible their understanding of the world changed with the spell, but they remember their parents at the end, so they know who they are. They also send Mongred to the future with them, but Mongred does not have a job or a residence. Where are these kids going to live? I'm not even sure that Mongred can get a job. What are his skills? Magic? Yeah, that's not gonna work.
And what about the people they left behind? Their murderous uncle is now ruling. These kids are the rightful heirs to the throne. They should use magic and maybe some tricks they picked up from the future to defeat their uncle, avenge their parents, and save their people. I imagine their people suffered under their cruel uncle's rule. The story is essentially The Lion King if it ended with Simba finding a new home with Timon and Pumba in the jungle and leaving his people at the mercy of Scar.
For starters, that executioner on the cover is not in the book. The kids are chased by a man with a wide-brim hat that I imagine looks like one of the Three Musketeers. This killed any potential horror. Unless you're afraid of rats, this one isn't gonna give you goosebumps.
My guess is that Stine had recently taken a trip to London, toured the Tower of London, and decided to work it into a book, with info from the tour being his only reference point for England.
The story is frustrating. The kids are chased and begin to realize that they have lost their memories. The entire story is written around this big twist ending that isn't all that interesting.
If you do not want spoilers, I will end this by saying that despite how short this one is, it drags, and the ending is disappointing and poorly thought out.
Now for some spoilers! I have to talk about that ending so scroll down for a spoiler filled rant.
SPOILERS!
So, if the kids are from ye ole England, why do they think they are from America, and why do they speak with American accents? If anything, they should have old English accents. The kids could have been tourists from another part of England. I grew up in England and visited London and did all the touristy stuff during a school trip. I have also visited with my family. It's not much different than Americans visiting the Grand Canyon or Disneyland, so again, why are they American?
And why are they in such a hurry to time travel to the distant future. I understand that they are going to be executed, but if they are from another time, this leap to the future seems extreme and scary. Even if the kids think this is their only option, I would think there would be more fear and hesitation.
It's possible their understanding of the world changed with the spell, but they remember their parents at the end, so they know who they are. They also send Mongred to the future with them, but Mongred does not have a job or a residence. Where are these kids going to live? I'm not even sure that Mongred can get a job. What are his skills? Magic? Yeah, that's not gonna work.
And what about the people they left behind? Their murderous uncle is now ruling. These kids are the rightful heirs to the throne. They should use magic and maybe some tricks they picked up from the future to defeat their uncle, avenge their parents, and save their people. I imagine their people suffered under their cruel uncle's rule. The story is essentially The Lion King if it ended with Simba finding a new home with Timon and Pumba in the jungle and leaving his people at the mercy of Scar.
January 29, 2023
Audiobook Version on YouTube - https://youtu.be/SJEhF2SDIqs
4.5 stars.
Ohhh my gosh NOW I remember why I liked this story so much! It was so much fun to read and because I had forgotten how it ended, I was really glued into the storyline because I wanted to see what would happen and how things would work out.
Definitely one I would recommend if you are a Goosebumps fan.
4.5 stars.
Ohhh my gosh NOW I remember why I liked this story so much! It was so much fun to read and because I had forgotten how it ended, I was really glued into the storyline because I wanted to see what would happen and how things would work out.
Definitely one I would recommend if you are a Goosebumps fan.
July 7, 2017
oh, wow
i did not see that coming!
i did not see that coming!
December 24, 2018
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** They're baa-aack! Make way for the bestselling children's series of all time. W/ a fresh new look, Goosebumps is set to scare a new generation of readers. Reader beware -- you're in for a scare!
All locked up and no place to go!
Sue and her brother, Eddie, are visiting London when they run into a little problem. They can't find their tour group. Still, there's no reason to panic. No way their tour guide would just leave them. All alone. In a gloomy old prison tower.
No way they'd get locked inside. After dark. With those eerie sounds. And a strange dark figure who wants them . . . dead.
All locked up and no place to go!
Sue and her brother, Eddie, are visiting London when they run into a little problem. They can't find their tour group. Still, there's no reason to panic. No way their tour guide would just leave them. All alone. In a gloomy old prison tower.
No way they'd get locked inside. After dark. With those eerie sounds. And a strange dark figure who wants them . . . dead.
August 13, 2022
I listened to the abridged full cast audio recording of this from the 90s so it did seem like it moved a bit more quickly than I'm used to with these but it was still a fun read and I actually really liked the twist at the end of this one. It's more than a bit cheesy but for some reason I felt like it actually worked.
June 5, 2015
Sue and her brother, Eddi, are visiting the london. While their parents are doing business, they are put onto a tour group. They're gonna go to the Terror Tower. Her brother was easily scared so she told her about executions and killing people in the terror tower. When they arrived at the terror tower, the tour went into the building. The building was dark and old. While the tour guide was explaing about the tower, Sue saw a man with black coak watching them. She said to her brother, is that man in our tour group but her brother doesn't remember. Then they went up to the prince and princess's execution room. The room was big and there is a small window at the middle of the room. The tour guide said the prince and the princess were not executed. They disappeared on the night of their execution. Sue and Eddie stay inside the room for a while but when they go down, they can't find their tour group. They were worried if the tour group had left them. Then the man with black coat chased them. They managed to get out of the tower and take a taxi to their hotel. The taxi driver asked for cash but Sue only find coins in her pocket. The driver gets angry but Sue said they're gonna ask their parents so they went up to their room but their parents were gone. They thought that the meeting isn't finished so they went downstairs and they was hungry so they went into the restaurant but they saw the taxi driver coming to them so they made a run to the back door. After they go outside from the back door, their saw the man with black coat. Then they fainted. When Sue woke up, her brother is not with her. She went into a house and asked the woman if she could help her, the woman said no but when Sue show her the coins, the woman take it and hide her. The man with black coat come into the house that Sue was hiding. Sue finally got caughted by the man because the woman tell her hiding place. She gets angry but the woman said the man was the Executioner. Then she faint. When she woke up, she and her brother is in a cage. While they're wondering, a man came in. They go back at the back of the cage but the man said he is friendly. His name is Morgan and he is a socerer. He said they're the prince and princess of York. They don't believe at first but when Morgan put his hand on both of their foreheads, they both got their memories back. They were the prince and princess of York. They asked Morgan if he could help them but Morgan told them that he can't help them. If he have three white stones, he can help them but the executioner have them so he can't help them. Then Eddie suddenly smiled. He pull of three white stones that he stole from the executioner. Morgan quickly took them and said three spells but he suddenly put them in his pocket. He said sorry and he hugged both of them and went outside from the room.
Will they get out of the cage or they will be execute?
Will they get out of the cage or they will be execute?
November 1, 2018
This one was actually quite creepy. This is up there as one of my favourite goosebumps.
August 31, 2020
This book was so much better than I remember. This one reads different than the previous books. There’s more story and not so many chapter cliffhangers. I loved it!
January 12, 2025
A Night In Terror Tower (Updated)
Eddie and Sue are visiting London and spending the day sight-seeing while their parents are at a conference. Eddie wants to see the Terror Tower but then has reservations because he has a bad feeling. His sister just tells him he has to stop being so scared of everything. Besides, its not like people are tortured there.. anymore that is. First, the tour guide (Mr. Starkes) points out some bricks from the original castle’s wall. (Now with only a portion of it still standing). He explains it started off as a fort, but then became a prison with a lot of torture going on inside.
If you couldn’t pay your bills, you got sent to prison and since there was no such thing as credit there you remained. There’s also a guardhouse with a guard (who has a riffle). Sue makes a comment that you can’t see the city behind the wall and it’s like you stepped back in time. Mr. Starkes starts to lead them into an entrance on the side but he stops. He tells them he has bad news. They’re all going to be imprisoned in the North Tower and tortured unless they can tell him why they really wanted to see the tower. But his expression changes to a smile and he says he’s just joking -a little Terror Tower humor-.
He tells that the castle consisted of several buildings and then points out the barracks. While Sue is snapping pictures she notices an executioner with a battle ax creeping up behind Mr. Starkes. But without turning he asks if anyone there needs a haircut. He says this is the castle’s barber. The executioner takes a bow. The first stop on the tour is the torture chamber. He warns them to stick close. He’ll be holding up a red pendant so he’s easy to spot. There are hundreds of chambers and secret passages. He says his last group got lost in there and he got fussed at by his boss.
Sue stops Eddie at the castle entrance and snaps a picture before going inside. The first device he shows them is “The Rack” He explains how it works. The more the wheel is pulled the more you stretch. Sometimes until your bones are pulled from the sockets. Sure notices a man in a black cape with his face in shadow. He’s staring at Eddie and Sue. When Sue tries to get a picture of “The Rack” she finds out her camera is gone!
But then she sees Eddie smile. The great pick pocket has struck again! They rush to catch up with the group again. The man is still following them. Sue tries to tell herself he’s just another tourist. In the next room are “Thumbscrews” (They fit over your thumbs and there’s a screw in the side that digs into your thumb). Sue picks up a pair of metal handcuffs with spikes on the inside. She clamps it down on her arm and immediately regrets it and starts to yell for Eddie to help. It’s cutting her.
But she quickly reveals it’s not stuck and she was just getting him back. After this, they go up the steep stairs to the North Tower. There’s a cell where enemies of the King were kept. A woman asks what happened to the prisoners and if they stayed in there for years and years. Mr. Starkes answers they were beheaded. As they go up the stairs, Sue starts to get a feeling of de ja vu. Then they come to the Tower Room where a prince and a princess (Edward and Susanah of York) were held. The Lord High Executioner were sent to smother them so they wouldn’t take the throne.
Before Mr. Starkes can tell them more, Sue’s camera drops and her lens breaks. So, they miss it. Sue looks at the only piece of furniture and the window and is filled with sadness for the Prince and Princess. When its too much and they turn to leave, they’ve lost the group. They didn’t hear them leave. As they go down the stairs, they don’t hear them on the stairs. They don’t hear the guards either. Then they notice there are two stairwells (that they didn’t notice on the way up). One to the left and one to the right.
They hear footsteps coming up and think it must be Mr. Starkes coming to get them, but it’s the man in the black cape. Sue tries to explain to him that they got separated from their group and ask if it’s the way down but he doesn’t respond. He points a black gloved hand up and tells them they have to come with him. He says he doesn’t want to hurt them but if they try to escape he’ll have no choice. He tells them they know why he’s there and grabs them by the shoulder. He tells them to stand there and don’t move. He takes out three, white, stones. While the man is fumbling trying to position the stones, Sue sees her chance and yells for Eddie to RUN (down one of the stairwells). They run down the stairs. Sue’s camera drops as they run. Finally they reach the exit (a large gray door). But the door is locked. They give it one more hard shove and it opens. They shut the man in and bolt the door. But they aren’t outside. They’re in a room and they hear laughter. A voice says they are in the King’s dungeon and abandon all hope.
Eddie and Sue see hands poking out from the cells. Behind them the black, caped man is banging on the doors. Sue thinks she sees another door but trips over a chained man on the floor, but he’s just a dummy. Then Sue sees none of it is real. The hands aren’t real either. The voice is a recording. Just as Sue is thinking they’re ok, the black capped man burst into the room. (Can I call this man Judge Doom from Roger Rabbit because that’s what I’m picturing). Judge Doom demands they come with him again. He says they can’t leave the castle and takes out the stones. Eddie and Sue take off in a run again. JD trips over the dummy.
Sue takes a flash light and they find a hidden tunnel. The tunnel leads to a sewer. It’s not long before JD catches up and grabs them both. Sue is able to retrieve her flashlight but before she can use it she sees rats coming toward them. Eyes fire red! Sue yells at Eddie to jump and they jump up unto metal bars in the roof. The rats run pass. The man isn’t so lucky. He gets attacked by the rats and has to make a run for it. They wait for the rats to leave and they drop back to the ground.
They start to walk and try to find their way out. The tunnel goes upward and they have to climb. There’s a roar that indicates they’re near the end of the tunnel and almost outside. There’s a ladder leading up to the surface and finally they’re out of the sewer and the tower. They hurry toward the parking lot. When they get there the tour bus is gone. Then there’s JD coming after them.
But it’s a night guard and he wants to know if they’re the kids the guide was talking about. He says he waited on them but then they left. They try to tell him about the man but he says there’s no one there but him after closing. They insist he chased them through the sewer. He tells them they never should have been in the sewer and chastises them for making up wild stories. So, they ask him how to get back to the hotel. He offers to call them a taxi. He tells them it’ll cost them quite a bit but they have money. The driver takes them to the Barkley hotel. They try to pay the driver but he says the coins aren’t real and gets angry.
Sue promises she’ll get her parents to come down and pay him. He says if they aren’t out in a few minutes he’s coming in after them. They run up to Room 626 and knock on the door but no one answers. They yell for their parents. No one responds. A maid asks if they need help. They say their parents are at a meeting. The maid says she’s not suppose to do this but she takes out a set of keys and opens the door for them. There aren’t any messages left. When Eddie opens the closet, it’s EMPTY!
The drawers are also empty. So, the go to the lobby and ask the man at the desk they need to know where the meeting is where there parents are. Only they don’t know the name of the meeting or what it’s about. The man looks at them in confusion and tells them there aren’t any big meetings there this week. Eddie keeps asking if this is the right room and if this is the right hotel. The man asks the room number and when he checks he says that room is vacant presently. The man says he’ll find their parents. He asks what their last names are but neither Eddie nor Sue can remember. So, he sends them to the hotel restaurant while he tries to track their parents down.
Its high tea time so they’re served sandwiches, pastries, and croissants. Every time Sue starts to think of why she can’t remember her last name she starts to feel dizzy and hopes the food will help. They decide to describe what their parents look like to the man at the desk, but then realize they don’t remember that either. They’re lost their memories and Sue’s hands now are as cold as ice. Sue tries to look on the bright side and recount what she does remember. But past this day they can’t remember any of the others. Then there’s more trouble. The taxi driver appears in the room coming to collect.
Eddie says they should just explain. Sue knows telling him they lost their memories won’t fly. She sees a glass door behind a white curtain that says NO EXIT. They find themselves in a long, dark, hallway. Judge Doom comes from around the corner and asks did they really think he wouldn’t follow them and they could escape. The man demands that Eddie give “them” back. Eddie asks if he gives “them” back will he let them go. The man says he doesn’t have time for games. Eddie takes the three, white, stones from his pocket. The man takes the stones and Eddie again asks will he let them go. The man says yes they will go now, but Eddie says that’s not what he meant.
The man chants some foreign words, there’s a white light, and then everything goes black. Then the man is gone and there are candles in the hallway. Sue has a tingling feeling. Eddie wants to go back to the room. They don’t see an elevator just dark. Then they see others passing in long robes. They move silently and pay them no attention. Not even when they try to ask where the elevator is. They go up to a man and he tells them he smells evil around them. He advises they don’t leave the abbey. They’re time is near. He then vanishes around the corner.
They continue to look for an elevator. No stairs. No exit. So, they decide to go back the way they came through the restaurant. All the while, Sue tries to remember *anything*. They reach the end of the hallway. There’s no door back to the restaurant. There’s no door at all. There are voice coming from a doorway to the right. But as they enter through the doorway, they see people in strange costumes in front of a wooden table full of food. Their eating with their hands. There are chickens running across the floor. Sue thinks it must be a costume party.
Some women have on furs. One man has on an entire bearskin. They all have weird accents. Eddie walks up to a man turning a deer on a spit and asks him how they can get out of the hotel. He stares at them. Another little girl walks up to them and stares at their shirts and jeans. Then it goes silent as everyone in the room gapes at them. They stand up quickly. A man points at them and says “It’s them.” Everyone freezes,
Sue says they just want to find their way out. She asks for help but the people just whisper and stare. They all move in like they’re going to surround them. So, they dart back into the dark hallway. They hear their cries but when they look back the hall is empty. So they just run. They come to a door in front of them and it opens into bright sunlight and everything has changed. There’s a lumpy road and cottages. Lots of chickens and a cow. When they turn around the hotel is gone and in its place is a meeting hall. There are no cars. No busses. No tall buildings.
The man they asks just looks at them blankly. He doesn’t have any idea what a hotel is. When Sue turns in disbelief to comment on this her brother isn’t there. Sue looks in the abbey but it’s the hallway with the candles. She knows he’s not in there. Sue starts to panic. She looks into one of the cottages but it’s empty. Behind the cottage is a pature. She calls out to her brother but gets no response. So, she decides to check all the cottages. Then she sees a shadow and blocking her path is Judge Doom.
JD says don’t worry about Eddie, that Sue knows very well who he is, and that her questions won’t delay her fate. The man says don’t even think about running. It is time and he grabs her. The ground starts to shake, but then an ox cart starts to come toward them and the man stumbles. Sue takes advantage of this and takes off running toward the backs of the cottages. A woman calls out ot her but she keeps running. Two hounds come after her. She ducks behind two shacks. She begs a woman to hide her. The woman says she cannot. She says she’ll pay her and gives her all the coins she has. She takes them and shoves her into her cottage. Then she pushes her inside a box.
But the lady leads Judge Doom right to her and tells him she’s wrapped her up for him. Sure tries to get out the basket but something is holding it closed. The lady whispers she’s sorry but she can’t go against the Lord Executioner. There’s movement and sounds of horse’s hoofs. Sue is taken to the Terror Tower in the past and Eddie is there. He says he got grabbed when the ox’s cart went past. The guards held him behind one of the cottages. He tried to escape but couldn’t. A man with white, tangled, hair and a white pointed beard with purple eyes and robes comes into the room and declares they’ve returned. He says he wishes it were in his power to release them and calls them Edward and Susanah. He says his name is Morgred and he’s the King’s sorcerer. And they are the Prince and Princess of York and have been ordered to be put in the tower by their uncle. And they aren’t from the 20th century. He says he cast a spell to help them escape their fate. He went them into the future to give them new memories but they weren’t complete. Now someone will be coming to kill them.
JD was listening and used the spell to track them down, Then Susanah remembers as Morgred touches her forehead. Then he returns Eddie’s. Morgred says he can not return them. He doesn’t have the three stones, but Eddie has stolen them back. He shows them the spell but says he can’t do it again or he’ll get punished and die and then no one can help the people of Britain. He then apologizes and leaves, but he leaves the door open so they decide to make a run for it.
But something freezes them in place. It’s Morgred. They hear footsteps again but this time it’s the High Executioner. Once again Eddie has stolen the stones and preforms the spell. They end up back in the tower but it’s in the 20th century with another tour guide. They’ve also brought back Morgred. He says to call him Mr. Morgan now and he thanks them. They say they needed a parent. Then they all get out of there and head for Burger Place (after Morgred makes a bad joke about conjuring up some food).
MY THOUGHTS:
I really liked this one. I was spoiled because, before Halloween, I'd already watched the episode on Netflix. Still, this was one of the books I couldn't wait to get too. And the show's knowledge of what happens didn't take away my enjoyment of it.
I thought the setting was perfect! I wrote a story once (and did some research for it) involving torture devices (with the assist of my best friend). Some of the devices I researched even made me wince at the thought of. Can you imagine what seeing them did to these two kids?
And then there's the horrifying thought of one day going through your day only to find that you have no memories of ANYTHING! And how terrifying it would feel to be in that position. I think that was even scarier a thought to me than finding yourself in another time period. Losing all sense of who you are I can imagine would be akin to losing your mind complexly! But as I thought about this book on a second read, I do remember a time when I was very sick and I remembered becoming very disoriented and how scary that was.
I felt like I should have known that Eddie and Sue were the Prince and Princess somehow but when I watched the episode I really didn't. Because it's rare I'm caught off guard like that I think was part of the reason why this was one of the better ones.
Yet Morgan to be the good guy was COMPLETELY USELESS! So he's a wizard and he's powerful enough to send them back, but he's not powerful enough to protect them? Unh hunh. . I actually would not mind a sequel to this one because we all know the Executioner is still out there and I don't see him stopping until he's tracked them all down.
RATING 81/2
Eddie and Sue are visiting London and spending the day sight-seeing while their parents are at a conference. Eddie wants to see the Terror Tower but then has reservations because he has a bad feeling. His sister just tells him he has to stop being so scared of everything. Besides, its not like people are tortured there.. anymore that is. First, the tour guide (Mr. Starkes) points out some bricks from the original castle’s wall. (Now with only a portion of it still standing). He explains it started off as a fort, but then became a prison with a lot of torture going on inside.
If you couldn’t pay your bills, you got sent to prison and since there was no such thing as credit there you remained. There’s also a guardhouse with a guard (who has a riffle). Sue makes a comment that you can’t see the city behind the wall and it’s like you stepped back in time. Mr. Starkes starts to lead them into an entrance on the side but he stops. He tells them he has bad news. They’re all going to be imprisoned in the North Tower and tortured unless they can tell him why they really wanted to see the tower. But his expression changes to a smile and he says he’s just joking -a little Terror Tower humor-.
He tells that the castle consisted of several buildings and then points out the barracks. While Sue is snapping pictures she notices an executioner with a battle ax creeping up behind Mr. Starkes. But without turning he asks if anyone there needs a haircut. He says this is the castle’s barber. The executioner takes a bow. The first stop on the tour is the torture chamber. He warns them to stick close. He’ll be holding up a red pendant so he’s easy to spot. There are hundreds of chambers and secret passages. He says his last group got lost in there and he got fussed at by his boss.
Sue stops Eddie at the castle entrance and snaps a picture before going inside. The first device he shows them is “The Rack” He explains how it works. The more the wheel is pulled the more you stretch. Sometimes until your bones are pulled from the sockets. Sure notices a man in a black cape with his face in shadow. He’s staring at Eddie and Sue. When Sue tries to get a picture of “The Rack” she finds out her camera is gone!
But then she sees Eddie smile. The great pick pocket has struck again! They rush to catch up with the group again. The man is still following them. Sue tries to tell herself he’s just another tourist. In the next room are “Thumbscrews” (They fit over your thumbs and there’s a screw in the side that digs into your thumb). Sue picks up a pair of metal handcuffs with spikes on the inside. She clamps it down on her arm and immediately regrets it and starts to yell for Eddie to help. It’s cutting her.
But she quickly reveals it’s not stuck and she was just getting him back. After this, they go up the steep stairs to the North Tower. There’s a cell where enemies of the King were kept. A woman asks what happened to the prisoners and if they stayed in there for years and years. Mr. Starkes answers they were beheaded. As they go up the stairs, Sue starts to get a feeling of de ja vu. Then they come to the Tower Room where a prince and a princess (Edward and Susanah of York) were held. The Lord High Executioner were sent to smother them so they wouldn’t take the throne.
Before Mr. Starkes can tell them more, Sue’s camera drops and her lens breaks. So, they miss it. Sue looks at the only piece of furniture and the window and is filled with sadness for the Prince and Princess. When its too much and they turn to leave, they’ve lost the group. They didn’t hear them leave. As they go down the stairs, they don’t hear them on the stairs. They don’t hear the guards either. Then they notice there are two stairwells (that they didn’t notice on the way up). One to the left and one to the right.
They hear footsteps coming up and think it must be Mr. Starkes coming to get them, but it’s the man in the black cape. Sue tries to explain to him that they got separated from their group and ask if it’s the way down but he doesn’t respond. He points a black gloved hand up and tells them they have to come with him. He says he doesn’t want to hurt them but if they try to escape he’ll have no choice. He tells them they know why he’s there and grabs them by the shoulder. He tells them to stand there and don’t move. He takes out three, white, stones. While the man is fumbling trying to position the stones, Sue sees her chance and yells for Eddie to RUN (down one of the stairwells). They run down the stairs. Sue’s camera drops as they run. Finally they reach the exit (a large gray door). But the door is locked. They give it one more hard shove and it opens. They shut the man in and bolt the door. But they aren’t outside. They’re in a room and they hear laughter. A voice says they are in the King’s dungeon and abandon all hope.
Eddie and Sue see hands poking out from the cells. Behind them the black, caped man is banging on the doors. Sue thinks she sees another door but trips over a chained man on the floor, but he’s just a dummy. Then Sue sees none of it is real. The hands aren’t real either. The voice is a recording. Just as Sue is thinking they’re ok, the black capped man burst into the room. (Can I call this man Judge Doom from Roger Rabbit because that’s what I’m picturing). Judge Doom demands they come with him again. He says they can’t leave the castle and takes out the stones. Eddie and Sue take off in a run again. JD trips over the dummy.
Sue takes a flash light and they find a hidden tunnel. The tunnel leads to a sewer. It’s not long before JD catches up and grabs them both. Sue is able to retrieve her flashlight but before she can use it she sees rats coming toward them. Eyes fire red! Sue yells at Eddie to jump and they jump up unto metal bars in the roof. The rats run pass. The man isn’t so lucky. He gets attacked by the rats and has to make a run for it. They wait for the rats to leave and they drop back to the ground.
They start to walk and try to find their way out. The tunnel goes upward and they have to climb. There’s a roar that indicates they’re near the end of the tunnel and almost outside. There’s a ladder leading up to the surface and finally they’re out of the sewer and the tower. They hurry toward the parking lot. When they get there the tour bus is gone. Then there’s JD coming after them.
But it’s a night guard and he wants to know if they’re the kids the guide was talking about. He says he waited on them but then they left. They try to tell him about the man but he says there’s no one there but him after closing. They insist he chased them through the sewer. He tells them they never should have been in the sewer and chastises them for making up wild stories. So, they ask him how to get back to the hotel. He offers to call them a taxi. He tells them it’ll cost them quite a bit but they have money. The driver takes them to the Barkley hotel. They try to pay the driver but he says the coins aren’t real and gets angry.
Sue promises she’ll get her parents to come down and pay him. He says if they aren’t out in a few minutes he’s coming in after them. They run up to Room 626 and knock on the door but no one answers. They yell for their parents. No one responds. A maid asks if they need help. They say their parents are at a meeting. The maid says she’s not suppose to do this but she takes out a set of keys and opens the door for them. There aren’t any messages left. When Eddie opens the closet, it’s EMPTY!
The drawers are also empty. So, the go to the lobby and ask the man at the desk they need to know where the meeting is where there parents are. Only they don’t know the name of the meeting or what it’s about. The man looks at them in confusion and tells them there aren’t any big meetings there this week. Eddie keeps asking if this is the right room and if this is the right hotel. The man asks the room number and when he checks he says that room is vacant presently. The man says he’ll find their parents. He asks what their last names are but neither Eddie nor Sue can remember. So, he sends them to the hotel restaurant while he tries to track their parents down.
Its high tea time so they’re served sandwiches, pastries, and croissants. Every time Sue starts to think of why she can’t remember her last name she starts to feel dizzy and hopes the food will help. They decide to describe what their parents look like to the man at the desk, but then realize they don’t remember that either. They’re lost their memories and Sue’s hands now are as cold as ice. Sue tries to look on the bright side and recount what she does remember. But past this day they can’t remember any of the others. Then there’s more trouble. The taxi driver appears in the room coming to collect.
Eddie says they should just explain. Sue knows telling him they lost their memories won’t fly. She sees a glass door behind a white curtain that says NO EXIT. They find themselves in a long, dark, hallway. Judge Doom comes from around the corner and asks did they really think he wouldn’t follow them and they could escape. The man demands that Eddie give “them” back. Eddie asks if he gives “them” back will he let them go. The man says he doesn’t have time for games. Eddie takes the three, white, stones from his pocket. The man takes the stones and Eddie again asks will he let them go. The man says yes they will go now, but Eddie says that’s not what he meant.
The man chants some foreign words, there’s a white light, and then everything goes black. Then the man is gone and there are candles in the hallway. Sue has a tingling feeling. Eddie wants to go back to the room. They don’t see an elevator just dark. Then they see others passing in long robes. They move silently and pay them no attention. Not even when they try to ask where the elevator is. They go up to a man and he tells them he smells evil around them. He advises they don’t leave the abbey. They’re time is near. He then vanishes around the corner.
They continue to look for an elevator. No stairs. No exit. So, they decide to go back the way they came through the restaurant. All the while, Sue tries to remember *anything*. They reach the end of the hallway. There’s no door back to the restaurant. There’s no door at all. There are voice coming from a doorway to the right. But as they enter through the doorway, they see people in strange costumes in front of a wooden table full of food. Their eating with their hands. There are chickens running across the floor. Sue thinks it must be a costume party.
Some women have on furs. One man has on an entire bearskin. They all have weird accents. Eddie walks up to a man turning a deer on a spit and asks him how they can get out of the hotel. He stares at them. Another little girl walks up to them and stares at their shirts and jeans. Then it goes silent as everyone in the room gapes at them. They stand up quickly. A man points at them and says “It’s them.” Everyone freezes,
Sue says they just want to find their way out. She asks for help but the people just whisper and stare. They all move in like they’re going to surround them. So, they dart back into the dark hallway. They hear their cries but when they look back the hall is empty. So they just run. They come to a door in front of them and it opens into bright sunlight and everything has changed. There’s a lumpy road and cottages. Lots of chickens and a cow. When they turn around the hotel is gone and in its place is a meeting hall. There are no cars. No busses. No tall buildings.
The man they asks just looks at them blankly. He doesn’t have any idea what a hotel is. When Sue turns in disbelief to comment on this her brother isn’t there. Sue looks in the abbey but it’s the hallway with the candles. She knows he’s not in there. Sue starts to panic. She looks into one of the cottages but it’s empty. Behind the cottage is a pature. She calls out to her brother but gets no response. So, she decides to check all the cottages. Then she sees a shadow and blocking her path is Judge Doom.
JD says don’t worry about Eddie, that Sue knows very well who he is, and that her questions won’t delay her fate. The man says don’t even think about running. It is time and he grabs her. The ground starts to shake, but then an ox cart starts to come toward them and the man stumbles. Sue takes advantage of this and takes off running toward the backs of the cottages. A woman calls out ot her but she keeps running. Two hounds come after her. She ducks behind two shacks. She begs a woman to hide her. The woman says she cannot. She says she’ll pay her and gives her all the coins she has. She takes them and shoves her into her cottage. Then she pushes her inside a box.
But the lady leads Judge Doom right to her and tells him she’s wrapped her up for him. Sure tries to get out the basket but something is holding it closed. The lady whispers she’s sorry but she can’t go against the Lord Executioner. There’s movement and sounds of horse’s hoofs. Sue is taken to the Terror Tower in the past and Eddie is there. He says he got grabbed when the ox’s cart went past. The guards held him behind one of the cottages. He tried to escape but couldn’t. A man with white, tangled, hair and a white pointed beard with purple eyes and robes comes into the room and declares they’ve returned. He says he wishes it were in his power to release them and calls them Edward and Susanah. He says his name is Morgred and he’s the King’s sorcerer. And they are the Prince and Princess of York and have been ordered to be put in the tower by their uncle. And they aren’t from the 20th century. He says he cast a spell to help them escape their fate. He went them into the future to give them new memories but they weren’t complete. Now someone will be coming to kill them.
JD was listening and used the spell to track them down, Then Susanah remembers as Morgred touches her forehead. Then he returns Eddie’s. Morgred says he can not return them. He doesn’t have the three stones, but Eddie has stolen them back. He shows them the spell but says he can’t do it again or he’ll get punished and die and then no one can help the people of Britain. He then apologizes and leaves, but he leaves the door open so they decide to make a run for it.
But something freezes them in place. It’s Morgred. They hear footsteps again but this time it’s the High Executioner. Once again Eddie has stolen the stones and preforms the spell. They end up back in the tower but it’s in the 20th century with another tour guide. They’ve also brought back Morgred. He says to call him Mr. Morgan now and he thanks them. They say they needed a parent. Then they all get out of there and head for Burger Place (after Morgred makes a bad joke about conjuring up some food).
MY THOUGHTS:
I really liked this one. I was spoiled because, before Halloween, I'd already watched the episode on Netflix. Still, this was one of the books I couldn't wait to get too. And the show's knowledge of what happens didn't take away my enjoyment of it.
I thought the setting was perfect! I wrote a story once (and did some research for it) involving torture devices (with the assist of my best friend). Some of the devices I researched even made me wince at the thought of. Can you imagine what seeing them did to these two kids?
And then there's the horrifying thought of one day going through your day only to find that you have no memories of ANYTHING! And how terrifying it would feel to be in that position. I think that was even scarier a thought to me than finding yourself in another time period. Losing all sense of who you are I can imagine would be akin to losing your mind complexly! But as I thought about this book on a second read, I do remember a time when I was very sick and I remembered becoming very disoriented and how scary that was.
I felt like I should have known that Eddie and Sue were the Prince and Princess somehow but when I watched the episode I really didn't. Because it's rare I'm caught off guard like that I think was part of the reason why this was one of the better ones.
Yet Morgan to be the good guy was COMPLETELY USELESS! So he's a wizard and he's powerful enough to send them back, but he's not powerful enough to protect them? Unh hunh. . I actually would not mind a sequel to this one because we all know the Executioner is still out there and I don't see him stopping until he's tracked them all down.
RATING 81/2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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