Desperation for cash has led me down a rainbow painted hallway to Frankie’s Funhouse—a children’s gambling casino. Or as my boss likes to call it, a pizza arcade.
The coworkers are strange, the patrons are disturbing, and the animatronics are possessed. Which I was willing to put up with until my boss died.
Well, he was murdered, actually.
Now I have to serve pizza and birthday cake while thinking about burning down the mall to hide a body for an animatronic that keeps hitting on me.
Drug dealings in the backrooms, puddles of blood seeping out from the storage closet, and parents threatening to talk to my (dead) boss if I don’t get their screaming kids' pizza was all manageable...
Until I realized I didn’t mind Frankie’s possessed tongue in my mouth.
Author Previously published in the Creepy Court Monster Mall Anthology. This is the 1980s supernatural prequel to the Umbra Valley series. Although this is in the same (or alternate) universe as the Lux Oleander Umbra Valley books, it is very paranormal. The following books in the series are strongly contemporary with only vague mentions to potential supernatural activities.
This was maybe the most abhorrent book I’ve read. It left me mentally unwell for a couple days. I should not be allowed to have a KU subscription, I need adult supervision.
There's a twisted sort of balance between "WTF is happening?" and "Yes, please, more" Beatrix Hollow seems to master. Animatronics, really? But I don't know, her brand of crazy shit happens to work for me. Guess I'm freaky that way, whoopsie-doodle.
For me, Beatrix Hollow can do no wrong. I truly love the way she crafts her stories and the weird girl energy is always serving hard!
So, it's to no surprise that Frankie's Funhouse: Animatronic Horror Romance was incredibly fun to read, very sexy, and gave me the best blast from the past 80's vibes a girl could ask for!
This is a prequel to Beatrix's Umbra Valley series written under Lux Oleander. I think it's a perfect opening to the Umbra Valley series with the slasher vibes and chaos that was delivered in Meet at Midnight!
Ramona is the starring FMC and I freaking loved her. From her perm to her 80's booty shorts! I just always find Beatrix/Lux's characters to be extremely likeable for my taste. And then, Frankie.... Did I think I'd ever say an animatronic character could be sexy? No, no I did not😁. Alas, Frankie was delicious. Insane, yet delicious. Just depends on your taste!
This story is the epitome of slasher, final girl, horror 80's-cult-like-film vibes...if that makes any sense. I loved it plain and simple.
Going to be honest, a circa-1980's mall is already setting the stage for some serious carnage, so when a possessed animatronic gets thrown into the mix I just figure that ALL BETS ARE OFF. And I was right.
Ramona has taken a job that would probably steal the soul of anyone given enough time. Roller skates, rainbow booty shorts, and barely cooked pizza served to sugar-hyped kids (while their parents are busy getting busy in the back room). As if that's not enough, the animatronics are giving her the creeps. Well, one animatronic. And, umm, it might not actually be the creeps. I mean it is, but it maybe also isn't. Like, maybe she likes being chased by a possessed animatronic coyote who sing-songs her name while hunting her through the arcade.
But wait! That comes later. First, she has to get through her first shift (on her own, for the most part), deal with her now-deceased boss's body (yeah, things happen in those employee only rooms), and try to save the screaming kids from the bloodbath she's pretty sure is coming. You know, because of the possessed animatronic and the chainsaw it's wielding and all that.
A whole lot of creepy vibes (not all from the animatronics, thankyouverymuch), a little chase or two, way more blood than one would expect as a pizza arcade, an animatronic that wants to get its hands on Ramona, and a lady who just wanted an okay job, but ended up wearing rainbow booty shorts and finding out she might not mind the big metal creature stalking her through her work. Bloody, wacky, and pretty darn fun!
Creepy, irreverent, “this should not be hot but it kinda is” 5/5 ⭐️s
I can always count on Beatrix Hollow to push me out of my comfort zone and somehow still really enjoy the story. I’m admitted not big on horror, my creep-factor limits are usually on par with Tim Burton movies lol. But this was such an entertaining read and there were def moments of “wait, is that hot? Huh, yeah I guess it kinda is” that I’m sure mean I also need therapy like Ramona does 😂 but it’s fiiiine. Murderous animatronics with electric cord zappy skills and extremely campy cocks can go on the list, I guess. 😮💨
This small novella packed a punch! The storyline was fantastic. Killer animatronics taking over a funhouse all while adding a dash of romance. So much happened and I enjoyed every minute! The 80s theme was so good! From perms to Avon cosmetics to the nostalgia of going to Chuck e Cheese as a kid 😂 and I NEVER knew an animatronic coyote/wolf could get me feeling all kinds of ways 🥵 I’ll formulate a better review later but this was *chefs kiss* 😘
This just went in a completely different direction than I expected? Gave some pretty strong FNAF vibes, but now I just want to read R. Lee Smith’s fanfic.
I really tried going into this with an open mind. I’ve read and enjoyed some weird stuff. It’s very obviously a five nights at Freddy’s spin off, but add satanic rituals? And…. An interesting 🍆. Don’t read. Waste of your time😭 the story doesn’t make sense and then it just….. demons? Chuck E. Cheese???? The random part at the end about world domination??? Just… it’s like the author took acid while watching the new FNAF movie and wrote a poorly constructed 80 page smut novel about it.
『It felt good to step outside all my roles—let them slither away until there was nothing left to care about.』
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/ Beatrix did it again. Last year we got ‘Meet at midnight’ which this opened a new door for me, and behind this door is a fun mix of jokes, smut, horror and morally grey stories. So ‘Frankie’s Funhouse’ is a cute prequel to the series. In this story we have a girl who just started her first shift in a kid’s cafe (cafe and arcades and performances of animatronics..just everything we expect from such a place in 80s), little does she know that behind closed curtains Frankie decided that he needs to communicate with her. And it was fun, the fear and excitement of being watched, chase from possessed animatronic and so much blood. Do i want to meet Frankie after smut i read in this book? Probably, why not?
Import info: this story/novella is taken place in three same world as MaM, but they can be read separately or you can skip this story or next ones if they are not for you. And this novella was previously published in ‘Creepy court. Volume 1’ anthology. Now you can collect and read all included works separately.
« I think I love you, Ramona, » Frankie said. « Fuck me, » I hissed again. « Well if you insist, » Frankie rasped.
Rating: 3 ⭐️ Genre: Paranormal horror erotica Format: Ebook Pages: 82 Spice: 3 🌶️ POV: First POV S/S: standalone Check trigger warnings for any book
I will never look at animatronics the same ever again. They crept me out before, they scare me shitless now.
A light vibrating dick you say? Demonic possession? A bit of degradation? A chainsaw? Yup.
This was honestly such a fun and fucked novella. Confirmed that I love Beatrix Hollow’s mind.
Favorite quotes (MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS):
« Christ, who designed him? Why’d they make him so… so… Don’t fucking say attractive. »
« (…) maybe not the animatronic fucking. I wasn’t going to linger on whatever subconscious trauma had me hallucinate that. »
« I was hot over a possessed animatronic threatening to electrocute me. That was honestly a more surprising revelation learned at work, than realizing I’m capable of wielding a chainsaw against my boss. »
Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram
My thoughts before “Frankie’s Funhouse”~ Oh wow, it’s like smutty FNAF. No harm in doing a favor my people by reading it first. (Warning: don’t a book tester for friends or followers!) It should be really interesting anyways. I’ll just read it real fast see what the hype is about.
Thought and Feelings After “Frankie’s Funhouse” ~ What the hell did I just read? I’m so confused on a whole new level. I can’t comprehend wtf this is. I think I’ve unlocked a new trauma.
There was so many twists and turns in here. I could not keep up. Most of the book I was confused by multiple things. Not just the plot but the characters too (especially their behavior). I know the book was less than 100 pages but damn I think I needed more to understand what the hell was going on.
I would purely on recommend this if you are just extremely curious and don’t mind wasting an hour. I somewhat enjoyed it but wasn’t totally loving it. Only reason I tried it was bc I was curious and people wanted to see my reaction. So I guess you can call me a test dummy. ⚠️ Read at your own risk!! ⚠️
Horror Erotica Paranormal Novella Slasher vibes Set in the 1980s Forced Proximity Snarky banter Unconventional HEA
Beatrix Hollow masterfully blends jaw-dropping weirdness with irresistible storytelling, and Frankie’s Funhouse is the perfect example. I devoured every second of this novella. Her writing is chaotic in the best way with equal parts unsettling, addictive, and weirdly hot. I never expected to be into deadly, possessed animatronics, but here we are. Frankie is oddly charming, the 80s arcade vibe hits just right, and the cursed funhouse setting (basically a demonic Chuck E. Cheese) is both creepy and clever. The balance of gore, tension, and smut is chaotic perfection, and the fact that I genuinely cared about a haunted animatronic wolf? That’s talent. Honestly, I’ve always found places like Chuck E. Cheese borderline rage-inducing, so turning that energy into a horror-erotica fever dream? Brilliant. This novella is unhinged in all the right ways.
“You pronounced something wrong,” he sighed before saying the word correctly for me. “Uh, thanks,” I said awkwardly before launching back into Latin. “I was this close to killing thousands of people,” Frankie said, holding up his hand to show a tiny pinched space between his fingers.
This whole conversation was the best, pushed it to 4 stars just for this scene alone. That twist >>
This whole thing feels like a fever dream, in a fun way. I'm confused the whole time but also enjoying the absurdity and bad choices. The smut was very fun too 🤭 Haven't read about an animatronic thing before but I'm definitely intrigued, the whole demon thing made it work. Everything made sense in the end. And I love Frankie, he's adorable and funny. He really helped her tie himself to Ramona 😆
Wow. I honestly didn't know what I expected but it surely wasn't that!! I honestly loved how it had it's own odd characteristics. It definitely was a murderous Chuck E. Cheese situation. Speaking of which, it's hilarious and wild. I couldn't put it down. The spice was a nice touch. It got pretty creative in that department! I honestly hated a few characters and I'm happy karma came for those. Frankie isn't just any animatronic. He's got his own style and personality. I loved how affectionate he was. Regardless if it was out of his own benefit. Ramona was selfless and had her own level of darkness that made them both perfect for each other. I don't regret reading it and I'm looking into some other books by this author too.
Favorite Quote: N/A, I never found one I liked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️ ✅ TW’s This was my first Beatrix Hollow book and I wasn’t disappointed. As soon as I heard about this book I knew I needed to read it. It has a 5 nights at Freddie’s and Chuck E Cheese vibe. I grew up playing 5 nights at Freddie’s. I never knew I needed a spicy version, but I needed the spicy version. This novella was a spicy horror story. I really enjoyed it. The spice was little but fun. I also enjoyed the darkness of it. I wish it was longer. I need more of this story. This was a short prequel novella set in the Umbra Valley universe. After this I’m going to read those next. Tropes: -grumpy FMC -female x animatronic -dedegr@tion -1980’s -pizza place
Frankie's Funhouse by Beatrix Hollow is an animatronic horror romance.
This is the 1980's supernatural prequel to the Umbra Valley series by Lux Oleander. This book can be read as a standalone.
I can't help but binge Beatrix's books in one sitting. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I was going to. The relationship between Frankie and Ramona was really interesting. I would love to get an extended epilogue of them down the road.
I can’t wait to read the next book set in this universe Meet at Midnight by Lux Oleander.
I would recommend this book if you’re looking for animatronic romance, horror romance, or paranormal romance.
FRANKIE’S FUNHOUSE by Beatrix Hollow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 After I read Meet At Midnight, I HAD to read this one, too! This short novella is a prequel to Meet At Midnight that takes place at the infamous Frankie’s Funhouse arcade. This was a fun read! It was chaotic, brutal, and steamy all in one 🥵 And it’s steamy in a way that makes you question yourself as a person.. 😅 I loved this little prequel and the insight it gives you into the arcade that Meet At Midnight introduces. And yes, it definitely made me question my morals standards.. 😭😂
Wow this book was a wild ride! I read this as a fan on fnaf, and I was far too curious and had to read the animatronic smut, lol! The FMC is unhinged, but likeable. The love interest definitely isn't what you'd expect, even knowing ahead of time that it's an animatronic. Spicy, but not really overly so. I think if was a fun read, and I'll definitely be checking out more from this author. TW: unaliving, blood and gore, drug use by side characters. Also, no children were harmed in this story.
So I was honestly hesitant when I first started this because I grew up with places like this with animatronics. But for the life of me that new kink unlocked banner showed up loud and proud! And honestly I shouldn't be surprised because Beatrix Hollow is one of the few who continues to unlock these banners!
For sure giving FNAF vibes. We have an animatronic who comes to life and is ready to please the girl (oh after making the entire funhouse run red). Sprinkle in demons, satan worship, world domination, throwing shade at Chuck E. Cheese - this was just a bloody fun time. I honestly have no idea why this came up in my kindle as suggested, but this was great haha.
I am not going to be embarrassed for loving this story as much as I did. It had all the dark things that I love. Murder, smut, weird obsession. Throw in a demon possessing an animatronic and it's opened a door I didn't even know I wanted to go through. Beatrix Hollow is an excellent writer but it's definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea. Only the slightly depraved should enter here.
This was highly entertaining to me. Lol it was hilarious, gorey, and hot! A little of everything and perfect for a horror anthology TV show, maybe someday? I didn't expect to get such a kick out of this but I should've known better. I need to binge this catalogue soon!
Entertaining enough, in a B grade horror-comedy sort of way.
It’s obviously not a story to take seriously, but although it falls more into comedy territory than serious horror, it’s not actually particularly funny. It doesn’t lean enough into the comedy to be funny, but it’s too silly to read seriously.
Brought to you from the Umbra Valley universe Beatrix has me questioning what I just read. Spoiler; it's amazing. Frankie's Funhouse is mentioned quite a few times in Meet at Midnight by Lux Oleander, and this book explains exactly why. Money, drugs, murder, a rainbow wedgie, and an anamatronic that does that thing you like.