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The Game at Carousel #1
The Bystander: A Horror Movie LitRPG
In a town where horror movie tropes come to life, one’s only chance to survive is to play their role, in the first book of a spine-tingling gamelit series.
When horror-obsessed Riley Lawrence and his group of college friends arrive in the small town of Carousel for their Centennial Celebration, the few decrepit cars parked in the street don’t scare them. But when they enter a locked building, an animatronic usher hands them each a ticket, and the lights dim, Riley realizes they’ve entered the inescapable patchwork of a horror movie set. And they’ve each been assigned an archetype—Scholar, Athlete, Eye Candy, Final Girl—to play out as the curtains rise.
Assigned the Film Buff archetype, Riley’s doomed to repeat a knowing exactly who the killer is but never surviving the attacks himself. After all, film buffs may know what’s coming, but they’re always the first to be hunted down. Until, that is, Riley learns he can avoid a death or two by exploiting the Oblivious Bystander trope. It seems monsters and killers won’t harm him as long as he can convincingly pretend he hasn’t noticed them.
To make it through this deadly game, Riley and his friends will need to leverage their tropes effectively to determine what’s trapping them there in the first place. But as the rounds continue and escape seems farther and farther out of reach, they’ll be forced to ask Would they survive in a horror movie?
The first volume of the hit LitRPG horror series—with more than three million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!
When horror-obsessed Riley Lawrence and his group of college friends arrive in the small town of Carousel for their Centennial Celebration, the few decrepit cars parked in the street don’t scare them. But when they enter a locked building, an animatronic usher hands them each a ticket, and the lights dim, Riley realizes they’ve entered the inescapable patchwork of a horror movie set. And they’ve each been assigned an archetype—Scholar, Athlete, Eye Candy, Final Girl—to play out as the curtains rise.
Assigned the Film Buff archetype, Riley’s doomed to repeat a knowing exactly who the killer is but never surviving the attacks himself. After all, film buffs may know what’s coming, but they’re always the first to be hunted down. Until, that is, Riley learns he can avoid a death or two by exploiting the Oblivious Bystander trope. It seems monsters and killers won’t harm him as long as he can convincingly pretend he hasn’t noticed them.
To make it through this deadly game, Riley and his friends will need to leverage their tropes effectively to determine what’s trapping them there in the first place. But as the rounds continue and escape seems farther and farther out of reach, they’ll be forced to ask Would they survive in a horror movie?
The first volume of the hit LitRPG horror series—with more than three million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
September 13, 2026
⭐️4.25
What a fun freaking time?! And a brilliant concept. I may be converted to LitRPG novels now.
This is The Cabin in the Woods meets Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Do you like horror movies? Especially the classic and/or campy ones that follow a list of tropes? Oh and also like story's being meta? Then I'd give this a shot. Oh and also like story's being meta?
Unfortunately, it is Audible exclusive. That's the only con.
What a fun freaking time?! And a brilliant concept. I may be converted to LitRPG novels now.
This is The Cabin in the Woods meets Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Do you like horror movies? Especially the classic and/or campy ones that follow a list of tropes? Oh and also like story's being meta? Then I'd give this a shot. Oh and also like story's being meta?
Unfortunately, it is Audible exclusive. That's the only con.
December 28, 2025
2.5 stars. Obviously I'm a fan of LitRPG given my obsession with Dungeon Crawler Carl, but the execution fell short here. The horror tropes are an interesting starting point, but the gameplay was hard to follow and the writing was average at best.
April 21, 2025
I don't often write reviews, I find there are usually people a lot more articulate than I who say what I mean better. That said, I read all three of the currently released books in this series over the past week, and I'm now sat researching the series and release dates and such because I want more.
For those who read LitRPGs in general, I have to say, this has been a breath of fresh air for me. Not only is the concept and genre quite different (And incredibly enjoyable) to your standard fair, but the quality of writing, breadth of characters and originality are a step above what I expect from the genre. The only downside I can think of, is the author tends to drop some big stat drops / character builds all at once, but I'm sure some people also love that.
Also something I've personally noticed is I get really sucked into the pacing of these books. The story often moves from one intense action/horror arc, into a rest period with exposition, character development & planning, before jumping back into high gear. This cycle generally repeats multiple times a book, and I tend to find it very moreish. As soon as I start reading one storyline, I want to read it the entire way through... But then there's always one more hook at the end that makes me want to read the downtime... But then a new storyline is starting up... You get the picture. Had me hooked enough to read 3 books within a week.
Well. Long story short, it has been a long time since a series got me hooked this badly. I think the last series to get me this hooked was The Dresden Files, which is Jim Butcher, and if I had the new Dresden & Carousel books release on the same day, I've no idea which I'd read first, which I consider a huge compliment. Hope to see more from you, R.M.Lastrel.
For those who read LitRPGs in general, I have to say, this has been a breath of fresh air for me. Not only is the concept and genre quite different (And incredibly enjoyable) to your standard fair, but the quality of writing, breadth of characters and originality are a step above what I expect from the genre. The only downside I can think of, is the author tends to drop some big stat drops / character builds all at once, but I'm sure some people also love that.
Also something I've personally noticed is I get really sucked into the pacing of these books. The story often moves from one intense action/horror arc, into a rest period with exposition, character development & planning, before jumping back into high gear. This cycle generally repeats multiple times a book, and I tend to find it very moreish. As soon as I start reading one storyline, I want to read it the entire way through... But then there's always one more hook at the end that makes me want to read the downtime... But then a new storyline is starting up... You get the picture. Had me hooked enough to read 3 books within a week.
Well. Long story short, it has been a long time since a series got me hooked this badly. I think the last series to get me this hooked was The Dresden Files, which is Jim Butcher, and if I had the new Dresden & Carousel books release on the same day, I've no idea which I'd read first, which I consider a huge compliment. Hope to see more from you, R.M.Lastrel.
January 31, 2024
About 3.5, but rounded up.
So, this was a new one for me. My husband read this one when it was being published but by bit on Royal Road, and really enjoyed it and suggested it to me.
Our reading tastes rarely overlap (when we moved on together and pooled our books together, the only one we had in common was A Confederacy of Dunces, and I don't believe he ever finished that one), and I'm generally not much for horror movies, but I said I'd give it a go. I've played some RPGs but can't say I've ever read one.
Surprisingly, I liked this. There's horror, definitely, and while some focus on women, there is no sexual violence in this world, thankfully. All of your favorite movie tropes are here, in this place called Carousel, which - is also a mystery. What is it? Where is it? Is someone pulling the strings? And . . . is there a way out?
I'm intrigued enough to start catching up with the next arc of the story. Hopefully some of the annoying grammatical bits will be smoothed out by then.
So, this was a new one for me. My husband read this one when it was being published but by bit on Royal Road, and really enjoyed it and suggested it to me.
Our reading tastes rarely overlap (when we moved on together and pooled our books together, the only one we had in common was A Confederacy of Dunces, and I don't believe he ever finished that one), and I'm generally not much for horror movies, but I said I'd give it a go. I've played some RPGs but can't say I've ever read one.
Surprisingly, I liked this. There's horror, definitely, and while some focus on women, there is no sexual violence in this world, thankfully. All of your favorite movie tropes are here, in this place called Carousel, which - is also a mystery. What is it? Where is it? Is someone pulling the strings? And . . . is there a way out?
I'm intrigued enough to start catching up with the next arc of the story. Hopefully some of the annoying grammatical bits will be smoothed out by then.
September 28, 2025
This was fun at first. I really enjoyed all the tropes throughout it and the setup but the last 30% really dragged on and I found myself not reaching for it. Also the characters feel younger than they are and I wish they were more fleshed out so I could actually care about them. I don’t know if I’ll continue this series, it was really interesting/compelling at first but I just don’t know at this point.
October 24, 2026
Thank you to 3am books for sending me a finished copy in exchange for an honest review and for my participation in the readalong with InstaBookTours
I started off really enjoying this one, especially considering my bad luck with LitRPG in the past. I really enjoyed the concept of the "film buff" and the meta horror elements. It felt like a blend of a slasher X goosebumps X litRPG and these were good vibes, especially for the spooky season.
However, the wider plot points were unexplored, leaving very little intrigue to pick this back up after every section. The MC seemed very quick to accept his fate and the rules of this world, which was detriment to the reader experience. As a reader, I enjoy thinking about the implications of actions and trying to guess about the future plot/characters development. The game at Carousel, however, seems so focused on the mini games/storylines that we don't get too much focus on how they will escape or why they are there.
Also, I didn't feel connected to the characters as much as they're were, in some ways, reduced to their gameplay stats. These gameplay stats also take you out of the story a bit, too, as they're just in tables and repeat each other.
I started off really enjoying this one, especially considering my bad luck with LitRPG in the past. I really enjoyed the concept of the "film buff" and the meta horror elements. It felt like a blend of a slasher X goosebumps X litRPG and these were good vibes, especially for the spooky season.
However, the wider plot points were unexplored, leaving very little intrigue to pick this back up after every section. The MC seemed very quick to accept his fate and the rules of this world, which was detriment to the reader experience. As a reader, I enjoy thinking about the implications of actions and trying to guess about the future plot/characters development. The game at Carousel, however, seems so focused on the mini games/storylines that we don't get too much focus on how they will escape or why they are there.
Also, I didn't feel connected to the characters as much as they're were, in some ways, reduced to their gameplay stats. These gameplay stats also take you out of the story a bit, too, as they're just in tables and repeat each other.
October 31, 2026
This is my second litRPG experience coming from being a complete Dungeon Crawler Carl fanboy who cannot stop telling people about it. I guess I might have found a new topic to hyperfocus on!
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Carousel but I am completely obsessed with it by now. I dove into the worldbuilding so fast and I enjoy the whole idea and mechanics so much! It’s such a pleasure to experience the rules and tropes unwind and get to understand things while the main characters are learning how to play their roles.
I cannot remember having read a story in a while being so cineastic. While reading it felt like watching a movie in my head.
Do you like horror movies? Are you into the well known tropes of horror movies and want to experience them in a completely new way? Do yourself a favor and have a look at The Game at Carousel!
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Carousel but I am completely obsessed with it by now. I dove into the worldbuilding so fast and I enjoy the whole idea and mechanics so much! It’s such a pleasure to experience the rules and tropes unwind and get to understand things while the main characters are learning how to play their roles.
I cannot remember having read a story in a while being so cineastic. While reading it felt like watching a movie in my head.
Do you like horror movies? Are you into the well known tropes of horror movies and want to experience them in a completely new way? Do yourself a favor and have a look at The Game at Carousel!
June 26, 2026
This was a fun take on the LitRPG genre (one I've been enjoying lately with Dungeon Crawler Carl) and I really appreciated that this one leaned into the horror movie meta as opposed to something more D&D, videogame, or fantasy based. Because, let's face it. I'm much more into horror.
The way it played with horror tropes and the idea behind Carousel was interesting and kept you turning the page in a way that I'm excited to keep reading and see where the author decides to take this series. I think it could go in some really neat and unique places!
I will say, though, as a forewarning, it's pretty obvious that this was originally posted as a serial on Royal Road. This isn't to say that it's bad, not by any means. It's a fast-paced, kind of campy, but very fun story. But it's definitely repetitive in the way that you'd want to fill a reader in on things if they were tuning in mid-story or for the first time in a while. (I feel like by the end I could almost rattle off Riley's trope cards from memory.) There were a few spots that were also kind of clunky, that feel like they were suffering from the same problem. Which totally makes sense in the context of being released a chapter or so at a time, but as a complete novel, it read a bit wonky.
All in all though, this one was like the horror equivalent of a beach read. It read it quickly, I enjoyed it, and I'll probably pick up the rest of the series at some point.
The way it played with horror tropes and the idea behind Carousel was interesting and kept you turning the page in a way that I'm excited to keep reading and see where the author decides to take this series. I think it could go in some really neat and unique places!
I will say, though, as a forewarning, it's pretty obvious that this was originally posted as a serial on Royal Road. This isn't to say that it's bad, not by any means. It's a fast-paced, kind of campy, but very fun story. But it's definitely repetitive in the way that you'd want to fill a reader in on things if they were tuning in mid-story or for the first time in a while. (I feel like by the end I could almost rattle off Riley's trope cards from memory.) There were a few spots that were also kind of clunky, that feel like they were suffering from the same problem. Which totally makes sense in the context of being released a chapter or so at a time, but as a complete novel, it read a bit wonky.
All in all though, this one was like the horror equivalent of a beach read. It read it quickly, I enjoyed it, and I'll probably pick up the rest of the series at some point.
July 5, 2025
Really creative and interesting twist on horror tropes - a book version of Cabin in the Woods. (And I don’t particularly like the horror genre itself much.)
March 2, 2026
as a horror movies obsessed girl i absolutely devoured this book, this was my first time reading a litRPG type of novel and i was not disappointed at all it was so well-crafted and entertaining. each storyline explored a different subgenre/classic horror archetype and had me hooked from start to finish. cant wait to dive into book 2!!!
August 22, 2025
This is my 2nd try at LitRPG and it was so different than DCC. It had the same RPG feel, but lacked the humor. If you are a horror movie buff, you might like this, but otherwise you should skip this one.
January 26, 2026
The storyline was actually kind of good if you could get past all the stats and stuff. But everything I found myself actually getting into it, they would start talking about Plot Armor and tropes and tables would appear on the pages and it would ruin it for me.
TL;DR LitRPG is not my thing.
TL;DR LitRPG is not my thing.
January 15, 2026
Ok, I can dig it.
TL; DR: A twist on the classic litRPG focusing on a different genre, The Game at Carousel is remarkably creative and entirely original in its execution, boasting a powerful world-building base and a strong main character that are ripe for building around.
I really liked this book; it was a strange combination of getting really excited about the story and creativity while simultaneously getting VERY bore at some of the interludes. I don’t know if that’s the result of the writing actually being poor in that area or the forced cuts that the author had to do detracting from the fantastic story. I’ll reserve judgment.
Characters: There are a LOT of characters and plenty to keep track of. It can get a little cluttered and I’m not sure how significant everyone is going to be, but I’m willing to stick around for it. The star is of course Riley, who is giving me Primal Hunter MC vibes in some ways. He certainly feels, but he’s doing his best with what he’s got.
Setting: Carousel and the idea behind its world is exceptional and people looking for a creative way to approach the genre as a writer should take note.
Story: So far, it’s a great setup for future books, but I was a little unsatisfied with how it played out. There was quite a bit more filler than I like in my novels, but I won’t complain too much. I’m still excited by every new development.
Writing: Besides the lulls, it’s great. I think the representation of the horro genre as a whole is excellent. I saw someone complain about some cheesy writing and I think some people don’t realize that it’s the point in a world like Carousel. It works here because that’s what Carousel wants to work. What a great way to write to what I’m assuming are the author’s strengths.
I Was a Teenage Slasher had a similar, but differently executed set of the tropes here, but that felt like a focus study while this seems a love letter to the genre. I’m so happy to continue reading this and hope that the fourth book an beyond get uploaded to amazon or somewhere else soon enough. Heck, I’d buy these physical too.
4.0 🌟
TL; DR: A twist on the classic litRPG focusing on a different genre, The Game at Carousel is remarkably creative and entirely original in its execution, boasting a powerful world-building base and a strong main character that are ripe for building around.
I really liked this book; it was a strange combination of getting really excited about the story and creativity while simultaneously getting VERY bore at some of the interludes. I don’t know if that’s the result of the writing actually being poor in that area or the forced cuts that the author had to do detracting from the fantastic story. I’ll reserve judgment.
Characters: There are a LOT of characters and plenty to keep track of. It can get a little cluttered and I’m not sure how significant everyone is going to be, but I’m willing to stick around for it. The star is of course Riley, who is giving me Primal Hunter MC vibes in some ways. He certainly feels, but he’s doing his best with what he’s got.
Setting: Carousel and the idea behind its world is exceptional and people looking for a creative way to approach the genre as a writer should take note.
Story: So far, it’s a great setup for future books, but I was a little unsatisfied with how it played out. There was quite a bit more filler than I like in my novels, but I won’t complain too much. I’m still excited by every new development.
Writing: Besides the lulls, it’s great. I think the representation of the horro genre as a whole is excellent. I saw someone complain about some cheesy writing and I think some people don’t realize that it’s the point in a world like Carousel. It works here because that’s what Carousel wants to work. What a great way to write to what I’m assuming are the author’s strengths.
I Was a Teenage Slasher had a similar, but differently executed set of the tropes here, but that felt like a focus study while this seems a love letter to the genre. I’m so happy to continue reading this and hope that the fourth book an beyond get uploaded to amazon or somewhere else soon enough. Heck, I’d buy these physical too.
4.0 🌟
October 13, 2026
This is a fun LitRPG set in the world of Carousel, a town that lures people in and never lets them leave. The set up of the town and the game was really intriguing and I enjoyed how the town had lots of different storylines which players could pick to play and earn stars, tropes and level ups. The story follows Riley and his group of friends who were lured here and they simply have to join in and play the game or else face the consequences.
The detail of the game and the many games within were very impressive and I liked how the players had to realistically enact the role they were given and play out the story as if it was a horror film with an audience to ensure they succeeded. There were a lot of rules to follow but there were lots of different storylines the players could enter with various plots which were fun to try and figure out.
I really liked the use of stats and tropes that the players could equip in the stories to give themselves advantages and buffs to help the team. However, I did think that there was quite a lot of over explaining and some repetitive moments as Riley constantly had to explain why certain players got buffs and points added to their stats when I think the reader could deduce it for themselves, especially as it was repeated quite a lot when the same tropes were used in multiple storylines.
I liked the characters and thought Riley, Antoine, Camden, Kimberley and Anna worked really well as a team and it was intriguing seeing all of their different roles and archetypes which provided classic horror characters such as the film buff, the athlete, the eye candy, the scholar and of course the final girl. It was also interesting to see what happened to the players that didn't want to join in and the dark secrets that are revealed because of this.
Overall, this is an enjoyable LitRPG book with lots of exciting elements but too much over explaining. It has definitely made me curious to read book 2 and see what else they can uncover and even see if they ever get out!
The detail of the game and the many games within were very impressive and I liked how the players had to realistically enact the role they were given and play out the story as if it was a horror film with an audience to ensure they succeeded. There were a lot of rules to follow but there were lots of different storylines the players could enter with various plots which were fun to try and figure out.
I really liked the use of stats and tropes that the players could equip in the stories to give themselves advantages and buffs to help the team. However, I did think that there was quite a lot of over explaining and some repetitive moments as Riley constantly had to explain why certain players got buffs and points added to their stats when I think the reader could deduce it for themselves, especially as it was repeated quite a lot when the same tropes were used in multiple storylines.
I liked the characters and thought Riley, Antoine, Camden, Kimberley and Anna worked really well as a team and it was intriguing seeing all of their different roles and archetypes which provided classic horror characters such as the film buff, the athlete, the eye candy, the scholar and of course the final girl. It was also interesting to see what happened to the players that didn't want to join in and the dark secrets that are revealed because of this.
Overall, this is an enjoyable LitRPG book with lots of exciting elements but too much over explaining. It has definitely made me curious to read book 2 and see what else they can uncover and even see if they ever get out!
May 28, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
What we get here is a stylistic "spoof" of horror movies while having very high stakes and litrpg elements. Every character basically gets an archetype/role that they need to play in this world and they have to work through storylines to get points to level up their stats. The stats combine to create their plot armor. The lower the plot armor, the more likely the monster/murderer/villain will come after you during a storyline. The storylines are like movies - and you have to stay in-character while the camera is rolling. As long as your team performs well in the storyline and you finish the movie, you will be healed and/or come back to life if you died. You also have passive abilities and attacks that are called "tropes" and they emulate real horror movie tropes.
Our main character, Riley, is a Film Buff. He is extremely interesting and compelling. He's smart in a down-to-earth way and uses his horror knowledge to help the team. He does have his weaknesses: he's not really close with people and has had trouble keeping friends over the years. He's relatable to us introverts in that way. I also really liked the side characters that come into play - I hope we learn more about them as the series progresses.
Overall, I would recommend this one to any horror movie fan! It has SOOOO many good tropes and twists on those tropes throughout the book. You will really feel like the author worked their butts off to give you something that is unique while still relying on what horror movies do well: creating suspense and suspending disbelief.
What we get here is a stylistic "spoof" of horror movies while having very high stakes and litrpg elements. Every character basically gets an archetype/role that they need to play in this world and they have to work through storylines to get points to level up their stats. The stats combine to create their plot armor. The lower the plot armor, the more likely the monster/murderer/villain will come after you during a storyline. The storylines are like movies - and you have to stay in-character while the camera is rolling. As long as your team performs well in the storyline and you finish the movie, you will be healed and/or come back to life if you died. You also have passive abilities and attacks that are called "tropes" and they emulate real horror movie tropes.
Our main character, Riley, is a Film Buff. He is extremely interesting and compelling. He's smart in a down-to-earth way and uses his horror knowledge to help the team. He does have his weaknesses: he's not really close with people and has had trouble keeping friends over the years. He's relatable to us introverts in that way. I also really liked the side characters that come into play - I hope we learn more about them as the series progresses.
Overall, I would recommend this one to any horror movie fan! It has SOOOO many good tropes and twists on those tropes throughout the book. You will really feel like the author worked their butts off to give you something that is unique while still relying on what horror movies do well: creating suspense and suspending disbelief.
October 20, 2026
This was such a fun surprise. Horror and LitRPG aren’t a combination you see done this well very often, but this absolutely worked for me.
The whole concept of being pulled into a deadly game where the rules matter just as much as the monsters was fantastic. There’s a constant feeling that something horrible is coming, and I loved trying to figure out what was going to happen next. The horror actually feels like horror, while the LitRPG elements add another layer that made the whole thing incredibly addictive.
I also really enjoyed the way the story makes you think about the rules and consequences. You can’t just rely on brute force; you have to pay attention, make decisions, and sometimes figure out exactly how the game is trying to screw you over.
If you like horror, LitRPG, deadly games, or stories where the rules are just as dangerous as the monsters, this is absolutely worth checking out.
The whole concept of being pulled into a deadly game where the rules matter just as much as the monsters was fantastic. There’s a constant feeling that something horrible is coming, and I loved trying to figure out what was going to happen next. The horror actually feels like horror, while the LitRPG elements add another layer that made the whole thing incredibly addictive.
I also really enjoyed the way the story makes you think about the rules and consequences. You can’t just rely on brute force; you have to pay attention, make decisions, and sometimes figure out exactly how the game is trying to screw you over.
If you like horror, LitRPG, deadly games, or stories where the rules are just as dangerous as the monsters, this is absolutely worth checking out.
October 28, 2026
I enjoyed The Game at Carousel so much!
There was just so much to love about the book and it was so hard to put down!
It was a really fast paced read and it actually throws you into the story right away, which was a lot of fun.
This is a horror LitRPG, and is surprisingly the first LitRPG novel that i've read.
I'm not new to the genre, but I haven't actually read any novels yet so this was an awesome experience, and i loved how It really felt like a video game!
Riley was an awesome main character and I really liked him a lot!
The side characters were really interesting as well and i can't wait to see more of them in the sequels.
The ending was amazing and i was so sad when i realised that i had finished the book. I'm now desperate to get my hands on the sequel as i loved what was revealed at the end, and i can't wait to find out more!
All in all The Game at Carousel was a great read that i highly recommend checking out!
There was just so much to love about the book and it was so hard to put down!
It was a really fast paced read and it actually throws you into the story right away, which was a lot of fun.
This is a horror LitRPG, and is surprisingly the first LitRPG novel that i've read.
I'm not new to the genre, but I haven't actually read any novels yet so this was an awesome experience, and i loved how It really felt like a video game!
Riley was an awesome main character and I really liked him a lot!
The side characters were really interesting as well and i can't wait to see more of them in the sequels.
The ending was amazing and i was so sad when i realised that i had finished the book. I'm now desperate to get my hands on the sequel as i loved what was revealed at the end, and i can't wait to find out more!
All in all The Game at Carousel was a great read that i highly recommend checking out!
November 4, 2026
A really entertaining read that pulled me in right from the start! An interesting setting, especially (but not exclusively) for horror movie fans. Engaging, atmospheric and exciting – I could practically see the whole thing playing out as a movie in my head. Curious to see whether the series stays this interesting in the later books, but the first one was definitely a lot of fun!
September 28, 2025
great horror themed LitRPG
July 25, 2024
I was gifted this book by a friend, it is unlike anything I would’ve picked up for myself but in the best way. Completely unique concept, great storytelling, and thrilling plot lines.
Imagine you’re trapped in a horror movie; quick, what are the classic tropes? The athlete, the scholar, the eye candy, the final girl, and the film buff, right? When the athlete gets a mysterious call from his missing brother, Antoine gathers this group of specific friends and heads to Carousel. When they get there, they are greeted with unbelievable news… they were tricked into coming by the town Carousel.
Now they must role play horror movie scenarios to survive. Or will they survive? Don’t worry, if they die they’ll probably come back as long as their team defeats the scenario and follows the rules of Carousel.
A horrifying turn of events leads to twists, turns, and mysteries galore. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of horror or RPG.
Imagine you’re trapped in a horror movie; quick, what are the classic tropes? The athlete, the scholar, the eye candy, the final girl, and the film buff, right? When the athlete gets a mysterious call from his missing brother, Antoine gathers this group of specific friends and heads to Carousel. When they get there, they are greeted with unbelievable news… they were tricked into coming by the town Carousel.
Now they must role play horror movie scenarios to survive. Or will they survive? Don’t worry, if they die they’ll probably come back as long as their team defeats the scenario and follows the rules of Carousel.
A horrifying turn of events leads to twists, turns, and mysteries galore. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of horror or RPG.
June 12, 2025
This books absolutely hooked me and kept going through all 3 books currently available. This series was recommended to me on Reddit after I read Dungeon Crawler Carl. While the series aren't too similar beyond the LitRPG aspects, this series is an absolute gem. I'm not usually a fan of horror, but this one is done in a meta way that is really interesting and we'll written. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who will listen.
November 8, 2024
Really interesting take on the litrpg genre
March 18, 2024
I decided to read this one more time before I read the second book.
This is exceptional.
The plot, characters and all of those things that people, or at least I, read these books for. Very clever structure of the story.
I want more!
Author, write more stuff!
This is exceptional.
The plot, characters and all of those things that people, or at least I, read these books for. Very clever structure of the story.
I want more!
Author, write more stuff!
October 15, 2026
the bystander
The Bystander — The Game at Carousel, Book 1
By Rob M. Lastrel
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
This book takes one of my favorite things about horror—the fact that you can practically scream at the screen because you KNOW the characters are making terrible decisions—and turns that idea into a nightmare you can’t simply switch off. The Bystander throws Riley and his friends into a world where horror-movie rules aren’t just clichés; they’re the difference between surviving and becoming another victim. What really grabbed me about this concept is how being a horror fanatic doesn’t automatically make Riley the badass who can outsmart every killer. Sometimes knowing exactly what’s coming makes you even more helpless. That’s a deliciously cruel twist, and as a horror fan, I absolutely love the potential behind it.
The biggest strength here is the creativity. The horror archetypes, the strange abilities, and the way characters have to manipulate familiar movie tropes make the LitRPG mechanics feel genuinely different from the usual grind-for-levels formula. It’s like watching a slasher movie while simultaneously trying to solve a deadly puzzle. The creepy atmosphere and the mystery surrounding Carousel give the story plenty of hooks, and the larger plot makes you want to keep digging for answers. My biggest criticism is that the explanations behind the game’s mechanics can occasionally slow the momentum, and some characters could use more emotional depth. The clever system sometimes threatens to overshadow the people fighting to survive inside it.
My final verdict? The Bystander is a bloody good recommendation for readers who love horror, survival games, and stories that twist familiar genre conventions into something new. It might not deliver nonstop terror on every page, but the originality makes up for a lot. This is the kind of concept that makes me want to see what horrifying trick Carousel has waiting around the next corner. If you’re a horror fanatic who enjoys a healthy dose of LitRPG strategy, this one deserves a spot on your reading list. READERSBEWARE APPROVED! 4.5⭐️/5.
The Bystander — The Game at Carousel, Book 1
By Rob M. Lastrel
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
This book takes one of my favorite things about horror—the fact that you can practically scream at the screen because you KNOW the characters are making terrible decisions—and turns that idea into a nightmare you can’t simply switch off. The Bystander throws Riley and his friends into a world where horror-movie rules aren’t just clichés; they’re the difference between surviving and becoming another victim. What really grabbed me about this concept is how being a horror fanatic doesn’t automatically make Riley the badass who can outsmart every killer. Sometimes knowing exactly what’s coming makes you even more helpless. That’s a deliciously cruel twist, and as a horror fan, I absolutely love the potential behind it.
The biggest strength here is the creativity. The horror archetypes, the strange abilities, and the way characters have to manipulate familiar movie tropes make the LitRPG mechanics feel genuinely different from the usual grind-for-levels formula. It’s like watching a slasher movie while simultaneously trying to solve a deadly puzzle. The creepy atmosphere and the mystery surrounding Carousel give the story plenty of hooks, and the larger plot makes you want to keep digging for answers. My biggest criticism is that the explanations behind the game’s mechanics can occasionally slow the momentum, and some characters could use more emotional depth. The clever system sometimes threatens to overshadow the people fighting to survive inside it.
My final verdict? The Bystander is a bloody good recommendation for readers who love horror, survival games, and stories that twist familiar genre conventions into something new. It might not deliver nonstop terror on every page, but the originality makes up for a lot. This is the kind of concept that makes me want to see what horrifying trick Carousel has waiting around the next corner. If you’re a horror fanatic who enjoys a healthy dose of LitRPG strategy, this one deserves a spot on your reading list. READERSBEWARE APPROVED! 4.5⭐️/5.
July 13, 2025
A horror trope skill builder novel. Such a unique and interesting concept. And I really enjoyed myself all the way through.
A group of college students arrive at a town called Carousel and quickly find themselves unable to leave. Around every corner are “horror stories” that they can step into as characters participating in them. If they’re successful they can be rewarded in stat points to level up their abilities to survive. Or be rewarded with “trope cards”. These cards can be any of a variety of tropes characters have commonly in horror movies. How they build their card decks and use them in any horror story that they participate in determines whether they survive or die.
Our main character Riley gets once such trope - the Oblivious Bystander. As long as he’s convincing enough that he hasn’t noticed a monster or murderer or any horror beastie, he can’t be killed.
I loved this. It was such a fun spin on card builder stories. The horror story arcs are all individually fun. And the mystery of this town of Carousel is slowly unfolding, and is genuinely quite creepy with proper horror occurring if “the rules” are broken.
I especially enjoy reading how the more veteran characters that have been stuck in Carousel for a long time use their trope cards. Watching them step into their expected roles in whatever horror narrative they’re completing is actually really interesting. I enjoy reading stories where there has to actually be strategy involved.
Would highly recommend this to anyone, litrpg mixed with horror is a combination that surprisingly works incredibly well.
Onto book two!
A group of college students arrive at a town called Carousel and quickly find themselves unable to leave. Around every corner are “horror stories” that they can step into as characters participating in them. If they’re successful they can be rewarded in stat points to level up their abilities to survive. Or be rewarded with “trope cards”. These cards can be any of a variety of tropes characters have commonly in horror movies. How they build their card decks and use them in any horror story that they participate in determines whether they survive or die.
Our main character Riley gets once such trope - the Oblivious Bystander. As long as he’s convincing enough that he hasn’t noticed a monster or murderer or any horror beastie, he can’t be killed.
I loved this. It was such a fun spin on card builder stories. The horror story arcs are all individually fun. And the mystery of this town of Carousel is slowly unfolding, and is genuinely quite creepy with proper horror occurring if “the rules” are broken.
I especially enjoy reading how the more veteran characters that have been stuck in Carousel for a long time use their trope cards. Watching them step into their expected roles in whatever horror narrative they’re completing is actually really interesting. I enjoy reading stories where there has to actually be strategy involved.
Would highly recommend this to anyone, litrpg mixed with horror is a combination that surprisingly works incredibly well.
Onto book two!
November 8, 2025
Well this was somewhat disappointing. After diving into Dungeon Crawler Carl I itched to try out some other LitRPG novels. I didn´t like the concept of them that much, but DCC really surprised me so I wanted to give them another shot. I tried out Dominion of Blades by the same Autor, which was mediocre, Kaiju Battlefield Surgeon which at least had a great audio production and Player Manager which caught my attention because I enjoyed playing football manager. But none of them really got me. Then I stumbled upon “The Game At Carousel”. The idea sounded genuinely great. I am a huge fan of Horror Literature and movies. Having a friend group “Play” through different movies while discovering the secret of a haunted town seems like something I should freaking love.
Sadly I didn´t. The Game at Carousel isn´t bad per se, but my problems come down to the LitRPG genre and some mediocre writing choices. I like the idea of the character types. Having a final girl, the scholar, the athlete etc. feels very on theme. But what didn´t work for me was the game aspect. Playing the movies always felt a bit clunky and I never felt engaged when there was talk about new tropes (abilities) or stat points.
Next to that neither the characters, nor the mystery of the town felt very intriguing. Especially the town mystery only becomes a focal point towards the last fifth of the book. The characters all seemed very one note. Not deal breakingly bad, but nothing quite memorable.
I´ll give the other two novels a try as I already bought them, but I´m not that hopefully they will turn the boat around.
Sadly I didn´t. The Game at Carousel isn´t bad per se, but my problems come down to the LitRPG genre and some mediocre writing choices. I like the idea of the character types. Having a final girl, the scholar, the athlete etc. feels very on theme. But what didn´t work for me was the game aspect. Playing the movies always felt a bit clunky and I never felt engaged when there was talk about new tropes (abilities) or stat points.
Next to that neither the characters, nor the mystery of the town felt very intriguing. Especially the town mystery only becomes a focal point towards the last fifth of the book. The characters all seemed very one note. Not deal breakingly bad, but nothing quite memorable.
I´ll give the other two novels a try as I already bought them, but I´m not that hopefully they will turn the boat around.
November 9, 2026
This was my first horror LitRPG, and it was such an entertaining read. If you're a fan of books like Dungeon Crawler Carl and you're looking for a horror twist, this series is absolutely one to pick up.
The Game at Carousel follows Riley and his friends as they go to spend some time at Antoine's brother's lake house. When they arrive at the town of Carousel, they find themselves thrust into the world of horror movies where each person plays a particular archetype. To survive, they must play out their roles in the storylines to earn skills and level up, but if you don't play by the rules, you might not survive.
This was so much fun. I love horror movies, so I thought this was such a clever take on the LitRPG story. Seeing the different storylines that Riley and his friends need to work through and trying to uncover the typical tropes and plot devices was so interesting. This felt completely unlike anything I'd read before, and honestly, I'm itching to pick up book two already. This book was the definition of addictive, and I absolutely need to know how the story is going to play out in the rest of the series. I am so intrigued to find out more about the wider game and the mysterious man who enforces the rules, so I am definitely planning to dive into book two immediately.
Fun, entertaining, and a bit meta, this was the perfect fast-paced read in between giant fantasy books. If you're a horror movie fan or you love LitRPG books, you definitely need to give this series a go.
The Game at Carousel follows Riley and his friends as they go to spend some time at Antoine's brother's lake house. When they arrive at the town of Carousel, they find themselves thrust into the world of horror movies where each person plays a particular archetype. To survive, they must play out their roles in the storylines to earn skills and level up, but if you don't play by the rules, you might not survive.
This was so much fun. I love horror movies, so I thought this was such a clever take on the LitRPG story. Seeing the different storylines that Riley and his friends need to work through and trying to uncover the typical tropes and plot devices was so interesting. This felt completely unlike anything I'd read before, and honestly, I'm itching to pick up book two already. This book was the definition of addictive, and I absolutely need to know how the story is going to play out in the rest of the series. I am so intrigued to find out more about the wider game and the mysterious man who enforces the rules, so I am definitely planning to dive into book two immediately.
Fun, entertaining, and a bit meta, this was the perfect fast-paced read in between giant fantasy books. If you're a horror movie fan or you love LitRPG books, you definitely need to give this series a go.
February 26, 2025
I once left about 30 minutes into a horror movie I was watching on TV with my roommate. It was during a commercial break. I told him what order the last 5 characters would die in, and who would survive in the end. In the morning he asked me "How the hell did you do that?".
Generic horror movies follow pretty predictable rules, and I love when these are acknowledged and played with. The movie Cabin in the Woods is a fantastic example of this. All this to say, a LitRPG (crunchy stats focused explicit game rules fantasy) dealing with Horror tropes is a match made in heaven!
I wanted to like this book so much, that I put it back on my Kobo twice after deleting it while trying to get through the first chapter. The writing is rough, y'all. The characters and setting are really ill- defined, their conversations are not very natural or free-flowing. This is definitely more plot-driven than character-driven.
Luckily I stuck through it, and it gets really entertaining when they get to acting out horror movies and playing the game. The mechanics are interesting, and the horror movie plots are actually really well done. The overarching plot hooks at the end of the book made me want to pick up the next one.
Apparently it is common for the writing in LitRPG series to improve as they go on, so I'll give the next book a try. (Fingers crossed that the author did a Clarion Workshop or something in the meantime.)
Generic horror movies follow pretty predictable rules, and I love when these are acknowledged and played with. The movie Cabin in the Woods is a fantastic example of this. All this to say, a LitRPG (crunchy stats focused explicit game rules fantasy) dealing with Horror tropes is a match made in heaven!
I wanted to like this book so much, that I put it back on my Kobo twice after deleting it while trying to get through the first chapter. The writing is rough, y'all. The characters and setting are really ill- defined, their conversations are not very natural or free-flowing. This is definitely more plot-driven than character-driven.
Luckily I stuck through it, and it gets really entertaining when they get to acting out horror movies and playing the game. The mechanics are interesting, and the horror movie plots are actually really well done. The overarching plot hooks at the end of the book made me want to pick up the next one.
Apparently it is common for the writing in LitRPG series to improve as they go on, so I'll give the next book a try. (Fingers crossed that the author did a Clarion Workshop or something in the meantime.)
October 13, 2026
4.5 Stars!
Wow, this book really blew me away.
We are thrown into the gripping and exciting plot immediately. We follow Riley who is a lover of horror movies. He is invited to a lake house vacation but we realise something is very wrong almost straight away. Turns out we have entered a dark and twisted game where the classic horror movies we know and love, are actually real.
This is a lit horror RPG, the game is explained incredible well and it’s easy to follow along when the characters gain skills, known as ‘tropes’. Riley is a ‘Film Buff’ meaning he knows what is going to happen… but he is the weakest character. Riley and his group of friends are thrown into life at Carousel and we follow them as they enter lower level storylines. I am really looking forward to seeing how these characters build over the course of the series.
The only negative thing I can say about this book, is that I wish we had more character development, and more of a slow build to the action. Of course, that is just my personal preference, and didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all!
This book is so addictive, I really felt that I couldn’t put it down. I am very excited to continue this series, which looks to be a long one.
If you are a fan of horror movies, RPG’s and addictive and thrilling plots, I would certainly recommend you check this one out!
Thank you to 3am Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, this book really blew me away.
We are thrown into the gripping and exciting plot immediately. We follow Riley who is a lover of horror movies. He is invited to a lake house vacation but we realise something is very wrong almost straight away. Turns out we have entered a dark and twisted game where the classic horror movies we know and love, are actually real.
This is a lit horror RPG, the game is explained incredible well and it’s easy to follow along when the characters gain skills, known as ‘tropes’. Riley is a ‘Film Buff’ meaning he knows what is going to happen… but he is the weakest character. Riley and his group of friends are thrown into life at Carousel and we follow them as they enter lower level storylines. I am really looking forward to seeing how these characters build over the course of the series.
The only negative thing I can say about this book, is that I wish we had more character development, and more of a slow build to the action. Of course, that is just my personal preference, and didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all!
This book is so addictive, I really felt that I couldn’t put it down. I am very excited to continue this series, which looks to be a long one.
If you are a fan of horror movies, RPG’s and addictive and thrilling plots, I would certainly recommend you check this one out!
Thank you to 3am Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 2, 2026
The premise of The Game at Carousel: Bystander is genuinely fantastic. Turning horror movie tropes into literal laws of physics - complete with offensive and defensive tactics - is a clever, unique way to build a world. It’s clear the author has put a massive amount of thought into how this "game" functions, and for a horror fan, seeing those mechanics laid out is a lot of fun.
However, the book struggles to balance that world-building with actual narrative flow. It often feels like the story is being sacrificed for the sake of the explanation; there were times I felt I was reading an instruction manual rather than a novel. While the technical detail is necessary to understand the stakes, the constant hand-holding creates a bit of an emotional disconnect from the protagonist. Even the "Bystander" role itself felt more like a plot device to help us learn the rules than a truly compelling hook for the lead character. I felt like a bystander for much of the book.
Ultimately, this feels like a "good story" that didn't quite land as a "great book." It plays out like a 400-page tutorial - or, 'the opening act' if you will. But, now that the tutorial is over and the rules are established, I’m hoping the sequel picks up the pace for the second act and lets the story finally kick into gear and grab me.
However, the book struggles to balance that world-building with actual narrative flow. It often feels like the story is being sacrificed for the sake of the explanation; there were times I felt I was reading an instruction manual rather than a novel. While the technical detail is necessary to understand the stakes, the constant hand-holding creates a bit of an emotional disconnect from the protagonist. Even the "Bystander" role itself felt more like a plot device to help us learn the rules than a truly compelling hook for the lead character. I felt like a bystander for much of the book.
Ultimately, this feels like a "good story" that didn't quite land as a "great book." It plays out like a 400-page tutorial - or, 'the opening act' if you will. But, now that the tutorial is over and the rules are established, I’m hoping the sequel picks up the pace for the second act and lets the story finally kick into gear and grab me.
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