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Fright Factory #1
Trapped in the Creepy Carnival
The funhouse isn’t so fun when you can’t find your way out.When Ethan Campbell and Olivia Hall sneak into a mysterious carnival that appears overnight, they expect a night of fun and excitement. But as they wander through the rides and attractions, they realize this is no ordinary carnival.
Trapped by the owner, Ethan and Olivia find themselves at the mercy of the terrifying ringmaster. To escape, they must face challenges, each more horrifying than the last.
In a carnival where nothing is as it seems and danger lurks around every corner, can Ethan and Olivia outsmart the ringmaster and make it out alive? Or will they become permanent attractions in this carnival of nightmares?
Trapped by the owner, Ethan and Olivia find themselves at the mercy of the terrifying ringmaster. To escape, they must face challenges, each more horrifying than the last.
In a carnival where nothing is as it seems and danger lurks around every corner, can Ethan and Olivia outsmart the ringmaster and make it out alive? Or will they become permanent attractions in this carnival of nightmares?
126 pages, Paperback
Published July 3, 2024
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
E.D. Black
3 books8 followersE.D. Black is a horror enthusiast and author of the Fright Factory series, a spine-chilling collection of middle-grade horror stories inspired by ’90s nostalgia. He lives in Northern Colorado with his wife, Bri, and their German Shepherd, Cash.
A lifelong fan of all thing’s horror, E.D. grew up watching shows like Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Beetlejuice: The Animated Series. His love for scary stories was fueled by iconic book series such as Goosebumps, Shivers and Bone Chillers, which sparked his passion for reading at a young age.
E.D. created the Fright Factory series to share his love of horror and storytelling with a new generation, helping young readers discover the thrill of a good scare. When he's not writing, he enjoys watching horror movies and cheering on his favorite basketball teams.
A lifelong fan of all thing’s horror, E.D. grew up watching shows like Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Beetlejuice: The Animated Series. His love for scary stories was fueled by iconic book series such as Goosebumps, Shivers and Bone Chillers, which sparked his passion for reading at a young age.
E.D. created the Fright Factory series to share his love of horror and storytelling with a new generation, helping young readers discover the thrill of a good scare. When he's not writing, he enjoys watching horror movies and cheering on his favorite basketball teams.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 13, 2025
What a fun book! My initial thought after finishing this was “this would be perfect to read to a class of elementary aged students”. I wouldn’t say that about a goosebumps book. This book on the other hand, was very well written packing a lot of suspense and unpredictable outcomes. It is definitely quite juvenile compared to other middle grade horror novels, but that by no means takes away from the enjoyment! My only reason for giving it 4 stars is that I prefer my middle grade horror a bit less juvenile.
April 25, 2026
I was gifted the first three books in The Fright Factory book series from the very awesome E.D.Black.I decided to try and give these a read, so I started with the first one named Trapped In The Creepy Carnival.The story follows our two protagonists Ethan and Olivia.The kids discover there is this carnival in town and they sneak in before it's open to the public.The kids sneak in at midnight and discover this carnival is called M and M's Carnival.They see a roller coster,a ferris wheel and this fortune teller sign,and some other stuff.They explore the Hall Of Mirrors and Ethan's reflection shows him being chased by bees.It turns out when Ethan was a kid,he got stung inside his mouth and found out he was allergic.Olivia's shows her standing in front of a bunch of people being laughed at.It turns out she is afraid of public speaking.They end up getting lost in the Hall Of Mirrors and Ethan punches a mirror and it cracks revealing a portal.Both kids end up walking through.They end up in this hallway and they feel like somebody is following them.Ethan sees a glimpse of purple hair and they both keep going.They end up in a room with this man ,who introduces himself as Mr.Monocole.This guy has a mustache and a Monocole.He tells the kids they can go home of they can pass three tests.The kids agree and the first test is a balloon shooting thing and this releases some plastic figures that turns out to be something more.The next challenge is a race,that reminded me alot of Scooby Doo And The Reluctant Werewolf.The kids each get a bumper car.Ethan gets a dragon one and Olivia gets a cat and they race Mr.Monocle,who rides around in a coffin.They ride through some fun themed places too including a graveyard,crypt and Swamp.The final showdown is in a funhouse and it's actually pretty creepy.This clown chases them and there is a twist that I was genuinely surprised at.The only negatives I have is really the pacing.This book was alot to take in all at once.That's not bad though I feel like younger kids would love this.I give Trapped In The Creepy Carnival a three out of five stars.
March 20, 2026
Come one, come all to M.Ms Carnival... Or not? You may find yourself trapped for all eternity.
E.D. Black does a wonderful job in creating a world that is frightening and engaging for young readers. This is something my Goosebumps-loving daughter will absolutely love to read.
E.D. Black does a wonderful job in creating a world that is frightening and engaging for young readers. This is something my Goosebumps-loving daughter will absolutely love to read.
March 13, 2026
This was so much fun! Loved the main characters and their dynamic. I really enjoy stories that take place in a carnival setting. This was cute and warm and spooky all in one.
August 23, 2025
A fun carnival book that is great in showcasing vivid scenes with fun characters and creatures. Perfect for kids getting into horror books and fans of carnival type books looking for a new and exciting read!
May 21, 2025
Alright, got another one of these modern kids horror series to tackle. This is Fear Factory by ED Black. There are 2 so far but only this one was on Kindle Unlimited. I didn’t know as much on this one but I did follow their instagram account at least.
Oliva and Ethan stumble upon a carnival one day and head there at night. It’s on the creepy and not super populated side and soon they are forced to stay there to do some challenges forced upon them by the owner Mister Monocle.
There isn’t much to say on this one, it’s good but kinda basic. It gets started away and there’s not much downtime. It’s constant action which makes it enjoyable. I like the set pieces and Monocle is a fun villain. There is a big reveal with the villain which works well enough.
It’s a bit too fast though. We don’t get to know the kids that well before they jump it. They’re fine and we get some traits that are used but it’s far more action focused than anything else. Writing is basic at first but gets more detailed as it goes. There are a couple typos though.
It feels a bit too short/rushed to let much sink in per say. It’s a quick and fun read, just nothing too substantive. It’s good for a quick read but won’t stick with me in this huge way. It has enough going for it, just not one you need to rush to read if you’re well versed in these.
But yeah, it went by quickly and was fun, I can't ask for too much more sometimes. Won’t rush to read more if they come out but this worked well for what it is. Not much add. One more of these for now before June comes up and the summer marathon starts.
So yeah see ya then.
Oliva and Ethan stumble upon a carnival one day and head there at night. It’s on the creepy and not super populated side and soon they are forced to stay there to do some challenges forced upon them by the owner Mister Monocle.
There isn’t much to say on this one, it’s good but kinda basic. It gets started away and there’s not much downtime. It’s constant action which makes it enjoyable. I like the set pieces and Monocle is a fun villain. There is a big reveal with the villain which works well enough.
It’s a bit too fast though. We don’t get to know the kids that well before they jump it. They’re fine and we get some traits that are used but it’s far more action focused than anything else. Writing is basic at first but gets more detailed as it goes. There are a couple typos though.
It feels a bit too short/rushed to let much sink in per say. It’s a quick and fun read, just nothing too substantive. It’s good for a quick read but won’t stick with me in this huge way. It has enough going for it, just not one you need to rush to read if you’re well versed in these.
But yeah, it went by quickly and was fun, I can't ask for too much more sometimes. Won’t rush to read more if they come out but this worked well for what it is. Not much add. One more of these for now before June comes up and the summer marathon starts.
So yeah see ya then.
April 11, 2026
A fun, easy read that hits that perfect middle-grade balance. It’s light, entertaining, with just enough creepiness to keep things interesting without going over the top. It’s the kind of story that pulls you in quick and keeps things moving.
I also listened to Fright Factory on Audible, and it worked really well in that format. It has great pacing, is easy to follow, and is perfect for younger listeners (or adults just looking for something quick and enjoyable).
If you grew up on Goosebumps or are looking to introduce your kids to spooky stories without going too far, this is a solid pick. It’s got humor, a few chills, and that “just one more chapter” feel.
Definitely a great starter for young horror fans.
I also listened to Fright Factory on Audible, and it worked really well in that format. It has great pacing, is easy to follow, and is perfect for younger listeners (or adults just looking for something quick and enjoyable).
If you grew up on Goosebumps or are looking to introduce your kids to spooky stories without going too far, this is a solid pick. It’s got humor, a few chills, and that “just one more chapter” feel.
Definitely a great starter for young horror fans.
March 14, 2025
A fun read, perfect for younger readers looking to dip their toes into something spooky. If you loved Goosebumps or have kids with a taste for something scary, give Fright Factory a try!
A solid mixture of humor and scares, but nothing over the top.
Perfect starter series for young horror fans!
A solid mixture of humor and scares, but nothing over the top.
Perfect starter series for young horror fans!
May 19, 2025
The perfect mix of fun and excitment; with a dash of horror for young readers to dip their toes into. I would highly recommend this book to those with elementary aged children, and some even older!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews