The Tale of the Vanishing Circus

Are You Afraid of the Dark #3

by Kayla Cottingham

The third spine-chilling book set in the world of Nickelodeon’s hit TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark?, written by New York Times bestselling author Kayla Cottingham!Thirteen-year-old Riley Beasley is focused on her future—especially her goal of leaving the small town of Lake Glory to attend an Ivy League school. It’s a lot of pressure, and her mom’s reminders to live in the moment only make her feel more misunderstood. Even Riley’s best friend, paranormal-obsessed Genna, just doesn’t get it.On the night of the Blood Moon, Genna convinces Riley to sneak out and investigate some strange lights that beckon from the woods. There the two friends discover a mysterious circus and its teenage ringleader, Starr.At first, both girls are drawn to the magic of the big top. But soon, they can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right. Where did all these circus kids come from? Why aren't there any adults around? Like anyone, Starr certainly has her secrets . . . but can she be trusted?As the girls become more entrenched in Starr’s hypnotic world, their friendship faces the ultimate test. Will they be best friends forever? Or will the sinister truth tear them apart?
 

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2025

About the author

Kayla Cottingham (she/they) is a YA author and librarian. Her first book, My Dearest Darkest, was a New York Times and Publisher's Weekly bestseller. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Kayla lives in Boston where she loves to go hiking in the woods, play RPGs, and snuggle on the couch with her ridiculously large black cat, Squid.

Kayla is no longer active on Goodreads. As such, please use the contact form on her website if you have any inquiries.

Reviews

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical circus lets possibilities open up and dreams soar, but the truth hidden in the shadows adds a creepy twist.

Riley is determined to win enough scholarships to attend her favorite college, but her best friend, Genna, doesn't always seem to understand why Riley has to constantly study. Instead, Genna loves all things paranormal and wishes Riley would give her just a little bit of her time. When strange lights appear in the forest, Riley finally agrees to sneak out of the house and meets Genna by an old tree, so they can investigate it. When they find a circus and a friendly boy, who leads them from one fun booth to another, they can't believe their luck. But slowly things are getting strange.

The circus comes to life in these pages with tons of excitement and fun. The girls, especially Riley, find themselves drawn in by the playful atmosphere. Everything is free...and that alone will have readers dreaming they could join in on the fun. And there is quite a bit to enjoy. While this is a spooky tale, it doesn't start that way, nor does it get creepy quick. Instead, the author carefully leads the reader into the world of fun and only dribbles in a dab of eeriness, little by little. The oddities increase, and the spook-factor tiptoes in gently. Instead of creepiness pure, readers watch as Riley's and Genna's personalities change, and this is probably the bigger part of the plot twist. The circus feeds on this in all the right ways as the danger grows and tension builds.

When I first saw this book, it reminded me of the Goosebumps series, and I'm going to stick with that comparison after finishing it. This isn't an over-the-top-book-of-scares but lets the oddness sink in with twists and turns, keeping the true danger in the shadows until the end nears. Even then, it stays in middle grade bounds. Much of the read spends time on the friendship between Riley and Genna, and their own, personal self-discoveries. I'd recommend it as a solid middle grade read, since older readers will, most likely, want more depth and darker twists. But those who love a light, creepy read with a few thrills and chills are going to enjoy this one quite a bit.

[Jonah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me is aware that I love Are You Afraid of the Dark? with all my heart, and admire how the series has always pushed the boundaries for what can be done in a middle grade story. I've been a fan of the revived book series so far, but unfortunately this one just didn't quite hit for me as much as I would've liked.

I dug the circus setting, and applaud the author on how they handled some character revelations. The scares and twists just come way too late though, and by the time the payoff starts to happen, the story is practically wrapped up and out the door. It's a fun, cute story full of safe spooks - but maybe they're *too* safe, even for a younger audience.

Here's hoping they not only will continue the series, but keep telling stories that give kiddos that perfect gateway into the genre.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up watching the television show, and this book was a nice complement to it. Super spooky atmospherics and solid writing. I highly recommend this book series and hope people my age (30-something) will be drawn to it too. I liked the ending, too.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

After hearing the sound of carnival music in the night, 2 teen friends decide to take a risk and check out the night circus that seems completely run by kids. But is this carnival really what it seems? Another story from the Midnight Society.

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course a non binary person wrote this slop