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The Carn-evil Way
After walking in on the aftermath of her mother’s brutal murder and her brother Andy missing, Abbigail has only one thing on her getting Andy back.
Similar cases have popped up before, but they were locked down and quickly forgotten. In fact, Abbigail seems to be one of the very few who remembers Andy existed at all.
The Golden Ticket Slasher is behind it, but getting information on him isn’t easy. The closer Abbigail gets to him, the more she uncovers an unspeakable evil that reaches back decades in a long and bloody path of carnage.
Similar cases have popped up before, but they were locked down and quickly forgotten. In fact, Abbigail seems to be one of the very few who remembers Andy existed at all.
The Golden Ticket Slasher is behind it, but getting information on him isn’t easy. The closer Abbigail gets to him, the more she uncovers an unspeakable evil that reaches back decades in a long and bloody path of carnage.
- GenresHorror
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2025
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2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 23, 2025
This book is what would happen if Joe Hill's NOS4A2 turned Charlie Manx into Pennywise, and Christmasland was now a creepy-ass carnival realm, but at like 1/4 the page count. And throw in a little bit of that X-Files episode about carnies while you're at it.
There are a few technical issues with the writing - one character starts out as Franky, switches to Freddy, back to Franky for a line, then Freddy again; Jane is referred to as Abbigail once; and confusingly, the word "spinny" is ALWAYS spelled "spiny" (except the one time it was spelled "spinney") - very baffling as I tried to figure out what part of the thing being described had spines, until the *actual* meaning hit me. My favorite typo was when Abbigail is sitting at the table not drinking her root bear, though 😂
Anyway, despite these minor issues, very solid and entertaining creepy supernatural clown/carnival romp!
There are a few technical issues with the writing - one character starts out as Franky, switches to Freddy, back to Franky for a line, then Freddy again; Jane is referred to as Abbigail once; and confusingly, the word "spinny" is ALWAYS spelled "spiny" (except the one time it was spelled "spinney") - very baffling as I tried to figure out what part of the thing being described had spines, until the *actual* meaning hit me. My favorite typo was when Abbigail is sitting at the table not drinking her root bear, though 😂
Anyway, despite these minor issues, very solid and entertaining creepy supernatural clown/carnival romp!
May 1, 2025
I received this as an ARC from the publisher. All views expressed are my own.
Recommend - For the horror readers who like some loose ends
Blurb is at the end of the review, for those who aren’t into that sort of thing.
Horror - no romance, no spice.
I really really enjoyed this. I’m not quite at the level of saying I loved it, and we’ll talk about that at the end.
More or less set in the present day, this is told primarily from the POV of the victims, or prospective victims, depending on your perspective. This is, of course, very common for horror, and I think very warranted for this story. Because we are finding out more about Witherwix, who we meet in the first chapter, the questions are more around the why, how, and to naturally see how this ends.
The resultant unfolding was marvelously paced; it was difficult to find stopping points for myself, and I can understand those who finished it in the one sitting. The tension never really subsides and you want the answers nearly as badly as Abbigail, our main character, does. With each new discovery, my appetite for answers was only further whetted.
This was also a deeply atmospheric read. You can feel the gloom, the chill, the creeping sense of dread and unease that seems to pervade the story. The chapter headers, and some of the paragraph breaks (is that what they’re called?) were also great and added to the immersion I experienced.
My only, very minor, gripe was the end. I know this isn’t a must for the genre, and in fact rarely fully happens nowadays, but considering the amount of terror I experienced, I would’ve appreciated having my mind at least somewhat set at ease by the end.
All in all, an absolutely fantastic read. The horror genre executed to its full potential.
Synopsis:
Abbigail’s brother has disappeared in the same incident where her mother was gruesomely murder. We follow her as she tries to get to the bottom of what happened. She quickly discovers that this is not a one-off incident, but rather the most recent in a 10-year pattern of disappearances and murders that go back beyond living memory.
She follows the trail that starts with a golden ticket she finds in her brother’s bedroom. Just what is Super Happy Fun Land, and where is Carnival Way?
Recommend - For the horror readers who like some loose ends
Blurb is at the end of the review, for those who aren’t into that sort of thing.
Horror - no romance, no spice.
I really really enjoyed this. I’m not quite at the level of saying I loved it, and we’ll talk about that at the end.
More or less set in the present day, this is told primarily from the POV of the victims, or prospective victims, depending on your perspective. This is, of course, very common for horror, and I think very warranted for this story. Because we are finding out more about Witherwix, who we meet in the first chapter, the questions are more around the why, how, and to naturally see how this ends.
The resultant unfolding was marvelously paced; it was difficult to find stopping points for myself, and I can understand those who finished it in the one sitting. The tension never really subsides and you want the answers nearly as badly as Abbigail, our main character, does. With each new discovery, my appetite for answers was only further whetted.
This was also a deeply atmospheric read. You can feel the gloom, the chill, the creeping sense of dread and unease that seems to pervade the story. The chapter headers, and some of the paragraph breaks (is that what they’re called?) were also great and added to the immersion I experienced.
My only, very minor, gripe was the end. I know this isn’t a must for the genre, and in fact rarely fully happens nowadays, but considering the amount of terror I experienced, I would’ve appreciated having my mind at least somewhat set at ease by the end.
All in all, an absolutely fantastic read. The horror genre executed to its full potential.
Synopsis:
Abbigail’s brother has disappeared in the same incident where her mother was gruesomely murder. We follow her as she tries to get to the bottom of what happened. She quickly discovers that this is not a one-off incident, but rather the most recent in a 10-year pattern of disappearances and murders that go back beyond living memory.
She follows the trail that starts with a golden ticket she finds in her brother’s bedroom. Just what is Super Happy Fun Land, and where is Carnival Way?
April 30, 2025
I hate clowns. Naturally, I loved the novella. But I fucking hate clowns. I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever hear “play, play, play” in the wild. Instead I’ll probably just pray pray pray and run away way way.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2025
Years ago, I worked on a holiday site that was hosting the National Clown Convention (yes, really). I arrived for work to find the entire place full of clowns in full costume - but going about their daily lives, so shopping, chatting, having coffee, all perfectly polite. It was incredibly bizarre; not necessarily spooky but as if I'd stepped into a carnival Otherworld.
This book returned me to that strange vibe, albeit in America rather than the (rather more restrained!) UK.
Children are being abducted by what appears to be an evil clown, their parents left slaughtered in their own homes. Nobody appears willing or able to talk about it, despite the thick police files. Teen Abbigail survives such an incident, vowing to rescue her little brother and find out exactly what's going on.
So far, so 'IT', but this novella has its own undercurrent of mystery and emotional depth that pleasantly surprised me. It's far more than just a slasher, as events unfold with the suggestion that the clown-killer isn't just a psychopath in paint. Dropping 'Terrifier'-esque hints that greater cosmic powers are at work, the ending had me pausing to consider the morality and purpose of clowns and their entertainment brethren as a whole.
I did have some nitpicks: the youngsters here all seem to be... well, a bit stupid. The adults are stereotypical Authority Figures and anyone under 18 acts rather too innocently, especially when being faced with violent assault. However, on considering the overall picture, this does seem consistent with the world of the book: not necessarily humans versus monsters, but whether someone is 'innocent' or 'naughty'. It's somewhat more 'American Horror Story' with its social commentary, which made me willing to give the Character-in-a-Horror-Movie tropes a pass.
The third act opened everything up to a wonderful weirdness that I could never have seen coming, with the morality and spirit of Shakespeare's Fool lurking in the background.
I enjoyed 'The Carn-evil Way' far more than I expected and will be gladly watching out for more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book returned me to that strange vibe, albeit in America rather than the (rather more restrained!) UK.
Children are being abducted by what appears to be an evil clown, their parents left slaughtered in their own homes. Nobody appears willing or able to talk about it, despite the thick police files. Teen Abbigail survives such an incident, vowing to rescue her little brother and find out exactly what's going on.
So far, so 'IT', but this novella has its own undercurrent of mystery and emotional depth that pleasantly surprised me. It's far more than just a slasher, as events unfold with the suggestion that the clown-killer isn't just a psychopath in paint. Dropping 'Terrifier'-esque hints that greater cosmic powers are at work, the ending had me pausing to consider the morality and purpose of clowns and their entertainment brethren as a whole.
I did have some nitpicks: the youngsters here all seem to be... well, a bit stupid. The adults are stereotypical Authority Figures and anyone under 18 acts rather too innocently, especially when being faced with violent assault. However, on considering the overall picture, this does seem consistent with the world of the book: not necessarily humans versus monsters, but whether someone is 'innocent' or 'naughty'. It's somewhat more 'American Horror Story' with its social commentary, which made me willing to give the Character-in-a-Horror-Movie tropes a pass.
The third act opened everything up to a wonderful weirdness that I could never have seen coming, with the morality and spirit of Shakespeare's Fool lurking in the background.
I enjoyed 'The Carn-evil Way' far more than I expected and will be gladly watching out for more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 23, 2025
“It made her feel safe, warm, and bubbly inside. Like all was right as rain and butterflies.”
Reader, all was not right as rain and butterflies.
The Carn-evil Way is an enjoyable, fast paced book with feet in both the slasher and supernatural genres.
I liked the depth of the characters - survivor trauma is very present - and that it put a lot of work into world building. The horror elements around the demon clown Weatherwix are well thought out and the clown itself, and its circumstances, are more nuanced than just hack and slash. He has an actual moral code, even if the nature of it is opaque.
It feels like there’s more to come from this universe!.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reader, all was not right as rain and butterflies.
The Carn-evil Way is an enjoyable, fast paced book with feet in both the slasher and supernatural genres.
I liked the depth of the characters - survivor trauma is very present - and that it put a lot of work into world building. The horror elements around the demon clown Weatherwix are well thought out and the clown itself, and its circumstances, are more nuanced than just hack and slash. He has an actual moral code, even if the nature of it is opaque.
It feels like there’s more to come from this universe!.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 13, 2025
Super "Happy Fun" Read! I enjoyed this a lot, so much that I read it all in a day! This is a book that I can only pray to the carnival Christ it would become a series. It's like all your favorite horror clown movies in one!
"It is the Carn-evil way, play, play, play!"
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
"It is the Carn-evil way, play, play, play!"
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2025
THE CARN-EVIL WAY is the author's take on one of the most horrific figures in horror...Clowns.
It's a 140pages book so expect a quick pace and non-stop questions as you read it.
The story: Abby wants to understand what happened to her mom and her little brother. She's relentless and wants her brother back.
A solid story and a solid villain - is it a he, a it, or a what? -
If you never read horror before, it could be a nice introduction. If you are a fan of the horror genre, it's a nice read.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
It's a 140pages book so expect a quick pace and non-stop questions as you read it.
The story: Abby wants to understand what happened to her mom and her little brother. She's relentless and wants her brother back.
A solid story and a solid villain - is it a he, a it, or a what? -
If you never read horror before, it could be a nice introduction. If you are a fan of the horror genre, it's a nice read.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
April 12, 2025
The Carn-Evil Way is a nostalgic, horrifying trip down memory lane. The circus, a travelling carnival, clowns and clowns galore! Brought back memories for me of walking down the midway at the State Fair of Texas, staring up in delicious fear at the colorful banners of gorilla ladies, half-men, half-snake, and bloody car crashes! The story follows Abbigail Hobbs, a young lady whose mother was murdered and her little brother taken by the Golden Ticket Slasher, and her search to find him. I absolutely loved the ending. It was simultaneously joyous, uplifting and inspiring, yet bleak and tragic. Not an easy thing to pull off. Well done!
March 22, 2025
Some really creepy and nasty scenes in The Carn-Evil Way, which is what you want in a horror like this. It does feel like you're reading a supernatural slasher movie, and WitherWix the demon clown is a suitably unhinged monster.
I'd have loved to learn more about Super Happy Fun Land and the carnival folklore, it feels like there's a really rich vein to be mined there. Hopefully RR Harrow decides to return to this world in future titles.
I want to discuss some of the standout scenes but I won't, to avoid spoilers. If you want to have a shiver or several, pick this one up.
I'd have loved to learn more about Super Happy Fun Land and the carnival folklore, it feels like there's a really rich vein to be mined there. Hopefully RR Harrow decides to return to this world in future titles.
I want to discuss some of the standout scenes but I won't, to avoid spoilers. If you want to have a shiver or several, pick this one up.
May 5, 2025
“It is the Carn-evil way, play, play, play!"
Or maybe you should pray, pray, pray..
And it’s official I still hate clowns. Children are being abducted and their parents left slaughtered in their own homes by an evil clown it reads like watching creepy supernatural slasher movie. There is more than meets the eye in this bloody, creepy horror story.
Do you like horror books with mystery, clowns, slashers and supernatural creepiness if so this is for you
Or maybe you should pray, pray, pray..
And it’s official I still hate clowns. Children are being abducted and their parents left slaughtered in their own homes by an evil clown it reads like watching creepy supernatural slasher movie. There is more than meets the eye in this bloody, creepy horror story.
Do you like horror books with mystery, clowns, slashers and supernatural creepiness if so this is for you
April 20, 2025
Everyone loves a good clown story, right?
I definitely do!
I loved the mystery that came along with The Carn-evil Way. This isn't just a creepy, clown slasher. There are questions to be answered, and it takes blood and guts to get them.
If you like slashers, mysteries, and clowns, this one is for you.
I definitely do!
I loved the mystery that came along with The Carn-evil Way. This isn't just a creepy, clown slasher. There are questions to be answered, and it takes blood and guts to get them.
If you like slashers, mysteries, and clowns, this one is for you.
May 20, 2025
Carnaval en creepy horror clowns. Do I have to say more? I really devoured this book. It was scary and well written. Definitly recommend!.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 18, 2025
Absolutely creepy (because clowns are definitely creepy) but also jam packed with fun and laughter from the carnival! I truly was not expecting half of what happened in this book but it was brilliant.
May 5, 2025
This was a great horror read—and as someone who is legitimately scared of clowns, there were parts of this book that truly spooked me. Harrow's writing is fantastic, and gives a slightly nostalgic feel. I'm not sure how to pinpoint it exactly, but there were moments in this story that felt like a grown up Are You Afraid of the Dark? mixed with IT. Depraved and gory but a sense of retribution in the conclusion of the story.
There were a few structural issues within the story itself, but otherwise I really enjoyed this.
There were a few structural issues within the story itself, but otherwise I really enjoyed this.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews