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Bleak Haven #2
Night Terror
Who the hell holds up a bookstore? That’s what Noah asks when his favorite spot is suddenly targeted by masked attackers.
But these people don’t want a ransom. They are searching for Bleak Haven’s very own urban legend – The Burning Book.
When something with a thirst for flesh creeps from its pages, Noah must team up with the other hostages and try to escape the mall without turning their town into a bloodbath.
But these people don’t want a ransom. They are searching for Bleak Haven’s very own urban legend – The Burning Book.
When something with a thirst for flesh creeps from its pages, Noah must team up with the other hostages and try to escape the mall without turning their town into a bloodbath.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2026
25 people are currently reading
7075 people want to read
About the author
Vincent Ralph
13 books741 followersVincent Ralph is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of YA thrillers 14 Ways to Die, Lock the Doors, Secrets Never Die, and One House Left. He is an Edgar Award nominee, winner of the Southern Schools
Book Award, and the author of picture book A Boy Called Book.
The first two novels in the Bleak Haven series - Dead Fake and Night Terror - will be published in January 2026.
Book Award, and the author of picture book A Boy Called Book.
The first two novels in the Bleak Haven series - Dead Fake and Night Terror - will be published in January 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
January 20, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for the pre-release copy of Night Terror by Vincent Ralph. Below is my honest review.
I very much enjoyed the first novel, Dead Fake, in Vincent Ralph's new Bleak Haven YA horror/thriller series, but I think this one was actually way more fun. This one felt more like a horror type novel than the first, which was more mystery/thriller, and I really enjoyed seeing the characters rise to the occasion and fight for their lives while trapped in a locked mall with the villains. It was creepy and would make a decent movie (as would the first), so I'm hoping Ralph and his agents pitch this to Netflix to do like they did with the Fear Street trilogy.
This one takes place in the 80s, whereas the first novel was set in modern times, and Night Terror tells one of the stories alluded to in Dead Fake - how the history of the town is rife with tragedy and murder.
I liked the cast, especially Grace, and this one was definitely a win for me.
All in all, a solid entry into this new series about a town plagued by violence, blood, sadness, etc. Book one, Dead Fake, is set to be released at the same time as this one, with hopefully more to come.
If you're a fan of the horror/thriller genres and 80s nostalgia, then you'll enjoy this foray into the YA horror space. Fans of the Fear Street trilogy about the same story spread over different time periods, then you'll enjoy this series as well.
Four "why did you read from that cursed book, dude?!" stars.
I very much enjoyed the first novel, Dead Fake, in Vincent Ralph's new Bleak Haven YA horror/thriller series, but I think this one was actually way more fun. This one felt more like a horror type novel than the first, which was more mystery/thriller, and I really enjoyed seeing the characters rise to the occasion and fight for their lives while trapped in a locked mall with the villains. It was creepy and would make a decent movie (as would the first), so I'm hoping Ralph and his agents pitch this to Netflix to do like they did with the Fear Street trilogy.
This one takes place in the 80s, whereas the first novel was set in modern times, and Night Terror tells one of the stories alluded to in Dead Fake - how the history of the town is rife with tragedy and murder.
I liked the cast, especially Grace, and this one was definitely a win for me.
All in all, a solid entry into this new series about a town plagued by violence, blood, sadness, etc. Book one, Dead Fake, is set to be released at the same time as this one, with hopefully more to come.
If you're a fan of the horror/thriller genres and 80s nostalgia, then you'll enjoy this foray into the YA horror space. Fans of the Fear Street trilogy about the same story spread over different time periods, then you'll enjoy this series as well.
Four "why did you read from that cursed book, dude?!" stars.
September 5, 2025
Looking for a spooky read? Love R. L. Stine’s Fear Street stories? Then this book is for you!! Story takes place in the 80s, has zombies and a cursed book.
Welcome to Bleak Haven! The town’s name says it all. A town that loves to mourn. A town built on tragedy. A town with a sinister history full of serial killers.
Dive into a story where a motley crew of teenagers must save their town from zombies and possibly a killer cat. 🐈⬛
Noah knows the history of Bleak Haven better than most. He writes all he knows in his homemade books but hides them for fear of being made fun of. Noah fears a lot and just sticks to the sidelines. All that changes one night while working at Blair’s Books. Masked people come in and hold Noah, a few customers and his boss at gunpoint. But they are not demanding money. Oh no, they want something far more sinister. Something that will unleash its fury once it’s disturbed. The lives of these people change forever after this bloody night of battle, survival and overcoming your fears.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Welcome to Bleak Haven! The town’s name says it all. A town that loves to mourn. A town built on tragedy. A town with a sinister history full of serial killers.
Dive into a story where a motley crew of teenagers must save their town from zombies and possibly a killer cat. 🐈⬛
Noah knows the history of Bleak Haven better than most. He writes all he knows in his homemade books but hides them for fear of being made fun of. Noah fears a lot and just sticks to the sidelines. All that changes one night while working at Blair’s Books. Masked people come in and hold Noah, a few customers and his boss at gunpoint. But they are not demanding money. Oh no, they want something far more sinister. Something that will unleash its fury once it’s disturbed. The lives of these people change forever after this bloody night of battle, survival and overcoming your fears.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4☆ | I've now finished every single Vincent Ralph book (again) except for Bleak Haven book #3, Fear Farm, which comes out September of this year. And I'm hoping it'll be on NetGalley so I can get an arc just like I did for the first two.
I 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 Vincent Ralph's writing. Everything about it. I love how he makes his characters and the fast pacing of his books. And this one wasn't any different. It 𝘪𝘴 book 2 in the Bleak Haven series but it can be read as a standalone as it has different characters, different plot and is set during a different time, just in the same town. Though it could be good to read this one first, as it's set in the 80's and there are Easter eggs to Dead Fake hidden in here.
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 :
Book one in this series was focused on AI and deep fakes being made, with humans doing all the bad stuff. The ones here, are zombies (even a zombie cat), which is completely different compared to all of Ralph's other books, and I really enjoyed that we got something new genre wise (in this case, adding a supernatural element into the book).
I really liked the characters in this one, and how everything worked out in the end (though maybe it worked out a bit 𝘵𝘰𝘰 well/easy?). Everything going on felt real enough and it did seem like we were in the mind of a teenager and not an adult writing as one.
This one, compared to the first in the series, is creepier. And the action starts pretty quickly and keeps going through most of the book. It is a really quick read (page 40 on NetGalley is almost 20% in), and it'll keep you on your toes and guessing what's gonna happen next.
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 :
While I loved this book, I think it's probably the least memorable of Vincent Ralph's books so far. But I can see myself going back to read this again and I would definitely love to buy it once it's out.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 Vincent Ralph's writing. Everything about it. I love how he makes his characters and the fast pacing of his books. And this one wasn't any different. It 𝘪𝘴 book 2 in the Bleak Haven series but it can be read as a standalone as it has different characters, different plot and is set during a different time, just in the same town. Though it could be good to read this one first, as it's set in the 80's and there are Easter eggs to Dead Fake hidden in here.
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 :
Book one in this series was focused on AI and deep fakes being made, with humans doing all the bad stuff. The ones here, are zombies (even a zombie cat), which is completely different compared to all of Ralph's other books, and I really enjoyed that we got something new genre wise (in this case, adding a supernatural element into the book).
I really liked the characters in this one, and how everything worked out in the end (though maybe it worked out a bit 𝘵𝘰𝘰 well/easy?). Everything going on felt real enough and it did seem like we were in the mind of a teenager and not an adult writing as one.
This one, compared to the first in the series, is creepier. And the action starts pretty quickly and keeps going through most of the book. It is a really quick read (page 40 on NetGalley is almost 20% in), and it'll keep you on your toes and guessing what's gonna happen next.
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 :
While I loved this book, I think it's probably the least memorable of Vincent Ralph's books so far. But I can see myself going back to read this again and I would definitely love to buy it once it's out.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 9, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 20, 2026
Fans of R.L. Stine’s “Fear Street” series will be automatic fans of Vincent Ralph’s Bleak Haven series of novels. Each of his stories centre on a group of teenagers, growing up in the fictional cursed town of Bleak Haven. The first novel, “Dead Fake”, took place in modern day whereas the second novel, “Night Terror” takes place in everyone’s favourite horror decade- the 1980s.
“The Burning Book” is a Bleak Haven urban legend and with every year that passes, each generation talks about finding it and putting an end to the horrors that stalk Bleak Haven, once and for all. But Noah never expected that the book would be buried below his work place, a bookstore in the local mall. When a group of teenagers uncover the book, they aim to stop the rumours that Bleak Haven is cursed by calling out the old stories as false. That, however, isn’t what happens and soon Noah and his friends are running for their lives, as they find themselves being chased by the ghosts of the town- literally.
“Night Terror” is book number two in the Bleak Haven series, and it’s set to be released on the same day as book one, “Dead Fake”. Both books take place in the same town but they have different characters, different plotlines and they even take place in different time periods, so this is not a series that needs to be read in chronological order.
Noah is the sole protagonist in this one, an awkward, book-loving teenager who dreams of escaping Bleak Haven as soon as he can, much to the dismay of his best friend, Matthew. Noah and Matthew are likable and charming as a duo of awkward misfits and, like “Fake”, most of the characters in “Terror” are easy to relate to.
Ralph’s YA horror novels will generate their own cult following in the YA crowd, but adults will also enjoy Ralph’s creative, spooky writing, as it brings on all of the nostalgia associated with writers like R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike.
The monsters in “Terror” are very different from the ones in the previous story, as “Fake” had a human component whereas “Terror” is all monsters (zombies, to be exact). Ralph’s creepy fictional town of Bleak Haven earns its name by the end of the second novel, as everything that can go wrong will go wrong, and all of the things that go bump in the night seem to find Bleak Haven a comfy place to settle down.
“Terror” is well-written with a carefully formed plot, awkward yet relatable characters, and an engaging, page-turning story line that I was able to plow through in one day. I’m intrigued by the town of Bleak Haven and look forward to another installment.
Expected publication date: Jan. 20, 2026
Fans of R.L. Stine’s “Fear Street” series will be automatic fans of Vincent Ralph’s Bleak Haven series of novels. Each of his stories centre on a group of teenagers, growing up in the fictional cursed town of Bleak Haven. The first novel, “Dead Fake”, took place in modern day whereas the second novel, “Night Terror” takes place in everyone’s favourite horror decade- the 1980s.
“The Burning Book” is a Bleak Haven urban legend and with every year that passes, each generation talks about finding it and putting an end to the horrors that stalk Bleak Haven, once and for all. But Noah never expected that the book would be buried below his work place, a bookstore in the local mall. When a group of teenagers uncover the book, they aim to stop the rumours that Bleak Haven is cursed by calling out the old stories as false. That, however, isn’t what happens and soon Noah and his friends are running for their lives, as they find themselves being chased by the ghosts of the town- literally.
“Night Terror” is book number two in the Bleak Haven series, and it’s set to be released on the same day as book one, “Dead Fake”. Both books take place in the same town but they have different characters, different plotlines and they even take place in different time periods, so this is not a series that needs to be read in chronological order.
Noah is the sole protagonist in this one, an awkward, book-loving teenager who dreams of escaping Bleak Haven as soon as he can, much to the dismay of his best friend, Matthew. Noah and Matthew are likable and charming as a duo of awkward misfits and, like “Fake”, most of the characters in “Terror” are easy to relate to.
Ralph’s YA horror novels will generate their own cult following in the YA crowd, but adults will also enjoy Ralph’s creative, spooky writing, as it brings on all of the nostalgia associated with writers like R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike.
The monsters in “Terror” are very different from the ones in the previous story, as “Fake” had a human component whereas “Terror” is all monsters (zombies, to be exact). Ralph’s creepy fictional town of Bleak Haven earns its name by the end of the second novel, as everything that can go wrong will go wrong, and all of the things that go bump in the night seem to find Bleak Haven a comfy place to settle down.
“Terror” is well-written with a carefully formed plot, awkward yet relatable characters, and an engaging, page-turning story line that I was able to plow through in one day. I’m intrigued by the town of Bleak Haven and look forward to another installment.
Want to Read
November 18, 2025ARC received. Thank you, Wednesday Books!!!
February 4, 2026
I loved the nostalgic 80s energy this book was! I wanted more from the ending tho but the book was good being a little creepier than the first book for sure!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3⭐️
I really wanted to like this more than book one in the Bleak Haven series, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. Reading both back to back finally cemented what I’ve been circling around: Vincent Ralph just isn’t for me. And to be clear—that’s not a knock on him. He’s a solid writer and I will absolutely continue recommending his books to teen readers without hesitation.
This installment leans hard into ’80s nostalgia, and honestly? That part works. For teen readers, it’s a fun and accessible snapshot of 1980s culture, and for those of us who lived it, it’s a comfortable stroll down memory lane. The problem is that the nostalgia feels like it’s doing all the heavy lifting. Another reviewer described it perfectly by saying Ralph relies on the vibes rather than the story—and I completely agree.
Where his books usually offer light horror elements with some bite, this one felt predictable and occasionally campy. “Thin” is really the best word for it—thin plot, thin tension, thin payoff.
Will some readers love it? Absolutely. I can easily see this landing well for teens or nostalgia lovers who want vibes over substance. For me, though, it was a sophomore slump that mostly delivered a few fun ’80s memories and not much else.
Still recommending him for the right reader—this one just wasn’t for me.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I really wanted to like this more than book one in the Bleak Haven series, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. Reading both back to back finally cemented what I’ve been circling around: Vincent Ralph just isn’t for me. And to be clear—that’s not a knock on him. He’s a solid writer and I will absolutely continue recommending his books to teen readers without hesitation.
This installment leans hard into ’80s nostalgia, and honestly? That part works. For teen readers, it’s a fun and accessible snapshot of 1980s culture, and for those of us who lived it, it’s a comfortable stroll down memory lane. The problem is that the nostalgia feels like it’s doing all the heavy lifting. Another reviewer described it perfectly by saying Ralph relies on the vibes rather than the story—and I completely agree.
Where his books usually offer light horror elements with some bite, this one felt predictable and occasionally campy. “Thin” is really the best word for it—thin plot, thin tension, thin payoff.
Will some readers love it? Absolutely. I can easily see this landing well for teens or nostalgia lovers who want vibes over substance. For me, though, it was a sophomore slump that mostly delivered a few fun ’80s memories and not much else.
Still recommending him for the right reader—this one just wasn’t for me.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thanks to Wednesday Books, the author, and Goodreads for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review. This is book two in the Bleak Haven't series and a must read for fans of the series. This book is about the town's infamous Burning Book. The book is well written and is a quick read. There is plenty of action and the story gets going right from the beginning. The book is marketed as a YA horror story but is fine for adults in my opinion. Hopefully there will be a book three. 4.25 🌟
February 9, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review by NetGalley.
Okay, I didn't like this one as much as the first, I guess because I'm not really into zombies, if that's what you want to call these things in this book. I did however like how the outcasts are the heros in this book and that it shows how teamwork can result in lives being saved when people who usually don't get along team up with each other. Now some people who died in this book didn't deserve to die, but I'd say at least one person did and it was because his ego was too dang high.
Okay, I didn't like this one as much as the first, I guess because I'm not really into zombies, if that's what you want to call these things in this book. I did however like how the outcasts are the heros in this book and that it shows how teamwork can result in lives being saved when people who usually don't get along team up with each other. Now some people who died in this book didn't deserve to die, but I'd say at least one person did and it was because his ego was too dang high.
September 9, 2025
I think this had a lot of potential but, unfortunately, fell flat to the sequel curse.
Had way more action than the first one, which was pretty exciting. We get to finally see one of the infamous serial killers in action, but with a twist. So if you like undead creepy slasher type of stuff, this one’s for you.
I did find it a bit underwhelming for a slasher. The first half was spent building up to this huge reveal and how the book was supposedly to evil behind everything going on in this town, but all we saw was a sinkhole and a creepy zombie killer(s).
Main character didn’t stand out for me. His name could’ve been changed in the middle of the book and I wouldn’t have noticed. Same with other characters, they just felt flat and uninteresting.
I really hope we get more of the town’s history in the next one and will get some more answers instead of more questions.
Also, thank you to Wednesday books for my copy
Had way more action than the first one, which was pretty exciting. We get to finally see one of the infamous serial killers in action, but with a twist. So if you like undead creepy slasher type of stuff, this one’s for you.
I did find it a bit underwhelming for a slasher. The first half was spent building up to this huge reveal and how the book was supposedly to evil behind everything going on in this town, but all we saw was a sinkhole and a creepy zombie killer(s).
Main character didn’t stand out for me. His name could’ve been changed in the middle of the book and I wouldn’t have noticed. Same with other characters, they just felt flat and uninteresting.
I really hope we get more of the town’s history in the next one and will get some more answers instead of more questions.
Also, thank you to Wednesday books for my copy
December 3, 2025
Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review
This was fun! I liked it much better than the first one. Where the first book was your general murdering kind of horror, this one had a supernatural spin to it. This is the kind of series where it doesn't matter which book you read first, because other than taking place in Bleak Haven, they're pretty far removed from each other. I lied the characters in this one much better. They were scared witless, but they still did their best to make logical decisions, which isn't something that happened very often in the horror genre. I do feel like things worked out a little too easily, but for a YA story, I think it's all pretty solid.
I think this would be a cool series to keep adding on to. Since this book gave a little bit of lore about how the town is cursed, it wouldn't seem too ridiculous for these crazy rampages to keep happening. There were plenty of Easter Eggs planted in both books that I would love to learn more about, and they would make a great addition to the series. It would also fun to see this one (and the first one) mentioned as it's own Easter Egg in any future installments
This was fun! I liked it much better than the first one. Where the first book was your general murdering kind of horror, this one had a supernatural spin to it. This is the kind of series where it doesn't matter which book you read first, because other than taking place in Bleak Haven, they're pretty far removed from each other. I lied the characters in this one much better. They were scared witless, but they still did their best to make logical decisions, which isn't something that happened very often in the horror genre. I do feel like things worked out a little too easily, but for a YA story, I think it's all pretty solid.
I think this would be a cool series to keep adding on to. Since this book gave a little bit of lore about how the town is cursed, it wouldn't seem too ridiculous for these crazy rampages to keep happening. There were plenty of Easter Eggs planted in both books that I would love to learn more about, and they would make a great addition to the series. It would also fun to see this one (and the first one) mentioned as it's own Easter Egg in any future installments
April 20, 2026
Vincent Ralph definitely writes a good thriller, and that's what I've become used to from him. Thrillers, and the occasional slasher. This book however is definitely a horror novel, with zombie serial killers, occult books and portals to - probably - hell. It was a quick read, very fast-paced and easy to read, as his books usually are, but the horror element wasn't really my cup of tea, and I struggled to see how it tied in to book number one other than both of them taking place in the same town.
It would probably thrill horror fans, but it just wasn't for me. It doesn't mean I won't be checking out more of his books in future. Three out of five stars. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It would probably thrill horror fans, but it just wasn't for me. It doesn't mean I won't be checking out more of his books in future. Three out of five stars. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: Night Terror by Vincent Ralph
Night Terror is a solid sequel, but it didn’t quite live up to the first book for me. The eerie setting of Bleak Haven is still atmospheric and unsettling, and Vincent Ralph does a great job leaning into the horror elements with plenty of tension and creepy moments.
That said, this installment felt a bit uneven compared to book one. While the premise was interesting and the danger felt real, the pacing didn’t always work for me, and some of the twists didn’t hit as hard as I expected. I also found myself less connected to the characters this time around.
Overall, Night Terror is an entertaining read and worth picking up if you enjoyed the first book, but personally, I liked the first book better and felt it had a stronger impact.
Night Terror is a solid sequel, but it didn’t quite live up to the first book for me. The eerie setting of Bleak Haven is still atmospheric and unsettling, and Vincent Ralph does a great job leaning into the horror elements with plenty of tension and creepy moments.
That said, this installment felt a bit uneven compared to book one. While the premise was interesting and the danger felt real, the pacing didn’t always work for me, and some of the twists didn’t hit as hard as I expected. I also found myself less connected to the characters this time around.
Overall, Night Terror is an entertaining read and worth picking up if you enjoyed the first book, but personally, I liked the first book better and felt it had a stronger impact.
January 22, 2026
I had started this book before realizing that it's the 2nd in a series, but it sounds like they can all be read as a standalone.
Night Terror has similar vibes of the R.L. Stine books I read when I was growing up- the light supernatural horror with an unsettling atmosphere, yet also fun because it's set in the 80s. The story had a somewhat predictable plot that was a little underwhelming, but I can see how this would be an exciting read for a younger audience. I also appreciate the themes around facing your fears, navigating relationships with friends and family while in your teen years.
I would be interested to read the other books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the e-ARC and for the opportunity to share my honest review!
Night Terror has similar vibes of the R.L. Stine books I read when I was growing up- the light supernatural horror with an unsettling atmosphere, yet also fun because it's set in the 80s. The story had a somewhat predictable plot that was a little underwhelming, but I can see how this would be an exciting read for a younger audience. I also appreciate the themes around facing your fears, navigating relationships with friends and family while in your teen years.
I would be interested to read the other books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the e-ARC and for the opportunity to share my honest review!
January 12, 2026
The second installment in the new Bleak Haven series and it just might be my favorite so far! We’re transported back to 1987 in this one, complete with a mall bookstore, a new Blockbuster under construction, a sinkhole, and the undead! 🧟
Looking forward to the next installments in the Bleak Haven series!!! 🙌
Thank you to partner Wednesday Books for the gifted advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Looking forward to the next installments in the Bleak Haven series!!! 🙌
Thank you to partner Wednesday Books for the gifted advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
April 19, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded up
This one is marketed as YA horror, but being from the Fear Street generation, I enjoyed it! For me, it was a little slow at the beginning but picked up quickly. It's the second book in a series, but having not read the first I can say it's easily read as a standalone. I would be interested in reading the rest in the Bleak Haven series, as well as other works by this author. Thanks to Wednesday Books, the author, and Goodreads for this ARC.
This one is marketed as YA horror, but being from the Fear Street generation, I enjoyed it! For me, it was a little slow at the beginning but picked up quickly. It's the second book in a series, but having not read the first I can say it's easily read as a standalone. I would be interested in reading the rest in the Bleak Haven series, as well as other works by this author. Thanks to Wednesday Books, the author, and Goodreads for this ARC.
March 1, 2026
A special thank you to St. Martin’s Press and author Vincent Ralph for selecting me to receive a copy of Night Terror via NetGalley 🖤 This is my honest and voluntary review:
This is book 2 in the Bleak Haven series but can be read as a standalone.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was such a great book and I highly recommend it! Full of zombies, small town secrets and horror, perfect for those wanting an edge of your seat thriller!
This is book 2 in the Bleak Haven series but can be read as a standalone.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was such a great book and I highly recommend it! Full of zombies, small town secrets and horror, perfect for those wanting an edge of your seat thriller!
March 5, 2026
After BINGING the first book of this series, I was a bit disappointed in this one. It was still super fun and I think I would have loved it on its own, but the switch to paranormal horror instead of the slasher vibes from book one threw me for a loop.
Can I describe this one as Jumanji but if it took place in a mall in the 80’s instead of the fictional jungles of a game?
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Can I describe this one as Jumanji but if it took place in a mall in the 80’s instead of the fictional jungles of a game?
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this in a giveaway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
bleak haven is like the new fear street. I'm obsessed with these books.
January 24, 2026
I wanted to like this book so much, I truly did. I just felt as though it dragged on for most of the book, and was just too long for the few things that occured in the book. You have a few too many characters in the book and for me, it was hard to keep up with all of them and who died when. The premise of the book had promise, with the towns most famous serial killers coming back from the dead. However, I feel that it didn't deliver the way I was hoping it would. I feel so bad because I feel as though the book had lots of promise, but it just did not deliver on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2026
I felt this was a bit underwhelming for me. I wanted a lot more from it, and it was predictable.
September 24, 2025
Night Terror is the second book in Vincent Ralph’s Bleak Haven series, and I loved it even more than the first. It reminded me of Fear Street and Castle Rock, but with its own twist. The story is fast, creepy, and full of supernatural horror this time with zombies!
We follow Noah, a teen who gets caught in a terrifying night at the mall when masked attackers unleash something awful from a cursed book. The mix of urban legend, small-town secrets, and gory action kept me hooked from start to finish.
You don’t need to read book one first, and the new characters are great. There’s even a bit of romance, and some surprising character moments that added depth.
Vincent Ralph is now one of my favorite horror authors. This series is scary, fun, and perfect for fans of R.L. Stine or Stephen King but with less gore. My only complaint? I need the next book now!
We follow Noah, a teen who gets caught in a terrifying night at the mall when masked attackers unleash something awful from a cursed book. The mix of urban legend, small-town secrets, and gory action kept me hooked from start to finish.
You don’t need to read book one first, and the new characters are great. There’s even a bit of romance, and some surprising character moments that added depth.
Vincent Ralph is now one of my favorite horror authors. This series is scary, fun, and perfect for fans of R.L. Stine or Stephen King but with less gore. My only complaint? I need the next book now!
February 12, 2026
2.5
Great cover but the story wasn’t that good
Great cover but the story wasn’t that good
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book: Night Terror
Author: Vicent Ralph
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I know I read the second book first by accident, but these books can be read out of order-at least, that is what I am telling myself. I really did enjoy this quick little horror read. It reminded me so much of RL Stine and the classic horror books from the 1990s and early 2000s. If you are looking for something to give you these feelings, then I highly encourage you to pick this one up.
Who robs a bookstore? That is the question Noah asks when masked attackers storm his favourite shop inside the mall. The intruders are not after money. Their target is Bleak Haven’s most infamous urban legend, the Burning Book, a relic rumoured to be more than a story. When something with a hunger for flesh crawls out of its pages, Noah is forced to ally with the other trapped customers. Together, they must escape the mall before the nightmare spreads and their town is drowned in blood.
The town of Bleak Haven is known for having a lot of people die and for having a lot of killers. The town has memorials and pictures of those who have lost their lives because of this. Even though the residents want to get out, they seem to be trapped there. No one knows when the next killing spree is going to happen, and they all wait in the wings for it to happen. Noah works at the local bookstore. It’s a boring job, but he seems to be enjoying it. That all changes when it is robbed, and the dead come to life. It turns out to be one of the legendary town killers. From there, his life is going to change forever.
The book has a very familiar pattern. We have the setup of this town where awful things have happened, and the town uses it as part of its identity. We have some people who embrace it and some who think it is a joke. Then, some would rather forget about it. Things have been calm for a while, but that all changes one night at the mall. Our characters, who come from different paths of life, have to come together to fight off a monster. I say that this is a familiar pattern because it felt a lot like Fear Street, Goosebumps, and other horror books from the early 2000s and late 1990s. It gave me all of those vibes without feeling like that was what it was going for-even though I think that is what the author was going for, but I could be wrong.
The horror elements were well done. Some of them are pretty graphic and can have a slasher feel. If that bothers you, then I would look for some triggers before deciding to pick this one up. They were done in a way that didn’t feel too over the top, but, instead, were presented in a way that felt natural. I personally thought it was just well done.
The pacing is a nice blend of action and our characters trying to figure out their next steps. The writing does not play down the true danger that our characters are in. We get to see this first-hand in every situation that they find themselves in. One thing that I really liked was getting to see the aftereffects of this night and how it impacted everyone. We don’t get ot see that very often in horror books.
Overall, this is a quick read. If you are looking for a quick horror read, then I highly encourage you to pick this one up.
This book comes out on January 20. 2026.
Author: Vicent Ralph
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I know I read the second book first by accident, but these books can be read out of order-at least, that is what I am telling myself. I really did enjoy this quick little horror read. It reminded me so much of RL Stine and the classic horror books from the 1990s and early 2000s. If you are looking for something to give you these feelings, then I highly encourage you to pick this one up.
Who robs a bookstore? That is the question Noah asks when masked attackers storm his favourite shop inside the mall. The intruders are not after money. Their target is Bleak Haven’s most infamous urban legend, the Burning Book, a relic rumoured to be more than a story. When something with a hunger for flesh crawls out of its pages, Noah is forced to ally with the other trapped customers. Together, they must escape the mall before the nightmare spreads and their town is drowned in blood.
The town of Bleak Haven is known for having a lot of people die and for having a lot of killers. The town has memorials and pictures of those who have lost their lives because of this. Even though the residents want to get out, they seem to be trapped there. No one knows when the next killing spree is going to happen, and they all wait in the wings for it to happen. Noah works at the local bookstore. It’s a boring job, but he seems to be enjoying it. That all changes when it is robbed, and the dead come to life. It turns out to be one of the legendary town killers. From there, his life is going to change forever.
The book has a very familiar pattern. We have the setup of this town where awful things have happened, and the town uses it as part of its identity. We have some people who embrace it and some who think it is a joke. Then, some would rather forget about it. Things have been calm for a while, but that all changes one night at the mall. Our characters, who come from different paths of life, have to come together to fight off a monster. I say that this is a familiar pattern because it felt a lot like Fear Street, Goosebumps, and other horror books from the early 2000s and late 1990s. It gave me all of those vibes without feeling like that was what it was going for-even though I think that is what the author was going for, but I could be wrong.
The horror elements were well done. Some of them are pretty graphic and can have a slasher feel. If that bothers you, then I would look for some triggers before deciding to pick this one up. They were done in a way that didn’t feel too over the top, but, instead, were presented in a way that felt natural. I personally thought it was just well done.
The pacing is a nice blend of action and our characters trying to figure out their next steps. The writing does not play down the true danger that our characters are in. We get to see this first-hand in every situation that they find themselves in. One thing that I really liked was getting to see the aftereffects of this night and how it impacted everyone. We don’t get ot see that very often in horror books.
Overall, this is a quick read. If you are looking for a quick horror read, then I highly encourage you to pick this one up.
This book comes out on January 20. 2026.
February 17, 2026
Malls were some of the greatest hangouts for teenagers. A group of friends could spend all day just walking through stores, eating at the food court, and maybe seeing a movie. These days, you might be lucky if half the stores are still open. But you can still get nostalgic for your old stomping grounds like I did while reading Night Terror, the second book in Vincent Ralph’s Bleak Haven series.
In this installment, Ralph takes a step back to November 1987 to show a new part of Bleak Haven’s past. Born during the terror of the infamous Lullaby Man, many teenagers have grown up under the overprotective watch of their parents. They are tired of dealing with the all too frequent memorial ceremonies for those lost over the town’s dark history. Some of the local youths are now looking to take matters into their own hands. When The Burning Book, an ancient artifact of unknown power, is found, one of the town’s darkest killers will return to continue their murder spree.
The main character in this novel is Noah, a high school senior itching to get out of Bleak Haven. Noah deals with social anxiety and he’d portrayed well via the dialog he has with himself. He’s made a promise to his best friend, Matthew, that the two of them would move away and open a comic book shop together. Along with new friends, Grace and Wren, Noah must overcome his self-doubt and save Bleak Haven from another tragic event.
Ralph uses this novel to introduce supernatural elements to the world of Bleak Haven. No longer restricted to natural everyday killers, other means are introduced by which the townspeople can be killed. It is rumored that The Burning Book is tied to the founder of Bleak Haven and might have ties to the town’s first tragedy. Excitingly enough, this opens up the series to a whole new set of rules.
Night Terror has about the same pacing as the first book in the series but for different reasons. This one is more character driven, keeping Noah continuously occupied with other survivors throughout their ordeal. The town’s history is recapped, not as memories but rather as explanations. Noah is writing a book on the weird and deadly events of Bleak Haven, and he uses his knowledge to educate those around him.
What I’m enjoying about this series is that, based on the first two novels, the reader doesn’t have to read them in order. However, the reader is rewarded for doing so with little easter eggs that harken back to earlier books. I found it fun trying to piece together the history of characters, killers, and buildings, even after only two books.
The colorful language has been toned down in this book too. This one definitely feels like a more appropriate read for the age range.
A nostalgic supernatural horror tale, Night Terror adds new possibilities to the Bleak Haven series. Vincent Ralph’s young adult horror series continues to impress and I recommend this novel.
In this installment, Ralph takes a step back to November 1987 to show a new part of Bleak Haven’s past. Born during the terror of the infamous Lullaby Man, many teenagers have grown up under the overprotective watch of their parents. They are tired of dealing with the all too frequent memorial ceremonies for those lost over the town’s dark history. Some of the local youths are now looking to take matters into their own hands. When The Burning Book, an ancient artifact of unknown power, is found, one of the town’s darkest killers will return to continue their murder spree.
The main character in this novel is Noah, a high school senior itching to get out of Bleak Haven. Noah deals with social anxiety and he’d portrayed well via the dialog he has with himself. He’s made a promise to his best friend, Matthew, that the two of them would move away and open a comic book shop together. Along with new friends, Grace and Wren, Noah must overcome his self-doubt and save Bleak Haven from another tragic event.
Ralph uses this novel to introduce supernatural elements to the world of Bleak Haven. No longer restricted to natural everyday killers, other means are introduced by which the townspeople can be killed. It is rumored that The Burning Book is tied to the founder of Bleak Haven and might have ties to the town’s first tragedy. Excitingly enough, this opens up the series to a whole new set of rules.
Night Terror has about the same pacing as the first book in the series but for different reasons. This one is more character driven, keeping Noah continuously occupied with other survivors throughout their ordeal. The town’s history is recapped, not as memories but rather as explanations. Noah is writing a book on the weird and deadly events of Bleak Haven, and he uses his knowledge to educate those around him.
What I’m enjoying about this series is that, based on the first two novels, the reader doesn’t have to read them in order. However, the reader is rewarded for doing so with little easter eggs that harken back to earlier books. I found it fun trying to piece together the history of characters, killers, and buildings, even after only two books.
The colorful language has been toned down in this book too. This one definitely feels like a more appropriate read for the age range.
A nostalgic supernatural horror tale, Night Terror adds new possibilities to the Bleak Haven series. Vincent Ralph’s young adult horror series continues to impress and I recommend this novel.
January 20, 2026
Night Terror by Vincent Ralph is the kind of book that grabs you by the collar, drags you back to 1987, and drops you into a mall bookstore where absolutely nothing good is about to happen. Because this is Bleak Haven, and Bleak Haven does not do “quiet retail shifts.”
I’ll be honest. This one didn’t hit me quite as hard as Dead Fake, which I loved. But. And this is important. It is still a great story. The same fast-paced, easy-to-devour style is here, the same unsettling atmosphere, and the same sense that this town is basically cursed and taking it very personally.
One thing I really appreciated is that you don’t have to read these books in order. Night Terror absolutely works as a standalone, even though it builds on the larger mythology of Bleak Haven. If you like being thrown straight into the chaos with just enough context to survive, you’ll be fine.
This installment leans hard into the paranormal, with an urban legend at the center of it all. A masked robbery. Hostages. A cursed book. Something with a serious appetite for human flesh crawling out of its pages. Totally normal mall behavior. The setting is peak 80s in the best way. A mall bookstore, a Blockbuster under construction, a sinkhole, undead chaos. It’s campy, creepy, and very fun.
That said, the story does feel a little chaotic at times. There’s a lot happening, often very quickly, and not every thread gets the same breathing room. But honestly, that frantic energy also kind of works. It feels like being trapped in a nightmare where you don’t get to pause and think too hard, you just react.
Where the book really shines is in the characters. Noah is a standout for me. His growth throughout the story feels earned, and I loved watching him step into his role as someone who understands the town’s history and uses it to protect others. The cast of misfits around him is delightful and gives off strong Stranger Things meets Ghostbusters vibes. Found family, nervous jokes in the face of terror, and kids dealing with way more than they should ever have to.
Bleak Haven itself continues to be one of the most interesting elements of the series. This is a town where bad things always happen, and you can feel how many stories are still buried just beneath the surface. Every new detail makes the place feel more haunted and more alive.
Overall, Night Terror may not have completely eclipsed Dead Fake for me, but it’s a fast, creepy, nostalgia-soaked ride that delivers strong characters, inventive horror, and a town that refuses to let anyone leave unscathed. If you like your YA horror with paranormal chaos, 80s vibes, and a side of mall-based mayhem, this is absolutely worth picking up.
I’ll be honest. This one didn’t hit me quite as hard as Dead Fake, which I loved. But. And this is important. It is still a great story. The same fast-paced, easy-to-devour style is here, the same unsettling atmosphere, and the same sense that this town is basically cursed and taking it very personally.
One thing I really appreciated is that you don’t have to read these books in order. Night Terror absolutely works as a standalone, even though it builds on the larger mythology of Bleak Haven. If you like being thrown straight into the chaos with just enough context to survive, you’ll be fine.
This installment leans hard into the paranormal, with an urban legend at the center of it all. A masked robbery. Hostages. A cursed book. Something with a serious appetite for human flesh crawling out of its pages. Totally normal mall behavior. The setting is peak 80s in the best way. A mall bookstore, a Blockbuster under construction, a sinkhole, undead chaos. It’s campy, creepy, and very fun.
That said, the story does feel a little chaotic at times. There’s a lot happening, often very quickly, and not every thread gets the same breathing room. But honestly, that frantic energy also kind of works. It feels like being trapped in a nightmare where you don’t get to pause and think too hard, you just react.
Where the book really shines is in the characters. Noah is a standout for me. His growth throughout the story feels earned, and I loved watching him step into his role as someone who understands the town’s history and uses it to protect others. The cast of misfits around him is delightful and gives off strong Stranger Things meets Ghostbusters vibes. Found family, nervous jokes in the face of terror, and kids dealing with way more than they should ever have to.
Bleak Haven itself continues to be one of the most interesting elements of the series. This is a town where bad things always happen, and you can feel how many stories are still buried just beneath the surface. Every new detail makes the place feel more haunted and more alive.
Overall, Night Terror may not have completely eclipsed Dead Fake for me, but it’s a fast, creepy, nostalgia-soaked ride that delivers strong characters, inventive horror, and a town that refuses to let anyone leave unscathed. If you like your YA horror with paranormal chaos, 80s vibes, and a side of mall-based mayhem, this is absolutely worth picking up.
September 7, 2025
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book! I truly appreciate i!
You have no idea how much I enjoyed where book two in Vincent Ralph's new series went! I was really accurate and slightly wrong in my views for my review about the previous book in this series. This book reminds me very much of the Netflix movie version of R. L. Stines Fear Street series particularly the beginning half of 1994 (minus the massacre and slightly the witch aspect) and has now most definitely verged into the dark paranormal twists of Stephen King's Castle Rock series. But that's not a bad thing at all! This book and this series are fantastic! It takes those ideas and those concepts of a town with a very dark paranormal past and makes it so much better! I get worried with horror book series' because eventually some are not as good as the others, or most newly written horror books because they're just plain thrillers but that didn't happen here again at all and I'm really glad!
The characters are completely different and I will say you could read these books at this moment in time out of order and be perfectly fine you might actually want to read them backwards because you will find some hidden Easter eggs related to the first story in here and I loved it! The characters and their story line just like the first will completely pull you in, and set you on a path of once again never being able to put this book down. There are so many wonderful twists and turns! Vincent Ralph has definately stolen my heart for horror reads! Don't let that YA-Teen tag fool you, this is for everyone! This is a true horror read, and between it and the first I can completely see this series becoming a cult classic and I would honestly love to see them on the big screen! If you are a fan of Stephen King but need just a smidgen less gore like some of his other interconnected shorter books and series' and want more of the twists and turns of true unexpected terror that R. L. Stein can inspire this is it! Vincent Ralph has taken the top spot as my favourite horror author and I'm so happy about that!
Now my only issue is that I need more! Literally that's my only issue I want more of this series because I can't wait to see where it goes! I also can't wait to read his other previously written books outside of this current series!
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to read this book! I loved it!
You have no idea how much I enjoyed where book two in Vincent Ralph's new series went! I was really accurate and slightly wrong in my views for my review about the previous book in this series. This book reminds me very much of the Netflix movie version of R. L. Stines Fear Street series particularly the beginning half of 1994 (minus the massacre and slightly the witch aspect) and has now most definitely verged into the dark paranormal twists of Stephen King's Castle Rock series. But that's not a bad thing at all! This book and this series are fantastic! It takes those ideas and those concepts of a town with a very dark paranormal past and makes it so much better! I get worried with horror book series' because eventually some are not as good as the others, or most newly written horror books because they're just plain thrillers but that didn't happen here again at all and I'm really glad!
The characters are completely different and I will say you could read these books at this moment in time out of order and be perfectly fine you might actually want to read them backwards because you will find some hidden Easter eggs related to the first story in here and I loved it! The characters and their story line just like the first will completely pull you in, and set you on a path of once again never being able to put this book down. There are so many wonderful twists and turns! Vincent Ralph has definately stolen my heart for horror reads! Don't let that YA-Teen tag fool you, this is for everyone! This is a true horror read, and between it and the first I can completely see this series becoming a cult classic and I would honestly love to see them on the big screen! If you are a fan of Stephen King but need just a smidgen less gore like some of his other interconnected shorter books and series' and want more of the twists and turns of true unexpected terror that R. L. Stein can inspire this is it! Vincent Ralph has taken the top spot as my favourite horror author and I'm so happy about that!
Now my only issue is that I need more! Literally that's my only issue I want more of this series because I can't wait to see where it goes! I also can't wait to read his other previously written books outside of this current series!
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to read this book! I loved it!
January 29, 2026
Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC.
Secondly, the review:
What I liked about this book, is the same I did for Dead Fake, I enjoyed the retro/nostalgic (some would say vintage, but not me!) vibes. We return to the cursed town of Bleak Haven for another installment in this new series by Vincent Ralph.
There are lots of references for retro pop culture set in the 90s woven throughout this YA Horror, for fans of Stine, Pike, and Point Horror novels we grew up reading as young adults from the original generation of classic young adult horror novels.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was extremely visual for me. I could picture a mall from that time period, the characters were well diverse in the character representations, like Breakfast Club monster hunters.
There were a few things that did not work for me:
1. There were a few moments in the story that the chapters either ended too abruptly, or that the chapters should have continued longer before starting the next one. It felt like those moments were like I was reading bullet points instead of sentences or dialogue.
2. The other issue I had, which I didn’t have in Dead Fake, was on one particular page where one character is named by their name, and the rest of the page was called variations of “it” repeatedly. This entire scene of the book was probably my least favorite because their editorial team should have caught this. While this was in the ARC copy, I do not know if that scene was edited prior to final print release or not. Hopefully, someone caught “it” (pun fully intended) before it was sent off to sellers.
While these reflections of my experience can be looked at differently, that is up to how others interpret my review. But these are my feelings from my experience and I stand firm with them, which is why I rated this book a 4 instead of 5 like its predecessor.
Memorable quotes:
“Some people cry over the dead. Others make creepy-ass trinkets.”
“Some people are addicted to the grief…”
“There’s nothing wrong with being paranoid. Sometimes it can save your life.”
“If you fill people with enough fear, some will learn to love it.”
“But masks hide more than just faces.”
“Is this what this is: the next horrible act in a town scarred by unimaginable violence?”
“We can remember the dead without being afraid of the future.”
“Dead things don’t die.”
“How do you go from a few rotten apples to sinkholes and zombies?”
Secondly, the review:
What I liked about this book, is the same I did for Dead Fake, I enjoyed the retro/nostalgic (some would say vintage, but not me!) vibes. We return to the cursed town of Bleak Haven for another installment in this new series by Vincent Ralph.
There are lots of references for retro pop culture set in the 90s woven throughout this YA Horror, for fans of Stine, Pike, and Point Horror novels we grew up reading as young adults from the original generation of classic young adult horror novels.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was extremely visual for me. I could picture a mall from that time period, the characters were well diverse in the character representations, like Breakfast Club monster hunters.
There were a few things that did not work for me:
1. There were a few moments in the story that the chapters either ended too abruptly, or that the chapters should have continued longer before starting the next one. It felt like those moments were like I was reading bullet points instead of sentences or dialogue.
2. The other issue I had, which I didn’t have in Dead Fake, was on one particular page where one character is named by their name, and the rest of the page was called variations of “it” repeatedly. This entire scene of the book was probably my least favorite because their editorial team should have caught this. While this was in the ARC copy, I do not know if that scene was edited prior to final print release or not. Hopefully, someone caught “it” (pun fully intended) before it was sent off to sellers.
While these reflections of my experience can be looked at differently, that is up to how others interpret my review. But these are my feelings from my experience and I stand firm with them, which is why I rated this book a 4 instead of 5 like its predecessor.
Memorable quotes:
“Some people cry over the dead. Others make creepy-ass trinkets.”
“Some people are addicted to the grief…”
“There’s nothing wrong with being paranoid. Sometimes it can save your life.”
“If you fill people with enough fear, some will learn to love it.”
“But masks hide more than just faces.”
“Is this what this is: the next horrible act in a town scarred by unimaginable violence?”
“We can remember the dead without being afraid of the future.”
“Dead things don’t die.”
“How do you go from a few rotten apples to sinkholes and zombies?”
September 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
So I haven't read the first book in this series, but I will say that this book stands well on its own even without reading the first book. The town of Bleak Haven is very Fear Street Shadyside-esque, a cursed town where serial killers and gruesome deaths haunt the town. The opening chapters of the novel are incredibly spooky, giving you Noah attending the yearly remembrance ceremony of the town, where charms are passed out to remember the deceased. The ceremony is crashed by the mayor's rebellious son, and Noah and his friends stumble into another cultish ceremony out in the woods around the mysterious Burning Book, and you get a low-down on the history of the town, especially since Noah is obsessed with documenting the tragic and terrifying history of the town, giving great feelings of looming dread.
The action gets kicked off by the mayor's rebellious son holding up the bookstore Noah is working at to get at the Burning Book, but this unleashes some of the undead serial killers of Bleak Haven's past. Unfortunately from there, I would say the pacing of the book gets a bit erratic. Noah and his friends work together to try to contain the serial killers, but the deaths that happen are extremely abrupt, and I feel like there's not enough space in the story to even react to them. You could argue that that's because Noah and co don't have time to deal with that, but Noah has a lot of time to worry about being a coward and his feelings towards his crush Grace, so I think that more attention and drama should have been given to each character death.
In addition, despite the great build-up about the lore of the town, ultimately, the secrets of the town are left mysterious. Why is Bleak Haven cursed? What is the Burning Book trying to really do? Are the police really just fine with the explanations of undead zombies killing people??? Maybe these were questions answered in the first book, or questions that are to be answered in the next book of this series, but ultimately, I was left wanting more.
That being said, despite the pacing issues and lack of in-depth explanations about the town, if you are looking for something to scratch that Fear Street: 1994 itch, with teens fighting back against monsters in a mysterious cursed town, this is definitely a good spooky Halloween read.
So I haven't read the first book in this series, but I will say that this book stands well on its own even without reading the first book. The town of Bleak Haven is very Fear Street Shadyside-esque, a cursed town where serial killers and gruesome deaths haunt the town. The opening chapters of the novel are incredibly spooky, giving you Noah attending the yearly remembrance ceremony of the town, where charms are passed out to remember the deceased. The ceremony is crashed by the mayor's rebellious son, and Noah and his friends stumble into another cultish ceremony out in the woods around the mysterious Burning Book, and you get a low-down on the history of the town, especially since Noah is obsessed with documenting the tragic and terrifying history of the town, giving great feelings of looming dread.
The action gets kicked off by the mayor's rebellious son holding up the bookstore Noah is working at to get at the Burning Book, but this unleashes some of the undead serial killers of Bleak Haven's past. Unfortunately from there, I would say the pacing of the book gets a bit erratic. Noah and his friends work together to try to contain the serial killers, but the deaths that happen are extremely abrupt, and I feel like there's not enough space in the story to even react to them. You could argue that that's because Noah and co don't have time to deal with that, but Noah has a lot of time to worry about being a coward and his feelings towards his crush Grace, so I think that more attention and drama should have been given to each character death.
In addition, despite the great build-up about the lore of the town, ultimately, the secrets of the town are left mysterious. Why is Bleak Haven cursed? What is the Burning Book trying to really do? Are the police really just fine with the explanations of undead zombies killing people??? Maybe these were questions answered in the first book, or questions that are to be answered in the next book of this series, but ultimately, I was left wanting more.
That being said, despite the pacing issues and lack of in-depth explanations about the town, if you are looking for something to scratch that Fear Street: 1994 itch, with teens fighting back against monsters in a mysterious cursed town, this is definitely a good spooky Halloween read.
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