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Bleak Haven #4
Fear Farm
Welcome to Bleak The town you won't (or can't!) leave...
The nail-biting conclusion to the Bleak Haven series, in Vincent Ralph's signature, terrifying style!
The Fear Farm fright-fest is the one night of the year when Bleak Haven’s residents are happy to be afraid.
Most people turn a blind eye to the "accidents" that have previously blighted the attraction, but seventeen-year-old Tori Swift has other ideas.
Convinced that there’s an aspiring killer in their midst, Tori auditions alongside her classmates, perfecting her role as the ideal villain while secretly searching for the real thing.
But when tragedy strikes, a murderer is suddenly on the loose in a place where everyone pays to be terrified.
The nail-biting conclusion to the Bleak Haven series, in Vincent Ralph's signature, terrifying style!
The Fear Farm fright-fest is the one night of the year when Bleak Haven’s residents are happy to be afraid.
Most people turn a blind eye to the "accidents" that have previously blighted the attraction, but seventeen-year-old Tori Swift has other ideas.
Convinced that there’s an aspiring killer in their midst, Tori auditions alongside her classmates, perfecting her role as the ideal villain while secretly searching for the real thing.
But when tragedy strikes, a murderer is suddenly on the loose in a place where everyone pays to be terrified.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Vincent Ralph
11 books777 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, One House Left, and the Bleak Haven series. He is an Edgar Award nominee, two-time Junior Library Guild gold standard selection, and winner of the Southern Schools Book Award. He also wrote the picture book A Boy Called Book.
The Bleak Haven series consists of Dead Fake, Night Terror, Corpse Creek, and Fear Farm.
The Bleak Haven series consists of Dead Fake, Night Terror, Corpse Creek, and Fear Farm.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
August 4, 2026
Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Wednesday books for the pre-release copy of Fear Farm by Vincent Ralph. Below is my honest review.
I'm really sad that this is the final book in the series. Surely there are more bloody, scary, creepy tales from the town of Bleak Haven that you guys can contract Ralph for, right? Please?
This one is more in line with the first two in terms of quality for me, having been let down by book three a little.
We've got the scary farm where a lady runs a haunt attraction and bad things keep happening. We've got the mysterious warnings and "accidents" where people get hurt. We've got fake weapons turning out to be real weapons, big name movie stars coming back to town for a visit, and all sorts of shenanigans with blood. Once the real murder starts, there's no letting up until the end.
My favorite part about this one is that the twist is SO OBVIOUS and I missed it entirely. There's a good amount of "look over there" and "no wait, look that way instead" but most of that is clear misdirection, but then the actual reveal happened and I was stunned that I missed it. And I feel like many would miss it alongside me. Or at least I'm telling myself that.
It's not often that a mystery pulls one over on me so well, so I'm pleased with my reading experience. :)
Five stars, read the rest if you enjoy creepy YA horror in the vein of Fear Street and Goosebumps with some Scream/Friday the 13th style slashery-ness and Stephen King "this stuff keeps happening in the same town" vibes thrown in for good measure.
I'm really sad that this is the final book in the series. Surely there are more bloody, scary, creepy tales from the town of Bleak Haven that you guys can contract Ralph for, right? Please?
This one is more in line with the first two in terms of quality for me, having been let down by book three a little.
We've got the scary farm where a lady runs a haunt attraction and bad things keep happening. We've got the mysterious warnings and "accidents" where people get hurt. We've got fake weapons turning out to be real weapons, big name movie stars coming back to town for a visit, and all sorts of shenanigans with blood. Once the real murder starts, there's no letting up until the end.
My favorite part about this one is that the twist is SO OBVIOUS and I missed it entirely. There's a good amount of "look over there" and "no wait, look that way instead" but most of that is clear misdirection, but then the actual reveal happened and I was stunned that I missed it. And I feel like many would miss it alongside me. Or at least I'm telling myself that.
It's not often that a mystery pulls one over on me so well, so I'm pleased with my reading experience. :)
Five stars, read the rest if you enjoy creepy YA horror in the vein of Fear Street and Goosebumps with some Scream/Friday the 13th style slashery-ness and Stephen King "this stuff keeps happening in the same town" vibes thrown in for good measure.
September 24, 2026
Solid Return To Slasher Style Horror. After the more psychological/ supernatural horror of Book 3 in this series, Corpse Creek, this was a refreshing return to a more typical side of horror - the straight up small town slasher tale.
The setup here gets more interesting in that this is *supposed* to be one of those "haunted forest" type events where people are acting... before the real dying begins and everything twists on its head.
Once again on the shorter side of the 200 ish page range, this is yet again a great read while you and the kids are out at a pumpkin patch/ haunted hayride kind of place that are at least common enough in the American South. (A quick chat with Gemini reveals that there are at least 5 such events within 100 miles of where I live in Jacksonville, FL, including one just outside St. Augustine and another not far from the University of Florida in Gainesville.) So let the kids run around the safe (ish?) field and get all that energy out playing in the sun while you relax with a tale that will spike your adrenaline and help you enjoy this spooky time of year.
Overall a fun, quick, short read perfect for exactly what it is that never pretends to be anything beyond exactly what it is.
Very much recommended.
The setup here gets more interesting in that this is *supposed* to be one of those "haunted forest" type events where people are acting... before the real dying begins and everything twists on its head.
Once again on the shorter side of the 200 ish page range, this is yet again a great read while you and the kids are out at a pumpkin patch/ haunted hayride kind of place that are at least common enough in the American South. (A quick chat with Gemini reveals that there are at least 5 such events within 100 miles of where I live in Jacksonville, FL, including one just outside St. Augustine and another not far from the University of Florida in Gainesville.) So let the kids run around the safe (ish?) field and get all that energy out playing in the sun while you relax with a tale that will spike your adrenaline and help you enjoy this spooky time of year.
Overall a fun, quick, short read perfect for exactly what it is that never pretends to be anything beyond exactly what it is.
Very much recommended.
September 11, 2026
4.5 overall!
This was definitely my favorite in the Bleak Haven series and exactly what I was expecting out of it! I was hooked from the start and with the short chapters I was flying through it. This had the creepy and gory factor, which I loved, and the kills were creative. I was so rooting for Tori the whole time and for her final girl moment. I did guess the killer but still enjoyed the extra twist at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend the whole Bleak Haven series especially during spooky season!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was definitely my favorite in the Bleak Haven series and exactly what I was expecting out of it! I was hooked from the start and with the short chapters I was flying through it. This had the creepy and gory factor, which I loved, and the kills were creative. I was so rooting for Tori the whole time and for her final girl moment. I did guess the killer but still enjoyed the extra twist at the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend the whole Bleak Haven series especially during spooky season!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Want to Read
April 1, 2026Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC! Fear Farm by Vincent Ralph comes out on September 15, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We are officially at the conclusion of our time in Bleak Haven, and unfortunately, this also wraps up my Vincent Ralph chapter.
While the first two books in this series were a bit of a struggle for me, there has always been some appeal to the concept. And honestly, those covers are incredible and absolutely drew me in. So when I had the opportunity to receive complimentary eARCs of the final two books from Wednesday Books via NetGalley, I took the chance and hoped for the best.
On the surface, these books lean hard into the campy slasher model that I usually love. And for a YA audience, I’m here for it. Fear Farm in particular has a setup that should have been right in my wheelhouse: a creepy attraction, a group of teens, a history of suspicious “accidents,” and a killer hiding among them. It has all the ingredients for a fun, bloody, throwback-style slasher.
Unfortunately, the execution just doesn’t quite work for me.
The prose throughout the series is often bizarrely worded, and some of the editing choices pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me further in. There were also times when characterization and detail seemed to take a backseat to keeping things moving, which made it harder for me to become invested in the people being picked off. The books are quick reads, and I can appreciate that, but the trade-off was that some of the story and characters felt underdeveloped.
I also think this might have been a series I would have enjoyed more in audiobook format. The fast pace and over-the-top slasher elements seem like they could work really well with the right narration and delivery. But after four books, I’m not invested enough to go back and give the audio versions a try.
That said, I can absolutely see the appeal here. The Bleak Haven series covers a lot of different horror and thriller tropes, so there really is something for readers who enjoy different flavors of YA horror. Fear Farm especially delivers the classic slasher setup, with plenty of chaos, questionable decisions, gruesome moments, and a psychological component that may appeal to readers who like unreliable narrators and stories where trauma plays a bigger role.
Ultimately, this series just wasn’t for me. I appreciate what Vincent Ralph was going for, and I can see why these books will work for readers looking for quick, accessible YA horror with a campy, throwback feel. But between the writing style and some of the execution choices, I was never able to fully connect with the series.
So, while I’m not going to run out and recommend Bleak Haven to my audience, I can absolutely see other readers having a much better time in Bleak Haven than I did. For me, though, this is where my journey ends.
While the first two books in this series were a bit of a struggle for me, there has always been some appeal to the concept. And honestly, those covers are incredible and absolutely drew me in. So when I had the opportunity to receive complimentary eARCs of the final two books from Wednesday Books via NetGalley, I took the chance and hoped for the best.
On the surface, these books lean hard into the campy slasher model that I usually love. And for a YA audience, I’m here for it. Fear Farm in particular has a setup that should have been right in my wheelhouse: a creepy attraction, a group of teens, a history of suspicious “accidents,” and a killer hiding among them. It has all the ingredients for a fun, bloody, throwback-style slasher.
Unfortunately, the execution just doesn’t quite work for me.
The prose throughout the series is often bizarrely worded, and some of the editing choices pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me further in. There were also times when characterization and detail seemed to take a backseat to keeping things moving, which made it harder for me to become invested in the people being picked off. The books are quick reads, and I can appreciate that, but the trade-off was that some of the story and characters felt underdeveloped.
I also think this might have been a series I would have enjoyed more in audiobook format. The fast pace and over-the-top slasher elements seem like they could work really well with the right narration and delivery. But after four books, I’m not invested enough to go back and give the audio versions a try.
That said, I can absolutely see the appeal here. The Bleak Haven series covers a lot of different horror and thriller tropes, so there really is something for readers who enjoy different flavors of YA horror. Fear Farm especially delivers the classic slasher setup, with plenty of chaos, questionable decisions, gruesome moments, and a psychological component that may appeal to readers who like unreliable narrators and stories where trauma plays a bigger role.
Ultimately, this series just wasn’t for me. I appreciate what Vincent Ralph was going for, and I can see why these books will work for readers looking for quick, accessible YA horror with a campy, throwback feel. But between the writing style and some of the execution choices, I was never able to fully connect with the series.
So, while I’m not going to run out and recommend Bleak Haven to my audience, I can absolutely see other readers having a much better time in Bleak Haven than I did. For me, though, this is where my journey ends.
September 20, 2026
This was exactly what I needed.
A 90s slasher story with a quirky setting and a creepy town.
The characters are all what you expect from teenagers in a scenario destined for death.
I highly enjoyed this and was even a teeny bit surprised by one part.
Always a nice thing to get from a slasher.
So happy I have two other books in this series (and the third ordered).
Big thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my ARCs!
A 90s slasher story with a quirky setting and a creepy town.
The characters are all what you expect from teenagers in a scenario destined for death.
I highly enjoyed this and was even a teeny bit surprised by one part.
Always a nice thing to get from a slasher.
So happy I have two other books in this series (and the third ordered).
Big thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my ARCs!
August 12, 2026
3.5⭐️
May 17, 2026
Fear Farm concludes the Bleak Haven series. In this cursed town, serial killers and tragedies are part of everyday life. Each year, the haunted attraction Fear Farm opens, and locals line up for a scare. Strange “accidents” happen each season, and after joining this year’s cast, Tori wants to uncover who is behind them. When a man in a pig mask appears at rehearsal and starts killing cast members, Tori must do whatever it takes to survive.
Fear Farm blends mystery and horror. After Tori’s sister nearly dies at the attraction, Tori is set on discovering who is behind the “accidents” that have happened for years. The first half of the book follows Tori’s investigation, while the second half becomes a slasher story when the man in the pig mask arrives and attacks the cast. Each cast member’s death was unique and especially brutal for a YA thriller. I was surprised when the killer behind the mask was revealed and was completely off in my assumptions. Overall, Fear Farm is the perfect conclusion to the Bleak Haven series.
Fear Farm is out September 15th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review Fear Farm. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fear Farm blends mystery and horror. After Tori’s sister nearly dies at the attraction, Tori is set on discovering who is behind the “accidents” that have happened for years. The first half of the book follows Tori’s investigation, while the second half becomes a slasher story when the man in the pig mask arrives and attacks the cast. Each cast member’s death was unique and especially brutal for a YA thriller. I was surprised when the killer behind the mask was revealed and was completely off in my assumptions. Overall, Fear Farm is the perfect conclusion to the Bleak Haven series.
Fear Farm is out September 15th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review Fear Farm. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for providing me with an advanced eBook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Fear Farm is the fourth book in the Bleak Haven series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Every year, the Fear Farm Fright Fest puts on a terrifying attraction to scare the local residents. Over the years, there have been several “accidents,” but 17-year-old Tori Swift isn’t convinced they were accidents at all. She believes something far more sinister is happening, and that there’s a killer hiding in plain sight.
Determined to uncover the truth, Tori auditions to be part of the Fright Fest herself. But once she’s inside, she quickly realizes the situation is far more dangerous than she ever imagined…
I absolutely loved this fourth installment! It perfectly captured those classic ’90s slasher vibes while keeping the tension high from beginning to end. The story was fast-paced, suspenseful, and packed with anxiety-inducing moments that kept me turning the pages. I flew through this book because I had to know how it would end, and it definitely did not disappoint.
Fear Farm is the fourth book in the Bleak Haven series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Every year, the Fear Farm Fright Fest puts on a terrifying attraction to scare the local residents. Over the years, there have been several “accidents,” but 17-year-old Tori Swift isn’t convinced they were accidents at all. She believes something far more sinister is happening, and that there’s a killer hiding in plain sight.
Determined to uncover the truth, Tori auditions to be part of the Fright Fest herself. But once she’s inside, she quickly realizes the situation is far more dangerous than she ever imagined…
I absolutely loved this fourth installment! It perfectly captured those classic ’90s slasher vibes while keeping the tension high from beginning to end. The story was fast-paced, suspenseful, and packed with anxiety-inducing moments that kept me turning the pages. I flew through this book because I had to know how it would end, and it definitely did not disappoint.
September 19, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
FEAR FARM by Vincent Ralph (September 15, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday books for the eArc
Fear Farm fright-fest occurs every year. But accidents have been happening, and Tori Swift doesn't believe they are. To help catch the "aspiring killer," she auditions for a role. Then the bodies start piling up.
FEAR FARM is the fourth and final book of the Bleak Haven series. This is a YA horror. For the first half, it's very mellow---almost calm. Once the halfway point or so hit, this turns into the slashiest of sl*shers. It's gory and very scary movie-esque. That coupled with how fast-paced it is, makes this the perfect Halloween/eerie read.
Definitely one of the top reads of this series.
FEAR FARM by Vincent Ralph (September 15, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday books for the eArc
Fear Farm fright-fest occurs every year. But accidents have been happening, and Tori Swift doesn't believe they are. To help catch the "aspiring killer," she auditions for a role. Then the bodies start piling up.
FEAR FARM is the fourth and final book of the Bleak Haven series. This is a YA horror. For the first half, it's very mellow---almost calm. Once the halfway point or so hit, this turns into the slashiest of sl*shers. It's gory and very scary movie-esque. That coupled with how fast-paced it is, makes this the perfect Halloween/eerie read.
Definitely one of the top reads of this series.
June 13, 2026
ARC review
Book 4 of the Bleak Haven series and we are back to good old bloody fun!
Fear farm is Bleak Haven’s yearly tradition and biggest money pull for one family, even if almost every year there is some sort of tragedy that takes place. Bleak Haven is cursed anyhow, with book 4 showing us that once again this town is full of killers and bad ideas
Tori is a teenager who wants to find out who exactly is behind these tragedies inside Fear Farm and takes a job as a “slicer” pretending to be a murderer within the haunt. However Fear Farm never gets to open this year, as a night of carnage occurs before the public even comes to the fright fest.
There aren’t many descriptions with these books, so details are foggy when it comes to characters, you don’t really get a visual of what you’re supposed to see with them, only a vague description of who knows who, who is friends with whom, and basic details. You will not know anyone’s facial features or hair color etc, a there are a lot of characters given. It works ok, as the details of the murders are very clear, gruesome at times, and the true focus of the book. But if you like your characters well described, this one is going to annoy you.
It is very easy to read, probably geared more for young adult, but still a quick easy story to get into. No deep plot, just pure mayhem. Good fun. Hopefully there will be more Bleak Haven novels as I have learned to enjoy this demented town.
Book 4 of the Bleak Haven series and we are back to good old bloody fun!
Fear farm is Bleak Haven’s yearly tradition and biggest money pull for one family, even if almost every year there is some sort of tragedy that takes place. Bleak Haven is cursed anyhow, with book 4 showing us that once again this town is full of killers and bad ideas
Tori is a teenager who wants to find out who exactly is behind these tragedies inside Fear Farm and takes a job as a “slicer” pretending to be a murderer within the haunt. However Fear Farm never gets to open this year, as a night of carnage occurs before the public even comes to the fright fest.
There aren’t many descriptions with these books, so details are foggy when it comes to characters, you don’t really get a visual of what you’re supposed to see with them, only a vague description of who knows who, who is friends with whom, and basic details. You will not know anyone’s facial features or hair color etc, a there are a lot of characters given. It works ok, as the details of the murders are very clear, gruesome at times, and the true focus of the book. But if you like your characters well described, this one is going to annoy you.
It is very easy to read, probably geared more for young adult, but still a quick easy story to get into. No deep plot, just pure mayhem. Good fun. Hopefully there will be more Bleak Haven novels as I have learned to enjoy this demented town.
May 29, 2026
My Thoughts
The story engaged me from its start to its startling reveals and a satisfying ending.
Following along with events from Tori Swifts past to her present-day experiences was a lesson learned once again at how Bleak Haven can hide their psychopaths in plain sight.
What started out in one direction became an entirely different tale once all the characters were in place and “Fear Farm” became a reality for Tori and the other cast members.
I finished easily in one day with only a few breaks to relieve my brain from the intensity and my eyes from reading fatigue.
The last book of the series is without a doubt its best offering in my reading preference.
[EArc from Netgalley]
May 26, 2026
3.75 stars ⭐️
I can't believe this is the last book in the Bleak Haven series. I really enjoyed this cursed town and would've loved to read more about it.
Fear Farm ends the series with a bang. It's your typical beloved slasher book. We have a group of teenagers stuck on a farm/horror attraction with a deranged killer and our main character has to stay alive long enough to unmask the said killer (maybe multiple) and find out the truth about mysterious accidents plaguing the farm.
Although I did enjoy FF, I'd say it was one of the weaker novels in the series. I just didn't feel that scared comparing to Dead Fake. I also didn't enjoy how didn't get a lot of answers in the series as a whole. Books #2 and #3 both talked a little about a mysterious book that's allegedly the cause of this whole ordeal and curse but we don't get a concrete explanation.
Overall, don't expect this to be the best slasher you'll ever read and you'll definitely enjoy it. (Because who doesn't like a quick murder spree?)
Thank you to Wednesday Books for my copy.
I can't believe this is the last book in the Bleak Haven series. I really enjoyed this cursed town and would've loved to read more about it.
Fear Farm ends the series with a bang. It's your typical beloved slasher book. We have a group of teenagers stuck on a farm/horror attraction with a deranged killer and our main character has to stay alive long enough to unmask the said killer (maybe multiple) and find out the truth about mysterious accidents plaguing the farm.
Although I did enjoy FF, I'd say it was one of the weaker novels in the series. I just didn't feel that scared comparing to Dead Fake. I also didn't enjoy how didn't get a lot of answers in the series as a whole. Books #2 and #3 both talked a little about a mysterious book that's allegedly the cause of this whole ordeal and curse but we don't get a concrete explanation.
Overall, don't expect this to be the best slasher you'll ever read and you'll definitely enjoy it. (Because who doesn't like a quick murder spree?)
Thank you to Wednesday Books for my copy.
May 12, 2026
4⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books Publishing for the ARC!
This book was absolutely insane. It completely transformed from the first half of the story. Currently watching Enchanted to heal myself after the sheer terror I felt reading this…
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books Publishing for the ARC!
This book was absolutely insane. It completely transformed from the first half of the story. Currently watching Enchanted to heal myself after the sheer terror I felt reading this…
June 11, 2026
3.5/5 stars. A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I was really excited about this one because the storyline sounded exactly like what I would look for in a thriller. This book was only a 3.5 star read for a few reasons.
I didn’t love any of the characters or Tori’s main reason for starting this journey to finding the killer. I thought her reasoning was a little lackluster. There was also a decent amount of minor characters to keep straight, which I didn’t love. The first 60% of the book was slow and boring for me. There were minor things happening here and there, but nothing that grabbed my attention and made me want to keep reading.
However, the last 40% of the book was great and I loved every page. If the whole book could have been like that, it would have easily been a five star read. I really enjoyed the final reveal and how everything played out in the end. I would definitely recommend for a quick and fun spooky season thriller, but you have to get through the first half of the book to get to the good parts.
I didn’t love any of the characters or Tori’s main reason for starting this journey to finding the killer. I thought her reasoning was a little lackluster. There was also a decent amount of minor characters to keep straight, which I didn’t love. The first 60% of the book was slow and boring for me. There were minor things happening here and there, but nothing that grabbed my attention and made me want to keep reading.
However, the last 40% of the book was great and I loved every page. If the whole book could have been like that, it would have easily been a five star read. I really enjoyed the final reveal and how everything played out in the end. I would definitely recommend for a quick and fun spooky season thriller, but you have to get through the first half of the book to get to the good parts.
Want to Read
December 26, 2025I can’t wait, but I just can’t stand how AI-generated covers look. 😭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Fear Farm” by Vincent Ralph, the last Bleak Haven book, is basically what happens when a creepy haunted attraction turns into an actual slasher movie; and honestly, it’s a pretty fun (and bloody) ride.
This is the final book in the Bleak Haven series, and while you can read it on its own, you’ll definitely get more out of it if you already know how messed up this town is. Bleak Haven has a history, and Fear Farm is just the latest addition to its long list of bad decisions. The series definitely goes out with a bloody bang with this book.
The story follows Tori, who takes a job at Fear Farm, which is a popular haunted attraction where teens act as killers and victims for customers. But immediately things start feeling off almost immediately. People have been getting hurt on this property for years, including Tori’s own sister, and Tori is convinced it’s not just “accidents.” So naturally, she decides to investigate from the inside.
Tori’s motivation adds a lot to the story. She’s not just trying to solve a mystery; she’s also dealing with her own trauma after surviving a past abduction. There’s this strong underlying theme of her wanting to take control and fight back against the kind of evil she couldn’t stop before, which makes her easy to root for (even when she makes some questionable decisions later on).
The first half leans more into mystery than horror. There’s a lot of setup, like learning the layout of the farm, meeting a lot of characters, dealing with weird training rituals and hazing, and noticing little red flags that something isn’t right. There’s even a documentary producer filming the place, which adds another layer of “something bad is definitely going to happen here.”
And then the second half hits—and it goes full slasher. No holding back, even for a YA book.
A killer in a pig mask starts hunting down the employees during a rehearsal, and from there it’s chaos. The deaths are brutal, creative, and nonstop, and the whole thing feels like you’re watching a horror movie play out in real time. If you like classic slasher vibes (final girl energy, masked killer, people dropping one by one), this part absolutely delivers.
Tori pretty much steps into that “final girl” role, and while she’s determined and tough, she also makes some frustrating choices in the heat of the moment, which, to be fair, is very on-brand for the genre.
The twists are another highlight. The killer’s identity is genuinely surprising, and there are a couple more turns near the end that keep things interesting. Some of it might stretch believability a bit (especially when you think too hard about the logistics), but it’s easy to overlook when you’re caught up in the action.
The ending wraps things up pretty well, especially for a series finale. It’s not completely happy, but it gives Tori some closure and shows her starting to heal, which feels earned after everything she’s been through. That said, it can feel a little rushed compared to how strong the buildup is.
Overall, “Fear Farm” is a solid, entertaining slasher with a good mix of mystery, tension, and emotional depth. It starts a bit slow, but once it gets going, it really gets going. If you’re into spooky season reads, masked killers, and chaotic final girl energy, this one is definitely worth picking up.
“Fear Farm” by Vincent Ralph, the last Bleak Haven book, is basically what happens when a creepy haunted attraction turns into an actual slasher movie; and honestly, it’s a pretty fun (and bloody) ride.
This is the final book in the Bleak Haven series, and while you can read it on its own, you’ll definitely get more out of it if you already know how messed up this town is. Bleak Haven has a history, and Fear Farm is just the latest addition to its long list of bad decisions. The series definitely goes out with a bloody bang with this book.
The story follows Tori, who takes a job at Fear Farm, which is a popular haunted attraction where teens act as killers and victims for customers. But immediately things start feeling off almost immediately. People have been getting hurt on this property for years, including Tori’s own sister, and Tori is convinced it’s not just “accidents.” So naturally, she decides to investigate from the inside.
Tori’s motivation adds a lot to the story. She’s not just trying to solve a mystery; she’s also dealing with her own trauma after surviving a past abduction. There’s this strong underlying theme of her wanting to take control and fight back against the kind of evil she couldn’t stop before, which makes her easy to root for (even when she makes some questionable decisions later on).
The first half leans more into mystery than horror. There’s a lot of setup, like learning the layout of the farm, meeting a lot of characters, dealing with weird training rituals and hazing, and noticing little red flags that something isn’t right. There’s even a documentary producer filming the place, which adds another layer of “something bad is definitely going to happen here.”
And then the second half hits—and it goes full slasher. No holding back, even for a YA book.
A killer in a pig mask starts hunting down the employees during a rehearsal, and from there it’s chaos. The deaths are brutal, creative, and nonstop, and the whole thing feels like you’re watching a horror movie play out in real time. If you like classic slasher vibes (final girl energy, masked killer, people dropping one by one), this part absolutely delivers.
Tori pretty much steps into that “final girl” role, and while she’s determined and tough, she also makes some frustrating choices in the heat of the moment, which, to be fair, is very on-brand for the genre.
The twists are another highlight. The killer’s identity is genuinely surprising, and there are a couple more turns near the end that keep things interesting. Some of it might stretch believability a bit (especially when you think too hard about the logistics), but it’s easy to overlook when you’re caught up in the action.
The ending wraps things up pretty well, especially for a series finale. It’s not completely happy, but it gives Tori some closure and shows her starting to heal, which feels earned after everything she’s been through. That said, it can feel a little rushed compared to how strong the buildup is.
Overall, “Fear Farm” is a solid, entertaining slasher with a good mix of mystery, tension, and emotional depth. It starts a bit slow, but once it gets going, it really gets going. If you’re into spooky season reads, masked killers, and chaotic final girl energy, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book: Fear Farm
Author: Vincent Ralph
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I want to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. This is my favourite in this series so far! I still have one more to go. These books remind me so much of the Fear Street series by RL Stine. They are spooky, twisty, and full of surprises.
Every year, the Fear Farm attraction draws the residents of Bleak Haven together for a night of scares and excitement. Most people ignore the tragic accidents that have been linked to the event over the years, choosing to believe they are nothing more than unfortunate coincidences. Seventeen-year-old Tori Swift is not convinced. Certain that someone is using the attraction to hide deadly crimes, she joins the cast of Fear Farm to investigate from the inside. While playing the part of a convincing villain, she quietly searches for the person responsible before anyone else gets hurt. When another tragedy shakes the town, Tori realises the danger is far more real than she imagined. To uncover the truth, she must face the darkness lurking within Fear Farm before she becomes the killer's next victim.
This book is dark and creepy. We have this farm where people sign up to scare people. However, bad things have been happening at this farm, and everyone seems to be looking the other way. Tori knows that something is very wrong, and that is why she signs up to be a part of this year’s Fear Farm. Only this year, things are very different. There is a camera crew; the cast isn’t large, and stranger-than-normal things seem to be happening everywhere she looks. The more she gets in, the more she comes to realise that this is not a game and the killer is with them.
This set-up is what had me hooked right away. Throughout the book, there is this sense of the unknown and of danger lurking everywhere. Most of the book takes place at night, which only adds to the creepiness of the story. We have people whose job it is to pretend like they are killing each other; the set is designed for these roles, and they are isolated. Plus, the farm has a history. All of this makes this story so good. The author has the right amount of mystery and horror to make it difficult to put this book down. Plus, we have a main character who is driven to find out just what is going on here and what happened to her sister.
Then, it turns more slasher-like. Now, if you are not a fan of that, then this may not be the book for you. It’s suspenseful and done in a way that you know everyone is not going to make it out okay. In fact, you know that none of the characters is ever going to be the same after leaving the farm. We see the killings start, which is done by someone in a pig mask. The pig mask is from a real pig, which adds a whole other level to the horror aspect.
The way we are given everything adds to the story as well. Right away, things are very uneasy. We know something bad is going to happen. It starts very slow, then things just blow up from there. Think Fear Street and 1990s horror books. That’s what this feels like. We have a main character on a mission, and that mission ends up being something bigger than they thought.
Overall, this is a great horror book. The best part about this series is you don’t have to read them in order. If you are looking for a short book that is similar to Fear Street to start your spooky season, then I encourage you to give this one a try.
This book comes out on September 15, 2026.
Author: Vincent Ralph
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I want to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. This is my favourite in this series so far! I still have one more to go. These books remind me so much of the Fear Street series by RL Stine. They are spooky, twisty, and full of surprises.
Every year, the Fear Farm attraction draws the residents of Bleak Haven together for a night of scares and excitement. Most people ignore the tragic accidents that have been linked to the event over the years, choosing to believe they are nothing more than unfortunate coincidences. Seventeen-year-old Tori Swift is not convinced. Certain that someone is using the attraction to hide deadly crimes, she joins the cast of Fear Farm to investigate from the inside. While playing the part of a convincing villain, she quietly searches for the person responsible before anyone else gets hurt. When another tragedy shakes the town, Tori realises the danger is far more real than she imagined. To uncover the truth, she must face the darkness lurking within Fear Farm before she becomes the killer's next victim.
This book is dark and creepy. We have this farm where people sign up to scare people. However, bad things have been happening at this farm, and everyone seems to be looking the other way. Tori knows that something is very wrong, and that is why she signs up to be a part of this year’s Fear Farm. Only this year, things are very different. There is a camera crew; the cast isn’t large, and stranger-than-normal things seem to be happening everywhere she looks. The more she gets in, the more she comes to realise that this is not a game and the killer is with them.
This set-up is what had me hooked right away. Throughout the book, there is this sense of the unknown and of danger lurking everywhere. Most of the book takes place at night, which only adds to the creepiness of the story. We have people whose job it is to pretend like they are killing each other; the set is designed for these roles, and they are isolated. Plus, the farm has a history. All of this makes this story so good. The author has the right amount of mystery and horror to make it difficult to put this book down. Plus, we have a main character who is driven to find out just what is going on here and what happened to her sister.
Then, it turns more slasher-like. Now, if you are not a fan of that, then this may not be the book for you. It’s suspenseful and done in a way that you know everyone is not going to make it out okay. In fact, you know that none of the characters is ever going to be the same after leaving the farm. We see the killings start, which is done by someone in a pig mask. The pig mask is from a real pig, which adds a whole other level to the horror aspect.
The way we are given everything adds to the story as well. Right away, things are very uneasy. We know something bad is going to happen. It starts very slow, then things just blow up from there. Think Fear Street and 1990s horror books. That’s what this feels like. We have a main character on a mission, and that mission ends up being something bigger than they thought.
Overall, this is a great horror book. The best part about this series is you don’t have to read them in order. If you are looking for a short book that is similar to Fear Street to start your spooky season, then I encourage you to give this one a try.
This book comes out on September 15, 2026.
Want to Read
April 10, 20264.5/5 – A Thrilling, Gory Finale That Delivers on the Bleak Haven PromiseVincent Ralph saves the best (or should I say, the most terrifying) for last with Fear Farm, the nail-biting conclusion to his Bleak Haven series. If you've made it through Dead Fake, Night Terror, and Corpse Creek, this one feels like the chaotic payoff the cursed town has been building toward all along.The premise is deliciously sinister: Fear Farm is the one night a year when the residents of Bleak Haven actually want to be scared. It's their annual fright-fest, a Halloween-style event where "accidents" are politely ignored and the line between fun and fear blurs into something far more dangerous. Ralph leans hard into his signature style—twisty, gory, and relentlessly tense—turning what could have been a standard slasher setup into a town-wide nightmare that ties together the lingering horrors, curses, and secrets from the previous books.
@StMartinsPress
What works brilliantly here is how Ralph uses the festival setting to ramp up the stakes. The atmosphere is thick with dread from the opening pages: corn mazes (or whatever twisted attractions await), masked figures, screaming crowds, and that constant underlying sense that something in Bleak Haven is feeding on the fear itself. The pacing is breakneck, with short, punchy chapters that make it almost impossible to put down once the "accidents" start turning deadly for real. Ralph's teen protagonists feel authentic—flawed, scared, and increasingly desperate as they realize the town won't let them escape its grip.The gore level is satisfyingly high without feeling gratuitous; it's classic Vincent Ralph horror that echoes the visceral thrills of his earlier YA standalones like 14 Ways to Die and Lock the Doors, but with the added depth of a shared universe. The way he weaves in callbacks to the earlier installments—echoes of deepfakes, night terrors, and whatever fresh hell Corpse Creek introduced—gives the whole series a satisfying cohesion. By the end, many of the town's darkest mysteries click into place in ways that feel earned rather than convenient.If there's a minor critique, it's that some threads resolve a touch quickly in the final act (a common challenge in series finales), and readers completely new to Bleak Haven might feel a bit lost without the context of the prior books. But for fans, it's pure catnip.Overall, Fear Farm is a strong, scary capstone that cements Bleak Haven as one of the most fun and creepy YA horror settings in recent years. It has modern Goosebumps energy with sharper teeth and real emotional weight. If you're into twisty, atmospheric horror with a cursed-town vibe, this series (and especially its finale) is a must-read.Highly recommended— just don't plan on sleeping easy afterward. Welcome to Bleak Haven... the town you won't (or can't) leave.
@StMartinsPress
What works brilliantly here is how Ralph uses the festival setting to ramp up the stakes. The atmosphere is thick with dread from the opening pages: corn mazes (or whatever twisted attractions await), masked figures, screaming crowds, and that constant underlying sense that something in Bleak Haven is feeding on the fear itself. The pacing is breakneck, with short, punchy chapters that make it almost impossible to put down once the "accidents" start turning deadly for real. Ralph's teen protagonists feel authentic—flawed, scared, and increasingly desperate as they realize the town won't let them escape its grip.The gore level is satisfyingly high without feeling gratuitous; it's classic Vincent Ralph horror that echoes the visceral thrills of his earlier YA standalones like 14 Ways to Die and Lock the Doors, but with the added depth of a shared universe. The way he weaves in callbacks to the earlier installments—echoes of deepfakes, night terrors, and whatever fresh hell Corpse Creek introduced—gives the whole series a satisfying cohesion. By the end, many of the town's darkest mysteries click into place in ways that feel earned rather than convenient.If there's a minor critique, it's that some threads resolve a touch quickly in the final act (a common challenge in series finales), and readers completely new to Bleak Haven might feel a bit lost without the context of the prior books. But for fans, it's pure catnip.Overall, Fear Farm is a strong, scary capstone that cements Bleak Haven as one of the most fun and creepy YA horror settings in recent years. It has modern Goosebumps energy with sharper teeth and real emotional weight. If you're into twisty, atmospheric horror with a cursed-town vibe, this series (and especially its finale) is a must-read.Highly recommended— just don't plan on sleeping easy afterward. Welcome to Bleak Haven... the town you won't (or can't) leave.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There is nothing like the thrill of being scared. Haunted houses, creepy corn mazes, even horror escape rooms (which is a thing I just learned existed) can be invigorating. The best part is knowing we aren’t in any real danger. The employees are all properly vetted and have no proclivity to do harm, right? The Bleak Haven series reaches its conclusion with Fear Farm by Vincent Ralph.
Fright-fest has been a Bleak Haven tradition since 1991. It’s been going strong for eight years in a town that has its share of all-too-real terror. Victoria “Tori” Swift is finally getting her chance to play a part in the annual tradition. Tori isn’t there for the fun of scaring people, though. She’s there to figure out who’s been playing deadly pranks over the last few years. Behind the scenes, the returning actors have their own secrets and Tori’s about to find out Bleak Haven has a new murder.
Tori Swift is one of, if not the, most recurring characters in the series. It seems fitting that she finally gets her own book and the chance to reveal her background. Her own life is riddled with traumatic events that shaped the person she has become. One event she survived led to the death of another girl, and it weighs heaviest on her. Now, she refuses to sit idly by when she can help prevent another murder.
In a rare occurrence in the Bleak Haven series, Tori takes time to dwell on her future. Those who’ve read the series know what job she takes and the role she plays for others in Bleak Haven. It’s a peaceful moment amid the chaos, learning who and what inspires Tori toward her future.
A large group of secondary characters add to the list of potential killers and victims. From classmates to starstruck underclassmen, out-of-towners to homecomers, Tori has no end of people to watch. Each character is well written for the role they play, leaving the reader guessing who will make it and who won’t right up to the end. With so many aggressive, clingy, or angry cast members, it was hard to guess the killer’s identity. Ultimately, the reveal was well executed.
The sheer chaos that ensues as the climax begins is incredible. As characters move in and out of scene, it becomes a game for the reader to keep track of everyone. The anticipation perfectly emulated a slasher film, and it left me on the edge of my seat.
As the Bleak Haven series comes to a close, it ends on a high note. Despite having plenty of coarse language that I’m not a fan of, Fear Farm adds more horror subgenres to the series. Tori is the ultimate final girl and knowing that she’ll go on to help future Bleak Haven victims makes her story bittersweet. This series is a stunning spectrum of the horror genre and is a great jumping-off point for older young adult fans.
Vincent Ralph’s Fear Farm is a stunning, action-packed slasher novel that will leave readers guessing right up to the end.
Fright-fest has been a Bleak Haven tradition since 1991. It’s been going strong for eight years in a town that has its share of all-too-real terror. Victoria “Tori” Swift is finally getting her chance to play a part in the annual tradition. Tori isn’t there for the fun of scaring people, though. She’s there to figure out who’s been playing deadly pranks over the last few years. Behind the scenes, the returning actors have their own secrets and Tori’s about to find out Bleak Haven has a new murder.
Tori Swift is one of, if not the, most recurring characters in the series. It seems fitting that she finally gets her own book and the chance to reveal her background. Her own life is riddled with traumatic events that shaped the person she has become. One event she survived led to the death of another girl, and it weighs heaviest on her. Now, she refuses to sit idly by when she can help prevent another murder.
In a rare occurrence in the Bleak Haven series, Tori takes time to dwell on her future. Those who’ve read the series know what job she takes and the role she plays for others in Bleak Haven. It’s a peaceful moment amid the chaos, learning who and what inspires Tori toward her future.
A large group of secondary characters add to the list of potential killers and victims. From classmates to starstruck underclassmen, out-of-towners to homecomers, Tori has no end of people to watch. Each character is well written for the role they play, leaving the reader guessing who will make it and who won’t right up to the end. With so many aggressive, clingy, or angry cast members, it was hard to guess the killer’s identity. Ultimately, the reveal was well executed.
The sheer chaos that ensues as the climax begins is incredible. As characters move in and out of scene, it becomes a game for the reader to keep track of everyone. The anticipation perfectly emulated a slasher film, and it left me on the edge of my seat.
As the Bleak Haven series comes to a close, it ends on a high note. Despite having plenty of coarse language that I’m not a fan of, Fear Farm adds more horror subgenres to the series. Tori is the ultimate final girl and knowing that she’ll go on to help future Bleak Haven victims makes her story bittersweet. This series is a stunning spectrum of the horror genre and is a great jumping-off point for older young adult fans.
Vincent Ralph’s Fear Farm is a stunning, action-packed slasher novel that will leave readers guessing right up to the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual rating: 3.75 stars.
Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Wednesday Books for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fear Farm is the final book in the Bleak Haven horror series. The town of Bleak Haven has always been known for the monsters that lurk in their midst. A farmer chooses to let the town let off some steam with a fear festival they host every October. Only accidents keep happening at the Fear Fest: a guy falls off of a roof and breaks his legs, gasoline has been slipped into the sodas, and an actress is nailed into her fake coffin. But the actress's sister, Tori, doesn't think these accidents are truly accidents. She thinks there's a killer just waiting for their moment. To try to find this soon to be murderer, Tori joins the cast. Will Tori be able to unmask the murderer? Will she, and the rest of the cast, make it out alive? Fear Farm comes out on September 15th and is available for preorder now.
It was surprising to me that the final book in the series ended up being my favorite. I think the author has taken the time to ask the questions everyone has been wondering: why live in this town full of serial killers and accidents? Why choose to stay when all of the bad things keep happening? And how would you cope in a town that is constantly grieving? We also finally had a character who felt like a person I could really get behind. She was strong and stubborn and she also never stopped questioning everything. I loved that she never truly let her guard down until the Fear Farm of it all was over. There were also some 90s references which I really enjoyed. There weren't so many that it dated the book but it definitely got me feeling some nostalgia. I think between all of that and the pace it was easy to fly through this one.
I struggle with Horror in that everything is always so over the top. The mustache twirling villain of it all lowered the rating for me. I also didn't love the bigger twist of it all. It felt very Scream movie and it made all of the deductive work that we the readers have done up to this point feel wasted. I think it could have made sense if we had laid out a few more breadcrumbs or even just expanded the conversation when the big reveal for it happened.
Overall, I had a good time with this series. I think Bleak Haven is a great choice for anyone looking to get those autumnal vibes with some short, fast paced reads.
Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Wednesday Books for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fear Farm is the final book in the Bleak Haven horror series. The town of Bleak Haven has always been known for the monsters that lurk in their midst. A farmer chooses to let the town let off some steam with a fear festival they host every October. Only accidents keep happening at the Fear Fest: a guy falls off of a roof and breaks his legs, gasoline has been slipped into the sodas, and an actress is nailed into her fake coffin. But the actress's sister, Tori, doesn't think these accidents are truly accidents. She thinks there's a killer just waiting for their moment. To try to find this soon to be murderer, Tori joins the cast. Will Tori be able to unmask the murderer? Will she, and the rest of the cast, make it out alive? Fear Farm comes out on September 15th and is available for preorder now.
It was surprising to me that the final book in the series ended up being my favorite. I think the author has taken the time to ask the questions everyone has been wondering: why live in this town full of serial killers and accidents? Why choose to stay when all of the bad things keep happening? And how would you cope in a town that is constantly grieving? We also finally had a character who felt like a person I could really get behind. She was strong and stubborn and she also never stopped questioning everything. I loved that she never truly let her guard down until the Fear Farm of it all was over. There were also some 90s references which I really enjoyed. There weren't so many that it dated the book but it definitely got me feeling some nostalgia. I think between all of that and the pace it was easy to fly through this one.
I struggle with Horror in that everything is always so over the top. The mustache twirling villain of it all lowered the rating for me. I also didn't love the bigger twist of it all. It felt very Scream movie and it made all of the deductive work that we the readers have done up to this point feel wasted. I think it could have made sense if we had laid out a few more breadcrumbs or even just expanded the conversation when the big reveal for it happened.
Overall, I had a good time with this series. I think Bleak Haven is a great choice for anyone looking to get those autumnal vibes with some short, fast paced reads.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fear Farm is the fourth and final book in the bleak Haven series by Vincent Ralph, I have really enjoyed these supernatural YA horror stories and although the final book wasn’t like anything I thought it was going to be like I still enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. It starts with Victoria a.k.a. Tori who’s auditioning to be in the fear farm production that happens every year not because she wants to be the next mercy Sinclair the only bleak Haven resident to make it to Hollywood but because for reasons that are still unclear to me she thinks there’s going to be a massacre at this year’s festival. I think it’s because every year there’s someone who seriously injured or almost dies due to what they call a prank but that she believes they’re going to up the auntie but I could be wrong. Her sister was one of the victims of the so-called prank and was nailed in a coffin with no air but thankfully she was brought back to life. this is also one of the other reasons Victoria is determined to get in the production to find out what really goes on behind the scenes at Fear Farm. tori‘s best friend Jenna gets in every year but Tori has yet to be given the nod until this year things start getting strange quickly as everything ramps up for the festival. The festival is so popular they even bring in a documentary director who takes over as director from Brenda the owner of the farm. when the new director Julian takes the crew to do the dark test someone stabs Tori in the back but she has no clue who did it or why. it but this is just the first of many strange things that happen and before it’s over Tori will be fighting to stay alive where some of her classmates don’t make it. when all is said and done the explanation is as crazy as the town she lives in. As I said I really like this book although there were no paranormal happenings which is one of the things I love about this series but then again I don’t think the first book had any either and that was also another great book I guess because of the story about corpse Creek and the boys brother and the story of the Colts and the infernal book had some great paranormal things in the book I just assumed this one would too so maybe that’s my fault and not the fault of the Author IDK I still enjoyed it and definitely recommended this is an awesome series that ended with a great book! #NetGalley #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to arc read this book. I truly appreciate it.
I have had the absolute privilege of being able to also arc read the previous books in this series, and I'm so sad to see this series end, but my gosh is this book and this entire series truly fantastic!
If you've read the previous books in this series, then you know, you're never quite sure what you'll stumble upon in Bleak Haven. Or in this case that what you might choose to stumble upon could be worse than your nightmares!
This book is the absolute darkest and goriest of the entire series. Well I say that, it's not Stephen King level gore or darkness, it's still tame in comparison, but it is still gory and I loved it! This book also lightly touches on a lot of dark moments that are a true reality today unfortunately, but they're done really well, and are a good reminder that even a friendly person can mean harm. The ending though doesn't quite have to do with that moment, but it is truly amazing! It's like if scream had a 14a rated baby with Texas chainsaw massacre. Those are the vibes you might feel and I loved absolutely every single moment of it! Regardless of the YA rating which it totally is for upper ya ages, this is also a fantastic book and series for any adult reader of horror to love and enjoy!
However I would highly suggest you read this series out of order for the most chronological impact by reading 2, 4 (this one), 3, and then 1. As always there are a lot of nods to the other books in this series, and so you don't feel possibly a little clueless about what they're referencing (as some of the referenced moments are in other books), I would highly suggest reading in this order for the biggest Easter egg emotional impact. However if you want the biggest cliffhanger impact of an ending for a series ever read 2,4,1, and then 3!
So if you really love horror books with a great story and a fantastic plot but you might need a lot less or a little less gore or true darkness, you're going to love this one and this series!
Thank you so very much again from the bottom of my heart to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to arc read this entire series! I loved every minute of it!
I have had the absolute privilege of being able to also arc read the previous books in this series, and I'm so sad to see this series end, but my gosh is this book and this entire series truly fantastic!
If you've read the previous books in this series, then you know, you're never quite sure what you'll stumble upon in Bleak Haven. Or in this case that what you might choose to stumble upon could be worse than your nightmares!
This book is the absolute darkest and goriest of the entire series. Well I say that, it's not Stephen King level gore or darkness, it's still tame in comparison, but it is still gory and I loved it! This book also lightly touches on a lot of dark moments that are a true reality today unfortunately, but they're done really well, and are a good reminder that even a friendly person can mean harm. The ending though doesn't quite have to do with that moment, but it is truly amazing! It's like if scream had a 14a rated baby with Texas chainsaw massacre. Those are the vibes you might feel and I loved absolutely every single moment of it! Regardless of the YA rating which it totally is for upper ya ages, this is also a fantastic book and series for any adult reader of horror to love and enjoy!
However I would highly suggest you read this series out of order for the most chronological impact by reading 2, 4 (this one), 3, and then 1. As always there are a lot of nods to the other books in this series, and so you don't feel possibly a little clueless about what they're referencing (as some of the referenced moments are in other books), I would highly suggest reading in this order for the biggest Easter egg emotional impact. However if you want the biggest cliffhanger impact of an ending for a series ever read 2,4,1, and then 3!
So if you really love horror books with a great story and a fantastic plot but you might need a lot less or a little less gore or true darkness, you're going to love this one and this series!
Thank you so very much again from the bottom of my heart to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to arc read this entire series! I loved every minute of it!
September 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the gifted ebook.
Summary
Fear Farm is the one night a year when the people of Bleak Haven willingly sign up to be scared. Tori Swift isn't convinced that all of the past accidents at the attraction were really accidents, so she decides to work there and do a little investigating of her own. But when someone actually dies, Fear Farm becomes the perfect place for a killer to hide because everyone is already surrounded by screams, blood, masks, and people pretending to be monsters.
My Review
Four books later and apparently Bleak Haven saved its best nightmare for last. I have read this entire series and Fear Farm topped all of the others for me. This town is already cursed enough. Horrible things keep happening here and people still decide that what they really need is a Fear Farm where they can pay someone to scare them. 😂 Honestly, that feels exactly right for Bleak Haven. I loved the whole idea because once something real starts happening inside the attraction, everything becomes questionable. Is that blood fake? Was that scream part of the show? Is that person chasing you an actor? I would have been out of there approximately five minutes after arriving.
This one also felt like such a good ending to the series. Tori knows something isn't right and instead of accepting all these so called accidents, she starts digging into them herself. Then everything starts going to hell. I loved trying to figure out who was behind everything while the story kept giving me reasons to question people. There was so much going on inside Fear Farm that the setting became part of the mystery itself, and that made this one really fun to read. After spending four books in Bleak Haven and seeing all the horrible things this cursed town can come up with, I wanted the final book to really go for it. It did. This was creepy, twisted, fun, and easily my favorite book of the series. Bleak Haven, it has been fun, but I am getting the hell out while I still can. 😂
Would I Recommend?
Absolutely. My favorite of the series and such a good way to say goodbye to Bleak Haven.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the gifted ebook.
Summary
Fear Farm is the one night a year when the people of Bleak Haven willingly sign up to be scared. Tori Swift isn't convinced that all of the past accidents at the attraction were really accidents, so she decides to work there and do a little investigating of her own. But when someone actually dies, Fear Farm becomes the perfect place for a killer to hide because everyone is already surrounded by screams, blood, masks, and people pretending to be monsters.
My Review
Four books later and apparently Bleak Haven saved its best nightmare for last. I have read this entire series and Fear Farm topped all of the others for me. This town is already cursed enough. Horrible things keep happening here and people still decide that what they really need is a Fear Farm where they can pay someone to scare them. 😂 Honestly, that feels exactly right for Bleak Haven. I loved the whole idea because once something real starts happening inside the attraction, everything becomes questionable. Is that blood fake? Was that scream part of the show? Is that person chasing you an actor? I would have been out of there approximately five minutes after arriving.
This one also felt like such a good ending to the series. Tori knows something isn't right and instead of accepting all these so called accidents, she starts digging into them herself. Then everything starts going to hell. I loved trying to figure out who was behind everything while the story kept giving me reasons to question people. There was so much going on inside Fear Farm that the setting became part of the mystery itself, and that made this one really fun to read. After spending four books in Bleak Haven and seeing all the horrible things this cursed town can come up with, I wanted the final book to really go for it. It did. This was creepy, twisted, fun, and easily my favorite book of the series. Bleak Haven, it has been fun, but I am getting the hell out while I still can. 😂
Would I Recommend?
Absolutely. My favorite of the series and such a good way to say goodbye to Bleak Haven.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Received this ARC book through GOODREADS:
I have a lot of issues with the book. I honestly believe the author doesn't invest much in the cognitive capacity of YA readers. This was an effort to finish because every page made me question if any editor actually took the time to read this book for the very questionable context and phrasing prevalent throughout this entire novel.
The story has the promise of being a new version of a classic slasher "Halloween", "I Know What You Did Last Summer", "Scream" setting, but the execution was so poor and cringy. It felt like they basically pulled from a bin of classic horror tropes and threw them at the wall to see what would stick. Saying that the transition from scene setting, action, to "mystery solved" was completely chaotic would be an understatement.
Here are some red flags I saw repeated in this book. I do not have time to list every single one, so here are my top 3:
1) The book is set in 1999......and not ONE has a cell phone? Anywhere? With ANY adult... that obviously had money to purchase one? The first text message was sent in 1992, so you cannot tell me that certain key figures didn't have a cell phone. Again, does the author think YA readers are stupid?
2) POC side character is introduced, and the first interaction of the FMC is "Do you trust them?" And to HIGHLIGHT, the scene where this phase was used was completely out of pocket and inappropriate. It came off as very questionable "hard R" undertones.
3) The complete inability to describe characters, especially POC characters, without it being BLATANT tokenism. If the descriptions of a character bring nothing for context or depth and it is completely inauthentic, this is a sign to either to reach out for guidance or leave it out.
Reading this book, I am very surprised that this is part of a series. Since this is the fourth book, I am very disappointed that no one on the author's team pointed out the problematic writing earlier.
I have a lot of issues with the book. I honestly believe the author doesn't invest much in the cognitive capacity of YA readers. This was an effort to finish because every page made me question if any editor actually took the time to read this book for the very questionable context and phrasing prevalent throughout this entire novel.
The story has the promise of being a new version of a classic slasher "Halloween", "I Know What You Did Last Summer", "Scream" setting, but the execution was so poor and cringy. It felt like they basically pulled from a bin of classic horror tropes and threw them at the wall to see what would stick. Saying that the transition from scene setting, action, to "mystery solved" was completely chaotic would be an understatement.
Here are some red flags I saw repeated in this book. I do not have time to list every single one, so here are my top 3:
1) The book is set in 1999......and not ONE has a cell phone? Anywhere? With ANY adult... that obviously had money to purchase one? The first text message was sent in 1992, so you cannot tell me that certain key figures didn't have a cell phone. Again, does the author think YA readers are stupid?
2) POC side character is introduced, and the first interaction of the FMC is "Do you trust them?" And to HIGHLIGHT, the scene where this phase was used was completely out of pocket and inappropriate. It came off as very questionable "hard R" undertones.
3) The complete inability to describe characters, especially POC characters, without it being BLATANT tokenism. If the descriptions of a character bring nothing for context or depth and it is completely inauthentic, this is a sign to either to reach out for guidance or leave it out.
Reading this book, I am very surprised that this is part of a series. Since this is the fourth book, I am very disappointed that no one on the author's team pointed out the problematic writing earlier.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This one was a thrill! Through 2 books we’ve heard of the Fear Farm Massacre and now we get to hear what happened that night! Tori Swift has audition to be a part of Bleak Haven’s Fear Farm for the last two years, this year her third, she finally gets a part. Fear Farm is the town’s answer to all the horrors that have occurred in Bleak Haven, a horror attraction that brings the scary. But Tori knows there is something seriously wrong with Fear Farm, has been for years. There’s a killer there and Tori is going to catch them. You she knows what kind of evil can lurk in the shadows. Once before she had the chance to stop a monster and didn’t, now it haunts her everyday. She’s not about to let it happen again. As this year’s Fear Farm gets underway it’s clear, to Tori at least, that someone is once again up to their old tricks. Props being where they shouldn’t, oh and someone stabbed her. Then on the night of the cast’s dress rehearsal the first person dies. Soon the remaining cast is being stalked by someone in a pig mask. Tori was right all along. But who are they and why are they doing this? Tori’s determined to make it out alive, both her and her best friend. But with danger at every turn, and no idea who to trust, can they survive? A super intense story that had me hooked from the beginning! It’s fast paced and intriguing and I read it in one day! Vincent Ralph does an excellent job with another dark and twisted tale from Bleak Haven! Tori’s history and her determination to catch a killer no one even believed existed was captivating! And once the killings started I had to know who was behind the mask! Definitely one of my favorites of the Bleak Haven series!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Plagued by tragedy for decades, the town of Bleak Haven looks forward to the annual Fear Farm Fright Fest as an outlet. Tori is excited to join the 1999 Fright Fest cast, as she suspects sinister forces are at play. The annual event has a history of mysterious accidents befalling the cast members- one of which almost killed Tori’s sister. She has let a monster get away in the past, and she will not let that happen again. As preparations begin, a documentary crew starts filming to capture the town’s resilience. Tori’s suspicion (and dread) continues to grow, culminating in a night of bloodshed.
This is a pretty solid, fast-paced slasher that will have readers unsure of who to trust. There are some side plots that feel a bit out of place, like Tori’s past trauma and her current family life. They make sense in the grand scheme of things, but also feel kind of forced. The ending feels rushed and tidy, but as a YA horror, it’s fine.
Now that I have reached the end of the Bleak Haven series (finally!) I will comment on them as a whole. Each book is fine. I would recommend them to teen horror readers. But also, each book is a different genre, so fans of book one might not like the others. Dead Fake is a technology-inspired thriller. Night Terror is a zombie horror. Corpse Creek is a psychological thriller. And Fear Farm is a slasher horror. I appreciate that they aren’t all just carbon copies of each other, but aside from the shared town history or references to past events, the books feel so disjointed. I’ve read several of Ralph’s books now, and I think he’s just not the author for me. But all that being said, I will still recommend his books to teens seeking horror books.
Plagued by tragedy for decades, the town of Bleak Haven looks forward to the annual Fear Farm Fright Fest as an outlet. Tori is excited to join the 1999 Fright Fest cast, as she suspects sinister forces are at play. The annual event has a history of mysterious accidents befalling the cast members- one of which almost killed Tori’s sister. She has let a monster get away in the past, and she will not let that happen again. As preparations begin, a documentary crew starts filming to capture the town’s resilience. Tori’s suspicion (and dread) continues to grow, culminating in a night of bloodshed.
This is a pretty solid, fast-paced slasher that will have readers unsure of who to trust. There are some side plots that feel a bit out of place, like Tori’s past trauma and her current family life. They make sense in the grand scheme of things, but also feel kind of forced. The ending feels rushed and tidy, but as a YA horror, it’s fine.
Now that I have reached the end of the Bleak Haven series (finally!) I will comment on them as a whole. Each book is fine. I would recommend them to teen horror readers. But also, each book is a different genre, so fans of book one might not like the others. Dead Fake is a technology-inspired thriller. Night Terror is a zombie horror. Corpse Creek is a psychological thriller. And Fear Farm is a slasher horror. I appreciate that they aren’t all just carbon copies of each other, but aside from the shared town history or references to past events, the books feel so disjointed. I’ve read several of Ralph’s books now, and I think he’s just not the author for me. But all that being said, I will still recommend his books to teens seeking horror books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen to the notorious Bleak Haven, our lovely little town full of death and dismemberment. Vincent Ralph has kept us entertained for 3 previous books with the nasty and the foul residents of this place and to end it all he is bringing us to #FearFarm.
In a town full of the sick and deranged you would think that people would do anything to leave it but the fact that remains is that for many not only is this home, the place where they were born and raised but for many it is the last place that they saw their loved ones before horrific tragedy steals them.
Fear Farm fright fest was started as a way for residents to cope with the horrors of the town, to take back their fear and claim their terror. Tori knows though that something isn’t right with any of this. Over the years since Fear Farm began there have been “freak” accidents that to Tori don’t seem so random. Especially after her sister works as an actor in one of the Fear Farms and somehow the coffin she is supposed to pop out of is nailed shut for real and she is just barely found in time.
Since then Tori has been determined to get a part at Fear Fest and look behind the curtain to lure out the real killer hiding amongst the horror.
Tori may have gotten more than she has bargained for. Sometimes people are right and nothing at Bleak Haven is ever safe for very long. Fear Farm this year will be the most horrific yet.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #WednesdayBooks for the chance to read #FearFarm the conclusion to the 4 part #BleakHaven horror series by #VincentRalph in return for a fair and honest review.
In a town full of the sick and deranged you would think that people would do anything to leave it but the fact that remains is that for many not only is this home, the place where they were born and raised but for many it is the last place that they saw their loved ones before horrific tragedy steals them.
Fear Farm fright fest was started as a way for residents to cope with the horrors of the town, to take back their fear and claim their terror. Tori knows though that something isn’t right with any of this. Over the years since Fear Farm began there have been “freak” accidents that to Tori don’t seem so random. Especially after her sister works as an actor in one of the Fear Farms and somehow the coffin she is supposed to pop out of is nailed shut for real and she is just barely found in time.
Since then Tori has been determined to get a part at Fear Fest and look behind the curtain to lure out the real killer hiding amongst the horror.
Tori may have gotten more than she has bargained for. Sometimes people are right and nothing at Bleak Haven is ever safe for very long. Fear Farm this year will be the most horrific yet.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #WednesdayBooks for the chance to read #FearFarm the conclusion to the 4 part #BleakHaven horror series by #VincentRalph in return for a fair and honest review.
September 23, 2026
I was really excited for this book after not really liking the last 2, and knowing the plot of this one after hearing about it since book 1. I liked the haunted house/scary movie vibe of this book a lot. The fear farm butcher had a lot of live up to and I liked how the book slowly climbed up to the action. We get a lot of small accidents and things that occur before the people start getting killed. Hearing about all the injuries and near death experiences that occurred in years prior also increased the suspense. We get a first hand account of one of them which makes it very personal for our main character Tori. I really liked her as an individual and we learn a lot about her motivations for auditing and wanting to make all the cuts. Going undercover to the place where all the bad things have happened to find the person who’s doing all this and hold them accountable. We meet other side characters that she knows from high school along with her best friend, Jen. I enjoyed all the different personalities, it made my suspicions really broad since there wasn’t an obvious culprit.
The twist was surprising in some ways and not surprising in others. I did have suspicions that were partially right but I also made guesses that were wrong. There’s a lot of lead up to the action and not as much of the book as I thought is the Fear Farm butcher in action but I did really like what we got. There is some gore and a lot of sad moments but it felt more real than other books in this series. I like how fast paced and short these books are, this Bleak Haven world is interesting to see how all the killers never truly leave and how it impact the people that live there.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Vincent Ralph for this novel.
The twist was surprising in some ways and not surprising in others. I did have suspicions that were partially right but I also made guesses that were wrong. There’s a lot of lead up to the action and not as much of the book as I thought is the Fear Farm butcher in action but I did really like what we got. There is some gore and a lot of sad moments but it felt more real than other books in this series. I like how fast paced and short these books are, this Bleak Haven world is interesting to see how all the killers never truly leave and how it impact the people that live there.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Vincent Ralph for this novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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: Sept. 15, 2026
Genre: YA, horror
Synopsis: The Fear Farm fright-fest is the one night of the year when Bleak Haven’s residents are happy to be afraid.Most people turn a blind eye to the "accidents" that have previously blighted the attraction, but seventeen-year-old Tori Swift has other ideas.Convinced that there’s an aspiring killer in their midst, Tori auditions alongside her classmates, perfecting her role as the ideal villain while secretly searching for the real thing.But when tragedy strikes, a murderer is suddenly on the loose in a place where everyone pays to be terrified.
Overall: Ralph's Bleak Haven series gives me all the R.L. Stine nostalgic feels, and I'm all for it. Each novel in the series centres around teenagers living in a supposedly haunted, cursed town called Bleak Haven but that is the only thing the novels have in common so readers can read one, or all of them, in any order. "Fear Farm" is narrated by Tori and is full of blood, guts and gore. A haunted hayride gone terribly wrong, "Farm" is a great ready for the spooky season.
Expected publication date: Sept. 15, 2026
Genre: YA, horror
Synopsis: The Fear Farm fright-fest is the one night of the year when Bleak Haven’s residents are happy to be afraid.Most people turn a blind eye to the "accidents" that have previously blighted the attraction, but seventeen-year-old Tori Swift has other ideas.Convinced that there’s an aspiring killer in their midst, Tori auditions alongside her classmates, perfecting her role as the ideal villain while secretly searching for the real thing.But when tragedy strikes, a murderer is suddenly on the loose in a place where everyone pays to be terrified.
Overall: Ralph's Bleak Haven series gives me all the R.L. Stine nostalgic feels, and I'm all for it. Each novel in the series centres around teenagers living in a supposedly haunted, cursed town called Bleak Haven but that is the only thing the novels have in common so readers can read one, or all of them, in any order. "Fear Farm" is narrated by Tori and is full of blood, guts and gore. A haunted hayride gone terribly wrong, "Farm" is a great ready for the spooky season.
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