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Return to the Motherfreaking Fun Factory
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26210 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
✰ 3 stars ✰
I loved the beginning. It was gruesome and creepy and chilling and bloody enough that you'll think twice about opening a present that wasn't meant for you! 🧸 And it sets the vibes and pace, too - it's gonna be fast, it's gonna be horrifying, and it's gonna be dangerous.
Unfortunately, it also lays out a big clue that makes the final twist and reveal a little less surprising, which was a shame. 😞 Still, I had a good time with it. If you want to see Willy Wonka go off the rails with toys and trinkets instead of chocolate and candy, Barnaby Bigby's nationwide platinum ticket extravaganza was the place to be... or not. 😰
“You don’t find the ticket. The ticket finds you.”
For the Barnaby Bigby Loser Brigade's remaining survivors, life has been a tormented nightmare since. Enormous, dark, and forbidding, the vibes and details were believably disgusting and creepy. But in a few instances, I felt it restrained itself from being too graphic, resorting to telling rather than showing, which was a little noticeable. 🤨 That putty, though... 🫣
What it did capture - the remaining few's determination, quick wits, and outsmarts from their recollection of the traumatic experience they faced a decade ago in the motherfreaking fun factory—was taut with suspense and thrills. 😨 I did find their desire to save Henry a bit unbelievable - considering they'd just met him - but eh, it's a horror. 🙆🏻♀️
“‘Knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.’”
But even in the limited time spent, the characters' personalities were developed enough for me to see how they each were affected by their short time in the fun house, which resulted in their own burning passion of revenge to finish off the evil that had claimed them. It allowed them to finally regain control of their lives and break free of those chains that had been dragging them into the darkest of fears. 😔
While I think a bit more backstory could've been given to Barnaby's evil mechanisms, and although the horror factor kind of dimmed towards the end, it was such a heightened tension of kill or be killed that I literally could not stop till I knew for certain who would live to tell the terrifying tale. 🥺
“If a building can go insane, she thought, this one has. Or maybe it always was and we just never knew it.”
I loved the beginning. It was gruesome and creepy and chilling and bloody enough that you'll think twice about opening a present that wasn't meant for you! 🧸 And it sets the vibes and pace, too - it's gonna be fast, it's gonna be horrifying, and it's gonna be dangerous.
Unfortunately, it also lays out a big clue that makes the final twist and reveal a little less surprising, which was a shame. 😞 Still, I had a good time with it. If you want to see Willy Wonka go off the rails with toys and trinkets instead of chocolate and candy, Barnaby Bigby's nationwide platinum ticket extravaganza was the place to be... or not. 😰
“You don’t find the ticket. The ticket finds you.”
For the Barnaby Bigby Loser Brigade's remaining survivors, life has been a tormented nightmare since. Enormous, dark, and forbidding, the vibes and details were believably disgusting and creepy. But in a few instances, I felt it restrained itself from being too graphic, resorting to telling rather than showing, which was a little noticeable. 🤨 That putty, though... 🫣
What it did capture - the remaining few's determination, quick wits, and outsmarts from their recollection of the traumatic experience they faced a decade ago in the motherfreaking fun factory—was taut with suspense and thrills. 😨 I did find their desire to save Henry a bit unbelievable - considering they'd just met him - but eh, it's a horror. 🙆🏻♀️
“‘Knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.’”
But even in the limited time spent, the characters' personalities were developed enough for me to see how they each were affected by their short time in the fun house, which resulted in their own burning passion of revenge to finish off the evil that had claimed them. It allowed them to finally regain control of their lives and break free of those chains that had been dragging them into the darkest of fears. 😔
While I think a bit more backstory could've been given to Barnaby's evil mechanisms, and although the horror factor kind of dimmed towards the end, it was such a heightened tension of kill or be killed that I literally could not stop till I knew for certain who would live to tell the terrifying tale. 🥺
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Return to the Motherfreaking Fun Factory” by Neil Kleid is basically what would happen if Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and IT had a horrifying, gore-covered child together. It's weird, creepy, chaotic, and honestly a lot of fun if you're in the mood for a fast-paced horror novel that fully embraces its ridiculous premise.
The story follows four young adults who are still haunted by a traumatic visit to Barnaby's Fun Factory ten years earlier. Back then, five kids won magical tickets to tour the mysterious toy factory. Things went very, very wrong. One child never came home. The others escaped physically, but not mentally. Now they're returning to the factory to rescue their missing friend Henry and hopefully put an end to the nightmare once and for all.
One of the book's biggest strengths is how quickly it establishes its tone. Within the first chapter, it's clear that this isn't a whimsical adventure. The toys can kill you, body horror is everywhere, and Barnaby the toymaker is every bit as unsettling as you'd hope. He's basically a horror version of Willy Wonka, complete with creepy songs, bizarre assistants, and an unnerving habit of acting cheerful while horrifying things happen around him. I could practically hear Gene Wilder's voice in some of his dialogue, which somehow made him even creepier.
The alternating past and present timelines worked really well for me. The present-day storyline follows the survivors as they prepare to return to the factory, while the flashbacks reveal exactly what happened during the original contest. Those flashback sections were easily my favorite part of the book. Much like Wonka's factory, each child ignores warnings and ends up interacting with a different attraction, but the consequences here are far more disturbing. Instead of turning into a blueberry, we're talking grotesque body horror, permanent physical changes, and nightmare fuel that feels ripped straight from a haunted SCP entry.
The factory itself is wonderfully imaginative and gross. Every room feels like a new trap waiting to happen, and the descriptions are vivid enough that I could picture every sticky, gloopy, horrifying detail. At times it felt like wandering through a haunted Wonka factory after everyone involved decided subtlety was overrated.
The story moves incredibly fast. This is the kind of book you can easily finish in a sitting or two, and once the characters re-enter the factory, the pacing barely slows down. The final stretch is especially wild, turning into nonstop action, monster encounters, reality-bending madness, and increasingly unhinged horror. It occasionally becomes difficult to keep track of exactly what's happening, but honestly, the sheer energy of it all carried me through.
I did wish the characters had a little more development. Many of them feel intentionally larger-than-life and somewhat cartoonish, which fits the Wonka-inspired world, but it sometimes makes it harder to connect emotionally with them. Some plot points and twists also felt a little rushed, especially near the end, where there are a lot of reveals packed into a short amount of space.
That said, I really enjoyed the lore surrounding Barnaby and the factory itself. The explanations for who he is, what he wants, and why all of this is happening add some interesting depth beneath all the blood and carnage. There's also a surprisingly strong theme of hope running underneath the horror, particularly through Veronica's journey and the group's determination to save Henry despite everything they've endured.
Overall, “Return to the Motherfreaking Fun Factory” is a delightfully twisted horror romp full of creepy toys, gruesome body horror, childhood trauma, bizarre factory attractions, and enough nightmare fuel to ruin toy stores forever. It's messy, over-the-top, occasionally cheesy, and absolutely knows what kind of story it wants to be. If you've ever watched Willy Wonka and thought, "This would be better with more gore and existential terror," then this book was written specifically for you.
“Return to the Motherfreaking Fun Factory” by Neil Kleid is basically what would happen if Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and IT had a horrifying, gore-covered child together. It's weird, creepy, chaotic, and honestly a lot of fun if you're in the mood for a fast-paced horror novel that fully embraces its ridiculous premise.
The story follows four young adults who are still haunted by a traumatic visit to Barnaby's Fun Factory ten years earlier. Back then, five kids won magical tickets to tour the mysterious toy factory. Things went very, very wrong. One child never came home. The others escaped physically, but not mentally. Now they're returning to the factory to rescue their missing friend Henry and hopefully put an end to the nightmare once and for all.
One of the book's biggest strengths is how quickly it establishes its tone. Within the first chapter, it's clear that this isn't a whimsical adventure. The toys can kill you, body horror is everywhere, and Barnaby the toymaker is every bit as unsettling as you'd hope. He's basically a horror version of Willy Wonka, complete with creepy songs, bizarre assistants, and an unnerving habit of acting cheerful while horrifying things happen around him. I could practically hear Gene Wilder's voice in some of his dialogue, which somehow made him even creepier.
The alternating past and present timelines worked really well for me. The present-day storyline follows the survivors as they prepare to return to the factory, while the flashbacks reveal exactly what happened during the original contest. Those flashback sections were easily my favorite part of the book. Much like Wonka's factory, each child ignores warnings and ends up interacting with a different attraction, but the consequences here are far more disturbing. Instead of turning into a blueberry, we're talking grotesque body horror, permanent physical changes, and nightmare fuel that feels ripped straight from a haunted SCP entry.
The factory itself is wonderfully imaginative and gross. Every room feels like a new trap waiting to happen, and the descriptions are vivid enough that I could picture every sticky, gloopy, horrifying detail. At times it felt like wandering through a haunted Wonka factory after everyone involved decided subtlety was overrated.
The story moves incredibly fast. This is the kind of book you can easily finish in a sitting or two, and once the characters re-enter the factory, the pacing barely slows down. The final stretch is especially wild, turning into nonstop action, monster encounters, reality-bending madness, and increasingly unhinged horror. It occasionally becomes difficult to keep track of exactly what's happening, but honestly, the sheer energy of it all carried me through.
I did wish the characters had a little more development. Many of them feel intentionally larger-than-life and somewhat cartoonish, which fits the Wonka-inspired world, but it sometimes makes it harder to connect emotionally with them. Some plot points and twists also felt a little rushed, especially near the end, where there are a lot of reveals packed into a short amount of space.
That said, I really enjoyed the lore surrounding Barnaby and the factory itself. The explanations for who he is, what he wants, and why all of this is happening add some interesting depth beneath all the blood and carnage. There's also a surprisingly strong theme of hope running underneath the horror, particularly through Veronica's journey and the group's determination to save Henry despite everything they've endured.
Overall, “Return to the Motherfreaking Fun Factory” is a delightfully twisted horror romp full of creepy toys, gruesome body horror, childhood trauma, bizarre factory attractions, and enough nightmare fuel to ruin toy stores forever. It's messy, over-the-top, occasionally cheesy, and absolutely knows what kind of story it wants to be. If you've ever watched Willy Wonka and thought, "This would be better with more gore and existential terror," then this book was written specifically for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Niel Kleid for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also thank you publishers for your hard work!
This book was so good. It made me think of a twisted Charlie and the Chocolate factory but with toys! Its a dark twisted tale with gore and death! The characters find their tickets and win a 'fabulous' tour of a toy factory for a day. What happens is horrendous and messes with them for the rest of their lives. Its definitely unique and disturbing it had me unable to stop reading page after page. I just had to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely felt connected to Veronica and all that happens to her as she suffers through it all. I just wish we could have learned a bit more about the other characters.
Even with just the little splurges on the others I really enjoyed this book. It was whimsical, dark, bloody, disturbing and I had no idea what to expect next. I had an idea of what was coming near the end but thats a cliche ending of sorts. Even so i loved it. The darkness of this book shows that love and hope cant be snuffed out and fighting evil will always win. Friendship is a very powerful thing.
I wish I could find more books like this. They are just fun and I like them a lot. They make my days go by faster and I just enjoy them a lot.
This book was so good. It made me think of a twisted Charlie and the Chocolate factory but with toys! Its a dark twisted tale with gore and death! The characters find their tickets and win a 'fabulous' tour of a toy factory for a day. What happens is horrendous and messes with them for the rest of their lives. Its definitely unique and disturbing it had me unable to stop reading page after page. I just had to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely felt connected to Veronica and all that happens to her as she suffers through it all. I just wish we could have learned a bit more about the other characters.
Even with just the little splurges on the others I really enjoyed this book. It was whimsical, dark, bloody, disturbing and I had no idea what to expect next. I had an idea of what was coming near the end but thats a cliche ending of sorts. Even so i loved it. The darkness of this book shows that love and hope cant be snuffed out and fighting evil will always win. Friendship is a very powerful thing.
I wish I could find more books like this. They are just fun and I like them a lot. They make my days go by faster and I just enjoy them a lot.
June 18, 2026
Oh this was so so creepy! It’s a mix of Charlie and the chocolate factory and the movie IT! These kids find magic tickets and they are given access to this factory and on this tour freaky stuff goes down
In the present we catch up with the 4 kids who didn’t win the contest and when the mother of the winner shows up they decide to go back and find Henry the missing boy!
Even though they are adults each of them have been tackling hardships and having very vivid nightmares but they go to try and save Henry
When they get there they are faced with yet again a creepy gross situation in which they have to fight for their lives
What they don’t know is it’s not the original toy maker who has brought them back it’s their old pal!
This was so vivid like the descriptions of everything was so creepy like a haunted Willy wonka!
In the present we catch up with the 4 kids who didn’t win the contest and when the mother of the winner shows up they decide to go back and find Henry the missing boy!
Even though they are adults each of them have been tackling hardships and having very vivid nightmares but they go to try and save Henry
When they get there they are faced with yet again a creepy gross situation in which they have to fight for their lives
What they don’t know is it’s not the original toy maker who has brought them back it’s their old pal!
This was so vivid like the descriptions of everything was so creepy like a haunted Willy wonka!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When five children are joined by a toymaker for a contest, bedlam ensues, and it gets genuinely gloopy freaky right away. I feel like this book is that Pooh slasher and Willy Wonka mixed in, with a touch of the feeling of the cursed Wizard of Oz lore thrown in to boot. While it was delectable in how dark and gory it got, there were equal amounts of cheese and on the nose moments I could have done without. Certain descriptions were so wonderful, and some were so middling, that it made me want a longer book by the end of it. The twist was okay, but again, could have been delivered with a touch more oomph. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. This was definitely a different book; several times I had to stop and ask myself "Wth did I just read?"-the author has one hell of an imagination. I really liked the creativity within this book, from the toys in the funhouse to the magic of the toy maker, to what happened to Henry and what happens in the Fun Factory. This was a good, creepy read and I will have to check out more books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*thank you netgalley for the ARC so i was able to read and give honest review*
Wow wow wow i really enjoyed this book. It was like a charlie and chocolate factory throw in some King and then throw in some acid. This starts off with a group 5 kids who win a chance to go tour the factory. I dont want give anything away but read read read this you wont be disappointed!
Wow wow wow i really enjoyed this book. It was like a charlie and chocolate factory throw in some King and then throw in some acid. This starts off with a group 5 kids who win a chance to go tour the factory. I dont want give anything away but read read read this you wont be disappointed!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is an interesting mash-up of 'Willy Wonka' and 'It'. The first chapter was well done with a good creep factor, but the rest of the story fell a bit flat for me. The characters are fine and decently fleshed out, I just didn't really connect with them.
It wasn't a bad book by any means but I didn't like it as much as I was hoping. I think a lot of people will still enjoy it though, especially if they are looking for a darker, and crazier 'Wonka-esque' adventure. 3.5⭐️
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via Netgalley.
It wasn't a bad book by any means but I didn't like it as much as I was hoping. I think a lot of people will still enjoy it though, especially if they are looking for a darker, and crazier 'Wonka-esque' adventure. 3.5⭐️
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via Netgalley.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews