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Tastes Like Candy
Everyone at Pritchett High wants an invitation to the Senior Scavenge. In 2020, Violet Warren and her friends are the lucky ones. Eight girls will break into the Poison Apple Carnival after hours for a scavenger hunt, then at sunrise they’ll gather for a celebration in honor of their upcoming senior year.
But someone else has another game planned. Minutes after the girls sneak into the carnival, a madman in a rubber mask begins slashing his way through the group and Violet quickly realizes his motives are personal. As she watches her friends die in a series of increasingly bizarre attacks, she must fight to survive while trying to answer the question: What could she have done to earn a fast-pass for a roller coaster ride straight to hell?
But someone else has another game planned. Minutes after the girls sneak into the carnival, a madman in a rubber mask begins slashing his way through the group and Violet quickly realizes his motives are personal. As she watches her friends die in a series of increasingly bizarre attacks, she must fight to survive while trying to answer the question: What could she have done to earn a fast-pass for a roller coaster ride straight to hell?
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2020
383 people are currently reading
11803 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 845 reviews
April 12, 2024
Buddy read with my gorgeous girl Paula💕
REVIEW TO COME, well, I'm disappointed😐!!!!!!!
REVIEW TO COME, well, I'm disappointed😐!!!!!!!
Read
September 6, 2022DNF 46% too much whining, not enough dying 🤷🏻♀️
September 27, 2022
I love Slashers, even (especially) cheesy B slashers, but Tastes Like Candy did not hit the mark.
Some of the key elements of the genre is it's emotions and high octane pace. The characters are always in a near constant state of fear, terror, confusion, and violence.
But not in this book. The pace is consistently broken by the main character's glib remarks, sarcasm, and stoned babble. And that wouldn't be so bad if done right. I like sarcasm and glib remarks as much as the next girl. But these characters never once felt like they were frightened or terrorized... so neither did I. The story just felt flat.
The author constantly (and I mean constantly!) had the girls remembering some random thought in the middle of what should have been acting-packed sequence, thus dragging the momentum down to an irritating snails pace. The characters were overly contrived and unbelievable. And the villain.... ugh... The villain was painfully predictable.
Just really disappointing.
Some of the key elements of the genre is it's emotions and high octane pace. The characters are always in a near constant state of fear, terror, confusion, and violence.
But not in this book. The pace is consistently broken by the main character's glib remarks, sarcasm, and stoned babble. And that wouldn't be so bad if done right. I like sarcasm and glib remarks as much as the next girl. But these characters never once felt like they were frightened or terrorized... so neither did I. The story just felt flat.
The author constantly (and I mean constantly!) had the girls remembering some random thought in the middle of what should have been acting-packed sequence, thus dragging the momentum down to an irritating snails pace. The characters were overly contrived and unbelievable. And the villain.... ugh... The villain was painfully predictable.
Just really disappointing.
May 23, 2023
3.75 stars.
Even though I read this in a single sitting, I think the pacing was a bit off. It was brutal at times, the kills were inventive, over the top, and honestly upsetting (I wouldn’t call this a *fun* slasher imo), but the flashbacks really bored me. I still recommend it though, it’s a quick read with a vivid setting!
Even though I read this in a single sitting, I think the pacing was a bit off. It was brutal at times, the kills were inventive, over the top, and honestly upsetting (I wouldn’t call this a *fun* slasher imo), but the flashbacks really bored me. I still recommend it though, it’s a quick read with a vivid setting!
January 2, 2022
It is time for the yearly Senior Scavenger Hunt. Our lucky participants, Violet Warren and her friends, are all invited to Poison Apple Carnival after hours to start the event. Before entering the grounds our teens decide to consume edibles because why not be really high in the dark. However there is a madman on the Midway playing his own games and they are deadly. Even though I figured out who the killer was I still enjoyed this slasher book.
😺😺😺
😺😺😺
February 8, 2022
I absolutely loved this slasher! It has a bit of a slow start but that didn't bother me. It was funny at times and nostalgic (and made me feel old relating to the mom about growing up in the 90s! lol). I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The deaths were .. how do I put it ... creative. Interesting. And heart-wrenching because I cared about the characters. I didn't guess the killer! And the book punched me. It. Punched. Me. In the feels. It made me cry.
This. This is why I love horror.
This. This is why I love horror.
October 18, 2021
"Dim rays from the flashlight bounced off the mirrors, doubling and tripling in brightness, allowing her to watch herself be mutilated from every angle. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to watch herself die."
Me and Slasher movies are best friends. They are usually my go-to when I want to watch a movie. There’s something about running in the woods terrified that gets your blood pumping.
This was a book that I’ve seen everywhere and was recommended to me a lot. All they would tell me is that since I love slashers then I’ll really enjoy this. They were not wrong. This was a twisted and gory ride that left your head spinning.
A carnival, a scavenger hunt, a gorefest at its finest, and best friends til the end are all things you get served in this teeny slasher that will make you wince. The brain that created these deaths is one twisted individual and I have one thing to say.. can we be friends? They were things that I have never seen or read before. They were hate-filled, bloody, and shockingly creative. You couldn't ask for anything better.
The dialogue between the girls is just what you would expect from a bunch of high school girls ready to conquer their senior year. Nothing serious and lots of banter. The killer had some great one-liners and they are classic. Prepare yourself for those.
We all know how I feel about guessing the ending and/or the killer. This one was very obvious from the first couple of chapters. I guessed the killer as soon as everyone was introduced. Once you pay close enough attention to how some of them act towards the others, you'll pick up on this one. It did take a little away from the book but those kills are worth every page.
Tastes Like Candy reads like a 90's slasher film and I love it. It kept my attention with its brutal killings and with being trapped inside of a creepy carnival at night. The only way to read this is with the lights down low and some black metal screaming in the background.
Anyone else hungry for some cotton candy?
Me and Slasher movies are best friends. They are usually my go-to when I want to watch a movie. There’s something about running in the woods terrified that gets your blood pumping.
This was a book that I’ve seen everywhere and was recommended to me a lot. All they would tell me is that since I love slashers then I’ll really enjoy this. They were not wrong. This was a twisted and gory ride that left your head spinning.
A carnival, a scavenger hunt, a gorefest at its finest, and best friends til the end are all things you get served in this teeny slasher that will make you wince. The brain that created these deaths is one twisted individual and I have one thing to say.. can we be friends? They were things that I have never seen or read before. They were hate-filled, bloody, and shockingly creative. You couldn't ask for anything better.
The dialogue between the girls is just what you would expect from a bunch of high school girls ready to conquer their senior year. Nothing serious and lots of banter. The killer had some great one-liners and they are classic. Prepare yourself for those.
We all know how I feel about guessing the ending and/or the killer. This one was very obvious from the first couple of chapters. I guessed the killer as soon as everyone was introduced. Once you pay close enough attention to how some of them act towards the others, you'll pick up on this one. It did take a little away from the book but those kills are worth every page.
Tastes Like Candy reads like a 90's slasher film and I love it. It kept my attention with its brutal killings and with being trapped inside of a creepy carnival at night. The only way to read this is with the lights down low and some black metal screaming in the background.
Anyone else hungry for some cotton candy?
September 17, 2022
So much cringe. And what’s with the weed stuff? People taking a 10mg edible and being like, “Oh wow, is anything real? Am I hallucinating?” Give me a break. They’d be like, slightly sleepy. None of it makes sense really and it’s really twee and “LOL so random”. The characters are so privileged and condescending. The motivations for the killer kind of turn out to reference this, how the girls seem super entitled and are targeted because of it. I can see how some people can just turn their brain off and enjoy this one as it isn’t written badly. But this books obvious contempt for misfits and weed smokers is weirdly mean-spirited, and if you don’t get into a good college out of high school, then you’re human garbage. The killer was extremely predictable also. Again, not so much badly written as weirdly judgmental with a lot of very forced unfunny humor.
October 29, 2025
It felt like a classic 90's slasher movie.
The carnival setting and characters are interesting, and it gets really gruesome but still has fun moments.
I really liked the narrators in the the audiobook version.
It plays in all the tropes but still manages to finds it's own style and I really appreciated that.
I loved that even though the characters are teenage girls, they are all about their ambitions rather than focused on dating and other usual clichés.
If you like the genre, go for it.
The carnival setting and characters are interesting, and it gets really gruesome but still has fun moments.
I really liked the narrators in the the audiobook version.
It plays in all the tropes but still manages to finds it's own style and I really appreciated that.
I loved that even though the characters are teenage girls, they are all about their ambitions rather than focused on dating and other usual clichés.
If you like the genre, go for it.
October 20, 2022
I definitely preferred the first half of this. But even then I wouldn’t say any of it was world breaking or as good as I had hoped. One thing I did like is that the killer was kinda unique/wasn’t who the killer normally would be in these books. That said the author gave it away super fast. So despite it being kinda easy to predict, I was still excited for that. The kills were good, and were easily the best part of this book as it has pretty much no plot or logic. You have to suspend your disbelief a decent bit. But I was okay with that. I also liked the setting being a carnival because I love carnival settings even for slashers.
The thing that killed it HUGELY for me was the motivation of the killer. It was so terrible and irritatingly laughable, I’m still going back and forth on whether or not I was supposed to take it seriously or not. Whatever the answer to that is…. It definitely was a huge disappointment and I don’t think it accomplished what the author wanted it to. This book for me did have some nice banter. But at the end I just didn’t care and was angry lol.
I’ll read something else by this author. But I’ll be prepared this time at least and can adjust my expectations. Hopefully the next one surprises me!
The thing that killed it HUGELY for me was the motivation of the killer. It was so terrible and irritatingly laughable, I’m still going back and forth on whether or not I was supposed to take it seriously or not. Whatever the answer to that is…. It definitely was a huge disappointment and I don’t think it accomplished what the author wanted it to. This book for me did have some nice banter. But at the end I just didn’t care and was angry lol.
I’ll read something else by this author. But I’ll be prepared this time at least and can adjust my expectations. Hopefully the next one surprises me!
Read
November 7, 2024DNF @ 35%
This just wasn't catching my interest and I'm trying to tell myself to DNF freely right now to avoid slumping!
Edit: my buddy read partner Misty actually finished it and wrote a great review that reflects the issues I was having with this book!
This just wasn't catching my interest and I'm trying to tell myself to DNF freely right now to avoid slumping!
Edit: my buddy read partner Misty actually finished it and wrote a great review that reflects the issues I was having with this book!
May 4, 2022
Tastes Like Candy is an underrated slasher book with heart, wonderful character development, and unique kills! There is plenty of humor throughout the book too.
My public book club that I run through my YouTube channel (club is named The Midnight Book Society) picked this for our February group read. Almost everyone gave it at least a four star rating, and many gave it a full five stars. I couldn't put this book down, and I will sing its praises forever because not enough people are talking about it but they should be! Plus...that cover! If you love slasher books, you need to give this one a try!
My public book club that I run through my YouTube channel (club is named The Midnight Book Society) picked this for our February group read. Almost everyone gave it at least a four star rating, and many gave it a full five stars. I couldn't put this book down, and I will sing its praises forever because not enough people are talking about it but they should be! Plus...that cover! If you love slasher books, you need to give this one a try!
May 25, 2022
Violet Warren and her friends have been chosen to participate in the Senior Scavenge. And this year, there's a twist: It will be held on the grounds of the Poison Apple Carnival...after dark. Spooky stuff! Of course, most of them think it's cheesy and are ready to get it over with. Unfortunately, most of them will never make it out of the carnival alive.
All eight friends are exceptionally talented. The best of the best of Pritchett High. But someone is hellbent on extinguishing their bright futures permanently.
This book delivered up all the goods!
The first half of the book dealt with a lot of character building. I was getting impatient waiting for the action to start, but the characterization made their eventual ends much more impactful. You grew to know them, get attached to them and it was a gut punch when one of them died.
This is a YA novel and the characters are seventeen. However, I thought their actions, reactions and language was more in line with middle school age students. The first part of the book was more on the young end of YA, but the second part's mature content made up for that in spades.
This is a slasher, and the main reason to read a book like this is for the death scenes. And this book delivered on death scenes! They were brutal, bloody, sadistic and quite inventive. There's a cotton candy scene that will stick with me for awhile.
Plus the ending was so bleak and so devastating. This is the kind of ending I want in a horror novel!
And wrapped into this story of guts and gore is a message about identiy, the weight of achievement and how we see ourselves vs how others perceive us.
I loved this book. I recommend it to fans of YA horror, but I think slasher fans of any age can enjoy the carnage.
All eight friends are exceptionally talented. The best of the best of Pritchett High. But someone is hellbent on extinguishing their bright futures permanently.
This book delivered up all the goods!
The first half of the book dealt with a lot of character building. I was getting impatient waiting for the action to start, but the characterization made their eventual ends much more impactful. You grew to know them, get attached to them and it was a gut punch when one of them died.
This is a YA novel and the characters are seventeen. However, I thought their actions, reactions and language was more in line with middle school age students. The first part of the book was more on the young end of YA, but the second part's mature content made up for that in spades.
This is a slasher, and the main reason to read a book like this is for the death scenes. And this book delivered on death scenes! They were brutal, bloody, sadistic and quite inventive. There's a cotton candy scene that will stick with me for awhile.
Plus the ending was so bleak and so devastating. This is the kind of ending I want in a horror novel!
And wrapped into this story of guts and gore is a message about identiy, the weight of achievement and how we see ourselves vs how others perceive us.
I loved this book. I recommend it to fans of YA horror, but I think slasher fans of any age can enjoy the carnage.
November 19, 2023
3,5*
Everyone at Pritchett High wants to be invited to the annual Senior Scavenger Hunt. This year, Violet and her friends are the lucky ones.
Normally the game takes place at school but this year it is extra special and will be inside the carnival. What could go wrong?
The girls break into the carnival to start the game and decide to split into teams. A masked killer on the loose is trapped inside with them and now, they are the ones being hunted down one by one.
The friend’s fight for survival inside the carnival was a lot of fun to read and the deaths are quite gruesome and gory.
This was a fun slasher with a great setting and interesting characters with their own personal secrets.
Who is this masked killer and why is he trying to kill them all? Will they be able to survive the night?
Everyone at Pritchett High wants to be invited to the annual Senior Scavenger Hunt. This year, Violet and her friends are the lucky ones.
Normally the game takes place at school but this year it is extra special and will be inside the carnival. What could go wrong?
The girls break into the carnival to start the game and decide to split into teams. A masked killer on the loose is trapped inside with them and now, they are the ones being hunted down one by one.
The friend’s fight for survival inside the carnival was a lot of fun to read and the deaths are quite gruesome and gory.
This was a fun slasher with a great setting and interesting characters with their own personal secrets.
Who is this masked killer and why is he trying to kill them all? Will they be able to survive the night?
November 11, 2025
TW/CW: Language, drug use, toxic family relationships, child abandonment, drinking, anxiety, gory scenes, blood, toxic friendships, body shaming, classism
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Everyone at Pritchett High wants an invitation to the Senior Scavenge. In 2020, Violet Warren and her friends are the lucky ones. Eight girls will break into the Poison Apple Carnival after hours for a scavenger hunt, then at sunrise they’ll gather for a celebration in honor of their upcoming senior year.But someone else has another game planned. Minutes after the girls sneak into the carnival, a madman in a rubber mask begins slashing his way through the group and Violet quickly realizes his motives are personal. As she watches her friends die in a series of increasingly bizarre attacks, she must fight to survive while trying to answer the question: What could she have done to earn a fast-pass for a roller coaster ride straight to hell?
Release Date: October 19th, 2020
Genre: Horror
Pages: 245
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. Love the cover
3. Carnival setting
What I Didn't Like:
1. Some characters are annoying
2. Nothing happens for soooo long
3. The ending - thought it was never going to end
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
I've never been in a band class where all the instruments are supplied. They must have a huge school budget.
Oh my is something more going to happen? So far it's just girls going to the gas station, going to eat, and complaining about one another.
Emma being upset at the town when she's the one that acted all cocky about Stanford University and failing out over anxiety, is ridiculous. She's blaming the town because she made it her whole personality and now she is back. Egh.
Why would you get high when you're sneaking into a carnival in the middle of the night illegally? I get their teenagers but this is the dumbest thing I've ever read. Who wants to be stoned out of their mind when you're doing something like this?
How is the Licker able to lift Mila up enough on the wall and still hammer her hand? Imagine this scenario... Plus I know she's a little out if it but you aren't going to let someone just keep hammering you there in place. He can't hold her to the wall with too much strength since he needs two hands to hammer. This whole scene makes zero sense. Also also your body can't hold you up with nails in your hands. It would rip between the fingers. Wish the author would have used a drill to screw nails into her wrists to hold her up. That would have helped one scenario at least.
Come on the Licker is a female. That's why they are using a voice changer. It's clearly someone they know.
Holy hell this ending with the girls bickering back & forth and having to hear about her Blythe's social media bs.
Sorry I refuse to believe that Blythe is able to carry around dead bodies like they weigh nothing. Also how would she think it wouldn't come back on her when there is a body found in the dunk tank after someone helped her with the acid inside it?
I just keep asking myself why would no one notice that the amusement park lights are going on and off. Or that all the rides are on when the park is usually closed.
Omg I do not need the 40 pages of Blythe explaining over and over about why she killed everyone. Sigh. It's so boring.
Well I guess that's how it ends... She just takes herself out...
Final Thoughts:
I feel like this story started out pretty good at times, though it felt more wordy than showy for so much of the book. After all the action we slow it down for the last 20-plus pages to go over and over about why Blythe killed everyone and complain about how unfair things are for her. It comes off boring by this point. It goes from intense running action to slamming on the brakes and let's just sit on this ferris wheel to talk about stupid things. By then I no longer cared and just wanted the book to be done.
I was so torn between giving this book 3 stars or 2 stars. I decided on 3 because it was meh but it kept me reading, so that must mean something.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
small>
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Everyone at Pritchett High wants an invitation to the Senior Scavenge. In 2020, Violet Warren and her friends are the lucky ones. Eight girls will break into the Poison Apple Carnival after hours for a scavenger hunt, then at sunrise they’ll gather for a celebration in honor of their upcoming senior year.But someone else has another game planned. Minutes after the girls sneak into the carnival, a madman in a rubber mask begins slashing his way through the group and Violet quickly realizes his motives are personal. As she watches her friends die in a series of increasingly bizarre attacks, she must fight to survive while trying to answer the question: What could she have done to earn a fast-pass for a roller coaster ride straight to hell?
Release Date: October 19th, 2020
Genre: Horror
Pages: 245
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. Love the cover
3. Carnival setting
What I Didn't Like:
1. Some characters are annoying
2. Nothing happens for soooo long
3. The ending - thought it was never going to end
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
I've never been in a band class where all the instruments are supplied. They must have a huge school budget.
Oh my is something more going to happen? So far it's just girls going to the gas station, going to eat, and complaining about one another.
Emma being upset at the town when she's the one that acted all cocky about Stanford University and failing out over anxiety, is ridiculous. She's blaming the town because she made it her whole personality and now she is back. Egh.
Why would you get high when you're sneaking into a carnival in the middle of the night illegally? I get their teenagers but this is the dumbest thing I've ever read. Who wants to be stoned out of their mind when you're doing something like this?
How is the Licker able to lift Mila up enough on the wall and still hammer her hand? Imagine this scenario... Plus I know she's a little out if it but you aren't going to let someone just keep hammering you there in place. He can't hold her to the wall with too much strength since he needs two hands to hammer. This whole scene makes zero sense. Also also your body can't hold you up with nails in your hands. It would rip between the fingers. Wish the author would have used a drill to screw nails into her wrists to hold her up. That would have helped one scenario at least.
Come on the Licker is a female. That's why they are using a voice changer. It's clearly someone they know.
Holy hell this ending with the girls bickering back & forth and having to hear about her Blythe's social media bs.
Sorry I refuse to believe that Blythe is able to carry around dead bodies like they weigh nothing. Also how would she think it wouldn't come back on her when there is a body found in the dunk tank after someone helped her with the acid inside it?
I just keep asking myself why would no one notice that the amusement park lights are going on and off. Or that all the rides are on when the park is usually closed.
Omg I do not need the 40 pages of Blythe explaining over and over about why she killed everyone. Sigh. It's so boring.
Well I guess that's how it ends... She just takes herself out...
Final Thoughts:
I feel like this story started out pretty good at times, though it felt more wordy than showy for so much of the book. After all the action we slow it down for the last 20-plus pages to go over and over about why Blythe killed everyone and complain about how unfair things are for her. It comes off boring by this point. It goes from intense running action to slamming on the brakes and let's just sit on this ferris wheel to talk about stupid things. By then I no longer cared and just wanted the book to be done.
I was so torn between giving this book 3 stars or 2 stars. I decided on 3 because it was meh but it kept me reading, so that must mean something.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
small>
September 4, 2023
Great Slasher!!!
I haven’t read a good teen slasher for a long time and this book reminded me that I have to read more!! This story is about a group of teen trying to complete a scavenger hunt. This is an annual high school senior event that all the girls are excited about. Usually this event is at the high school but, this year they are going to a closed carnival, at night when the place is closed. Well, I’m sure you know what happens next. Murder is around every corner. The big question is…how many survive?
I haven’t read a good teen slasher for a long time and this book reminded me that I have to read more!! This story is about a group of teen trying to complete a scavenger hunt. This is an annual high school senior event that all the girls are excited about. Usually this event is at the high school but, this year they are going to a closed carnival, at night when the place is closed. Well, I’m sure you know what happens next. Murder is around every corner. The big question is…how many survive?
November 23, 2023
There was some elements of this one that I really liked but also some things that took away from my enjoyment.
I loved
- how much time we are given to get to know our character
- the setting and that the kills revolves around the setting
However I hated the choice to make the girls high this led to such anticlimactic kills for me. The girls were "so high" they stood no chance against the killer. Sometimes not even running away. It just really sucked the fun out of the kills to me. And I'm defs reading a slasher for the fun kills.
Overall this was an okay slasher but not a new fav
I loved
- how much time we are given to get to know our character
- the setting and that the kills revolves around the setting
However I hated the choice to make the girls high this led to such anticlimactic kills for me. The girls were "so high" they stood no chance against the killer. Sometimes not even running away. It just really sucked the fun out of the kills to me. And I'm defs reading a slasher for the fun kills.
Overall this was an okay slasher but not a new fav
September 25, 2021
I really dig slasher flicks, but with some notable exceptions it’s not a build you see a lot in fiction. TLC had some fun, inventive kills, and the sort of setting I’d love to see committed to celluloid. Despite some pacing issues, I very much enjoyed it. Tholen’s an interesting writer, looking forward to seeing more from her in the future
March 13, 2024
"when a murderer in a rubber mask tells you not to run, you should move like your ass is on fire,"
"Then, as if on cue, a loud crack echoed through the carnival and the lights switched on. A deep, demonic laugh boomed from the House of Horrors, drowning out the cheerful song from the carousel.
I screamed and ran. Red, orange, and yellow plastic strips flew in the air around the exit. The words WELCOME TO HELL screamed from above a bleeding arch. I ran through and burst free from the House of Horrors."
3.75 🍭🍬🍫
*Spoiler*
“Turns out someone was a little uncertain about her future after high school, so she chose to channel her fear into an evening of mayhem and murder.”
Slow start and dragged on til 36% in...almost halfway through, it finally picked up and the kills were Epic 🍭🍬🍫🔪🩸 scream vibes in a carnival setting.
"Then, as if on cue, a loud crack echoed through the carnival and the lights switched on. A deep, demonic laugh boomed from the House of Horrors, drowning out the cheerful song from the carousel.
I screamed and ran. Red, orange, and yellow plastic strips flew in the air around the exit. The words WELCOME TO HELL screamed from above a bleeding arch. I ran through and burst free from the House of Horrors."
3.75 🍭🍬🍫
*Spoiler*
“Turns out someone was a little uncertain about her future after high school, so she chose to channel her fear into an evening of mayhem and murder.”
Slow start and dragged on til 36% in...almost halfway through, it finally picked up and the kills were Epic 🍭🍬🍫🔪🩸 scream vibes in a carnival setting.
September 18, 2022
I devoured this. It’s like…Mean Girls on drugs. Although it was pretty predictable, I absolutely loved that it felt like I was reading a classic 90’s slasher movie! Highly recommend for anyone who’s a fan of carnival horror, nostalgic slasher/horror movies, Christopher Robertson or Grady Hendrix!
September 27, 2021
Had High hopes….
When I saw the synopsis for this book, I was super excited. Sounded like something right up my alley. I guess in a way it was…. But it just a meh story that I will most likely forget two days from now. It was by no means horrible, but it felt lacking in character development, and it was filled with illogical and unrealistic scenarios and plot holes. It’s never a good thing when I keep checking to see how many more pages are left. Too bad!
When I saw the synopsis for this book, I was super excited. Sounded like something right up my alley. I guess in a way it was…. But it just a meh story that I will most likely forget two days from now. It was by no means horrible, but it felt lacking in character development, and it was filled with illogical and unrealistic scenarios and plot holes. It’s never a good thing when I keep checking to see how many more pages are left. Too bad!
October 9, 2022
Okay so…the kills FIVE STARS.
The rest…One star.
The rest…One star.
April 26, 2024
3,5 ⭐
Oh wow... That was a RIDE, let´s just say that
I love slasher movies so I knew that somehow I wasn't going to be disappointed. However, my problem with this book is that, to be honest, I didn't connect at all with the characters (except Violet, who is the protagonist and my favorite character).
Even so, I didn't expect Blythe to be the murderer AT ALL. I'm not going to deny that the reason she killed was because she wanted to be famous and she hated her friends. She reminded me too much of Jill Roberts in Scream 4.
Even so, it hasn't been bad at all, it's quite entertaining, however don't expect much from the characters, they are quite flat and simple
Oh wow... That was a RIDE, let´s just say that
I love slasher movies so I knew that somehow I wasn't going to be disappointed. However, my problem with this book is that, to be honest, I didn't connect at all with the characters (except Violet, who is the protagonist and my favorite character).
Even so, I didn't expect Blythe to be the murderer AT ALL. I'm not going to deny that the reason she killed was because she wanted to be famous and she hated her friends. She reminded me too much of Jill Roberts in Scream 4.
Even so, it hasn't been bad at all, it's quite entertaining, however don't expect much from the characters, they are quite flat and simple
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️
This book could have been great, but it fell flat on its face for me
I can’t honestly say there was one likeable character in the whole book… also, I get that they ate edibles but c’mon man, they all acted so stupid and infuriating 😫
like Claire, why did she shout out loud giving away her hiding spot??? and River, leaving a SAFE spot for LEMONADE honestly 🤦🏼♀️
The characters weren’t scared at all, even after seeing someone have their brains bashed in and so on, so why would I be?
I wanted to scream at them all
and the killer was so obvious, there was no shock factor during the “reveal” because come on - we all know who it was. It’s also hard to believe a teenage girl could overpower people physically stronger than her, but hey it’s fiction!
This book could have been great, but it fell flat on its face for me
I can’t honestly say there was one likeable character in the whole book… also, I get that they ate edibles but c’mon man, they all acted so stupid and infuriating 😫
like Claire, why did she shout out loud giving away her hiding spot??? and River, leaving a SAFE spot for LEMONADE honestly 🤦🏼♀️
The characters weren’t scared at all, even after seeing someone have their brains bashed in and so on, so why would I be?
I wanted to scream at them all
and the killer was so obvious, there was no shock factor during the “reveal” because come on - we all know who it was. It’s also hard to believe a teenage girl could overpower people physically stronger than her, but hey it’s fiction!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2024
review to come
Read
November 10, 2023Ok! LESSGO! Come get a whopper of a bad-ass-girl-slasher!
Ain’t nobody safe 💅
I want to give this 5 stars (and I may come back and do just that) BUT I feel like I figured it out too early. Here’s the thing though, I can’t tell if it’s intentional or not.
Da fuq does that mean? Well, I’m not sure if the twist is the intent or if the all out massacre and body-horror-lite is what that author was really dishing out 🤷🏻♀️ Both are great though, I just can’t get past how simple the big surprise felt—actually just don’t listen to me.
The final sequence is brutal, especially if you’re a strings player 👀—so approach with caution.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book; great female representation in the characters and the daily struggles (even if they are shallow) teenagers are dealing with. The final girl trope is just 🤌🏼
Ain’t nobody safe 💅
I want to give this 5 stars (and I may come back and do just that) BUT I feel like I figured it out too early. Here’s the thing though, I can’t tell if it’s intentional or not.
Da fuq does that mean? Well, I’m not sure if the twist is the intent or if the all out massacre and body-horror-lite is what that author was really dishing out 🤷🏻♀️ Both are great though, I just can’t get past how simple the big surprise felt—actually just don’t listen to me.
The final sequence is brutal, especially if you’re a strings player 👀—so approach with caution.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book; great female representation in the characters and the daily struggles (even if they are shallow) teenagers are dealing with. The final girl trope is just 🤌🏼
September 25, 2023
"When you see blood, you know blood, you feel blood."
Violet and her friends have been invited to the 2020 Senior Scavenge, which involves breaking into the Poison Apple Carnival after hours for a scavenger hunt. But someone else has other plans as the girls are hunted down one by one by a madman. Violet must fight to survive.
This book was fun! There was blood, gore, silly teenagers, cringey jokes, a carnival, a crazy killer, and more blood and gore. The atmosphere was perfect as you know how much I love my horror taking place at an amusement park. The rides, the games, the treats, and a murderer with an ugly mask with a protruding tongue. Absolutely wild! 😂
I had an inkling of who the killer was, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. As much as I had fun with this book, it is considered YA so the dialogue and the choices the teens were making were pretty cringe 😂 But it was still decent. It paid homage to the cheesy B list slashers we come to love so if that's what you enjoy, then this one is right up your alley!
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
Violet and her friends have been invited to the 2020 Senior Scavenge, which involves breaking into the Poison Apple Carnival after hours for a scavenger hunt. But someone else has other plans as the girls are hunted down one by one by a madman. Violet must fight to survive.
This book was fun! There was blood, gore, silly teenagers, cringey jokes, a carnival, a crazy killer, and more blood and gore. The atmosphere was perfect as you know how much I love my horror taking place at an amusement park. The rides, the games, the treats, and a murderer with an ugly mask with a protruding tongue. Absolutely wild! 😂
I had an inkling of who the killer was, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. As much as I had fun with this book, it is considered YA so the dialogue and the choices the teens were making were pretty cringe 😂 But it was still decent. It paid homage to the cheesy B list slashers we come to love so if that's what you enjoy, then this one is right up your alley!
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
October 7, 2022
Eight senior’s from Pritchett High are in for a gruesome night when minutes after they sneak into a carnival after hours for a scavenger hunt, they’re met face-to-face with a masked killer hell bent on slashing through them all one by one.
This book had a fun setting and a fun sounding plot but lacked the gooey stuff that made the book particularly interesting.
Firstly, the characters. Since there are 8 of them and we mainly get Violet’s POV, it is hard to actually connect with any of them. I doubt the point of the book was to care for them so it’s sad to see them die (it’s in the blurb, not spoiling!) but personally I do like to feel a connection to a character in a book (whether it’s love or hate, just want some emotion!) Also, this might be a mini-spoiler so if you want to know nothing just skip the rest of this paragraph (now!!!!) but since the characters are high when they enter the carnival, they make the absolute dumbest decisions which makes it less enjoyable because I would’ve much preferred level-headed women who could at least think with a clear head! I totally understand teenagers are dumb and of course they had no idea they’d need a focused brain because they were going to be hunted by psychotic murderer, I just wish it was the case lol
Secondly, the plot. I loved the idea of a slasher book taking place at carnival! But, for me, it fell flat unfortunately. It was definitely gruesome and I was cringing at some parts, but am I a bad person if I say the murders were the only interesting part..? Hear me out lol I just didn’t think anything besides the nitty gritty was anything special because it essentially just a bunch of dumb teenagers being dumb teenagers and it just didn’t hit. The scenes with the madman were the only truly suspenseful part and obviously the whole book can’t be murder but honestly I just wish the characters were smarter to make the plot itself better:’)
Lastly, the end. I cant say too much about it without spoiling it, obviously, but the ending was my least favorite part. It was predictable and… weird. The very very end actually made me laugh out loud and I definitely don’t think that was the reaction I was supposed to have. I just didn’t really enjoy it and with my ongoing dislike for the rest of the book, it was just the cherry on top that got my 2⭐️ rating.
This book was not the worst thing I’ve ever read and I do think I’d give the authors other book a go, but it was not what I was hoping for. At least it has a cool cover!!!
TW’s: Death, blood, gore, & drugs/alcohol.
For more extensive trigger warnings please check websites such as Storygraph to keep yourself safe!
This book had a fun setting and a fun sounding plot but lacked the gooey stuff that made the book particularly interesting.
Firstly, the characters. Since there are 8 of them and we mainly get Violet’s POV, it is hard to actually connect with any of them. I doubt the point of the book was to care for them so it’s sad to see them die (it’s in the blurb, not spoiling!) but personally I do like to feel a connection to a character in a book (whether it’s love or hate, just want some emotion!) Also, this might be a mini-spoiler so if you want to know nothing just skip the rest of this paragraph (now!!!!) but since the characters are high when they enter the carnival, they make the absolute dumbest decisions which makes it less enjoyable because I would’ve much preferred level-headed women who could at least think with a clear head! I totally understand teenagers are dumb and of course they had no idea they’d need a focused brain because they were going to be hunted by psychotic murderer, I just wish it was the case lol
Secondly, the plot. I loved the idea of a slasher book taking place at carnival! But, for me, it fell flat unfortunately. It was definitely gruesome and I was cringing at some parts, but am I a bad person if I say the murders were the only interesting part..? Hear me out lol I just didn’t think anything besides the nitty gritty was anything special because it essentially just a bunch of dumb teenagers being dumb teenagers and it just didn’t hit. The scenes with the madman were the only truly suspenseful part and obviously the whole book can’t be murder but honestly I just wish the characters were smarter to make the plot itself better:’)
Lastly, the end. I cant say too much about it without spoiling it, obviously, but the ending was my least favorite part. It was predictable and… weird. The very very end actually made me laugh out loud and I definitely don’t think that was the reaction I was supposed to have. I just didn’t really enjoy it and with my ongoing dislike for the rest of the book, it was just the cherry on top that got my 2⭐️ rating.
This book was not the worst thing I’ve ever read and I do think I’d give the authors other book a go, but it was not what I was hoping for. At least it has a cool cover!!!
TW’s: Death, blood, gore, & drugs/alcohol.
For more extensive trigger warnings please check websites such as Storygraph to keep yourself safe!
Read
August 18, 2025is ... is this just Ivy Tholen republished under a new name?
May 13, 2023
a slasher set in an after-hours carnival with a killer on the loose? sign me up. this book had a ton of potential and i think if the author just had an editor that would reel her writing in a little, she could write some really fun, cheesy, slasher novels but unfortunately, this just didn't do it for me.
the book wasn't very long, but it was full of unnecessarily long (or just plain unnecessary) passages of the main characters talking and chatting about college stress and reminiscing... at first, it was fun and funny and added personality to them, but it took until about 40% of the way into the book before they even got to the carnival for their scavenger hunt where the killer was on the loose because of all these conversation scenes that added nothing to the plot of the book.
the book wasn't very long, but it was full of unnecessarily long (or just plain unnecessary) passages of the main characters talking and chatting about college stress and reminiscing... at first, it was fun and funny and added personality to them, but it took until about 40% of the way into the book before they even got to the carnival for their scavenger hunt where the killer was on the loose because of all these conversation scenes that added nothing to the plot of the book.
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