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Clown in a Cornfield #2
Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives
After barely making it out of the Kettle Springs cornfields alive, Quinn’s first year of college back in Philadelphia should be safe and comparatively easy. All Quinn wants is to forget what happened and be normal again. But instead, Quinn finds that her past won’t leave her alone when she becomes the focus of a host of online conspiracy theories that claim to prove that the Kettle Springs Massacre never happened. It’s a deranged but relentless fantasy, and there’s nothing Quinn can do to get people to hear the truth — not even on her own campus or in her own dorm room.
So when a murderous clown attacks Quinn at a frat party while another goes after her father in Kettle Springs at the same time, Quinn realizes that that the facts alone are never going to save her. Her only option is to go back home, back into the cornfields, back to where the nightmare began, to set the record straight the only way she knows how. Because when the truth gets lost in the lies, that’s when real people start to die.
It’s an all-new horror classic about what happens when the truth is the last thing we want to believe, the sequel to the 2020 Bram Stoker Award winner.
So when a murderous clown attacks Quinn at a frat party while another goes after her father in Kettle Springs at the same time, Quinn realizes that that the facts alone are never going to save her. Her only option is to go back home, back into the cornfields, back to where the nightmare began, to set the record straight the only way she knows how. Because when the truth gets lost in the lies, that’s when real people start to die.
It’s an all-new horror classic about what happens when the truth is the last thing we want to believe, the sequel to the 2020 Bram Stoker Award winner.
406 pages, Hardcover
First published August 23, 2022
610 people are currently reading
11043 people want to read
About the author
Adam Cesare
65 books2,604 followersAdam Cesare is a New Yorker who lives in Philadelphia. His books include Clown in a Cornfield, Video Night, The Summer Job, and Zero Lives Remaining. He’s an avid fan of horror cinema and runs Project: Black T-Shirt, a YouTube review show where he takes horror films and pairs them with reading suggestions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,139 reviews
November 17, 2025
at long last, i've finally read the one book on goodreads where my review has the most likes.
i read the first book four years ago, and truth be told, i don't remember a whole lot. i did remember enjoying it, calling it a fun romp, but i can't say the same for this book. to be honest, i only cared about quinn and her dad and couldn't care less about the other characters or what else was happening. i can't remember if the first book was also told from multiple povs, but if it was, then i'm sorry to say it didn't really work for this one. there wasn't much of a story or plot, it was all action action action, which made me struggle through the second half of the book. i could feel my eyes glazing over and feeling desperate to get it over and done with.
i appreciate the allusions to the MAGA movement, but the way this book was written, it just all felt so shallow and simplistic, as if it were a screenplay. i have nothing inherently against that kind of storytelling but overall, i was just bored and didn't enjoy it as much as the first one.
*****
2 Clown 2 Cornfield
i read the first book four years ago, and truth be told, i don't remember a whole lot. i did remember enjoying it, calling it a fun romp, but i can't say the same for this book. to be honest, i only cared about quinn and her dad and couldn't care less about the other characters or what else was happening. i can't remember if the first book was also told from multiple povs, but if it was, then i'm sorry to say it didn't really work for this one. there wasn't much of a story or plot, it was all action action action, which made me struggle through the second half of the book. i could feel my eyes glazing over and feeling desperate to get it over and done with.
i appreciate the allusions to the MAGA movement, but the way this book was written, it just all felt so shallow and simplistic, as if it were a screenplay. i have nothing inherently against that kind of storytelling but overall, i was just bored and didn't enjoy it as much as the first one.
*****
2 Clown 2 Cornfield
September 3, 2025
**3.5-stars**
In my opinion, Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives suffered a little bit from middle-book syndrome. You know what I am talking about...
Based upon the rumor mill, plus the way this one left off, I am guessing there is going to be a third book and it's going to knock this one out of the park.
It's been a year since the bloodbath in Kettle Springs. Quinn Maybrook finds herself back in Philadelphia, attending college and trying to recover from the horrors she survived.
The public reaction to the Kettle Springs events are mixed. There are factions of online warriors who believe the whole thing was a hoax and some who believe that Quinn and her friends, Cole and Rust, were the actual perpetrators. Frankly, it's been difficult trying to navigate that atmosphere.
Quinn is a tough egg though, she's getting by the best she can, just trying to blend in.
Back in Kettle Springs, her father is now the mayor, doing his best to get the damaged town back on track.
The town has become a bit of a tourist attraction for fans of the macabre, general looky-los and unfortunately, a few crazies. All the day in the life of an infamous town.
One weekend when Cole and Rust go to visit Quinn at college, they're suddenly attacked by a familiar figure. This isn't their first rodeo, however, and our trio is able to fight off their attackers.
Then Quinn gets the most disturbing call of her life. Something is going down in Kettle Springs and her father seems to be the latest victim. The three must return and seemingly relive the worst night of their life all over again.
Is it a copy-cat? Is it a conspiracy? How were the attacks coordinated? Quinn's not sure yet, but she definitely intends to find out.
I loved Clown in a Cornfield. I started it on release day, read my hardback copy and enjoyed every moment of my reading experience. It was the exact book I needed to kick off the start of my Spooky Season 2020.
I loved the new girl trope we had happening with Quinn as she first arrived in Kettle Springs. The set-up was fantastic, including details as small as the view from Quinn's bedroom window. I see you, Frendo.
The social commentary was fantastic as well and the kill scenes were a ton of fun. I marveled at Cesare's creativity.
While this reading experience was quite different for me, I'm not mad at it.
This time around, I listened to the audiobook, while preparing for and traveling for Thanksgiving. Because of this, I feel like my mind wasn't 100% committed and had the tendency to wander.
In fact, I listened to the last 40% twice, just trying to determine my opinion on it. One issue was that I found the multiple perspectives difficult to track.
Additionally, I found the build-up to the climax to be a bit muddled. In fact, it was confusion city there for me for a while.
Obviously Quinn's personality has completely changed as well. At least it felt that way to me. While that's understandable after all she's been through, I did find it a little more challenging to connect with her.
While Cole and Rust's relationship/angle was a bit of a mess for me, I did enjoy the inclusion of a new character in Kettle Springs, Jeri. Meaning new, as in we get her perspective multiple times in this installment.
Jeri lost her sister in the first book and had a very close call with Frendo. I really enjoyed learning more about her and her experience in the aftermath of his sister's death and the town's sudden infamy.
Personally, I don't think the audibook did me any favors either. It's not like the narration was bad. It really wasn't. It was great in fact. I just think this could have been a better experience for me if I had read my hard copy.
Regardless, this was still a solid book. The themes involved were well-expressed. Particularly relevant in the aftermath of the Alex Jones / Sandy Hook trial. Cesare did a good job channeling those types of real-life issues into this.
I like that. I always enjoy some social commentary in my Horror. So, while this wasn't great for me, I'm still enjoying this series and would absolutely pick up a third book!!!
In my opinion, Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives suffered a little bit from middle-book syndrome. You know what I am talking about...
Based upon the rumor mill, plus the way this one left off, I am guessing there is going to be a third book and it's going to knock this one out of the park.
It's been a year since the bloodbath in Kettle Springs. Quinn Maybrook finds herself back in Philadelphia, attending college and trying to recover from the horrors she survived.
The public reaction to the Kettle Springs events are mixed. There are factions of online warriors who believe the whole thing was a hoax and some who believe that Quinn and her friends, Cole and Rust, were the actual perpetrators. Frankly, it's been difficult trying to navigate that atmosphere.
Quinn is a tough egg though, she's getting by the best she can, just trying to blend in.
Back in Kettle Springs, her father is now the mayor, doing his best to get the damaged town back on track.
The town has become a bit of a tourist attraction for fans of the macabre, general looky-los and unfortunately, a few crazies. All the day in the life of an infamous town.
One weekend when Cole and Rust go to visit Quinn at college, they're suddenly attacked by a familiar figure. This isn't their first rodeo, however, and our trio is able to fight off their attackers.
Then Quinn gets the most disturbing call of her life. Something is going down in Kettle Springs and her father seems to be the latest victim. The three must return and seemingly relive the worst night of their life all over again.
Is it a copy-cat? Is it a conspiracy? How were the attacks coordinated? Quinn's not sure yet, but she definitely intends to find out.
I loved Clown in a Cornfield. I started it on release day, read my hardback copy and enjoyed every moment of my reading experience. It was the exact book I needed to kick off the start of my Spooky Season 2020.
I loved the new girl trope we had happening with Quinn as she first arrived in Kettle Springs. The set-up was fantastic, including details as small as the view from Quinn's bedroom window. I see you, Frendo.
The social commentary was fantastic as well and the kill scenes were a ton of fun. I marveled at Cesare's creativity.
While this reading experience was quite different for me, I'm not mad at it.
This time around, I listened to the audiobook, while preparing for and traveling for Thanksgiving. Because of this, I feel like my mind wasn't 100% committed and had the tendency to wander.
In fact, I listened to the last 40% twice, just trying to determine my opinion on it. One issue was that I found the multiple perspectives difficult to track.
Additionally, I found the build-up to the climax to be a bit muddled. In fact, it was confusion city there for me for a while.
Obviously Quinn's personality has completely changed as well. At least it felt that way to me. While that's understandable after all she's been through, I did find it a little more challenging to connect with her.
While Cole and Rust's relationship/angle was a bit of a mess for me, I did enjoy the inclusion of a new character in Kettle Springs, Jeri. Meaning new, as in we get her perspective multiple times in this installment.
Jeri lost her sister in the first book and had a very close call with Frendo. I really enjoyed learning more about her and her experience in the aftermath of his sister's death and the town's sudden infamy.
Personally, I don't think the audibook did me any favors either. It's not like the narration was bad. It really wasn't. It was great in fact. I just think this could have been a better experience for me if I had read my hard copy.
Regardless, this was still a solid book. The themes involved were well-expressed. Particularly relevant in the aftermath of the Alex Jones / Sandy Hook trial. Cesare did a good job channeling those types of real-life issues into this.
I like that. I always enjoy some social commentary in my Horror. So, while this wasn't great for me, I'm still enjoying this series and would absolutely pick up a third book!!!
September 17, 2022
4.5 Stars
The clown is back in town! It was fun, crazy, gory and stuff! And I mean some really intensely scary moments 😬
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
The clown is back in town! It was fun, crazy, gory and stuff! And I mean some really intensely scary moments 😬
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
dnf
August 24, 2022DNF @ 52%
Cole is pissing me off so badly oh my god. He’s such a shit boyfriend, Rust deserves better.
The constant change in POV is frustrating. I was expecting Quinn, Rust and Cole as POV characters but there’s been like 6 different perspectives and I don’t care about the majority of them. I’m not scared or on the edge of my seat at all.
Disappointing bc the first book was quite fun but this one is just boring, and like I said Cole is just irritating and his personality rubs me the wrong way. I was excited to see the survivors back together but he just ruined the vibe every time. I wasn’t too fond of him anyway but it’s just gone downhill:/ shame!
Cole is pissing me off so badly oh my god. He’s such a shit boyfriend, Rust deserves better.
The constant change in POV is frustrating. I was expecting Quinn, Rust and Cole as POV characters but there’s been like 6 different perspectives and I don’t care about the majority of them. I’m not scared or on the edge of my seat at all.
Disappointing bc the first book was quite fun but this one is just boring, and like I said Cole is just irritating and his personality rubs me the wrong way. I was excited to see the survivors back together but he just ruined the vibe every time. I wasn’t too fond of him anyway but it’s just gone downhill:/ shame!
August 25, 2022
covid ruined my brain for reviewing, but i'm gonna try to catch up on the backlog soon. until then, this book is clowntastic and the perfect day-after-birthday read.
*********************************
this comes out ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! oh my god wheeeeeeeeeeee!
*********************************
this comes out ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! oh my god wheeeeeeeeeeee!
February 13, 2025
Hey, want to hear something messed up? Every time I was going to watch a horror movie when I was younger, I used to look up the plot synopsis on Wikipedia. You know, so the movie would be less scary if I knew when the scares were going to happen. Hey, we all have our quirks! And if it makes you feel better, just know that it never helped, the jump scares still made me jump! The sad thing is that you can’t really use my foolproof plan with a book though, they sure as hell don't have SparkNotes for Clown in a Cornfield!
If the first book was Scream, then this would have to be The Purge, er… except good and more on point with its political commentary. One issue with sequels to slasher flicks is that by the time we get far enough down the line, the killer ends up being the pseudo main character, and the narrative starts gently encouraging the audience to start rooting for them instead of the victims. Thankfully this isn’t the case here, as Quinn and her friends are still very much the center focus, and the clowns are still very much the villains. The main three’s pain and trauma from the first book rolls over into this one, and I thought it was handled in a sensitive enough manner, but maybe there could have been some more resolution? I mean, there's probably more to come, so it's whatever. Besides, other than that, it is kind of funny that the author had to find a way to split the characters up because Quinn is such a badass that the book would have been over in half the pages had she been there the whole time.
“Here she was again. Shooting clowns.”
As one does. Anyway, there were a couple things that annoyed me though. The characters in this seemed to do worse against the clowns than in the first one, even though both Rust and Quinn seemed to have been training a whole year for this eventuality. Shape up! You’re in Clown in a Cornfield 2: Return of Frendo, peep the "2!" Maybe it's supposed to be like Halloween (2018), where Laurie Strode spent, like, forty years planning for Michael to come back and then when he does, because she never dealt with her trauma in a healthy way, she was still wholly unprepared in the only way that mattered. Well... that's not entirely true, because her little fire trap seemed to work good enough. Also, there’s a hint of the narrative trying to “both side’s” the whole clown situation, like trying to say that maybe some of them are capable of change? Forgive me if I’m not particularly interested in the nuanced discussion of evil murder clowns. Absolute clownery if you ask me.
On my spook-o-meter, I’d say this scores a solid 7 all around, whereas the first book would probably be about 5, except for the one chapter that was a 9. I’d ask for another sequel, but I like these characters enough to the point where I wouldn’t wish yet another scuffle with clowns on them.
If the first book was Scream, then this would have to be The Purge, er… except good and more on point with its political commentary. One issue with sequels to slasher flicks is that by the time we get far enough down the line, the killer ends up being the pseudo main character, and the narrative starts gently encouraging the audience to start rooting for them instead of the victims. Thankfully this isn’t the case here, as Quinn and her friends are still very much the center focus, and the clowns are still very much the villains. The main three’s pain and trauma from the first book rolls over into this one, and I thought it was handled in a sensitive enough manner, but maybe there could have been some more resolution? I mean, there's probably more to come, so it's whatever. Besides, other than that, it is kind of funny that the author had to find a way to split the characters up because Quinn is such a badass that the book would have been over in half the pages had she been there the whole time.
“Here she was again. Shooting clowns.”
As one does. Anyway, there were a couple things that annoyed me though. The characters in this seemed to do worse against the clowns than in the first one, even though both Rust and Quinn seemed to have been training a whole year for this eventuality. Shape up! You’re in Clown in a Cornfield 2: Return of Frendo, peep the "2!" Maybe it's supposed to be like Halloween (2018), where Laurie Strode spent, like, forty years planning for Michael to come back and then when he does, because she never dealt with her trauma in a healthy way, she was still wholly unprepared in the only way that mattered. Well... that's not entirely true, because her little fire trap seemed to work good enough. Also, there’s a hint of the narrative trying to “both side’s” the whole clown situation, like trying to say that maybe some of them are capable of change? Forgive me if I’m not particularly interested in the nuanced discussion of evil murder clowns. Absolute clownery if you ask me.
On my spook-o-meter, I’d say this scores a solid 7 all around, whereas the first book would probably be about 5, except for the one chapter that was a 9. I’d ask for another sequel, but I like these characters enough to the point where I wouldn’t wish yet another scuffle with clowns on them.
May 27, 2023
Sometimes déjà vu wasn’t déjà vu. Sometimes it was just the same shit happening again and again until it drove you insane.
I really enjoyed the first Clown in a Cornfield but this one became a bit of a chore. I just wanted more clowns murdering more children. But after the events of the first book, the fictional internet filled up with conspiracy theorists, groupies, and copycats, and it all just started feeling like the real world six o'clock news. Is the six o'clock news still a thing?? Either way, I found the book more annoying than anything else :(
I really enjoyed the first Clown in a Cornfield but this one became a bit of a chore. I just wanted more clowns murdering more children. But after the events of the first book, the fictional internet filled up with conspiracy theorists, groupies, and copycats, and it all just started feeling like the real world six o'clock news. Is the six o'clock news still a thing?? Either way, I found the book more annoying than anything else :(
August 2, 2025
I enjoyed this one slightly less than the first one but it was still really good! A bit slower than the first one but there’s a lot more happening with a lot more moving parts.
The only thing that got me was the plot immunity of some of the characters, they seemingly survive everything and I thought it would be more interesting to loose some of those vital characters.
Still really happy with this book tho!
The only thing that got me was the plot immunity of some of the characters, they seemingly survive everything and I thought it would be more interesting to loose some of those vital characters.
Still really happy with this book tho!
July 29, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This definitely suffered from sequel syndrome. The clowns were less clowny. The gore was less gory. The vibes were less vibey. Not only did this feel like a letdown after a stellar first installment, but this also gave big middle book in a trilogy energy. It wanted to lead us somewhere, but it couldn’t take us all the way there because, you know, third book coming.
So instead we kind of get strung along, weaving through some interesting plot stuff, but never fully fleshing out motivations, and failing to offer any closure to any of the story lines. It just felt unsatisfying. I predict that the third book will be better, and I’m still into this series, but this was just a bit listless.
This definitely suffered from sequel syndrome. The clowns were less clowny. The gore was less gory. The vibes were less vibey. Not only did this feel like a letdown after a stellar first installment, but this also gave big middle book in a trilogy energy. It wanted to lead us somewhere, but it couldn’t take us all the way there because, you know, third book coming.
So instead we kind of get strung along, weaving through some interesting plot stuff, but never fully fleshing out motivations, and failing to offer any closure to any of the story lines. It just felt unsatisfying. I predict that the third book will be better, and I’m still into this series, but this was just a bit listless.
April 19, 2022
Kettle Springs is the new Woodsboro and you can't change my mind. I was just as excited for Quinn, Rust, and Cole's return in this sequel as I was every time I got to see Sidney, Gale, and Dewey reunite. The way Adam Cesare totally invokes all the power of the slasher sequel gods and still throws in twists as well as a deeply horrifying social satire deserves all the praise I can give. I loved seeing where everyone started off after their season of recuperation from the attacks in the first book and their entire journey through Frendo Lives. Cesare just knows how to write characters so wonderfully. And at the heart of this gory slasher (... can I put "franchise" into the universe and manifest this, please??) the friendships and relationships stand out so much to me. Don't get me wrong... there are a couple of kill scenes that had my jaw on the floor and really excited, too! I had a blast reading this and loved how it all came together at the end. I mean... I MEAN! This is a must-read if you enjoyed the first one, duh. And if you haven't read the first book, you need to so that you can read THIS one. Your brain will thank you!
I am totally looking forward to future installments like Clown in a Cornfield: Your Sister is a Clown, The Clown Party Massacre, and maybe even Frendo Takes Manhattan or Frendo's Revenge. PLEASE!
I am totally looking forward to future installments like Clown in a Cornfield: Your Sister is a Clown, The Clown Party Massacre, and maybe even Frendo Takes Manhattan or Frendo's Revenge. PLEASE!
June 16, 2025
2.5⭐ This one was a let down fr cuz I expected it to be more fun like the first one but it definitely suffers a bit from the middle book syndrome.
What can you expect-
- YA slasher
- Set during the Halloween weekend (perfect to read in fall)
- multiple povs
- killer clowns
- ptsd rep
We follow Quinn, the badass & headstrong FMC who newly moved to the town in the first book but now, she's moved back to Philadelphia for college. And she's forced to return to Kettle Springs when something terrible happens & chaos ensues from there.
We have some new characters introduced here & Jerri (one of the survivors of last year's massacre) was one I really found a liking to & I didn't really care about Hunter. Plus we get an inside look into the minds of some of our old characters & it was quite painful to see them reliving the terrible day and having nightmares about it. It's like even though they moved on in life, they really cannot move on from that moment and to go through something similar again is torture indeed!!!!
Now to what I didn't like - mainly the plot & the reasoning behind the new killings!! It didn't seem plausible that such a thing could happen but even if I could turn a blind eye to that, the story felt a bit all over the place. Like I had to pause the audiobook quite a few times to rewind & listen to what was happening cuz the plot moved to different povs back to back & it lost me there as I felt it hard to keep up😭😭 And I kinda hated one of the characters I started to like in the first book (Cole), he got so annoying & felt like a different person for the first half (he was like that in the first book but definitely redeemed by the end but to revert back to being the jerk again felt so unnecessary), like why make him change in the first place?!!!
But I still liked Quinn in this & she seemed to have become more badass & strong, and I liked that for my girl cuz instead of waiting for anyone to come & save her, she takes the action first!! Plus the ending was the only saving grace in this book & Quinn's change of interest in the ending chapter has me more curious about the third book. Trust me when I say I had no intention of continuing the series but Quinn makes me want to & I really wanna see where she's gonna go from there.
Overall, it was an okay read for me & I wouldn't really recommend continuing the series. Let's hope this changes after I read the finale.
What can you expect-
- YA slasher
- Set during the Halloween weekend (perfect to read in fall)
- multiple povs
- killer clowns
- ptsd rep
We follow Quinn, the badass & headstrong FMC who newly moved to the town in the first book but now, she's moved back to Philadelphia for college. And she's forced to return to Kettle Springs when something terrible happens & chaos ensues from there.
We have some new characters introduced here & Jerri (one of the survivors of last year's massacre) was one I really found a liking to & I didn't really care about Hunter. Plus we get an inside look into the minds of some of our old characters & it was quite painful to see them reliving the terrible day and having nightmares about it. It's like even though they moved on in life, they really cannot move on from that moment and to go through something similar again is torture indeed!!!!
Now to what I didn't like - mainly the plot & the reasoning behind the new killings!! It didn't seem plausible that such a thing could happen but even if I could turn a blind eye to that, the story felt a bit all over the place. Like I had to pause the audiobook quite a few times to rewind & listen to what was happening cuz the plot moved to different povs back to back & it lost me there as I felt it hard to keep up😭😭 And I kinda hated one of the characters I started to like in the first book (Cole), he got so annoying & felt like a different person for the first half (he was like that in the first book but definitely redeemed by the end but to revert back to being the jerk again felt so unnecessary), like why make him change in the first place?!!!
But I still liked Quinn in this & she seemed to have become more badass & strong, and I liked that for my girl cuz instead of waiting for anyone to come & save her, she takes the action first!! Plus the ending was the only saving grace in this book & Quinn's change of interest in the ending chapter has me more curious about the third book. Trust me when I say I had no intention of continuing the series but Quinn makes me want to & I really wanna see where she's gonna go from there.
Overall, it was an okay read for me & I wouldn't really recommend continuing the series. Let's hope this changes after I read the finale.
August 30, 2024
5🌟 on reread in 2024
4.5🌟
4.5🌟
October 25, 2022
I didn't really know what to expect going into this one; I had high hopes, but honestly wasn't sure if Cesare was going to pull off a sequel. The original was a pleasant surprise and a sequel is going to have some pretty big shoes to fill (unintentional clown pun). This story strained credibility at a few points, but I'm happy to say it was still a fun and worthy sequel and I'm looking forward to a third installment, if it materializes.
It's a year after the events of the first book and the survivors have all become somewhat famous/infamous. A lot of the story seems to focus on an Alex Jones/Infowars-esque conspiracy that the events of the original book didn't play out how they've been portrayed by the media. I'd like to say it's pretty unbelievable, but real life has taught me that some people really are that stupid. I still struggled with staying immersed in the story because of some really dumb characters, but I never reached book tossing rage levels.
I think it's a safe bet that if you enjoyed the first book, then the sequel is going to be worth your time. To be fair, it isn't as good as the original, but sequels seldom are. If you've read the first one, then you might as well give this one a go too. I didn't expect much from the original but was pleasantly surprised. This book had a lot higher of a bar to live up to and it was mostly successful at reaching it.
It's a year after the events of the first book and the survivors have all become somewhat famous/infamous. A lot of the story seems to focus on an Alex Jones/Infowars-esque conspiracy that the events of the original book didn't play out how they've been portrayed by the media. I'd like to say it's pretty unbelievable, but real life has taught me that some people really are that stupid. I still struggled with staying immersed in the story because of some really dumb characters, but I never reached book tossing rage levels.
I think it's a safe bet that if you enjoyed the first book, then the sequel is going to be worth your time. To be fair, it isn't as good as the original, but sequels seldom are. If you've read the first one, then you might as well give this one a go too. I didn't expect much from the original but was pleasantly surprised. This book had a lot higher of a bar to live up to and it was mostly successful at reaching it.
May 5, 2025
Adam Cesare's 2020 young adult horror thriller, "Clown in a Cornfield" was a surprisingly intelligent slasher with a pretty obvious anti-Trump agenda. It was brutal and gory but also somewhat humorous in its excoriation of Trump supporters, Q-Anoners, white supremacist assholes, and any and all provincial morons in between.
The problem was that it was written before January 6, 2021. "Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives" was written after J6, after the world saw what uneducated white assholes who had been spoon-fed lies and conspiracy theories for four years were capable of and how dangerous Trump really was. What was funny only a year before wasn't really that funny anymore.
The horrific fictional events of the first book are, in this social media-driven world, considered by some as "fake news". Conspiracy theorists on the Internet claim that the event was staged, a hoax, and that nobody actually died. Or, the alleged victimized children were, in truth, the real culprits, framing the crazed adults accused of murder.
Survivors Quinn, Rust, and Cole are now in college. They are trying to live their lives, but the events in Kettle Springs, Iowa somehow keep following them. Literally, it turns out, as, one night, Frendo the Clown shows up in the dorm room and tries to kill them. They manage to subdue the psychotic clown, but Quinn receives a call that her father, the current mayor of Kettle Springs, is in the hospital after a similar attack by a killer clown.
They return to Iowa to find that many of the crazed townspeople---bent on revenge against the liberal elites and the rising tide of minorities, immigrants, and gays---still have it in for the young trio, and they've choreographed another bloody Halloween night just for them.
Cesare will more than likely piss off about 20-30% of the population. Not that they'd ever be caught reading this liberal "woke" shit anyway.
Highly recommended.
The problem was that it was written before January 6, 2021. "Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives" was written after J6, after the world saw what uneducated white assholes who had been spoon-fed lies and conspiracy theories for four years were capable of and how dangerous Trump really was. What was funny only a year before wasn't really that funny anymore.
The horrific fictional events of the first book are, in this social media-driven world, considered by some as "fake news". Conspiracy theorists on the Internet claim that the event was staged, a hoax, and that nobody actually died. Or, the alleged victimized children were, in truth, the real culprits, framing the crazed adults accused of murder.
Survivors Quinn, Rust, and Cole are now in college. They are trying to live their lives, but the events in Kettle Springs, Iowa somehow keep following them. Literally, it turns out, as, one night, Frendo the Clown shows up in the dorm room and tries to kill them. They manage to subdue the psychotic clown, but Quinn receives a call that her father, the current mayor of Kettle Springs, is in the hospital after a similar attack by a killer clown.
They return to Iowa to find that many of the crazed townspeople---bent on revenge against the liberal elites and the rising tide of minorities, immigrants, and gays---still have it in for the young trio, and they've choreographed another bloody Halloween night just for them.
Cesare will more than likely piss off about 20-30% of the population. Not that they'd ever be caught reading this liberal "woke" shit anyway.
Highly recommended.
January 4, 2023
Poor Quinn has a little more to worry about than the dreaded Freshman Fifteen as she heads off to college. Conspiracy theorists and the numbskulls who believe them have painted her and a few pals who survived the Kettle Springs Massacre as the REAL PERPETRATORS of the horrific carnage that claimed the lives of nearly 30 souls that dark, dark night only one year ago.
"Who are they? Why are they doing this?"
Rust shrugged. "The internet."
"No, but who are they?
"The internet . . ."
Sometimes guys wearing Viking helmets and carrying AR 15s can be even scarier than smelly, stabby clowns.
Cesare is good; he know what scares you . . . or me, anyway:
"Is this going to be gory? I can't deal with gore. Especially eye stuff. And finger---"
If you liked the first go round, this one should also tickle your funny bone, and scare your pants off.
"Who are they? Why are they doing this?"
Rust shrugged. "The internet."
"No, but who are they?
"The internet . . ."
Sometimes guys wearing Viking helmets and carrying AR 15s can be even scarier than smelly, stabby clowns.
Cesare is good; he know what scares you . . . or me, anyway:
"Is this going to be gory? I can't deal with gore. Especially eye stuff. And finger---"
If you liked the first go round, this one should also tickle your funny bone, and scare your pants off.
February 25, 2024
I'll write a full review later, but I'm sad to say this was a massive disappointment.
June 23, 2022
One year has passed since the Kettle Springs Massacre, in which a score of high school teenagers were slaughtered by their clownishly-attired elders in an effort to make their failing town great again. In the months since, the three kids who put an end to this catastrophe - Quinn, Rust, and Cole - have become the target of online conspiracy theorists and right-wing lunatics (because, really, are there any other kind?). An Alex Jones-like mouthbreather decries the massacre as a false flag operation in a series of YouTube videos, while others lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of The Three, putting a target on their heads.
As any horror-hound knows, the one-year anniversary of a slasher's attack is heavy with macabre promise. Quinn, now attending school at a Pennsylvania university, is lured back to Kettle Springs after her father, now the town's mayor, is attacked, at the exact same moment a gunman interrupts her dorm's Halloween party. Their assailants? Clowns, dressed like the former Kettle Springs mascot and founder, Frendo. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cornfields...
Like any good sequel, Adam Cesare raises the stakes considerably for Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives, and brings in a spate of new characters to grow concerned for, all the while making you wonder if they could be the prime suspect in this new series of killings. Frendo Lives also gives Cesare yet another chance to show off his chops as a slasher aficionado, giving us some nicely brutal and highly cinematic kill scenes that help paint Frendo in shades of Scream's Ghostface and Halloween's Michael Meyers, as the clownish killer stealthy moves through the shadows, stalking his (or her!) prey before pouncing.
Frendo Lives also ramps up the political commentary from the previous book, as Cesare presents us with a January 6-inspired post-Trump horror slasher novel. It's almost impossible to not draw parallels between Frendo's army of right-wing terrorizers and online conspiracy theorists and that other clown's insurrection on Capitol Hill at the start of 2021, and the homophobia that's central to the right-wing platform. As one of the book's central gay character notes, "There are hundreds, thousands, of fucked-up people out there. And all those people sit in their threads and message boards and they hate us. All day every day." While Rust is talking about the useful idiots donning clown masks to wreak havoc and kill kids, as a gay man in 2022 America, at the height of "Don't Say Gay" legislation and further regressive GOP politicking, his words take on added weight, particularly as he finds himself the target of bloodthirsty extremists.
Between its predecessor and this sequel, the Clown in a Cornfield series captures the virulent zeitgeist of our Trumpian times, built off the backbone of, and inspired by, the topics of our time, from Sandy Hook to bigotry, and right on through to QAnon and MAGA hysterics and a violent would-be revolution built by, shaped by, and in the name of one rich, ridiculous clown.
As any horror-hound knows, the one-year anniversary of a slasher's attack is heavy with macabre promise. Quinn, now attending school at a Pennsylvania university, is lured back to Kettle Springs after her father, now the town's mayor, is attacked, at the exact same moment a gunman interrupts her dorm's Halloween party. Their assailants? Clowns, dressed like the former Kettle Springs mascot and founder, Frendo. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cornfields...
Like any good sequel, Adam Cesare raises the stakes considerably for Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives, and brings in a spate of new characters to grow concerned for, all the while making you wonder if they could be the prime suspect in this new series of killings. Frendo Lives also gives Cesare yet another chance to show off his chops as a slasher aficionado, giving us some nicely brutal and highly cinematic kill scenes that help paint Frendo in shades of Scream's Ghostface and Halloween's Michael Meyers, as the clownish killer stealthy moves through the shadows, stalking his (or her!) prey before pouncing.
Frendo Lives also ramps up the political commentary from the previous book, as Cesare presents us with a January 6-inspired post-Trump horror slasher novel. It's almost impossible to not draw parallels between Frendo's army of right-wing terrorizers and online conspiracy theorists and that other clown's insurrection on Capitol Hill at the start of 2021, and the homophobia that's central to the right-wing platform. As one of the book's central gay character notes, "There are hundreds, thousands, of fucked-up people out there. And all those people sit in their threads and message boards and they hate us. All day every day." While Rust is talking about the useful idiots donning clown masks to wreak havoc and kill kids, as a gay man in 2022 America, at the height of "Don't Say Gay" legislation and further regressive GOP politicking, his words take on added weight, particularly as he finds himself the target of bloodthirsty extremists.
Between its predecessor and this sequel, the Clown in a Cornfield series captures the virulent zeitgeist of our Trumpian times, built off the backbone of, and inspired by, the topics of our time, from Sandy Hook to bigotry, and right on through to QAnon and MAGA hysterics and a violent would-be revolution built by, shaped by, and in the name of one rich, ridiculous clown.
October 20, 2023
This was so fantastic!!! Just as good as the first one!! The clowns are so deranged that I couldn’t look away. Quinn and her friends have to survive once again and they won’t go down without a solid fight.
The plot pulls you right in and the action starts so quickly! I couldn’t stop reading this because I had to find out if they were going to make it! And we have a few new characters that I also fell in love with. They were such great additions to the story. Jerry in particular was a fresh new character who I just had to root for!! So many sequels fall flat because they just can’t match the awesomeness of the first book. This was great and lived up to the first one for sure!
I highly recommend this to those who loved the first one. And if you haven’t read the first one and have a healthy fear of clowns, you should totally read this!!! It’ll have you yelling at the book in no time!!
The plot pulls you right in and the action starts so quickly! I couldn’t stop reading this because I had to find out if they were going to make it! And we have a few new characters that I also fell in love with. They were such great additions to the story. Jerry in particular was a fresh new character who I just had to root for!! So many sequels fall flat because they just can’t match the awesomeness of the first book. This was great and lived up to the first one for sure!
I highly recommend this to those who loved the first one. And if you haven’t read the first one and have a healthy fear of clowns, you should totally read this!!! It’ll have you yelling at the book in no time!!
July 25, 2025
this wasn’t as good as the first one…. but not horrible!! but some of the plot i was like ??? what the heck lol. but then other parts i really enjoyed and gave that slasher vibe i loved in the first one
September 19, 2022
3.5/5
This felt more like a YA novel than the first book and I could‘ve done with out all the relationship drama. The story took a while to get going but I didn’t mind that too much. The climax of the novel however was very disappointing.
This felt more like a YA novel than the first book and I could‘ve done with out all the relationship drama. The story took a while to get going but I didn’t mind that too much. The climax of the novel however was very disappointing.
September 21, 2022
An incredible sequel to the first one. And man I just want this series to be adapted to a movie sooooo badly. It would make an incredible franchise!
I loved that we got to spend more time with our characters and saw how what happened in book one affected them. And how they were all affected and dealing with their trauma differently.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the reasoning for the killers in this one. No spoilers but I thought it was 100% believable!!
Either way I am a waiting a third one. And ready for all the Frendo puns.
If you want a more in-depth review I vloggged myself reading this book for my YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/TQ54v8dNZwE
I loved that we got to spend more time with our characters and saw how what happened in book one affected them. And how they were all affected and dealing with their trauma differently.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the reasoning for the killers in this one. No spoilers but I thought it was 100% believable!!
Either way I am a waiting a third one. And ready for all the Frendo puns.
If you want a more in-depth review I vloggged myself reading this book for my YouTube channel.
https://youtu.be/TQ54v8dNZwE
August 24, 2022
I absolutely loved Clown in a Cornfield 2! Set a year after the events of the first book, we’re following the survivors of the Kettle Springs Massacre as they try to adjust to their new lives and deal with the unwanted attention/infamy that comes from their tragedy. Oh, and there’s a new set of clowns to deal with.
The story is entertaining and I love the clever commentary on mob mentality, internet witch hunts, and the spread of misinformation online. The parallels to the shitstorm that occurred throughout 2020 (and the worship of certain political figures) made CIAC2 a horrifying to read. But, it was also kind of funny when you think of the absurdity of the situation.
The stakes are higher in this story - and so is the kill count. The kills are absolutely brutal and shocking. I loved every minute of it.
Adam Cesare has a very cinematic way of writing and everything flowed like a horror film. I loved the way things came together in the end, and it feels like there’s still room for a third book. THERE BETTER BE A THIRD BOOK.
Overall, I think I’d you liked the first book, enjoy fun slashers with gore, you’ll have fun with this one. Highly recommend!
The story is entertaining and I love the clever commentary on mob mentality, internet witch hunts, and the spread of misinformation online. The parallels to the shitstorm that occurred throughout 2020 (and the worship of certain political figures) made CIAC2 a horrifying to read. But, it was also kind of funny when you think of the absurdity of the situation.
The stakes are higher in this story - and so is the kill count. The kills are absolutely brutal and shocking. I loved every minute of it.
Adam Cesare has a very cinematic way of writing and everything flowed like a horror film. I loved the way things came together in the end, and it feels like there’s still room for a third book. THERE BETTER BE A THIRD BOOK.
Overall, I think I’d you liked the first book, enjoy fun slashers with gore, you’ll have fun with this one. Highly recommend!
September 18, 2022
Disappointing.
I had such a fun time with the first book, but part 2 was nowhere near as entertaining. The multiple POVs didn't work for me. The first part of the book lagged, then it got interesting near the middle with a few much-appreciated creepy moments, then the lagging took up space again before the last handful of chapters.
The story struggled to keep my interest this time around--a shame.
I had such a fun time with the first book, but part 2 was nowhere near as entertaining. The multiple POVs didn't work for me. The first part of the book lagged, then it got interesting near the middle with a few much-appreciated creepy moments, then the lagging took up space again before the last handful of chapters.
The story struggled to keep my interest this time around--a shame.
September 13, 2022
Bleh. The first one was so fun! Part 2 however, was undeniably a chore. This sequel sadly suffers from what I’ll call “The Boys season 3itis”. By that I mean - the concentrated efforts to align the events of the story, with real political issues of the day in an “I’m so clever” wink wink nudge nudge manner, comes across as tired, thinly veiled satire (if it’s even veiled at all!) rather than the fun, gutsy blood & gore fest I had come to expect. I’m not reaching for Clown in a Cornfield to be reminded of the loons who deny the existence of horrific mad shootings or the “proud boys” who assemble into childish hordes to yell about the repression of cis het white men.
To the naysayers whose immediate thought is “hang on Mel, hasn’t horror always been political?” I say, yes of course! But there is a very distinct difference between using horror to unpack political and social issues - either through the use of allegory/metaphor or in a more upfront way; and simply presenting viewers with a slightly tilted rehash of what they are already consuming every time they turn on the news or scroll Twitter. There are a myriad of clever ways to explore trauma or the gaslighting of survivors without presenting a lazy retread of the top stories on Fox “News”.
At the end of the day, I guess my disappointment can be summed up as: I picked this up expecting Slumber Party Massacre II and got Halloween Kills instead. If the latter was your cup of tea, than this book will probably be for you- it just wasn’t for me!
To the naysayers whose immediate thought is “hang on Mel, hasn’t horror always been political?” I say, yes of course! But there is a very distinct difference between using horror to unpack political and social issues - either through the use of allegory/metaphor or in a more upfront way; and simply presenting viewers with a slightly tilted rehash of what they are already consuming every time they turn on the news or scroll Twitter. There are a myriad of clever ways to explore trauma or the gaslighting of survivors without presenting a lazy retread of the top stories on Fox “News”.
At the end of the day, I guess my disappointment can be summed up as: I picked this up expecting Slumber Party Massacre II and got Halloween Kills instead. If the latter was your cup of tea, than this book will probably be for you- it just wasn’t for me!
August 20, 2022
Horror Bookworm Reviews
Clown In A Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
It is the one year anniversary of a bloody crime scene known as The Kettle Springs Massacre. As the flow of time commences, the bloodshed that occurred from the predatory sociopath known as Frendo The Clown has now become center stage for a Haunted Hayride and Scream Park. As the spooky attraction begins its seasonal presentation, three survivors return to the offensive representation of their horrific site. However as killer groupies and true-crime junkies descend upon the entertaining killing ground, Frendo The Clown once again dons its terrifying mask and causes havoc. Heads are sure to roll yet again.
Adam Cesare has resurrected his painted face creation from his successful novel, Clown In A Cornfield. Behold the sequel entitled Frendo Lives, the next shocking saga of that red nosed, wide smiled, porkpie hat wearing masked slasher. Cultivating creative carnage within the fields of cornstalks all the while establishing characters of primary good and absolute evil is a concoction that Cesare excels at.
Delivering a satisfying haunted house experience full of rich harvest horror seems to come easy to this author. He has a distinct talent of guiding the reader on a perilous pathway of scares all the while structuring an intense plot. From the beautiful cover design to the intricate storyline, this novel in my opinion is the complete package. For god’s sake there’s a blurb from Clive Barker on the front cover.
I strongly recommend both Clown In A Cornfield and the sequel Frendo Lives. Purchase both and redeem your Cesare ticket to enter one heck of a horror show. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation. Embrace the Eerie that Adam has to offer.
Clown In A Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
It is the one year anniversary of a bloody crime scene known as The Kettle Springs Massacre. As the flow of time commences, the bloodshed that occurred from the predatory sociopath known as Frendo The Clown has now become center stage for a Haunted Hayride and Scream Park. As the spooky attraction begins its seasonal presentation, three survivors return to the offensive representation of their horrific site. However as killer groupies and true-crime junkies descend upon the entertaining killing ground, Frendo The Clown once again dons its terrifying mask and causes havoc. Heads are sure to roll yet again.
Adam Cesare has resurrected his painted face creation from his successful novel, Clown In A Cornfield. Behold the sequel entitled Frendo Lives, the next shocking saga of that red nosed, wide smiled, porkpie hat wearing masked slasher. Cultivating creative carnage within the fields of cornstalks all the while establishing characters of primary good and absolute evil is a concoction that Cesare excels at.
Delivering a satisfying haunted house experience full of rich harvest horror seems to come easy to this author. He has a distinct talent of guiding the reader on a perilous pathway of scares all the while structuring an intense plot. From the beautiful cover design to the intricate storyline, this novel in my opinion is the complete package. For god’s sake there’s a blurb from Clive Barker on the front cover.
I strongly recommend both Clown In A Cornfield and the sequel Frendo Lives. Purchase both and redeem your Cesare ticket to enter one heck of a horror show. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation. Embrace the Eerie that Adam has to offer.
September 22, 2022
This book was full of heart pumping action and crazy clowns. I listened to the audiobook as well as read the physical copy and the audiobook was good. The narrator was great. I remember absolutely loving the first Clown in a Cornfield but this one I didn’t end up liking as much.
It’s a year later after the massacre and the survivors are doing their best to put the events behind them. However, they cannot escape the fame, the false stories, and the copycats that seem to be popping up. There are also people who deemed the massacre a hoax.
Overall I enjoyed the action packed ending and I am looking forward to whatever Adam Cesare comes out with next.
It’s a year later after the massacre and the survivors are doing their best to put the events behind them. However, they cannot escape the fame, the false stories, and the copycats that seem to be popping up. There are also people who deemed the massacre a hoax.
Overall I enjoyed the action packed ending and I am looking forward to whatever Adam Cesare comes out with next.
April 6, 2025
A great sequel! Going against genre tropes it took its time to start wracking up bodies, and in the end I don’t think the body count topped the first. However, that early part of the novel is spent doing great world-building, showing the reader what the events a year ago have done to the characters, to the town, to the world at large. We are introduced to a number of new characters, some entirely new and some we glimpsed in the previous novel, and that keeps the story feeling expansive, which is great. The writing is tense and atmospheric and when there are scenes of violence and action they are written really well, in an almost cinematic way. The movement across the different POVs feels fluid and natural and really keeps the story going at a good pace, so much so that you don’t want to stop turning the pages. Cesare isn’t afraid to make some bold socio-political statements in this novel, not just about identity and surviving trauma, but about the dangers of mob mentalities as well how much we open ourselves up to indoctrination.
The story felt like a logical extension of the first, and in some ways more realistic than some traditional slashers where the killer’s/killers’ focus on one character or small group of characters feels strained across entries. There is almost an impersonal nature to the violence here, unlike the first, which actually makes it much more frightening. Similar to the first most of the action of the plot happens over the course of not too much more than a single day, and that both puts our characters through a physical and emotional wringer while also making the speed and escalation of violence feel more realistic. Importantly our characters get to continue to grow, with some convenient development happening in the year between the novels but also more happening over the course of the story. We get to see all the main characters as well as a few ancillary transform in the face of the trauma and stress they are facing in this novel, and it is effective and enjoyable. Additionally, the writing and plotting are tense and conspiratorial and pull the reader in. I had a great time reading it from the very first page.
The ultimate ending isn’t quite as much of a “Wow!” moment as the first, in part because the scope is different and revelations structured differently in the narrative, but at the same time it actually feels like a scenario that is more realistic, one that somehow makes the reader more complicit. So even if my breath didn’t catch quite the same way when the full ending was revealed in the first one I still found myself impressed by the story decisions and, for that matter, the character decisions in that story. Would I have liked a stronger cold open death scene and maybe a little heftier body count with a few more buckets of blood thrown in for good measure? Conceptually, sure, you always want sequels to ramp up every aspect of the originals. However, within the world of the narrative Cesare constructed the body count and kill patterns make perfectly good sense. In some ways bucking the expectations of a slasher sequel was smart, it kept me emotionally invested throughout, not something all slashers can do. While the red herrings were a little easier to spot in this one than the first it also felt like it was wearing its heart more firmly on its sleeve which I respect, and I think it is a smart and engaging sequel that has prepared a lot of fertile for whatever may come in the trilogy’s conclusion.
The story felt like a logical extension of the first, and in some ways more realistic than some traditional slashers where the killer’s/killers’ focus on one character or small group of characters feels strained across entries. There is almost an impersonal nature to the violence here, unlike the first, which actually makes it much more frightening. Similar to the first most of the action of the plot happens over the course of not too much more than a single day, and that both puts our characters through a physical and emotional wringer while also making the speed and escalation of violence feel more realistic. Importantly our characters get to continue to grow, with some convenient development happening in the year between the novels but also more happening over the course of the story. We get to see all the main characters as well as a few ancillary transform in the face of the trauma and stress they are facing in this novel, and it is effective and enjoyable. Additionally, the writing and plotting are tense and conspiratorial and pull the reader in. I had a great time reading it from the very first page.
The ultimate ending isn’t quite as much of a “Wow!” moment as the first, in part because the scope is different and revelations structured differently in the narrative, but at the same time it actually feels like a scenario that is more realistic, one that somehow makes the reader more complicit. So even if my breath didn’t catch quite the same way when the full ending was revealed in the first one I still found myself impressed by the story decisions and, for that matter, the character decisions in that story. Would I have liked a stronger cold open death scene and maybe a little heftier body count with a few more buckets of blood thrown in for good measure? Conceptually, sure, you always want sequels to ramp up every aspect of the originals. However, within the world of the narrative Cesare constructed the body count and kill patterns make perfectly good sense. In some ways bucking the expectations of a slasher sequel was smart, it kept me emotionally invested throughout, not something all slashers can do. While the red herrings were a little easier to spot in this one than the first it also felt like it was wearing its heart more firmly on its sleeve which I respect, and I think it is a smart and engaging sequel that has prepared a lot of fertile for whatever may come in the trilogy’s conclusion.
August 28, 2022
3.5 A solid sequel overall, but convoluted and a little unsatisfying. The protagonists of the first book find themselves drawn back to town a year later only to be met with a new conspiracy of clown mask wearing killers. The author takes the opportunity for some interesting social commentary as the villains represent something more like brainwashed alt-right domestic terrorists, convinced of their own righteousness, and fueled by internet conspiracies. The plot is interesting and has a few surprises and twists, but tends toward the confusing. Villain motivations and plans are murky and some plot threads seem either unresolved or tacked on.
One thing I found intriguing was the queer representation. It seemed refreshing in the first book but feels shoehorned in here. Cole and Rust from the first book are still together but hitting a rocky patch. The story acts like they have to fight for for their pure love or something, when it definitely seems like Cole is a little abusive. These two just don’t seem like a good fit and it seems awkward to force them together. It’s such a big focus of the book that I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I kept thinking Rust could do better the entire time. I would have preferred it if their relationship was treated realistically, like Rust moving on but still trying to save someone he no longer had feelings for. But this, despite obvious good intentions, seemed tone deaf.
There’s a newish character Jeri, a freshman who ends up tagging along with Rust for most of the story. And she’s a nice character who hasn’t turned into a cynical survivalist like the other three. I liked the character and felt like the story might have been better with a bigger focus on her. The focus on social media was interesting as well, but felt like it wasn’t used to it’s potential, ending up more as a halfhearted “kids b phonin’” bit than a plan to discredit the heroes online with videos taken out of context. Ultimately, the build-up was a bit too long, and the timeline was a little confusing, but it’s still an enjoyable horror adventure for teens.
One thing I found intriguing was the queer representation. It seemed refreshing in the first book but feels shoehorned in here. Cole and Rust from the first book are still together but hitting a rocky patch. The story acts like they have to fight for for their pure love or something, when it definitely seems like Cole is a little abusive. These two just don’t seem like a good fit and it seems awkward to force them together. It’s such a big focus of the book that I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I kept thinking Rust could do better the entire time. I would have preferred it if their relationship was treated realistically, like Rust moving on but still trying to save someone he no longer had feelings for. But this, despite obvious good intentions, seemed tone deaf.
There’s a newish character Jeri, a freshman who ends up tagging along with Rust for most of the story. And she’s a nice character who hasn’t turned into a cynical survivalist like the other three. I liked the character and felt like the story might have been better with a bigger focus on her. The focus on social media was interesting as well, but felt like it wasn’t used to it’s potential, ending up more as a halfhearted “kids b phonin’” bit than a plan to discredit the heroes online with videos taken out of context. Ultimately, the build-up was a bit too long, and the timeline was a little confusing, but it’s still an enjoyable horror adventure for teens.
December 1, 2022
This series is just fun!
I enjoyed the second one, but I'm still not crazy about the narrator. Some of her male voices made me feel like I was listening to a Scooby-Doo episode and not in a good way.
Curious if there will be a book 3! :)
I enjoyed the second one, but I'm still not crazy about the narrator. Some of her male voices made me feel like I was listening to a Scooby-Doo episode and not in a good way.
Curious if there will be a book 3! :)
September 25, 2022
“Here she was again. Shooting clowns.”
YES! Frendo Lives! Horror sequels make this horror fan’s heart oh-so happy. More fun, more action, more blood! Plus, the gang’s all here. Along with Frendo the Clown!
It’s a year after the Kettle Springs Massacre and our heroes are trying to move on and live their lives. Quinn is off at college, but her old friends and the city she called home before Kettle Springs don’t feel the same. Quinn isn’t the same. Frendo made sure of that. Ditto for Cole and Rust. All three are forever changed. A bloodbath where most of your high school class is slaughtered tends to change one’s outlook on life. Amazingly, there is a pocket of the population out there in the world that believes the massacre didn’t happen though. Some people think Quinn, Cole, and Rust are the murderers. And the conspiracy theories and misinformation are only getting worse. It’s getting dangerous. Quinn has a collapsible baton at the ready and Rust is Cole’s constant shadow. Ruston Vance isn’t going to let anyone hurt his man. Not on his watch! But are these three, “The 3”, being paranoid? Or is something or someone really out to get them?
Mr. Cesare jumps right in with this one! I mean the man kicks off the fun with a motion-censor light scare. Haha…Yup. I was in love at page 17! Because right there, right then, Cesare makes it Crystal-Lake-clear that this book is written by a horror writer. A writer that can turn the shadow out of the corner of your eye real. You’ll see and feel the tension and energy from the get-go. Cesare knows when and how to tickle the skin with chills and when and how to spill the blood in ways to make this hardened horror fan cringe and
“The man’s eyeball exploded, and the white glare of the SUV headlights turned the gore into a strawberry-jelly burst of color.”
Is that line a thing of beautiful or what? Cesare’s gritty, gory killing style elicits giddy, gleeful giggles out of me for goodness sakes. From the words to the pacing to the weapons! They all add up to one gloriously gruesome read armed with all the star-studded, horror toys. Bats and blades, rifles and automatic weapons, fear and panic, clown costumes galore, and even a hot car or two. Come on! Cole has to have a hot car. :D
But what really makes this book special is that little something inspired or taken from real life and spun just so to scare the bejesus out of you. It has to be a familiar element or emotion that readers have felt or seen in their own lives. I have mixed feelings about Cesare’s ripped-from-the-headlines conspiracy nuts. Mainly because they forced me to think of someone I don’t want to think about anymore, but the whole idea and group were very effective. The terrifying, mass hysteria, storm the castle conspiracy theories elevate this story into true horror gold. At one point, the fake horror overlaps perfectly with the real horrors that you’re not sure what to believe. Is it real or pretend? True or false? It never fails to amaze and scare me what people are willing to believe. Quinn, Rust, and Cole have to deal with all that and more here. Along with the insane clowns, of course.
That line. Oh, that line. It can and does mean so much to me.
Humor, gore, and creeps galore all come together to dazzle and scare in this second visit with Frendo the Clown. Plus, there’s a couple of new characters tagging along with our beloved heroes to root for or be suspicious of. I love all of these characters, but Cole is still my favorite. His mix of “charisma and assholish charm” is irresistible. Rust can attest to that. And Quinn. Girl, you’re a badass. Cole, Rust, and Quinn are all horror stars in my book. Here’s hoping they survive for more. Yes! I said it. I want more. Bring on book 3!
Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives is a must read for any and all horror fans.
Extra Love
LOOK AT THAT COVER!!! It’s beautiful.
And the creepiest touch for me….
Read this book!
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