Booknook

Title: Party Games (Fear Street Relaunch #2)

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre(s): Young Adult, Horror, Thriller

Content Warnings: Mentions of animal death (taxidermy)

There’s an adage that says: “You can’t go home again.” That’s certainly the case with this Relaunch (AKA reboot) of the original “Fear Street” series by R.L. Stine. Let me tell you, as a teenager, I devoured Stine books by the barrel full. (After I randomly picked up a copy of The Knife at a Scholastic book fair - I’m showing my age here, aren’t I? - I was hooked!) As an adult, I still collect copies of his 90’s novels.

R.L. Stine's books are special to me because they helped develop my imagination and discover the love of reading. When I was a lonely, misunderstood teenager they kept me company and gave me something to wile away the hours I wasn’t in school.

So, I almost feel bad - okay, I do feel bad - saying this book was not good, but I can’t lie. It wasn’t. While Stine’s books have never exactly been Shakespeare, they had an addictive quality to them that kept you wanting to turn the pages to find out how it was all going to end. The only reason I kept turning the pages of Party Games? I wanted it to end so I could be done with it. That’s a huge distinction.

What made this book so unlikeable?

As a loyal R.L. Stine fan, I have to advise you not to bother with this novel and instead seek out his original series of Fear Street books. Some of his best ones include The Overnight, The Knife, The Wrong Number, Haunted, The Stepsister, The First Evil (Fear Street Cheerleaders), and Fear Hall: The Beginning & Fear Hall: The Conclusion. Enjoy!