Clown in a Cornfield: a series review
Clown In A Cornfield: A Review
As a lover of all things horror, when I saw that the first book was getting a movie adaptation I knew I had to read it before watching the movie. I did not know what to expect when I first started this series, other than it was a town that was overrun by murderous clowns. Below I will post my each individual reviews for the three books currently out in the series and will update with the fourth book soon as I get my hands on it once it releases in August.
Clown In A Cornfield:
Rating- 3.5 ⭐️
I read the book in preparations for the movie coming out soon, overall the book was decent. It had a few twists and turns and some decent kills and Frendo as a whole seems generally creepy.
With that said, as a horror movie buff, some of the plot was fairly predictable. And overall the book definitely gave Thanksgiving vibes (I know this book was written three years before the Thanksgiving movie and they are definitely different but the plot is still similar.) You have a masked killer who seems to be everywhere trying to kill all the children at a field party, it’s clear from the start that they have a vendetta against the group of teens this book surrounds.
I read the book in preparations for the movie coming out soon, overall the book was decent. It had a few twists and turns and some decent kills and Frendo as a whole seems generally creepy.
With that said, as a horror movie buff, some of the plot was fairly predictable. And overall the book definitely gave Thanksgiving vibes (I know this book was written three years before the Thanksgiving movie and they are definitely different but the plot is still similar.) You have a masked killer who seems to be everywhere trying to kill all the children at a field party, it’s clear from the start that they have a vendetta against the group of teens this book surrounds.
One thing I dislike about the book is that it turns slightly political at times. I don’t know about everyone else, but I read to escape the world, not to read more about the drama we are living through. That being said, the book does end up bringing up things such gun rights. For instance one of the MMC who is slightly an outcast is practically seen as a “gun nut” for owning guns and hunting. This in turn leads to the FMC bringing up semi automatic weapons and such (let’s be honest, they would have really been helpful for those poor kids). The author also references the MAGA movement as well. I am a big believer in that reading is political but a book that is marketed towards teens and young adults it may be a little to out of their understanding or comprehension. I also find it a little odd how some of the character’s sexuality ends up being brought up at a rather unnecessary time. While I’m happy to see diversity in characters gender, and sexual orientation, this just felt pushed and out of place.
I would defiantly recommend this book to someone who is just getting into the horror and or thriller genre. But if that’s then genre you mainly read you may find this book slightly underwhelming.
Overall you can tell that the author loves horror and slashers, but the book for me left something to be missed. Fingers crossed that the movie for once, is better than the book.
Clown In A Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives
Rating: 4⭐️
While I felt that the first book was a little bit of a letdown, this book sort of made up for it. It’s been a year after the Kettle Springs massacre, and life seems to have settled down for Quinn, Cole and Rust. Sure, there are documentaries claiming that it all was a hoax, or that “the three” were responsible for all of the killing that terrible night. But that’s nothing Quinn and her friends can’t handle, but to add insult to injury the Duvall family bought the farm and created a haunted attraction to bring in tourists, and “help the town” but when their Hunter finds “Frendo Lives” written in blood on a barn, maybe the past truly isn’t behind them after all.
I wish it stuck to one point of view and did not flip flop so much between characters and cities, because at times it felt a little scattered. One second you are with Quinn at her college then the next you are back in Kettle Springs with a completely new character. And to be quite honest as much as I love a variety of characters, some like Jerri just felt a little out of place. You’re telling me a 13 year old was invited to a high school party? Much less was invited to be the DJ and had all the equipment? Just feels like the plot had random minor holes in it. But overall Besides a few odd details like these I enjoyed this sequel.
Now on to book 3
Clown In A Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo
Rating: 4⭐️
I was originally confused at first when I started this book, because when introducing the town of New Kettle Springs, it was just labeled Kettle Springs and didn’t give any context as if this was a flash back of the past or something entirely different. I spent a majority of the book thinking that this was a flash back as the school was, a classroom of children of all ages, they had a constable, and there were public executions on the church steps. But boy was I wrong. This was a town built entirely of the followers of Frendo, and the ideas that Arthur Hill believed in.
Quinn has really developed as a character and she is no longer the whiny little girl from the first two books. While she’s still not a fan of guns, violence and killing, she’s no longer afraid to do what it takes to get the information she needs. I know the acknowledgements said this is the end of Quinn’s story, but that she had to have made it out….right? I mean how else would the children of New Kettle Springs have made it to the actual Kettle Springs with Cole and Rust?
Johnny D is the unlikely friend she finds on her journey, while he originally was forced to go with her, he ended up wanting to fight for her cause. I am so sad that we don’t get to see what could have been for this odd potential couple.
One thing I did hate is that we didn’t get to see anything of Cole and Rust until the very end of the book. And we only saw about two little segments of Quinn’s father. But nevertheless I’m actually excited to read book four when it comes out.
This has to be my favorite book in the series. We are following Quinn across America as she exacts her revenge on the crazy internet Frendo’s who came to Kettle Springs to try and kill her and her friends. While she may be in the run from the law, that doesn’t stop her from following the trail of breadcrumbs that the newest cult following leaving for her, and along the way she made an unlikely friend. What will she find at the end of the trail and the small town of New Kettle Springs?
I was originally confused at first when I started this book, because when introducing the town of New Kettle Springs, it was just labeled Kettle Springs and didn’t give any context as if this was a flash back of the past or something entirely different. I spent a majority of the book thinking that this was a flash back as the school was, a classroom of children of all ages, they had a constable, and there were public executions on the church steps. But boy was I wrong. This was a town built entirely of the followers of Frendo, and the ideas that Arthur Hill believed in.
Quinn has really developed as a character and she is no longer the whiny little girl from the first two books. While she’s still not a fan of guns, violence and killing, she’s no longer afraid to do what it takes to get the information she needs. I know the acknowledgements said this is the end of Quinn’s story, but that she had to have made it out….right? I mean how else would the children of New Kettle Springs have made it to the actual Kettle Springs with Cole and Rust?
Johnny D is the unlikely friend she finds on her journey, while he originally was forced to go with her, he ended up wanting to fight for her cause. I am so sad that we don’t get to see what could have been for this odd potential couple.
One thing I did hate is that we didn’t get to see anything of Cole and Rust until the very end of the book. And we only saw about two little segments of Quinn’s father. But nevertheless I’m actually excited to read book four when it comes out.
Takeaways:
I know it's wild to say, but I feel like this is one of the few series that gets better with each book. Book one was a little rocky, and book two I feel had the most plot holes and book three was by far my favorite even though I didn't get much of my favorite couple of Kettle Springs. I saw that many people had DNF these books but I really think if you give them a shot you will like them just as much as I did.
I have really enjoyed this series as a whole. It got off to a rocky start for me, and there are a few plot holes throughout but it is nonetheless enjoyable. It has the creepy clowns, lovable characters and it always leaves you wanting more. I defiantly recommend this series if you want to get into reading horror without reading too much blood and gore. Overall, I give this series a 4.5/5⭐️. I can't wait for book four to release and will add its review to this post soon as I can.
— From the shadows with love, MorallyGrayGhoulette
Comments
Post a Comment