Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare

9 reviews

jackieyvette's review

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I've been on a little horror binge all month and came across this title on a TikTok video comparing it to slasher movies and I got to say this one is sitting pretty up there with the best of them. It was fast and fun and everything you need a high school slasher. The characters are believable and relatable and are people you knew in high school, too. I don't know too much about small town life, but I gotta say this one sounds a lot like what I know it to be like; battle of the generations. 
Cole and Quinn are great leads and the way their stories moved was great to read, even back ground characters were very compelling and it was sad to see some of them die
especially Tucker and Janet

I heard it's getting made into a show/movie and I can't wait.


Crying score: nah.

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booksarefriends_notfood's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book was an enjoyable read and a good introduction to horror for people who don't have a lot of experience in the genre. It reads a lot like an 80s slasher film which I found to be more entertaining than I thought I would. It also has some elements that are a little far-fetched but just crazy enough to be viable for the plot. It was a fast-paced read, would definitely recommend for horror readers dipping their toe in or for someone feeling nostalgic for slasher movies. 

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briarsreviews's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare has been a book I've been yearning for since I heard it came out. The title alone is intriguing - clowns are creepy and now they are in a cornfield? That's an absolute nightmare! Throw in this is a YA novel with LGBTQ+ representation all mixed in with an epic thrill ride of a plot that throws horrific clowns at us? I AM IN.

This book was a fast paced book that brought some giggles and lots of 'Oh' faces as the horror went down. Quinn Maybrook and her Father, Dr. Maybrook move to the itsy, bitsy town of Kettle Springs for a fresh start. The town has been rotting away since the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory shut down with the teens running wild and enjoying their youth and the adults blaming the teens for the horrible town. After a tragic death of a local teen, things just seem to get worse... until Frendo, the Baypen creepy clown mascot shows up and starts a killing spree.

Ohhhhh boy. If you want an R rated gore fest with creepy clowns, this book is for you. There's a serial killer going around in a small town knocking people off and there's clearly some dark stuff going down too. Oh, and teenagers. You know horror + teenagers is always a bad mix. 

I thoroughly enjoy how fast paced this book was and how it really packs a punch. The ending was hinted at along the way, but you'll only get it if you really pay attention. I'm a little disappointed in myself that I didn't guess the complete ending, but I did get about 75% of it right as I was theorizing what was going on. Definitely a must read for horror fans! What an easy but brutal read.

Five out of five stars.

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bookishgoob's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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corpseparty's review

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Takes forever to pick up, it’s just so boring.

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disnelyse's review

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Steven King meets the "Scream" script... perfect for anyone who likes horror/thriller books and doesn't have a problem with gore!

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okinmybook's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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kfalls's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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sheryl_macca's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A small American town surrounded by corn fields is stuck in a time when life was good before all industry, opportunity and hope had died. The proud community spirit is just barely alive amongst the born and bred residents, along with it's corn syrup clown mascot, Frendo. The strong, silent, sheriff and the ambitious, fake mayor are united only in their hatred of the local kids pulling pranks for YouTube, having parties out in the fields, making their own fun since duck shooting and fishing just doesn't cut it anymore.

With nothing to do, nowhere to go and little phone or WiFi signal the neighborhood teenagers are thrown together and forced to be creative. Friends and frenemies flirting, drinking, letting off fireworks, gossiping and figuring out the new girl from Philadelphia with the dead Mom. Nothing seriously criminal but enough to anger the old school seemingly conservative adults of the town.

Enter a serial killer Frendo with a crossbow and a flaming torch to teach those kids a lesson. Another killer clown appears with a circular saw, even more Frendo's are hunting down the party goers with axes and shotguns. All killing indiscriminately with an insatiable hunger for a revenge that the teenagers don't yet understand. What separates the teens is quickly forgotten as they realise that they can only survive by working together. Their differences are not important right now but they won't stay forgotten for long.

Adam Cesare has created a modern slasher love child of a Point Horror book and a Stephen King short story. Clown In A Cornfield has just the right amount of cliché, a really high body count and a savage level of gore for its 15+ teen audience. As an adult horror veteran I found this book to be fun, extremely bloody and perfect for a seasonal Halloween read.

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