Review: The First Scream (Fear Park #1) by R.L. Stine

Title: The First Scream

Series: Fear Park #1

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: August 1996

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

Would you open an amusement park on Fear Street? Would you take a risk and go against the ancient curse of the Fear Family?

Dierdre Bradley's father would. He is opening Fear Park in a few days. But he doesn't know someone--or something--will do anything to stop him.

Soon the screams of joy will turn to screams of terror. And Dierdre will be caught in a nightmare right that never ends.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Are we having fun yet?

The First Scream takes place in two different timelines, I guess? We start off in 1935 then move to the present aka 1996. Well, the synopsis makes it seem like most of our time will be spent in the present but noooo! Most of it takes place in the past. Don’t get me wrong, I would’ve enjoyed it more had I not been lied to and anticipating the switch early on in the book! But the present is literally only the last 40 pages of this book! That was a little frustrating. But anyway, this book...

We start off in 1935 where people in Shadyside basically want to take some land in the Fear Street Woods to make an amusement park. Fear family land. Nicholas Fear, Robin’s dad, is not into it. If I’m honest, I think it’s his right to refuse—it is his land after all. But these assholes (one of them being Richard Bradley’s dad, no surprise there) want to take the land by force, which is totally not cool. So this book is basically the Fears fighting the Bradley for Fear land and trying to prevent an amusement park from being built.

One thing I loved about this book is that we get Fears! Simon Fear is Robin’s great-great-grandfather or something. And we also get magic! Fear family magic! It was really cool! I always love when we have Fear family lore! And I actually really liked Robin. I felt so bad for him, the way he was treated. He’s just very shy and lonely, and I totally felt for him.

One character I hated was Richard, Meghan's boyfriend. Ugh! He is possessive and mean and a jerk and just... ugh! I don’t know why she’s with him. He is such an asshole! Meghan seems to be starting to like Robin, but she’s still with the other guy and I don't understand why. He is the worst! This is another case where character just wants them both. I am hating this trope in these books. Just pick the nice one! God! Break up with Richard so you can be with Robin! Ugh! Why is that so hard to do? I did not like the relationships in this book at all.

In the present day, I was also not the biggest fan of Dierdre’s boyfriend Paul. And this character is ALSO into another guy who is not her boyfriend and she is seeing them both at the same time! WTF! I felt bad for Paul even though I didn’t like him, because just... wow. These relationships... I totally hate them. Break up with Paul so you can be with the guy you’re making out with! Ugh!

The book did have some spooky scary gross scenes, which I loved. There was one scene in particular towards the end of the 1935 story where they’re out in the forest clearing trees and OMG! A thing happened... a very violent thing... and I was totally into it! Holy crap! It was insane! And then at the very end of this there is a plot twist that just blew my mind! Wow. 🤯

This series was very intriguing to me because, first of all, I love it when books are set in an amusement park. Especially if said amusement park is creepy and horrible things happen. Lol. But also, Fear Park is never mentioned in any of the other Fear Street books, so that was weird. But this book just ended up being... okay. I hated most of the characters and I was not a fan of all those relationships. I did like seeing the Fears and Fear magic being used and all the gory, creepy things that happened. I wanted to love this, but I just didn’t. I am looking forward to reading more Fear Park though. Maybe I’ll have better luck with the other two books in the series. 🤷‍♀️

The Fear Street connection: Actual Fears who live on Fear Street!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊