The summer of 1989 brought terror to the town of Shadows Creek, Florida in the form of a massacre at the local carnival, Cirque Berserk. One fateful night, a group of teens killed a dozen people, then disappeared into thin air. No one knows why they did it, where they went, or even how many of them there were, but legend has it they still roam the abandoned carnival, looking for blood to spill. Thirty years later, best friends Sam and Rochelle are in the midst of a boring senior trip when they learn about the infamous Cirque Berserk. Seeking one last adventure, they and their friends journey to the nearby Shadows Creek to see if the urban legends about Cirque Berserk are true. But waiting for them beyond the carnival gates is a night of brutality, bloodshed, and betrayal. Will they make it out alive, or will the carnival’s past demons extinguish their futures?

I loved this horror novel. It was so much fun! I didn’t know it was part of a series until I picked up the book. Now, I want to go and read the first three books; Cirque Berserk is number four. I enjoyed the beginning with Daniel being a creepy killer. It really set the tone. Then readers came to enjoy Sam and Rochelle’s senior high school field trip. I loved their friendship and how they interacted with their classmates, especially the guy who had a crush on Rochelle. Since the very beginning set up something sinister would happen, I liked the slow pacing of getting to know all the students. They were all introduced at once on the bus. Devoting each chapter to a character really helped me remember who everyone was. They each had a vivid personality.

My favorite lines: 

1) “This place is haunted? Why would we want to go to a haunted carnival?” 

2) “Well, duh. You heard the urban legend version,” Harley said. “This is way more trustworthy.” 

3) She smiled at the teenager thought of essentials - gum and magazines.

There were a bunch of funny one-liners. Very entertaining. I did notice though in Chapter Six there seemed to be a moment where Noah’s narration should have stopped and gone to another character. I don’t want to give any spoilers away. You’ll have to read to find out, and there were a couple of typos. But overall, the story was great. In fact, I could see this novel as a new season of the hit tv show Slasher or American Horror Story.

I usually have no desire to read books in series. Maybe I’m a lazy reader? I don’t know, but I’m definitely checking out the first three books of the Rewind or Die series. That twist of the killer was very impressive! 

I DEFINITELY recommend this book to read!

Review by Yawatta Hosby

Hello, I’m Yawatta Hosby. I reside in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. I enjoy connecting with other writers through blogging. With a desire to escape every day life, I create short stories, novellas, and novels. I’ve always had a fascination with psychology, so I like to focus on the inner-struggles within my characters. I’m an avid reader, favorite genres: mystery, suspense, horror, and women’s fiction.

My short stories have been featured in The Write Place At the Write Time online journal (2013), When the Lights Go Out anthology (2015), and Don’t Open the Door anthology (2019).

My links:

My website: http://www.yawattahosbysbooks.wordpress.com

My blog:  http://www.yawattahosby.wordpress.com

My YouTube:  Yawatta Hosby - YouTube