Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives audiobook

covid ruined my brain for reviewing, but i'm gonna try to catch up on the backlog soon. until then, this book is clowntastic and the perfect day-after-birthday read. *********************************this comes out ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! oh my god wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Hey, want to hear something messed up? Every time I was going to watch a horror movie when I was younger, I used to look up the plot synopsis on Wikipedia. You know, so the movie would be less scary if I knew when the scares were going to happen. You can’t really do that with a book though.If the first book was “Scream,” then this would have to be “The Purge,” er… except good. One issue with sequels to slasher flicks is that by the time we get far enough down the line, the killer ends up being the pseudo main character, and the narrative starts gently encouraging the audience to start rooting for them instead of the victims. Thankfully this isn’t the case here. Quinn and her friends are still very much the center focus, and the clowns are still very much the villains. The main three’s pain and trauma from the first book rolls over into this one, and I thought it was handled in a sensitive enough manner, but maybe there could have been some more resolution? Other than that, it is kind of funny that the author had to find a way to split the characters up because Quinn is such a badass that the book would have been over in half the pages had she been there the whole time. “Here she was again. Shooting clowns.”There were a couple things that annoyed me though. The characters in this seemed to do worse against the clowns than in the first one, even though both Rust and Quinn seemed to have been training a whole year for this eventuality. Shape up! You’re in “Clown in a Cornfield 2: Return of Frendo,” come on! Also, there’s a hint of the narrative trying to “both side’s” the whole clown situation, like trying to say that maybe some of them are capable of change? Forgive me if I’m not particularly interested in the nuanced discussion of evil murder clowns. Absolute clownery if you ask me.On my spook-o-meter, I’d say this scores a solid 7 all around, whereas the first book would probably be about 5, except for one chapter that was a 9. I’d ask for another sequel, but I like these characters enough to the point where I wouldn’t wish yet another scuffle with clowns on them.

I didn't really know what to expect going into this one; I had high hopes, but honestly wasn't sure if Cesare was going to pull off a sequel. The original was a pleasant surprise and a sequel is going to have some pretty big shoes to fill (unintentional clown pun). This story strained credibility at a few points, but I'm happy to say it was still a fun and worthy sequel and I'm looking forward to a third installment, if it materializes. It's a year after the events of the first book and the survivors have all become somewhat famous/infamous. A lot of the story seems to focus on an Alex Jones/Infowars-esque conspiracy that the events of the original book didn't play out how they've been portrayed by the media. I'd like to say it's pretty unbelievable, but real life has taught me that some people really are that stupid. I still struggled with staying immersed in the story because of some really dumb characters, but I never reached book tossing rage levels.I think it's a safe bet that if you enjoyed the first book, then the sequel is going to be worth your time. To be fair, it isn't as good as the original, but sequels seldom are. If you've read the first one, then you might as well give this one a go too. I didn't expect much from the original but was pleasantly surprised. This book had a lot higher of a bar to live up to and it was mostly successful at reaching it.

One year has passed since the Kettle Springs Massacre, in which a score of high school teenagers were slaughtered by their clownishly-attired elders in an effort to make their failing town great again. In the months since, the three kids who put an end to this catastrophe - Quinn, Rust, and Cole - have become the target of online conspiracy theorists and right-wing lunatics (because, really, are there any other kind?). An Alex Jones-like mouthbreather decries the massacre as a false flag operation in a series of YouTube videos, while others lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of The Three, putting a target on their heads.As any horror-hound knows, the one-year anniversary of a slasher's attack is heavy with macabre promise. Quinn, now attending school at a Pennsylvania university, is lured back to Kettle Springs after her father, now the town's mayor, is attacked, at the exact same moment a gunman interrupts her dorm's Halloween party. Their assailants? Clowns, dressed like the former Kettle Springs mascot and founder, Frendo. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cornfields...Like any good sequel, Adam Cesare raises the stakes considerably for Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives, and brings in a spate of new characters to grow concerned for, all the while making you wonder if they could be the prime suspect in this new series of killings. Frendo Lives also gives Cesare yet another chance to show off his chops as a slasher aficionado, giving us some nicely brutal and highly cinematic kill scenes that help paint Frendo in shades of Scream's Ghostface and Halloween's Michael Meyers, as the clownish killer stealthy moves through the shadows, stalking his (or her!) prey before pouncing. Frendo Lives also ramps up the political commentary from the previous book, as Cesare presents us with a January 6-inspired post-Trump horror slasher novel. It's almost impossible to not draw parallels between Frendo's army of right-wing terrorizers and online conspiracy theorists and that other clown's insurrection on Capitol Hill at the start of 2021, and the homophobia that's central to the right-wing platform. As one of the book's central gay character notes, "There are hundreds, thousands, of fucked-up people out there. And all those people sit in their threads and message boards and they hate us. All day every day." While Rust is talking about the useful idiots donning clown masks to wreak havoc and kill kids, as a gay man in 2022 America, at the height of "Don't Say Gay" legislation and further regressive GOP politicking, his words take on added weight, particularly as he finds himself the target of bloodthirsty extremists. Between its predecessor and this sequel, the Clown in a Cornfield series captures the virulent zeitgeist of our Trumpian times, built off the backbone of, and inspired by, the topics of our time, from Sandy Hook to bigotry, and right on through to QAnon and MAGA hysterics and a violent would-be revolution built by, shaped by, and in the name of one rich, ridiculous clown.

An incredible sequel to the first one. And man I just want this series to be adapted to a movie sooooo badly. It would make an incredible franchise! I loved that we got to spend more time with our characters and saw how what happened in book one affected them. And how they were all affected and dealing with their trauma differently. I also thoroughly enjoyed the reasoning for the killers in this one. No spoilers but I thought it was 100% believable!!Either way I am a waiting a third one. And ready for all the Frendo puns. If you want a more in-depth review I vloggged myself reading this book for my YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/TQ54v8dNZwE

I absolutely loved Clown in a Cornfield 2! Set a year after the events of the first book, we’re following the survivors of the Kettle Springs Massacre as they try to adjust to their new lives and deal with the unwanted attention/infamy that comes from their tragedy. Oh, and there’s a new set of clowns to deal with. The story is entertaining and I love the clever commentary on mob mentality, internet witch hunts, and the spread of misinformation online. The parallels to the shitstorm that occurred throughout 2020 (and the worship of certain political figures) made CIAC2 a horrifying to read. But, it was also kind of funny when you think of the absurdity of the situation. The stakes are higher in this story - and so is the kill count. The kills are absolutely brutal and shocking. I loved every minute of it.Adam Cesare has a very cinematic way of writing and everything flowed like a horror film. I loved the way things came together in the end, and it feels like there’s still room for a third book. THERE BETTER BE A THIRD BOOK. Overall, I think I’d you liked the first book, enjoy fun slashers with gore, you’ll have fun with this one. Highly recommend!

Horror Bookworm ReviewsClown In A Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesarehttps://horrorbookwormreviews.com/ It is the one year anniversary of a bloody crime scene known as The Kettle Springs Massacre. As the flow of time commences, the bloodshed that occurred from the predatory sociopath known as Frendo The Clown has now become center stage for a Haunted Hayride and Scream Park. As the spooky attraction begins its seasonal presentation, three survivors return to the offensive representation of their horrific site. However as killer groupies and true-crime junkies descend upon the entertaining killing ground, Frendo The Clown once again dons its terrifying mask and causes havoc. Heads are sure to roll yet again. Adam Cesare has resurrected his painted face creation from his successful novel, Clown In A Cornfield. Behold the sequel entitled Frendo Lives, the next shocking saga of that red nosed, wide smiled, porkpie hat wearing masked slasher. Cultivating creative carnage within the fields of cornstalks all the while establishing characters of primary good and absolute evil is a concoction that Cesare excels at. Delivering a satisfying haunted house experience full of rich harvest horror seems to come easy to this author. He has a distinct talent of guiding the reader on a perilous pathway of scares all the while structuring an intense plot. From the beautiful cover design to the intricate storyline, this novel in my opinion is the complete package. For god’s sake there’s a blurb from Clive Barker on the front cover. I strongly recommend both Clown In A Cornfield and the sequel Frendo Lives. Purchase both and redeem your Cesare ticket to enter one heck of a horror show. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation. Embrace the Eerie that Adam has to offer.

Another slasher sequel that brought us more kills and more thrills.Definitely a really worthy bloody sequel full of interesting kills and many great ideas like the haunted maze attraction. I loved that so much.In the sequel we follow the survivors from book one that are trying to have normal lives even though they became famous after surviving a massacre.This time the chapters are divided by characters. So each character would tell their story and what was happening to them through their own voices in those chapters. This constant change of POV was my biggest issue as it can make you disconnect a lot with the characters but the chapters were also short which helped to keep a good pacing. When it comes to the madness and the horror Adam definitely knows how to do it. For being a YA book this one feels pretty adult when it comes to the kills and it is such a great slasher. Also who does not love/hate clowns. Who came up with the idea that clowns are something kids would love? They are truly terrifying. Perfect for: Fans of a good slasher that are looking for a bloody massacre.

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives made me so angry. I really really loved how Adam Cesare chose to write and develop the sequel, but the subject of fake news and conspiracy theories and how that affects people who do have two brain cells to put together enrages me :DThat was really the main force behind the plot here: people who thought the massacre had ben a hoax and who were looking for Answers and The Truth. The multiple perspectives throughout did a good job at presenting the story and building up the tension as that element became more and more relevant in terms of conflict.I really liked the addition of Jerri in relation to that and the little glimpses we got of Quinn and Rust as they learned to deal with the aftermath of it all. I majorly! disliked Cole here and what Cesare decided to do with his character and his relationship with Rust. I really do not understand why him acting the way he did was a thing and why that was such a big part of the story--even more so because we got absolutely no resolution or follow up on that particular situation.The final few chapters were pretty satisfying--special shout out to Rust's dad for being amazing--and I can't say I was upset at Quinn in the final chapter lol Considering everything she had to deal with during this book, I thought her decision to do what she did was rather appropriate.

Huge thanks to netgalley for the ARC for this review!Reader, when I tell you I gasped when I saw this in my approvals on netgalley. The first Clown in a Cornfield was one of my favorite surprises in recent memory. I'm a huge slasher fan, and in my opinion there are just not enough slasher novels, and there are certainly not enough slasher novels with gay characters at the forefront. The first Clown did more than enough to remedy that, and I loved it. I loved Clown 2 (Electric Boogaloo) even more. If the first Clown book was Alien, then Clown 2 (2 Clown 2 Cornfield) is it's Aliens. It's smarter, sharper, and darker than the first. The Clowns themselves are more terrifying than the first book, only because I can actually see something like this happening. Hell, it almost DID happen on January 6th, 2021. In that way it's a bit harder to read if you're exhausted by the disgusting political atmosphere of America, but its worth it.Clown 2 (...ok fine I'll stop) treats its main cast impeccably. They're hardened, battered but not broken, and I love each of them. Quinn stands up there with the best Final Girls of the genera, a delicate balance of Sidney Prescott from the Scream series and the battled hardened Laurie Strode from the recent Halloween reboot/sequels. Cole has evolved, using his high school persona as a shield and a weapon. But Rust stole the show for me. He was my favorite in the first book, and the loss of screen time for him in it hurt me, but Clown 2 more than makes up for it. Cole and Rust get a *huge* focus in this one, and it was exactly what I needed after the first book. In fact that there are multiple points of view quite often, more so than the first book. In the first book it jumped to a different character for one quick scene or two, but in this one there are multiple characters who get multiple chapters from their point of view and it helps give more weight to the story. Everyone gets their own moment in the spotlight and the book is all the better for it. The main set piece this time around is amazing. It's the same, but different in the most exciting way. The finale was an absolutely bonkers roller coaster ride, and easily topped the first book in my opinion. It's beyond satisfying. I love where everyone stands at the end of the book, and I cannot wait for what I assume will be a third book. Overall, Clown 2 is a thrill ride that I was insanely excited to read and it lived up to (and beyond) every expectation I had. The book starts out slower than the first, but it helped give weight to the current lives of the surviving protagonists from the first book, and once things started going down they didn't stop. Pick this up when it comes out. Seriously.

Nice little gory gem perfect for spooky season.