| Title | : | Halloween Land |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 180 |
| Publication | : | First published March 17, 2021 |
Zak and Wendy are a couple of horror buffs who love Halloween.
In their sleepy, run-down little town, an exciting attraction promises to inject some life into the place for one special night only. A travelling carnival, making its debut on Halloween.
Anticipation builds, and the mysterious 'Halloween Land' carnival is the talk of the town; the calliope music, bright lights, and sweet and savoury smells from the pop-up carnival lure in the crowds flocking to the pier. The two teenage friends Zak and Wendy are eager to be among the first.
Revelations unfold, mysteries peek from the outer limits. The kids have to think and act fast to defeat the evil that's come to town and it’s nothing like in the movies!
This tale is full of mystery, fun, magic, tension and dread.
Step up for the ride, give your ticket to the clown, she'll show you a good time; no one can say where you will end up, but it'll be a wicked ride!
Halloween Land Reviews
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Step right up, everybody!
Are you ready to eat until you puke, go on life-threatening rides that were hastily assembled in a day and get swindled out of your hard earned money?
Carnivals – the best place for children to get abducted and for adults to get their souls stolen.
Is the danger part of the thrill?
Halloween Land is coming to town for one day only. Zak and Wendy, thirteen years old and life long friends, can’t wait to go there and have the time of their lives. But something strange will happen...
You know those shirts people buy that says:
“I survived Octoberfest!”
Do you ever see anybody wearing a shirt that says:
“I survived Halloween Land!”
No? Of course you don’t, dumb-ass, when it is over nobody remembers being there.
They survived Halloween Land once. They know its secret. But why is it coming back after five years? Is this a chance at redemption or the end of the road?
This debut novella from Kevin J. Kennedy is a very decent coming-of-age story and a very fast read. I had to read a few reviews before I stumbled upon the word I needed to best describe this book;
Nostalgic.
Yes, this felt like old school horror, something you might appreciate even if you are in your teens.
It didn’t blow me away – there was nothing truly unique that will make it stand out in my mind in a year or so, but it wasn’t a waste of time, either.
Recommended to fans of the Bradbury era stories, and maybe a good starting place for teens who might be interested in the horror genre. -
Zak and Wendy have a supernatural experience at a carnival. It's Halloween season. They come out of it alive but the carnival claims two other kids as it feeds on souls. When Halloween Lands returns to town several years later they intend to get rid of it once and for all. Will they succeed? What is the role of the clown that helps the main characters? Interesting fantasy meets fairytale meets horror story with some implausible fights against the carnies. It had its moments but overall it was a bit thin and lost its moments. I had expected more horror and a better description of the carnival (character, history, why it became that eerie). Okay to read for all fans of an unusual Halloween tale.
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What can turn an abandoned pier into a carnival overnight? Just ask the kind folks at Halloween Land!
As high schoolers, Zak and Wendy are learning how friendship can turn into something more. However, both are distracted by the upcoming Halloween Land carnival. Even though the pier has recently become more of a home to indigents and junkies, they choose to believe the posters that suddenly appeared all around town. Sure enough, on Halloween day, there it is! Halloween Land, right there on the pier! As you may have guessed Halloween Land is not your typical traveling carnival. There is something dark there, inside the Fun House, (of course, because where else would it be?) Will Zak and Wendy survive the Fun House? You'll have to read this to find out!
I had a heck of a time with this fast paced novella. I started it last night and finished today at lunch. This tale is so well put together, nary a word is wasted. Zak and Wendy are about as realistic as teens can be, and when the story revisits them some years later, they're again realistic as well as likeable.
I don't want to say much else because this story should unfold in your head as the author intended, it shouldn't be filtered through my paltry words. If you're looking for a super fun Halloween read, look no further! I highly recommend Halloween Land! I especially recommend the Fun House there, for thrills you won't forget!
*Thanks to the author for the e-copy in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!* -
If you love the idea of a time-and-space travelling carnival, which collects souls everywhere it goes...this is the fun, and immensely clever, novella for you.
Kevin J. Kennedy has created a fabulous premise, especially for those of us who revel in Halloween throughout the entire month of October. (I may or may not be referring to myself. I admit nothing.)
Told primarily from Zac's perspective, this story is a little bit coming-of-age, a little bit romance, a little bit quirky, and a whole lot creepy. I'm not ashamed to admit my favorite character was "Clown."
So, step right up, everyone! Buy your tickets now and check out
Halloween Land: A Coming of Age Novella today!
Available NOW!
By the way, how about that gorgeous cover?
My sincere thanks to Kevin J. Kennedy for my review copy. -
Cool and twisted carnival horror fun!
A small backstory without giving away spoilers:
Come one come all as the carnival is coming to town!
Zak and Wendy (best friends) start seeing flyers all over town for a carnival that is headed their way on Halloween. When the day arrives they both dress up in their Halloween costumes and head down to the carnival as they want to try out the funhouse.
When they go through the funhouse and come out the other end things are not what they seem as the carnival has shifted into an alternate reality void of the townspeople. As they make their way through the alternate carnival they end up being chased by creepy clowns that are out to do them harm! Fun has turned into fear as the friends try to fight off the clowns and as they try to figure out how to get back to their own reality!
Thoughts:
This was a fun horror read loaded with action and fast paced page turning. There is more to the story then what is above as more events take place in the future dealing with the carnival, but I don't want to go into details because of spoilers so you will just have to read the book if you want to find out more about what happens.
The characters, Zak and Wendy are very attachable and I really loved both characters right away. The pace of the book takes off as soon as the kids get to the carnival and end up in the alternate reality. From that point on the story goes into overdrive as the two friends fight for survival against the clowns. Giving this book five "ferris wheel" stars!
My thanks to author, Kevin J. Kennedy, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
This was a really fun thrill-ride. Kevin kindly asked me to read and offer up a blurb, so I won't be doing a full review, but this had heart, humor and horror! Was a blast!
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“Tomorrow a few people will be missing, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary. The carnival, and all traces of it, will be gone forever, and no one will even remember it was here.”
Halloween Land is not the traveling carnival you’ve been to as a kid. It’s a magical place that lurks just outside teenage nightmares. Doesn’t matter the era or place, it will be somewhere ready to take its next souls while their town is left with no recognition of its existence.
We meet Zak and Wendy. Both young horror loving friends eager to dress up and experience Halloween Land. The carnival had all the typical attractions with the Funhouse saved as their last stop but soon they realized they’ve been pulled into another world full of challenges to stay alive. Queue the crazy pumpkin headed and skeleton carnies that turn out to be real and not people in costumes trying to trap them. Plus, they have a crazy “Harley Quinn”-type clown watching them as the carnival jumps through space and time throughout their fight.
KJK presents readers with what felt like 2 stories interwoven but leaves a lot of unanswered questions. What is the carnival’s history and purpose? Who is Madam de Rosemonde? What is the importance of Zak and Wendy to the carnival? The Clown’s backstory would’ve been a great addition too. The ending seemed rushed and closes out the story in a “feel good” vibe. Overall, this novella is a fast-paced read but will leave you wondering the mystery of Halloween Land.
“Halloween Land” by Kevin J Kennedy gets 3.5 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars!
Please visit my GoodReads profile or website for more reviews. Thank you! -
Now, this is a way way different style of horror than I’m used to. Toned down and more forgiving than my usual fare, Halloween Land is still an awesome, quick story that left me wanting more. More lore, and more gore. Subdued but still effective, KJK weaves a sweet tale that never slows down. A bonus poem (awesome) by James Matthew Buyers, and even some wicked artwork by the immortal Mar Garcia make this a perfect nugget of horror, it will definitely make the time fly by.
5/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️ -
I love everything about carnivals,fairs,amusement parks (I grew up 15 minutes to cedar point), and festivals. The games, rides, smells of all the yummy foods, and just the atmosphere take me back to all the memories I have as a kid, teen, mother, and now, Gigi. This story brought back all those things for me. It was a fun, entertaining, quick read. I loved the main characters and had a great time following their journey. Great debut novella! Hoping for a sequel to find out how it came to be and who clown is.
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Has all the elements I love
I had to pick up this novella because it has all the elements I love in a story: coming of age, freakshow, and horror. I sped read the story and it was very endearing. However, this is NOT “Funland” of Richard Laymon, nor is it “The Freakshow” of Bryan Smith. This is more the speed of “Goonies” or “Monster Squad”. Although it is a nice story, the action at the park is a little lacking. I think more of a backstory on the carnival and the characters would also have elevated this story to another level. -
Great action-packed, coming-of-age read to kick-off (or anytime during) the Halloween season!
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What’s not to love about Halloween in a small town? Is there anything better than a Halloween carnival? The games, the food, the smells, the fun house! This book has everything that makes up a perfect Halloween night. Wendy and Zac are best friends, joined at the hip and do everything together. Halloween night is no different and this year, a special carnival is coming to town! One awesome night only, at the pier, it’s Halloween Land!
The pair sets out, costumes on, money in hand and nothing but the night to enjoy! The carnival is exceptional, beyond their wildest dreams, appearing like magic out of the night. The old pier has been transformed to a fall landscape of music, food booths and games. Hundreds of people are there, out for a good time. The decorations are excellent, creepy, cheesy, corny and perhaps a little bit too on point. The carnie freaks are amazing, no expense spared at some incredibly creepy costumes. The clown is especially striking, beautifully made up and incredibly sad as she welcomes them to the fun house.
The fun house is everything a fun house is meant to be, but perhaps cornier and a bit more childish than the pair of 13 year-olds had hoped for, maybe they are getting too old, but it was still fun. When they exit, the pier is weirdly silent, and the hundreds of people are missing. The clown greets them in her sad way and tries to help them understand that the fun house is not as innocent as it seems. It decides who lives and dies or rather who stays and who goes. She tells them they will not be safe until they make it off the pier completely. All hell breaks loose as the kids try to make their way back to safety.
I don’t want to say anymore for spoiler reasons, so I’ll just say this, if you enjoyed Halloween at all as a child, you’ll love this book. It’s a lot of fun, a nice quick read, creepy creatures abound, and the story line becomes more complex as the story goes on. Nice 4 stars for this entertaining novella. -
This was a fun carnival coming of age story. However sometimes it really dragged and the writing seemed a little too simplistic especially in the later years of the MCs. I wouldn’t say it was creepy, like I prefer my carnie horrors to be. But rather honestly just fun. I really liked the clown character, and I thought the idea of the carnival and how it operates in general was unique. The poem and illustrations at the end were pretty cool too.
Overall this was decent. Not a favorite or anything, though. Might be enjoyable closer to Halloween. It’s short which also helps! I think overall I preferred the first half to the second half. -
As indicated by the secondary title, Kevin Kennedy’s Halloween Land is a coming-of-age story: it spotlights the changing relationship between two adolescent protagonists, Zak and Wendy, as they find themselves in a confrontation with an evil, time-and-space-hopping carnival that feeds on human souls. The initial confrontation takes place at a time when the two young friends are beginning to look at each other as more than just that. The book is divided into two main parts, and it's second half finds Zak and Wendy as young adults, yet again threatened by the diabolical carnival.
Halloween Land is a quick, entertaining read with flavors of King, Bradbury, and even a little RL Stine. Despite some bad language here and there, much of the book has a YA feel to it, but adults will certainly enjoy this story as well. As it's Kevin K.'s debut solo novella, the dude did a right solid job if ya ask me, and I only see Kevin getting better from here. (Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.)
P.S. If I had a major complaint about the book, it's that it takes place in Scotland, but no one in the book ever eats haggis. Eating haggis at a tavern in Scotland while getting friggin' BLACK-OUT HAMMERED and bellowing Scottish folk songs is one my bucket list items, I guess ya could say. KnowwhutI'msayin', MY TINY LITTLE HALLOWEEN BATS? -
I read about 30% of this before bailing on it. Here’s my shopping list of problems with the book:
- Bland and underdeveloped characters
- Clumsy info dumps
- Bland and awkward dialogue
- Prose that is functional at best
- An omniscient narrative style that feels cursory and lacks any sense of immediacy, immersion, or impact
- Zero sense of threat, suspense, or visceral terror in what is ostensibly a horror novella
- A hackneyed and unoriginal concept
- Outrageously clumsy expository dialogue
Some people might think I’m mean for leaving a review like this, but my intention is simply to be honest, and provide the author with meaningful feedback, rather than disingenuous praise. -
Fantastic read! I love carnival horror! It’s a nice change from the graphic horror I’ve been reading. I can’t wait to read more by Kevin J. Kennedy.
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Such a fun horror novella! A bit Bradbury, a bit Laymon... so fun.
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I am a big fan of Kevin J Kennedy’s work. I have read his short stories and some novellas that he has written with other people. So when it was announced that he was putting out a novella written just by him, I jumped at the chance to check it out.
What a ride! Two kids who love horror movies are so excited for Halloween Land to come to their town. The rides, the games, the Funhouse. This Halloween Land is not at all what it appears to be and the two kids find out quickly that they must work together to survive it. Definitely check this one out! You will become a fan as I have. Hope he writes more with just him because I am impressed! -
I always adored carnival horror books and circus–themed writings; Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury and Geek Love by Katherine Dunn are still on my favourite books of all time list, and what I most fancy about this short novella is that it's almost a love letter to this genre. A fast paced (okay, maybe too fast here and there), nostalgic ride, sometimes atmospheric, sometimes quirky, but always enjoyable. What I really liked about the story, when it slightly pushes the boundaries of the young adult literature – okay, just a bit – and I'm not just talking about the number of f words here, but when some grim reality oozes into the fantastic tale – dealing with (or fighting against) the paranormal is not just cheesy fun, but of course can be traumatizing – I always suspected that R. L. Stine's characters become alcoholics or drug addicts after their adventures when they get a bit older. The other interesting thing was, when the narrator gave some hints about the Picts and some ancient mysticism, but it was too brief, since the protagonists themselves didn't know much about it (though it could have played a central role in the story).
So all in all, a great ride, and I don't mind if it's a YA story that is not really a YA story – on the contrary, I would encourage more experimentalism next time – fuck the sales; good books are difficult to classify. -
What a great read! I love stories that have a carnival setting. And of course, Halloween! This book delivered both.
This was my first read by this author, I will for sure be reading more of his stories! -
Halloween Land may be dripping festive themes, but you do not need to wait for Fall to get your ticket to the dark carnival. The wonderful blend of Halloween, carnival, and coming-of-age tropes blend perfectly into a fun and enthralling novella. Halloween Land is horror comfort food to be consumed in one sitting, perhaps by a fire with a stiff drink and some leftover candy. The story starts in a Halloween carnival to tickle your inner child before powering into adult badassery. The adventure is full of the barrage of monsters and battles you come to expect from Kevin J. Kennedy. Get in line to see if you survive the Fun House!
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Kennedy has given us a great tale, reminiscent of Bradbury. Halloween was truly a joy to read.
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Addictive Read!!!
This book is about a Carnival that turns up in a town ready for Halloween with features two main characters Wendy and Zac and initially a coming of age friendship that starts to flourish until the fateful evening they visit Halloween land with twists and turns I didn't expect, the way the book is written it drew me in and didn't let go to the final page, it's weirdly wonderful I finished the book in one sitting.
As you would expect creepy clowns and figures you couldn't imagine.
Absolutely loved it cracking read. -
I've read quite a few of Kevin's stories and the cover for Halloween Land caught my eye. This is a good, quick read, with plenty of action and some great characters. The story is quite different to anything I've read before and it kept me guessing as to what would happen next. Kennedy captures the atmosphere of the carnival well and, overall, Halloween Land is a fun read for any horror fan.
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A quick, but fun read.
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I really liked this. very easy to read.
It has a similar feel to IT by Stephen King, and Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi, but shorter, and less scary.
so if you have looking for something like those but lighter and less intense, than this would be ideal. -
Halloween Land by Kevin J Kennedy is a fun and wicked read, much like the carnival therein. This captivating novella is described by the author and others as a “coming of age” horror tale, but I find it to have a broader appeal than that.
Kennedy mixes elements of the coming of age premise with the classic theme and suspense of carnival horror, then adds a touch of the magical, some dark humor, and a twist of cosmic horror for a unique and wholly entertaining story. The characters are engaging and entertaining, the action vivid and unpredictable, and the suspense captivating.
Halloween Land is a good story. It’s a great page turner that will change the way you look at clowns and carnivals for a long time. -
Halloween Land
By Kevin J. Kennedy
Genre - Fiction/Horror/Coming of Age/Novella
Pages - 93
Format - Digital
Publication Information - KJK Publishing, March 22, 2021, ASIN: B08ZWFTDCZ, ISBN-13: 979-8725924145
Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewed by - William C. Bitner, Jr.
https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...
Congratulations to Kevin J. Kennedy on his debut novella. Although he has written many short stories for various anthologies and collections as well as co-authored a number of novels and novellas this is his first solo work. With a hat tip to some of the classics you will find you feel a sense of familiarity and comfort after you settle in and start reading this tale. The characters and the neighborhood seem like old friends and locations we visit on a daily basis. But once we step onto that pier - that’s where all familiarity and comfort end. . . this is where we enter an otherworldly and nightmarish realm. In his transition from reality to this realm Kevin doesn't miss a beat. The change is quick, smooth and oh so hellish. At the end of the book you not only are satisfied, entertained and a little fearful, but you will find yourself asking for more. As an added bonus you will find a poem ‘Halloween Land Poem’ by Jame Matthew Buyers and Halloween Land Art by Mar Garcia at the end of the book.
From the back cover - An action-packed, coming of age horror tale, full of twists, turns and unexpected adventures.
Zak and Wendy are a couple of horror buffs who love Halloween.In their sleepy, run-down little town, an exciting attraction promises to inject some life into the place for one special night only. A travelling carnival, making its debut on Halloween.
Anticipation builds, and the mysterious 'Halloween Land' carnival is the talk of the town; the calliope music, bright lights, and sweet and savoury smells from the pop-up carnival lure in the crowds flocking to the pier. The two teenage friends Zak and Wendy are eager to be among the first.Revelations unfold, mysteries peek from the outer limits. The kids have to think and act fast to defeat the evil that's come to town and it’s nothing like in the movies!
This tale is full of mystery, fun, magic, tension and dread.
Step up for the ride, give your ticket to the clown, she'll show you a good time; no one can say where you will end up, but it'll be a wicked ride!
About the Author - Kevin J. Kennedy is the author of Halloween Land and the co-author of You Only Get One Shot, Screechers & Stitches. He has released 3 solo collections of short horror stories and he is one of the UK’s most prominent horror anthologists.
He lives in the heart of Scotland with his wife and 3 small fur people, Carlito, Ariel and Luna.. You can find him hovering around Facebook most days if you want to chat. -
Great coming-of-age tale with a fun (i.e. EVIL) backdrop. Personally, I’m a sucker for scary carnivals as it is, so added bonus for this theme with the Kevin J. Kennedy-touch. Creepy and nostalgic, magical. Spoiler Alert and advice for real life: Going through a Mirrored Funhouse can ALWAYS lead to bad things. Halloween Land has great backstory, is fast-paced, and filled with fun characters, which equals an all-around great read!
