Spooky Stragglers: Television Shows I Forgot to Mention!!

As usual, something got left out in my Spooky Season Blog Series. I did get most of the shows and movies in there, but I missed a few. :/ Oh, well. It does happen. But I thought I would come back to mention them here. I'm not going to go as in depth as I did for the last ones. Here they are: 

• Ghost Whisperer (2005 - 2010)
• I really loved this show. Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon; a woman who can talk to ghosts and help them cross over. I think I watched all of them when they were on. I recently started rewatching the series, actually. This show was basically the prefect combination of a good scare and then a good cry. They expanded on things as the show went on, too. The finale of season one is something I've thought about many times over the years. 
• Truth or Scare (2001 - 2003)
• I'm not sure I saw all of these. I loved it, though. Michelle Trachtenberg was a great host. Rest in Peace. <3 It was sort of documentary style. There were interviews and film footage. Some of the ones I remember loving or really affecting me were: Castle Ghosts of Ireland, Castle Ghosts of England, Castle Ghosts of Scotland, Castle Ghosts of Wales. (Anything with castle ghosts, apparently.) The Curse of King Tutankhamen, UFOs Over Phoenix,  America's Haunted Houses, Night Visitors, The True Story of Halloween, and Real Witches? I just looked at an episode list, and I think I did see all of them. I loved them all, but those stood out the most.
• Mystery Hunters (2002 - 2009)
• Apparently this show lasted longer than I thought. I am almost sure I did not watch all of these. I would watch Truth or Scare and this on the same night during the weekends before bed. lmao I know, sweet dreams. From what I remember, two kids (teenagers) would investigate unexplained things and see if they could debunk or explain them. Seventy-eight episodes is a lot ot look through. I do recall the one about MacBeth and the Salem Witches. I'm sure if I watched again I would remember some. There was also an adult on it; a scientist. Or at least he played one. This and Truth or Scare were both on Discovery Kids. I loved them, but I liked Truth or Scare more. 

Did you watch any of these? I would love to know; tell me in the comments!!

My Favorite Are You Afraid of the Dark? Episodes!!

 

 

We have come to my favorite of the shows I've been talking about!! The 1990s "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"!! The opening was amazing. That music, the swings moving with no one on them, the doll, the door, etc. To this day a swing moving with no one on it freaks me out. And freaks out many children of the 90s who watched this show. Just look it up if you don't know it. Anyway, amazing, and such a good show!! I am only going to be talking about the original run from 1992-1996. Below I am listing all of my favorite episodes and pointing out what my very top favorites are. Did you watch this show? What was your favorite episode? Let me know in the comments!! 

• S1.E6 ∙ The Tale of the Super Specs
• Weeds, a prankster, buys his girlfriend Marybeth a pair of super spec glasses as part of his April's Fool Day collection. Once she puts on the glasses, strange figures appear and can't be explained.
• This episode was fascinating to me. The idea of the glasses seeing another dimension…amazing, and terrifying. It also completely freaked me out. As often happens, though, it is also one of my absolute favorites. And that ending? Wow… One of my favorite episodes EVER. 
•  
• S1.E8 ∙ The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors
• Some new neighbors move into a neighborhood. They are originally from Eastern Europe, wear black, collect blood, and are only active at night.
• I have loved vampires from an early age, and it likely started with Are You Afraid of the Dark? I’m not sure which of the two vampire episodes I saw first. This one did freak me out at the time; not as much now. Again, this had a surprising ending.
•  
• S1.E9 ∙ The Tale of the Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Dean, a troubled student, awakens an ancient secret hidden in the school.
• This is one I have found myself rewatching over the years. It has magic in it’ magical artifacts, etc. Something that is of interest to me. I like the mystery and history of it.
•  
• S1.E12 ∙ The Tale of the Prom Queen
• Two boys befriend a young woman where they encourage her to join them in search of a legend that comes every year.
• Very likely in my top five favorite episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? EVER. This one is less scary, in my opinion, but it is such a good story. Another great ending, too. And it did have some spooky bits.
•  
• S2.E2 ∙ The Tale of the Midnight Madness
• Dr. Vink helps an old movie theater in danger of closing by showing a special version of the vampire classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922).
• Another of my favorite EVER episodes. And another that terrified me. Oh, and another vampire one. So, there are three here. As I said, I love vampires. Still not sure which of these three I saw first. This really scared me, but I loved it. Notable for the first appearance of Dr. Vink, too.
•  
• S2.E10 ∙ The Tale of the Shiny Red Bicycle
• Mike Buckley is haunted by the ghost of Ricky Hagerty, his friend who drowned, and his old bike.
• Another classic ghost story; with scares AND emotions. Which is my favorite type of ghost story.
•  
• S2.E12 ∙ The Tale of the Hatching
• A brother and sister enroll at a boarding school, but soon find out their headmasters are aliens plotting to take over Earth.
• Definitely different from the previous episodes mentioned, this one is about aliens. It is unique and creepy and a little gross lol. At least I though so as a kid. I did really like it, though.
•  
• S3.E1 ∙ The Tale of the Midnight Ride
• Ian Matthews arrives in the legendary town of Sleepy Hollow where he meets a new girlfriend, the tough guy and the notorious Headless horseman.
• I am from New York state. I have literally visited Sleepy Hollow, and Washington Irving’s house. I went to college right next to Sleepy Hollow. So to have an Are You Afraid of the Dark? Episode set in Sleepy Hollow is amazing. I loved it as a little kid, and I still love it today. It is also the only story in the original run to take place in a real town. One of my favorites EVER.
•  
• S3.E3 ∙ The Tale of Watcher's Woods
• Sarah and Kelly learned they should never enter the Watcher's woods, the scary section occupied by the ghosts of three old hags and the evil Watcher.
• This one…it had some genuinely scary, and even mildly disturbing parts; for a kid’s show. I read somewhere Watcher’s Woods was an actual girl scout legend they tell when they go camping. Does anyone know about that?
•  
• S3.E13 ∙ The Tale of the Dangerous Soup
• Dr. Vink's soup restaurant is the top of the town where a young man who applies at the job along with a waitress find out the secret recipe to the successful soup.
• This one has a line my mom and I still quote today: “You want loud? I’ll show you loud!” The concept of this was very creative. Also, the second time Dr. Vink appears on this list.
•  
• S4.E1 ∙ The Tale of the Renegade Virus
• A boy who enjoys playing pranks goes too far one day and is punished by being trapped in a virtual reality game.
• Another one that freaked me out. The…personification of the virus, I found very creepy. There is also a shot that will randomly pop into my head sometimes. Something not organic sort of growing out of the main character’s hand.
•  
• S4.E3 ∙ The Tale of the Water Demons
• Shawn McKenzie visits his relatives and works in a job for the summer where him and his cousin deliver groceries to an old man's house and see why he's very odd.
• Definitely freaked me out. The fact that these water demons came while this man was asleep was a big reason. Made me afraid to sleep, for sure. It’s better now when I watch it lol. Meaning I can sleep. There were a few jump scares, too. Another favorite EVER, though. 
•  
• S4.E6 ∙ The Tale of the Quiet Librarian
• A library is haunted by the ghost of a former librarian who dislikes noisy children.
• It is no secret that I love books; I also love the library. So the setting was appealing to me, but also creepy. Sometimes an absolutely silent library is creepy. And the setting of this also made it creepier for me, since I loved (and still love) libraries.
•  
• S4.E7 ∙ The Tale of the Silent Servant
• Two kids bring a scarecrow to life to do their chores on a farm. It seems like a good idea, for a while...
• I blame this episode for making me mildly freaked out by scarecrows…
•  
• S4.E9 ∙ The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner
• A young comic book fan/artist unleashes a villain from a rare comic book, who turns people into laughing zombies!
• I hate clowns. I am sorry, they scare me. I can hardly look at one. You will notice none of the actual clown episodes are on my list, and that is why. Now, the ghastly grinner…it teeters on the edge. He is more of a jester type of character. Which is still freaky. And while the idea of him turning people into laughing zombies may not sound that scary, it is creepy.
•  
• S4.E10 ∙ The Tale of the Fire Ghost
• Two teens help the ghost of a fire-fighter.
• The synopsis does not do this episode justice. This is another one of my absolute favorite episodes EVER. Two ghosts in this one. It also made me very wary of looking into a flame for too long; to this day.
•  
• S5.E1 ∙ The Tale of the Dead Man's Float
• Zeke and Clorice find an abandoned swimming pool at their school where a secret is contained.
• This is one a lot of lists of scariest episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? I don’t remember it scaring me THAT much, but it was good, and it did scare me a little. The design of the thing in the pool was really freaky for a 90s kid’s show.
•  
• S5.E3 ∙ The Tale of Station 109.1
• A youth obsessed with death discovers a radio station which takes its listeners to the afterlife.
• Now probably mostly known as the episode Ryan Gosling was in. In fact, it says that in parenthesis after the episode title; that it features Ryan Gosling. He is not the main character, though. The idea of a radio station being something more is interesting and creepy. Plus, taking the listener to the afterlife? Wow.
•  
• S5.E6 ∙ The Tale of C7
• A family moves into a house on the lake where an ancient jukebox brings back to life the memory of a fallen soldier.
• Another one of my favorite episodes EVER. Another mix of creepy and emotional. Even as a child, the sad story got to me. I love this episode so much.
•  
• S5.E7 ∙ The Tale of Badge
• Gwen, a girl who doesn't believe in her talent of music, gets a chance to test her gift when an ancient spirit awakens.
• Freaked me the hell out. But I still loved it. Haha!! “Badge, I am.” Ooohh, chills. When most people speak like that, they think of Yoda. I think of Badge… This also had music and some witchcraft, which I loved. Another favorite EVER episode. 
•  
• S5.E11 ∙ The Tale of the Vacant Lot
• A mysterious woman gives a shy young girl everything she needs to be popular, in exchange for her soul.
• A classic tale with a twist. A deal in exchange for your soul. And for things that ultimately will not be important later. Definitely a lesson in this, but wrapped up in a good story.
•  
• S5.E12 ∙ The Tale of a Door Unlocked
• Sardo sells a magic door to a teenage boy where once he opens the door, the future happens in front of him.
• Magic doors? That is amazing. I love this concept so much. And look, there is Sardo! No Mister, accent on the do! This one was more suspenseful than scary, and didn't have ghosts or creatures; it was smore mystical. Something I love to this day. So this is definitely another favorite episode EVER. 
•  
• S5.E13 ∙ The Tale of the Night Shift
• Amanda works the night shift at a hospital where she sees that all the employees are acting strange and weak around her.
• And we come to the episode that scares me the most, and still scares me to this day. There is a lot that goes into why this episode freaked me out so much. One: it takes place in a hospital. I have a serious, rare chronic illness and have spent a lot of time in hospitals. Two: the main character is also named Amanda. I mean, especially as a child, yeah, that added to the fear. Three: the vampire in this is not the sexy vampires we know today. Lmao. It shapeshifted into something that looked monstrous, and was monstrous. Four: the way people acted after they were bitten was very creepy. Five: Someone being hung over the roof of the hospital. Six: “I shall drop you and then lick up what’s left.” ….Yeah. In a kid’s show. Wow. Still, another one of my absolute favorite EVER, and the one that scared me the most. For good reason.

There you go! My favorite episodes of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"! SUCH a good show!! I still love it to this day. And we have my top TEN favorites: The Tale of the Super Specs, The Tale of the Prom Queen, The Tale of the Midnight Madness, The Tale of the Midnight Ride, The Tale of the Water Demons, The Tale of the Fire Ghost, The Tale of C7, The Tale of Badge, The Tale of a Door Unlocked, and The Tale of the Night Shift. PLEASE let my know your favorites!! Or, if you've never seen this, which episodes you are going to check out first!! ;) 

So Weird Episodes That I Loved

 

 

Who remembers the Disney show "So Weird"? It ran from 1999 to 2001. This follows Fi who is on the road with her musician mom and their family. Strange things seem to happen everywhere Fi goes and she posts them on her website "So Weird". I loved this show. When I was making this list, I was actually surprised at how many of these episodes made my list. I thought there was going to be a lot less. Did you watch this? Let me know below. Now, onto the episodes. 

Season One

• Family Reunion
• A preteen supernatural seeker, Fiona, tries to help a ghostly boy reunite with his dead parents.
• The very first episode. I loved this. It has some classic ghost story elements. Spooky and then sad/heartwarming (if I remember correctly - I think it's heartwarming.) Sort of like Ghost Whisperer. Damn, I forgot to put that show on this list. That one certainly influenced me, too. 
• 
  
• Memory
• Fi tries to solve a small-town mystery involving mysterious aliens who lost control of their ship.
• The second staple in So Weird. Ghosts and aliens. This felt like a good introduction into the second part of So Weird's main elements. The element of memory was interesting and disorienting. I think it worked really well. 
• 
  
• Escape
• Fi's brother and friend fall in love with a girl who can leave her body at will to escape the pressures of school and her family.
• Very possibly my first introduction to the concept of astralprojection. (I'm not sure if it was in this or Charmed.) It definitely played with the viewer a bit until they knew what was happening. It also brought up dangers this girl may have been putting herself in by astralprojecting. 
• 
  
• Angel
• Jack befriends a beautiful girl, Gabe, who is concealing her leukemia from everyone except her dad and a guardian angel.
• This one at first scared the crap out of me. "You're the one." I'll just leave that there. It still sometimes sneaks into my mind to scare me in the middle of the night. It turned out to not be nefarious, but still. 
• 
  
• Rebecca
• Molly's childhood friend has met Fiona, however she is hiding the reason why she disappeared years ago - she is immortal and has to keep it a secret.
• This is very possibly my favorite episode of So Weird. The concept of immortality is fascinating to me. Is it a gift or a curse? This episode goes into that a bit. Also, the song Molly sings, "Rebecca" is beautiful and I still sing it to this day. 
• 
  
• Tulpa
• Fi's brother Jack has a dispute with a boy named James, who has created a cunning imaginary friend that became a real soul.
• This was always an interesting concept to me, as someone with a very vivid imagination; imaginary friends, for sure, but also loving fictional characters so much. The idea that a concept could become a real soul drew me in. 
• 
  
• Lost
• Fi tries to help a lost little girl on a chat room get home, and learns that the little girl is now a teen and comatose.
• This one is emotional. I think I teared up at this one. It was also very engaging; definitely a glued to the screen type of episode for me. 
• 
  
• Will 'O the Wisp
• While viewing the ghost lights of Marfa, a mischievous will o' the wisp takes over Jack's body and freezes time leaving Fi to decipher the riddle of his name or the creature will inhabit Jack's body permanently.
• Oh, boy. This episode. Are there things that should be ridiculous? One hundred percent. Was it somehow made freaky? Absolutely. Credit definitely needs to be given to the actor playing Jack (who is of course posessed by the will o' the wisp here) because he sold it. I also love the concept of guessing the name; it feels very Rumpelstiltskin to me. That is one of my favorite fairy tales. Also, "Quack quack, little duck." Oooo, shivers. Why is that so creepy?

Season Two

• Medium
• Fi lost her dad in a car crash as a young baby. Now she is about to meet an amazing man who can help her contact her lost parent.
• The concept of mediums is another thing that is fascinating to me, so this one was always going to make the list. 
• 
  
• Siren
• At a concert Fi meets a girl forced into entertainment slavery, for a reason. She is a siren, but unlike the evil ones depicted in legends, she just wants to go home and avoid the world.
• Sirens are definitely an interesting concept, but this one made the list more for the emotion and Molly's feeling of empathy and connection to this girl. 
• 
  
• Nightmare
• Jack admits his true fears in a strange nightmare where his sister and cousins are present, and learns why his cousin is so afraid of family life.
• This one has the concept of a shared dream, which is another thing I find fascinating. It always make me think of folie a deux but with a dream instead. 
• 
  
• Listen
• In a small town a visit from aliens has made the wheat from their crop circles have telepathic properties. Anyone who eats it can read minds, which poses an issue greater than anyone could imagine.
• Telepathy, but thanks to aliens!!
• 
  
• Werewolf
• An adopted little girl has the power to change into a wolf at night, but is having a hard time controlling her powers.
• This one was sad. There were some scary parts, for sure, but to me it focused on the hardship something like this would cause. 
• 
  
• Banshee
• Fi uses her Irish heritage to stop a banshee ghost from killing her grandfather in the night.
• This one made it on the list because of the Irish lore. It's something I've found fascinating for years and this was probably one of my earliest introductions to the Banshee. I also have Irish heritage myself. 
• 
  
• Strange Geometry
• Fi, during a trip to London, learns some secrets about her father that change her life.
• Okay, I'm going to be honest, I don't remember a lot about what this one was about, but there is an image from this that sticks in my head. Impressions of hands and heads pushing out through a wall. Creepy. 
• 
  
• Fountain
• During a Christmas shopping trip, Fiona goes back through time to view her life.
• This one definitely is the concept of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. A familiar concept, but one that usually has an impact. 
• 
  
• Fall
• Fi's Uncle Ned has to deal with an accident where his best friend Pete was squished among the rocks during a tragic fall. Now Pete's ghost has come back.
• I love the concept of a ghost coming back to let someone know their death wasn't their fault, and if I remember correctly that is how this one goes. 
• 
  
• Destiny
• A creature from Irish folklore possesses Fi's mom and makes her do weird things, such as using the back corner of a tour bus as a backscratcher and dancing for no apparent reason.
• The creature from Will O' the Wisp is in this one, and anything with this creature from Irish (and Scottish) folklore is going to make the list.
• 
  
• Blues
• Fi unravels a mystery of the past involving the murder of a great Blues musician, and learns his music was stolen by another man.
• This one was a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. And I think the paranormal twist may not be what you'd expect, either. Add in the blues music and I loved this episode. 
• 
  
• Roswell
• Fi meets a man who she at first believes is mentally disabled, but he secretly lived on an army base as a little boy, and his sister has a story to tell of how he may have met an alien life form.
• This may have been where I first introduced to Roswell and the idea that the government was hiding something about it and aliens in general. This one got emotional, too. 
• 
  
• Encore
• An interlude episode of the series which features reflections and best moments from different episodes.
• This one was slower than others, but I think it worked really well. Another one that got emotional. There is also a specific reason I loved this one, but I don't want to say it to ruin the "surprise". 
• 
  
• Transplant
• A close friend of the Phillips family, John, underwent traumatic heart surgery due to his heavy smoking. Now he's having horrible flashbacks of the surgery and has a mental breakdown.
• This dealt with some heavy stuff for a kid's show, but I feel like shows and movies from this time did that a lot. John (Papa Bear) is acting strange after having a heart transplant. There were more episodes of this show that got emotional than I realized. 
• 
  
• Twin
• During a trip to New York City, Fi discovers that her lawyer aunt might be the connection she needs that gives her the answers about her father.
• Definitely finale material. Things come to a head from the last two seasons, and I think it all worked very well. This episode also dealt with the concept of automatic writing, which was an interesting twist. 

Season Three

• Lightning Rod
• Fi runs into an old friend, Bricriu, while a friend of Molly's and her daughter Annie visit. After Fi says a spell out of her spell book everyone but herself and Annie turn into animals or plants. Fi makes a decision to protect her family. While Annie's mom asks a favor of Molly.
• Well, I said anything with that creature from Irish/Scottish folklore would make my list, and here is again. Bricriu. This episode is also bittersweet because it is Fi's last episode. She is mentioned in season three, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't appear again. Instead, we have Annie as the main character now. For me, the show just wasn't the same after that. But some episodes still made my list. This being Fi's last episode is another reason this makes the list. 
• 
  
• Talking Board
• Molly decides to sell the old house and move closer to town. Jack, Annie, Carey and a couple of friends spend a night with a Ouija board. When the Ouija board starts to predict the future Annie tries to prevent a disaster.
• Ouija boards. Oh, boy. I mean, I won't be messing with one anytime soon, but it is still fascinating to me, so this one had to make the list. 
• 
  
• Rewind
• Annie discovers a cryptic, incomprehensible message on her audio track when played backwards.
• This one has a mother stealing the talents of those who come into her recording studio for her daughter to have instead. It was a good one, I enjoyed it. It was also definitely to showcase the voice of the girl who played Annie, but still. 
• 
  
• Changeling
• Annie and Jack babysit a baby that is kidnapped and replaced by changelings with their own horrific child. Annie and Jack must somehow make the creature laugh before the real baby's parents come home from the movies.
• This one was definitely ridiculous and over the top, but it was likely my first introduction to the folklore of changelings, which is something I am kind of fascinated with now. For that reason, I felt this had to go on the list. 
• 
  
• Still Life
• One stormy night, Annie and the gang get trapped in a life-sized watercolor painting. Only Annie seems to remember the truth, and it's up to her to remind them how important the real world is.
• Charmed had a similar episode where Prue got trapped in a painting. It took a different approach and I liked that better, but this one was still good. 
• 
  
• Dead Ringer
• A youthful transgression comes back to haunt Jack, after Annie buys a box of items from an estate sale from an old neighbor.
• This one had Jack as the main one experiencing strange happenings and hauntings, which feels like a notable occurrence. So I felt it had to make the list for that reason.

Okay! That was my list of So Weird episodes I loved! There were way more than I thought there would be. What about you? Did you watch this show growing up? Do you still go back to old episodes sometimes? Let me know in the comments!!

Goosebumps Episodes That I Loved

Goosebumps was a show based on the famous R. L. Stine books. I think a lot of people know about this show, but that might not be accurate anymore. 🤣 Goosebumps ran from 1995-1998 on Fox Kids. I looked up the episodes in two different places. One was IMDB. There may still be some episodes that I missed. Sometimes looking up older shows is strange; they don't list every episode or they list them out of order, but I tried. I was actually surprised because I didn't write down that many episodes. I tried to only list episodes that I really loved/made an impression on me. Before I get into this list, I think I'll make note of the episode "Night of the Living Dummy". I actually hated that episode, but it made me terrified of ventriloquist dummies, so I had to mention it here. But enough introduction, here is my list of favorite Goosebumps episodes!! 

• The Haunted Mask Parts 1 and 2
• I feel like this one is a classic of Goosebumps. Carly Beth and that creepy mask! This one takes place on Halloween, so it's a great one to watch this month. Honestly, everything in this blog post series is, but since this takes place on Halloween, even better. It was scary, and had a nice message, too. 
• The Cuckoo Clock of Doom 
• In this one, Michael wants to get his prank loving little sister in trouble, so he turns the head on his father's cuckoo clock backwards and things do very wrong. Of course. I've always loved this episode. And the ending was very interesting; I liked it, 
• Welcome to Camp Nightmare Parts 1 and 2
• I've seen several people say they didn't like this two-parter, but I loved it. It's about a camp with a creature that seems to be picking off the campers one by one but the counselors are flippant and uncaring. It seems like a standard creature episode, but it has a twist that I absolutely loved.
• Phantom of the Auditorium
• Of course, this is a take on The Phantom of the Opera, and was probably my first introduction to that story. Brooke gets cast as the lead in her school's production of The Phantom, but there are rumors of the play being cursed. Then Brooke starts having nightmares and getting strange warnings related to the production. This one was eerie and almost more of a mystery. I think there was a bit of a twist; though I wonder if as an adult I would see this twist coming. 
• Piano Lessons Can Be Murder
• I almost didn't put this on the list, but realized I have watched several times since this show ended, so I thought it should be on the list. Jerry finds a long-abandoned piano in his family's new house, and he decides to take lessons. But there is a ghost who warns him about the music school he attends.
• My Hairiest Adventure
• I don't know how much to say about some of these because I don't want to give things way, especially since these are short. For some reason, I always liked this one and have watched it several times since the show ended. Direct from IMDB: "After Larry and his friends use the contents of an expired bottle of instant tan, strange things start to happen: Larry beings to grow hair on unusual parts of his body, and his friends start to disappear." Yes, that sounds very strange, but I would wonder if you would get the twist from that description.
• Stay Out of the Basement Parts 1 and 2
• This one doesn't scare me as much now, but it does still get me a bit. According to my mom, this one absolutely terrified me as a kid. Margaret and her brother are home alone with their dad for a while, but he is spending a lot of time in the basement and his behavior is changing. He also insists they stay out of the basement... Another interesting ending.
• A Night in Terror Tower Parts 1 and 2
• This one didn't really scare me, I just absolutely loved the story. Don't get me wrong, it is scary, but not in the same way as the others. Eddie and Sue are on a tour of Terror Tower and they get stuck in there. I'm only going into part one here, but part two really makes it, I think. It's a fantastic two-parter that I highly recommend. 
• The Werewolf of Fever Swamp Parts 1 and 2
• Oh, the Goosebumps two-parter that scared me the most... I think you probably get the gist, right? Well, Grady and his family move to a remote area, Fever Swamp. A boy there tells Grady about a fever people in the swamp get, and the old man in the woods who is a werewolf. Yes, now, the costumes/effects would be mocked, but it was the 90s, okay? Despite that, there are some very scary parts in this one, and the ending...well, I think that was what set it over the edge for me. It still scares me today. Another instance of: I loved it, but it terrified me. I still only watch this one in the daytime. 
• Scarecrow Walks at Midnight 
• Thanks to this episode and an episode of another show, scarecrows scare the crap out of me. 😅 I don't even remember this one very well. 

Most of these episodes were from season one. At least, that's what it said online, but four of these were two-parters which I remember being special presentations and when Goosebumps was on Netflix the two-parters were listed in their own season, so I'm not sure. Either way, it seems most of the episodes I liked most were earlier ones. Scarecrow Walks at Midnight is from season two; the only one not from the first season, if the internet was accurate. 😅

Next week I will go through my favorite So Weird episodes!! There were a lot more of these than I thought there would be, so I'm excited. It will be a long one. 

Did you watch Goosebumps? Which episodes were your favorite? Which ones scared you the most? Were they one and the same? Let me know in the comments below!! 

Happy October!! Stories That Influenced My Love of Spooky Things

In honor of my favorite month, October, I thought I would do a series of blog posts about the creepy stuff that influenced me growing up!! This is a four part series on this blog, with one post a week. Today is a list of all the movies and television shows that influenced my taste in scary things. The next three will be specific episodes from each of the shows listed. I'm so excited!! And I would love to hear from YOU. If you like spooky things, what sorts of movies or TV shows influenced your taste? Or books? Please let me know in the comments!! 

• Are You Afraid of the Dark?
• A kid's horror anthology show from the 90's. Kids sitting around a campfire telling scary stories at midnight. The Midnight Society. Anyone remember this? I LOVED this one!! And there were some genuinely scary stories told. 
• Goosebumps
• This was more popular than "Are You Afraid of the Dark?". Based on R. L. Stine's children's book series. I liked this one, and some episodes scared the crap out of me and influenced what I like in spooky things, but I was more of an "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" girl.
• So Weird
• A Disney show from the very early 2000's. For a girl who loved weird things, this show was amazing. I still preferred Fi over Annie. Sorry. 
• Watcher in the Woods
• This movie came out on the 80's. I adored it, and it also scared me. Many of my favorite things seem to do that. I was also recently made aware it could be considered Gothic Horror. Which I think is the genre I may enjoy most.
• The Sixth Sense
• The classic M. Night Shyamalan movie with the twist that shocked the world. Also from the 90's. 1999. One of my favorites. And it got pretty emotional, too. Psychological Horror is very much my thing. This one and The Others scared my cousins senseless. They were well versed in slasher movies by the time they watched these two with me at 13 years old, which is what led me to believe that Psychological Horror is scarier than Slasher movies. 
• The Others
• I also just realized that this has many of the hallmarks of Gothic Horror. This one is from 2001. I adore this movie. It utterly scared the shit out of me when I first saw it. I wonder if I would see the twist coming now... But at 13, absolutely not. 
• War of the Worlds 
• I loved the 2005 War of the Worlds. It honestly terrified me. I was 14 when I saw it at the theatre. When I was waiting for someone to unlock our door, a car horn went off and scared the daylights out of me. If you've seen the film, you will understand why. 
• Signs 
• Another M. Night Shyamalan movie. I loved this movie. It had several scenes that freaked me out but it is one of my favorites. (That is a theme here: my favorites often scared the crap out of me.) I also really liked the philosophical and theological lean the movie had. There were a lot of emotional moments, too. Definitely a few jump scares in there, as well. 
• The Village 
• I think this movie was not marketed well at all. It was supposed to be the scariest movie of the year, and I did not think it was nearly as scary as it was made out to be; which is where I think a lot of the negative reviews came from. Personally, I love this movie. It was a unique plot, good atmosphere, great score, a sort of quiet dread, and it did have a couple of jump scares. 

Let me know your favorite scary movies and shows!! Especially ones from when you were a kid and teenager; ones that really influenced what you love in a spooky story!! 

Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

 

 

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping

Series: The Hunger Games #0.5

Author: Suzanne Collins

Release Date: 18 March 2025

Page Amount: 382 pages, Hardcover

 

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

 

GoodReads Blurb:

Review:

Holy shit. I know I don't curse a lot in my blog posts, but this warrants it. I'll say it again. Holy shit. It was a brilliant, but brutal, book. As one would expect from a Hunger Games novel. 

Going into this, we know the basics of Haymitch's story. Especially if you've read the other books first (please do, by the way). But even reading the little bit about his background that I did in Mockingjay...nothing could have prepared me. I honestly think this was the most brutal of the Hunger Games novels. I knew President Snow was damn evil, but in this book? Again, holy shit. The things he did in this book...When this movie comes out, I think it might be the most difficult of the films to watch. Which is saying quite a lot. 

Something else Suzanne Collins does really well is calling out the behavior of the people in the Capitol while also acknowledging that some of them even try to, in their own way, be "good" to the tributes, and are even brainwashed, you could say. Like Effie Trinket, for example. And Suzanne Collins also calls attention to the people in the Capitol who want to revolt, but why they might not be doing so, or are being quiet about it. She shows the fear in even some of the Capitol citizens, not only the Districts, which I think is brilliant. 

There were a lot of appearances of familiar characters, as well, which were great to see. And all of the connections to the original trilogy? I am saying it again...Holy shit!! 

This is an easy five star book for me. Haymitch is also my favorite character (well, him and Cinna) so I knew this would be high up on my list of favorite books for this year (and in general) but also would emotionally drain me. Which it absolutely did. I have described it as "Soul shattering". That being said, if you are a Hunger Games fan, and you are prepared (as you can be) then yes, I highly recommend this. 

5 quills

Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

 

 

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Author: V.E. Schwab

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Page Amount: 448 pages, Hardcover, Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

GoodReads Blurb:

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Review:

Wow. This was amazing. The writing was lush, immersive, stunning. I am actually jealous of the beautiful writing in this book. V. E. Schwab is incredible. I need to go back and add so many more tabs to mark my favorite quotes. 

I was not expecting twists in this, but there were some twists. A couple (after the first twist) I suspected, but wasn't sure. They were great.

There were amazing characters, too. I love Addie. Her defiant joy is beautiful and inspiring. That's how V. E. Schwab described Addie's character, "defiant joy", and it is perfect. Henry was also great. And the Darkness was also a fascinating character. Several of the lines I already have tabbed are either about him or were said by him. So stunning. The dynamic with Addie was interesting. 

I just absolutely adore this book and would recommend it a thousand times over. 

5 quills

Book Review: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

 

 

Title: Stone Blind

Author: Natalie Haynes

Release Date: September 15, 2022

Page Amount: 371 pages, Paperback

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

GoodReads Blurb:

The national bestselling author of A Thousand Ships and Pandora's Jar returns with a fresh and stunningly perceptive take on the story of Medusa, the original monstered woman.

They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster. 

The only mortal in a family of gods, Medusa is the youngest of the Gorgon sisters. Unlike her siblings, Medusa grows older, experiences change, feels weakness. Her mortal lifespan gives her an urgency that her family will never know.

When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene's temple, the goddess is enraged. Furious by the violation of her sacred space, Athene takes revenge--on the young woman. Punished for Poseidon's actions, Medusa is forever transformed. Writhing snakes replace her hair and her gaze will turn any living creature to stone. Cursed with the power to destroy all she loves with one look, Medusa condemns herself to a life of solitude.

Until Perseus embarks upon a fateful quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

In Stone Blind, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes turns our understanding of this legendary myth on its head, bringing empathy and nuance to one of the earliest stories in which a woman--injured by a powerful man--is blamed, punished, and monstered for the assault. Delving into the origins of this mythic tale, Haynes revitalizes and reconstructs Medusa's story with her passion and fierce wit, offering a timely retelling of this classic myth that speaks to us today.

Review:

A fantastic retelling of Medusa. I loved all of the different perspectives we got. I also loved the questions this novel brought up about what a monster, who decides who is a monster, etc. That sort of theme has always deeply appealed to me. The second I read the first page of this, I knew I would love it. And I was absolutely right. The writing was wonderful, as was the characterization of everyone in the book. It was amazing, and I would highly recommend it. Especially if you are interested in Greek Mythology and retellings of Greek Mythology. I will certainly be reading more by Natalie Haynes in the future.

5 quills

Book Review: The Cabin by Natasha Preston

 

 

Title: The Cabin

Author: Natasha Preston

Release Date: 01 September 2016

Page Amount: 336 pages, Paperback

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

GoodReads Blurb:

There may only be one killer, but no one is innocent in this thriller from Natasha Preston, the New York Times bestselling author of The Cellar and The Cabin

A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can't wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead--murdered.

With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn't telling the truth. And Mackenzie's first mistake? Assuming the killing is over...

Review:

This was a very quick read. I got through it fast. It was definitely a page turner. There were times it did read a little too young for me, but that didn't deter me. I suspected almost everyone at one point or another, but I had a top two. I don't want to say whether I was right or not. The ending of this did bring the rating down for me. If not for the last two chapters, it would have been a pretty solid popcorn thriller. Unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me.

3 quills

Book Review: If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry

 

 

Title: If You Tell a Lie

Author: Lucinda Berry

Release Date: 23 July 2024

Page Amount: 271 pages 

 

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

 

GoodReads Blurb:

Bestselling author Lucinda Berry serves up a haunting thriller about four friends sworn to secrecy over the events of one fateful summer--and the dark truths that threaten to erupt years later.

They never considered how his wife might react, or that by the end of the summer a man would be dead. But Blakely always got her way, and the others followed her lead--even when they knew it was dead wrong.

The girls had been friends from day one at Camp Pendleton, a haven for gifted children. But their senior summer was different. When Mr. Crosby, the handsome tennis coach, wound up murdered after a reckless lie, Blakely, Grace, Meg, and Thera swore themselves to secrecy. And never spoke to each other again.

Until now. Twenty years later a sinister note claiming to know what they did brings them back together. And once again Blakely is pulling the strings.

Unfolding in a dual timeline, If You Tell a Lie is a disturbing journey into the dangerous, sometimes deadly consequences of peer pressure--with a bone-chilling twist you'll never see coming.

Review:

This was my first Lucinda Berry book. It was a very good thriller. The writing was good and there was definitely depth to the story. It certainly had some very disturbing things happen. It's hard to review thrillers, because I don't want to say a lot. 

There was a lot going on, but not in the action packed sort of way some thrillers are. There were things I did predict, but that didn't effect my enjoyment of the book at all. Overall, I thought it was a good thriller and I would recommend it. I would definitely read something by Lucinda Berry again.

4 quills

Book Review: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

 

 

Title: The Magic Fish

Author: Trung Le Nguyen

Release Date: 13 October 2020

Page Amount: 229 pages

GoodReads 

StoryGraph 

Blurb:

Tiến loves his family and his friends...but Tiến has a secret he's been keeping from them, and it might change everything. An amazing YA graphic novel that deals with the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together. 

Real life isn't a fairytale. 

But Tiến still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through? 

Is there a way to tell them he's gay? 

A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what--we can all have our own happy endings.

Review:

I love a graphic novel. I also love fairy tales, and I thought the concept of this one sounded very interesting. There were parts of this that got a lot darker than I thought it would be; the fairy tale part, that is. Not at all a bad thing, just something to maybe keep in mind. 

I liked the art and that it had a color language to it. Each of the storylines, so to speak, were in a mostly monochromatic tone, and I thought that was very cool. For example. the when Tiến is reading the fairy tales, they are in a purple color scheme.
I always think it's interesting to see different versions of fairy tales so I liked that aspect to this. I thought the ending was very good, as well, but don't want to say why as that would give it away. ;) 

3.75 quills

Book Review: Once Upon a Time: The Shadow of the Queen

 

 

Title: Once Upon A Time: Shadow Of The Queen

Series: Once Upon A Time #2

Author: Daniel T. Thompson, Corinna Bechko with Vasilis Lolos (Illustrator), Stephanie Hans (Illustrator), Mike Henderson (Illustrator), Mike Del Mundo (Illustrator)

Release Date:  03 September 2013

Page Amount: 112 pages

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

Blurb:

The Evil Queen has, quite literally, captured the Huntsman's heart -- and now he's her slave. Based on the world of ABC's hit primetime series ONCE UPON A TIME, this is the never-before-told tale behind their twisted relationship -- and what happens when a good man is forced to do bad. When Regina cooks up yet another devious plan to capture Snow White -- this time by allying with a pack of power-hungry werewolves -- the Huntsman comes face-to-face with his past...and an independent spirit in Red Riding Hood that just may match his own. Can these two break free of the forces that bind them and save Snow White? When put to the test, where will the Huntsman's loyalties lie? Has the Evil Queen stolen his heart in more ways than one?

Review:

I love Once Upon a Time, I love graphic novels, and I love the Huntsman from Once Upon a Time, so I was very excited to get this in a collection of birthday gifts from one of my best friends and fellow author, Rebekah Palmer. 

I was excited to see more of the Huntsman in this as I wish we had more of him in the show. It took one turn in particular that I was definitely not expecting. The art styles were different with each chapter (there was a different artist for each), which I really liked a lot. 

A good story, with great art that I really enjoyed reading. I would definitely recommend this if you are a fan of the show Once Upon a Time. 

I'm looking forward to reading the other that I got. <3 

4 quills

Book Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee with Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

 

 

Title: Loki: Where Mischief Lies

Series: Marvel Universe

Author: Mackenzi Lee with Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

Release Date: 03 September 2019

Page Amount: 416 pages 

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

Blurb:

An instant New York Times best seller

*"This deft, nuanced examination of identity, destiny, and agency is a surprisingly tender addition to the Marvel canon."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"This mischievous origin story is sure to satisfy fans of this popular character."-Booklist, starred review

Selected for the ILA-CBC 2020 Young Adults' Choices reading list.

This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe.

Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy and depravity . . . except for Amora. Asgard's resident sorceress-in-training feels like a kindred spirit-someone who values magic and knowledge, who might even see the best in him. 

But when Loki and Amora cause the destruction of one of Asgard's most prized possessions, Amora is banished to Earth, where her powers will slowly and excruciatingly fade to nothing. Without the only person who ever looked at his magic as a gift instead of a threat, Loki slips further into anguish and the shadow of his universally adored brother, Thor. 

When Asgardian magic is detected in relation to a string of mysterious murders on Earth, Odin sends Loki to investigate. As he descends upon nineteenth-century London, Loki embarks on a journey that leads him to more than just a murder suspect, putting him on a path to discover the source of his power-and who he's meant to be.

Review:

I think the thoughts in my reading journal mostly have spoilers, so I'm going to see what I can say here. 

I really enjoyed this book. The thing is, if you have watched the MCU, you have a general idea of where things are going in regards to Loki's character, since it is set before the events of the MCU. Which for me made the whole read have a sad tone running through it because I love Loki and it is sad to see him on the arc to where he he will be in the beginning/the middle of the first three phases of the MCU. 

That being said, it had a lot that I really liked. The tone and sarcasm of Loki was there, which I loved. Seeing the relationship between Thor and Loki was at times fun, and at times sad. I always loved Frigga and Loki. I actually think I would have liked a bit more of Frigga and Loki. Amora was interesting, to say the least. I loved that Loki ended up in 1800s London. And I enjoyed the characters Mrs. Sharpe and Theo. I especially loved the interactions between Theo and Loki.

I also have to say it: I feel like this book gave me something I felt I was missing in the Loki series, which would be showing a bit more of Loki's bisexuality. It wasn't at all the main point of the plot, which wasn't even what I wanted, but in the series there was one line that some people didn't even get. Here we explore it a bit more, but it wasn't the only thing going on or what entirely defined Loki as a person, so I appreciated both of those things. 

Also, there were several MCU references throughout, which were  a joy to read and pock up on. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I would highly recommend it to any Loki or Marvel fan.

4.5 quills

Book Review: The Knight and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow

 

Title: The Knight and the Butcherbird

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Release Date: 11 March 2025

Page Amount: 36 pages

GoodReads 

StoryGraph 

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Alix E. Harrow weaves a dystopian fairy tale that follows the town storyteller as she struggles to protect a local demon from the knight hired to kill it.

In this gritty, haunting tale about doing whatever it takes for love, a small-town storyteller resolves to keep the local monster—and her own secrets—safe from a legendary knight.

Nestled deep in the steep hills, valleys, and surrounding woodlands lies Iron Hollow, a rural community beset by demons. Such horrors are common in the outlands, where most folks die young, if they don’t turn into monsters first. But what’s causing these transformations?

No one has the answer, not even the town’s oral historian, seventeen-year-old Shrike. And when a legendary knight is summoned to hunt down the latest beast to haunt their woods, Shrike has more reason than most to be concerned. Because that demon was her wife. And while Shrike is certain that May still recognizes her—that May is still human, somewhere beneath it all—she can’t prove it.

Determined to keep May safe, Shrike stalks the knight and his demon-hunting hawk through the recesses of the forest. But as they creep through toxic creeks and overgrown kudzu, Shrike realizes the knight has a secret of his own. And he’ll do anything to protect it.

Review:

A dystopian fairy tale isn't something I had heard before, so I was intrigued. Plus, I love short stories. And I really liked this one. I'm finding that I quite like Alix E. Harrow. I'll have to read more of her work. This was definitely fairy tale like, but in a dark way, which I like. There was a lot of metaphor and social commentary in this. I'm sure some of it went right over my head. The religious commentary stood out to me. I feel like it was more about the institutionalization of religion, which is a topic I find interesting and have some thoughts on myself. But even if you go in just to enjoy the dystopian fairy tale side and not focus on the commentary as much, I think this is a great story. I would definitely recommend it, 

4.25 quills