Be Afraid - Be Very Afraid!

Goosebumps 2000 #20

by R.L. Stine

After Connor Buckley and his friends start playing a new role-playing card game called Be Afraid, they soon realize that everything they do in the game is coming true in real life. Original.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror Thriller

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read all 25 Goosebumps Series 2000 books for a 2-hour YouTube video, where I reviewed and ranked them all, which you can check out here: https://youtu.be/VsNwNpeqgLo

[Christopher Saunders · Rating 1 out of 5]

R.L. Stine was clearly getting sick of Goosebumps when he wrote Be Afraid - Be Very Afraid! which if not the worst entry in the original/Series 2000 run is easily the most baffling. The plot involves some kids who steal a pack of magic trading cards from a yard sale, accidentally summoning an army of fantasy creatures (from dancing dwarfs to rampaging dragons) that wreck up their suburban neighborhood. Not able to pad his Jumanji ripoff beyond 50 pages, Stine then transports the kids to the fantasy world from which the cards originated...Then, we learn that the whole book has been two kids reading a story about the first group of kids, only to be transported into the world themselves! Yep, it's Metafiction, Goosebumps style! Only we already did this with I Live In Your Basement, which isn't a personal favorite, but is so wacky that it's clear that Stine actually put thought and creativity into his reality-warping premise. Here, the multilayered twist isn't developed in any interesting way (the second batch of kids are just as hapless as the first), which is great because there's a second twist that's exactly the same as the first! This lazy legerdemain serves no purpose except, I dunno, waking up the reader lulled to sleep by one too many mediocre Goosebumps books? So bad it's risible.

[Nader Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the weirdest goosebumps books to me.
The story idea was good and the characters, i also liked the the deck card thought that was interesting
the first half of the book was so intriguing to me but the second half was dull and the twist was kind of strange and unexpected but i liked it until the last 15 pages of the book and the ending too was vague and unexplained.
#VIRDECT: (6/10)

[Colton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, this book. I'd heard a lot of bad things about this book, saying it's the worst of the series. Usually, I tend to like the books other people hate, though. It's the only Goosebumps 2000 book left in our entire library system, so I checked it out and read it, and while it's not the trainwreck everyone says it is, it has a lot of major flaws. First off, I wanted to like the premise. Three kids steal a card game from their neighbor and when they play it, the characters in the game appear in real life. This is not a new idea, but it's cool in that it's basically Jumanji in Goosebumps form. [The next few sentences are spoilers] After the neighbor finds out they stole his cards, he sends them into the world of the game. This world is kind of dumb, but at least Stine bothered to create a few new creatures instead of sticking to dwarves and elves. However, a little after halfway through the book, the story literally stops and takes up with a new set of characters. These characters have been reading the same book as us (yes, you) and are pissed that the story has no ending (so was I). Then THEY get sucked into the story. Now, I love meta-fictional stuff like this; when done well, it can be really fun and mind-screwy. However, R.L. Stine fumbles it. [End of spoilers] There's really no logic to the way this happens. In fact, there's really no logic to the story at all. A couple events happen that make no sense and are never mentioned again. Also, I think these characters might actually be the dumbest ones in the Goosebumps legacy, and maybe in children's literature in general. The dialogue here is just so off-the-wall ridiculous. None of the sentences are merely spoken, they're shrieked or whispered or gasped. Everything that happens in the book is just so melodramatic it's cheesy. However, for all that, I don't hate the book. It actually kept me entertained; it was never boring. I'm partial to fantasy, card games, and the Jumanji story, so that may be why I like it a good deal more than other people. I'm glad Stine took a risk with the fantasy setting and the metafiction twist - even if the story wasn't so successful - but I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book. If you're at all interested, give it a whirl - results may vary.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading all this Non-Stine stuff, I figured I'd go back to him and pop in a Goosebumps Series 2000 I had wanting to read for a while. I finally got access to it a bit ago and here I am. This is for sure getting a full review on the blog someday but here's the short version:

For all its infamy, I thought it was...fine for most of it. Flawed so sure, as it could have taken more advantage of the premise (at one point we are TOLD and see the results of something, but don't actually get to read it) and all that, but has enough fun stuff and decent description to be passable. The best parts were just the characters interacting and arguing over the game as it felt true to life.

Then came the ending, where Stine or whoever actually wrote this threw up their hands and gave up. I'll go into more detail someday but it's kind of an interesting idea but done in a lazy way. There's book that have a lame cop out twist (even recently with Monster Blood is back) but this goes above and beyond...all it does at least make it more creative.

I'd put it in the Average camp, there's enough little things to like it here. It's kinda Decent up until a really bad ending so it balances out. There's been worse and frankly I kind of was more angry at the ending of Full Moon Fever but that's a story for another time.,

So yeah, The Haunted House Game was a better board game come to life story, although honestly this was a better fantasy tale than Legend of the Lost Legend, to be honest.

[Austin Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just... I can't...
Sorry... I'm at a loss for words with this book. Not really sure whether I hate it or appreciate its creativity and humor with the twists... so I'm settling on a 2.5 / 5 stars.
The ending was incredibly dumb, yet it literally had me laughing out loud - which isn't something I do too often, especially when reading a book. So points for that, I suppose.

I honestly think Stine just wanted to have fun with this book. It's not exactly a good one but if you do go into it... don't try to take it seriously.

[Tiffany Spencer]

Be Afraid Be Very Afraid
It’s sumer and Connor and his friend Emily are bored out of their minds. They notice a crowd at their mean neighbor’s house Mr. Zarwild’s. Emily is hesitant, but lets Connor convince her to go cheack it out. It turns out he’s having a garage sale. Inside the garage, they don’t find anything out of the ordinary, but then Connor Conner sees a table of strange, carved candlesticks shaped like monsters, elves, and dragons. Mr. Zarwild sees them, accuses them of sstealing in front of the neighbors. So, they run off humiliated back to their house.

Back home, Connor reveals that he actually did steal a small box. Emily warns him that Mr. Zarwid is dangerous, but Connor feels his actions were justified. The item turns out to be a deck of cards. The box is labeled “Be Afraid”. Emily points out that Conner doesn’t even like card games because he’s too restless to sit still for long. He opens them anyway and finds they have dark fantasy illustrations (maked knights, dwarfts, dragons, pig-faced creatures). Because the cards look old and valuable, Emily says they should return them. They’re then interrupted by their friend Kyle-who makes a loud entrance.

Kyle recognizes the cards and says he’s played the game before. He explains that it’s a role-playing game featuring kings, knights, dragons, and magic. Kyle flips to a particular card and lets out a cry of horror. But he’s just fooling around. They decide to play the game. They split the cards into four decks (Chaacters, Power, Action, and Fate) cards. Kyle explains how to play the game. Each player chooses a character, rolls the dice for power points, and faces challenges given by the cards.

Connor chooses a King, Emily draws a Goth (mutant sorcerer) and Kyle chooses a Krel (a dwarf like creature). Connor rolls high numbers for power points while Emily and Kyle rolls low numbers. Kyle recognizes Connor’s king is powerful, and that he and Emily have to team up to survive. Connor draws the first action card. It’s a yellow lightning bolt. Instantly a real bolt of lightning flashes outside the kitchen window. Outside Connor sees a evil, green, twised, face. It’s Mr. Zarwid.

He comes in and accuses them of stealing the deck of cards. Emily wants to confess, but Connor says he doesn’t know anything about it. He warns them that the cards aren’t a game, and then tells them to be afraid. Be very afraid. He then leaves into the storm that’s all of a sudden appeaed from nowhere. They laugh it off and continue the game. Conner draws a black card. The house goes pitch black.

Conner starts to realize that the cards trigger real-life events that match, but Kyle and Emily dismiss this as it’s just the storm that’s made the lights go out. They continue the game by candlelight. Emily picks an action card with crossed swords under a battle helmet. Her character has conjured an army to attack the King’s castle. Connor rolls and gets hundreds of knights to start his own army. As he plays, he hears sounds of a real army outside his window. Connor needs 200 points to conquer another castle. Emly casts a spell on his dice, but Connor rolls a 21 and wins the battle.

There’s a deafening crash outside that shakes the house. Then metal clanging, screams, and grounds. They decide to stop the game. Connor shoves the cards back in the box. The lights then flash back on. They realize this isn’t a coincidence. An ugly dwarf then bursts into the kitchen. The Kill is just happy to be free and runs out the kitchen door into the rain.


They’re all stunned! They check the Krel card. It’s gone. A card slips out of a dragon. As Conner holds the card, sounds are heard of heavy, slow footsteps approaching. It’s Conner’s parents. They mention a disaster at the Nelsons’ house next door. So, they run outside. The Nelsons’ house is destroyed. Windows are shattered, shutters are ripped off, a wall has collapsed, the roof is caved in, the garden is torn up, and the mailbox is knocked ove. Neighbors are fathered and the police is there questioning Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. The Nelson’s say they were attacked by an army dressed as knights on horseback. They had on metal helmets hiding their faces. Mr. Nelson swears it was real.


Conner knows it’s his fault. The game is controlling reality. Mr.Zarwid appears from the shadows. He confronts Conner and asks him if there’s anything he wants to tell him about his missing card. Conner freaks out, tells him he doesn’t know anything about it again, and runs. That night Conner has a dream that Mr. Zarwid appears to him in white, saying, “Be afraid Conner!” He waves his arms to summon something. A knight storms in. Then more creatures. They all start to fight in Conner’s bedroom. Conner starts to scream at them to get out. Then he wakes up screaming, trembling, and drenched in sweat. His bedroom carept is covered in muddy footpreints. He then knows he has to return the deck.


He’ll just leave the deck on th doorstep. When he goes to his dresser to get the cards, they’re now gone. He hears voices downstairs and realizes he left the cards in the kitchen. Kyle and Emily are in the kitchen and look as if they’re about to start a game. He tells him he’s returning the cards. They’re dangerous, and Mr. Zarwid is creepy. They just dismiss his warnings. He lets them talk him into one more game. They start the game. Emily draws the dragon. Emily pulls a fate card of two curved arrows pointed at each other. Kyle explains it’s a swich character card. She’s now the dragon.

To “power up” She rolls two sixes, a five, and a four. Connor says he’ll send his knights to destroy the dragon. Kyle tells him it’s the Krel’s turn and he’s going to team up with the dragon. Kyle draws a fisherman with a net card (that’s an elf). Kel rolls the dice and declares the Krel summoned two thousand elf fishermen. They sneak past Connor’s knights. They throw nets over Connor. Emily rolls the dice. They hear a sound, and then the dragon appears. They look outside and see a massive shadow sweeping over the street. Then they see the exact same dragon that’s on the card. It starts to wreck havoc and cause all kinds of chaos!


Emily looks for the card to put it back in the box in hopes to make the dragon stop, but the card is missing from the box. Connor says he’s going to send a huge army of masked knights out to defeat the dragon. Connor rolls the dice and prays for sixes. He gets three ones and a two (the weakest roll of all). Before he can roll again, there’s a clattering outside. Five knights show up, but fade out shortly after. The dragon has destroyed them. The dragon heads for Connor’s house. It gets right up to the window and peers inside. In desperation, Connor puts all the cards back into the box. The dragon is about to smash through the window. He drops the box, but is able to get all the cards inside. As soon as he snaps the lid shut, there’s a blinding light. It’s now morning and the madness has stopped. They see the footsteps, but the dragon has vanished. They now know they’ll really have to return the cards.


They’re about to return the box, but a card slids out. It’s Mr. Zarwid’s face with white hair and a stiff, white mustache. The back of the card says WIZARD. They realize Zarwid is an anagram of Wizard. But if he’s a wizard what will he do to them if he finds out they took his cards? The door opens to Mr. Zaarwid’s house on its own. When he appears, Connor hands him over the deck of cards, and he names all the things they did. Connor tries to apologize, but he says that doesn’t cut it. He says they made a big mistake and now they know too much. He smiles and tells them since they like the cards so much why not LIVE the game?


He throws the cards into the air. The cards flutter to the ground and darkness falls. The room fades away. Zarwid vanishes. Kyle and Emily vanish. Connor feels pain and the sensation of falling. They find themselves in what looks like a farm village. They realize they’re in the game. They’re approached by little men (Jekels). Emily remembers they’re cannibals. The kids duck behind tall grass so as not to be seen. They see a hay mound and hide inside. They start to itch and realize purple bugs are crawling around in the hay. Then hundrereds swarm all over them. One is up his nose and he can’t help himself (Connor) sneezes loudly,


The sneeze alerts the Jekerls and they’re captured. They’re taken to their leader. The leaders questions what they are. They say they’re just kids sent there but a sorcerer. He wants them to drink something from a goblet and calls it “a truth test”. If they drink it and survive they pass the test. Only noone’s ever survived. Just as the poision liquid touches Connor’s mouth, a roar shakes the ground. The goblet falls, and poion spills into the dirt. It’s several dragons carrying armord knights on their backs. The Jerkels flee in terror. The kids run escaping the burning village and raging battle behind them. They find safety in a field of cornstalks, but find out the stalks are alive.


Dark, shiny bodies slide out. The creatures have smooth green heads with no faces, and they have arms that stretch like vines. Emily realizes they’re Stelks. They wrap their arms around them and start to squeeze the life out of them. The story shifts to a boy named Mark reading the same story, Mark slams the book shut in dissatisfaction, calling it a cheat. He tells his sister Amy (whose confused) the book ended with “You finish the story”.


Amy flips through the book and finds a sexret hidden pocket. Inside it is a deck of cards- the same cards from the story-. So, Mark and Amy decide to play the game. The room immediately goes black. Mark feels a weight on his chest and then sees he’s in tall, damp, grass. Amy is there too. There’s the hay mound in the distance. It’s the same world Connor and his friends were trapped in. They realize they’re in the card game. The dragon comes into view. Mark and Amy hide behind the tall grass. The dragon passes them by. They try to put the cards back in the box only the cards didn’t cross over with them.


They head to the forest for safety. Mark steps on something that snaps. A net drops from the trees and covers them. A half-human, half-pig creature approaches. There’s another creature with him a yellow-skinned dog like creature with tiny sharp teeth. The man grabs the net and drags the siblings through the forest. He finally stops in front of a building with no windows. He takes them over to an oven and stirs the fie with a shovel and tosses in more coal. Amy begs Mark to do something. He’s read the book. He confesses he has no idea.


Mark grabs the dog and holds it near the flames. The man panics and surrenders. They both sprint into the forest. They hide back in th corn stalks. Footsteps are head. Mark thinks about the Stelks in Conner’s story. But it's Connor, Emily, and Kyle. Conner tells them they’re trapped there and wants to know if the wizard put them there too. Amy says no they were pulled in. Amy has the idea to try to find another wizard. They’re about to head off when before them they see an army of Krels swords drawn.


They march them to a cliff. They’re chanting “No mercy… No mercy..” Mark remembers Connor’s story and tells him to reach in his pocket. Inside is the Wizard card with Mr. Zarwid’s face. Just as Connor is about to rip the card up, a gust of wind swirls around them. The card is them blown over the cliff. The Krels freeze. The cliff trembles. Mark leaps after the card, reaches for it, and misses. He reaches again and grabs it mid-fall. Mark rips the card to pieces. He starts to fall into a void. It then says “YOU FINISH THE STORY!”


The story shifts again to Ross whose a student reading Be Afraid during a quiet reading period. He slams the book shut after saying it’s a total cheat. His friend Brenda warns him to be quiet. Brenda suggests he take it back to the garage sale where he got it. He rides his bike to the house and rings the doorbell. The man who sold him the book’s name is Mr. Wardiz. HE tells him the book has no ending and he wants his money back. He tells him to come in, and they can make a deal. He offers him a small rectangular box. It’s a card game called Be Afraid. He says some kids have told him it’s a lot of fun. Ross agrees to the trade.


Rating: 5. This just felt like “lazy” writing. No real “ending”. Then there was the role-playing card game concept. I’ve heard of “Dungeons and Dragons,” and I’ve seen similar concepts in shows like “Riverdale” and “Stranger Days,” but I can’t say that I’ve ever known anyone who was really into fantasy role-playing card games. Out of curiosity, I’d like to see how it’s played. If maybe there was a playthrough on YouTube. But it’s always just sounded complicated and a little too complex so hasn’t held my interest *that* long.

[House of Goosebumps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished this book last night at it was kinda boring and I was too tired to write a review

[Youhanna William · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was quiet good till chapter 20 , where it began to be ridiculous !

[Yoyomaus Die Büchereule · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zum Inhalt (Booklet):
Aus Spiel wird Ernst. Als Georg und seine Freunde mit dem Kartenspiel "Fürchte dich sehr!" beginnen, können sie nicht ahnen, dass es seinen Namen zu Recht trägt. Die Spieler tauchen in eine geheimnisvolle Welt voller Zauberer,Drachen und hinterhältiger Trolle ein, wo jeder Spielzug zur Realität wird. Schon bald geraten die Freunde in eine aussichtslose Situation, aus der sie nur ein neuer Mitspieler retten kann ... Eine etwas andere "unendliche Geschichte" - spannend, voller Überraschungen und ganz schön gruselig!

Cover:
Wie alle Cover der Gänsehautreihe passt auch dieses sehr gut zu der Geschichte. Zu sehen ist hier ein Drache, der das gesamte Cover einnimmt und scheinbar versucht den Betrachter in Angst und Schrecken zu versetzen. Das finde ich sehr stimmig und passend zu der Reihe.

Eigener Eindruck:
Georg und seine Freundin Emily wissen vor langer Weile nicht mehr, was sie in den Sommerferien tun sollen. Da erfahren sie, dass der gemeine Nachbar Mr. Zerwid einen Garagenflohmarkt betreibt und wollen sich die Sache genauer ansehen. Doch Mr. Zerwid ist Kindern gegenüber sehr unfreundlich und beschuldigt die beiden bald, dass sie etwas stehlen wollen. Deshalb gehen die beiden wieder heim. Um es Mr. Zerwid heimzuzahlen, dass er so gemein war, hat Georg doch etwas geklaut. Ein Kartenspiel mit dem Titel: „Fürchte dich sehr“. Als ihr Kumpel Kevin zu den beiden stößt und erklärt, dass er das Spiel kennt, beginnen die Freunde damit das Spiel zu spielen. Als Georg die erste Karte zieht, geht plötzlich das Licht aus. Als nächstes hören die Freunde wildes Hufgetrappel und Schlachtrufe bis schließlich ein Drache in ihrem Vorgarten steht. Das kann nicht mit rechten Dingen zugehen, da sind sie sich sicher. Schon bald müssen die Freunde feststellen, dass das Kartenspiel gefährlich ist und wollen es so schnell wie möglich loswerden. Doch das ist einfacher als gedacht...

Der 54te Band der „Gänsehaut-Reihe“ aus der Feder von R.L. Stine hat mich persönlich sehr begeistert, auch wenn es zum Ende hin etwas verwirrend wurde – wenn man dann eine Weile darüber nachgedacht hat, dann muss man schon zugeben, dass die Story ein kleiner Geniestreich ist, aber ich denke, dass jüngere Leser durchaus noch verwirrter sein könnten. Was mir an diesem Band gut gefallen hat war die Tatsache, dass die Freunde in ein Rollenspiel gezogen werden. Das ist einmal etwas völlig anderes, dazu kommt noch die Tatsache, dass die Geschichte in scheinbar verschiedenen Dimensionen spielt.
Die Schreibweise des Autors ist gewohnt einfach und somit ist der Einstieg in die Geschichte recht einfach. Die Kinder hangeln sich von Kapitel zu Kapitel durch ihr Abenteuer, wobei jedes Kapitel mit einem Schreckmoment endet, welcher im nächsten Kapitel aufgelöst wird. Die Länge der Kapitel ist recht angenehm, sodass junge Leser sich das Buch sehr schön einteilen können. Die Umschreibungen der Geschichte sind sehr detailliert, sodass man sich die Figuren, die darin vorkommen, sehr gut vorstellen kann. Was ich jedoch etwas schade fand war, dass der Zwerg, der als erstes aus dem Spiel kommt, keine weitere Rolle erfahren hat. Man hätte da sicher noch etwas einbauen können. Im Großen und Ganzen ist das Buch wieder sehr gelungen und hat einfach Spaß gemacht.

Empfehlen möchte ich das Buch allen Gruselfreunden, ob jung oder alt. Hier kommt man auf seine Kosten, wenn man sich immer wieder vor Augen führt, dass es sich hierbei um ein Kinderbuch für Kids im Alter von 10 Jahren handelt.

Idee: 5/5
Charaktere: 4/5
Details: 4/5
Emotionen: 4/5
Lesespaß: 4/5
Spannung: 3/5

Gesamt: 4/5

[Orkhiroz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ketika dikatai pencuri, Connor pun protes dengan cara mencuri betulan. Kotak itu berisi kartu-kartu yang dinamakan Permainan Maut. Dia, Emily, dan Kyle masing-masing memilih kartu karakter, kekuatan, aksi, dan nasib. Setiap kartu yang mereka ambil, kejadian-kejadian buruk menimpa mereka di dunia nyata. Si pemilik kartu pun memberi hukuman dengan mengirimkan mereka ke dunia permainan tersebut.

Kelebihan R.L. Stine terletak pada gaya kepenulisannya yang sangat ringan sehingga aku cenderung selalu bisa menikmati novel-novelnya secara keseluruhan. Hal yang membuatku sering sebal adalah ending yang menjengkelkan.

Berdasarkan ulasan lainnya, banyak yang merasa ditipu karena perubahan-perubahan mendadak sudut pandang pengarang orang pertamanya. Tapi, di sini aku cukup suka karena kreatif dan sesuai dengan nama permainannya. Looping adalah hal yang mengerikan dan tumben-tumbennya aku suka paragraf terakhir novel R.L. Stine—yang di sini menunjukkan kalau sudah ada pergantian waktu ketika anak-anak itu masih berada dalam permainan. Tapi, pergantian POV yang terakhir makin mengurangi rasa akrabku ke tokoh-tokohnya. Mereka pun jadi terasa tidak spesial di hatiku.

Yang membuatku berpikir keras adalah si trio berhasil selamat dari ladang hidup entah bagaimana caranya ketika pergantian POV. Tapi, apa Mark bisa selamat setelah jatuh dari tebing pas berganti ke POV berikutnya? Kegelapan mendadak menyelimuti, mungkin mereka sekarang sedang dalam masa loading game dan menunggu adegan pemain berikutnya datang.

Omong-omong, setelah Emily kuat, Kyle diceritakan pindah pihak ke dia. Tapi, memangnya sejak kapan Kyle bekerja sama dengan Connor? Bukankah dari awal Emily dan Kyle harus bekerja sama supaya bisa mengalahkan Connor yang memimpin permainan?

Adanya ketidakjelasan dan ketidakkonsistenan peraturan perhitungan dadu untuk menentukan jumlah prajurit. Atau perhitungannya sengaja dibuat begitu karena Kyle adalah anak yang kurang jago menghitung?

Jalan cerita permainan kartu dan peraturannya cukup membingungkan bagiku. Ada karakter yang boleh mengocok dadu berulang kali kalau dianggap tidak bisa mengalahkan musuh di ceritanya. Pertama-tama giliran mengocok dadunya sesuai urutan, tapi kalau jalan ceritanya berkata lain, orang tertentu itu boleh dilewati. Apa jangan-jangan Kyle memang dibuat untuk mengarang peraturannya?

Di halaman 32 setelah kartu-kartunya dikembalikan ke kotak, semua teror berhenti, kecuali Krel yang mendadak muncul dan kartunya juga menghilang. Lalu, enggak ada penjelasan kenapa Emily dan Kyle bisa bersikap baik-baik saja di keesokan harinya dan menganggap semua itu cuma kebetulan—padahal mereka melihat sendiri dan bahkan ketakutan ketika Krel muncul di depan mereka—sampai-sampai aku mengira mereka dihipnotis terus nantinya bakal mengkhianati Connor. Dan apa yang membuat Krel bisa keluar padahal Kyle belum dapat giliran main?

[Ethan Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now don't get me wrong, I love R.L stine.

But this? Are you serious. Up to about chapter 15 this book was great (hence the 3 stars) but the last chapters absolutely ruined it. I can see what he was trying to pull off, he just didn't manage it. Better luck next time I guess. I don't like to be harsh but probably worst of Goosebumps Series 2000.

[Sagarika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Goosebumps. The story idea of the author was good but the scope was too big for a small book like this, hence the outcome was poorly written.

3/5 for Be Afraid--Be Very Afraid! I wasn't much afraid while reading this book, mostly annoyed. This wouldn't be in my top Goosebumps recommendation.

[Owen · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's too infinite to read. I give r.l stine credit for making up a fantasy world, and the deck card thought that was interesting, but there's no ending to this book.
Wouldn't read again. Worst book in the series, so FAR!

[Marian Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Jumanji but with a lot of bizarre twists. I love Stine so I’m giving it a 4. HOWEVER, it is not his greatest work.

[Lucy Caruana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Vic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aw R.L., you had me going! It's a strange format at first, then it starts to get intriguing, but then the page count limit rears its head and the story wraps up way too blithely.

[Griffin C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending is the only good part. 3.5/10

[Dakota Foote · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun role-playing horror story that would have worked better as a Give Yourself Goosebumps book. I really like it when Goosebumps goes meta, but they took it a bit far here.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Those cop-out endings… they made me laugh, but they also made this such a pointless book.

[Stephanie Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Could've had more to it

[Neophrem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stine che raschia il fondo del barile con un (pessimo) plagio di Jumanji.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

en vrai c'est plutôt un bon chair de poule celui là

[Minhaz Uddin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t indulge myself into it, but there were some bits that completely hooked me up.

[Dessy Priyatna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dari kecil saya seneng banget baca goosebumps. Koleksi goosebumps klasik saya banyak sekali sejak saya kelas 4 SD kalo gak salah. Mungkin saat itu saya suka baca goosebumps karena kebanyakan karakternya emang seusia saya, jadi saya berasa lagi meranin tokoh utama dalam novel tersebut. Nah, memasuki era millennium baru, R.L. Stine, si penulis serial goosebumps ini ngeluarin goosebumps yang series 2000, buat saya ceritanya gak semenarik yang series klasik. Too much fantasy yang kalo menurut saya jadi less real kehidupan si karakter utamanya. Eh iya gak sih? Menurut saya sih gitu. Kenapa? Karena dari judulnya aja udah kelihatan, misalnya, kalo yang di seri klasik, judulnya simple-simpel banget kayak, “Kenapa Aku Takut Lebah”, “How I Learned to fly”, “Masalah Besar”, “Bergaya sebelum Mati” atau “Jangan Sembarangan Mengucapkan Keinginan” judulnya sederhana dan melekat banget di kehidupan sehari-hari anak remaja tanggung.

Nah, salah satu novel goosebumps series 2000 ini berjudul Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid, yang dalam versi Indonesia diterjemahkan menjadi Permainan Maut, novel ini saya baca waktu SMP akhir, (iya, walau udah SMP saya masih suka baca yang beginian bukannya baca-baca teenlit lol, sumthin wrong??? dunno). Novel ini menceritakan tentang, oopps, interrupt dulu, ini cerita yang saya inget aja ya, maklum saya bacanya berpuluh-puluh tahun lamanya hehehe, dan out of sudden gak tau kenapa pengen ngerivew buku ini.

Oke, lanjut, novel ini bercerita tentang dua sahabat platonic Emily dan Connor, yang pada saat itu sedang bosan-bosannya liburan musim panas tapi doing nothing, hampir semua permainan sudah bosan mereka mainkan, dan hampir semua buku sudah habis mereka baca. Namun, suatu ketika, tetangga mereka yang bernama Mr. Zarwid menggelar the garage sale di depan rumahnya. FYI, Mr. Zarwid ini orang yang aneh, Bapak-bapak hampir tua yang tinggal satu komplek dengan Connor ini terkenal anti social dan tidak menyukai anak-anak, a.k.a. galak. Di garage sale milik Mr. Zarwid ini, Connor dan Emily menemukan sesuatu yang menarik perhatian mereka yaitu semacam kartu-kartu game kuno dengan karakter monster, ksatria, putri, raja, penyihir, dwarf dan juga naga. Connor yang menemukan permainan kartu ajaib dan berniat membelinya tidak ditanggapi oleh Mr. Zarwid, “kartu itu tidak dijual” Tapi memang dasar jail, kedua sahabat tersebut mencuri kartu-kartu tersebut.

Permainan pun dimulai. Dan seketika itu pun horror dimulai. Ketika mereka memainkan kartu monster, tiba-tiba di luar rumah mereka terdengar sesuatu tumbang, dan terjadi gempa. Ternyata yang tumbang adalah tiang listrik yang mengeluarkan percikan-percikan bunga api yang dirusak oleh seekor monster buas nan besar yang mirip dengan monster yang ada dalam kartu. Dentuman gempa berasal dari jejak-jejak kaki monster yang menjelajah kota. Penduduk ketakuan, kota pun mencekam, belum lagi muncul naga-naga penyembur api. Connor dan Emily ketakutan, mereka menyadari semua adalah kesalahan mereka, karakter-karakter dalam kartu hidup semua. Emily dan Connor harus menyelesaikan permainan maut tersebut untuk menyelamatkan diri mereka dan kota. Namun, apa yang terjadi, kartu penyihir pun hidup, Connor dan Emily harus berhadapan dengan pernyihir yang ternyata mirip sekali dengan MR. Zarwid. Apa yang harus mereka lakukan? Akankah mereka selamat…??

Yah seperti itu kira-kira ceritanya, but u know what ternyata cerita memang sampai di situ, tiba-tiba buku pun bertuliskan TAMAT justru pada saat Connor dan Emily berada dalam situasi genting berhadapan dengan sang penyihir maha sakti. But wait, ternyata kisah Connor dan Emily merupakan kisah fiktif dari sebuah novel misteri yang sedang dibaca oleh dua orang teman bernama Brenda dan Ross (karakter lain yang muncul dalam novel ini). Kesal membaca cerita yang menggantung tentang petualangan Connor dan Emily, Brenda dan Ross pergi berkeliling komplek, dan out of sudden bertemu dengan seorang lelaki tengah baya bernama Mr. Wardiz yang menawarkan menawarkan mereka sekotak kartu permainan maut. Apakah Brenda dan Ross menerimanya?? Siapakah sebenarnya Mr. Zarwid dan Mr. Wardiz… hihihi lanjutannya baca aja. Saya sudah cukup spoiling di sini.

Yup, untuk saat ini menurut saya emang cerita seperti ini cuma thriller biasa yang nakutin anak kecil, tapi buat saya yang berusia belasan dan belum baligh dahulu kala, kisah-kisah seperti ini bisa membuat imaginasi saya kaya, membawa saya discovering and wandering a new world. No one to tell me no or where to go, or say, hey Des, you’re only just dreaming. Yah seperti itulah hehe.

[Fatoni M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fatoni Maraton Goosebumps Series 2000
Buku 20 dari 25

Connor terlalu bosan musim panas tahun itu dan memutuskan mencuri kartu permainan dari garage sale tetangganya yang aneh--laki-laki sepuh berjenggot panjang dan putih semua. Ketika kartu-kartu dimainkan bersama 2 orang temannya, permainannya menjadi nyata, muncul kastria-ksatria, goblin, dan bahkan naga.

Vibes-nya kayak Jumanji banget. Namun, tentu saja tidak sebagus Jumanji. Kartu permainannya sendiri tidak punya rules yang jelas, dan sepertinya R. L. Stine kebingungan harus mengakhiri buku ini bagaimana sehingga dia menuliskan 2 twist sekaligus. Twist yang sangat malas, haha.

[Ahmed Moustafa · Rating 3 out of 5]

مش فاكر قريتها سنه كام :'D
بس فاكر والدى لما أشتراها لى كانت طفره تحول من قصص و مجلات ميكى المصوره و مجلداته للقصص دى + أول 4 أجزاء لهارى بوتر + كتاب لأجاثا كريستى و للأسف لسه مركونين لحد عندى واقف عند أول خمس صفح ماكملتش
كانت أول قرائه ليا لما يسمى بصرخه الرعب
:'D
أفتكرتها النهارده الصبح دخلت شوفت المجموعه كلها و لسه عندى لحد دلوقتى الكتب بتاعتها *مش كلها* .. منه مركون و منه أتقرا و لحد دلوقتى لسه فاكر أيه ال كان عاجبنى و أيه لأ
ليس لى سوى الأبتسام على ما مضى من ذكريات حسبى الله أن يعيدها مره أخرى بشكل أجمل

[Jerome · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book gives me goosebumps.That will keep you guessing to the shiver.it was so scary when the girl had the dream when she got kiled.i dont like this book because it goes of topic sometimes.i cant tell what is going to happin next..

[Alex Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another underrated book. I don’t get that hate for the last ten chapters. The gigantic twist is really fun even if you did see it coming. And the scenes with creatures showing up from the cars game was really cool (Especially the Dragon’s appearances)

[Saraswat Prakash]

interesting but gets predictable in the end!