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3.5 

Melon Head Mayhem

By Alex Ebenstein
Melon Head Mayhem by Alex Ebenstein digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Have you ever wanted to live inside your favorite horror film? Prove you have what it takes to fight Freddy? Destroy Jason? Mangle Michael?

 

Cousins Carson and Sophia are in town for their grandma's funeral and are, unknowingly, about to live out the nightmare that is every horror fan's dream.

 

After they find an old unfamiliar VHS tape tucked away in grandma's house, they figure the worst that can happen is a few cringeworthy moments and 90 minutes wasted. Instead, the video summons the movie monsters-local urban legends called melon heads-into their very real lives!

 

The destruction caused by the blood thirsty melon heads has Carson and Sophia fighting to survive and sets them on a deadly path to the shores of Lake Michigan, home of the devilish beasts. They vow to destroy every last one of the melon heads and make sure these monsters never get a sequel.

 

Will they survive? Would you fare better?

 

It's a creature feature. It's a throwback. It's... MELON HEAD MAYHEM!

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17 Reviews

3.5
Expressionless Face
UnengagingFast-pacedPredictableUnsatisfying plotMagicalDarkEasy to read
Smiling Face with Heart-Eyes“This one was very fun, felt in a Goosebumps episode 🫶🏼”
“Deep dive into a old horror b-movie in book form with Melon Head Mayhem by Alex Ebenstein! Disclaimer: I was able to read Melon Head Mayhem thanks to getting an eARC from Book Sirens. The following is my honest review. CWs: gore, discussion of children/mental health patients/prisoners used in medical experiments, death of a family member. I love a good B-horror movie. Creature features full of horrible decisions, buckets of red corn syrup, and an ending that leaves things open for more movies that are even worse - Gimme! Melon Head Mayhem is all that but in book form. We get the tropes - small town cryptids, dead loved one bringing people together, analog horror tape with found footage vibes, video store stoners and creepy old men laying out the lore, and more. I eat it up! Like popcorn and cotton candy, this book is not exactly a good meal. I would not recommend it as "literature" for those looking for the next Great American Novel. It is exactly what it claims to be with the cover - a bad movie in a book form. Its FUN. What I loved (besides the tropes and nods to fellow horror fans) was that the characters, Carson and Sophia, were self-aware of how nonsensical it all is. They point out that the situation is crazy over and over but even more that the "lore" is as flimsy as tissue paper. That fact seems to evade the Melon Heads of course as they keep attacking. But what is better than a monster that doesn't need a reason for being a monster? Its why the original Halloween works so well - no one knew why Michael attacked, they just know he does and there's very little anyone can do about it. Good stuff. I know I said I loved the tropes but I also love how Ebenstein avoids other tropes while still giving a nod to them. In the Revenge of the Melon Heads he does point out the perfect Gary-Sue and Mary-Sue characters, the gratuitous sex, and the hero sacrificing himself for the girl (no, I didn't list this as spoilers because you see all this in the first 2 chapters of the book, you'll be fine). Carson and Sophie acknowledge all this then go forth as much more well-rounded characters with flaws, no sex (they're cousins!), and there is a discussion about sacrifice and survival in horror movies that is worth a read (and yes, I'm leaving it there, you'll have to get the book to find out if they survive). I give Melon Head Mayhem 4 stars. Its such a fun book that I read in one sitting. Exactly what I was looking for. Recommendations I don't have a reading list this go around but I do have a movie marathon list based on the movies mentioned in or inspired by mentions in the book! Critters - this is the video Carson and Sophia thought they were going to watch when they discovered Revenge of the Melon Heads. Killer Klowns from Outer Space Evil Dead 2 Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood & Honey (yes this is a modern movie but there is a Pooh reference in the book so I couldn't pass it up).”

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