Fiends on the Other Side by Vera Strange

Release: October 6, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Indigo, TBD

“I know many things. Including the fact that you have something that belongs to me . . . .“
Generally, Twelve-year-old Jamal has always lived in his twin brother, Malik’s, shadow. However, All he wants in the world is to know, just for one day, what it’s like to be his more popular, more talented, and more confident brother. So when a mysterious man named Dr. Facilier appears and offers Jamal the opportunity to do just that, Jamal jumps at the chance. But when he wakes up the next morning to find his dream has come true, he learns it comes at a terrible cost. For that reason people say “Never make a deal with the Shadow Man.” And Jamal is about to find out why.
Meanwhile, Grab your night-light, dear reader, and prepare to be CHILL-ed!

About the Author:

Jennifer Brody (writing as Vera Strange) is the award-winning author of “The 13th Continuum,” the graphic novels “Spectre Deep 6” and “200,” and the Disney Chills series (Vera Strange). She’s also a graduate of Harvard University and a film and television producer and writer. She began her career in Hollywood on many films, including “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Golden Compass.” She lives and writes in LA, where she’s hard at work on her next book. You can find her on Twitter @JenniferBrody, and Instagram and Facebook @JenniferBrodyWriter.

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Fiends on the Other Side Review:

This was (if not better) as good as the first book and as a Disney fan, I really liked it!

Jamal is nice as the lead character. The author writes the story in a very compelling way that immediately draws you to the characters. Similar to the first book where the lead would do anything to fit in, Jamal also wants people to notice him. He is always in Malik’s shadow and makes a deal with the devil to get his wish. I also liked Jamal’s friendship with Riley. Riley is a fascinating character. Similarly, I liked Malik too. To be honest, I felt bad for Malik. His life goes for a toss with no fault of his own.

The author also increases the chill factor compared to the first book. For some reason, I found the scenes of the creepy dolls, and the way they come after Jamal, to be very eerie. Dr. Facilier is charming and diabolical and made the story so entertaining with his evil schemes. Similarly, the scenes where the monster chases Jamal, and the action that takes place in the bayou are gripping!

The series is SO good but I wish there were more details provided. For instance, I wish there was some backstory provided as to how the grandmother got her hands on the items. Additionally, I would have also liked the backstory of Riley’s grandmother to be drawn out.

Reading this book made me want to revisit the Princess and the Frog. This is a wonderful treat if you are a fan of the movie or if you are in the mood for a spooky story. Overall, this was a great continuation of the series and I can’t wait for the next installment!