R. L. Stine

The arrival of her new stepsister, Jessie, is making Emily's life miserable, but a series of deadly "accidents" and vicious pranks has Emily beginning to fear that Jessie is trying to kill her.

The Stepsister

Briar's Reviews

The Stepsister by R.L. Stine is a cruel horror novel for those seeking some insanity and mean family members.

Emily has a new step father, step brother and step sister. It's been tough since her Dad died, but her Mom, her sister Nancy and her have been getting by. When the new family joins though, her step sister is wickedly evil and has a rough past. Dark and scary things start happening and it feels like Emily's life is purposely being ruined. But things aren't always as they seem...

TRIGGER WARNING ALERT: There is animal abuse in this book and holy moly I wish I knew beforehand because I wouldn't have picked it up. That one hurt my soul so much! I understand that animal abuse is horrifying and all that jazz, but my soul... my poor heart... It seemed heartless and cruel. Yeah, it's horror and it's supposed to be cruel but I didn't expect THAT.

This book is definitely a 1990s book but it holds up. Maybe not the computer exactly, but it still works. I think horror fans will enjoy this throwback and be able to sneak into it as long as they can get past my issue above.

Three out of five stars. It would have been five if there wasn't animal abuse but the animal abuse deserves a one.

Lisa Merriam

I've read a handful of Fear Street over the past month and I can say with certainty this was the one that made me angry while reading, angry at the characters and actions that happened in the book. The quickest read so far in the series for me personally, but probably due to me not being able to put it down because something was constantly happening. The ending though!? R.L Stine always makes the best shocking twists. Can't wait to read another Fear Street.

Amna A.

Noha Abdelaziz

Declared sane by her doctors, Nancy reunites with Emily one year after trying to kill her, but subsequent attempts on Emily's life make the frightened teen suspect that Nancy is not really cured. Original.