Fast and fun read. Felt like something I would have loved as a kid growing up alongside goosebumps. Not too scary but creepy enough to second guess if you saw a shadow move in your room late at night.

The Totally Freaked series really came out of the gate hot and ready. CodeSkull, the second installment, delivers a healthy dose of fun, nostalgia, and heart. It hooked me with the idea of a demon video game and kept me interested by delivering likeable characters and an electrified plot. Solid read for kids and adults alike. If you like your YA horror with a little kick, give this series a go.

This is the 2nd book in the Totally Freaked! series. I read the first one (Birthday party demon by Wendy Dalrymple) a few months ago, and though they are standalone stories, they had similar vibes.

This book is a mix of Goosebumps and Fear street for a newer generation. I loved the references to various video games and punk bands from my adolescence, and that they were seamlessly woven into the story as opposed to feeling like the author was name-dropping for clout. I felt a little confused who the target reader was for this book (similar to the first in the series). The characters read very middle-grade, however, the inclusion of certain language and the age of the characters suggest the book is more YA. I also would have loved to see a little more personality from Codeskull. It became a little boring to read about teens fighting off....electricity. Where did he come from? Where did he go? Who started the lore of cotton-eyed....I mean, Codeskull? I enjoyed the premise, but needed just a bit more.

My first impression of this book was that the cover gave me a nostalgia feeling. It reminded me of a book I would have read as a kid. The second thing I noticed was the author, I have read from her before and was excited to see it was her. I loved that this was set in the 90s and that it had to do with video games. I really enjoyed the book and it made me miss the “old” days.

This was a very good YA read! It has all the 90s nostalgia that is so popular right now, and has a solid plot that feels reminiscent of Goosebumps.

The plot felt a little clunky at times. Most of the obvious plot holes were taken care of in following sentences.

CodeSkull delivers a thrilling 90s horror ride with a fun blend of "Jumanji"-esque real-world peril and deep-cut video game nostalgia. Mick's journey from arcade rival to reluctant hero, alongside Tommy, feels like leveling up in a classic RPG, but with genuinely creepy stakes. The tech-gone-wrong premise taps into that pre-Y2K fear with a creature that's both inventive and unsettling. Spencer nails the atmosphere and the dynamic between the leads. If you miss the days of dial-up and pixelated adventures with a spooky twist, plug into CodeSkull. 4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this book and the concept of a demon using a video game to access the world's electrical system. plus, it was set in the 90s! Mick, Tommy and Cain were wonderful characters who I came to care about.

Spencer does an amazing job at weaving an interesting horror novel with complex characters that’s can reach younger audiences while also capturing the nostalgia of the time era in perfectly enough to keep older audiences interesting. Codeskull short, easy read that’s fun to dive into with horrifying elements that kept me reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was a lot of fun. It reminded me of Goosebumps and Scooby Doo. Loved the 90s references and the storyline kept me turning the pages.

CodeSkull is a fantastic 90’s YA-throwback for readers of all ages that feels like a darker spin on Goosebumps and other similar genre horror books.

The story centers around teen gamer Mick, who accidentally releases a digital demon via a floppy disc computer game. Now she must team up with her rival, Tommy, to save their town from certain mayhem.

This is a quick read that engages with it’s off the rail plot and complicated characters. I appreciated the nostalgia and accuracy of the era, from lingo to pop culture references, Chloe Spencer deftly portrays what it feels like to be a teenager in the age of dial-up and neon. If you were raised on PC games, video stores, and goofy paperbacks - or have young middle grade readers in your household - absolutely check this one out.

CodeSkull is part of the Totally Freaked! Series of young adult novels, which also includes the delightful Birthday Party Demon by Wendy Dalrymple. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for readers next!

Weird, campy, like if you mashed Scooby Doo and the Cyberchase with a Goosebumps novel and added a lot more swears. And some good video game creepypastas.

I really loved Cain’s character, he felt fun and real the whole time.

I think what didn’t really keep my attention was when CodeSkull wasn’t just a video game, I think I was expecting more video game content than the one chapter we got that was the spookiest goddamn thing I could fathom. I think I wanted more lore and ominous energy, and I wanted less action sequences that felt like a movie script.

It’s up to taste, yeah, and the pitch is perfect for me, but the execution was not my favorite for this type of premise.

This book was a total blast! Give off some serious Fear Street vibes. It was full of wholesome nostalgia, friendship, and one big spooky baddie.
Fun, fast paced, funny. I call this one a perfect after school read.

This was such a great nostalgia trip with RL Stine vibes! It truly brought me back. But it was next level. Such a good time.

Rating: 3 stars!

Its fun, its short, its full of 90's nastalgia. The story felt a little forced with all of the references to various things from the 90's, that overall turned into a turn off for me. If you're looking for a quick read, thats a little outlandish, but super fun, you would enjoy this!

Thank you NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chloe Spencer did a wonderful job portraying what it felt like to be a teen. The stupid fights with friends, the hours spent playing video games. Then add in a cursed video game, death of a friend, oh and the challenge of stopping the demon you unleashed playing said cursed video game. This is a great, creepy read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC in exchange for my honesty review.

This is a picture perfect example of how to tap into that nostalgic “Goosebumps” feeling without sacrificing a good story! I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone about 12 and up. It’s got video games, it’s got demons, it’s got best friends, cool older kids, video stores, and everything else you want from a YA horror story. I really loved this book!