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CodeSkull
Drawing inspiration from classic video games, CodeSkull centers on an ambitious arcade gamer, Mick, who is one day gifted a CD of an RPG game by her rival, Tommy. But when she plays it, she inadvertently unleashes a terrifying technological creature that can infest and overload any electrically powered object.
After their classmate meets a grisly end, the two must team up in order to save their small town—and possibly the world—from annihilation...
In her entry into the Totally Freaked! series, Chloe Spencer takes pre-2000s tech panic and gamer culture for a nostalgic 90s horror ride!
After their classmate meets a grisly end, the two must team up in order to save their small town—and possibly the world—from annihilation...
In her entry into the Totally Freaked! series, Chloe Spencer takes pre-2000s tech panic and gamer culture for a nostalgic 90s horror ride!
- GenresHorrorYoung Adult
201 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Chloe Spencer
25 books60 followersMinnesota native Chloe Spencer is an award winning writer, indie gamedev, and filmmaker. She enjoys writing sci-fi/fantasy, horror, and romance. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games, trying her best at Pilates, and cuddling with her cats. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Oregon and an MFA in Film and Television from SCAD Atlanta. You can find more about her on www.chloespenceronline.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 29, 2025
Exceptional story that takes place in the 90’s about a demon, Codeskull, that is leaked into a towns power grid through a video game. Mick, Tommy, and Cain must join forces in hope of saving the town.
I’ve got a serious craving for some Taco Bell and some classic games. I know how my weekend is going to be spent.
I’ve got a serious craving for some Taco Bell and some classic games. I know how my weekend is going to be spent.
May 28, 2025
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.
June 1, 2025
Thank you so much to Mad Axe Media for the e-arc!!
If life hadn't gotten in the way, I would have devoured this in a day. Incredibly fast paced and easy to get through.
The nostalgia this book gave (along with Birthday Party Demon) was strong. Reminded me of the days when I would collect any piece of Goosebumps related media I could get. Do we remember those horror anthologies? Where the vibes were immaculate but sadly they just don't make anymore? This book and this series fills that hole.
Both dark and scary and sweet all rolled up in one. While I don't miss middle school / junior high, it did make me miss when life seemed a little simpler. Minus the whole death and mayhem, of course.
The characters here were so fun. A little rag team trying to defend an entire town against a demonic entity. I loved them so much.
I can't recommend this series enough! A fun, scary little romp that still has so much heart.
If life hadn't gotten in the way, I would have devoured this in a day. Incredibly fast paced and easy to get through.
The nostalgia this book gave (along with Birthday Party Demon) was strong. Reminded me of the days when I would collect any piece of Goosebumps related media I could get. Do we remember those horror anthologies? Where the vibes were immaculate but sadly they just don't make anymore? This book and this series fills that hole.
Both dark and scary and sweet all rolled up in one. While I don't miss middle school / junior high, it did make me miss when life seemed a little simpler. Minus the whole death and mayhem, of course.
The characters here were so fun. A little rag team trying to defend an entire town against a demonic entity. I loved them so much.
I can't recommend this series enough! A fun, scary little romp that still has so much heart.
May 25, 2025
I don’t care how old I get, I’ll always have a soft spot for young adult horror like this. I grew up on it and I'll love it forever.
I devoured the first book in this series (Birthday Party Demon by Wendy Dalrymple) and was so excited for this one, and it didn't disappoint. In my Birthday Party Demon review, I said it felt like a modern Goosebumps, and that stands true for this story as well.
It was so fun, with some moments that were a little darker than I'd have expected, and some heavy emotions, too. I may have teared up towards the end, just a little.
The main demon fighting trio in this book is so great, the dynamic between them was probably my favorite part of the entire thing. The nostalgia really hit, the dialogue was so well-done and made me laugh out loud at some parts. This was just a really, really good time.
Thank you so much to Mad Axe Media for the e-ARC!
I devoured the first book in this series (Birthday Party Demon by Wendy Dalrymple) and was so excited for this one, and it didn't disappoint. In my Birthday Party Demon review, I said it felt like a modern Goosebumps, and that stands true for this story as well.
It was so fun, with some moments that were a little darker than I'd have expected, and some heavy emotions, too. I may have teared up towards the end, just a little.
The main demon fighting trio in this book is so great, the dynamic between them was probably my favorite part of the entire thing. The nostalgia really hit, the dialogue was so well-done and made me laugh out loud at some parts. This was just a really, really good time.
Thank you so much to Mad Axe Media for the e-ARC!
May 31, 2025
Video game possessed by a demon that is unleashed upon the world? Say no more! 🙌
This one was fun to read!! Definitely gave off some 90s vibes!! Be sure to pick up a copy if you’re into video games or YA horror! 👏
Thank you to Madaxe Media and Chloe Spencer for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
This one was fun to read!! Definitely gave off some 90s vibes!! Be sure to pick up a copy if you’re into video games or YA horror! 👏
Thank you to Madaxe Media and Chloe Spencer for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
June 7, 2025
Thank you for Mad Axe Media for the ARC!
The ‘Totally Freaked’ series is fast becoming something I am rather fond of. As a kid who grew up on Goosebumps (and, at a wildly inappropriate age, started reading Stephen King) books like this were not the most common.
It’s certainly a specific niche, and kids today are lucky they’re getting something so cool in the genre. It’s so wonderful to find a series that posits itself as YA horror, but is still incredible readable as an adult.
‘CodeSkull’ is no exception to the precedent set by ‘Birthday Party Demon’. Both are really good horror novels, especially for YA. CodeSkull has it all- creepy video game circulated between nerds, video game stores, terrifying demon, and a good wallop of nostalgia.
The characters are fun, well-developed for the length of the novel, and strong in their own way. I do wish that we got a little more background on the main villain and a bit more character development, but this is a very solid instalment in what is shaping up to be a very solid series!
The ‘Totally Freaked’ series is fast becoming something I am rather fond of. As a kid who grew up on Goosebumps (and, at a wildly inappropriate age, started reading Stephen King) books like this were not the most common.
It’s certainly a specific niche, and kids today are lucky they’re getting something so cool in the genre. It’s so wonderful to find a series that posits itself as YA horror, but is still incredible readable as an adult.
‘CodeSkull’ is no exception to the precedent set by ‘Birthday Party Demon’. Both are really good horror novels, especially for YA. CodeSkull has it all- creepy video game circulated between nerds, video game stores, terrifying demon, and a good wallop of nostalgia.
The characters are fun, well-developed for the length of the novel, and strong in their own way. I do wish that we got a little more background on the main villain and a bit more character development, but this is a very solid instalment in what is shaping up to be a very solid series!
May 29, 2025
Mick is a gamer and when her arch nemesis Tommy gives her a floppy disk with a new game to beat his score she quickly plugs it in to her best friend, Tanner’s PC. But the disc holds a creature of chaos, a sentient force that uses tech and electricity to bring destruction. Forced to join forces with Tommy and the video shop employee, Cain, can they stop it before it destroys their town and is unleashed onto the world?
The second in the Totally Freaked series, this is a fast paced thrilling mystery adventure that feels familiar (think Scooby Doo or Nancy Drew) and nostalgic. Remember the days of floppy discs, the whine of trying to hook onto the internet, video shops and arcades. This is a total joyful immersion into a simpler time when the drama and danger was IRL and not on a phone screen, where kids were largely unsupervised and the days were full of possibilities!
A YA horror thriller sent in the 90’s this is a wonderful story of real world danger, loss, grief, friendship, bravery and where the town you live in feels like the whole world. With some gnarly body horror, the constant threat of annihilation and those “pesky kids” who are the only ones who know what is really happening. Fabulous!
The second in the Totally Freaked series, this is a fast paced thrilling mystery adventure that feels familiar (think Scooby Doo or Nancy Drew) and nostalgic. Remember the days of floppy discs, the whine of trying to hook onto the internet, video shops and arcades. This is a total joyful immersion into a simpler time when the drama and danger was IRL and not on a phone screen, where kids were largely unsupervised and the days were full of possibilities!
A YA horror thriller sent in the 90’s this is a wonderful story of real world danger, loss, grief, friendship, bravery and where the town you live in feels like the whole world. With some gnarly body horror, the constant threat of annihilation and those “pesky kids” who are the only ones who know what is really happening. Fabulous!
May 9, 2025
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!
A very special thanks to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the advanced copy.
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!
A very special thanks to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the advanced copy.
May 5, 2025
Thank you so much to Mad Axe Media for sending me an e-ARC of CodeSkull!
I am loving the Totally Freaked! series so far & the nostalgia it’s providing!
CodeSkull is an exciting off-the-rails adventure that’s not afraid to get messy & definitely starts things off with a ✨bang✨. & the nostalgia is GIVING. I don’t remember if a particular year is mentioned in the story, but it definitely had me wanting to go back to the late ‘90s & eat Taco Bell. & I just realized that would be my first task if I ever have a Time Machine. Something about 90s & early 00s Taco Bell hits different.
The premise centers around demons & video games/technology making this an automatic winner for me. I had a feeling CodeSkull was gonna be a fun, silly time & I was definitely not disappointed.
10/10 recommend.
I am loving the Totally Freaked! series so far & the nostalgia it’s providing!
CodeSkull is an exciting off-the-rails adventure that’s not afraid to get messy & definitely starts things off with a ✨bang✨. & the nostalgia is GIVING. I don’t remember if a particular year is mentioned in the story, but it definitely had me wanting to go back to the late ‘90s & eat Taco Bell. & I just realized that would be my first task if I ever have a Time Machine. Something about 90s & early 00s Taco Bell hits different.
The premise centers around demons & video games/technology making this an automatic winner for me. I had a feeling CodeSkull was gonna be a fun, silly time & I was definitely not disappointed.
10/10 recommend.
March 29, 2025
The publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
-
Totally Freaked is a book series from Mad Ax Media, if you're old enough to have grown up with Goosebumps,Bone Chillers the myriad of other YA Horror books, than these books will feel akin to rediscovering childhood trinkets in a shoebox, tucked away in a closet.
Chloe Spencer's CodeSkull<\> is the 2nd installment in the Totally Freaked Series (No I haven't read the first one yet ), Like their genetic literary predecessors: Goosebumps, Bone Chillers etc, each book is a stand alone tale, so don't stress if you haven't read book 1.
Nostalgia is a tricky thing, too often in present day media there is a wholesale forcing feeding of presumed generational nostalgia. When an author can tap into millenial chidlhood memories and feelings, without trying to gloss over the nitty gritty details of lived experiance, that's when you have something special. Spencer succeeds in this attempt, if this was back in the day I would have awarded her with a scratch n sniff sticker and a handful of X Files Pogs.
What's not to love about this book?! Evil Forces and cursed floppdisks, local hole in the wall video stores, and the Squirt Guns prevalent in the 90s that we cherished so much. So yes, nostalgia elements for my fellow Decaying Millennials, but delivered in a way that feels authentic, avoiding the soulless cash-grab shellac prevalent in so much current millennial nostalgia media. (No, some of us didn't have a blockbuster video, nor did we have 5 game consoles etc etc).
CodeSkull is a fast moving tale full of shocks and twists fit for an episode of "Eerie Indiana", or "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" Spencer writes Adolescent characters full of the messy emotions and conflicted feelings that can only be truly found in kids of that age. Part of that, and what I feel is most important, Spencer depicts her protagonists struggling with loss and processing emotion in real time. These aren't repressed feelings consigned to a journal, but raw feelings worked out collectively. Not only does this make for a great story, it also guarantees a bit of the readers heart goes out to these characters.
dust off your old PC, dig out your copy of CodeSkull and boot that bad boy up. Just remember to Save before quitting.....
-
Totally Freaked is a book series from Mad Ax Media, if you're old enough to have grown up with Goosebumps,Bone Chillers the myriad of other YA Horror books, than these books will feel akin to rediscovering childhood trinkets in a shoebox, tucked away in a closet.
Chloe Spencer's CodeSkull<\> is the 2nd installment in the Totally Freaked Series (No I haven't read the first one yet ), Like their genetic literary predecessors: Goosebumps, Bone Chillers etc, each book is a stand alone tale, so don't stress if you haven't read book 1.
Nostalgia is a tricky thing, too often in present day media there is a wholesale forcing feeding of presumed generational nostalgia. When an author can tap into millenial chidlhood memories and feelings, without trying to gloss over the nitty gritty details of lived experiance, that's when you have something special. Spencer succeeds in this attempt, if this was back in the day I would have awarded her with a scratch n sniff sticker and a handful of X Files Pogs.
What's not to love about this book?! Evil Forces and cursed floppdisks, local hole in the wall video stores, and the Squirt Guns prevalent in the 90s that we cherished so much. So yes, nostalgia elements for my fellow Decaying Millennials, but delivered in a way that feels authentic, avoiding the soulless cash-grab shellac prevalent in so much current millennial nostalgia media. (No, some of us didn't have a blockbuster video, nor did we have 5 game consoles etc etc).
CodeSkull is a fast moving tale full of shocks and twists fit for an episode of "Eerie Indiana", or "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" Spencer writes Adolescent characters full of the messy emotions and conflicted feelings that can only be truly found in kids of that age. Part of that, and what I feel is most important, Spencer depicts her protagonists struggling with loss and processing emotion in real time. These aren't repressed feelings consigned to a journal, but raw feelings worked out collectively. Not only does this make for a great story, it also guarantees a bit of the readers heart goes out to these characters.
dust off your old PC, dig out your copy of CodeSkull and boot that bad boy up. Just remember to Save before quitting.....
April 2, 2025
Really fun 90s-style video game story. It gave fear street vibes. Was a very quick read. I had a great time with it.
March 29, 2025
Holy shit, this book was so fun.
Anyone, from the seasoned gamer to the ones only exposed to Oregon Trail in the school computer lab who ultimately died of dysentery, will love this book!
As someone who still to this day loves going to the arcade and pounding away on the buttons of the pinball machines, I really enjoyed this one. The cast of characters were hilarious but this read definitely didn’t miss the dark mark, either. Emotionally and otherwise!
Right off the bat shit hits the proverbial fan and doesn’t stop til the end and man was it an exciting ride to get there. Another amazing installment in the Totally Freaked series!
Thank you to the author & Mad Axe for the early copy!
Anyone, from the seasoned gamer to the ones only exposed to Oregon Trail in the school computer lab who ultimately died of dysentery, will love this book!
As someone who still to this day loves going to the arcade and pounding away on the buttons of the pinball machines, I really enjoyed this one. The cast of characters were hilarious but this read definitely didn’t miss the dark mark, either. Emotionally and otherwise!
Right off the bat shit hits the proverbial fan and doesn’t stop til the end and man was it an exciting ride to get there. Another amazing installment in the Totally Freaked series!
Thank you to the author & Mad Axe for the early copy!
June 14, 2025
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.
June 5, 2025
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!
A book about a computer game possessed by an evil entity set in the 90's count me in! This was a fast paced nostalgic horror adventure story and I flew through the pages. The characters were well rounded and lovable. Spencer wastes no time getting to the action the opening scene was so unexpected and I really didn't see it coming.
My only complaint is that I was hoping the video game would be featured more heavily in the story. Especially because it was so intriguing!
I really hope this isn't the last we see of Mick, Tommy and Cain.
A book about a computer game possessed by an evil entity set in the 90's count me in! This was a fast paced nostalgic horror adventure story and I flew through the pages. The characters were well rounded and lovable. Spencer wastes no time getting to the action the opening scene was so unexpected and I really didn't see it coming.
My only complaint is that I was hoping the video game would be featured more heavily in the story. Especially because it was so intriguing!
I really hope this isn't the last we see of Mick, Tommy and Cain.
May 28, 2025
CodeSkull is a very cute Goosebumps-esque (with hints of a season one Buffy episode) story! The nostalgia from the floppy disk game and video store was great, and the fridge scene was hilarious. The characters were loveable, and the action very fast paced.
Be sure to check out CodeSkull and the other Totally Freaked! series for some campy 90s fun!
Thanks to Mad Axe Media for the ARC!
Be sure to check out CodeSkull and the other Totally Freaked! series for some campy 90s fun!
Thanks to Mad Axe Media for the ARC!
May 22, 2025
Thank you so much to Mad Axe Media for sending me an e-ARC of CodeSkull! This is the second book in the "Totally Freaked" series and I've got to read an ARC of both of them. This one was fantastic! I really love all the 90's nostalgia these books have had. It was well written and pretty fast paced. A great addition to YA Horror. Now come back to the 90's and see if you can defeat CodeSkull! This will be out in June of 2025. Make sure to add it to your TBR!
May 19, 2025
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.
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.
May 10, 2025
CodeSkull is full of nostalgia and Goosebumps-style vibes. Anyone who grew up reading those books will love this story and the Totally Freaked series from Mad Axe Media. Thank you to Joey for sending me an ARC. You can pick up this book when it publishes June 17, 2025 directly from the Mad Axe website!
May 2, 2025
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.
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.
June 30, 2025
I received this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
💀 The cover is just fab! I love that scary skull in the back, plus I love that all three of the characters are black.
💀 I am glad that Mick turned out to be much less as she was in the start. Given that she is the MC eventually. She was a big ass at the start with Tanner saying clearly no and her just continuing on. Her just ignoring that she is a GUEST at someone’s house. So I am glad that she turned out to be quite OK, and I love her dedication to getting rid of the demon and getting revenge.
💀 The opening scenes before the kids band up and get together, wow. That was creepy and it definitely set the tone for the rest of the book. Don’t fuck with CodeSkull.
💀 I am probably seeing things, but I did like seeing Cain and Tommy get closer. I was kinda thinking it would go the stereotypical way, Mick x Tommy. But instead I got all those vibes with Cain and Tommy.
💀 CodeSkull and the fact he could just be everywhere that electricity was? SCARY. Terrifying. Especially when he could move stuff, like the cables, or even a fridge. You are just never safe. I guess it is at least good for these kids that mobile phones and all that don’t exist yet or at least not that advanced. Imagine what havoc CodeSkull could have done then? shivers
💀 I do appreciate that the author doesn’t shy away from killing off people. A lot of books would probably avoid killing too much, but here? So many people got hurt or died because CodeSkull. You could clearly see the consequences. It wasn’t just CodeSkull targeting our trio, oh no, everyone who got in the way or was in the nearby area? Fucked.
💀 This both made me laugh and cheer for the kids. Them going for water to cancel out electricity. I got immediately Pokemon vibes and those thoughts wouldn’t leave my mind even when things got grim. But I did like that the kids thought of the plan for water so soon and also got out some big guns for it.
💀 The references. Not everything I will get as this one takes place in the US and I live in the Netherlands. I appreciated the game references, some of the snacks I recognised (mostly the popular ones that got overseas), the movies and books named, and others. It made me giggle and squee.
💀 The part in the electricity building (sorry, I am totally not remembering the actual name not even in Dutch, why head why?). Those were just terrifying and scary and I was on the edge of my seat. I just couldn’t stop reading. I was glued to my Kindle screen.
💀 And then there is the last part! The final battle. The last stand. Holy crap. That is what I will say. WOW.
💀 I am also glad we got to see a bit that takes place afterwards, I always appreciate that, though I have to say thanks to the previous book I was also kinda dreading it. Would everything really be done?
💀 Oh, and before I end, I love that we get a girl gamer! Mick is one through and through and I just adore it.
😑 While I am happy that the ending was a closed-off one. Due to the fact that the previous book kept things open I constantly was dreading the same happening here. In the other book in the series it kinda worked, but I am just never a fan of those type of endings, the goosebumpy endings. And I knew that it wouldn’t work here if the things were left open. So I was constantly dreading and that definitely lowered my feelings for the book.
😑 I just never got a hold of their ages. Given that Cain has a job along with a car and a license he should be around 16-18, but yet he often acts the same way as Mick and Tommy who feel more like 12-13 to me, sometimes younger. I would have definitely liked more clarity on that as it pulled me out of the story a few times.
All in all, I am definitely happy I got the opportunity to read this book and I am looking forward what is next in the Totally Freaked series. Which writer is next? What story will we get?
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
💀 The cover is just fab! I love that scary skull in the back, plus I love that all three of the characters are black.
💀 I am glad that Mick turned out to be much less as she was in the start. Given that she is the MC eventually. She was a big ass at the start with Tanner saying clearly no and her just continuing on. Her just ignoring that she is a GUEST at someone’s house. So I am glad that she turned out to be quite OK, and I love her dedication to getting rid of the demon and getting revenge.
💀 The opening scenes before the kids band up and get together, wow. That was creepy and it definitely set the tone for the rest of the book. Don’t fuck with CodeSkull.
💀 I am probably seeing things, but I did like seeing Cain and Tommy get closer. I was kinda thinking it would go the stereotypical way, Mick x Tommy. But instead I got all those vibes with Cain and Tommy.
💀 CodeSkull and the fact he could just be everywhere that electricity was? SCARY. Terrifying. Especially when he could move stuff, like the cables, or even a fridge. You are just never safe. I guess it is at least good for these kids that mobile phones and all that don’t exist yet or at least not that advanced. Imagine what havoc CodeSkull could have done then? shivers
💀 I do appreciate that the author doesn’t shy away from killing off people. A lot of books would probably avoid killing too much, but here? So many people got hurt or died because CodeSkull. You could clearly see the consequences. It wasn’t just CodeSkull targeting our trio, oh no, everyone who got in the way or was in the nearby area? Fucked.
💀 This both made me laugh and cheer for the kids. Them going for water to cancel out electricity. I got immediately Pokemon vibes and those thoughts wouldn’t leave my mind even when things got grim. But I did like that the kids thought of the plan for water so soon and also got out some big guns for it.
💀 The references. Not everything I will get as this one takes place in the US and I live in the Netherlands. I appreciated the game references, some of the snacks I recognised (mostly the popular ones that got overseas), the movies and books named, and others. It made me giggle and squee.
💀 The part in the electricity building (sorry, I am totally not remembering the actual name not even in Dutch, why head why?). Those were just terrifying and scary and I was on the edge of my seat. I just couldn’t stop reading. I was glued to my Kindle screen.
💀 And then there is the last part! The final battle. The last stand. Holy crap. That is what I will say. WOW.
💀 I am also glad we got to see a bit that takes place afterwards, I always appreciate that, though I have to say thanks to the previous book I was also kinda dreading it. Would everything really be done?
💀 Oh, and before I end, I love that we get a girl gamer! Mick is one through and through and I just adore it.
😑 While I am happy that the ending was a closed-off one. Due to the fact that the previous book kept things open I constantly was dreading the same happening here. In the other book in the series it kinda worked, but I am just never a fan of those type of endings, the goosebumpy endings. And I knew that it wouldn’t work here if the things were left open. So I was constantly dreading and that definitely lowered my feelings for the book.
😑 I just never got a hold of their ages. Given that Cain has a job along with a car and a license he should be around 16-18, but yet he often acts the same way as Mick and Tommy who feel more like 12-13 to me, sometimes younger. I would have definitely liked more clarity on that as it pulled me out of the story a few times.
All in all, I am definitely happy I got the opportunity to read this book and I am looking forward what is next in the Totally Freaked series. Which writer is next? What story will we get?
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 30, 2025
The Good
We will start with the good before I begin ranting like a madman in a basement who isn't even the target market. The story is fun in the right ways. The character banter is light, enjoyable, and kind of sweet. And the kid-logic to solve problems? It's like deep-frying cotton candy, I have no idea how or if that should work, but it sounds amazing. Which is to say, perfect kid-logic.
The Rant
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but of course, you should judge a book by its cover. The art on the front and the blurb on the back are promises. Promises of what I'm buying.
The blurb, by the way, has a typo which, unlike if it occurred inside the book, is pretty inexcusable. Unless the third 'L' in small was adding extreme emphasis to the town's diminutive size that I didn't get.
The cover promise is that there will be some gamer or computer nostalgia. I was ready to enjoy pointing out errors like confusing Doom with Quake or slipping in some anachronistic computer hardware, but it was worse. It just didn't exist. Other than the opening premise, it all disappears.
The story itself is fun. It is exciting and perfect for this type of book. It just wasn't the story I was promised, and this makes me sad.
Second Rant
It's floppy disk not floppy disc. Also, nobody would put a floppy in a plastic case, it is already encased. It sounds like this was written as if the game was originally on a CD, but then changed to sound more retro. If that was the case, it should have stayed CD and just called CD-ROM for that retro flavor. Games in 1998 were not on a single floppy disk, that's absurd.
We will start with the good before I begin ranting like a madman in a basement who isn't even the target market. The story is fun in the right ways. The character banter is light, enjoyable, and kind of sweet. And the kid-logic to solve problems? It's like deep-frying cotton candy, I have no idea how or if that should work, but it sounds amazing. Which is to say, perfect kid-logic.
The Rant
They say not to judge a book by its cover, but of course, you should judge a book by its cover. The art on the front and the blurb on the back are promises. Promises of what I'm buying.
The blurb, by the way, has a typo which, unlike if it occurred inside the book, is pretty inexcusable. Unless the third 'L' in small was adding extreme emphasis to the town's diminutive size that I didn't get.
The cover promise is that there will be some gamer or computer nostalgia. I was ready to enjoy pointing out errors like confusing Doom with Quake or slipping in some anachronistic computer hardware, but it was worse. It just didn't exist. Other than the opening premise, it all disappears.
The story itself is fun. It is exciting and perfect for this type of book. It just wasn't the story I was promised, and this makes me sad.
Second Rant
It's floppy disk not floppy disc. Also, nobody would put a floppy in a plastic case, it is already encased. It sounds like this was written as if the game was originally on a CD, but then changed to sound more retro. If that was the case, it should have stayed CD and just called CD-ROM for that retro flavor. Games in 1998 were not on a single floppy disk, that's absurd.
March 26, 2025
Codeskull was such a fun ride. Or, to keep in the 90s-ness of fit all, it was tubular.
This was the first lower YA book I've read in a looong time (lower as in for younger teens but not so young that it's middle grade), and I'm so glad I read it! Chloe Spencer is great at catapulting you back into your childhood. Every teen felt so realistic, from the way they spoke to their relationships to their teenage priorities.
The 90s-ness of it all was great. Kids say stuff like "We gotta bounce!" and "Is he tripping?" and huddle around those giant computers we all had in the corner of our living rooms growing up.
Codeskull was sold to me as very 'Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase.' It definitely had those vibes, even if parts of it were darker! I thought it felt more Goosebumps-y, as the book wasn't afraid to lean into the horror aspects - especially with the body count and all the gnarly injuries!
It was also hilarious and goofy in the most delightful way. It had kids getting menaced by a possessed fridge and fighting the bad guy with super soakers. The kids are screaming during a fight scene and then they see condoms and scream even louder because ew, gross!
Such a fun, spooky time! If you loved Goosebumps, you'll love Codeskull.
This was the first lower YA book I've read in a looong time (lower as in for younger teens but not so young that it's middle grade), and I'm so glad I read it! Chloe Spencer is great at catapulting you back into your childhood. Every teen felt so realistic, from the way they spoke to their relationships to their teenage priorities.
The 90s-ness of it all was great. Kids say stuff like "We gotta bounce!" and "Is he tripping?" and huddle around those giant computers we all had in the corner of our living rooms growing up.
Codeskull was sold to me as very 'Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase.' It definitely had those vibes, even if parts of it were darker! I thought it felt more Goosebumps-y, as the book wasn't afraid to lean into the horror aspects - especially with the body count and all the gnarly injuries!
It was also hilarious and goofy in the most delightful way. It had kids getting menaced by a possessed fridge and fighting the bad guy with super soakers. The kids are screaming during a fight scene and then they see condoms and scream even louder because ew, gross!
Such a fun, spooky time! If you loved Goosebumps, you'll love Codeskull.
June 8, 2025
CodeSkull is that nerdy little video game book written for nerdy little video game kids who will devour this like Mountain Dew and Funyuns.
Another entry into Mad Axe Media's Totally Freaked! series, CodeSkull is a nostalgia driven YA story about a demon who is released from a floppy-disc RPG game, who then terrorizes the town. Set in the late 90s, the setting is one that I'm more than familiar with- geometric splashed Taco Bells, summer sleepovers, and dingy arcades. It really felt like a book that came from my own memories.
The story follows Mick, a nerdy video game girl, as she partners up with Tommy and Cain to find out exactly how to battle the digital demon. The characters feel real and I saw myself in Mick, which was really refreshing to see in a YA novel. The three main characters are nerdy, proudly loving movies, video games, and music. I could see myself and my friends in these characters because they felt so real and vibrant.
Since it is a YA novel, the writing is exactly how it should be. It's quick, descriptive, and never leaves the reader behind. Chloe Spencer really understands how to capture the attention of young readers and delivers a story that speaks to the adolescent experience. It's a story that I wish I had read when I was younger.
Another entry into Mad Axe Media's Totally Freaked! series, CodeSkull is a nostalgia driven YA story about a demon who is released from a floppy-disc RPG game, who then terrorizes the town. Set in the late 90s, the setting is one that I'm more than familiar with- geometric splashed Taco Bells, summer sleepovers, and dingy arcades. It really felt like a book that came from my own memories.
The story follows Mick, a nerdy video game girl, as she partners up with Tommy and Cain to find out exactly how to battle the digital demon. The characters feel real and I saw myself in Mick, which was really refreshing to see in a YA novel. The three main characters are nerdy, proudly loving movies, video games, and music. I could see myself and my friends in these characters because they felt so real and vibrant.
Since it is a YA novel, the writing is exactly how it should be. It's quick, descriptive, and never leaves the reader behind. Chloe Spencer really understands how to capture the attention of young readers and delivers a story that speaks to the adolescent experience. It's a story that I wish I had read when I was younger.
June 18, 2025
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.
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC in exhange for my honest review.
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.
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC in exhange for my honest review.
February 20, 2025
Thank you to Mad Axe Media for providing me an arc. All opinions are my own. CodeSkull is the kind of book that feels like it was written for me. A 90s-set pixelated dread that creeps out of the virtual realm and exposes itself into our reality, where it becomes a breathing horror that's a fresh spin on the trope of a haunted videogame. It's the exact kind of thing you want from a story built on Fear Street vibes; our protagonists running around unsupervised, an older kid who's somewhat of a mentor, unconventional methods of fighting back against a supernatural threat, stakes that feel big but not silly. And it does all of that without ever losing sight of character. Spencer lets her characters be real kids, kids who have big, complicated feelings. They get angry with one another and don't understand why, they like each other without realizing it. They hide parts of themselves in attempts to look cool. You really can't ask for more.
May 2, 2025
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.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC in exchange for my honesty review.
May 5, 2025
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.
Thank you so much Mad Axe Media for the ARC.
Fun, fast paced, funny. I call this one a perfect after school read.
Thank you so much Mad Axe Media for the ARC.
Want to read
April 24, 2025Thanks to Mad Axe Media and NetGalley for this ARC! CodeSkull by Chloe Spencer comes out on June 17, 2025.
July 26, 2025
So much fun!!!! Wow!!! Loved this book. Can see it as a series for sure.
May 24, 2025
💫 NetGalley ARC Review 💫
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!
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!
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