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The Power #6
The Catacombs
When Mack detects a terrifying horror buried deep beneath an amusement park, he discovers a dark underworld populated by the park's sideshow freaks and and malignant clairvoyant with evil powers. Original.
- GenresParanormal
168 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 14, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 25, 2020
3.5 stars
This is book six in The Power series following teenage psychic McKenzie Gold. In this installment she uncovers some sinister goings-on at the local amusement park, specifically in the new Catacombs ride.
As usual this was an enjoyable read with a likeable cast of characters. I loved the amusement park atmosphere, it felt very nostalgic and atmospheric. We are also introduced to the members of the amusement park's freak show, and while stereotypical in description it does touch on the way they are treated in society and Mack and her boyfriend Aidan remark how uncomfortable they are to see them referred to as freaks when they are regular people like everyone else.
Mack meets another psychic here and I quite enjoyed her character and how the battle between the two of them played out. I thought the secret of the catacombs was quite interesting but there was a supernatural element to the story that I have to admit I didn't enjoy as much as the other stories in the series. Even though they involve paranormal themes I still feel like they are a bit more grounded in reality and believeable. It was still a fun read though!
This is book six in The Power series following teenage psychic McKenzie Gold. In this installment she uncovers some sinister goings-on at the local amusement park, specifically in the new Catacombs ride.
As usual this was an enjoyable read with a likeable cast of characters. I loved the amusement park atmosphere, it felt very nostalgic and atmospheric. We are also introduced to the members of the amusement park's freak show, and while stereotypical in description it does touch on the way they are treated in society and Mack and her boyfriend Aidan remark how uncomfortable they are to see them referred to as freaks when they are regular people like everyone else.
Mack meets another psychic here and I quite enjoyed her character and how the battle between the two of them played out. I thought the secret of the catacombs was quite interesting but there was a supernatural element to the story that I have to admit I didn't enjoy as much as the other stories in the series. Even though they involve paranormal themes I still feel like they are a bit more grounded in reality and believeable. It was still a fun read though!
August 31, 2018
MacKenzie has psychic powers, an ability that informs her that something strange is happening down at the local amusement park. There have been several disappearances at Idlewood, and though MacKenzie's best friend Lillicat has already fallen in love with the owner's son, MacKenzie feels like the place is dangerous. The fat lady in the freak show especially doesn't seem to like MacKenzie. Can MacKenzie conquer someone with powers greater than her own, a zombie, and her fear of heights?
Ah, the early 90s, when YA books took only an hour or two to read. This one was in the vein of R.L. Stine, with short chapters. I didn't feel like I missed anything even though this is the sixth book in a series. MacKenzie has auburn hair, psychic powers and has helped the police before. Did I mention that her hair is auburn? Because the author hits you over the head with that fact pretty much every chapter. Also her fear of heights. For all the zombie-feeding happening at Idlewood, the owner's son is pretty clueless. I don't know what kind of amusement park has a freak show with actual freaks like a tall man, a fire eater, and a dwarf, but okay. There were some light moments where MacKenzie and Lillicat get jobs at a tomato-based restaurant in the mall (WTF?) and Mack's boyfriend was fun. The psychic powers weren't exactly realistic. Mack could get a reading from holding a ticket to the Catacombs, which seems like a funhouse/haunted house maze, but is actually built through old mining tunnels and sounds completely unsafe for teens to be running through. However, there's a cool backstory that makes no sense and overall, par for the course for a vintage YA read.
Ah, the early 90s, when YA books took only an hour or two to read. This one was in the vein of R.L. Stine, with short chapters. I didn't feel like I missed anything even though this is the sixth book in a series. MacKenzie has auburn hair, psychic powers and has helped the police before. Did I mention that her hair is auburn? Because the author hits you over the head with that fact pretty much every chapter. Also her fear of heights. For all the zombie-feeding happening at Idlewood, the owner's son is pretty clueless. I don't know what kind of amusement park has a freak show with actual freaks like a tall man, a fire eater, and a dwarf, but okay. There were some light moments where MacKenzie and Lillicat get jobs at a tomato-based restaurant in the mall (WTF?) and Mack's boyfriend was fun. The psychic powers weren't exactly realistic. Mack could get a reading from holding a ticket to the Catacombs, which seems like a funhouse/haunted house maze, but is actually built through old mining tunnels and sounds completely unsafe for teens to be running through. However, there's a cool backstory that makes no sense and overall, par for the course for a vintage YA read.
October 13, 2025
Thought it was a great edition in the power series. By far one of the best plots and the creepiest one. I thought it did really well in respectively showing the freaks.
July 14, 2015
No. Just no!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews