#Review: Joyrides by Neil D’Silva

Neil D’Silva’s ‘Joyrides: Carnival of Creeps’ plunges readers into a spine-chilling adventure inside Devil’s Den, a haunted house that quickly spirals from fun scares to sheer terror. Don’t let the title fool you—Joyrides sounds like a breezy carnival getaway, but this novel is anything but cheerful. What unfolds instead is a spine-prickling horror adventure set in the deceptively delightful Funmania amusement park on Bongo Island. I went in expecting thrills of the rollercoaster kind and came out with the kind that creeps up your spine and nests in your mind. The story follows the Fearless Four—Riz, Anvita, Tiana, and Palash—who are hoping for a break after their last terrifying brush with the supernatural. But when their friend Cyrus vanishes mid-air from Big Loopy, the world’s largest rollercoaster, things take a sharp and sinister turn.

What I absolutely loved is how D’Silva takes familiar places of joy—carnivals, rides, funhouses—and flips them into dark, eerie spaces haunted by secrets. From the chilling cries of the Wailing Witch to the uncanny silence of the island’s residents, each chapter builds the tension masterfully. The pacing is tight, especially for a younger audience. There’s never a dull moment, and the writing is clean, vivid, and perfectly pitched for middle-grade readers who like their scares just intense enough to thrill but not traumatize.

The novel feels like you’re strapped into a horror-themed rollercoaster—fast, exciting, a little scream-inducing, but controlled. I found the structure especially interesting; while it’s one cohesive narrative, it unfolds in episodic beats that almost feel like mini-mysteries within the bigger story. That said, I did find myself wishing for a bit more emotional depth in places. Cyrus’s disappearance, for instance, was shocking, but I didn’t fully feel the panic or heartbreak I expected from his friends. It stayed plot-focused rather than emotionally immersive at times.

Still, Joyrides does what it sets out to do—and does it well. It entertains, unnerves, and leaves you with just enough unanswered questions to keep thinking long after you’ve closed the book. It’s a horror story that doesn’t just rely on jump scares but plays cleverly with setting and atmosphere. A fun, fearsome read—especially if you’re brave enough to enter the Devil’s Den with the lights off.

Find this book here.