Blake and his younger brother, Quinn, are polar opposites. While Blake is the responsible member of the family, Quinn is fearless and reckless. So when Quinn’s thrill-seeking leads him into a bizarre phantom carnival, it’s up to Blake to chase after him. Something is off about this carnival, though, and as Blake searches for his brother, he quickly learns the truth. This carnival was designed to ensnare its customers forever.

In order to escape, Blake must survive seven deadly rides before dawn. Each ride represents a deep, personal fear — from a carousel of stampeding animals to a hall of mirrors that changes people into their deformed reflections. Worse still, if Blake can’t face up to a horrible secret from his own past, he’ll never be able to escape with his brother before dawn, and the carnival will claim their souls.

If World’s End in Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was a carnival, that would describe this book. Full Tilt is an odd psychological thriller, heavy on the psychological, and while at first it didn’t interest me much, the more I read the more engaged I became.

The writing and style of the story seems aimed at a younger YA audience. While featuring elements of horror, there’s nothing too scary, and the book is pretty short (right around 200 pages). It’s a well-paced page-turner despite its bizarre nature. Through it all, the thoughts, fears and struggles each of us face makes Blake’s situation relatable; it should have many readers cheering to see him succeed.

Rated: Mild. There are 5 uses of mild language. One character wears a hat featuring a design that gives the middle finger. Characters share a few kisses, and the boys find their mom making out with her boyfriend. Violence includes general peril, and the sole survivor of a school bus accident relives it.

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