Fear was not like the others in this series, not like I remember at least. With the other books, I would become afraid to turn off my light to finally go to bed. With this book, however, I was afraid to breathe. There was more than natural, simplistic fear that the kids had earlier. There was more than how prey reacts to a predator or to the unknown. The fear in this book was twisted and horrific. Sort of like when you go to the movies to see a, PG 13 scary film but it turns out to be a rated R, explicit depiction of what Jack the Ripper did to his victims. You expect to be afraid; you don't expect to feel nauseated by the amount of gore involved. Okay, so it's not like this happens with every page in the book and Fear is a teen read so it's only going to be so detailed, but for a person with a good imagination, it is disturbing at times. I just cannot decide if I am okay with it or not. This book really threw something at me that I have not dealt with often. 
 It's amazing the way the characters are growing in this series. With every book they become closer and closer to real people. I liked in this book how they addressed not only problems with which they have of the world around them, but with the problems they have in themselves. Sam is still my favorite character. I don't think it matters to me what he does, he will always light up the book for me. Unfortunately, I cannot stand Astrid. I sorry to all those who like her, but I wish she was gone. In this book she tried to redeem herself, but I can still see her underlying personality, and I don't like it. Maybe I'm just jealous of her with Sam.