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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am SO sad that this is the end of the quartet. I wish there were more books, or that the four were each just slightly longer. The carnival was probably the scariest setting yet, and the clowns were just terrifying. My one complaint: this book had the first chapters from the other three books in the back, so while I was reading the ending, I thought I had at least a third of the book left to read. Because of that, I didn't think the ending was really the ending, and I was expecting an even bigger showdown with the Smiling Man to finish it off. I was very surprised when that wasn't the case. Not an issue with the story, but it was frustrating. Fingers crossed that Katherine Arden delves into longer horror at some point!
The final book in the Small Spaces quartet (though I've continually thought of it as the Smiling Man quartet). I was really pleased to discover this book felt almost as spooky as the first one. It was a very fun way to enter October, although I did find the ending to be a little rushed and anticlimactic. Overall a delightful final piece to this middle grade nightmare.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am dissapointed about how this series was concluded. The ending was rushed I loved this series a lot. The first two books were awesome but then it went downhill for me.
And what about the Smiling Man some background about him? It seems that he does not want to do his "job" like there is someone, something above him like his superiors? There should be some chapter about him to explain his origin, how he became the Smiling Man and so on.
There is just so many questions left unanswered.
Spoiler
At the end they just got to the carnival and then suddenly they were with Ollie there is a gap. How did they get there? There should be more chapters how the got to Ollie and then together they should face the clowns and the Smiling Man. It was kind of easy just got the key then the main gate and open it and that is it? The Smiling Man should like challenge them more at the end it should be more epic.And what about the Smiling Man some background about him? It seems that he does not want to do his "job" like there is someone, something above him like his superiors? There should be some chapter about him to explain his origin, how he became the Smiling Man and so on.
There is just so many questions left unanswered.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A stunning conclusion. I actually think this was the weakest of the series (weak in the loosest sense) and that it was too short! I loved being back inside Ollie’s head and really enjoyed Phil’s addition to the team. I do not like clowns, and this just confirmed that for me. Going to be thinking of this series for a while.
Look, first of all: I was annoyed in the previous book, because the last 20% of the ebook was actually an excerpt from the next one, so I felt cheated because the book ended sooner than I expected. I figured that wouldn't happen here, since it's the last book, but instead the last 20% is an excerpt from... the first book?? That I presumably already read??? What even was the point???
So, that annoyed me a lot. But the book itself was great. Ollie's POV alternated with her friends, who were trying to save her. Both were good, but I liked Ollie's parts that went more into the background of the strange carnival and put the Smiling Man in a different light. I also really liked the ending, and especially the Smiling Man's reaction, I think that was neat.
Overall a very good, fun, and creepy middle grade series that is going among my favorites.
So, that annoyed me a lot. But the book itself was great. Ollie's POV alternated with her friends, who were trying to save her. Both were good, but I liked Ollie's parts that went more into the background of the strange carnival and put the Smiling Man in a different light. I also really liked the ending, and especially the Smiling Man's reaction, I think that was neat.
Overall a very good, fun, and creepy middle grade series that is going among my favorites.
