Reviews

While this book was good, I felt it was a bit less then the other books. I am not sure how to explain, something just felt off, and I also was annoyed at times at the writer of the book. Normally I don't mind his interruptions, but it just bothered me now. You had an exciting part, and bam, author pops up. :(

But I still love Cassandra, she becomes a better character in every book. Max-Ernest... well is Max-Ernest.

The story was also quite good, I loved how they solved the puzzle to where Midnight Sun was located this time.

And also the side-story about Cassandra and her birth was really interesting again, I was a bit shocked at the revelation, but thinking back it wasn't that much of a surprise.

I bought book 4 and 5 too, and when they get in I will be sure to read them immediately. I really want to know how this all (and also how Cassandra and her birth) will be solved! Soooo excited!

librarydreams's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Bosch weaves the history of chocolate into this novel brilliantly! (And also addresses how much child labor is used to make chocolate, which is alarming, but important, information.)

Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket. Bosch has a similar tone and style to Snicket, with a seemingly omniscient narrator who may or may not be reliable, but who is definitely funny. The children are clever and good-hearted, much like the Baudelaire's. I particularly liked the production value of this audio recording. The full cast and sound effects brought the experience to the next level.

dorlithequeen's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

3.5

bookishperseus's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

wrentheblurry's review against another edition

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3.0

The third in a series I've been reading to the boys for bedtime, Trevor gave it 3.5 stars and Warren gave it 3. I enjoyed the supertaster aspect of this one, as well as the part that chocolate played. At the same time, Cass' whining and woe-is-me attitude bugged me, but she seemed to mature over the course of the book, and stopped being an irritation. What makes all of these titles for me, and enables me to read them one after the other (with no break!) out loud to the boys is the author's continued entertaining writing style and stellar wit. I love the irreverent narrative, and the interactions between the characters.

I need to mention something that isn't truly the author's fault, but I HATE seeing it in published books: typos. I don't want to see any, though I can forgive (and forget) one or two. This book contained at least 5, likely more. Two of them were within two pages of each other! That just seems slack to me, and since there were so many I got further disgruntled whenever I found another. The boys said I should make a note of them all and send them in, but I'm too lazy and apathetic to do that...unless I am going to be paid! Hopefully they changed it in later editions.

If you're wondering whether or not to continue reading the series, I can recommend this one if you liked the first two. Otherwise, just read the first one.

jjujube's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

readacorn's review against another edition

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4.0

In diesem zahnschmelzzerstörenden Abenteuer wird die Mutter unserer Heldin Kassandra entführt: von einem unheimlichen Gourmet- Koch und Chokolatier, dem blinden Senor Hugo. Nur gegen die legendäre magische Stimmgabel will er sein Opfer wieder freigeben. Werden Kass und Max-Ernest das sagenumwobene Instrument finden, bevor es zu spät ist? Und werden sie das schreckliche Geheimnis lüften, das den Erfolg der berühmten Schokolade von Senor Hugo begründet?

Selbst bei dieser lustigen Kinderbuch-Reihe hatte ich einen zu lange Abstand zum Vorgängerband. Glücklicherweise hat der Autor immer wieder die Erinnerung aufgefrischt. Selbst ohne genaue Erinnerung an die Vorgeschichte hat mich dieses Buch mit seinen komischen Fußnoten, unsichtbaren Kapiteln und ungewöhnlichen Ideen wirklich zum Lachen gebracht. Immer noch ist diese witzige Reihe eine totale Empfehlung für junge und junggebliebene Leser und vor allem für Liebhaber von Schokolade. Der nächste und letzte Band wird nicht mehr so lange auf sich warten lassen.

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