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sumayyaha's review against another edition
4.0
Rating - 3.5
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At the beginning it's kind of meh. I mean it wasn't really scary or spooky but it did grab my attention.
The middle got a lot more interesting and the end was just morbid so fair warning. All in all, it was good.
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At the beginning it's kind of meh. I mean it wasn't really scary or spooky but it did grab my attention.
The middle got a lot more interesting and the end was just morbid so fair warning. All in all, it was good.
librarianlizreads's review against another edition
4.0
This story really wasn't what I was expecting. It was a lot creepier. It's a really good Halloween or scary night read. Alex (protag) has a pretty creepy mind, but I love the way he talks about stories. There is some really good advice for any writer in this book!
Personal Notes:
Great on any scary/creepy book list, witches, or Halloween.
This one is probably good for all houses. Slytherins will enjoy the witches, Hufflepuffs will cheer for the bonds of friendship, Ravenclaws will be fascinated by the plotting and the story building, and Gryffindors will be ready to kick some doors in. :)
Personal Notes:
Great on any scary/creepy book list, witches, or Halloween.
This one is probably good for all houses. Slytherins will enjoy the witches, Hufflepuffs will cheer for the bonds of friendship, Ravenclaws will be fascinated by the plotting and the story building, and Gryffindors will be ready to kick some doors in. :)
thesimplereader's review against another edition
3.0
I can see all of the hype surrounding this book. Classic fairytales meets horror and middle grade. It’s a stew of a book and done very well. I’m sure the audiobook would be spectacular.
mbenzz's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars...
This book wasn't bad. Typical middle-grade boy-held-captive-by-a-witch tale. My favorite part was Alex's short stories. I would have loved a few more of those.
Overall, while this didn't wow me in any way, it certainly wasn't terrible. I saw they made this into a Netflix movie. The trailer looks pretty good, and I really like Kristen Ritter, so I think I'll watch it. I don't, however, think I'll be continuing on with the series.
This book wasn't bad. Typical middle-grade boy-held-captive-by-a-witch tale. My favorite part was Alex's short stories. I would have loved a few more of those.
Overall, while this didn't wow me in any way, it certainly wasn't terrible. I saw they made this into a Netflix movie. The trailer looks pretty good, and I really like Kristen Ritter, so I think I'll watch it. I don't, however, think I'll be continuing on with the series.
cynt_'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jinxofthedesert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
sylvilel's review against another edition
2.0
Well. A young boy, afraid and alone, wanders into the night to complete a task he has set for himself. A door opens, and a strange woman lets him into her apartment.
And then the nightmare starts.
The woman is a witch, and has trapped the boy in the apartment. He cannot escape. She wants him to write stories. SCARY stories. But he can’t. He’s afraid. He’s afraid - of his own stories.
The corner stones in this story are everyday things turned to horror, storytelling, and oh, courage in unlikely places.
Well.
While the concept of a young boy shaping his future through the power of his horrible pen has some merit, it still felt overstudied, and oh god please stop it with the Writers 101 for kids. Please.
It tried too hard. It had some good potential, and then it was wrought too far out of bounds.
The only bits I really cared for were the ones about the cat.
Sorry ‘bout the rant, but that’s how it is.
And then the nightmare starts.
The woman is a witch, and has trapped the boy in the apartment. He cannot escape. She wants him to write stories. SCARY stories. But he can’t. He’s afraid. He’s afraid - of his own stories.
The corner stones in this story are everyday things turned to horror, storytelling, and oh, courage in unlikely places.
Well.
While the concept of a young boy shaping his future through the power of his horrible pen has some merit, it still felt overstudied, and oh god please stop it with the Writers 101 for kids. Please.
It tried too hard. It had some good potential, and then it was wrought too far out of bounds.
The only bits I really cared for were the ones about the cat.
Sorry ‘bout the rant, but that’s how it is.