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rivercat0338's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
maeverose's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
This is a somewhat generous 3 star.
I have mixed feelings. I really liked the premise, and I liked some things here and there, but overall it was very meh. It had a bit of a meandering plot. A lot of the things I disliked you could say are just because it’s middle grade. (Some predictable plot twists, not very scary, the very tidy ending.Though I will say, Seth’s reaction to when Coco saved Ollie at the end was very satisfying ). Some of the things I disliked are very nit picky - mainly just weird wording here and there (taxidermy is filled with cotton, not formaldehyde…?). It really bothered me that Brian was so neglected in this book. This felt like Ollie and Coco’s story, with him as a background character. They’re the only two we get a pov from. He was even completely absent for the vast majority of the actual ‘game’, and even when he was there I don’t remember him ever doing much besides what other people told him to. Considering he’s the only black character, that doesn’t sit right with me. I also wanted to know Gretel and Gabe’s backstory, and found it a bit odd that we didn’t get that.
I have mixed feelings. I really liked the premise, and I liked some things here and there, but overall it was very meh. It had a bit of a meandering plot. A lot of the things I disliked you could say are just because it’s middle grade. (Some predictable plot twists, not very scary, the very tidy ending.
But again, it’s middle grade so maybe I’m being too critical.
Side note: I still think Coco is autistic. Examples:
1. She’s an anxious person
2. She has unique special interests
3. She has very strong emotional reactions to things
4. She’s excessively clumsy in a way that kinda suggests dyspraxia imo
Side note: I still think Coco is autistic. Examples:
1. She’s an anxious person
2. She has unique special interests
3. She has very strong emotional reactions to things
4. She’s excessively clumsy in a way that kinda suggests dyspraxia imo
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Fatphobia
Minor spoilers for the first chapter:averyjane's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Torture, Child death, and Body horror
cristy's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.75
Creepy fun sequel that builds on its predecessor. Sometimes, books for kids nail the scary factor better than adult ones. Thumbs down for HP references.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, and Grief
aseaoftomes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I had so much fun with this!
This book once again follows the trio from the last book; Ollie, Coco and Brian, on another crazy horror-filled adventure. This time they're on a trip with Ollie's father and Coco's mother at a ski lodge in the winter, but from the time they begin their journey, everything starts going wrong.
Just like the previous book, the writing was really well done. Very descriptive and captured the horror atmosphere really well. It was less atmospheric than any of Katherine Arden's other books, but still had excellent pacing and descriptions nonetheless.
The setting was also incredibly well done as well. This time the majority of the book took place inside of this haunted lodge, but the creepy factor went way up in this one I felt and I loved it. From the descriptions of the lodge to the beings and people they encountered while they were there, it was all excellent.
The plot was also a lot of fun. It had similar elements and themes from the first book, and a similar structure, but the overall storyline was fun. Ollie, her friends, her father, and Coco's mother all go on a trip together intending to ski, but instead get caught up in a haunted and horror story with suspense at every turn. And as I mentioned above, I loved it.
Finally, the characters. While the first book primarily focused on Ollie as a protagonist, this book did things a bit differently. Coco was our main protagonist and the majority of the book was told from her perspective, but Ollie was also a heavy presence. Brian was also there, but in a lot of ways still a side character. I love him so much though. He's arguably my favorite character of the three - though I absolutely love all of them. I loved getting to see more of Ollie's interactions with her father and see her struggle to deal with her grief again in a different way as well. And of course the big bad guy was excellent and even creepier than the first book. I also really loved the other characters we interacted with in this as well.
Overall, another wonderful installment and I can't wait for the third book!
This book once again follows the trio from the last book; Ollie, Coco and Brian, on another crazy horror-filled adventure. This time they're on a trip with Ollie's father and Coco's mother at a ski lodge in the winter, but from the time they begin their journey, everything starts going wrong.
Just like the previous book, the writing was really well done. Very descriptive and captured the horror atmosphere really well. It was less atmospheric than any of Katherine Arden's other books, but still had excellent pacing and descriptions nonetheless.
The setting was also incredibly well done as well. This time the majority of the book took place inside of this haunted lodge, but the creepy factor went way up in this one I felt and I loved it. From the descriptions of the lodge to the beings and people they encountered while they were there, it was all excellent.
The plot was also a lot of fun. It had similar elements and themes from the first book, and a similar structure, but the overall storyline was fun. Ollie, her friends, her father, and Coco's mother all go on a trip together intending to ski, but instead get caught up in a haunted and horror story with suspense at every turn. And as I mentioned above, I loved it.
Finally, the characters. While the first book primarily focused on Ollie as a protagonist, this book did things a bit differently. Coco was our main protagonist and the majority of the book was told from her perspective, but Ollie was also a heavy presence. Brian was also there, but in a lot of ways still a side character. I love him so much though. He's arguably my favorite character of the three - though I absolutely love all of them. I loved getting to see more of Ollie's interactions with her father and see her struggle to deal with her grief again in a different way as well. And of course the big bad guy was excellent and even creepier than the first book. I also really loved the other characters we interacted with in this as well.
Overall, another wonderful installment and I can't wait for the third book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Child abuse, and Child death
caidyn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
CW: past death of a parent and general themes of horror
Another really cute read in this series!
After the events of Small Spaces, Ollie, Brian, and Coco are coping with what's happened to them and all the supernatural things that really exist around them. Ollie still has her mother's old watch, which her mother can use to communicate with her. But, it's winter for them. The three kids, Ollie's dad, and Coco's mom are going somewhere to ski. Somewhere where the dead don't quite stay dead and you can't trust the voices that whisper to you in the night.
This was such a great creepy kid's story. It was creepy in all the right ways but it never crossed the line where I felt like it was almost too much. The level was just right and it was exactly what I expected from it. There were ghosts talking and being a bit scary. There were mind games, just like in the last one. Yet it kept the hallmark of adults caring for kids and helping them when they can rather than abandoning them like I'm used to seeing in YA.
I love how this series is focusing on the horror you can find in each season. It's wonderful because my peak horror times are July through October. After that, it drops off. And it's a great reminder that I can find horror anytime, whether it be big or small.
Lastly, I enjoyed that this book had more time to expand on other characters! Rather than it just being in Ollie's perspective, it also had Coco's perspective in it. I loved that. It was wonderful. Coco was definitely a side character but, this time, we really get to see how she shines and her own special abilities that get the group out of trouble. I hope that I get to see more about Brian in the next book!
Another really cute read in this series!
After the events of Small Spaces, Ollie, Brian, and Coco are coping with what's happened to them and all the supernatural things that really exist around them. Ollie still has her mother's old watch, which her mother can use to communicate with her. But, it's winter for them. The three kids, Ollie's dad, and Coco's mom are going somewhere to ski. Somewhere where the dead don't quite stay dead and you can't trust the voices that whisper to you in the night.
This was such a great creepy kid's story. It was creepy in all the right ways but it never crossed the line where I felt like it was almost too much. The level was just right and it was exactly what I expected from it. There were ghosts talking and being a bit scary. There were mind games, just like in the last one. Yet it kept the hallmark of adults caring for kids and helping them when they can rather than abandoning them like I'm used to seeing in YA.
I love how this series is focusing on the horror you can find in each season. It's wonderful because my peak horror times are July through October. After that, it drops off. And it's a great reminder that I can find horror anytime, whether it be big or small.
Lastly, I enjoyed that this book had more time to expand on other characters! Rather than it just being in Ollie's perspective, it also had Coco's perspective in it. I loved that. It was wonderful. Coco was definitely a side character but, this time, we really get to see how she shines and her own special abilities that get the group out of trouble. I hope that I get to see more about Brian in the next book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
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