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belanna2's review against another edition
3.75
The story was great, but it was rushed; the ending happened at warped speed leaving me wanting an ending that finished the story and was more in depth: "what" was the smiling man and where did he come from. It was too open-ended and vague. Everything that happened after they found the second key was just rushed. The Smiling man did everything he could to stop the gang from their goal and he just acquiesced at the end without a fight? When Ollie wondered if he couldn't get to the second key himself, because he was alone, I wondered if the third key that emerged from the first two, was a key to open a permanent door to the human realm like in the olden days. He seemed pretty interested in the door being opened...the reader will never know, though, because it just ended with a whimper that didn't wrap up the series. Is the smiling man truly done with Ollie and her friends?
jennywrennn's review against another edition
3.0
I am baffled by the ending of this????
Up until the last 5? Pages - I was ready to call this the 2nd best instalment in the series (Small Spaces being first obviously)
It built up to such an intense climax, it introduced so many new ideas and dropped so many little clues, and then out of literally nowhere, it just resolved everything within 2 pages, with no explanation, and wrapped the whole thing up.
It was lacking emotion, it was rushed and honestly, the last few pages were kind of poorly written (waaaay more cheesy and juvenile than the rest of the series)
I actually even double checked, because I thought it was a 4 book series, to see if I was wrong - surely they wouldn’t drop all those open ideas and leave them hanging unresolved? But nope, that was indeed the finale. It honestly read like the author herself had gotten as far as the final pages before getting kidnapped by clowns herself and having to wrap up the ending with minutes to spare.
Super disappointed as I LOVE this series and again, up until the ending, this was easily one of the better instalments- it also felt like she knew her younger readers had grown a few years since the first book came out, and she was leaning into more mature writing and scarier horror sequences throughout the book, so it was even more of a bummer to have the final pages revert back to the most basic, cheesy, stereotypical middle grade vibes.
Really let down by this one :( but still giving it 3 stars because up until those final pages I did love it.
Up until the last 5? Pages - I was ready to call this the 2nd best instalment in the series (Small Spaces being first obviously)
It built up to such an intense climax, it introduced so many new ideas and dropped so many little clues, and then out of literally nowhere, it just resolved everything within 2 pages, with no explanation, and wrapped the whole thing up.
It was lacking emotion, it was rushed and honestly, the last few pages were kind of poorly written (waaaay more cheesy and juvenile than the rest of the series)
I actually even double checked, because I thought it was a 4 book series, to see if I was wrong - surely they wouldn’t drop all those open ideas and leave them hanging unresolved? But nope, that was indeed the finale. It honestly read like the author herself had gotten as far as the final pages before getting kidnapped by clowns herself and having to wrap up the ending with minutes to spare.
Super disappointed as I LOVE this series and again, up until the ending, this was easily one of the better instalments- it also felt like she knew her younger readers had grown a few years since the first book came out, and she was leaning into more mature writing and scarier horror sequences throughout the book, so it was even more of a bummer to have the final pages revert back to the most basic, cheesy, stereotypical middle grade vibes.
Really let down by this one :( but still giving it 3 stars because up until those final pages I did love it.
readbylinds's review against another edition
4.0
Solidly creepy. Loved getting to see more of the smiling man. Wayyyy rushed the ending though (as always -_-)
littletreefox's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
kasmi22's review against another edition
5.0
I know this was written for kids but it was fricken scary
willowmae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Has clowns and doll in it
astrid24's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
aquint's review against another edition
3.0
The first book was so strong and this was a disappointing end to the series. Clowns are creepy for sure but the end was unsatisfying and over too quickly. I’m being generous with 3 stars.