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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Milo lives with his adoptive mom and dad in an large mansion at the top of a hill. This huge house serves as an inn to the local smugglers in Nagspeake. Normally, Christmas is not a busy time for the inn, but this Christmas holiday proves to be quite different. Several guests show up on a cold, snowy night, each with their own agenda. As the story advances, Milo and his new friend Meddy set about to solve the mystery of a map, the house, and the history of the town's most famous smuggler. Another interesting aspect to this book is that Milo is Chinese by birth, and thinks a lot about what it means to be wonder about his birth family while still loving his adoptive family with all his heart. This book also incorporates role playing games, which is a fun aspect for anyone who might be into those types of games. The book does end with a satisfying twist. This is a well written mystery.
After picking this book up in my library and reading the back cover, I thought I was going to like it, but I was disappointed. I quickly lost track of what the actual ‘mystery’ to be solved even was, and to be honest I didn’t care much by the end. This book was also way longer than it needed to be, and could have been edited down to be a more effective and focused narrative. So much of the dialogue felt unnecessary and did nothing to move the story along. Overall I didn’t feel like the author trusted the reader to put things together on their own, and over-explained everything. (Side note: the constant use of “he or she” when a singular “they” would do really grated on me.) Also, this book is so slow-paced and ‘cozy’ and then all of a sudden it escalates with gun violence at the end? What is that about?
I felt like I could see what the author was attempting, I just don’t think it was executed (or edited) that well.
I felt like I could see what the author was attempting, I just don’t think it was executed (or edited) that well.
This book was similar to a roller coaster. It had its ups and downs, but overall it wasn't terrible. I would recommend it to a student who enjoys mysteries and can hang in there throughout the plot line. There are times when I thought the book could have been finished earlier, and then was surprised when I realized I was only part of the way through it. The protagonist, Milo, wasn't easy to relate to, and I was more interested in the main plot line than the secondary ones.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
A fun mystery with lots of great characters. A few scary parts, but not too scary.
Fun book and I want to save it to read with the kids
A book about twice as long as it needs to be. I can't figure out the age demographic for this novel...it seems geared towards middle grade readers, but it's such a tedious read that I can't imagine most kids would manage to stay engaged. The mystery is intentionally convoluted, and it's resolution is anti-climactic. I'm not going to pick up the sequel.
I’m sorry to say, not an enjoyable read. Not a page went by without some digression or interruption. Characters repeatedly ask unnecessary questions or crack jokes when silence would better suit them. In this way it is a chore to read.
At any given moment it was difficult to follow what exactly was going on in the mystery. The pieces did not fit together like they should in a mystery—with precision and satisfaction. Useless opinions and backstories are given ad nauseam; they muddle it all up.
All that can be commended is that it succeeds in achieving its cozy winter cabin feeling. However even this is ruined by the bickering pool of characters. They bother you when all you want to do is chill out by the fire.
I would’ve put it down by the 10th page if I hadn’t been reading it with my 11-year-old cousins for our book club. They didn’t like it either.
Sorry for the strong words. It’s not as bad as I’m making it out to be. The prose at least is competent and there are brief moments of momentum and clarity. It just needed 20 more drafts and 200 less pages.
At any given moment it was difficult to follow what exactly was going on in the mystery. The pieces did not fit together like they should in a mystery—with precision and satisfaction. Useless opinions and backstories are given ad nauseam; they muddle it all up.
All that can be commended is that it succeeds in achieving its cozy winter cabin feeling. However even this is ruined by the bickering pool of characters. They bother you when all you want to do is chill out by the fire.
I would’ve put it down by the 10th page if I hadn’t been reading it with my 11-year-old cousins for our book club. They didn’t like it either.
Sorry for the strong words. It’s not as bad as I’m making it out to be. The prose at least is competent and there are brief moments of momentum and clarity. It just needed 20 more drafts and 200 less pages.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes