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fallingletters's review against another edition
1.0
Originall posted 20 June 2012 on Falling Letters.
***
I hate to give a Goodreads Author a one star review (because I feel like there is a better chance they might read it), so a little disclaimer - Mr. Trenton! If you see this, don’t be disheartened, it’s not all bad news. You wrote a whole trilogy, you created characters and adventures, and you got you stories published and well-noticed. I would be happy if I were you. The following is just one person’s highly subjective opinion.
Now here's my response to this book.
Ugh. I’m rather impressed with myself for finishing this book. If I don’t like a book, I have no qualms dropping it, but since I bought the trilogy for $10 and trudged through the first books, I decided to stick it out for the third. You can read what I did/didn't like about the first two books here; all the things I didn’t like in the first books are intensified in this one and unfortunately the few things I did like about the first books are not present in this one.
About halfway through the book I got very frustrated and decided to make notes on just what was bothering me so much: Necessary but unnecessary awkward over-explanation (hard to describe but you know it when you see it - for example, 'she pronounced rendezvous as if it rhymes with "Ben says mouse"' - this maybe isn't the greatest example but others included explaining why a door wasn't locked, or why something had to be done a certain way, etc.), awkward out of place torture (pg 264) and passages trying to 'up the risk' (pg 280), puzzles too contrived and too oddly/too logically/too easily solved (for example page 223). Okay, that last one sounds like I'm being picky. I'm having trouble describing what I didn't like, but I think just found everything a little awkward or too contrived. The book has all the elements of an intense, daring, child adventure/thriller/mystery but they are poorly executed.
I think the overall impression I got from this book was that it reads like a first draft, as in you just had the idea for the story and you wrote it down as it came to you. The book needs a lot of work, but you have the basic frame. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this book got the haul over it could have used.
***
I hate to give a Goodreads Author a one star review (because I feel like there is a better chance they might read it), so a little disclaimer - Mr. Trenton! If you see this, don’t be disheartened, it’s not all bad news. You wrote a whole trilogy, you created characters and adventures, and you got you stories published and well-noticed. I would be happy if I were you. The following is just one person’s highly subjective opinion.
Now here's my response to this book.
Ugh. I’m rather impressed with myself for finishing this book. If I don’t like a book, I have no qualms dropping it, but since I bought the trilogy for $10 and trudged through the first books, I decided to stick it out for the third. You can read what I did/didn't like about the first two books here; all the things I didn’t like in the first books are intensified in this one and unfortunately the few things I did like about the first books are not present in this one.
About halfway through the book I got very frustrated and decided to make notes on just what was bothering me so much: Necessary but unnecessary awkward over-explanation (hard to describe but you know it when you see it - for example, 'she pronounced rendezvous as if it rhymes with "Ben says mouse"' - this maybe isn't the greatest example but others included explaining why a door wasn't locked, or why something had to be done a certain way, etc.), awkward out of place torture (pg 264) and passages trying to 'up the risk' (pg 280), puzzles too contrived and too oddly/too logically/too easily solved (for example page 223). Okay, that last one sounds like I'm being picky. I'm having trouble describing what I didn't like, but I think just found everything a little awkward or too contrived. The book has all the elements of an intense, daring, child adventure/thriller/mystery but they are poorly executed.
I think the overall impression I got from this book was that it reads like a first draft, as in you just had the idea for the story and you wrote it down as it came to you. The book needs a lot of work, but you have the basic frame. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this book got the haul over it could have used.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
3.0
Love this series. Quirky, old fashioned fun.
One thing I missed in this third volume was the absence of an exotic location. The first one, they explore the house, and spend much time on the island. The second, they go on a cruise and end up on a very different island. I really can't figure out how the image of a bus on the cover came from the story. A bus appears, but primarily in a memory. So I missed a grand double decker bus road trip. But maybe I wouldn't have noticed that if I hadn't seen the cover. Great stories, reminds me of E. Nesbit tales. One of the few series I continue to read.
One thing I missed in this third volume was the absence of an exotic location. The first one, they explore the house, and spend much time on the island. The second, they go on a cruise and end up on a very different island. I really can't figure out how the image of a bus on the cover came from the story. A bus appears, but primarily in a memory. So I missed a grand double decker bus road trip. But maybe I wouldn't have noticed that if I hadn't seen the cover. Great stories, reminds me of E. Nesbit tales. One of the few series I continue to read.
beths0103's review against another edition
1.0
I was extremely underwhelmed by this most recent installment of MBS. I honestly think Stewart should've just left the story alone at the end of the first book. The characters felt extremely flat and unmemorable, which was not the case in the first book. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's the characters that make a book, not the plot.
nikzbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
We begin the tale in prison. Or something like it. Due to the fact that the children and their families are being sought after by the cruel Mr. Curtain, it has been necessary to keep them concealed as much as possible. But they haven't remained idle in the process. Mr. Benedict, their teacher and benevolent keeper, has kept them on their toes by testing them with riddles, puzzles, and more importantly, the "Prisoner's Dilemma."
Another hightailed journey with Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon, Kate Wetherall, George "Sticky" Washington, and Constance Contraire: the nerdy fearsome foursome. The thing I love about this series is: it's never dull. There's always an adventure, always a new puzzle to be solved, and a clue to be figured out.
Full review HERE!
Another hightailed journey with Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon, Kate Wetherall, George "Sticky" Washington, and Constance Contraire: the nerdy fearsome foursome. The thing I love about this series is: it's never dull. There's always an adventure, always a new puzzle to be solved, and a clue to be figured out.
Full review HERE!
jameyanne's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun, as usual, though I admit it felt kind of messy for the first two thirds or so, it came together very nicely.
daisyphd's review against another edition
4.0
If I could give 4.5 stars, that would definitely suit my tastes. It had such a great ending, and the action was there with tender moments of friendship. A great series, and this book was just as well written as the previous two.
undermeyou's review against another edition
4.0
I actually hate reading these books to my kids because something about the writing style makes me trip over my words. But the kids love them and the storyline is decent for middle grade.
smurfolis's review against another edition
5.0
The Benedict society is at it again. Not as good as the first book, of course, nothing is ever as good as the priginal. Characters remained well developed and I feel as if. I grew and evolved with them, getting smarter, wittier, and even, dare I say, more powerful. The book kept me guessing, on my toes, and always excited to keep reading. Definitely recommended if you've read the first 2 in the series.
tshrope's review against another edition
2.0
This seems to be the weakest of the series so far. Although I still enjoyed it, it seems to have lost its fresh originality and there were more action scenes rather than brain teasers that I enjoyed so much in the previous 2 books. And I was getting a little bored with the characters and Constance positively annoying and grating. Still in all it was light entertainment to listen to while working on my needlepoint.