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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
This was a fun sequel to Greenglass House. We get a good mix of familiar and unfamiliar characters, another mystery to solve, and several plot twists along the way. (The most satisfying was definitely the reveal about Doc Holystone — the only thing that could equal the reveal in the first book that Meddy was a ghost was the twist that the ghost of her father wasn't actually a ghost!) This didn't feel quite as much like solving a mystery bit by bit as the first book; it was more like an extended game of hide-and-seek while Milo tried out different possible explanations in his head for what had happened the night before.
Side note: I was way too distracted by the returning characters all referring to Meddy as Meddy, especially the Caraways; I even went back and read the last part of the previous book, but we're never given any explanation, so I suppose we're meant to assume that Milo explained things to everyone during the past year (although for Clem and Georgie, that doesn't make a ton of sense).
Side note #2: I got to hear Kate Milford speak recently, and she said that while it says somewhere online that Nagspeake is in Canada, it's clearly somewhere in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., but she and her editor agreed to retain some Britishisms to give it a particular feel. This explanation is odd since the U.S. is referenced more than once as if it's not the place where they are:
Side note: I was way too distracted by the returning characters all referring to Meddy as Meddy, especially the Caraways; I even went back and read the last part of the previous book, but we're never given any explanation, so I suppose we're meant to assume that Milo explained things to everyone during the past year (although for Clem and Georgie, that doesn't make a ton of sense).
Side note #2: I got to hear Kate Milford speak recently, and she said that while it says somewhere online that Nagspeake is in Canada, it's clearly somewhere in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., but she and her editor agreed to retain some Britishisms to give it a particular feel. This explanation is odd since the U.S. is referenced more than once as if it's not the place where they are:
"Is that legal?" Emmett asked as he watched Georgie sanding. Everyone was watching. The rhythmic scraping noise was impossible to ignore.
"Yes, it's legal," she replied. "Somebody gave me a U.S. quarter with my change today. Pretty sure you can do whatever you want with foreign currency."Whit was a wanted man. He was wanted in Nagspeake because he was a smuggler, part of a famous crew at the time, and he was wanted in the United States because he was a fugitive slave.
This wasn't quite as good as the first one, but it was still an enjoyable read, and I'm glad I picked it up.
I love this book. I don't give 5 stars often, but both of the Greenglass House books got top rating from me.
As our story begins, we find Milo at the start of another Christmas break from school, much like the year before, bored and frustrated at recent school events, and missing Meddy, who hasn't appeared since the end of last year's excitement. Little does he know that this Christmas promises to be just as eventful!
Enter some old friends - Clem and Georgie appear for the holidays, having just completed a somewhat faulty heist. They're just settling in when a band of carolers appears, and end up staying the night. Add in a suspicious art student, two loaves of burned Christmas bread, stolen artifacts, and not one but TWO ghosts, and you've got yourself quite the couple of days.
I love these books so much. I reread the first one before I jumped into the second, because I wanted to re-familiarize myself with it, and even knowing the twists, it was fabulous tale. I hope we can return to Greenglass House again someday.
As our story begins, we find Milo at the start of another Christmas break from school, much like the year before, bored and frustrated at recent school events, and missing Meddy, who hasn't appeared since the end of last year's excitement. Little does he know that this Christmas promises to be just as eventful!
Enter some old friends - Clem and Georgie appear for the holidays, having just completed a somewhat faulty heist. They're just settling in when a band of carolers appears, and end up staying the night. Add in a suspicious art student, two loaves of burned Christmas bread, stolen artifacts, and not one but TWO ghosts, and you've got yourself quite the couple of days.
I love these books so much. I reread the first one before I jumped into the second, because I wanted to re-familiarize myself with it, and even knowing the twists, it was fabulous tale. I hope we can return to Greenglass House again someday.
Loved this sequel to Greenglass House! Great mix of mystery, friends, folklore, and emotion!
Not quite as good as the first but still quite a solid read. Refer to my review on Greenglass House for more of the feelings these books evoke. Specific note: LOVE one of the D&D style "exploits" in this book being called Spooky Action at a Distance. Quantum theory nerds unite!
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a wonderful level of soothing mystery for adults. This book’s pace was slower than the first, but I still enjoyed the twists and turns and immense character dialog. It’s a lot of chatting and dialog scenes, so if that’s not your thing, you might not enjoy. But if you want a slow-moving but still well-built mystery, that makes you feel like you’re sitting in an inn listening to a mystery, you would enjoy it. It’s a little less plot heavy than the 1st!
2.5
Here is the thing, I absolutely loved the first book in this series—it's definitely one of my all-time favorites. The way the plot unfolded had me hooked from start to finish. But my feelings about this second book are pretty different. I found it to be okay, but it just didn’t have that same magic and charm that made the first one so great.
The mystery driving the story in this sequel felt a little flat and not as exciting as I hoped. There were way too many little details thrown in throughout the story, but they were only brushed on, which left me feeling unsatisfied. Even the atmosphere seemed to be glossed over which is one of the main themes of the story.
I understand that the author was trying to create a layered and intricate plot, but I think complexity needs to come with some intrigue to really pull you in. Unfortunately, I just didn’t care enough; I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters this time around or the story. So, while I liked some parts of the book, it just didn’t live up to the high expectations set by the first one.
Here is the thing, I absolutely loved the first book in this series—it's definitely one of my all-time favorites. The way the plot unfolded had me hooked from start to finish. But my feelings about this second book are pretty different. I found it to be okay, but it just didn’t have that same magic and charm that made the first one so great.
The mystery driving the story in this sequel felt a little flat and not as exciting as I hoped. There were way too many little details thrown in throughout the story, but they were only brushed on, which left me feeling unsatisfied. Even the atmosphere seemed to be glossed over which is one of the main themes of the story.
I understand that the author was trying to create a layered and intricate plot, but I think complexity needs to come with some intrigue to really pull you in. Unfortunately, I just didn’t care enough; I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters this time around or the story. So, while I liked some parts of the book, it just didn’t live up to the high expectations set by the first one.
Did not read the first, lost with the second. Also, it's very "busy" yet no real plot seems to have developed.
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-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