Reviews

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages by Trenton Lee Stewart

roseleaf24's review

5.0

This is such a great series, and this book did not disappoint. There was one reveal that seemed a little too pat and easy to me, but otherwise, the puzzles and mysteries were engaging. I loved seeing these characters age and figure out how to hold on to the Society through that, and Tai Li was an excellent new addition.

torch_light_'s review against another edition

4.0

read this in one sitting, feeling lots of feelings, this was good
change is really hard but it's okay :') it felt really weird to have the characters from the original trilogy be grown up and super different but their own reflections on their change along with readers getting to reflect on their change was super well done (and now i feel old, i first read the first 3 when i was 9)

breakfastgrey's review

2.0

I didn't hate this book. I just didn't particularly like it either. The action scene where Kate faces down the Ten Men at an abandoned fair was amazing, but the rest of the book was just there. It was pretty heavy on nostalgia that was wasted on me since I've forgotten most of the details of any of the books beyond the first. Combined with a low stakes plot (that gets plot twisted into a nonexistent stakes plot) that is ridiculous at best, I just didn't care as I slogged through endless pages of discussions, after school special level teenaged angst, and descriptions of maps. Between this and the prequel, it makes me question if the original trilogy was any good to begin with.

cozytea's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 The society has grown up. They are worried about the future, frustrated with the people around them, and learning communication gets a lot harder as young adults. The one thing I did not enjoy about this book was the new character that followed the society on this mission. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I found him annoying. I understand his purpose, but why did he have to have a power that is the same as someone else in the group? It seems like an unnecessary complication for an already complicated mission. I don't know. It is a middle grade, so maybe I should calm down, but that is the reason it is a three, out of five stars. That being said, I did like the rest of the book. I would recommend this one if you like adventurous missions full of action and puzzles. 

ksjsaige's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

milli_54's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

katrenia's review against another edition

3.0

3.5. This was a good story, but not as good as the previous ones. The time since the last book was ambiguous, somewhere between 6 and 12. I would have preferred to have a solid understanding of the age of each kid. Also, I realize the prequel was written between books three and four. But including characters from that era in the book, after no mention in previous books, just felt forced.

Lastly, I don’t like when the audio narrator changes in the middle of the series. This one was ok, but I miss the original.

meminger's review

adventurous challenging funny hopeful mysterious medium-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

ruthsturm94's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-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

3.0

eewass's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0