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A review by tshepiso
Dead Voices by Katherine Arden
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Dead Voices like its predecessor Small Spaces was a charming middle-grade horror with a rich, spooky atmosphere and fun characters. With the bonus of an added POV and the setting of a haunted orphanage turned ski lodge I had a fun time unpacking the mystery.
The protagonists Ollie, Coco, and Brian (who unfortunately didn’t have a POV in this book) were especially fun to follow because of the intense friendship between the three. After the horrors they faced in Small Spaces it was lovely to see how protective they were of each other throughout this book. These three had a fierce connection and I can’t wait to see them grow together as the series continues.
Arden continued to capture an authentic and appropriate level of terror in this middle grade. In some respects that made facing down the ghost and ghouls less horrifying. However, the more youthful tone didn’t take away from the fantastic creeping suspense woven throughout the story. In some respects, I found reading Dead Voices even more harrowing because seeing children in peril and isolated from adults raised the stakes even higher. Katherine Arden is a master at creating atmosphere and the mounting, piercing cold chilled me to my core despite reading this book in late spring.
I also appreciated that Dead Voices felt like a true sequel to Small Spaces. While I’m not against episodic tales this story was all the better because it directly built off of the foundations established in its predecessor. Seeing how the mystery in this novel directly tied to the previous installment made it all the more engaging to see unfold.
Dead Voices was a fantastic entry in this series. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in future instalments and I’m sure Katherine Arden will continue to blow me away with her suspenseful mysteries and lush settings.
The protagonists Ollie, Coco, and Brian (who unfortunately didn’t have a POV in this book) were especially fun to follow because of the intense friendship between the three. After the horrors they faced in Small Spaces it was lovely to see how protective they were of each other throughout this book. These three had a fierce connection and I can’t wait to see them grow together as the series continues.
Arden continued to capture an authentic and appropriate level of terror in this middle grade. In some respects that made facing down the ghost and ghouls less horrifying. However, the more youthful tone didn’t take away from the fantastic creeping suspense woven throughout the story. In some respects, I found reading Dead Voices even more harrowing because seeing children in peril and isolated from adults raised the stakes even higher. Katherine Arden is a master at creating atmosphere and the mounting, piercing cold chilled me to my core despite reading this book in late spring.
I also appreciated that Dead Voices felt like a true sequel to Small Spaces. While I’m not against episodic tales this story was all the better because it directly built off of the foundations established in its predecessor. Seeing how the mystery in this novel directly tied to the previous installment made it all the more engaging to see unfold.
Dead Voices was a fantastic entry in this series. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in future instalments and I’m sure Katherine Arden will continue to blow me away with her suspenseful mysteries and lush settings.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death