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simonlorden's review
5.0
Look, first of all: I was annoyed in the previous book, because the last 20% of the ebook was actually an excerpt from the next one, so I felt cheated because the book ended sooner than I expected. I figured that wouldn't happen here, since it's the last book, but instead the last 20% is an excerpt from... the first book?? That I presumably already read??? What even was the point???
So, that annoyed me a lot. But the book itself was great. Ollie's POV alternated with her friends, who were trying to save her. Both were good, but I liked Ollie's parts that went more into the background of the strange carnival and put the Smiling Man in a different light. I also really liked the ending, and especially the Smiling Man's reaction, I think that was neat.
Overall a very good, fun, and creepy middle grade series that is going among my favorites.
So, that annoyed me a lot. But the book itself was great. Ollie's POV alternated with her friends, who were trying to save her. Both were good, but I liked Ollie's parts that went more into the background of the strange carnival and put the Smiling Man in a different light. I also really liked the ending, and especially the Smiling Man's reaction, I think that was neat.
Overall a very good, fun, and creepy middle grade series that is going among my favorites.
anelia93's review against another edition
4.0
Най-накрая дойде финалът и на тази поредица. Това, което имам да кажа тук, е, че книгата е добра, но лично на мен краят ми дойде бърз и малко претупан. За първи път в тази книга се замислих за душевността на усмихнатия мъж - кой е той, какви са неговите страхове, какво го кара да върши нещата, които върши. Имаше потенциал да се задълбае в това отношение, само че не стана така. Но все пак книгата е писана за деца, така че предполагам не е било целта.
"Може би - помисли си тя, - когато се изгубиш, някак попадаш от другата страна на мъглата, където съм и аз."
"Някога, преди много време, беше лесно да откриеш себе си някъде другаде. Светът беше... о, каква е думата? Струва ми се, вие казвате тайнствен. Шотландците от шестнайсети век го наричат непознаваем. Светът беше тайнствен. Изпълнен с непознати неща. Непознати хора. Непознати светове. Пътища от другата страна на мъглата. Хората вярваха, че светът е тайнствен и от самото им убеждение пътищата бяха отворени.
...
Днес има все по-малко пътища - продължи усмихнатият мъж. - Но някои са се запазили. Местата, където светът става страшен, непознат, изкривен. И именно там се подвизавам аз. Примамвам хората да минат през мъглата. Такава ми е работата, ако щеш. Да държа пътя между световете отворен." - Ето какво имах предвид, когато писах, че може да се задълбае повече в душевността на усмихнатия мъж, аз лично се запитах дали той е самотен и просто иска да си има приятел.
"Браян все си проверяваше джоба, за да се увери, че челникът му е вътре, сякаш малката му светлинка можеше да удържи мрака."
"Ние сме само деца. Всичко това беше твърде голямо и непознато за нас още от самото начало. Просто правим каквото можем."
"Може би - помисли си тя, - когато се изгубиш, някак попадаш от другата страна на мъглата, където съм и аз."
"Някога, преди много време, беше лесно да откриеш себе си някъде другаде. Светът беше... о, каква е думата? Струва ми се, вие казвате тайнствен. Шотландците от шестнайсети век го наричат непознаваем. Светът беше тайнствен. Изпълнен с непознати неща. Непознати хора. Непознати светове. Пътища от другата страна на мъглата. Хората вярваха, че светът е тайнствен и от самото им убеждение пътищата бяха отворени.
...
Днес има все по-малко пътища - продължи усмихнатият мъж. - Но някои са се запазили. Местата, където светът става страшен, непознат, изкривен. И именно там се подвизавам аз. Примамвам хората да минат през мъглата. Такава ми е работата, ако щеш. Да държа пътя между световете отворен." - Ето какво имах предвид, когато писах, че може да се задълбае повече в душевността на усмихнатия мъж, аз лично се запитах дали той е самотен и просто иска да си има приятел.
"Браян все си проверяваше джоба, за да се увери, че челникът му е вътре, сякаш малката му светлинка можеше да удържи мрака."
"Ние сме само деца. Всичко това беше твърде голямо и непознато за нас още от самото начало. Просто правим каквото можем."
sashathewild's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
tanikon's review against another edition
4.0
An almost-perfect end to a fantastic middle grade series! This entire series had such great wholesome friendships, and I liked how each pairing in the group got the spotlight throughout the series. Like Ollie and Coco then Coco and Brian. Also the CLOWNS. OMG. Really wonderfully done with their descriptions-- the pantomiming, the theatrics (like tip toeing)-- I love spooky clowns in general but this was such a nice cross between childish and scary.
I loved Ollie's scenes getting to know the Smiling Man a bit more, but what few answers we got just raised more questions! This book had so much potential and I really wouldn't have been upset if she ended up writing just 1 more book so we can properly explore the world. Or at least got more closure.Like our kiddos have triumphed over the Smiling Man 3 times before, but why is this victory the final one? Why are we toeing the line of the Smiling Man being more morally gray than evil? The ending overall just felt so incredibly rushed.
I loved Ollie's scenes getting to know the Smiling Man a bit more, but what few answers we got just raised more questions! This book had so much potential and I really wouldn't have been upset if she ended up writing just 1 more book so we can properly explore the world. Or at least got more closure.
angiec13's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Much better than the spring book, although the abrupt ending and the parents forgetting everything again annoyed me. The end of a series deserves more than a two-page resolution, IMO.
My ranking of the books from best to worst ended up following my favorite seasons order, too: fall, winter, summer, spring. Coincidence? Maybe not. Katherine Arden is very good at setting and mood, which could be partly why I was less enthusiastic about the spring and summer books but loved the fall and winter ones.
My ranking of the books from best to worst ended up following my favorite seasons order, too: fall, winter, summer, spring. Coincidence? Maybe not. Katherine Arden is very good at setting and mood, which could be partly why I was less enthusiastic about the spring and summer books but loved the fall and winter ones.
zaravive's review against another edition
5.0
I’ll give this five stars, because I love this series.
I hate clowns and I wished this was longer. I want to spend more time with Coco, Brian and Ollie.
The carnival was all kinds of “something wicked this way comes” kind of fun.
I got truly teary eyed at the end. Partly because I didn’t want this series to end.
Maybe one day I get to visit East Evansburg again.
Somehow this end, also felt like a beginning.
Like, maybe this wasn’t the last, we’ve seen of the Smiling man. The possibilities seem endless.
One thing is for sure: friendship is the best thing in the world.
I hate clowns and I wished this was longer. I want to spend more time with Coco, Brian and Ollie.
The carnival was all kinds of “something wicked this way comes” kind of fun.
I got truly teary eyed at the end. Partly because I didn’t want this series to end.
Maybe one day I get to visit East Evansburg again.
Somehow this end, also felt like a beginning.
Like, maybe this wasn’t the last, we’ve seen of the Smiling man. The possibilities seem endless.
One thing is for sure: friendship is the best thing in the world.
jessh1030's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
Some of the creepiest books I’ve ever read are from middle grade horror. Nominate inducing without the gore. Stop sleeping on this genre, you won’t be sorry!
kaceylaine's review against another edition
dark
fast-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? No
5.0
And The Smiling Man remains a mystery…
I have enjoyed this fast-paced quartet and will be recommending to my young spooky readers at the library!
I have enjoyed this fast-paced quartet and will be recommending to my young spooky readers at the library!
mcbuffypants's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? No
3.5