Dead Voices

4.5 stars.

I liked this even more than the first one. Also, loved the setting and the stakes for the characters.

Quick, fast paced and intense. This time around I knew the kids were going to be OK because this is a series so I wasn't as scared for them as I was when reading Small Spaces I just didn't know how they were going to make it out of this situation. Read it nearly all in one sitting and will be reading the next book.

3.5 stars

Where were these books when I was in middle school??!!

I expected an average ghost story. Nothing as scary as book 1. I was wrong! This is nearly as scary as book 1. I love this series!
The atmosphere is creepy. The ghosts are scary. The multiple points of view are great. It is vaguely reminiscent of Coraline.

An atmospheric and entertaining sequel to Small Spaces, Dead Voices still follows the trio, Ollie, Coco and Brian, where they went into a newly opened ski lodge as they embark to another spooky adventure. I liked how clever this book was and its pretty creepy for a middle grade book. I also loved how Coco's character was developed starting off as being scared to being brave and determined. However, I thought that the storyline is kind of cliche/unoriginal and the twists are also predictable. I'm also hoping to see more of Brian in the next book because we didn't get much of him in this. But I still enjoyed it nonetheless and I'm now truly convinced to continue on with the series.

3.5 again; a solid continuation of [b:Small Spaces 36959639 Small Spaces (Small Spaces, #1) Katherine Arden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539180297l/36959639.SY75.jpg 56656020]. Pretty scary for middle grade, and easy to gobble up. It leaves enough ambiguous for there to be at least one more book. There was much more focus on Coco in Dead Voices, which was interesting. Brian was pretty secondary by comparison, and when he was there always seemed to be talking “reasonably” or “practically.” Coco starts off helpless in both books, then when there are real stakes, morphs into someone much more cunning and dimensional like she's flipping a switch. I get that people behave differently under pressure, but it still feels abrupt. Ollie's dad remains the best. Fiction in general features some awful fathers, and Mr. Adler's constant baking and nurturing is a refreshing delight.If Arden puts out more of this series, I'd definitely pick them up. They're perfect October reads.

I love Arden's storytelling but I didn't like this one as much as I liked Small Spaces. I have to wonder if it's because it's the same kids. If this were a standalone, with new characters, I may have liked it a bit more. Mother Hemlock and poor little Gretel missing her bones were terrifying enough without this being a sequel to Small Spaces. That's all I'm saying.
Still, who couldn't love a super scary book in which the characters have to survive by their wits? Kids are going to love this book.