This is a very fun, and eerie, read-aloud.” - Addison County Independent middle-grade readers, ages 8-12, and their adult reading companions, will be thrilled, and frightened, by this latest adventure. “Those who are attracted to mystery, adventure, and spooky stories will be drawn to this sequel like a moth to a flame.” -S chool Library Journal a tense cliff-hanger, which will leave readers on the hook for the next installment.” - Booklist Arden’s expert pacing and vivid descriptions ratchet up the tension deliciously, build eerie atmosphere, and make for some truly scary moments. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, now is the perfect time to do so, if only to suffer with us all through the wait for the final book.” - The Nerd Daily “The ending definitely ramped up the stakes once more and I’m now anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this dark, creepy middle-grade series. “Describing the creepy setting where all the action takes place with cinematic detail, Arden piles on the terror, weaving in Lake Champlain history and pirate lore.” - Buffalo News Another deliciously hair-raising entry in a series that continues to make a huge splash.” - Kirkus Reviews The deliberate pacing maintains a palpable sense of dread, equally anxiety-inducing and terrifying. “Arden skillfully blends a creature feature with a survival tale, taking the series into new territory without deviating from its successful formula. The smiling man has at long last set the stage for a perilous rematch.

But when this crew find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island and hunted by a monster on both land and sea, fun becomes the last thing on their minds. He hasn’t sailed since visiting family in Jamaica, and even the looming threat of the smiling man can’t put a damper on what is guaranteed to finally be a day of fun-even if it is awkward being stuck on a boat with his former best friend, Phil, and his new best friends, Coco and Ollie. So when the lights flicker and a knock sounds at the door, there can only be one explanation: he’s back and a frightening new game is afoot.īut before the three friends can unravel the smiling man’s latest nightmarish scheme, they set sail on Lake Champlain, where it’s said Vermont’s very own Loch Ness monster lives. Brian is thrilled. And as the trio knows, the smiling man always keeps his promises.

That was the chilling promise the smiling man made to Ollie, Coco, and Brian after they last outsmarted him. Filled with chills, New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden’s latest installment in the creep-tastic Small Spaces Quartet is sure to haunt.

Dark waters arden