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ericm37's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
zoebodovinitz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? No
4.0
I’m trying to reread a bunch of books from when I was a kid to see how they hold up. I was happy to find that this one does. Its silly and exciting in the ways I remember. It’s been a fun book to read slowly when I don’t feel like reading something heavy. Love the interactive narrator
j_lei's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up because of the title. Like the Series of Unfortunate Events, in which Lemony Snickett often addresses the reader directly, Pseudonymous Bosch also uses this style to engage with and explain things to the reader. The narrator prompts the reader repeatedly to be contrary: "this secret is too dangerous", "go back now", "stop reading here if you don't want to...", etc. Admittedly, this style backfired on me because I'm perverse enough to operate contrariwise to the desired contrariness. I felt less like continuing to read because they were obviously telling me to keep going by advising me to stop.
That said, Cassandra and her friend Max-Ernest endeavour to save a schoolmate and a missing magician from the clutches of a mysterious group of people who seem to be searching for the secret of life. The use of synesthesia as a plot device and character trait is unique and intriguing.
That said, Cassandra and her friend Max-Ernest endeavour to save a schoolmate and a missing magician from the clutches of a mysterious group of people who seem to be searching for the secret of life. The use of synesthesia as a plot device and character trait is unique and intriguing.
hannahsreading's review against another edition
2.0
It felt all over the place. I liked the concept but found it difficult to figure out what the genre was, what the reading age was, and sometimes the uncertainty didn’t flow. I probably would’ve loved this as a kid but sadly not now
alicegregor's review against another edition
4.0
get these kids some new parents fr if i was 10 and disappeared for like 3 days my parents would NOT send my spunky gay hoarder grandpas to find me???? i liked the part at the end where they made the pyramid smell so bad that it exploded.
aechthistle's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book. I can't tell you why, because it's a secret. In fact, it's such a secret, I've already forgotten it. The End. For Real.
mmsbeatty's review against another edition
4.0
My daughter and I have been reading this series at bedtime now for a while and she's always left begging for more when we stop! Imaginative and, in my opinion, teetering on the edge of YA due to it's complicated language, I've been enjoying following the story as much as her.
jordan_mmj's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5