Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

Dead Voices

by Katherine Arden

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden returns with another creepy, spine-tingling adventure in this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Small Spaces.

Having survived sinister scarecrows and the malevolent smiling man in Small Spaces, newly minted best friends Ollie, Coco, and Brian are ready to spend a relaxing winter break skiing together with their parents at Mount Hemlock Resort. But when a snowstorm sets in, causing the power to flicker out and the cold to creep closer and closer, the three are forced to settle for hot chocolate and board games by the fire.

Ollie, Coco, and Brian are determined to make the best of being snowed in, but odd things keep happening. Coco is convinced she has seen a ghost, and Ollie is having nightmares about frostbitten girls pleading for help. Then Mr. Voland, a mysterious ghost hunter, arrives in the midst of the storm to investigate the hauntings at Hemlock Lodge. Ollie, Coco, and Brian want to trust him, but Ollie's watch, which once saved them from the smiling man, has a new cautionary message: BEWARE.

With Mr. Voland's help, Ollie, Coco, and Brian reach out to the dead voices at Mount Hemlock. Maybe the ghosts need their help--or maybe not all ghosts can or should be trusted.

Dead Voices is a terrifying follow-up to Small Spaces with thrills and chills galore and the captive foreboding of a classic ghost story.

Reviewed by Kat @ Novels & Waffles on

3 of 5 stars

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Although the plot was more disjointed than that of its proceeder, Dead Voices is a delightfully frightening ghost story perfect for a cold winter's night and a few mild scares.

THINGS I LIKED:
-Katherine Arden is back at it again with her beautifully atmospheric writing! While Small Spaces was Autumn-themed, Dead Voices is perfect to read during Winter. It describes the season so vividly that I could practically feel the frigid snow falling on my nose, the frost burrowing its way into my bones.

-This book is just the right amount of creepy. Delightfully creepy, I would call it. Perfect for a Middle Grade audience (or a wimp like me who can't handle any amount of horror without having nightmares for weeks).

-Coco, Ollie, and Brian's friendship is too pure for this world (total #squadgoals). Also, I love that this trio is two girls and a boy – I feel like it's usually two boys and a girl.

-We get to hear part of the story from Coco's perspective! I liked that she was kind of the star of this installment.

THINGS I LIKED...LESS:
-Dead Voices wasn't as strong of a story as Small Spaces was. There are too many antagonists, which bogged down the plot and made it feel disjointed. It's almost as if Arden was trying to stuff all of her wonderfully spooky ideas into a single book for maximum creep effect, but ended up achieving just the opposite.

-While Coco really shines in this book, Brian sort of takes a back seat. Hopefully Brian gets to be the hero in the next installment. I want to see him grow too!

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  • 13 January, 2020: Reviewed