Audiobook Review – Dead Voices (Small Spaces Quartet, Book 2) by Katherine Arden, Narrated by Renee Dorian (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Length: 5 hours and 29 minutes
Publisher: Listening Library
Release Date: August 27, 2019
ASIN: B07VN9SLYD
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Small Spaces Quintet
Source: Borrowed Audiobook from Library
Rating: 4/5 stars
“ 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.”
Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Small Spaces Quartet. I borrowed this as an audiobook from the library.
Thoughts: I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the first book but it was still very well done. I listened to this on audiobook and continue to enjoy the narrator.
Ollie, Coco, and Brian end up on a relaxing winter break holiday with Ollie’s father and Coco’s mom at Mount Hemlock ski resort. Unfortunately, a bad winter storm puts a kink in their trip; the power goes out and they are stranded at the resort. That’s when ghosts start showing up again and the mysterious Mr. Voland, a ghost hunter, appears at the resprt. Do these kids just have a knack for finding creepy trouble? Or is the Smiling Man involved again somehow?
This was very creepy and well done. I did have some issues later in the story listening to this on audiobook because the POV switched from Ollie to Coco and back very frequently and somehow I would occasionally miss the transition between the two. Aside from that this was a well put together super creepy mystery with the continued supernatural/fantasy element of the other shadow world.
I enjoy Arden’s writing style and the story in general. The characters are engaging and the story is very supernaturally creepy (which is my favorite kind of creepy). Everything is cleverly tied together as well.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I continue to enjoy this creepy fantasy horror series. The mystery here was super creepy and well done and I continue to enjoy the characters. I am eager to continue the series and plan to read the third book “Dark Waters” soon. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys horror fantasy reads that are more on the supernatural side of creepy (rather than gorey creepy). This series has been very well done so far!