Dark Waters - (Small Spaces Quartet) by Katherine Arden (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Until next time. That was the chilling promise the smiling man made to Ollie, Coco, and Brian after they last outsmarted him. And as the trio knows, the smiling man always keeps his promises. 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.

But 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. 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. 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. The smiling man has at long last set the stage for a perilous rematch. But this time, Brian is ready to play.

Review Quotes

"Arden skillfully blends a creature feature with a survival tale, taking the series into new territory without deviating from its successful formula. The deliberate pacing maintains a palpable sense of dread, equally anxiety-inducing and terrifying. . . Another deliciously hair-raising entry in a series that continues to make a huge splash." --Kirkus Reviews

"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

"The ending definitely ramped up the stakes once more and I'm now anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this dark, creepy middle-grade series. 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

"Genuinely spooky . . . Arden's expert pacing and vivid descriptions ratchet up the tension deliciously, build eerie atmosphere, and make for some truly scary moments . . . [and] a tense cliff-hanger, which will leave readers on the hook for the next installment." --Booklist

"Those who are attracted to mystery, adventure, and spooky stories will be drawn to this sequel like a moth to a flame." --School Library Journal

"In this hair-raising novel . . . middle-grade readers, ages 8-12, and their adult reading companions, will be thrilled, and frightened, by this latest adventure. . . This is a very fun, and eerie, read-aloud." --Addison County Independent

Praise for Dead Voices:

★ "Arden handily transforms the haunted house story into something much richer, scarier, and more sinister. . . Middle-graders who thrill to spooks and scares will find plenty (maybe even more than they bargained for!) here." --Booklist, starred review

★ "Arden's high scare factor, richly drawn mountain setting, relevant themes of loss and belonging, and vividly eerie descriptions evoke the very best of horror for this age set." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "In this spooky sequel to Small Spaces, Arden excels at creating an atmosphere of claustrophobic tension with memorably menacing details. Readers will again be invested in the ghoulish surprises in store for the resourceful, likably flawed protagonists." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

Praise for Small Spaces:
★ ★ ★ Three Starred Reviews
22 State Awards
A Kirkus Best Book of 2018 - Middle-Grade
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018 - Middle-Grade
A Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books of 2018
An Amazon Best Book - October 2018
A CCBC Choices List Pick - 2019
An ALA Notable Children's Book - 2019

★ "Atmospheric horror at its best. Chillingly tender."--Kirkus, starred review

★ "With a tantalizing pace and palpable suspense, all nicely grounded in realistic emotions, this well-wrought spine-tingler is destined to be a hit (just makes sure the lights stay on)."--Booklist, starred review

★ "Riveting...The story moves at a good pace with just enough clues to keep the reader intrigued and guessing."--School Library Connection, starred review

"Is it a mystery? A fairy tale? A horror thriller? As the suspense gripped me, I just wanted to know one thing--WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Terrifying and fun."--R. L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series

About the Author