Childrens

Empty Smiles

Empty Smiles

  • Downloads：4415
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-08-31 09:51:38
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Katherine Arden
  • ISBN：059310918X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

New York Times bestselling author Katherine thrills once again in the finale to the critically acclaimed， spook-tacular quartet that began with Small Spaces。

It’s been three months since Ollie made a daring deal with the smiling man to save those she loved， and then vanished without a trace。 The smiling man promised Coco， Brian and Phil， that they’d have a chance to save her， but as time goes by， they begin to worry that the smiling man has lied to them and Ollie is gone forever。 But finally， a clue surfaces。 A boy who went missing at a nearby traveling carnival appears at the town swimming hole， terrified and rambling。 He tells anyone who'll listen about the mysterious man who took him。 How the man agreed to let him go on one condition: that he deliver a message。 Play if you dare。

Game on！ The smiling man has finally made his move。 Now it’s Coco， Brian， and Phil’s turn to make theirs。 And they know just where to start。 The traveling carnival is coming to Evansburg。

Meanwhile， Ollie is trapped in the world behind the mist， learning the horrifying secrets of the smiling man's carnival， trying everything to help her friends find her。 Brian， Coco and Phil will risk everything to rescue Ollie—but they all soon realize this game is much more dangerous than the ones before。 This time the smiling man is playing for keeps。

The summer nights are short， and Ollie， Coco， Brian， and Phil have only until sunrise to beat him once and for all—or it’s game over for everyone。

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Reviews

Alina Nshanyan ，

4。5A great ending to a great series。 The ending literally made me emotional。 The fact that these friends loved each other so much is honestly so heartwarming。 I do feel the ending was a bit rushed but it wasn’t anything that took away from the story。 And I honestly felt kind of bad for the smiley man by the end。 He seems lonely and in need of a friend。 Nonetheless， a great series。 Please please read it。

Katarina ，

3。5

Kidlitter ，

What a good writer Arden is and what a terrific job she has done creating the Small Spaces 'verse。 It's a reliable hit with tweens， who relate so well to these characters we've all come to care about。 And it's clever， believable horror that asks your imagination to do with some work， without getting too traumatic。 But this books feels so rushed and the mysteries of the Smiling Man are barely explained。 The kids' courage and intelligence are so believably sketched， why give them such a poor excus What a good writer Arden is and what a terrific job she has done creating the Small Spaces 'verse。 It's a reliable hit with tweens， who relate so well to these characters we've all come to care about。 And it's clever， believable horror that asks your imagination to do with some work， without getting too traumatic。 But this books feels so rushed and the mysteries of the Smiling Man are barely explained。 The kids' courage and intelligence are so believably sketched， why give them such a poor excuse of an ending to their story？ Please， at least another book！ 。。。more

Mimi Momo ，

So apparently I was high as a kite when I read this book and don’t remember any of it， yet I somehow marked it as read on here AND returned my copy to the library。

Bethany McPherson ，

I never expected to find myself throuroughly enchanted by and engaged with a middle grade series in my 40s。 Maybe I should have known better。 While "Empty Smiles" is not my favorite book of the series （That honor falls to "Small Spaces"）， it is a worthy conclusion。 I never expected to find myself throuroughly enchanted by and engaged with a middle grade series in my 40s。 Maybe I should have known better。 While "Empty Smiles" is not my favorite book of the series （That honor falls to "Small Spaces"）， it is a worthy conclusion。 。。。more

Robyn ，

I love these books。 Such fun （and just right scary） reads！ Great for upper elementary or early middle school readers。

Karin ，

This book brought me back to the creepy scariness of the first book， and I appreciated that。 However， in line with what some other reviewers said it built up for this big climax and then finished really abruptly。 Left a lot of unanswered questions。

Chaitra ，

Arden knows how to start a series but not what to do with it once it takes hold。 I think I'm going to stop reading her altogether， unless she comes up with a standalone。 This book was unnecessary to the entire series， especially given how lamely it ends。 The entire series was unnecessary， the first book was enough to stand on its own。 Arden knows how to start a series but not what to do with it once it takes hold。 I think I'm going to stop reading her altogether， unless she comes up with a standalone。 This book was unnecessary to the entire series， especially given how lamely it ends。 The entire series was unnecessary， the first book was enough to stand on its own。 。。。more

Jen ，

2。5 stars？ Disappointing 😭

Carolyn ，

This was a bit of a letdown to a stellar series。

Jen ，

I got so freaked out at one point I almost cried。So that was good。 But the ending。。。。。was definitely too rushed。 Which is what kept this from being a solid 5 star read。

Tom ，

I am dissapointed about how this series was concluded。 The ending was rushed I loved this series a lot。 The first two books were awesome but then it went downhill for me。（view spoiler）[ At the end they just got to the carnival and then suddenly they were with Ollie there is a gap。 How did they get there？ There should be more chapters how the got to Ollie and then together they should face the clowns and the Smiling Man。 It was kind of easy just got the key then the main gate and open it and tha I am dissapointed about how this series was concluded。 The ending was rushed I loved this series a lot。 The first two books were awesome but then it went downhill for me。（view spoiler）[ At the end they just got to the carnival and then suddenly they were with Ollie there is a gap。 How did they get there？ There should be more chapters how the got to Ollie and then together they should face the clowns and the Smiling Man。 It was kind of easy just got the key then the main gate and open it and that is it？ The Smiling Man should like challenge them more at the end it should be more epic。 And what about the Smiling Man some background about him？ It seems that he does not want to do his "job" like there is someone， something above him like his superiors？ There should be some chapter about him to explain his origin， how he became the Smiling Man and so on。 There is just so many questions left unanswered。 （hide spoiler）] 。。。more

Thomas ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Enjoyed the series a lot。 The fourth book felt rushed with the ending。 While the end result was never in doubt， it was too fast- and kind of a let down。 I would have liked a few more chapters of tension with Coco and Brian “just” surviving in the carnival before finally getting to Ollie。 All that being said， it was still fun to read and I’ll be sad to leave the quartet of friends behind。

Nicole Aka Grave doll ，

Good ending to a great series。

Sharon Rose ，

It ended a little more abruptly then I liked since it had a three book build up:（ However， there were some really good scares and a great atmosphere。 The clowns were goofy yet somehow horrific and the creepy hospital， carnival and parades scenes were well developed—it delivers the same level of atmosphere and spookiness as the others and I think young fans of the series will be pleased， I just wish Arden had made the climax a little longer and more satisfying。

Liz ，

Good wrap up to the series。 The ending was lackluster though。

Amy ，

Clowns peeking in your window？ Clowns in the basement？？ Clowns under the bed？？？！！ This book was TERRIFYING！ This quartet of books is a great one， and the final book did not disappoint！

Jelena Milašinović ，

The final book in the Small Spaces series was the creepiest and scariest book in the series。 The clown factor increased the creepiness IMO。 :-） Empty Smiles was captivating， fast-paced and the right amount of scary。 My only complaint is that it ended up too quickly for my taste。 The last 2 chapters wrapped things pretty fast compared to the rest of the book and personally I would have liked 50 more pages before the end， but that's just personal preference。 The final book in the Small Spaces series was the creepiest and scariest book in the series。 The clown factor increased the creepiness IMO。 :-） Empty Smiles was captivating， fast-paced and the right amount of scary。 My only complaint is that it ended up too quickly for my taste。 The last 2 chapters wrapped things pretty fast compared to the rest of the book and personally I would have liked 50 more pages before the end， but that's just personal preference。 。。。more

Rebecca ，

I don't think I've been this let down by a book/series for a while。 I really liked the first and second books。 I had some issues with the third， but this one did not live up to the promise of the story at all。 First， the last 60 pages are "sneak peeks" of the first three books。 SIXTY PAGES。 Things were starting to sort of resolve and I was waiting for the twist to get things really good and instead it just ended。 With a definite fizzle。 Everything in this book was way， way， way too easy。 The con I don't think I've been this let down by a book/series for a while。 I really liked the first and second books。 I had some issues with the third， but this one did not live up to the promise of the story at all。 First， the last 60 pages are "sneak peeks" of the first three books。 SIXTY PAGES。 Things were starting to sort of resolve and I was waiting for the twist to get things really good and instead it just ended。 With a definite fizzle。 Everything in this book was way， way， way too easy。 The conclusion was not satisfying at all， and all of the little hints and mysteries around the Smiling Man were not handled well。 At all。 There's a sort of kind of vague explanation that doesn't actually explain anything and then it's just 。。。 over。 And there are gaps in the narrative。 （view spoiler）[Just exactly how do Coco and Brian get from the haunted house to the fun house？ The scariest it gets is when the clowns are chasing them on the way to the carnival and then again in the haunted house and then。。。 they just magically get to the fun house - the one place the Smiling Man would have been trying to keep them away from - with no problems。 And they just immediately find the second key？ and get to the entrance without being chased or running into any other obstacles？ And the Smiling Man just stands there while the keys join and they leave？ What？！ （hide spoiler）]I love Arden's style。 I was fascinated by the world she built here。 But this final book was a let down in almost every way from the characters not really getting to shine to the plot falling flat to the conclusion being supremely dissatisfying。I'm just super disappointed。 。。。more

Emma ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I loved this book and this series too much to give it anything less than 5 stars。 It is fantastic。 I don’t want it to be over 😢 I wish there were more books to look forward to！ [ Mild spoiler， nothing about the plot: ]But can I just say…the ending was way， WAY too quick。 The action was picking up， tension killing me， I looked at the page count…。and saw only twelve pages left in the book。 ？？？？？？？As the breakneck pace continued， tension kept building， but only FIVE pages left now…three…one…。HUH？ I I loved this book and this series too much to give it anything less than 5 stars。 It is fantastic。 I don’t want it to be over 😢 I wish there were more books to look forward to！ [ Mild spoiler， nothing about the plot: ]But can I just say…the ending was way， WAY too quick。 The action was picking up， tension killing me， I looked at the page count…。and saw only twelve pages left in the book。 ？？？？？？？As the breakneck pace continued， tension kept building， but only FIVE pages left now…three…one…。HUH？ It’s not OVER， come on！ It was a good ending， but I felt it needed a higher page count to be a satisfying one。 Reading other reviews， I see I’m not alone。 。。。more

Colleen ，

Oh， so disappointing！！！！ I loved the other three books in the series and was so looking forward to the last one （unless there’s more？？？）， and it began well。 But that ending！ What a letdown！Ollie disappeared in the previous book， Dark Waters， and it’s up to her friends to save her。 When this entry starts， it’s got all of the same scare factors the previous books had: missing children， a land behind the mist， and CLOWNS！ Nice addition to the terror。 The story proceeds well， but then it suddenly……e Oh， so disappointing！！！！ I loved the other three books in the series and was so looking forward to the last one （unless there’s more？？？）， and it began well。 But that ending！ What a letdown！Ollie disappeared in the previous book， Dark Waters， and it’s up to her friends to save her。 When this entry starts， it’s got all of the same scare factors the previous books had: missing children， a land behind the mist， and CLOWNS！ Nice addition to the terror。 The story proceeds well， but then it suddenly……ends。 And without much of a fight。 I’m really disappointed。 。。。more

Sabrina ，

I've enjoyed this series so much。 However the ending felt rushed in this one。 It all came together so easy at the end。 I've enjoyed this series so much。 However the ending felt rushed in this one。 It all came together so easy at the end。 。。。more

Ashley *Booksbrewsandbarks* ，

Ugh。 Such a disappointing end to an otherwise awesome series。 This 4th installment was good up until the EXTREMELY rushed ending that left too many questions and was just TOO happy of an ending。

Heidi （Heidi's Bookish Adventures） ，

I love this series as a whole but the ending was so rushed and so many questions were left unanswered that I can’t bring myself to give this any more than 2 stars。 A very disappointing conclusion to an otherwise excellent series。

Jenna Alcock ，

I read the whole book in one sitting， unfortunately it wasnt as good as the first in the series， and felt to be over pretty quick。 I felt it could have down with being a tad longer， It was a nice resolution though both for the book it's self and the series。 Though the book it's self was miss leading a lot of the back is snipits from the first three books which didn't help with the feel on the abrupt ending。 I never really like clowns or dolls and this book certainly didn't help with that only re I read the whole book in one sitting， unfortunately it wasnt as good as the first in the series， and felt to be over pretty quick。 I felt it could have down with being a tad longer， It was a nice resolution though both for the book it's self and the series。 Though the book it's self was miss leading a lot of the back is snipits from the first three books which didn't help with the feel on the abrupt ending。 I never really like clowns or dolls and this book certainly didn't help with that only read in day light。 。。。more

Jes Bailey ，

I think this was the scariest of the four， probably due to clowns。 All these books feel like they should be longer， like the endings are very sudden， and this one is no different。

Kelsey Books ，

This series was so fantastic。 I've never been scared of books the way I have with this series and the fact that it's middle grade is astounding。 This series would be incredible as movies and I hope they get picked up。 This series was so fantastic。 I've never been scared of books the way I have with this series and the fact that it's middle grade is astounding。 This series would be incredible as movies and I hope they get picked up。 。。。more

Lauren Harvey ，

Unsurprisingly Katherine Arden is as adept at middle grade fiction as she is with deep fantasy/medieval Russian folklore。 Wonderfully written and will be a wonderful starter horror series for the next gen of readers :）

Keisha ，

It felt like the ending was rushed。 It was disappointing。

Stephanie ，

4 out of 5 Creepy Clowns。It's a good thing I am reading this as an adult。 I would have been traumatized if I were a middle grade reader。 Talk about a creepy carnival with sinister clowns！ Some suspenseful scenes made me shudder and gasp。 The exaggerated， dramatic moves the clowns performed were terrifying。 （view spoiler）[I loved that the kids found their weakness， water guns！ （hide spoiler）]I also loved the message that you can't do it alone。 Which is why I was glad to see the parents more invo 4 out of 5 Creepy Clowns。It's a good thing I am reading this as an adult。 I would have been traumatized if I were a middle grade reader。 Talk about a creepy carnival with sinister clowns！ Some suspenseful scenes made me shudder and gasp。 The exaggerated， dramatic moves the clowns performed were terrifying。 （view spoiler）[I loved that the kids found their weakness， water guns！ （hide spoiler）]I also loved the message that you can't do it alone。 Which is why I was glad to see the parents more involved in this one （view spoiler）[（even though they were not very helpful and limited in their understanding of the supernatural）。 I was also glad that Coco and Brian had to figure it all out using their brains and couldn't depend on Ollie's magical watch。 （hide spoiler）]However， for all of the Smiling Man's sinister intensions I did feel like the task at the end was too easy。 I was saying to myself how will this wrap up in 2-3 short chapters？We got some good and intriguing clues about the Smiling Man， but I was hoping for more about him。 His motivations and perhaps more about his origins。 Maybe one day we can read an origin story？Overall， my critiques of this conclusion do not diminish my enjoyment of the story。 The series as a whole was a creepy and thrilling for middle grade readers and for adult fans of Katherine Arden's work。Small Spaces: 4 out of 5 Scarecrows。Dead Voices: 5 out of 5 Bones。Dark Waters: 4 out of 5 Fish Hooks。Empty Smiles: 4 out of 5 Creepy Clowns。Favorite quotes and passages from Empty Smiles:Page 47: He handed her， of all things， an old-time handkerchief。 Like no one had ever invented tissues。Page 50: "。。。Olivia， I will lie by omission all day， but I will never tell you anything that is untrue。" Page 164: The mirrors still turned her into a thousand strangers。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Empty Smiles

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Empty Smiles&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Empty Smiles&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0