Dead Voices

Dead Voices follows three friends - Ollie, Coco, and Brian - during what becomes a harrowing winter break at a ski resort in Vermont. The kids arrive at Mount Hemlock Resort with their parents, expecting a fun-filled vacation of skiing and relaxation. The peaceful mountain getaway transforms when a blizzard traps everyone inside the resort lodge. The children discover the building holds dark secrets about its past, including ghost stories tied to an old boarding school that once occupied the property. As supernatural events escalate and communications with the outside world are cut off, the three friends must work together to uncover the truth about Mount Hemlock. They race to solve the mystery while facing their own fears about what lurks in the shadows of the isolated lodge. The novel explores themes of friendship, courage, and the power of facing one's fears head on. Through its ghost story framework, the book examines how past events can haunt the present and how truth can be both frightening and freeing.

Most readers found Dead Voices creepier and scarier than its predecessor Small Spaces, but not as cohesive. The winter setting and ghost story elements resonated with middle-grade horror fans. Readers appreciated: - The atmospheric descriptions of the isolated ski lodge - Character development, especially Ollie's growth - The incorporation of winter folklore - Age-appropriate scares that don't talk down to kids Common criticisms: - Plot holes and unanswered questions - Less satisfying ending compared to Small Spaces - Some found the pacing slow in the middle - Ghost elements felt more conventional than the first book Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (466 ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred review One reader noted: "The tension builds perfectly and the kids face real danger." Another mentioned: "The mystery wasn't as tight as Small Spaces, but the creepy factor made up for it."

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden The first book in the spooky series follows Ollie through her encounter with supernatural scarecrows on a school field trip.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab A young ghost hunter and her spirit best friend explore Edinburgh's haunted locations while battling malevolent forces.

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel A boy makes a deal with mysterious wasps to save his sick baby brother, leading to consequences that blur the line between dreams and reality.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier Two orphans work at a cursed manor house where a sinister tree grants wishes at a dark price.

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh A girl with repressed supernatural abilities must confront ghosts and family secrets when her brother becomes possessed in their new home.

🌨️ Katherine Arden wrote Dead Voices while living in Middlebury, Vermont, drawing inspiration from the state's snowy winters and remote locations. 👻 The book is the second installment in the Small Spaces quartet, following the seasonal theme with winter after the autumn setting of Small Spaces. 🏠 The Mount Hemlock Lodge featured in the book was inspired by real Vermont ski resorts and their historic lodges built in the early 20th century. 📚 While writing the ghost story, Arden drew influence from classic children's horror authors like Mary Downing Hahn and Betty Ren Wright. 🎭 The character of Mr. Voland, who appears in both Small Spaces and Dead Voices, was named after a character in Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita - a nod to Arden's background in Russian literature.