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Empty Smiles

by Katherine Arden

A dangerous game at the traveling carnival

Regular price $12.56 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

A dangerous game at the traveling carnival

The quartet’s final installment brings Coco, Brian, and Phil to a traveling carnival as they try to rescue Ollie, who has been missing since making a deal with the smiling man. A boy who vanished from the carnival returns with a challenge, while Ollie searches for a way to help her friends from the world behind the mist. The two strands of the story converge around the smiling man’s carnival and the risks of confronting him. The book’s supernatural mystery is rooted in friendship, loyalty, and the group’s effort to bring Ollie home.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Young readers ages 9–12 interested in supernatural and paranormal fiction.
  • Readers who have followed the Small Spaces quartet and want its concluding installment.
  • Readers drawn to stories involving mysterious carnivals, friendship, and rescue efforts.

Themes

Friendship and loyaltyRescue and sacrificeSupernatural mysteryCourage in the face of danger

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden thrills once again in the finale to the critically acclaimed, bone-chilling quartet that began with Small Spaces. Now in paperback.

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 then a terrified and rambling boy who went missing at a nearby traveling carnival appears with a message for the trio from the mysterious man who took him: 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, and 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.
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Customer reviews

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Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.