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From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

The people of Blight Harbor are no strangers to strange happenings. As residents of the seventh-most haunted town in America, they’re used to the sight of ghosts and having vampires for neighbors. They’re even fine with the occasional appearance of portals to a perilous underworld—where a dark sun hangs in a bruise-colored sky—so long as those doors are quickly sealed shut by the ever-vigilant townspeople. But a recent string of disappearances has everyone on edge, and when friends Mae, Lark, Brigid, and Claret stumble upon a door that none of the adults seem to see, they can’t shake the feeling it’s somehow connected. Then Brigid’s cousin, Emilia, goes missing, and the group suspects that Johnny Pope, the local miscreant, may have used the door to hide her away in the Dark Sun Side. The girls venture through the door, hoping to find their friend before something terrible happens, and they quickly discover that the worst kind of monsters often wear a human face. Senf returns to the world of The Clackity (2022) in this imaginative prequel set 100 years prior, telling a story that beautifully balances fantastical and frightening elements with a wonderfully nuanced and heartfelt portrayal of friendship. Alive with atmosphere and character, this creepy, captivating read will appeal to both longtime fans of the established series and newcomers alike.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Twelve-year-old Mae Von Rathe and her friends are on a dangerous mission to find people who have disappeared into the otherworldly Dark Sun Side of Blight Harbor. In a return to the series, this stand-alone prequel takes place during the summer of 1921 and is narrated by Mae, the great-great-aunt of Evie Von Rathe from 2022’sThe Clackity. When friends Mae, Lark, Claret, and Brigid discover that Brigid’s cousin Emmi has disappeared, they’re sure that her creepy on-again, off-again boyfriend, Johnny, is responsible. Soliciting the help of ghosts and relying on some magic and supernatural powers of their own, the friends enter a hole in the ground that takes them to the Dark Sun Side, where they face off against magical creatures, ghosts, and threads of the evil that plagued Evie in the original trilogy. Returning fans will enjoy references to the books, but no prior knowledge is required for new readers to enter this haunted world, which comes to life through Senf’s rich, atmospheric writing. The spooks offer high stakes that are framed in a way that’s appropriate for the target audience. Above all, the sisterhood among the girls is touching and feels believably nuanced, highlighting bonds that only time and trust can forge. Cáceres’ eerie black-and-white illustrations appear throughout, helping to bring scenes to life and matching the tone of the story. Lark has light brown skin, and the other girls are cued white. A compelling and imaginative bookend to a strong series.(Horror. 9-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.