A perfect read for spooky season!
The third book in the Blight Harbour series doesn't disappoint. It's efficiently spooky, without being too much. It's well-written and as always I appreciate the author giving her main character anxiety. This is a great way for kids who experience anxiety to see a character facing difficult situations and using tools to work through rising panic attacks.
The supporting characters are also wonderful, especially Bird and Gray. The world building and magical system are done well.
This third book wraps up the series nicely, but also leaves room for a potential return.
A 5 star read for kids and adults alike.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC!

The Loneliest Place is the final book in Lora Senf’s Blight Harbor trilogy and is a very good ending to Evie’s saga of finding her parents on The Dark Sun Side.

After finding her mom’s glasses and a special book in The Nighthouse, Evie is more determined than ever to prove that her parents didn’t die in their house fire, but instead were taken. Evie agrees to play Clackity’s last game in hopes of rescuing her parents. Clackity’s “games” are never good, or fair, but is Evie determined to beat it with the help of her friends in both the sunshine world and The Dark Sun Side.

I did enjoy the majority of the book and of how Evie persisted through Clackity’s very unfair and rule changing game. I think Evie Van Rathe is a great literary role model for young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.


My (probably unpopular) opinions about Book 3:
While I did enjoy this book and really like how many returning characters are part of the story, I am not a fan of the ending. Don’t get me wrong. It is well written and definitely ties up all the loose ends for the trilogy. I just didn’t like the choice of how it ended…and to not give spoilers, I won’t explain more about why.

The Loneliest Place earns 4 stars from me. Definitely recommend this series to kids who like a little scary, a little spooky, a little other-worldly reads.

I cannot express my love for this series. Evie is a fantastic character: brave but scared, daring but guilt-ridden, smart yet such a pre-teen. The Clackity is terrifying and I LOVE how he came back to be featured so much more as the villain in this installment.

My students loved the first book and I was able to get it to be one of our Battle of the Books selections for this year. I just added the second book to our library and already have quite the waitlist. I am so excited to add the third.

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Children's publishing for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting me read this ARC.

This book is phenomenal! The third book in the Clackity series goes back to the adventure style of the first book when Evie has to go through doors that correspond with the pages of the children’s book that her mother wrote just for her. She makes another good, fair deal with the Clackity and madness ensues! Read along as Evie breaks her promise to her aunt and visits the Dark Sun Side again and solves more puzzles along the way. You won’t regret this one!

I actually wanted to rate "The Loneliest Place" as a 4.5/5 rather than a 4. Not quite a 5 for me, but mostly because the ending felt a bit rushed.

I definitely see some overall pacing improvements in this book as I was more engaged throughout this book compared to 1-2. Again, the ending felt rushed, but it didn't hurt my enjoyment of this book. The cautious Evie vs. the "Dark Sun Side" residents helps to really make Evie shine as a clever protagonist.

The cover made me really excited for "Dark Sun Side," and it did not disappoint when it was featured with darker characters. If anything, I really wish the story covered and focused more on the "Dark Sun Side." It was a setting and world that I always never wanted to let go/leave in this book. I really hope for a graphic novel or maybe even a spin-off story/book focusing on the "Dark Sun Side" and its eerie residents.

There's one character I really like from there, but to avoid obvious spoilers, will call him S.T. I became an instant fan of S.T. when he showed up despite not being a major character.

I'm very thankful for NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy. I understand it can be hard to get a vol. 3 ARC as I wasn't active at the time to read books 1-2 on NetGalley, so had to read them in my library's collection.

The Loneliest Place by Lora Senf is a fitting and intense conclusion to the Blight Harbor trilogy. It delivers a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat while pulling at your heartstrings. As Evie Von Rathe embarks on her final quest to find her parents, the stakes have never been higher, and the darkness has never been more palpable. Senf masterfully balances the eerie atmosphere with moments of warmth and hope, making this book captivating.

The setting of the Dark Sun Side is richly imagined, and the twists that unfold as Evie follows her mother’s bedtime story are both surprising and satisfying. The narrative dives deeper into the mythos of Blight Harbor, revealing truths that are as fascinating as they are chilling. Evie’s journey is one of courage and determination, and her relationships with Bird and Lark add depth to the story, providing both companionship and tension.

Senf's ability to craft a timeless and fresh tale stands out most in this finale. Fans of middle-grade horror and adventure will appreciate the nods to classic stories while enjoying the unique twists that make this series stand out. The Loneliest Place wraps up Evie’s story in a way that feels earned, leaving readers both satisfied and a little haunted by the world Senf has created.

While the pacing occasionally slows in the middle, the final act more than makes up for it, delivering a thrilling and poignant conclusion. This book, and the series as a whole, is a must-read for fans of dark, imaginative adventures.

I've really enjoyed this series, but this book seemed a bit rushed to tie things up at the end. I liked delving more into the Dark Sun Side and exploring that world more and I liked the challenges posed to Evie. The end got a bit confusing following the last loneliest place and how to get there, but overall it was a good read.