Belles Middle Grade Library's Reviews > Wretched Waterpark

What a gothic, spooky, somewhat kooky amazing read! I loved this! This is unusual, weird, eerie, & just plain delightful. There’s mystery all around. The mystery at the Waterpark they have to solve. Then the mystery of their Aunt, & also the mystery of why their parents left them with her for the summer, & where they are. The last 2 mysteries seem like they will continue through the series, & we will get clues & puzzle pieces throughout. But still have the mystery of the location the kids travel to each book to solve. Loved that. There is even some clever world play in here, & fabulous names. Not only Aunt Saffronia, & some of the last names such as Sinister-Winterbottom. But also, the “Fathoms of Fun” Waterpark that has 5 stars. But not on Yelp, but on GULP haha. Some of the park rides: Oblivion, Abandon Hope, Infinite Plunge, Mortal Coil, the Other Side, the Afterlife, & more. Then cabanas that look like mausoleums, & rafts in the shape of open coffins lol. Just all the descriptions of this Waterpark.. not just the names but the way the rides/EVERYTHING look, the way the employees are dressed & the way they speak..giving black lace parasol for “sun protection..such vivid details, which makes this such an atmospherically gothic read. The way their aunt & some of the waterpark people talk in riddles almost, or say 1 thing & mean another..or mean what they say then change it to another lol Getting places, & not remembering getting there. Like I said, very weird, unusual, kooky read that was amazing. Theo & Alexander are polar opposites for siblings, but they balance the other out, & they both had some great character development. Wil has eyes only for “Rodrigo” most of the time lol, but she just added to the whole vibe that is this book lol. Edgar has my heart. I’m currently at their next bizarre summer destination in book 2, & loving it so far. This is a great summer story, & is also perfect for spooky season as well. So a good read for no matter what time of year really. Kind of gives me “if The Addams Family ran a waterpark” vibes..Highly recommend. STUNNING cover by Hannah Peck too.💜