Snicket writes with a great mischievousness and joy for language and story, and it is almost more fun to enjoy his writing than it is to enjoy the story. That being said, this was an excellent conclusion to a series that at once illuminates and shadows the character of Lemony Snicket, and briefly foreshadows the events that take place before the lives of the unfortunate Baudelaire children. It was a solid ending, but I can't help but wish for more books about the VFD.