I'm sad to say it, but Dark Waters has been the most disappointing installment in the Small Spaces series so far. Don't get me wrong I was excited to finally get a story from Brian's point of view and the dreary lake and island setting of this book was haunting. But I was left wanting by many elements of the story.

If there's one thing that's been consistently great about this series it's been the characters. Ollie, Coco and Brian stole my heart in Small Spaces and they continued to be well-rendered characters in Dark Waters. One thing I love about this series is the gravity Arden gives her characters. These children are deeply impacted by the events of previous books in the series and we see that on-page making for compelling if often sad character moments. Dark Waters touches on how insular the gang, and especially Brain, have become as a result of their adventures. The isolation and separation they feel from their peers and the realization they make that they might not have had to struggle on their own was a fascinating layer to the story.

I was however disappointed that we didn't get Ollie or Coco's perspective in this installment. Ollie's absence from the narrative was especially jarring and made the book feel empty. I have to assume that Arden's choice to exclude her point of view was related to the final twist of the story, but it wasn't worth it if that was the case.

The most disappointing thing about Dark Waters was how unfinished the story felt. It's the shortest book in the series so far and the lower page count was definitely felt. Rather than having a solid climax and resolution, the book ended on a cliffhanger—and a poorly done one at that. Dark Waters' final pages felt like the middle of a story with several chapters left in the tale rather than an ending. While its twist was shocking and heartbreaking as intended the book needed a more robust ending after its final reveal. The complete lack of denouement to the story was ultimately damning.

Despite my disappointment, I'm hoping the final installment in the series Empty Smiles delivers the impact I know Arden can produce when it comes out in August.