" I was initially slightly worried when my sister gave me this book for Christmas, because though I loved reading the Series of Unfortunate Events as a child, I always felt that "Lemony Snicket" was cheating. I felt sure that reading more from this author with more experience with literature would leave me feeling negatively towards a series that I did thoroughly enjoy as a youngster. However, this book certainly did not leave me feeling cold. It has all the familiar elements from S.o.u.E.; the ridiculous plot lines, the treacherous villains, the confusion, the odd definitions of words, and the penchant of Mr. Snicket to never reveal any real answers. This is all part of the charm, as frustrating as it sometimes seems when you read it. If the author had finally answered all the big questions in 'The End', I doubt that all the readers would have been satisfied (I do not think a Harry Potter-style conclusion would have been possible here; too many loose ends!). Mystery is an integral part of these works.
Who could that be at this hour seeks to follow a different path; the trials of the Beaudelaire Orphins being well and truly told. This volume picks up the story of the 13 year old Lemony Snicket; who were know as the Narrator of the original series. Snicket's experiences seem to echo the orphins'; he is shunted around against his will in the care of the villainous S. Theodore Markson. Lemony has been taken on by this woman as an apprentice, a role which turns out to be more the executor of dirty work. Lemony takes matters into his own hands and gets help from two girls that he meets along the way. The familiar and almost cozy twist and turns of the plot kept me on my toes, and I found this a rollicking and enjoyable read.
Lemony Snicket continues to leave everything unexplained and the poor reader scratching his head trying to figure out what it all means; but resolution is not the point; the process of reading is the whole point, and I think it takes a child's mind to 'get' this idea. "
— Eleanor, 2/20/2014