In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be read. This is the first volume.

Not nearly as good as the Series of Unfortunate Events series ( )

In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that should not be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be read. This is the first volume.

Very good book to the same universe as The Series of Unfortunate Events. I personally liked the similarities with The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (which I just finished before reading this book). Also, a very good surprise ending. ( )

I had no idea there was another series by Snicket, and this one is very first person but interesting to read. I try to summarize how much I've read of it so far, but the book would be best summarized in a way by one of its own pieces.

We did it anyway. Knowing that something is wrong and doing it anyway happens very often in life, and I doubt I will ever know why.

In the style that is always charmingly true to Snicket, big words or even simple ones are explained, even if you already know them. Some lines are witty and funny, others are macabre or darker than we probably want if your mind thinks upon it too much. There is a slight kidnapping feel, a slight almost indentured feeling, and a bit more when reading this, but it's not bad, easily overlooked if you have already ventured the path of Unfortunate Events and know how that tale went.

I don't know if I'd read the whole series, but book one's decent. ( )