This was my comeback to this series. Over 14 years ago I read the first five installments of ASoUE, and when the second season on Netflix was renewed, I knew I'd like to read the books before watching the episodes I still hadn't read, so here I am.

Over a decade ago, I remember a friend of mine saying that book six was where things really picked up in this series (which in my opinion is kind of late for a books series to pick up, but anyway) and I've read some similar reviews on Goodreads.

To be honest, this wasn't my favourite book on the series. Maybe because I'm a grown up, or maybe because I like the series better, I don't know. It had an ok pace and nice plot, and Snicket's narration is always delightful to read. One of dreams is for him to write YA or Adult novel. That'd be great.

I love the messages in this book, about fashion, neglect (which is recurring in all books, I know, but was very proeminent in my opinion with the figure of Jerome Squalor), friendship and resourcefulness. I will always appreciate this series for giving us smart, no-nonsense kids, and amazing women in Violet and Sunny Baudelaire. I love when Snicket actually refer to them as women and not girls, that's so important. So very often in media women (even fully grown ones) a referred to as "girls" o even "babies", it pisses me off. And I think one very important difference between book and series that is much more positive on the books is the fact that there's no sparks of romance between neither Baudelaires and Quagmires. Praise Snicket for this. We can actually interact with the opposite sex without any intentions other than being good friends, thank you.

As always, the book follows a very specific rhythm, established early on in the first books: quirky set-up by Snicket, the children being dropped off by incompetent Mr Poe to their new guardians home, getting to know these new guardians (usually poorly capable ones), Count Olaf arrives in disguise, nobody believes the Baudelaires, scheming and action ensues, Mr Poe comes back and no one takes their word for it until it's very too late.

I must say the addition of the Quagmires is a breath of fresh air to the series. I know this is a middle school book, so it doesn't do any good in complicating plots, but this old structure gets really tiring after the fifth time reading it. And after six times, the suspension of belief starts to falter as well -- I for one can't actually believe Mr Poe still doesn't give any credit to the children after SIX BOOKS. I think my biggest beef with these books is this: there's very little character development going to. They're all very static in what they are and their role in the story.

Again, I know this is a middle school book. I know it's not supposed to be gritty or challenging or whatever, but character development is not something that should be exclusive to YA or older. It could be done gracefully on this series, specially because the author has THIRTEEN BOOKS to do it.

The mystery also drags on for too long -- I never feel a sense of satisfaction upon finishing the books. The "mystery" piles up but there's very little sense of revelation (even small ones) about the whole thing. I guess that's another reason why I prefer the series over the books.

I'll keep reading, because the narration is priceless and the characters are engaging enough. I just hope I am able to finish it.