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The Penultimate Peril
(A Series of Unfortunate Events #12)
by
Dear Reader,
If this is the first book you found while searching for a book to read next, then the first thing you should know is that this next-to-last book is what you should put down first. Sadly, this book presents the next-to-last chronicle of the lives of the Baudelaire orphans, and it is next-to-first in its supply of misery, despair, and unpleasantness.
Probably
...moreGet A Copy
Hardcover, 353 pages
Published
October 18th 2005
by HarperCollins Publishers
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Start your review of The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #12)
Mar 25, 2015
emma
rated it
it was amazing
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Do any of you secretly know how to time travel? Have like a weird DIY crystal-/laser-based contraption that gets the ol' hanging-out-with-Cleopatra job done?
I promise I won’t tell anyone, I just have one favor to ask.
Please go back in time and tell ten-year-old me reading this series for the first time that she is peaking.
I will never find a book like this one. Ever. It’s time to give up. I’m going to force myself to forget how to read in order to avoid the disappointment. Time to start my new ...more
I promise I won’t tell anyone, I just have one favor to ask.
Please go back in time and tell ten-year-old me reading this series for the first time that she is peaking.
I will never find a book like this one. Ever. It’s time to give up. I’m going to force myself to forget how to read in order to avoid the disappointment. Time to start my new ...more
I'm fairly sure I've never read 12 books in one series before (with the possible exception of Enid Blyton's Famous Five - which I read in random order with gaps, because they're all stand-alones).
To be honest, I don't think that even as a child I would have reached #12 in the Series of Unfortunate Events - which is not to say that they are bad books, more testimony to my need for change.
Anyway, I'm reading these to my daughter and we're in til the bitter end (Book 13).
This volume takes place alm ...more
To be honest, I don't think that even as a child I would have reached #12 in the Series of Unfortunate Events - which is not to say that they are bad books, more testimony to my need for change.
Anyway, I'm reading these to my daughter and we're in til the bitter end (Book 13).
This volume takes place alm ...more
We've finally finished the 12th book in A Series of Unfortunate Events "The Penultimate Peril."
This turned out to be one of our favorite installments.
Mild spoilers
In the beginning of the story, the Baudelaires are traveling with Kit Snicket to the Hotel Denouement. Here they'll take up positions as concierges to spy on some of the guests staying there. Their mission is to discern who's working for and against V.F.D. and to investigate who this mysterious J.S. person is in the hotel.
"You're no ...more
This turned out to be one of our favorite installments.
Mild spoilers
In the beginning of the story, the Baudelaires are traveling with Kit Snicket to the Hotel Denouement. Here they'll take up positions as concierges to spy on some of the guests staying there. Their mission is to discern who's working for and against V.F.D. and to investigate who this mysterious J.S. person is in the hotel.
"You're no ...more
This is clearly the book Daniel was aching to write. The best, most complex, most complete, most well-constructed and most enlightening installment in the series. This is the book with the denouement of the series, indeed, and the main theme of the novels shines darkly through to the end. Kit's early insistence that the children will be able to observe nobility in others, to the final pages where nothing at all about nobility could be foggier, the moral ambiguity of adulthood and the wickedness
...more
same formula as all the others, but the plot thickens! favorite snicketism from this volume? “the three adults smiled at the children, and the children smiled back, but of course the baudelaires were not born yesterday, an expression which means “young or innocent enough to believe things certain people say about the world.” …violet was born more than fifteen years before this particular wednesday, and klaus was born approximately two years after that, and even sunny, who had just passed out of
...more
Sep 16, 2007
Ruben
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Everyone who's read the first 11.
Shelves:
snicket
Here's the point: The Penultimate Peril continues to tie it all together, and the return on your investment is shockingly huge. Lemony Snicket manages to tease out a few underlying themes, like what to think when good people let you down, and whether doing evil things makes you an evil person. There are incredible images here of reflections, fire and justice. The illustrations are also picture perfect. And even though the series grows dimmer and darker, it still manages to be one of the funnies
...more
The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12), Lemony Snicket
The Penultimate Peril is the twelfth novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny are travelling with pregnant V.F.D. member Kit Snicket to Hotel Denouement, the last safe place for volunteers to gather. She tells them that, prior to V.F.D.’s gathering in two days, they will be disguised as concierges to observe the mysterious 'J.S.,’ ...more
The Penultimate Peril is the twelfth novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus and Sunny are travelling with pregnant V.F.D. member Kit Snicket to Hotel Denouement, the last safe place for volunteers to gather. She tells them that, prior to V.F.D.’s gathering in two days, they will be disguised as concierges to observe the mysterious 'J.S.,’ ...more
I liked this book much more than many of the others. The mystery and everything is slowly becoming uncovered. I will do a full series review in my review of the last book.
This is by far the most complex and interesting book out of the series! I just adored the whole concept of the Hotel Denouement and all the mysteries it contained. And once again we're introduced to a bunch of new and quite interesting characters that really add to the story. I also quite enjoyed the reappearance of characters from previous novels! This is by far one of my favourite out of the series and I'm quite sad I only have one more book left to read!
...more
~3.5 stars~
I'm kinda sad there is only one book left in the series, but I'm really curious how this is going to end lol So I definitely will be picking the last book up at the library when I get a chance xD ...more
I'm kinda sad there is only one book left in the series, but I'm really curious how this is going to end lol So I definitely will be picking the last book up at the library when I get a chance xD ...more
3.75* another fun addition to the series. I really enjoyed all characters that returned in this and the fact that the Baudelaire's somewhat had more people on their side! I can't wait to see how this all wraps up in the end. I'm just hoping (although doubting) all my question will finally be answered...
...more
the concept of being “noble enough” is going to stick with me forever i think
The end better give me more answers than the penultimate book did. It was full of peril.
I think this is now my favorite in the series. As per usual, a lot of frustrating and sad things happened but I loved seeing old characters again and having more mysteries solved. I really hope the last book won't leave too many questions unanswered - I wouldn't be surprised though.
...more
I know I said this about the last one but THIS is my favorite one so far.
MANO DO CÉU QUE LIVRÃO DA PORRA O MELHOR DE TODOS ATÉ AGORA!!!!!
Guys, I don't know what to do. But I cried. I'm not sure what that says about me, but this book was really dark, and it made me get a little teary.
And now the wait for "The End" begins. ...more
And now the wait for "The End" begins. ...more
This series could’ve easily been 11 books to be honest. Books 11 and 12 were filler books in my opinion and a bit on the boring side but I still enjoyed them because I love the characters so much. I’m really glad I got the audio books for 11 and 12, it made reading them a whole lot better and fun. There were some more mysteries thrown in in book 12 and a bunch of characters from previous books make a return which was fun. I hope 13 wraps all of this up. I’m going to miss these characters and wor
...more
Sep 19, 2020
Layla
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
consumed-as-audiobook
4.5 stars
I am always perplexed on how smart and unique Lemony Snicket writes his stories. This book is such a great children's book, that even non-children can read (including me lol). Not only does it teach you important lessons, but also terms, phrases, and defenitions, and intertwines them into the story making it fun to learn, that is why I wish I would have read this when I was younger. Not only are you being educated but also following a story of these 3 intellectual and bonded sibling o ...more
I am always perplexed on how smart and unique Lemony Snicket writes his stories. This book is such a great children's book, that even non-children can read (including me lol). Not only does it teach you important lessons, but also terms, phrases, and defenitions, and intertwines them into the story making it fun to learn, that is why I wish I would have read this when I was younger. Not only are you being educated but also following a story of these 3 intellectual and bonded sibling o ...more
I love this series. I am ready to read the last book and finish the series! I already know what happens though because I have seen the Netflix series but I still can’t wait to read it!
"... One can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways." page 180
"I'm not sure we ARE noble," Klaus said quietly, flipping the pages of his commonplace book. "We caused those accidents at the lumbermill. We're responsible for the destruction of the hospital. We helped start the fire that destroyed Madame Lulu's archival library. We-"
"Enough," Dewey interrupted gen ...more
"I'm not sure we ARE noble," Klaus said quietly, flipping the pages of his commonplace book. "We caused those accidents at the lumbermill. We're responsible for the destruction of the hospital. We helped start the fire that destroyed Madame Lulu's archival library. We-"
"Enough," Dewey interrupted gen ...more
This may be my favorite book, if only for the Scalia burn which served to further cement Sunny as my favorite Baudelaire. Snicket is really very clever and it's easy to forget that these are "children's books."
I'm excited for the next book because a) I need some answers to these mysteries and secrets and b) reading a series back to back like this is starting to take its toll and I'm ready to be done so I can meet some new characters and plotlines.
Off to The End!
...more
Actual rating: 4.5/5 *If your planning to read this series don't read this review*
One can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways
Finally finished and reached book 12 in the series and i can possibly say this one is my favorite of the series because its so much darker and funnier than i would say most of the other series and i love that.
One thing that I really ...more
One can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways
Finally finished and reached book 12 in the series and i can possibly say this one is my favorite of the series because its so much darker and funnier than i would say most of the other series and i love that.
One thing that I really ...more
First half of the book was great, second half was a little boring.
One more book to go; hope they wrap up all the bits properly.
One more book to go; hope they wrap up all the bits properly.
Brilliant but completely devastating. And to think, its only going to get worse.
...more
...more
I liked it but I AM SO MAD OH MY GOD! I can’t wait to finish the series bc I am dying. The amount of bad things happening is ridiculous and I am just ready to finish it.
Dec 15, 2017
Tina ➹ the girl who lives in Fandoms
rated it
it was amazing
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complete 5 Golden Stars
RTC
near the end, everything seems so cumbersome, complicated & tangled! so mysterious! so dangerous!
I especially loved that parallel chapters happening at the same time.
World building: ★★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★★/5
Writing Style: ★★★★★/5
plot: ★★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★★/5
RTC
near the end, everything seems so cumbersome, complicated & tangled! so mysterious! so dangerous!
I especially loved that parallel chapters happening at the same time.
World building: ★★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★★/5
Writing Style: ★★★★★/5
plot: ★★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★★/5
4.5 stars. Man this one is so good. I loved it. Seeing so many ~people~ do ~things~ and come back was just fantastic. Not ready for these to ends!
Now I am finally writing my review for this book, after collecting my thoughts a little bit. "The Penultimate Peril" is one of the best book in the Series of Unfortunate Events and definitely the one with the most shocking moments so far.
Here just a few examples:
(view spoiler) ...more
Here just a few examples:
(view spoiler) ...more
You've seen your share of wicked people, Baudelaires, but you've seen your share of people as noble as you are.
I know that there is just ONE more book to go after this one, but I think this might be the #1 favorite for me. It begins with the Baudelaire three- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny getting into a vehicle with Kit Snicket and heading to the Hotel Denouement. It's really important to have read all the other books in this series because as the Baudelaire orphans soon realize they're about to s ...more
I know that there is just ONE more book to go after this one, but I think this might be the #1 favorite for me. It begins with the Baudelaire three- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny getting into a vehicle with Kit Snicket and heading to the Hotel Denouement. It's really important to have read all the other books in this series because as the Baudelaire orphans soon realize they're about to s ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Am I the only one who finds it weird when Kit casually said that the volunteers use to meet in 'opium dens' | 4 | 70 | Feb 26, 2020 11:57PM | |
| Sir and Charles...just business partners? | 1 | 34 | Jul 31, 2015 11:52AM | |
| The Nooks of Books: The Penultimate Peril | 1 | 7 | Jan 28, 2015 03:54AM | |
| The ASOUE Challenge: Books Alluded | 1 | 10 | Nov 08, 2014 09:22AM | |
| ONTD Book Club: The Penultimate Peril | 1 | 9 | Feb 28, 2013 02:02PM | |
| The Ending | 2 | 48 | Jul 04, 2012 01:27AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Lemony Snicket had an unusual education and a perplexing youth and now endures a despondent adulthood. His previous published works include the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Composer is Dead, and 13 Words. His new series is All The Wrong Questions.
For A Series of Unfortunate Events:
www.lemonysnicket.com
For All The Wrong Questions:
www.lemonysnicketlibrary.com ...more
For A Series of Unfortunate Events:
www.lemonysnicket.com
For All The Wrong Questions:
www.lemonysnicketlibrary.com ...more
Other books in the series
A Series of Unfortunate Events
(1 - 10 of 13 books)
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