Max

(My xth re-read of the first installation in the series- the second time in English.) Obviously I didn't read this with the same big-eyed mesmerization I felt when I read this for the first time as a ten-year-old. I have also now almost entirely giv

(My xth re-read of the first installation in the series- the second time in English.) Obviously I didn't read this with the same big-eyed mesmerization I felt when I read this for the first time as a ten-year-old. I have also now almost entirely given up the hope that I'll get a delayed invitation letter - it's awfully late. Nonetheless, even more than 15 years later I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and was fascinated by little sentences I did not exactly remember from my last read. The ingenious world-building, the believable and engaging characters, the suspenseful and sometimes intentionally misleading plot, the blending of many different genres (fantasy, mystery, children's, boarding school story and counting) - this is an amazing book. I will forever be in love with the entire series and will recommend this to everyone, also forever.5/5 stars!