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The Horrible Bag #2
The Twisted Tower of Endless Torment: The Horrible Series, Book 2
From the creator of
My Life As a Teenage Robot
comes the second story in a middle-grade horror series about a horrible bag, the spine-chilling world hidden within it, and a terrifying adventure into the world of GrahBhag.
Perfect for fans of Coraline , the Spiderwick Chronicles, and Small Spaces .
Zenith Maelstrom knows he’s forgetting something…
But he can’t quite remember what. He wakes up to notes in his handwriting with messages like, “Prepare for battle!”–but what battle?–and his sister Apogee seems to grow angrier with him by the day. It’s not until he finds Apogee sneaking back into the horrible bag hidden away in their basement that all the dreadful details about GrahBhag resurface. The spiderlike Shlurps. The trio of foul mouths that hunger for blood. Eldritch horrors around every corner.
Desperate to save Apogee from her ill-planned attempt to right the wrongs of their last trip into the bag, Zenith is forced to follow her into the bizarre world that has certainly not forgotten them. Between old foes set on vengeance like Raggedy Albert and terrifying new ones like the haunting Wraith, Zenith will have to put things right with his sister without falling into the clutches of those who would do him harm. For if he is caught, Eternity Tower awaits...
With a combination of dry, absurdist humor and no-holds-barred horror, Rob Renzetti has crafted a delightfully imaginative fantasy world that will hook listeners as surely as it will send chills down their spines.
Perfect for fans of Coraline , the Spiderwick Chronicles, and Small Spaces .
Zenith Maelstrom knows he’s forgetting something…
But he can’t quite remember what. He wakes up to notes in his handwriting with messages like, “Prepare for battle!”–but what battle?–and his sister Apogee seems to grow angrier with him by the day. It’s not until he finds Apogee sneaking back into the horrible bag hidden away in their basement that all the dreadful details about GrahBhag resurface. The spiderlike Shlurps. The trio of foul mouths that hunger for blood. Eldritch horrors around every corner.
Desperate to save Apogee from her ill-planned attempt to right the wrongs of their last trip into the bag, Zenith is forced to follow her into the bizarre world that has certainly not forgotten them. Between old foes set on vengeance like Raggedy Albert and terrifying new ones like the haunting Wraith, Zenith will have to put things right with his sister without falling into the clutches of those who would do him harm. For if he is caught, Eternity Tower awaits...
With a combination of dry, absurdist humor and no-holds-barred horror, Rob Renzetti has crafted a delightfully imaginative fantasy world that will hook listeners as surely as it will send chills down their spines.
- GenresAudiobook
Audible Audio
Published July 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 8, 2025
The first book in this series, The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things, was such a pleasant surprise, and this lived up to the promise of the first book. I dig the weirdness of this book series, and it's definitely dark fantasy on the edge of horror. This book doesn't take it easy on its young characters. There is violence against children and some scary scenes where the dark denizens of GrahBhag show how malignant they are. That is not to say the book doesn't have some funny moments. It is also quite laugh-out-loud funny.
I read the first book with my eyes in e-book form. For this book, I listened to the audiobook. The audiobook is a lot of fun. The narrator was great with different voices. I'm a sucker for British accents, so I did love that this was the main style of voice. Zenith's voice is very fitting for how I see his character.
Speaking of Zenith, I love this kid. He's a survivor and thinks on his feet. He is a great brother, wanting to look out for his sister Apogee, no matter what. He's tortured because he felt like he failed her, and knows he has to go back to GrahBhag, even though he is still not over the trauma that the wretched place caused. And now he has to go back. I'm a lot older than him and I would whimper if I faced a lot of the stuff he does in this book. Oh, and that tower would have ended me!
You get to know Apogee better in this book, and I do appreciate the way that she gets her moment. She is up to kid sister antics that make Zenith's life much more difficult, but also she's very clever and fearless. The secondary characters are delightfully weird and shudderingly horrible in turn. The place of GrahBhag is its own character, and it's not the place you want to add to your bucket list.
Rob Renzetti has such a good imagination. I happen to love middle grade books that go in the direction of horror/dark fantasy, and the face that he's doing something unique is pretty awesome. I am hooked and I want more. I already preordered the next book in this series.
I read the first book with my eyes in e-book form. For this book, I listened to the audiobook. The audiobook is a lot of fun. The narrator was great with different voices. I'm a sucker for British accents, so I did love that this was the main style of voice. Zenith's voice is very fitting for how I see his character.
Speaking of Zenith, I love this kid. He's a survivor and thinks on his feet. He is a great brother, wanting to look out for his sister Apogee, no matter what. He's tortured because he felt like he failed her, and knows he has to go back to GrahBhag, even though he is still not over the trauma that the wretched place caused. And now he has to go back. I'm a lot older than him and I would whimper if I faced a lot of the stuff he does in this book. Oh, and that tower would have ended me!
You get to know Apogee better in this book, and I do appreciate the way that she gets her moment. She is up to kid sister antics that make Zenith's life much more difficult, but also she's very clever and fearless. The secondary characters are delightfully weird and shudderingly horrible in turn. The place of GrahBhag is its own character, and it's not the place you want to add to your bucket list.
Rob Renzetti has such a good imagination. I happen to love middle grade books that go in the direction of horror/dark fantasy, and the face that he's doing something unique is pretty awesome. I am hooked and I want more. I already preordered the next book in this series.
July 28, 2024
Um, hold onto your hat…I mean bag…for this these books! Rob Renzetti has written not one, but TWO thoroughly immersive books inviting readers into the world of GrahBhag, a hidden world with interesting creatures, unexpected events and the supernatural. I was all in. I met a new ear-wax-eating friend, closed the book more than once to imagine what exactly was happening in this stitched-up world and may have yelled ‘WHAT?!’ as I neared the end and read the plot twist in BOTH books. Thankfully, there’s a third book coming out next year and Rob came onto the KidLit Love podcast to talk all about his middle grade horror trilogy. If you have young children in your life who love to escape, to make up other worlds and enjoy being a bit creeped out, then this book is for them…and maybe your own inner child, too!
September 25, 2024
What worked:
The book gives an ample recap of the previous book to understand the backstory. Zenith’s older sister Apogee was changed into his four-year-old younger sister so they re-enter the skin-covered bag in a return to the land of GrahBhag. Apogee wants to be the older sister again! However, Zenith is public enemy number one so every citizen and creature is on the lookout for him. This adds a large complication to the plot as Zenith can’t move freely around the lands after being separated from Apogee. A huge surprise awaits readers when they reach the plot’s climax!
The story has a humorous tone as GrahBhag is a world of the unexpected and absurd. A gargoyle aids Zenith when he first arrives in return for eating his earwax and munching the peeling skin found on his sunburned back. A blindfolded moose presides over a courtroom where the guilty (the accused) has no chance of proving his innocence. A prison doesn’t need bars or cells because the walls conjure confusing obstacles to keep inmates from escaping. Zenith has amusing interactions and exchanges with other characters especially when they think Apogee and he have magical powers. Their reputation after defeating the Great Wurm in the previous book precedes them.
Most of the chapters are fairly short (five to seven pages) which will appeal to reluctant readers. They’ll feel a sense of accomplishment for finishing chapters while more experienced readers will have ample stopping points to choose from. Readers’ imaginations are challenged especially when they reach Eternity Tower. Confusing descriptions are perplexing when trying to create mental images. Readers will be constantly on the lookout for strange characters and animated plants.
What didn’t work as well:
The humor probably won’t appeal to everyone. In addition, Zenith gets side-tracked for much of the book so the search for Apogee is put on the back burner. It’s unclear at this time why the author includes Zenith’s friend Kevin in the GrahBhag adventure.
The final verdict:
Readers must have a tolerance for weird humor as the settings, characters, and events will have unexpected twists. Zenith is an admirable big brother as his sole concern is keeping Apogee safe. Overall, the book won’t appeal to everyone but it’s entertaining. I recommend you give it a shot and see if it’s a good fit for you.
The book gives an ample recap of the previous book to understand the backstory. Zenith’s older sister Apogee was changed into his four-year-old younger sister so they re-enter the skin-covered bag in a return to the land of GrahBhag. Apogee wants to be the older sister again! However, Zenith is public enemy number one so every citizen and creature is on the lookout for him. This adds a large complication to the plot as Zenith can’t move freely around the lands after being separated from Apogee. A huge surprise awaits readers when they reach the plot’s climax!
The story has a humorous tone as GrahBhag is a world of the unexpected and absurd. A gargoyle aids Zenith when he first arrives in return for eating his earwax and munching the peeling skin found on his sunburned back. A blindfolded moose presides over a courtroom where the guilty (the accused) has no chance of proving his innocence. A prison doesn’t need bars or cells because the walls conjure confusing obstacles to keep inmates from escaping. Zenith has amusing interactions and exchanges with other characters especially when they think Apogee and he have magical powers. Their reputation after defeating the Great Wurm in the previous book precedes them.
Most of the chapters are fairly short (five to seven pages) which will appeal to reluctant readers. They’ll feel a sense of accomplishment for finishing chapters while more experienced readers will have ample stopping points to choose from. Readers’ imaginations are challenged especially when they reach Eternity Tower. Confusing descriptions are perplexing when trying to create mental images. Readers will be constantly on the lookout for strange characters and animated plants.
What didn’t work as well:
The humor probably won’t appeal to everyone. In addition, Zenith gets side-tracked for much of the book so the search for Apogee is put on the back burner. It’s unclear at this time why the author includes Zenith’s friend Kevin in the GrahBhag adventure.
The final verdict:
Readers must have a tolerance for weird humor as the settings, characters, and events will have unexpected twists. Zenith is an admirable big brother as his sole concern is keeping Apogee safe. Overall, the book won’t appeal to everyone but it’s entertaining. I recommend you give it a shot and see if it’s a good fit for you.
October 29, 2024
I absolutely hate when a sequel turns out to be a vehicle to a third book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews