This story is amazing and so magical, I really enjoy this second part, I always enjoy a good book with fantasy and lots of magic.

"The girl with the whispering shadow" is the sequel to "The Crowns of Croswald".
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
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This book begins right where the last one ended. Like its prequel,it is also a thrilling magic-filled book that is so much more than other typical middle-grade books. I think it can even be categorized as YA.
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The only issue I had was no information about the previous book was gifen,it was totally on me to remember each event and character completely. Apart from that,it was really fun.

Another fast paced magical adventure filled with excitement and fun!

This sequel answered questions and left others still open, I desperately need to get my hands on the next installment of Ivy's story.

This book was just as wonderful as the first and I once more fell into the world of Croswald, onto this time the stakes were a little higher as The Dark Queen was a much more visible threat!

I cannot wait to see where Ivy's story goes next.

After the events of the Ball at the end of book 1, Ivy finds herself on the hunt for an address she was told to go to, but not how to get there. Once she arrives, she meets a group of friends who introduce her to a new game that could up her magical skills. It’s not all fun though, because Ivy is pursuing the pieces of a magical stone she needs to keep from the Dark Queen, and something shadowy seems to be stalking Ivy in return.
I must admit I did have trouble remembering the exact events and character names from the first book, as I read it so long ago! So, I was playing catch up for a while as the story just barreled on, with no real memory joggers in the first chapters. Once I got my head around the characters again, the story proceeded in the same whimsical, magical way of the first book. I know I mentioned in my review of the first book that these books have a very Harry Potter feel to them and that is still the case. There are SO many similarities, but that doesn’t mean I’m not recommending them, that means I’m saying ‘if you loved Harry Potter and are looking for something similar, this will fit the bill’. The characters are a lot of fun and I love the magical feel of the whole setting.
I felt like this book was a little faster paced than the first one, there were several little mysteries going on, that intertwined at the end. I really enjoyed the new creatures we were introduced to this time too! The friendships were a wonderful theme in this instalment of the story and having the characters spend time out of the Halls, and in the town of Belzebuhe, kept the setting from going stale.

Overall I’d recommend picking this magical series up and I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

The second book in The Crowns of Croswald series starts right where the first one left off. We follow Ivy during her summer holiday and second year at Halls of Ivy.

This book elaborated more on relationships between Ivy and her friends. I really liked this aspect. I love how beautiful and innocent their friendships are. The storyline and world-building were just as strong as in the first book. The plot develops nicely and brings a lot of tension.

I received a copy of The Girl with the Whispering Shadow from Stories Untold Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

D.E. Night created something fun and magical in The Crowns of Croswald. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a fantastic sequel that adds to that magic.

While this book does feel a bit different, it is still just as enchanting as the first.
The world building is expanded and readers get a deeper peek into the world of scrivenists. And as with the first book, I never quite knew what to expect and was excited to see what new creature, spell, or potion was waiting to be discovered on the next page. (There are times when I suspect D.E. Night’s imagination is in fact limitless.)

It is an absolute delight to follow Ivy’s story and uncover more of the secrets of her past and Croswald.

D.E. Night’s writing is still just as vivid and it’s hard not to imagine yourself alongside Ivy and her friends. Another aspect that made me enjoy this sequel even more was that D.E. Night gives you the information you need when you need it without completely retelling you what happened in the first book. This is something people who don’t reread, marathon read series, and/or read series as they are released can truly appreciate. (I know I did.)

I did have some issues with the pacing and occasionally got lost in the world building, but I was still able to enjoy the story. I actually think I enjoyed this one more than the first and am excited to see what happens next in Ivy’s story.

So, if you’re looking for a magical escape I recommend checking out this series! The third installment, The Words of the Wandering is available now too.

Thank you so much Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for the review copy!

This is the 2nd book in the series and takes us back to the magical land of Croswald and the Halls of Ivy. Things are still rough since what happened at the masquerade ball and protecting Ivy is of utmost importance now. As the only home she has ever known has been deemed unsafe, she is sent to the place where it is impossible for any outsider to step it.
If I didn’t adore this world already in book 1, I do now! This one was much more intense and more plot oriented, sort of like every piece coming closer to each other to form a whole. This book had so much more depth and soul, unlike the last one which was more about world building and Ivy finding her place.
The title for this one was very intriguing to me and when I fully grasped the meaning of it, it blew me away! The real intents of the Dark Queen became much clearer in this book and so the plot picked up quickly.
I loved Ivy in book 1 but this one had so many other characters taking the light as well, especially Fyn and Rebecca. I loved both of them and I hope to see them taking charge in the upcoming books.
I loved this one and I recommend it to people new to reading and the ones who like Middle Grade/YA fantasy.
I received an ARC for this book in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to the author and publisher who allowed me to read this novel early!

Summary: Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise, she is whisked away from her beloved school to Belzebuthe, a secret town for only those with magical blood.

Ivy sets out on a mission to uncover the second facet of the Kindred Stone while eluding the Dark Queen’s wrath. But even when she’s supposed to be safe, something is shadowing Ivy. She will need all her natural-born magic and more as she battles to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to the Halls of Ivy.

Before it’s too late...

My thoughts: I really enjoyed the sequel to this novel! Ivy is such a strong character and I found myself eager to read more about her journey. The author built a fascinating world. Looking forward to reading more from her !

I was not ready for the first book to end when it did and I was super eager to start reading "The Girl with the Whispering Shadow".
As said before fantasy is a new genre for me and I use a longer time getting into these type of stories, but as I read on, I slowly disappear into this new world filled with magic and quills and mystery.
The best thing with reading is all those images in your mind. It's like a movie is playing in your head while reading the story.
This book begins where the first book ends. It tells what's next in store for Ivy after the school year ends. At first I felt like there was something missing, but as I read along I couldn't help liking this story. I felt the story slowed down a little towards the middle of the book but towards the end I couldn't put this book down.
I'm beyond ready for the third book now. I need to know what's going to happen with Ivy and her friends, and not to forget the Dark Queen.

(because of the way I wrote the review for this book—it's a joint review with book 2—this is very short)

The world (and character) building is superior in this book as opposed to the original. This might simply be because Ivy goes to what is basically the Diagon Alley of these books, so the author had the chance to build a really fun location, but I also think the descriptions were more captivating and fleshed out.

The second book also had a more interesting plot, but also a LOT of clumsy foreshadowing. Like A LOT. I knew what was happening very early in the book.

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I finished another NetGalley book! I’ve gotta say, I don’t quite enjoy a Kindle read quite as much as a traditional book. I don’t know what it is, but swiping left on my screen just doesn’t feel the same as turning a page. There also for me seems to be a lost sense of where I am in the story without the physical book to guide me. Anyone else feel this same way?
Anyway, I mention all of this because I just finished the second book in the Croswald series, and I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I thought the author did a wonderful job of describing her rich world in great detail, and moved through the storyline at a good pace. Our protagonist, Ivy, finds herself in more adventures as she continues to search for the pieces of stone that the Dark Queen desperately wants. Ivy has a great group of friends that help her along the way, and she gets into plenty of action filled sticky situations. It had all the magic that the first book had, but I just found myself not quite as engaged as I was with book #1. I’m hoping it’s just me! Anyone else ever feel like that sometimes? Like that old break up line, “it’s not you, it’s me.” Yea, that’s how I feel about this one. It’s still reminiscent of the icon Harry Potter, so if you’re looking for something along those lines you may really enjoy this series. I’m always grateful to enter a magical world, and I’m sure I’ll be back for more! #mgread #mgfiction #netgalley #netgalleyreview #whatimreading #mgfantasy #goodreads #kidslit #childrenslit #middlegradereaders #middlegradebookstagram #mgbookstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #books #crownsofcroswald

3.5/5 stars.

thank you to the publishers for sending me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

this was a pretty strong sequel to the first book and i enjoyed venturing further into the magical world of croswald. there were new creatures to encounter, new characters to meet, and more secrets to discover.

the characters and world both gained more depth, and the story only became more intriguing. i really loved the new characters introduced particularly the siblings glistle and gretta (and the quirky dwarves, hodge and podge). it was also nice to discover more about the characters we've already seen and get to know them better, especially derwin edgar night, whose past still remains somewhat of a mystery. i enjoyed the plot of this one, it was still a little predictable in places but the story was definitely more mysterious than the first! we also get to know the world in more depth, as we learn more about the school (i loved the secret society concept of the QQC), and also about the town which was a such a fascinating and dreamlike setting, with it's wish-granting stars and curious little shops and food - i didn't want to leave!

the only draw-backs i've had with this series so far are that the writing style doesn't click with me 100% of the time, and some of the dialogue feels a little unnatural at points - particularly with the characters being 16-19 but the books being aimed at middle grade, which means the characters seem a fair bit younger to me than they actually are.

however, these things only bothered me slightly and only at occasional points throughout the novel, and i did not find them hindering my enjoyment of the story - besides, i really don't think they would bother a middle-grade aged reader, which is the target audience. as well as this, i think the writing was stronger in this book than the first, so i feel like this is something that will continue to get better throughout the books, and as the author gains more experience and confidence!

overall, i think this series is a lot of fun and makes for a light, enjoyable, and magical read. there are so many brilliant characters, charming creatures (i still adore humboldt more than anything), and eccentricities in this magical world that i think middle-grade readers would be enchanted by and love to read! i certainly had a fun time with it.

This is the second book of the series that I reviewed not long ago.

I really loved the first book so I was a both excited and nervous about the second one not living up to the first. Fear not! Whilst the first book gives us the background, sets scenes and brings us the first drama, the second introduces more characters, and develops relationships, as well as ramps up the whole story.

Friendships are formed and strengthened, and I fell in love with “The Town”....I want to live there...and of course, the Dark Queen shows up again...

Really enjoyed the second book, one more to go...!!.

My thanks to Netgalley and Stories Untold for the copy in exchange for an honest review

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow (2019)

Disclaimer: I got a digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review on all my bookish platforms.

The story continues hours after the end of the first book with students from the Halls of Ivy leaving the school for their summer break. With Ivy reuniting with her family's Scrivenist, Derwin Edgar Night, she was instructed to not come back to school for it is too dangerous for her, and find the remaining pieces of the Kindred Stone. Derwin believes the second piece of the stone is located at the Town, which is also the safest place for Ivy to be at.

Ivy discovered new things during her stay at Belzebuthe, the secret town where Scrivenist are free to use their magic without the fear of the Dark Queen. She spends her whole summer and half of the school year in Belzebuthe wherein she met new and interesting characters, joined a club called Quality Quills Clubs (QQC), learned of a new game called Quogo and having a never ending encounter with danger.


BELZEBUTHE - Reading about the Town was a magical experience, the way it was described makes me want to find a cabby and head there myself. And the stars! Don't get me started on how beautiful the stars are and I love how the people from Town can fish for the stars and grant wishes. This is the place to be when you want to learn about magic. AND I LOVE THE QUOGO GAMES.

I was so into the world of Croswald that I immediately requested for the second book. Even if this is categorized as Middle Grade book, I believe this book is open for all ages. It is an easy to read book, narrated in third person and with illustrations on the first page of every chapter. From the story line to the concept, it is absolutely incredible.

P.S. I am obsessed with the color of their uniforms just because I love every hues of violet and purples.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow was unfortunately a disappointment. The world is somewhat interesting, but the characters and plot did little to expand and improve upon the already shack groundwork that was laid in the previous entry.

I have received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Actual rating: 4.5

This review can be found on goodreads

-Synopsis-
The Girl with the Whispering Shadow was a great sequel to The crowns of croswald.
This book grabbed my attention firmly. I liked this books so much that I finished it during one sitting. I need to mention how I now want a Special Moonsday Milkshake they were described so good I need one asap! I loved going back to Ivy’s world and seeing her adventures.

-Setting-
This world is probably one of my favorites. I enjoyed learning more about Croswald during this book. I liked how croswald was developed. I hope in the next book we get to learn even more about this world!

-Writing-
The writing in this book was pretty good. The book had a pretty fast pace for me but that was fine. I liked discovering the game “Quogo” it was a great experience. All the characters were written beautifully. The magic was explained good and I understood everything. I do wish there were more class scenes in this book, I particularly enjoyed those. The book started where it left off and ended nicely.

-Characters-
One of my favorite parts of this book/series was the friendships and characters. It was so wholesome and sweet. Ivy’s relationship with Fyn and Rebecca developed greatly and I adored it. I feel as though Ivy could have had more character development. Her character was basically the same as the first book, which was okay but I wish there was more personality. Ivy is also a good role model for young children. She is a likable protagonist, she is brave and takes on challenges, people of all ages can love her, etc.

-Conclusion-
This was a nice sequel to the first book. I preferred this to the first. I would for sure recommend this book/series to anyone. There is magic, adventure, great characters in this book. If you are looking for any of that and much more definitely think about reading this series.

I liked this book so much more than the first one because it gave room for characters to grow. Ivy is growing into her own power and as a person, as well as her friends. The world was also expanded with characters travelling to new places and meeting new characters. The villain and her freaky entourage was both adequately scary and fascinating. The writing and character growth really tied this book in a nice little bow. Looking forward to see what happens next.

I liked this book so much more than the first book. And I don’t know why, to be honest. I think it was because I knew the characters better and I understood the plot better.

In this book Ivy needs to protect Croswald from the Dark Queen. After the Dark Queen came to the ball, Ivy isn’t safe anymore. She has to find the other two pieces of the Kindred Stone, before the Queen finds them. You follow Ivy in a series of magical events, fighting the Queen throughout the book, and you see the friendships growing with every page.

You see Ivy grow from a shy, poor maid to a rightful Queen. It’s beautiful to see how she accepts her faith and makes the best of it. And it’s amazing how her friends help her achieve her goals and keep her motivated. Also, the relationship between Ivy and Winsome Monocle is beautiful, and it was great to see how he helped her trough tough times.

Overall, I liked this book much more than the first one. And if you like magical school, with a unique magic system, this is a book for you. It was categorized as a middle-grade book, but I think readers of all ages can love this book.

This is the second book of a series to the number of books I don't know the amount of but I know there's 3 so far. I received this one from Netgalley and the publisher in return for a review.

We follow where we picked up directly after the first book and I like books that have done that so we have somewhat of a clear timeline but other than that there isn't a very well kept timeline.

I said in the last book review for this series that we need more Harry Potter themed books to get attention but some of the themes in this book sound like they were taken directly from Harry Potter or books like it and maybe we have to look over that or just use them as comparisons to who did the theme better.

I loved the first chapter art and I thought we were going to get more art like that and I got excited and then we went right back to the regular chapter art and I was less impressed but still very pretty to look at.

This one felt more like Ivy was rushed into doing things and it was a lot of the quill sport and you lose my attention at sports at all and I get disinterested. They hit me with a good little found family troupe though so I will give them that.

Honestly, the fact that nothing of importance with the stone happened until we were 70% in the book is a large reason this book does not have a higher rating from me. I understand that it's a middle-grade series but getting more done quickly would have been satisfying to me.

I'll be continuing the series, I love to support smaller publishing houses and authors so when I get the chance to sit down and buy the series on Kindle the whole series will be bought.

“‘Fyn,’ said Ivy.
‘Ivy,’ said Rebecca.
‘Yes, we all know each other’s names here.’”

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!**

first 40% of the book: 3 stars
last 60% of the book: 4 stars
total rating: 3.6 stars, rounded up to 4 stars!

While I did really enjoy the first book in this series, I also felt like it was pretty slow-moving, and that it didn’t seem that different from a typical “chosen one” story. I liked this book a lot better; the time at school was so much fun to read, and the plot was really exciting to follow along with.

This book was a lot faster-paced than the first one, but the first 40% of the book takes place over the Summer and just felt so slow-moving. I love the magic school setting, so I had a hard time paying attention when Ivy was spending time at Fyn’s house and thinking that she wasn’t going back to school.

I loved Ivy’s second year at school, as she came to terms with the high stakes in the magic world around the fact that she’s the next Queen. My favorite part of these books are the characters: I had so much fun reading more about Ivy and Fyn’s slow-burn friendship / romance, and her friendship with Rebecca, as well as the possible love triangle between Ivy, Fyn and Glistle. Most of all, I loved Fyn’s secret society!

As with the first book, the characters felt much younger than they were, and I feel like the plot moved a bit slower than I would have liked. Overall, I enjoyed it even more than the first book, and I am looking forward to reading the third book! This is definitely great fantasy series for Middle Grade readers!