Thanks to @netgalley and @disneybooks for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. No sophomore slump for this series - Serwa is BACK. Having just learned that she is half vampire, Serwa is now with her Auntie Effi, aka Boahinmaa, who drive Serwa and her parents from their safe house in the first place. Now they are searching for the Midnight Drum, in which Serwa’s grandmother is trapped, and with this new conflict in her life she believes her aunt that this is a good thing, just a misunderstanding. Serwa grows a lot in this one, and it leaves us ready for an epic book 3. Highly recommend - it’s out 9/12! #mglit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian #rickriordanpresents

Having not read the first book in this series, I was a little lost. I also am not a big fan of vampire stories,but wanted to give this a try to step out of my usual reads. This book is definitely well written and i enjoyed the humorous parts. It's definitely a fun read that I will suggest to our middle grade readers.


I received a free E-ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide & Rick Riordan Presents for my honest review.

Roseanne Brown captures that lightning-in-a-bottle energy she had with the first Serwa book. She builds upon the ending of the first in such a great way, recontextualizing what we know about the Slayers and the Adze. Serwa is such a likable protagonist, you can't help but root for her no matter what she is doing. The new characters are so much fun to read, and I am certain this will become a fan favorite.

A sequel that does not live up to the first book. But I still have hopes for book three and Serwa's abiltiy to save the world.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide; all opinions are my own.

I have grabbed several titles of series out of order since using Netgalley; sometimes it's fine, and sometimes the lack of familiarity with previous works impedes my enjoyment of the tale. Unfortunately, this one is the latter. I had not read the beginning of this series, and so seemed to be lacking vital context to the characters and relationships involved. However, the writing was light and enjoyable, and if I pick up the first book in this series I'll be likely to return to this title.

TL;DR: DNF at ~22%, seems a solid read if you're a fan of the first book.

Another story in the Rick Riordan Presents series, Brown's sequel to Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampires does not disappoint. (Check out my review from August 1, 2022) Serwa's story continues as she learns more about her family heritage from her aunt Boahinmaa. This series is full of mythology and adventure. Definitely upper middle grade. And definitely a series you want to start from book one which is a brilliant contemporary fantasy, with a satisfying ending - including a stunning twist. That said, book two is also exciting, but clearly a middle book, leaving the reader waiting for book three.

This paragraph is a spoiler if you haven't read the first book in the series. Serwa grew up learning to fight black magic - only to learn that she is part vampire herself. Her aunt encourages her to accept her dark magic and learn how to use it. Serwa gets to meet those who she was taught were evil. It's always different when you gain an understanding of others’ lives and motives! The sequel takes place in Washington, D.C. and includes a heist at the Smithsonian Museum. I won't tell how that goes, except to say, like Serwa's life, it's complicated. As complicated as balancing the dark and light within oneself.

Roseanna A Brown brings supernatural delight to the world of Rick Riordan Presents -- a welcome expansion of this literary world for youth (and older readers who continue to enjoy these stories). I recommend both this second volume and the first one for school libraries, classroom shelves, and more.

Serwa Boateng is back with thrills, chills (remedied by borrowing a jacket from your mortal enemy), and a not insignificant amount of blood spilled. In this fantastic follow up to Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting, our heroine finds herself struggling with her vampire nature, magic, and more. Found family trope? Check! Well meaning parents who make mistakes? Check! Learning to accept yourself for you are? Check! 10/10 automatically recommend for all readers.

I absolutely loved Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting, and have been so excited for Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem. This book did not disappoint! It was just as exciting as the first book, and kept my attention the entire time. I love all the characters, and think that Roseanne A. Brown has done a fabulous job with everything about this series so far. When I recommended the first book in the series to some of my patrons, they came in a few days later and demanded book 2, and did not stop asking for several months (even though they knew that book 2 would not be out until September). I haven't had the heart to tell them that I got to read it early, but I am so excited to hand Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem to them on September 12!!!

I LOVE this series! I truly enjoy learning about different mythologies and Ghanaian mythology is incredible and rich! I adored the first book so was incredibly excited to be gifted the ARC of this one from NetGalley. Serwa is a strong FMC and seeing her grow from one book to another and then within the book has been a great journey. I can’t wait for another installment as it seems to have led right into a book three!

I've loved pretty much every book in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Serwa is such an endearing character, probably because she's so relateable and reminds me a little bit of myself at that age. Fast-paced with an ending that leaves the reader impatient for the next book in the series.

This book is a work of brilliance. I absolutely adored the first installment in the SERWA BOATENG series and eagerly awaited the next book. Let me tell you this second story did NOT disappoint! Serwa is such an engaging, relatable character, and her character journey is even more fraught in SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT AND MAYHEM than it was in the first book. I'll be shouting about Roseanne A. Brown's incredible writing for the foreseeable future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney/Hyperion books for the advanced reader copy. Very excited to add the published version to my shelves!

Wow. Couldn’t wait to start this book after finishing the first one, and it did not disappoint. Twists and turns, still love the protagonist, and also love the message that things are not always what they seem. Looking forward to Book 3. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I've been looking forward to reading this book since I finished the first one. I love the layers of conflict, not just between what is said to be good and what is seen as evil, but also the everyday internal conflict of a teenage girl learning to navigate a world of new options and choices, including messy family dynamics, broken friendships, and boys.

This is book 2 in the Serwa Boateng series. I loved the first one and thought this one was good, but not as good. The first book ends with Serwa learning some secrets about her family and herself that her parents hid, and as a result she runs away to be with her aunt. I understand why she left and what she was feeling, but I thought switching to the other side so completely and not questioning it seemed too rebellious. But then again she's only a 12 year old, so maybe it was realistic. She meets up with her rival and love interest in this one. I didn't want the romance and wished we saw more of her friends from the last book, but middle schoolers might appreciate it more. In the end, it was very good and I am excited to see what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Oh, Serwa. She has quite a knack for getting herself (and others) into some chaotic situations, of which there are plenty during this book. Without getting into any potential spoilers, if you enjoyed Book 1 of this series, you will enjoy this one as well! The writing is funny and will be relatable for middle-grade readers and adults alike, especially as Serwa navigates the difficulties that come with family. After that cliffhanger ending, I can't wait for Book 3!