t’s hard to review each book in the series separately without giving away spoilers! Each book in the series is better than the last. Some reviews have drawn parallels to Harry Potter but I think that does this series a diservice. This series is its own unique world and can stand on its own. If you enjoy stories about discovering magical powers and find yourself wishing you could go to a magical school, you’ll really enjoy this series! .Night does a wonderful job of brining Croswald and all the characters to life! I can’t wait for the next books in the series!

This was a very enjoyable sequel. I loved the magic in this story. This world is so fun and whimsical that I can’t get enough of it. I would definitely recommend this series for young readers! I can’t wait for my kiddos to get to experience these books. This series will definitely have a place on our bookshelves!

D.E. Night’s sequel to The Crowns of Croswald doesn’t disappoint.

We return to the tale of Ivy Lovely and her friends who attend the Halls of Ivy in the hope of the Royals being Masters of their crowns and Scriveners to earn their own quill and work at the employ of their Royal household.

I really enjoyed that our initial return wasn’t at the viewpoint of Ivy but rather, two other students who, along with Ivy? Are to spend their summer holidays at the Town. Why doesn't it have a name you may ask, well that is explained in the story and the name of the Town made known.

But don't tell anyone what it is, because once a secret is no longer a secret in Croswald, things will inevitably go wrong.

After the chaos of the Halls of Ivy Masquerade Ball, you would imagine Ivy Lovely would want a quiet summer but that's not going to happen; she's a slurry girl no more and has found herself a brilliant and loyal set of friends. All of whom are quick to show her how much fun can be had as a member of the Quality Quills Club where they battle against one another with ’acquired’ quills. Each battle over the Summer a new lesson for the would-be Scrivener.

As Summer draws to an end, Ivy has barely heard from her family Scrivenist, Derwin Knight and she's facing months alone without Fyn and the other members of the QQC; all our descendent of Isabella wants is return to school but the Dark Queen’s threat has made it impossible. I loved how despite being a fantasy novel, the despondency that Ivy feels is really well written and as a reader, I wished I could reassure our protagonist that all will be well.

The possible love aspect to the story between Fyn and Ivy is sweet and quite realistic of that first flutter of affection when a teenager. It doesn't distract at all from the main storyline and instead gives the reader another side of the two to see. I couldn't help but giggle sometimes at how easily green-eyed Fyn can become when his friends flirt with Ivy; again D. E. Knight shows us a very realistic and well-written character in Fyn during those lighter moments between the two.

This story is even better than The Crowns of Croswald which I had loved. It's got everything you could want in a fantasy series, we have already met and got to know the Royals and the Scriveners who attend the Halls; but The Girl with the Whispering Shadow not only expands on what we know about familiar characters but seamlessly introduces new faces and species. I always love the creations fantasy writers come up with when creating native creatures to their lands and the author doesn't disappoint; though I really wish something would fix Ivy’s pitiful hairies for her so they would light up properly more than once every Blue Moon!

The Dark Queen is still after Ivy and will stop at nothing to get our heroine. With her not being permitted back at school and feeling forgotten by Derwin; there is no doubt that Ivy’s life will be anything but peaceful.. and Ivy is determined to do everything she can to prevent the mess that the Dark Queen brought about again!

I absolutely love this series, if you love magic; and good versus evil? Get reading the adventures of Miss Ivy Lovely.

First of all, I absolutely adored the first book in this series!

Continuing on with the mc was like revisiting an old friendship and I adored it so much!

I will be passing this book along to my own daughter!

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.

I really liked this book, more than I enjoyed the first one. I enjoyed that it strays from the typical middle grade book and shows what Ivy is going to do over the summer. I enjoyed the magic and seeing Ivy grow. I also liked her banter with her friends. The characters are all very well developed. It was a great sequel

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

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Night introduces you to even more fantasy, magic, and darkness in the sequel to Crowns of Croswald. The series picks up right where it left off, after the life threatening events at the Halls of Ivy masquerade ball. Ivy decides it's best to listen to her mentor and live in The Town for the summer, where she finds wonder, inspiration and new friends . Against her mentor's instructions, fate draws Ivy back to the Halls of Ivy for her second year. Ivy soon becomes full of doubt for returning when trouble followed her back to the halls. She realizes she's no closer to finding the missing pieces to the Kindred Stone and but is closer to finding herself face-to-face with the Dark Queen.

Another magical adventure full of detail and even more new aspects to the world of Croswald: star fishing, quogo, invisitaurs, and evil shades. Night's imagination is crawling with surprises. And her suspense building keeps you turning pages. But then...another surprise! She definitely left me wanting to read the third book immediately after finishing the second. Night also focuses on the story and the relationships built along the way. Even though there's chemistry between characters, there's not a lovey-dovey quality to it all. There are solid emotions being built like trust, loyalty, guilt, longing, but never anything that distracts the reader from the storyline.

After reading the sequel, I stand by my word: this book is for all ages! If you love magic and fantasy, you should read this series.

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.