Thank you to @storiesuntoldpress for providing me with a free review copy.

I had a lot of fun reading this! I felt the writing was improved from the first book and not as much copied from HP. The ideas for the plot were more original and I loved the whimsy!

I particularly liked the ideas for The Town and its stars, that was brilliant!

Overall I still felt the plot was a bit choppy, but it did not hinder my enjoyment too much.

I am definitely interested in reading the 3rd book!

I liked it more than the first book. It is a very captivating read. The world building again blew my mind as this book explores many more new places in Croswald.

In the first half of the book, Ivy goes to live in the Town, a mysterious and magical place open only to those who know its name. This part is a bit slow paced as it takes a lazy stroll through the Town, introducing whimsical shops, scrivenist games, new characters and a mysterious robbery. The descriptions of the Town are very fascinating.

The second half of the book begins with Ivy returning for her second year at the Halls of Ivy and the pace changes from slow to fast. This half is action packed. Overall, I really liked the book but I still feel that the characters lack something.

To conclude, it is a very engaging and adventurous read. The world of Croswald is amazing and beginner fantasy readers can also enjoy it since its not too complex. I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I enjoyed The Crowns of Croswald very much so it would only makes sense to pick up the second one in the series. The book starts off with Greta coming home from her first year of school at the Halls of Ivy. She is talking with her father about the Masquerade Ball and explaining to him why she did not attend. I found this to be such an odd thing to start the book with because it seemed so out of place. Little did I know that this was a very important detail leading into the book. Trust me all will make sense once you get to the end of the story.

Now onto where I thought the book would have started and that is with the main character Ivy. She has discovered that she is not supposed to return to the school in the fall for her own safety. Ivy is instead being sent to a town that is unnamed to those who do not live there. This town is completely protected from the Dark Queen so it would make sense that Ivy would remain safe or so one would think. Did I mention Ivy is the rightful Queen? She is sent on a quest in the book to find the other pieces of the Kindred Stone (which you would know about from the first book) before the Dark Queen finds them.

The story bounces between this secret town Belzebuthe and the school. We discover new characters and are reunited with old characters. We are introduced to a magical game called Quogo where we learn how its played along with a club that may or may not have been created around it. There are also new magical creatures in this story and lets not forget to mention the fact that there is a dragon.

Now for a bit about the secret town Belzebuthe. It is a town where Scrivenists are able to practice their magic without having to fear the Dark Queen. You can only reach the town by one way and that is riding in a special Cabby. It is also a place like no other where it is always night and the stars are not only in the sky but are actually able to be caught. I loved the idea of being able to fish for stars and grant people's wishes. I found that to be a very interesting and original idea.

This story is full of all the things that I loved about the first book like the characters, the setting, the magic, the curses and the adventures. The only thing that I should mention is parts of it reminded me of Harry Potter. With that being said if you are a fan of Harry Potter then I would definitely recommend picking up this series. I know I will be continuing in the series because I want to see how Ivy's story ends.

I want to thank D.E. Night and Netgalley for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions that I have written above are entirely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Untold Stories Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 ⭐️

This book picks up immediately where the first one left off. Ivy can no longer continue her studies as a scrivenist in the Halls of Ivy. She is instead forced to hide out in The Town the summer after her first year in school in order to avoid discovery by the Dark Queen, who now knows she is the rightful heir to the throne. This story unravels as Ivy continues her studies while also trying to put the Kindred Stone back together.

I really like the first book. There was a lot of world/story building so it was understandable why the action finally took place so late into the book. However, with the second one, I expected the action to pick up the pace much sooner. Instead, it took place within the last 50 pages of the book. So while I enjoyed it, this book felt more like a bridge between the first and third books rather than a story that can hold its own.

Nonetheless, I do recommend this for anyone who is into middle-grade fantasy. Aside from the magic and fairy-tales and wonder, it is also a great story about friendship, family, and self-discovery. Definitely going to read the third book!

I really loved the first book in the Crowns of Croswald series and could not wait to jump back into this world for book number two.

After an eventful first year at the Halls of Ivy, students return to their homes for the summer. Ivy, however, is told that her beloved school is no longer safe for her, and with no other home to return to, she is to hide herself away from the Dark Queen and her evil brood in a secret town called Belzebuthe. Will staying in this mysterious scrivenist town actually be enough to protect and keep her safe? And will she be able to fulfill the Moonsday prophecy cooped up in Fyn’s attic?

I loved getting to reconnect with familiar characters from the first book such as Rebecca, Fyn, and of course everyone’s favorite scaldron, Humboldt. I also enjoyed getting to meet some new faces in this second part of the series, like Glistle, Gretta, Hodge and Podge, and Mrs. Greeley, Fyn’s mother.

Night truly does a phenomenal job describing the intricate details of this magical realm and Ivy’s personal quest within it. Everything she included, from the descriptions of the local scenery down to the depictions of delicious, mouthwatering fictional food (I would do some unspeakable things to try a warm, melted Moonsday Milkshake!!) makes for such a fantastical, and magical reading experience.

In this second book, Ivy continues in her fight to remain safe from the Dark Queen’s wrath, but as the story progresses, she becomes increasingly aware that nowhere in Croswald may be safe for her anymore. Filled with exciting twists, mysterious shadows, and tons of adventure, I believe this book is a phenomenal follow up to the first in the series.

I cannot wait to read the third and fourth books in this series! Thank you so much @storiesuntoldpress for reaching out and sending me this copy on Netgalley to review!!

Thank you to Netgalley and D.E. Night for the eARC in exchange for a review

The second book in the series we follow Ivy on her journey to pursue her dream of becoming a scrivenist. The story is mainly focus on her finding a magical stone while hiding from the evil queen.

The characters have developed more and we get introduce to more. We meet Fyn's mother and he is super sweet. The world building is magical and it has a game/competition within which the characters participate in for fun. The game is called Quogo and I think it's such a fun idea that the writing made up for her characters and to be in a part of secret club. The writing is easy to read and follow.

I do like that there is a bit of romance between Fyn and Ivy. I enjoyed Fyn protecting her. The atmosphere does feel more middle grade even though the age for the main characters are older in their upper teens (16-19 years old). Overall, I really did enjoy this series very much and look forward to continuing on with the series.

Recommended to those who like fantasy, magical adventures, YA, and middle grade reads.
Definitely for those that are fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The School for Good and Evil.

This book is as equally wonderful as the 1st one. We are back in the world of scrivenists, magic and whimsy. The world building is done spectacularly, and it keeps you entertained throughout the book. The budding friendship between Ivy and Fyn is interesting to read.

The plot and pace of the book flows effortlessly, and it keeps you guessing and intrigued throughout the story. All in all this was a fun read.

Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the Author for the free copy for an honest review.

Ivy is back again to take you on an adventure in her magical world as she battles the Dark Queen and discovers who she is. After reading the first book and becoming acquainted with the world of magic and creatures, this book was such a fun and fast read. I felt like we got to know Ivy and her personality better and watch her relationship with her friends grow.

This book introduced more magic and mystery as well as a magical sport and so many new creatures! D.E. Night again does a great job at world building and making this book so immersive, fun, and mysterious.I loved all of the new friends Ivy made as well as the backstory you gained with some of her older friends. It helps the reader build compassion for these characters and understand their personality so much better. I also feel like the self discovery of Ivy in this book and the novels to come will be so refreshing. You can really tell Ivy is coming into her own, speaking her mind, and becoming so independent. I love that in a book for young readers and am glad this message is being delivered.

Overall, this is a wonderful series so far and it is brimming with magic and adventure. The new creatures are so fun and as Ivy’s magical skills grow, it is fun to experience the new spells she learns. I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us!

Thank you to the publisher for a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review

*3.5
In the continuation of Crowns of Croswald, we see D.E Night continue with her whimsical world-building. From a stone castle to a secret town with magical duels there’s always something new to discover. The story is a cute easy read for an older reader and a good length for a middle-grade reader.

The drawback to this story is that it takes a while to build up to the climax and then is over pretty quick. Otherwise, I have to say it’s definitely a series that seems to get better with each new book.

With more magic and mayhem, this was just as enjoyable as the first book and definitely makes me want to read the next books in the series.

Thank you to Stories Untold Press for providing me with a free copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The mysterious and fascinating title of this book alone pulled me in, making me wonder exactly what was going to happen.

Again, like book one, I loved the continued world building. I found the town of Belzebuthe, where it is constantly night and its sky full of stars made of magic, to be very enchanting. The idea of fishing for the stars in the night sky was a unique and whimsical twist that brought a smile to my face.
I really liked that book two shared more of Ivy’s school lessons. Her lessons gave me more insight to how scrivenist magic works. I especially enjoyed learning more about the hairies and about other magical creatures like the invisible invisitaurs.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the introduction of the game/sport of quogo where players duel with the quills of deceased scrivenists. The scenes with quogo were exciting and engrossing to read about. I especially loved the friendship and dynamic that is built up between Ivy and the members of the Quality Quills quogo club.

I found book two to be well paced and loved the build up to the epic battle at the end of the book.
I look forward to continuing Ivy’s adventures in book three!

Once again this was a fun read. I think it would be good for anyone of the age range that hasn't read Harry Potter.

However, this one really felt like it was summoning Harry Potter right from the pages. From a ogre-like beast they fight, a dueling type fight where something goes wrong (que Harry learning he can speak to snakes), a secret club that feels a lot like DA, to quite literally crashing into the school in a magic flying transport when she's "not supposed to be there". OH did I mention there is a girl who is being influenced by a cursed book? So while technically a different story, the similarities are quite distracting, influencing my overall enjoyment.

📖The girl with the whispering shadow |
D E Night

I had the pleasure of reading this due to a gifted e-copy from @netgalley and @storiesuntold in exchange for an honest review. I found myself instantly swept back into the magical realms from the very first page right back to where I left off from the last one! Scrivenist studies, stone pursuits and mischief alike! I liked this one better than the first!! To start, Ivy finds herself being sent to the ‘town’ - a secret place that’s always night and only for magical blood, to keep her safe and hidden from the dark queen. Studies aside, her real mission via letter is to find the second part of the Kindred stone and due to Derwin’s jumbled memories she doesn’t know where to even look! After being lured back to the halls by dark magic, she finds herself back and forth memory lane with Derwins grand glangerie plan and facing her biggest fear.. the dark queen! Whilst desperately trying to unlock Derwins forgotten memory and stay out of trouble, the clues begin to unfold and the search for the second piece of kindred stone continues. Ivy finds herself fronted by danger at every turn and is being followed by this mystery dark shadow.. This book is exactly like the last, full of imagination! It’s again, all your childhood fairytales combined yet this one has stand out uniqueness with an edge. It’s adventures within adventures.. from bearded clouds full of fear to quogo magic games gone wrong.. don’t get me started on the invisible rideable creatures! Ivy has truly blossomed from book 1 and is learning to embrace her magic for the greater good. The last part of this book was just unputdownable and I cannot wait to continue the magical ride of book 3!

Synopsis-
Just when Ivy has discovered the truth about herself, she is whisked away from her beloved school to the town Belzebuthe, on a mission. But something is shadowing her and she’ll need all the magic in her to fight what is to come.
My opinion-
I am falling in love with this series! If the first book in the series was good, then this one was great. In this, the plot suddenly takes twist and it’s not just the Halls of Ivy that are given focus, but also another very important place, Belzebuthe. We also get to meet new characters and discover the characters that we have already met, like Rebecca and Fyn. I also loved how Ivy and Fyn grow closer in the book. This book is more focused on discovering the Kindred stone, unlike book 1 which mainly told about Ivy’s past and was focused on world building, which altogether made it a much more interesting read. And the title, at first I thought it was something related to Ivy only, but when I understood what it meant, I was shocked.
In short I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it to all the fantasy lovers. If you are one, just give this series a try.

*this book was given to me as an eARC by the author and publisher via NetGalley*

Another whimsical, captivating read by D.E. Night! While the first book reminded me of Alice in Wonderland x Harry Potter, this book reminded me of Peter Pan x Harry Potter. It was full of adventure from beginning to end.

We get to explore new characters in Night’s second Croswald novel, and they do not disappoint. Everyone can find a character they connect with (me personally with Derwin himself). The plot line is steady and keeps the reader’s interest peaked — wandering “what happens next?”

The only criticism I have is that it is just a little *too* much like HP. There were so many connections I made between HP and this series, so some of it feels unoriginal. Regardless, it’s still a fun read for people of all ages really, but especially Middle Grade!

Este es el segundo libro de la saga The Crowns of Croswald. Me encantó el mundo que crea la autora, es bastante elaborado y con bastante descripción, por lo que imaginarte las escenas no es nada difícil. Al principio no entendía bien lo que estaba pasando, pero conforme vas leyendo, se va poniendo más interesante. Lo leí relativamente rápido y aunque al principio se me hizo un poco lento, vale la pena continuar. Cada vez me encanta más esta saga, la cual es perfecta para fans de Harry Potter pues contiene criaturas mágicas, magia, etc. También te deja con la intriga de qué va a pasar después, espero poder continuar esta saga pronto. Muchas gracias a la autora por permitirme leer este asombroso libro.
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This is the second book of The Crowns of Croswald saga. I loved the world that the author created, it is quite elaborate and with a lot of description, so imagining the scenes is not difficult at all. At first, I didn't really understand what was going on, but as you keep reading, it gets more interesting. It was a bit slow at first, but it's worth continuing. I am loving this saga more and more each time, which is also perfect for Harry Potter fans because it contains magical creatures, magic, etc. It also leaves you wondering what is going to happen next, I hope to continue this saga soon. Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this amazing book.

In the second installment of The Crowns of Croswald series we return to a magical world that expands before our eyes. This time, Ivy continues to learn about her family and what it means to be part of the Queenly bloodline.

Although she is theoretically accompanied by her family's scriventist, his presence is rather rare; I would have loved to see him more present, a little beyond the decisive moments. Who does Ivy turn to? This book introduces us to new allies and friendships, characters I loved and it breaks my heart to know that they may not be as present in the next one now that they have graduated. Besides, Ivy gathers more knowledge that constantly helps on the quests.

Oh, the dynamic between the club and Ivy was one of my favorite parts and Quogo! This game of scriventists was fascinating. Instead of fighting with wands, they fight with the quills of the scriventists who have passed, bringing the scriventists with them for a bit.

Without a doubt, the magic system and the spaces we visit in this book continue to be unique, intriguing. They encourage you to keep reading. It's not dark, like my other reads, but it's not honey on top either. Truth be told, I've grown quite fond of the series.

Btw, this is a read I would totally recommend for kids aged between 9 and 14-ish, and older too, haha.


----

En la segunda entrega de la serie de The Crowns of Croswald volvemos a un mundo mágico que se expande ante nuestros ojos. Esta vez, Ivy sigue aprendiendo sobre su familia y lo que significa formar parte del linaje de la Reina.

Aunque en teoría la acompaña el scriventist de su familia, su presencia es más bien escasa; me hubiera gustado verlo más presente, un poco más allá de los momentos decisivos. ¿A quién recurre Ivy? Este libro nos presenta nuevos aliados y amistades, personajes que me encantaron y me rompe el corazón saber que quizás no estén tan presentes en el siguiente ahora que se han graduado. Además, Ivy reúne más conocimientos que ayudan constantemente en las misiones.

La dinámica entre el club e Ivy fue una de mis partes favoritas y ¡Quogo! El juego de los scriventists fue fascinante. En vez de luchar con varitas, luchan con las plumas de los scriventists que han pasado, llevando a los scriventists con ellos por un rato.

Sin duda, el sistema de magia y los espacios que visitamos en este libro siguen siendo únicos, intrigantes. Te animan a seguir leyendo. No es oscuro, como mis otras lecturas, pero tampoco es miel sobre hojuelas. La verdad es que le he cogido bastante cariño a la serie.

Por cierto, es una lectura que recomendaría totalmente para niños de entre 9 y 14 años, y mayores también, jaja.

The second installation in the Crowns of Croswald series continues the saga of Ivy Lovely. Ivy has gone to The Town to stay with Fyn for the summer holidays after the intense events at the masquerade ball. When fall arrives, Ivy must stay behind and study remotely for her own safety. Her apprenticeship at Quinton’s fills the gap until Ivy receives a summons to return to the Halls of Ivy immediately. As she works with Derwin to retrieve his memories from the glanagerie in hopes of finding the missing pieces of the Kindred Stone, a dark force is lurking at the Halls. Will Ivy discover the source of the shadow presence and keep the Halls of Ivy and The Town safe from harm?

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is an action packed adventure with a host of dangerous ordeals. There are moments of both fun and tension as she forms deeper friendships with her classmates and becomes better acquainted with her family’s scrivenist, Derwin, who has come to teach at The Halls. Ivy becomes more accustomed to her magical powers and embraces her gifts to further the cause against the Dark Queen’s domination. Her confidence grows with every chapter as she strives to become capable of overthrowing her nemesis.

If you enjoy magical reads, this series is for you! It is easy to get lost in the imaginative and adventurous world of Croswald with a strong female lead character that both middle grade and adult readers can appreciate.

🔮Review🔮

Thank you NetGalley and Stories Untold Press for my complimentary copy.

🔮The Girl with the Whispering Shadow (Book 2 in The Croswald Series)

🔮By D.E. Knight

🔮Middle grade

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🔮While everyone was posting their wrapup, I was scurrying to finish this fantastic read before August ended. This review may contain spoilers to book 1, The Crowns of Croswald, so please proceed with caution if you plan on reading these.

🔮Goodreads Synopsis🔮

Even a secret town cannot protect Ivy from a mysterious darkness...

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...

🔮This story is mystical and magical. I loved everything about this Harry Potter esque story. I do however wish that there was a little more between Ivy and Fyn. I do understand that this is middle grade, but it's pretty obvious they like each other. Either way, I'm looking forward to the third book and have told my Harry Potter loving 10 year old daughter about these. She's very excited to start these.

After finishing, The Crowns of Croswald, I couldn’t wait to read book two of this four part series. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow explores further the realm of Croswald and its’ many hidden secrets. Ivy a girl, who until recently, has found out that she is the rightful heir to the kingdom of Croswald. She is on a quest to find the remaining pieces of the Kindred Stone and stop the Dark Queen. Her family scrivenist, Derwin, has sent her to the town, to search for clues that would lead them to the stone pieces. While there Ivy stays with Fyn’s family and learns about the sport Quogo. A sport that captivates her and expands her friend group. As Ivy explores the town, she has a feeling that something or someone is watching her. Her concern grows as unexplainable events occur when she returns to school. She knows that there is something evil lurking in the shadows waiting to do harm to her and her kingdom. She is also frustrated because she still hasn’t figured out where the last two pieces of the stone are hidden. The story has a slow progression at the beginning as new characters are introduced and more details about Cromwell are built. The second half of the book is intriguing and draws the reader into rooting for Ivy and her friends as they fight the evil around them.. D.E. Night has done a masterful job writing about such a magical place. I can’t wait to read book three of this series. Thank you NetGalley