Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another beautifully written book by D.E. Night! If you are a fan of fantasy and whimsical books, this one is a must.

It is not often that the second book lives up to they 'hype' of the first book, but this one did just that! The story sucked me in instantly with all of the new characters, new places, and new adventure.

This book picks up right where the first one leaves off. We follow Ivy to the town with no name, only those who go there will know the name. When Ivy gets there, there are so many things happening in the town. Ivy was sent to find the next stone, but also to be safe from the Dark Queen. However, suspicion arises that the Dark Queen may be getting closer to finding her and the stone.

I very much enjoyed this book as I did the first one. I mentioned in my review of the first book that many feel these books have a resemblance to Harry Potter, which I think is even more true with this book. Although there are definitely factors that are completely different, I would love to see Croswald break free of some of these similarities in the future.

I can definitely see so much potential in these books. I think that this author is going to go big in the YA world. I cannot wait to hear what else is in store for Ivy and for this author!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shortly after discovering that she is the one the Moonsday promise speaks of, Ivy Lovely is sent away from school to the hidden town of Belzebuthe.

Ivy is sent on a mission to discover the second portion of the Kindred Stone while trying to stop the Dark Queen from obtaining it herself. But even though she is supposed to be safe within the boundary of the town Ivy is shadowed by something. She will need all of the magic she has and more to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to school before time runs out.

What I liked about this book

I liked the introduction of new characters, who each brought a new element to the story.
The description of Belzebuthe was complex and with each new part of the town that was described I was eager to read more.
The unique creatures which (even when the name was an animal that I have heard of) had their own abilities which made them magical.
Ivy discovers new aspects of magic in this book which brings new situations to the story.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series. I love this series and can't wait to read the next book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the Harry Potter books.

5 Stars
✮✮✮✮✮

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the sequel to the Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night.

“The most wondrous things, the most impossible of things, are often just ordinary things doing what they are best at. Think about a real star. They soar untouched and shine like diamonds, yet they are simply just balls of gas. The ordinary turned extraordinary.”

I get excited when I enjoy a sequel more than the first book. That was the case for this one. I enjoyed the pace and turns this book took more than the first book. In this installment we get to meet new characters and become immersed in the magical town of Belzebuthe where our main character Ivy Lovely is sent to be protected from the Dark Queen. I liked this book because of the way it answered my questions after finishing the first book. This series seems to only get better as it goes on and it’s a whimsical, adventurously fun escape for all middle grade readers as well as fans of the Sister’s Grimm series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Wow. The ending of this one was a solid 5 stars but it took awhile to get going. I really enjoyed the way the story played out and it ended on a cliffhanger which is perfect considering it’s a series. I do wish the beginning would have been quicker but overall I really liked this book and I love the story!

I really loved the first book in this series, so this sequel had a lot to live up to and it definitely didn’t disappoint!

The lovely illustrations at the beginning of each chapter continued in this book and the writing style was still brilliant and gripping. The writing style is more mature, which I believe reflects Ivy’s own personality at this moment – in the first book, the writing was, even though I really liked the writing style, reflected Ivy’s naivety in this world, but now Ivy has been in this world of magic and fantasy for a year now and she has had to experience many situations that even the adults don’t deal with.

This book continues immediately after the ending of the first book, which is great because the same story lines are continued. In other series I’ve read, storylines are forgotten between books, leaving plot holes which are extraordinarily frustrating! I also really liked that the structure of the first book, in which the reader learned about this magical and fantastical world along with Ivy throughout, continued in this book. This structure makes the descriptions more informal and conversational, instead of the normal long and boring descriptions in other books. However, I don’t particularly like the speech, although it isn’t awful and it does the job, I just think it’s a tad unrealistic and blunt and doesn’t mimic regular conversations in real life. It’s frustrating because I love the descriptions.

I’m really happy that this book followed Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca as a trio – if you have read my last review, you would have seen that I wanted more interaction between the trio because I really loved their friendship, and my wish was granted! New characters are also added to this friend group, mainly Glistle and Gretta, and I enjoyed meeting these new characters and reading about their friendship. The only issue I had was that for the other new friends introduced, but in a minor role, I forgot who each person was. It would have been nice to have a reminder throughout of who was who, and would have really added to their developing relationships with Ivy. Another issue I had with the book was that there were some magical bits that confused me and I don’t think were explained well, I’d really appreciate a dictionary like the students have to keep me on the right track when I get confused! And I’d love to see more illustrations throughout, so I have a picture of, for example, the magical beasts. However, this confusion was a very rare occurrence and overall I’d say the descriptions were just right.

Again throughout this sequel, Fyn is mysteriously always there when Ivy is about to do something or when she needs someone, even at the strangest times and oddest locations. It’s like Ivy and Fyn are constantly being pulled together by strange forces, why do they need to be together? I’m really looking forward to reading the next book, because Fyn will have graduated and won’t be able to be mysteriously always there when Ivy needs him or when Ivy is about to do something dangerous.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel and I’m so glad it didn’t disappoint after how much I enjoyed the first book. I even had the same childish excitement I had when reading the first book and I’m sad that this book has ended. This book is just as magical and fantastical as the first book. I’d love to see this series turned into a movie, it sounds like it’d be a great watch. Ivy is a really strong female heroine, she’s brave and determined and a great role model for the target audience of this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book and see what happens, because this one has cruelly ended on a cliff hanger! I’m really enjoying learning about this world and exploring it with Ivy and her friends, battling evil and ignoring teachers!

Thank you to @author.denight, @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

I thought this novel, was a fantastic sequel to the first book.

The reader gets an in-depth understanding to the inner mindset of Ivy, and a clearer picture of how she interacts with her friends. Now that she has a better understanding of the magical powers within her, the reader can truly see the potential she has to become as powerful as the Dark Queen.

Also, the battle scene at the end was beautifully written, and the ending leaves the reader wanting more.

It’s a wonderful YA fantasy book for middle-grade readers that’s packed with adventures, friendship, & my favorite -🄼🄰🄶🄸🄲-!

I adored the first book of this series, and this is true with the second book as well. The second book gives you a much deeper look into this magical place called Croswald, and the magic that lives there. While reading this book I couldn’t decide which I wanted more, to play in a Quogo match or be a teledetecting matteler 😂 I’m still debating that one.

💭Final thoughts: This book is absolutely wonderful. I throughly enjoyed reading it. I loved everything about it: the characters, the adventures, and the magic. I have no doubt that all ages could enjoy this series. I was hooked at the beginning of book 1, and I’m still waiting to see what will happen next for Ivy and Croswald. Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

♥️ A huge THANK YOU to @danielastoriesuntoldpress & #UntoldPress for this e-copy of The Girl with the Whispering Shadow by D.E. Night in exchange for my honest review.

I loved it cant wait for more books :) I had forgotten to write a review here on Netgalley as I had posted on my bookstagram so make sure to go check it out on @onlyforthebooks to see more.

This is the second volume in The Crowns of Croswald series, and they just keep getting better. I love that the series has a strong female main character - think Harry Potter but focused on Hermione. (I never knew how much I wanted that til I read this series.)

I loved the first book, but I think I liked this one even better. Picking up almost immediately after the first book, the action never lets up. Ivy really grows in this volume, accepting her true identity. her magical abilities and destiny, and working out her new reality. She is flawed and still scared, and needs the help and encouragement of her friends who are there to support and back her up, which I love, and I think will really appeal to kids feeling just as overwhelmed. The relationship between Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca is my favorite part of the book and the series.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading Ivy's next adventure! I am so grateful to NetGalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold for offering me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinions.

i finished the second installment of d. e. night’s crowns of croswald series, the girl with the whispering shadow. this sequel ups the ante from last year’s adventures at the halls of ivy, with protagonist ivy lovely told to stay in the mysterious Town instead of returning to school. (not sure if ms. night meant to be so damn relatable in the prediction of remote learning but “i don’t think sending me assignments through a notebook is nearly as good as being in person” hit different during a global pandemic!!)

in my review for the crowns of croswald, i wished for more interactions between ivy and fyn and rebecca. happily, i got what i wanted!! i enjoyed reading about ivy’s time staying with fyn’s family over the summer and exploring the many intricacies and quirks of belzebuthe during her time there. (also found family QQC? love them all, they’re my kids.) the world of croswald is becoming richer with each book, and as the pieces (heh) start coming together, i look forward to finding out what happens next!

thank you again to stories untold for sending me this arc and netgalley for providing me with the way to read it.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is Book 2 of the Crowns of Croswald Series.

While there are definitely parallels between this series and other magical series’— Crowns of Croswald has its own unique spin with some well developed characters and whimsical details.

I actually enjoyed this more than the first book. The second book (Girl with the Whispering Shadow) packs in much more adventure and is faster moving. This is probably because the author needed to set the stage in her first book in the series.

This book has some great elements of suspense and answers a lot of the unanswered questions from the first book.

As a middle grade novel, this would be a fun read for kids on their own or parents with their kids.

Thank you Net Galley, DE Night, and Stories Untold for the copy in return for an honest review.

I went back to Croswald with Ivy. She is such a wonderful girl to spend time with. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow by D. E. Night is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series. The best thing about this book to me, is that we get to see even more of this marvelous world. The world building in these books still feels me with wonder! I would love a chance to visit Croswald! But the world is not all that I like about this book. The characters are lovely. Ivy makes new friends and I love all of them! Even though some of them make some questionable choices 😂 It wasn’t the most surprising plot to me, but I still loved seeing it unfold. And I need to know what happens next!

I give this book 🧚‍♂️🧚‍♀️🧚🧚‍♀️🧚‍♂️/5 (hairies, not fairies)

The second book in this series did not disappoint! D.E. Night successful followed up the Crowns of Croswald with an even more exciting adventure in The Girl with the Whispering Shadow. I love the new cast of characters that I’m hoping we get more time with in later books.

I love the concept of the town protected by magic. It screams mystery, excitement, and allure if you ask me. This is where Ivy ends up after the events in book 1 and unfortunately things don’t go as planned.

Ivy is a strong female main character, one that I think makes a great role model for middle age readers. She was brave, but needed assurance, proving to reader that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help and need others behind you!

While I still found this series simple at times, I had to remind myself it’s supposed to be! The target audience isn’t particularly me, a 26 year old woman, but it is for anyone who loves the world of creativity and magic.

*I received this book from Stories Untold LLC in exchange for an honest review*

I am enjoying this series so much! It’s a fun, magical adventure that draws you right in.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow starts off right where book one in the Croswald series ended. Ivy has just finished year one at the Halls of Ivy after narrowly escaping the Dark Queen’s attack. She is sent to Belzebuthe, a hidden, secret town for those with magical blood. Bezebuthe is the only place that can keep Ivy safe and away from the clutches of the Dark Queen. With the help of Fyn and some new friends she makes in Belzebuthe, she sets out on her mission to find the next piece of the Kindred Stone. While Ivy is supposed to be safe in Belzebuthe, something seems to keep shadowing her. She must embrace her natural-born magic and her courage as she battles to find the rest of the stone and return to the Halls of Ivy, in this action packed sequel!

I absolutely loved the town of Belzebuthe! It was winter there, even though it was summer for everyone else. It’s filled with matellers, the keepers of the quills, and the scrivenists. Ivy meets some amazing new friends, including her employers, Hodge and Podge, two dwarf brothers who are absolutely hysterical. Ivy even gets to attend some Quogo matches there, which were quite fun to read about. She also learns more about her past, and Fyn’s past as well. I really enjoyed learning more about Ivy’s world and her magic. The author really did a great job of expanding upon everything we learned in the first book.

If you haven’t checked out this series yet, I highly recommend it! Can’t wait to read book three.

As the sequel to The Crowns of Croswald we immediately jumped right back into the story and picked up where we left off. Ivy Lovely is on a journey to figure out who she truly is. As she did in book 1, the author does a great job at world building and creating a magical whimsical feel to the book but it became a bit much. With The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, we didn’t really get into any of the main story until almost halfway through. I loved how magical it was though and really appreciate how innocent Ivy is. Because of that, this series is truly perfect for those middle grade readers. Thank you to Stories Untold, NetGalley, and the author D.E. Night, for the eARC. After reading the ARC of book 1, I went ahead and purchased books 1 - 3 for my classroom, so I was happy to hold a tangible book in my hands as I read book 2.
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Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4)/5

I really liked this one!

I had my troubles getting into the story at first but it got better while I read more

I enjoyed this book a lot. The series inevitably will draw comparisons to other magical series but I felt that the story really came into it's own in this book and the characters really developed and came into their own.

I absolutely loved the description of Belzebuthe and the shops and people. I thought it was lovely and really added character to the magical world that Night has created.

Ivy and Rebecca's friendship is delightful and the introduction of the QQC added a lovely 'friendship' dimension to the story. The characters seem fairly young but that's probably because it's aimed at a much younger audience.

Looking forward to seeing what Ivy does next!

I LOVED this book. I was instantly swept back into the world of Ivy Lovely. We get to go to new places, and meet new characters. This series is a must for anyone who likes whimsical worlds. We really get to explore more of Croswald, and how unique it is getting to be. With ingenious and original magical concepts, with subtly chilling foreboding and hilarious moments, this second book really outshines its predecessor. One of my favorite new things, is the game called "Quogo". So much fun! There were a lot of twists and I never really expected what was to come. I highly highly recommend this series. I am very excited to pick up the next book.

I got to read this book through netgalley. The girl with the whispering shadow is the sequel of crowns of croswald. I really enjoyed the first one and the second one might even be a better. The world that is created is so unique and the main character Ivy is so lovable. Sweet but fierce. I love the attention to detail that D.E. night has in this serie. The world is really sketched and you can imagine all the weird things going on in that world. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book.

Love the magical world created by the author. Definitely a must read middle-grade series.
Ivy continues her journey to get the next pieces of the kindred stone that helps defeat the dark queen. The major focus of this book is on “The Town” I.e Belzabuthe, which I absolutely loved and adored.
The book did felt just a tiny bit stretched at the beginning as it was mostly about world building, which was useful later in the story. But as usual, loved the ending. Also, it had a dragon(spoilers.! Sshhh) so you have to love it.
The only thing I felt a bit out of place is the age of the characters. They seem much younger than their age. They don’t look like 17-19 years old. But more like 13-14 years old. But apart from that, I loved everything about the story. The world created by d.e is really magical. It’s one of the best middle-grade books I have read and really excited to read the remaining books in the series.❤️