This is my first time reading DE Night, but I found this book to be well-written and accessible for young readers, as well as older fans of the YA genre. I would gladly add this book to my classroom shelf or school library. Many thanks to the author/publisher for this advance copy.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! It has everything to keep you hooked from the first page! Definitely would recommend to all the fantasy readers

Ivy has learned she is part of the Queenly bloodline and that the dark queen is after her and her royal stone. She’s been instructed to hide away in a secret town for her own safety and to find the missing pieces of her stone. She spends her summer making new friends and continues her learning as best as she can since she is unable to go back to The Halls of Ivy. With no clues to help lead her on her mission she doesn’t make it far before she is thrown back into danger of the Dark Queen. She uses the knowledge she’s gained, the help of her new friends and allies, and the few clues she has to make it closer to finishing her mission.

This was actually a second reading for me. I wanted a refresher before starting book 3 and I loved it just as much the second time. I never thought I would but I actually love the similarities to Harry Potter world, but I do. It’s like almost reliving it again but in a completely new and fresh way. But even though there are a lot of similarities the characters are completely unique and well developed. The magic is still it’s own and the story is thrilling and well written. I’m incredibly excited to start book 3 and see where Ivy’s story takes us to next.

I would also like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book since the one I own was loaned to a friend and I didn’t think the middle of a global pandemic was the best time to ask for it back.

It's the second instalment of The Crowns of Croswald series and the magic is growing!

Following the first instalment, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is all about the second year at a school of magic and also the journey to finding the second piece of a lost stone. This stone, called a Kindred Stone, apparently holds a ton of power that works just like an amplifier. It is said that it belongs to the true queen of Croswald, who happens to be our main character, Ivy. However, the Dark Queen seeks to claim this stone so that she can continue to reign with terror for eternity. So, in between studies, learning magic, staying on top of the Dark Queen, and finding the truth about the past, Ivy has to work hard to discover and retrieve the second missing piece of the Kindred Stone before it gets into the wrong hands.

One of the special things that was introduced to this series that I love is "Quogo". Instead of battling with wands, we have scrivenists battling with quills left behind by their passing owners. I mean, how cool is that! What makes it even more fascinating is that it is actually considered a sport! This reminds me so much of Harry Potter. But instead of Quidditch, we have two individuals battling with magic.

Additionally, we were also introduced in more detail to a secret club called Quality Quills Club (QQC). I mean, where's the fun in schools if not for secret clubs? Am I right or am I right? So this secret club was formed from the love of Quogo. The founder, Fyn, is an huge fan of the Quogo sport who dreams of becoming part of the game in the future. However, with the Dark Queen threatening to harm Ivy and all scrivenist to get what she wants, the QQC plays to practice the use of quills. This immediately reminds me of "Dumbledore's Army" practicing their spells in secret.

As for the other elements of this story, I would say that there was a step up from the first instalment. I thought that the plot was more exciting and there was tremendous growth in character development. I really like where this story is going and I can't wait to read the next instalment. I need to see how the budding love between Ivy and Fyn blossoms.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from D.E. Night through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

(4.5/5 stars)
It’s always great when a sequel not only lives up to, but outdoes its predecessor! Returning us to the world of scrivenists (mages who channel magic through quills), ‘The Girl with the Whispering Shadow’ (incredible title) is just as full of ingenious and refreshingly original magical concepts as ‘The Crowns of Croswald’, with even more of the lovable characters, subtly chilling foreboding and hilarious moments that I enjoyed in Book 1.

One of my favourite things was the introduction of a popular scrivenists’ game called ‘Quogo’ – eat your heart out, Quidditch! Quogo is almost like a magical RPG (role-playing game), where players battle it out with the spectres of retired or deceased scrivenists, using their decommissioned quills. I also loved the Quality Quills Club (where can I sign up?!), a secret society of amateur Quogo players run by our wonderful Fyn Greeley. I loved the dynamic within this friendship group, spiced up by the new additions of Ivy and Rebecca to its ranks, and they had so much great banter between them. Each QQC member felt realistic, especially after a certain accidental catastrophe, and I really look forward to seeing more of them in Book 3! This was a very well-written rendition of a found-family trope, if that’s one you enjoy.

Speaking of character love, I have to include a tribute specifically to my favourites, Fyn and Rebecca! They’re so loyal to Ivy but never come across as sycophants or merely foils, and yet again, Rebecca (in multiple scenes) proves herself an MVP in this squad. Fyn cracks me up so much with his sarcasm, and I’m completely invested in the adorable slow-burn between him and Ivy! I also grew to like Ivy more in this one – while some of her actions in the first book felt at times out of character, this book is where she really comes into her own and grows in confidence, maturity and just all around personality palpability.

Great twists abound, with hints dropped here and there to amp up the apprehension, and several were rather disquieting. In general, this book’s ‘horror’ level feels middle-grade to YA, but there were certainly some moments that gave me ‘Criminal Minds’-type chills. The Dark Queen definitely feels more genuinely threatening in this book compared to the first, and we learn a bit more about her motives that clarify scenes in the first book.

There were also plenty of new spells, creatures and even careers introduced – my favourite one being a teledetector matteler, a sort of teleporting magical police/CSI officer who can travel to crime scenes through mentally connecting through a scene sketch. I really like the style of magic in this series, it’s very whimsical and strong on wordplay, which is right up my alley.

If you’re a ‘Harry Potter’ fan, or on the hunt for more magical boarding school stories, I really recommend diving into this series! Following that slight cliffhanger (and its link to the title of Book 3), I’m so hyped for ‘The Words of the Wandering’, out May 30! Not long now before I can return to Croswald…

The Girl With The Whispering Shadow takes us back to Croswald and the unique magical world that it is. It is Ivy's first summer away from the slurry fields and Derwin has shipped her off to the scrivenist town called Belzebuthe. With a piece of paper and an address written on it, Ivy lands up at none other than our dearest Fyn's house. Over the summer Ivy learns more and more about scrivenists and how they protect the 'Town' from the dark queen. She uncovers some exciting stuff like fishing for stars, Quogo matches and a job being a potioneer. But the most heartwarming thing about this book was how Ivy finds her own friends. She had a group of people from school who care for her and look out in case she is in danger. Ivy is someone who has had the company of scaldrons for so long. Even in Book 1, her only friends were Fyn and Rebecca but mostly she solved her problems alone.

This book values friendships as each one of the many friends she makes helps her fight with The Dark Queen. The writing style has definitely improved and so have the character arcs. From being clueless, Ivy is now learning about scrivenists and her past. The character 'Glistle' was one of my favourites in this book.

The world-building goes beyond the Halls of Ivy and there are new creatures that the characters in the book discover. It was such a fun read and is perfect for anyone looking for an engaging middle grade fantasy. The kids are so talented and think on their feet. Fyn's graduation made me completely teary-eyed because I love how he toes every line.

The book ends in the most mysterious way that has something to do with The Forgotten Room which makes me a little queasy. I was so glad to receive a copy of Book 2.

In The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, we join Ivy Lovely once again on her whimsical adventures in this magical world. We start off in Belzebuthe, were Ivy finally feels like a part of a family while living with Fyn and his mom. In this wonderful place filled with twinkling stars, she makes new Quogo friends and gets a job as a potioneer. However, Ivy can't leave the town after summer since it's the only place she'll be safe from the dark queen.

Then Ivy receives a letter from the Selector and goes back to join her classmates later in the year, only to discover the Selector didn't send the letter and she's in danger. She meets her old friend Rebecca, and together with her new friends from Belzebuthe, they go on countless adventures together.

I loved getting to know more about this magical world and meeting the new creatures within it. The introduction of Quogo, a secret game playing with quills, was another interesting element. Although I believe Ivy could have used a bit more character development, I still enjoyed reading about her wonderful adventures.

I'd like to thank Stories Untold and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow: A Sneakily Wonderful Sequel

I was asked to read this book in exchange for an honest review by D.E. Night’s publicist, Daniela from Stories Untold, so thank you!

When I put down D.E. Night’s first book, “The Crowns of Croswald,” I wasn’t super excited to read the next one, but I was hopeful for a good follow up, and “The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” was exactly the kind of book I was expecting as a second installment—a world builder, deeper character development, and even more magic.

“The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” steps back into Ivy’s story after the events of “The Crimes of Croswald” as she ends her first year at school and is told life changing news. The book primarily focuses on the summer before Ivy returns to school and after she receives a letter saying she is safe to return. Things aren’t as simple as they seem though, and she quickly finds her and her friends at danger, and they must equip themselves for anything that comes their way.

While there were elements of the first book that I liked, I ultimately didn’t love it. But this book was extremely enjoyable and a nice addition to the series. Something that I loved about the last book was Night’s world building and how it sets her aside from other books that follow the same premise. This was no exception, as Night takes you to new parts of Ivy’s world, introduces new people and builds up even more about her family, the school, and just the world they live in in general.

Another thing that I found more enjoyable was the tone and seriousness of the book. The last one felt a little too over the top in appealing to a younger audience, but this one seemed to hit it spot on. It didn’t feel too childish and it felt much more serious than the first one. That does mean though, that the story is getting more serious and that there is much more to come, such as an impending battle of sorts with the Dark Queen, a potential romance with Fyn and even more.

The only aspect of this book that I wasn’t the biggest fan of was the cliches from time to time, and there were some moments where I began to zone out, but it wasn’t often. Towards the end, I found myself skimming the paragraphs and, I believe, sometimes missed some stuff, but it wasn’t too awful. And there were obviously moments of cliche middle school dialogue, but it wasn’t too bad. Nothing that took me out of the book.

The Verdict
I was extremely pleasantly surprised by this book! D.E. Night is proving herself to be a strong author and has a promising career in writing, especially writing that is popular with middle schoolers. While the first book didn’t catch all of my attention, I greatly enjoyed “The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” and it’s a fun read that will take you away to a magical land that has promise to grow and expand. Personally, I will be reading the next book and look forward to the circus theme that has been teased for the third installment. I highly recommend this book and am happy I was given the chance to read and review these!

I’m just so obsessed with this amazing little story! I never thought I would fall for a middle grade but here I am, falling and enjoying every second of it!

We pick up with Ivy still learning how to be a proper scrivenist and fumbling through her day to day life. But trouble of course always finds Ivy, or does she go looking for it? We are on a round trip to another whimsical, fun adventure with her and her classmates!

I love the bonds that were made stronger throughout this second book and I throughly enjoy the new creatures that we’re introduced to and I just eat up every new magical aspect that is added to this story! I also really enjoyed the introduction of the QQC, I thought it was so fascinating and had me really intrigued. I know I keep saying how much I love everything about this book, but something else I really LOVED was the stars and wishes that are linked to them, it was really just so heartwarming.

Once again, this is such a unique and WHIMSICAL, fun middle grade that I suggest to readers of any age that just want a fun, lighter fantasy read but still action packed and gripping! This one also had an air of mystery to it and I found myself not being able to put this down, much like the first one!

For fans of: Harry Potter like stories, friendship/bonding, magical, adorable creatures and evil queens!

When I was asked to read these books I was grateful that I could read the first two, since the first one ended on a cliff hanger for me. I was left wondering what life looked like for Ivy after all of the revelations at the end of the first one.
The second one was just as whimsical as the first! The story picked up right after the first and transitioned Ivy from a home that she loved to feeling like she had none. I know that this was considered middle grade, and would recommend to any girl between the ages of 11 and probably 14, but I wish that there was more between Flyn and Ivy. I think that both characters developed well over the course of the book.
It was a little predictable but that is what made it more of a comfort read. Personally, I want to read the third just to have a closing with these characters.

First of all, thanks to Netgally for giving me the ebook in exchange of my honest opinion 😊 I just recently read the first one and I was eager to continue this magical middle grade series.

In this continuation we follow the direct consequences of Ivy's discoveries at the end of the first book, she's the last heir to the throne, the only one with royal blood, descendant of princess Isabella herself. That's why the Dark Queen wants to destroy her, but she has to find the missing pieces of the Kindred Stone first.

Derwin sends Ivy to Belzebuthe, the only magical place where she'll be safe, and she's staying with Fyn!😏 Her summer it's going to be a little different than she expected. However, she quickly gets used to the new town, finding out about all the secrets that its permanent star sky holds. In addition, she joins the Quality Quills Club with Fyn's friends, discovering Quogo. Even though she can't return to class next year, and that makes her really sad, she's not going to be bored, that's for sure.

La verdad es que este libro me ha gustado más que el primero, se ve una evolución en el estilo de la escritora y también en los personajes, que por fin parecen algo más maduros. Me encanta cómo se expande el mundo y el sistema mágico, en especial me ha encantado el Quogo, que son una especie de duelos mágicos super emocionantes y que el club de amigos de Ivy realiza algo ilegalmente JAJAJ Además la ambientación de la ciudad secreta me ha fascinado, te atrapa de lleno.

I have truly enjoyed this sequel better than the first book, you can see improvements in the writing and the characters, that finally seem more mature. I love how the world expands and also the magic system, specially Quogo (oh yeah illegal magical duels?! GIVE ME MORE OF THAT).

As for the romance it goes too slow... the only thing that happened between them is that they blushed hahaha.

En resumen, esta segunda parte ha superado a la primera y me ha dejado con un buen sabor de boca para continuar con la saga. No es lo mejor que he leído de fantasía, pero es entretenido y tiene conceptos originales, quizá si tirara más a juvenil me gustaría más. Le doy un 3,75/5🌟

Overall, this sequel was better and left me wanting more. It's not the best I've read, but it's entertaining and has original concepts. Maybe if it was more YA I would like it better. 3,75/5🌟

It is not often that I like a second book in a series more than the first, but The Girl With the Whispering Shadow is one of the few. Now that Ivy knows who she is, she must begin to seek after her her birthright, the Kindred Stone. However, her school is no longer safe, the Town is being threatened, and she must choose who to trust when not everyone is as they appear.

The characters are more defined in this book than the first, and I enjoyed meeting more of Ivy's classmates and seeing more of Rebecca and her bubbly personality as she chatted throughout the story. Ivy is learning to overcome her feelings of inferiority that stem from growing up outside of the magical world and struggling to accept her true identity.

As before, the similarities to Harry Potter are noted, however the author again adds creative twists that prevent things from becoming too copy-cat. I personally loved the Quogo contests and fishing for stars, although magical owls who have the power to dematerialize valuable objects as a means of protecting them is also worth noting.

I look forward to reading the next installment in this series as well as to enjoying further growth of this author!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, I am thoroughly impressed by D.E. Night and her amazing writing skills! Back in Croswald, Ivy has just faced the Dark Queen at the Ball and is left wondering what to do during the summer. She is told that she needs to head to The Town in order to be safe. After figuring out how to get there, she sees some familiar faces and meets plenty of new ones as well! However, the issue of Ivy's safety is still very much a problem, particularly once the summer ends. Meanwhile, she is supposed to locate the other pieces of the Kindred Stone, which is much easier said than done. With the stone being the only thing powerful enough to stand a chance against the Dark Queen, it remains Croswald's only hope of returning to a peaceful and prosperous way of life.

Like I mentioned in my previous review for the first book in this series, this book reminds me of Harry Potter. Ivy's predicament about where to spend the summer as school wasn't in session was similar to Harry's situation during the summer. However, the author continues to prove this book is unique and magical all on it's own!

Once again, the magic and the magical creatures continue to fascinate me! I honestly wish I could meet some of these creatures in real life or spell up a cup of tea to help me study! The way they are woven into the story really makes for an interesting adventure for both the characters and the reader!

I loved the characters in the first book, and this book introduces even more characters for me to love! The QQC, in particular, is very entertaining! Plus, the main characters from the first book are still fun to watch! Their antics never fail to bring a smile to my face, especially when Ivy gets a "great idea" that usually ends up being quite a bit of trouble!

I honestly wish these books had been around when I was a middle schooler but I'm still enjoying them even now! Like I stated in my review of the first book, this series is great for younger readers and I would definitely recommend it to any fantasy-loving middle grade readers or any fans of Harry Potter!

3.5 stars
This was a super solid sequel and I really enjoyed it. I liked getting to know Fyn better in Belzebuthe and his friends were so much fun! The friendship between Ivy and Rebecca is so adorable and it was great to see their friendship grow in this one.
I like the magic system in this book, but I wish it was a little bit more well explained. Unless I missed something, the fact that the quills write spells was only mentioned once and I feel like that is a big part of the magic system even though Ivy doesn't have a quill yet. I was a little bit confused regarding the magic system a few times.
Like the first book in this series, there were a lot of elements that reminded me of Harry Potter. The overall plot was unique, but there were several little things that were very similar (for example, invisible creatures that give Ivy and Fyn a ride far away in a pinch when they were tricked to go there in the first place).
I liked how the book was split up between Belzebuthe and the Halls of Ivy. It was really fun to see Ivy get used to living in a magical environment and getting an apprenticeship and interacting with the people there.
I absolutely loved a few of the unique elements in this book. Quogo was so cool and I loved reading about it. Fishing for stars that grant people's wishes was just magical to think about.
Overall this book was enjoyable to read and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Sequel to The Crowns of Croswald, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow picks up right where the first left off with Ivy and friends. The school year is over and everyone is looking forward to summer break, but the Dark Queen being on the hunt for Ivy puts a damper on everything. But Ivy knows what her mission is, and will fulfill it no matter what the consequences.

Truly, this series is so magical and whimsical. If you are looking for a more light-hearted, genderbent Harry Potter than this is the story for you. The magical creatures and magic system are so much fun and the characters are just adorable. Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca are are great friends and each bring something different to the table. It's an easy read and worth the time.

One thing I will say is that is is VERY close to Harry Potter and the dialogue isn't the best. The descriptions and writing are beautiful, but the dialogue is very stilted and has far too many !'s. However, this is more of a middle grade book so this could make sense. I also think the similarities to Harry Potter are just a bit much, almost too close for comfort.

So I couldn't remember anything that had happened in the previous book as I read it around a year ago - oops. It made the beginning of this book a very rocky read because I couldn't remember any of the characters, besides Ivy, or the events that they were talking about! This book immediately follows on from the ending of the first book.

We still follow Ivy who has just overcome her first Dark Queen encounter. She has been whisked away to the secret town that the Dark Queen does not have access to, nor anyone else unless they know the name of the town. She was forbidden to return to the magic school she attended in the first book for her safety. But then received a letter saying she was allowed to come back. Danger was everywhere she went however. Both in the secret town - which is meant to be one of the safest places in this world - and at school. She and her friends were faced with these dangers and did what they could to keep themselves, and everybody else, safe. Though if you were to read the book, you might laugh at that haha.

I did enjoy this book, despite the rocky start. Though I found the story to be quite simple - unlike the first book. Again, I wish it were longer and more detailed. The author pretty much gives us the main events of the story without much riffraff which I suppose is good, but I am left wanting more every time, and with this series, that is a very frustrating thing.

Ivy’s adventure continues and it did not disappoint. Many times the second book has the”second book syndrome" and really not worth much but it is not the case with The Girl with the Whispering Shadow. The story continues with Ivy trying to find the pieces of the Kindred Stone and her rightful place as Queen. During this book you get to see a new part of the magical world, a hidden town, and a magic quill duel game called Quogo.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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.

I will admit that I wasn’t in love with the first book in the series; mainly because I found myself making comparisons to other magical novels. Book two... it stands out in such an amazing, captivating way that I do not understand why everyone isn’t reading or talking about it!!

Ivy Lovely is our heroine and she is such a perfect main character, growing into her own and you really can’t help but love her. Our supporting characters can’t be forgotten either and I seriously adore them all for one reason or another. The Dark Queen is at times actually scary, along with her freaky entourage.

Once I hit that last 25% I just couldn’t draw myself away. I’m actually so excited about this book that I’m writing this review rather than getting some very much needed sleep. But I don’t want to give anything away, so just start on this series stat!!!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

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

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.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series and picks up right where book one left off . . .

After having dealt with the Dark Queen at the ball and finding her family’s scrivenist - Derwin Edgard Knight, Ivy Lovely is swept off to the hidden town of Belzebuthe where she will continue her scrivenist/magic studies safely out of the Dark Queen’s reach.

However things do not go exactly as planned and Ivy ends back again at the Halls of Ivy on another adventure with her friends, her adorable scaldron Humboldt and a sinister shadow that seems to be following her.

I absolutely loved this book - the story is so whimsical and has this cozy vibe that makes you feel like you’re reading a fairytale. The characters are all lovable and I enjoyed getting to know each of them { I completely ship Ivy and Fyn } and meeting all the new ones that were introduced - I especially liked learning a bit more about Ivy’s scrivenist Derwin Edgar Night and hope to get even more info on him in the third book.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a fantastic read filled with magic and mystery. I’ll definitively be reading book three and recommend that you add it along with book 1 to your TBR list - because you can never have too many books right?

wow. I loved this book, dare I say, more than the first one. This one gets darker as the story continues. Instead of summarizing the girl with the whispering shadow, I'll just share my review this way. First, what I found interesting was how the first book ended with Belzebuthe and the first line of the prologue in the second books started with Belzebuthe (you need to read it to know what I mean). The mysterious girl made me thinking about her identity throughout the book. The way Ivy takes care of her friends and everyone else was what touched mt heart. The scrivinist, Night, his care and devotion towards his royal family (read it, read it) brought tears to my eyes. I am so much amazed and mesmerized with the new terms, words and terminologies that the author came up with in the girl with the whispering shadow. I hadn't forgotten the way hollow shaft affected me and winsome and all and here in second book I found more heart-gripping scenes and places. I was suspicious of each and every character and I was scared for Ivy's safety (uhh God how scared I was and how it caught my breath). When Ivy got the letter (again I'll say you need to read the book to know what I am talking about), I was both happy and scared for her. I have started to love the characters more than ever. Scriven this is my favorite one as it keeps us informed (if u know what mean). ohh and that black quill gave me a really creeps. And it was a surprise where Ivy stayed in the belzebuthe (shhh.. secret). Glistle really annoyed me though lolz. Loved Gretta. She is really a strong girl. I so so want Ivy and Gretta to be friends (Rebecca sorry, nobody can replace u). The starguster, star fishing and star casting made me go like yaaaaaaayyyy. I loved these more than the Quogo game (again read it, read it). I feel like I missed Winsome and felt sad about him more than Ivy did. The mettelers were so cool. ugh and I feel that Demaris is never going to be good, wait until she gets to know the truth (lolx). Invisitaurs! how can I forget Invisitaurs. I loved them. Please I want them too. Star solo is my most favorite. I liked Occulyst. I feel so so sad and I am Grieving for the events that took place along with the srivinist, Night's problem (if u have read it, then you know what I am talking about). Tearfully, I am stating this series is so so close to my heart and the author D. E. Night has done wonderful job. She is genius. 5 stars from my side (I would give more stars if there were any). looking forward to the third book now

I just finished the second book of the trilogy. Really, I cannot recommend these books enough. The story continues with the main character, Ivy, leaving for a quest and her confronting the Dark Queen again.

The book has action, suspense, adventure, humour, strong relationships between the characters and the plot reveals a lot cues of the past of the heroine. Generally, you feel the characters grow the further you read the story which is something that I admire and value in books.

The second book did not let me down a bit in all its length. On the contrary, it maintains a pace in sharing events and information that makes you want to fly through pages! Can’t wait to see what other adventures D.E.Night has for us in book 3!

Right after the first book's crazy ending, we pick up Ivy's story right where we left off and her story gets even more interesting as the 2nd book progresses. I love the world of Croswald and am so thankful that I was approved for all 3 books so I didn't have to wait to continue Ivy's story and her battle against the Dark Queen. I love that we can start to see the hints of a romantic relationship for her and that her confidence in herself starts to grow as the story progresses. Her friendships become even stronger as they are tested further by the Dark Queen. This story truly draws readers in from page 1 and keeps them there. Readers won't be able to put the book down and will be itching to get their hands on each book in the series. Great read and I can't wait to rejoin Ivy's story in the 3rd book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for a gifted eARC of this book.

I actually rated this book 4.5/5

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one! It was a quick and easy read with more action, more magic, and more friends. Ivy grew into a much stronger and self assured character (though she still had her doubts here and there), but she was much more fun.

I liked her new group of friends and their adventures and getting to know Derwin a little bit more. Fyn is my favorite and I’m glad we got to learn so much more about him and his backstory. He’s brave, adventurous, sweet, and I love his little bursts of jealousy when Glistle is around, though it is sometimes odd how he’s always where Ivy is going 🤷🏻‍♀️

I love the new aspects of Magic brought into this book, like Quogo, which seems like an awesome game, and the stars in Belzebuthe, which grant the wishes of people if you catch them. The stars were my favorite new magic and I love the idea of them, it’s such a novel concept ☺️

There were some things that I questioned a bit…a few main plot points where Ivy figured things out that older, experienced scriventists couldn’t 🤔…but I’m excited to read the third book and, if it’s a similar setup to this one, learn even more about Ivy’s friend Rebecca. Though I will be sad that Fyn will not be around much (I’m assuming since he graduates, though he does have a knack for always being where Ivy is...) 😉

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow by D.E. Night
Publication Date: January 23, 2019 - Out Now!
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Description from NetGalley...
“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...”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @storiesuntoldpress for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
This is the second book of The Crowns of Croswald series. Categorized as middle-year, but I think with some of the existing details, it can also be categorized in the ya genre. This book picked up right where the first book ended. In this story, more of the Croswald world, history and Ivy’s destiny came together to weave a great coming of age story, and the growth of friendships. Ivy and her friends were relatable; the way they came together, their innocence, their bonds and individual magic were an interesting and fun read. The world-building and the storyline were just as good as the first book. Looking forward to the next book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for letting me continue with the journey!
Absolutely loved this book, I think it's a phenomenal sequel. There were so many new things I learned about Croswald, and I was enjoying it so much!

There's many things I loved that I could comment on, but overall I can say it's the warm fuzzies that made me pick up this book all the time, the characters are actually so likeable, their relationships wholesome and to me this is one of the most important aspects of a book: do I feel like the characters are real? And I did.

The stakes have indeed got higher in this book and I was on the edge of my seat waiting how things would turn out. Ivy and Fyn are adorable, and Rebecca is such an awesome friend!
I'm also head-over-heels for all the magical creatures in here, and still, the setting of The Halls of Ivy..! I was so immersed while reading about Ivy and her friends going about their daily activities and learning new things all the time.
At the beginning, when Ivy was confined to The Town, I felt with her so much, and I realized that one of the fortes of the author is painting certain situations and feelings in a way that makes them so relatable to.. well, I think anyone! Of course, maybe not riding invisitaurs... but being left behind in a quiet town without your friends (even if it's just for your own good!).

Love this series so much, can't wait to read the next installment.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the sequel to The Crowns of Croswald, a middle grade fantasy story about Ivy Lovely, a young girl who ended up in a magical school, The Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems.

The ending of the first book was full of intrigue and discovery, and The Girl with The Whispering Shadow picked up where book one left off, after the chaotic Halls of Ivy’s Masquerade Ball. From chapter one, the plot was moving fast and I was immediately swept away in this magical and enchanting world. As for so many sequels, I was afraid this book would have some pace/plot issues, but it wasn’t the case at all. The pacing and intrigue of this book were way better than book one, and I didn’t get bored one second, I was just happy to be back into this world!

“You’ll only be as good as you allow yourself to be. If everyone were afraid to showcase their magical abilities, it would be one boring world, that’s for sure!”

The world-building and writing, just like book one, were really good, I was just so curious to learn more and more about this world and this new Town that we were discovering for the first time. With its never-ending night sky and colder weather, the shades growing and being more present through this book and the almost scary vibes of the shadow following Ivy, I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting of this book, and I would really recommend to read this book during the Fall season.

In this sequel, Ivy made new friends with The Quality Quills Club, a forbidden club of 9 members, all students from The Halls of Ivy, where they were dueling each other to practice and learn as much as they could about quills and scrivenists abilities. This club was really interesting and I really enjoyed these new friendships. Rebecca and Fyn were also really great and enjoyable to read, and their friendship with Ivy was just so sweet and touching.

“You can be trapped in a castle, trapped in a scaldrony. Trapped by people. But the worst is being trapped by fear.”

The only criticism I could have about this book, is that even though Ivy and some of the characters were seventeen and Fyn nineteen, I thought that they were behaving like younger teenagers than they were supposed to be. In my mind, these characters were more 14-15 years old, and that’s why I was a bit annoyed with Ivy sometimes because I wished she would ask more help to her friends for her big issues with The Dark Queen. Most of the time, she was doing things on her own when she could have told everything to her friends and have let them help her! However, it improved towards the end of the book, so that was nice to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel, and I would really recommend it to fans of Harry Potter or middle grade fantasy series in general. I will definitely read The Words of the Wandering and the rest of the series!

I received a free copy from the Stories Untold Press via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl in the Whispering Shadow starts right where “The Crowns of Crosswald” left off and continues to develop this magical universe. Honestly, this book was the perfect sequel. We got to know more about the scrivenists, the world and the characters (specifically Ivy). In this book we uncover more of Ivy’s past, which lets us understand her more.

Like in the first book, the author describes the setting and the characters in such a way that it’s easy to imagine and that gets you hooked. I honestly can’t wait to read the third book!

Thanks Stories Untold Press and Net Galley for introducing me to this series!

Note: All opinions are my own.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

I enjoyed this book and it was great book. I couldn’t put it down and the storyline was great and I can’t wait to read the third book.

Thanks to the publisher (Stories Untold) and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest book review.

Synopsis: Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfilment 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.

I gave the first book of this series 3 stars, mainly because I couldn’t help but comparing it to another well known magical world. Book number two in the Croswald series however captivated me. The World of Croswald evolved in such a adventurous way full of magic and wonders, that I couldn’t stop reading. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters more and following Ivy on her quest on finding the second part of the Kindred stone. The town of Belzebuthe was described in such a charming and whimsical way that it is now a place I really want to visit!! The pace of the novel was much better than in the first one too. I am really looking forward to the third book in the series.

📖Review: The Whispering Shadow By D.E Night
(Middle Grade, fantasy)
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.6

Secret towns, whispering shadows, cunningly strategic quogo games with quizzical quills, haunting visions and comical characters... Its all here in 'The Whispering Shadow' (book 2 in the Crowns of Croswald series).

Plunged into a secret fairytale town 'Belzebuthe', Ivy seeks the second facet of the Kindred stone, while hiding from the dark queen's magic. But every corner Ivy turns, a mysterious darkness follows, as she delves deeper into the puzzling prophecy of the wanderers and the Moonsday promise.

The beginning briefly confused me but was quickly forgotten as I delved deeper into Belzebuthe's magical winter wonderland and its mystical matellers and scrivenist's. I swooned at the flights of romance filled with enchanted stargazing and was wonderstruck by 'Quintons Brews and Hodgepodge' - antiquated apothecary of potions and creatures. Hodge and Podge (both dwarves) are my new favourite characters with their sharp wit and sassy brotherly relationship, their magical battle made me laugh out loud! The fiercely entertaining quogo matches had me enraptured, especially by the ghostly visions and daring spells. I enjoyed that we got to learn more in depth about Ivy and the Quality Quill's Club members and their differing relationships with each other and the magical world outside of Croswald.

D. E Night has created a mesmerising world with lyrical prose, perplexing plots and heartfelt characters. I particularly enjoyed 'The Whispering Shadow' and its my favourite so far in the series!

Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress @storiesuntoldpress @author.denight and @Netgalley for sending me this book to review.😊👍💙

I am absolutely loving The Crowns of Croswald series
These books are just amazing reads!
D.E. Night has created such a fun, magical world & I cannot wait to see what happens next!!

Highly recommend this series!!

I really enjoy this series and this second instalment really confirmed that. The plot always keeps me intrigued and the end of this one made me want to continue on with this series. The characters, especially Ivy, Rebecca and Fyn are the stars of this novel and this second book really made me feel really close to them and made me want to find out what will happen to them but hoping they get the best ending.
I can't wait to start the next one.
4 out of 5 stars.

It’s not often you can say that the sequel was better than the first one, more often than not the sequel isn’t very good, but then they make it up by bringing out a third part which blows everyone away. However, this is book 2 and I’ve not yet read book 3…soon I hope to rectify that fact.

Book 2 in the Croswald series blew me away. In short it was everything that was great about the first book, doubling it and, if possible, making it even more exciting and intriguing.

I like that book 2 picks up right after book 1 finishes, so there’s no awkward gap where we have to rehash every singe thing all over again. We get reintroduced to our main character and quickly jump into the action. Then we get introduced to even more characters and the world they live in.

If we were painting a picture, the canvas - although already full of colour - would only be half done. I feel like there is so much more yet to come.

As with the first book, I’d say it’s still an easy and captivating read. And would definitely help with reading slumps. And the graphics are still gorgeous.

All opinions are my own. However, I was very kindly gifted The Crowns Of Croswald: The Girl With The Whispering Shadow as and e-book for the purpose of an honest review. But shall be purchasing a physical copy for my home library.

This book is the second volume of the series The crowns of Croswald. I just love it. This book was better than the first in the way that its unique universe was more developed and it didn’t feel like a remake of Harry Potter anymore.
However, the beginning was a bit slow. It took me quite some time to go through the first hundred pages but the last hundred pages went very quickly. I finished the book in one-go. It was just so captivating with so much action that my heart was beating fast for Ivy, who I liked even more than in the first book. I so wanted to know what was going to happen that I sometimes skipped sentences just to get to the bottom faster. By the end of the book, I even had tears in my eyes.
I was sad that I didn’t get to read a lot about Fyn and Ivy’s romance but I’m hoping book three will be full of love. This slow-burn is killing me. Overall, the characters are all lovable, funny and inspiring. The story is full of twists and action and the universe created here is gorgeous. This series is definitely a must-read for all fantasy fans.
4.5/5

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow - Review (Engllish and Spanish)

Thanks again to the publisher for letting us read this book through NetGalley.

First of all, there is a big change between the first book and the second. Since we already know the characters, there is not that much confusion at the beginning. However, it is still rather slow. It's not until 70% of the book that it gets interesting or it seems that something is happening.

I have to say that I was expecting a bit more on that point, but I'm happy with the ending and somehow I really liked how it ended.

The characters are all the same, except for Fyn’s friends and Gretta, who has a big part in this book. I loved the idea of Fyn’s friends meeting Ivy and the Quogo game, but it just seemed to be something missing in the friendship. I don’t know what, honestly, but i would have loved to read more about their friendship rather than them playing with the quills or the cards.

The Gretta part was predictable in a way. I mean, I knew it was her from the beginning but I didn’t knew what was going on with her exactly. I liked what happened to her though.

Apart from these little things, the ending was very quick. All the action was completely packed in just a few chapters and I really, like, REALLY want to know what is going to happen next.

SPANISH
Gracias otra vez a la editora por enviarnos una copia a través de NetGalley.

Ante todo, hay un gran cambio entre el primer y el segundo libro. Como ya conocemos a los personajes, el principio no es tan confuso como fue en el primero. Sin embargo, sigue siendo bastante lento. Hasta el 70% del libro no se pone interesante y parece que es en ese punto cuando pasa algo.

Admito que esperaba algo más en ese sentido, pero estoy satisfecha con el final y de alguna manera me gustó cómo termina.

Los personajes son los mismos, excepto por los amigos de Fyn y Gretta, que es una gran parte en este libro. Me encantó la idea de que sus amigos conocieran a Ivy y el juego de Quogo, pero parecía que faltaba algo en esa amistad. Sinceramente, no sabría decir qué exactamente, pero me habría molado leer más sobre sus relaciones que sobre ellos jugando con las plumas o las cartas.

La parte de Gretta fue bastante predecible en ciertos puntos. Quiero decir, sabía que era ella desde el principio, pero no sabía qué pasaba exactamente con ella. Me gustó lo que le pasó, eso sí.

Aparte de estas cosillas, el final iba bastante rápido. Toda la acción estaba completamente comprimida en unos pocos capítulos y tengo muchas, MUCHAS, ganas de saber qué va a pasar en el próximo.
-L

Usually the first book is slower because you still have to meet all the characters and get used to a new world, and when you get to the second you’re familiar with almost everything, so the story should have a quicker pace. And yet I think I liked the first more than this one.
This book should have had me excited since the beginning, but I actually couldn’t get into it until almost the end of the story.

I really like the ideas in this book, and the writer does a good job at telling the story, but I think there’s a lack of surprise and adventure, at least for me. I like that there’s a secret Town that can’t be named to stay protected, and Ivy living with Fyn and getting to know his friends, but not much happened in the Town.
The idea of the Quogo game was interesting, but a little too absorbing. They focused too much on playing the game and those scenes got a little boring at times.

As for the big mystery, was it really a mystery? I think it was pretty obvious from the beginning. There are clues every step of the way. Although I have to admit that it wasn’t exactly as I’d imagined it, which was nice. And the search in Derwin’s memories was also interesting; getting to know more about the royal family.

So even if I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, the ending was good and I want to know more about what will happen with Ivy and Fyn, and their fight against the Dark Queen.

SPANISH
Por lo general, el primer libro de una saga es el más lento porque tienes que conocer a los personajes y acostumbrarte a un nuevo mundo, y cuando llegas al segundo, estás familiarizado con casi todo, por lo que la historia debería tener un ritmo más rápido. Y, sorprendentemente, creo que me gustó más el primer libro.
Este libro tendría que haberme emocionado desde el principio, pero no me metí en la historia casi hasta el final.

Me gustan mucho las ideas del libro y la historia está bien escrita, pero en mi opinión faltan sorpresas y aventuras. Me gusta “la Ciudad” secreta que no puede ser nombrada para protegerla, y que Ivy viva con Fyn y conozca a sus amigos, pero no pasó gran cosa en la Ciudad.
La idea del juego de Quogo era interesante, pero demasiado absorbente. Creo que se centraron demasiado en el juego y esas escenas se volvieron un poco aburridas a ratos.

En cuanto al gran misterio (¿era realmente un misterio?), creo que fue bastante obvio desde el principio. Hay pistas a cada paso, aunque tengo que admitir que no fue exactamente como lo había imaginado, y eso me gustó. Y las escenas en los recuerdos de Derwin también fueron interesantes; descubriendo más sobre la familia real.

Así que, aunque este libro no me haya gustado tanto como esperaba, el final estuvo bien y quiero saber más sobre lo que pasará con Ivy y Fyn, y su lucha contra la Reina Oscura.
-Ali

In this second installment, Ivy visits the Town. A place where magic and mystery abound. She makes friends, connects with those who knew her ancestors and uncovers more of the wandering curse. Exciting and thrilling part two.

Picking up where the first book left off, we follow the adventures of Ivy Lovely once again! This book has more adventure and whismy than the first one, if that's even possible. The world that D.E. Night created in the first book comes to life in this second book, which doesn't fall prey to the sophomore slump that happens to some authors. In fact, this book might even be better than the first!

While the first book has hints of other children's fantasy novels, what I like about this installment is that it's able to break from the mold. We get to meet more characters and see more of this magical world that Night has created. I loved meeting the new characters, and can't wait to see more in later books. Ivy is such an excellent role model for young girls, and I would definitely recommend this to middle grade leaders looking for fantasy with strong female leads!

Blurb:
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...

Review:
“You let go of that stone, I let go of his life.”

“The most wondrous things, the most impossible of things, are often just ordinary things doing what they are best at.”

This book picks up where the first book picks off, and let me assure you, Ivy’s adventures are just as exciting and thrilling as in the first book. I usually find that a sequel is less interesting and though out as the first in the series. However, I can definitely say that I enjoyed this book a little more than the first book!

The world of scrivenists, royals and the Dark Queen is so interesting! The magical creatures, studies and places that are explored over the course of this novel are completely unlike any fantasy system I have read before and I cannot wait to see how the story progresses in the third book. Damn these cliffhanger endings!

This series is a definite must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy worlds, perfect for middle grade readers and older readers alike. Ivy Lovely is a perfect main character, as her development over both books is fascinating to read, and she is not presented as the all-powerful heroine. She still has a lot to learn, and she uses the help of her friends, including Fyn and Rebecca (my favourites!), in her battles against evil. She is the heroine that everyone needs to read about.

A fun sequel that picks up right where we left off! The adventures that we follow Ivy and her friends make an accessible and fast-paced read for middle-grade and YA readers alike. Definitely a great instalment to the series!