I actually didn't realize this was book two in the series. It was good and I enjoyed all the learning I did while I read. I aim to go back and read the first book someday soon.

Cryptozoology for Beginners by Euphemia Whitmore with Matt Harry, illustrated by Juliane Crumb

Inkshares, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1947848825

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition




The first thing you should know is that I have a cryptid-loving kid whose interest goes way back to when he was very little, so I am always on the lookout for books about cryptids. Usually those end up being some kind of nonfiction guide (such as Tales of the Cryptids by Kelly Milner Halls), maybe paired with a little background or local legend, or an adventure novel with kids either hunting for (or being hunted by) a particular creature (such as Roland Smith's Chupacabra). In Cryptozoology for Beginners, we get a little of both, with the added element of a dash of magic.

That's right, magic. Cryptozoology for Beginners is the second book in the Codex Arcanum series. The first book, Sorcery for Beginners,  which I have not had the opportunity to read, follows  Owen Macready and his friends Perry and Trish through adventures in magic that begin with bookseller and sorceress Euphemia Whitmore giving Owen the book Sorcery for Beginners when he ducks into her shop to escape from a bully, Brian Ferreti whose millionaire father turns out to be the book's evil nemesis. This book is told in third person from Owen's point of view and includes illustrated pages from his new grimoire, so that the reader is going through the learning process with Owen.

Cryptozoology for Beginners picks up in time for the teens' summer vacation.  Owen and Perry have become a couple, and the book is told in third person from Trish's point of view. An organization called the Euclideans, who seek to destroy magic, which is in direct conflict with the sorcerers, has started kidnapping cryptids for scientific experimentation. Euphemia Whitmore returns to ask for their help in collecting (or capturing) the remaining cryptids for a "zoo" that will be a safe haven for them, away from the Euclideans. They are in a race to preserve these rare, frequently legendary creatures before the Euclideans can capture them for their own nefarious purposes.

Perry, Owen, and Trish are joined by Brian, the bully from the previous book, who wants to redeem himself, under the supervision of slightly older Jacinda Greyeyes (who is very clear that she is a member of the Flying Dust First Nation), for an adventure in an RV that leads them all over the country tracking down and capturing such creatures as jackalopes, the altamaha-ha, and the chupacabra, with the help of an illustrated, informative guide to cryptids provided by Euphemia Whitmore, Cryptozoology for Beginners. As in the first book, fully illustrated pages from the guide are included at strategic points in the book, so the reader learns about the appearance and habits of the jackalope as the group is chasing after one. As the Euclideans gain ground on the sorcerers, Trish, Perry, Owen, Brian, and Jacinda find themselves also traveling across the Atlantic to help save the Loch Ness Monster, the sphinx, and many others. They finally find themselves in the heart of the Euclideans' headquarters, where they see some of the results of the experimentation firsthand, and it's heartbreaking. The plot moves fairly quickly, and we see a fair amount of character development in the prickly Trish and the obnoxious Brian.

Trish, feeling somewhat like a third wheel at the beginning of the book, starts falling for Jacinda and discovers her feelings are returned. She gains confidence and becomes more of a leader. Brian, who's pretty rough around the edges, strained my ability to believe he could be redeemed, as he made a number of racist and dismissive comments about Jacinda's indigenous identity, but he did commit some selfless acts, and become slightly more bearable. There was definitely growth to his character, but I hope there's a third book that gives him opportunities to continue to change. Owen and Perry don't have a lot of character development going on, although Owen makes a discovery about his mother that requires him to make some uncomfortable decisions.

But what I love most about this book is the cryptids and the seriousness they're taken with in the story, even though it's fiction. The pages devoted to the various creatures are well designed and illustrated, and readers who haven't encountered cryptids before will be pulled into the story as the learn something about them at the same time as the kids.

While the romance might not appeal to all middle-grade readers, many will enjoy the adventure. For cryptid-loving kids, it can stand alone, but it's better if read after Sorcery for Beginners.  Recommended for middle-grade readers who enjoy creature guides and adventure with some fantasy in the mix.

I found this book to be delightful, with beautiful descriptive writing, but also humor and drama. There is a Magic School Bus sort of feel to it. The format is enticing, with little sidebar boxes inserted to explain unusual words or fantastic concepts:
“Enchanting Details” (real-life sciencey facts)
“The Codex Arcanum” facts about magic, spells, etc. unique to this story
“Cryptid Corner” Magical Animal facts.

Interspersed in the story are full-page sheets on individual magical creatures (similar to a Pokemon card) with height, weight, and magical abilities. Many of these were familiar to me, but when I googled some of the others (such as the kongamoto), I was astonished to discover they already existed in myth.

I have not read the prequel, but I found it didn't matter. There was never a time when I was confused or frustrated. Since Star Wars has taught us that stories can start in the middle and expand both forward and backward, I don't think young readers will have a problem reading out of order, either.

Matt Harry's diverse ensemble includes a lesbian character, Trish, and Jacinda Greyeyes, a member of the Cree nation. There is a coming-out/romantic subplot that tied into the over-arching narrative nicely. This story is anchored by Trish, and I found her to be a strong, likable character. As with many stories with larger casts, I didn't feel the other characters were as fleshed out, but then if I had read the first book I may feel differently.

Note for sensitive readers: some animals get wounded or killed.

Cryptozoology for Beginners (Codex Arcanum) by Matt Harry is easily on par with all of the Fantastic Beast/Harry Potter novels! Kids of all ages are going to love this series! All of the characters are fleshed out so well that most readers are going to be able to identify with at least one of the characters themselves! Such a fun book!

Someone is going about ridding the world of "mythological creatures" that actually do exist... just not easily found by humans! Thrilling on-the-go action all the way! This is one of those books that you are going to read in a hurry the first time.. and then, you're going to want to go back and totally take your time and savor EVERY word!

I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend Cryptozoology for Beginners (Codex Arcanum) by Matt Harry!! Put this one on your tween Christmas gift list! Well, what are you doing wasting time reading this review?? Get over to your favorite book store and BUY IT NOW!! (before they run out.. and you'll have to wait for the store to get a new shipment).

Cryptozoology for Beginners is a strange hybrid of a YA "mages vs. technology" fiction narrative wrapped around a "nonfiction" bestiary. It's the second book in the Codex Arcanum series by Matt Harry. Due out 5th Nov 2019 from Inkshares, it's 300 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This book starts 6 weeks after the end of the first book in the series with the semi-intrepid crew teaming up with their former nemesis Bryan Ferretti (we see what you did with the name there.. ). They're tasked with traveling all over North America collecting/saving cryptids. There's an awful lot of snark and sniping between the characters and the dialogue has more than a few awkward moments. I had some issues with some of the plot elements and character motivations as well, but I totally fully and freely admit that I'm about 40 years older than the target audience.

It works well enough as a standalone since the author refers often to previous plot points from the first book.

The illustrations by Juliane Crump are nicely rendered and magic-tome-ish, that is to say, sort of Celtic knotwork with some line drawn frames and portraits of the cryptids.

It's an engaging concept and I personally liked the tome-sidebars with little extra tidbits of info. I fully admit the possibility that I'm a grumpy old grownup, but I just wish the whole didn't seem like cashing in on the cryptid media train (Fantastic Beasts and other HP-esque spinoffs) and that it didn't read -quite- so much like a film storyboard pitch. I'm certain it'll be coming to a theatre or TV in the near future.

Three and a half stars, probably 4+ for fans of fantastic beasts and the subgenre.

"Cryptozoology for Beginners" is interesting conceptually, but its execution is lacking in depth and tone. Two of the smarter characters speak with the same stilted vocabulary and nuance that they are almost indistinguishable even though one is an adult and the other is an eighth grader. The side bars were intriguing until the reader realizes that they do not enhance the narrative in any meaningful way, aside from shamelessly promoting the first book in the series, "Sorcery for Beginners". Reread Harry Potter instead.

My 13 yr old daughter is a huge cryptozoology fan. She liked that this book was not only a thrilling story with lots of action and mystery, but that it also included facts, stats, profiles and more on each creature throughout the book. These sidebars added an education aspect to the story. The categories covered science, history, geography and more which we greatly appreciated, seeing as we are a homeschool family. Despite the warning in the front we did not read the first book in this series before reading this one, but do plan to find it at the library now. It is a rather long book, 384 pages, so we haven't finished it quite yet but we are eager to find out how it ends. The story is about a group of teenage sorcerer's who are on an adventure to save the world's magical creatures from extinction. They travel around North America collecting the famous cryptids. Some of these creatures include the Jackalope, Chupacabra (my daughters favorite), Bigfoot and more. But when another group of teen sorcerers vanishest, the teens set out across the sea to uncover why the Euclideans have been abducting and experimenting on creatures like the Unicorn and Sphinx. We would love to see more books from this author. It is well written and you don't want to put it down because you are eager to find out what happens next. If I ever do a cryptozoology class this is definitely a book I will recommend to students.

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3.5 stars!

Part informational, part hilarious, and exactly the type of book that a middle grade reader—or a young-at-heart reader!—would love.

Concept: ★★★
Heart: ★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★

I picked up Cryptozoology for Beginners without realizing it was a sequel (whoops). However, that being said, this middle grade novel was extremely forgiving with its audience and recapped most of the first book, Sorcery for Beginners, quite nicely. Hooray for recaps!

When student sorcerers Trish, Owen, and Perry discover that someone is stealing the world's cryptids (magical creatures), something must be done. The nasty band of anti-magic EuCue some of the best magically-themed antics to occur in a middle grade novel for this age range. I thoroughly enjoyed this strange, off-kilter tale. Some of the best parts:

-The conversations around sexuality (Trish is attracted to girls, this is handled well)
-The magical creatures!!
-The surprisingly informational yet funny footnotes

Overall, a cute read for someone looking for something a little different in their middle grade fiction.

Thank you to Inkshares via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I did read this prior to reading Sorcery for Beginners so I really had no idea what to expect, but it had me hooked from page 1. This book was so much more than I was expecting - it has adventure, humor, magic but also touches on more serious issues like coming out, being accepted, conflicts with parents, and standing up for your beliefs and values. Trisha is a great character for younger readers - she's strong but not perfect which makes her relatable. Her fears about telling her friends she is gay were based in real concerns and their reaction showed how to tell your real friends from your fake ones. All of the characters had substance and added to the story rather than just being there to support Trish. The story moves at a good pace so once your start you can't put it down. I will definitely be going back to read the first book in the series and then look forward to the release of the next book. I highly recommend librarians and teachers to add this book to their school and classroom libraries.

An excellent book part fantasy and part non fiction that kept me hooked till the end.
It's well written and informative, a great read for both adults and children.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This delightful book is part fiction story and part cryptozoology information book. There is a well-written story arc to keep fiction readers engaged, but it also has text boxes which define less commonly known words or it contains interesting tidbits of information such as the box above.

Cryptozoology for Beginners
by Matt Harry
Illustrator Juliane Crump
Publisher Inkshares

Trish is a 13 year old girl with a secret…a very personal secret which has already destroyed her relationship with her best friend. But she is tough and has more than friendship problems on her mind.

The Euclideans are on a mission to wipe out magic. To do this they are capturing and experimenting (aka torturing) magical creatures like Nessie, Sasquatch, Jackalopes, Kirin, and more.

Perry and Owen are a couple that sometimes finish each other’s sentences. Both are rather nerdy in a good way. Perry is a brilliant spell caster. Perry, Owen, and Trish are level one sorcerers. Jacinda is a 16-year-old, level 2 sorcerer, tasked with leading a team.


One of the teenage bad guys in book one, Bryan, is apparently reformed now. He is still about as pleasant as a calculus test on a Friday. But he is on the team to prove himself. Trish, Perry, and Owen are shocked and mad that they now have to work with someone they helped bring down just six weeks ago.

Whitmore is their mentor to these beginners and member of the Council Arcanum.

Read to find out if they successfully capture and protect all the magical animals before the Euclidean get to them. I also wonder if Bryan is REALLY on their side now, or if he is a mole for the Euclidean.

Who Will Like This?
Anyone who loves excellent writing will love this story. I see this as a nice bridge book for someone who loves reading non-fiction books because of all the facts and tidbits of information that are sprinkled throughout the book in a nonfiction format. Of course, anyone who loves mythological animals and all things cryptozoology will go gaga over this.

Here is a sample of the text which shows why I love this book:

“Even though eighth grade would be finished on Friday and Trish was looking forward to high school in the fall, her excitement for summer vacation had just been torpedoed. Worse than that–it had been vaporized by an atom bomb, covered in smelly garbage and dumped inside a flowery pink trash bin. Trish hated flowers; she despised the color pink, and plastic was, in her opinion, the most wasteful invention ever.” –Cryptozoology for Beginners

That description is so vivid and over the top! Love, Love this!

#NonFictionLoversMustRead

Wonderful introduction to cryptozoology within a fantasy setting. Reading the first book in the series was not necessary to enjoy this book (which is a plus) and the information provided is just enough to stimulate one's curiosity.

Downloaded in error (I thought this was my second non-fiction book on the subject in weeks) I stuck with this novel til the end, despite several elements. The sidebars for one have to go down as inherently annoying – forever interrupting our heroes from book one and their search worldwide for cryptids in the face of their enemies. They also make proceedings rather repetitive at times, and only really work once when they suggest we write to our MPs and campaign for more lawful magic – before then they had patronisingly told us about our world in case we were all under ten, but that one time actually managed to pretend that this book's world and ours were the same. The storytelling throughout is very loose (what my mother would deem naive) – forever ignoring the three-act structure, dumping the new character from the prologue as if he was something made of dirt, and so on. It's very, very baggy, and could have lost a hundred pages of the 400pp here and not suffered one bit.

It's biggest quirk worth commenting on, however, was the way it harked back to the prequel so often and proved I'd never read it, but at the same time seemed to fill my mind with deja vu. It's not boring or ploddingly generic, but it really made me feel I'd seen this world of technophages against magicians before now. So while not being something I was au fait with, this universe seemed really familiar. I'd recommend it for young genre fans, and the lesbian side-issues were handled well, but boy I'd like to take a red pen to it.

This was a book that i recieved as an e-arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I fairly enjoyed it! Despite not reading the first book it didn't take away anything from my enjoyment

This story was wonderfully enchanting. I love how there were small real life facts scattered about, it really added the narrative. I wish the story had been a bit longer, but for the age group it made sense. It was a quick read, fun, worth it. I would recommend it. 4 out of 5 stars.

I will admit that this was not at all what I expected it to be at all. For readers who have not read the first book in the series (Sorcery for Beginners), make sure to start there. What I thought was going to be a guidebook for kids into the world of cryptozoology was an adventure story of teenagers trying to figure out what happened to the missing weird creatures of the world.

a really good book for anyone just getting interested into Cryptozoology. The book provides a good overview of all the major cryptozoological mysteries out there without providing so much detail as to overwhelm the beginner.