The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second in the Crowns of Croswald series by D.E.Night and continues the adventures of Ivy Lovey in her magical and mystical world! Ivy's true identity has been hidden and protected, but she has discovered who she really is! The Dark Queen wants her dead, and has no problem endangering anyone who gets in her way. Ivy and her friends (Rebecca, Fyn, Glistle, Gretta and the others from the Quality Quills Club) from Ivy Hall realize it's up to them to protect the world of Croswald. In order for Ivy to regain her full power, she must collect the three pieces of a Kindred Stone which were broken and hidden from the Dark Queen. As Ivy tries to find the pieces, the Dark Queen is right behind ready to steal them away. A young adult book that this adult also enjoyed! The heroine, Ivy, is lovable, whimsical and has a knack for getting in trouble! The book is full of interesting characters and magical creatures with just the right amount of suspense for middle school readers. This is the second in a series of four books (the fourth being released in January 2022!), and I look forward to continuing along on this adventure with Ivy and her friends.
Thank you @NetGalley and @author.denight for the opportunity to read and review!

Wow! This book was even better than the first one. The chapters involving the town were my favorite. It was so nice to move away from the school and get to know more about this incredible world. I enjoyed this story so much I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. I could not wait to pick it up again. I highly recommend this series.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

After her acceptance into the school where she can develop her till now hidden magical powers, something strange and unexplained is following Ivy.

After reading the first book I was so happy of the chance to read the second one. As I started to read I noticed better character and a world development. I love how its easy to read and easy to follow what's happening with the main girl - Ivy. This time, #thegirlwiththewhisperingshadow is more detailed than the first book, author includes more action as well. Strangely I also loved that this book doesn't have romantic atmosphere ( even you can slightly feel it).

While reading its so easy to imagine everything that sometimes it feels like you're watching the movie - its so vivid !!!

Everyone who loves easy magical reads, fairytales, action and ( I would say - a bit of mystery) will love this book.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book started basically right where the first one left off. I really enjoyed the character growth of Ivy. She really starts to open up and embrace her magic. The world building and magic systems are expanded and it makes for a much more intriguing book. While I enjoyed the first one this one was even better. The side characters are really great and I think the slow burn small romance with Fyn is perfect for middle grade. Ivy and Rebecca’s growing friendship is a great addition too. The Dark Queen feels more threatening and real in this book she isn’t just mentioned and I enjoyed getting to learn more about her and her dark motives. My only critique is again the middle felt like it dragged on a bit and the action didn’t really start until the end. Overall I enjoyed this book even as an adult. If you enjoy middle grade fantasy books this is for you!

*This ARC was provided by the publisher through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a genuine example of an author greatly improving their writing.

The main improvement I noticed, and truly enjoyed, was the growth in character development. Characters had their own voices and were easily distinguishable throughout the book and the point of view changes. They were much more well-rounded and this made them more relatable for the reader.

One of my favorite things throughout this book was how we were able to see Ivy grow in confidence, but also be vulnerable and talk about her fears. She allows friends to be there for her and also offers comfort to others where she can.

We also had Gretta playing a major, yet slightly overlooked, role throughout the book. It was an interesting use of character, given that she only shows up mainly in the beginning and in the end, but we are given enough clues at that beginning scene to piece together the puzzle and grow anxious at Ivy's obliviousness. Very well done usage of a secondary character.

With Derwin, we got a scrivenist who is now a shell of whom he once was, and is afraid of not being enough to be Ivy's protector. Rather than play the parental figure, he becomes somewhat of an older brother (or perhaps a young uncle) to Ivy, working through things together.

Then we have Fyn, who tries to be the savior and boyfriend, while also working through his own trust issues. He is not afraid to speak his mind, and we are able to understand him much more than in the previous book.

On the topic of boys though, something that felt a bit forced was the love triangle. There was no real reason to make Glistle like Ivy in order to have him play a major role in the plot because he was already part of the Club. Especially given that it was left unexplored. It didn't really add anything to the story, or to Ivy's blossoming romance with Fyn. If anything, it served as a distraction from the main plot.

I still had an issue with how sudden the POVs were, particularly during the battle closer to the end. It felt unnatural and unnecessary to insert a single POV sentence after mentioning characters (for example, Glistle or Fyn), to then revert back to Ivy's.

Despite all of this, we did learn more about what the Dark Queen is, and how she operates. Truthfully, she is quite a scary character, but also an intriguing one. A part of me feels like she is just misunderstood, so it will be interesting to see how she continues to develop.

Overall, this book was super fun to read and definitely continues to be an addicting series in terms of plot.

The Girl With The Whispering By D.E. Night is the sequel to The Crowns Of Croswald! To give a bit of a recap The Croswald is about a young girl named Ivy and she receives the chance to attend a special magic school. However, There are dangers for her more than she may realize. In this book Ivy doesn’t return back to school because she is in danger. I won’t say anymore on that. This book as overall sequel was great and better than the first book! All of the characters are maturing and we as the reader get to know them a little better. I really liked the introduction to the game Quogo and the introduction to The Quality Quills Club which is a secret club of Quogo players. This book is full of whimsy and it just puts me in such a better mood! I don’t think I could ever get tired of reading about Ivy and all of her adventures! Thank you so much. To Netgalley for giving me this book to review!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in this series by D.E. Night. I enjoyed the first book a lot and couldn't wait to read through this one.

Ivy Lovely discovers she is the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise, and within no time at all, she is taken away to a secret town reserved only for those with magical blood. We pick up exactly where she left off in the first book as she's in search of the Kindred Stone. As with the first book, I loved the way the author depicted this magical world. It was similar to Hogwarts in some ways, but in other ways it was so unique. The descriptions of everything from the characters, the plants, the town and everything in between was done very well - I felt as if I was experiencing everything myself.

Ivy is the perfect main character and wonderful in so many ways, she is the definition of what you want in a heroine. It was a book that I managed to read through quickly and I wasn't able to put it down after getting into the first few chapters. I really enjoyed this book.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for it's originality and captivating storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-book to review!

I was hooked on the first book and the second one pulled me in even more. I loved the new character additions and I really thought they helped to further the plot. Ivy is still a great protagonist and I enjoy seeing her friendships and relationships grow. Evil was still lurking in this book and I need to read book three. the plot, details, magic system and setting are all enjoyable and I really think the series is developed so well. It was a quick read and I still can't believe I'm only reading this trilogy now. I also would love more of Fyn's perspective and I hope even though he was older and graduated he'll be a present character in the third installment. Rebecca is also important and I love how far her and Ivy have come and will continue to grow. Great series so far and I'm glad book two didn't hit the dreaded sequel slump.

I am writing on behalf of my daughter, who is 11 years old. She has an IG account (@paige.s.reading), and thanks to Stories Untold Press, she received a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ , she loved it and wants to keep reading the whole series.

Plot: Ivy Lovely is an orphan living in Castle Plum as a Scauldron dragon maid. One day she is kicked out of the castle with her Scauldron. They wind up in the Halls of Ivy, a magic school. Ivy is curious about an empty journal that she found at the school, but she is forbidden to read it. Will she find out the truth behind the journal?

Feelings: I was curious and Anxious at the end of the book because I am afraid that Ivy might get in trouble, and I want to know what happens next! It is written with magic and mystery; that’s what kept me reading the book. It also reminds me of Harry Potter.

Fun Facts: This is my second book on kindle (on my Ipad). I enjoyed reading an ebook for a change. It also has an electronic bookmark.

Recommendations: I highly recommend this book if you like fantasy or magical worlds or Harry potter.

I’m really glad I decided to pick up the second book since the first book was just so-so for me!

Once I stopped comparing it to another fantasy/magical/wizardry book, I enjoyed it much more! As with the first one, I enjoyed the world building (I’m need to fantasy, so the middle grade style is PERFECT) for me! While the book did seem to drag at times, I enjoyed it so much more than the first book! I will definitely be finishing the trilogy!

The second book lives up to my hopes. It tides over in many ways the first book.
Ivy is the last heir to the throne and the only one with royal blood. That explains why the Dark Queen wants to destroy Ivy.
I do not want to write more about the content. Because I am afraid that I mistakenly spoiler something.
The world-building and magic are as awesome as in the first book. I extremely enjoyed all of it. In this book we visit more places in the world, we meet old and new characters in the book. D. E. Nicht improves the old ones and I adore all of them.
I recommend this series to all who like HP, Keeper of Lost Cities, or who are a fan of middle grade/ fantasy.
Thank you to Stories Untold for provided me the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and D.E Night for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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.

—

After reading the first book, I thought this was a good series but nothing special. Second books in a series tend to be worse than the first, however, this one is the complete opposite. I really enjoyed this book and the magical world is written in a way which is so vivid to imagine.

The characters are loveable - in the first book, I wanted more development of them individually and in their friendship, and this book does exactly that. Not only are they developed but expanded and a found family is formed. The relationship between Ivy and Fyn is adorable and I hope he sticks around in book three, after graduating.

There are books that are so good that when you finish them, you end up in a slump. Then there are those which make you realise why you fell in love with reading, and are excited to read more, no matter what genre or type of book. And this is one of those gems.

I can’t wait to read book three!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow
(The Crowns of Croswald #2)
by D.E. Night

I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A magical story beginning basically where the first one left us with the experiences of the Masquerade Ball still a vivid recollection in everyone’s mind, which is only to be expected. Who could forget that?
A mysterious girl who can’t claim rest from sleep, a wet ball gown from a ball she can’t recall attending... has the Dark Queen managed to penetrate the unseen protection of Belzebuthe? Would life ever be the same in Croswald?

Ivy Lovely is again the centre of attention in this second book by D.E. Night. With the fear that the Halls of Ivy will no longer be safe, what alternatives remain available to her? This is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series, that stands out and shines all by itself. It continues the story perfectly but is also possible to read as a standalone without the confusion that ordinarily follows jumping in at a book two. I would recommend reading the first book nevertheless, as there is considerable detail to discover concerning Ivy’s background and it is again an exceptional read in general. We return to face the characters that charmed us in Book One, Humboldt the Scaldron, for example, plus we meet fresh ones along the way.
The author depicts beautiful imagery, evoking scenes that would fit perfectly on screen, in a movie or series. The descriptions are eloquently written, making it so obvious to envision each place or situation as the adventure unfolds. D. E Night has a fabulous narrative that enthralled me from book one; I was far from disappointed, fixed even further on the personalities and the world that surrounds them.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is full of vivid characters and detailed events that delight from start to finish. With an intense storyline that captures you from the beginning, mystery and intrigue, the ominous threat of the Dark Queen continuing to torment, a possible budding romance... all squashed between the pages and bound together with potions and spells.
Thank you to D.E.Night and NetGalley for allowing me to discover this amazing world.
I am a huge fan and can’t wait for more!

I rate The Girl with the Whispering Shadow 5 out of 5 stars.

I'll star by saying that I liked this book a lot more than the first, but that's expected since we already know our characters and setting . The story develops at a good pace and the action was entertaining. The characters developed naturally and the magic aspects keep growing. I liked the inclusion of new friends for Ivy and the expanding of the world of Croswald. We get the resolution to one mystery but we get more to keep us hooked. I'm looking forward to read the third one and know how this ends!

After reading the first book in this series earlier this year, when I was given the opportunity to read the sequel, I couldn’t pass it up. The first book reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, in a good way, and the sequel built upon that but also felt very unique.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow picks up from where the first book ends, so this review will have spoilers for the first book. After the events of the end of year ball, Ivy has been told not to return to the Halls of Ivy next year, and Winsome has sent her on a hunt for the other parts of the Kindred Stone. Her journey takes her to the Town, which only residents know the true name of. There she is reunited with Fyn and meets lots of new people and friends, and discovers a new game called Quogo.

‘Every book in here is a fantasy, and they consider fantasies to be just the same as lies.’

I really love the friendship in these books and I always forget that the characters are older than I think. The author tells an addictive story of magic and friendship and I couldn’t stop reading. Fyn and Ivy have such a good relationship and I really enjoyed reading more about them in this book. Also, Rebecca and the new characters introduced were interesting and provided moments of tension at points. This is such a fun read and I loved it even more than the first book! Despite being children’s fiction, this book and this series are definitely for all ages.

Throughout the course of this book, Ivy is constantly learning about herself and magic and growing into a great character, whilst the threat of the Dark Queen is constantly looming. If you love Harry Potter and books about magic schools with magical creatures and games, then this one is definitely for you!

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second installment in The Crowns of Crosswald series.

I love the way Ivy’s personality developed from a shy, clumsy girl to a determined and matured one. Though she had doubted herself a couple of times, her persistence and willingness to become better made me admire her. I love how the author conjured the secret town, Belzebuthe. Though some of the events were predictable, the concepts in this book were unique and magical. The idea of Quogo and Invisitaurs were is fantastic, but my most favorite one is where one could make a wish upon a moondust star and be able to grant someone’s wish by fishing a star as well.

Moreover, I became ecstatic that when I got to know more about Fyn Greeley’s background story and personal life which made me ship him and Ivy even more. I also like how Fyn had Ivy’s back every time she went on a dangerous adventure, solidifying themselves as partners in crime. Ivy and Rebecca’s inseparable friendship, as always, makes me smile. I am glad that Ivy has Rebecca and Fyn in her life. Though there is not much information about the new characters, I still enjoyed their presence in the book, especially with Gliste and his outgoing personality.

Overall, I enjoyed this light and fun book. The plot, characters, dialogues, setting, vivid imagery, and concepts are very whimsical. The twist towards the ending about star solo is nicely done. I hope I will be able to read the third book because I am hooked onto this series.

'The Girl with the Whispering Shadow': 4 ⭐

(Unpaid review: thank you to @denight, @netgalley and @storiesuntold for allowing me to read this eArc).

I've read the first book of this series last year. It was thrilling, yet soft and sweet. This one, however, was intense and mysterious, just how we like it!
The protagonist was stronger and more determined, which made me love the book even more! I absolutely love everything about this world and more people should read this series, as it is the perfect match between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson!

*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of this book by Stories Untold via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Enter a world full of magic and mystery in the second book of The Crowns of Croswald series by D.E. Night. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow starts where Ivy Lovely leaves the Halls of Ivy to go to a mysterious town called Belzebuthe, this is the only place where she is hidden away from the Dark Queen. No one can find this town unless they know the name.
School has come to an end and Ivy has to find the second missing segment of the Kindred Stone in order to defeat the Dark Queen and her time is running out. Ivy is supposed to be safe in Belzebuthe but unexplainable things are happening which can just mean the Dark Queen is behind it. In the streets there are whispers of the Dark Queen and fear is seeping into the residents after a break-in in the Quill Keep.

Apart from her mission to find the missing piece of the Kindred Stone, Ivy makes new friends while staying with Fyn and his mother, even celebrating his birthday and spending time together fishing for stars on the roof. Wait until you get to this part, it gives new meaning to ‘wish upon a star’.
I enjoyed the part where Fyn takes Ivy to her first Quogo match. Quogo is a duel between quills and their previous owners and the magic that takes place is exhilarating.

The town of Belzebuthe is quite intriguing with all of the different shops and their unique names. One being Quinton’s Brews & Hodgepodge where Ivy gets a part-time job when summer is over and Fyn is back at the Halls of Ivy.
After getting a letter from the Selector inviting Ivy back to school, the Selector is shocked when she sees Ivy in the halls. After explaining she never sent the letter, anxiety starts to creep in. If the Selector never sent that letter, who did? Is the Dark Queen luring Ivy into a trap?

To be honest, I liked the first book more. The second book is enjoyable and the characters are fun and magical, but the first book had my attention from the beginning. In the second book, Ivy embraces her magic and her identity and there are interesting scenes involving the Dark Queen.
The world-building is wonderful and all of the details makes it come to life and the reader is whisked away to a world with duelling quills, spells, magical stones, missing creatures and fishing for stars.

The plot in this book was very adventurous and full, which is how I think a fantasy book should be like. I really enjoyed learning more about Ivy, Belezebuthe and the Crowns of Croswald world in general. This wasn’t too heavy on the fantasy world and still kept the aspects of day-to-day life, which I really like. The writing was amazing as well and the characters were unique. I totally recommend this book series for fantasy and YA readers, you won’t regret reading it.

I think I loved this one more than the first. I think that is because there was more action in it. But regardless I am loving this series a lot and cant wait to get a hold of the 3rd book. I also wonder when the 4th book will be released. But before I go I have to say Ivy, Fyn, Rebecca and Professor Night (D. E. N.) are my favorites and that I really dislike the Dark Queen alot. I also want to get the books in physical form cause I believe I will want to reread them in the future. Also look out for my June Wrap up coming to my channel very soon.