In Book 1, the world building was just being set up, so at times, it was a bit hard to understand, but in book 2, it was solidified and I really enjoyed reading this. Ivy, the protagonist, is a lot more developed and I really enjoyed reading about her adventures. And I have to say, the Dark Queen really scared me at many points in the book. The climax was pretty intense too, and I was on the edge of my seat while I was reading it.

Now, I'm excited to get into the rest of the series!

After everything that happened in the first book, I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going to go with this one. I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by the direction it took! I felt like this one went in more of its own unique direction. Ivy seemed to grow a lot as a character throughout and I enjoyed getting to learn more about The Town and all the unknown connections it has to the plot. I think the best part of this series is that it holds a certain intrigue that’s good for any level of reader, from a middle school level up to adulthood this is a story that everyone can find some magic and enjoyment in.

I actually liked this book better than the first one. It had higher stakes, and was packed with adventure. Again it follows our protagonist Ivy, but unfortunately, she gets kicked out of her dream magic school and adventure ensues.

Another brilliant whimsical fantasy, picking up where the first book left off. This time, we travel with Ivy Lovely to new places and meet amazing new characters.

Really enjoyed the idea of the game 'Quogo' and how they use their quills. In this book you can see how the characters have grown and developed their own style.

From the first chapter, the plot was fast moving and you'll get sucked into the story right away. I really don't want to giveaway too much.

I liked the way how the book was split up between Belzebathe and the Halls of Ivy. The chapters were small and I think that helps. You can't help but compliment the author on her writing skills and narration.

This book was full of adventure, danger and mystery. I can't wait to introduce this series to my daughter.

I want to thank Netgally and @storiesuntoldpress for giving me this ebook to read in exchange for my honest review.

@storiesuntoldpress @author.denight & @netgalley, thank you so much for the gifted copy of the next book in The Crowns of Croswald series - The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.
✨
I didn’t think the first book could be topped but this was even better - the world outside the Halls of Ivy was even more intriguing and intense and I just couldn’t stop reading to find out more
✨
Ivy is a formidable character and I loved her growing friendship with Fyn and his friends, they make a perfect duo and gang.
✨
I genuinely loved this book and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.....
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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How would you like to spend a day under the Belzebuthe sky, nibbling on cracker hats, renting out stargusters? Or ride an Invisitaur to go star fishing on your birthday? Round it all of with a feast at Bramble's Fritter & Nosh or get a WInky Drink, that chases away the foggy blues. Hm? No? Yes? What's it gonna be?

If it doesn't sound appealing, you need to read this book. Or your kids need to read it. Or both of you together!

We continue where we left off, following Ivy through all her adventures. Navigating summer without school, staying away from the Dark Queen, stumbling into danger, learning about new things and creatures, getting to solve a few more mysteries, but also have some fun along the way.

Ivy as the characters was again, adorable, inquisitive, kind...But I felt she was even more shy in this book. She was scared all the time, filled with self-doubt, hesitation and insecurity. But, at the same time, she was constantly curious, going down dark alleyways and dark stairwells when she was curious, even tho it was obvious that danger was looming at every step. I expected a bit more growth in that sense, but maybe in the next book?

If I were to say what I didn't like is that I felt like Derwin would play a bigger role in her life. I feel like we only got a superficial insight into who he is and what he is doing in this book.

I also expected the whole book to be a quest for the parts of the stone, which it was, but in the middle part there was no talk of it, but mostly talk of the shadows. While I liked that the plot was multilayered, I also felt like for a while there, we completely drifted off from the main track and goal.

Unfortunately, I also felt like the story had so many similarities to HP, and although not obvious at first glance, but it was definitely there. It's not that big of a deal, but the whole Quogo thing, along with the diving into glanagerie to live through memories, the whole Gretta situation was similar to the Ginny situation... I hoped it would be a little bit more authentic, and not reminiscent of the Harry Potter world.

Anyways, brownie points for this book showing us that we have to overcome fear to shine and thrive. I will definitely read the next book, because I can't but not follow through with Ivy until the very end.

Book Review:

The Girl With the Whispering Shadow by D. E. Knight
⭐⭐⭐⭐
She range 10-13

Book 2 of The Crowns of Croswald sees Ivy Lovely's adventures continue. She has one piece of the kindred stone but there are two more to find. The Dark Queen believes that Ivy has the stone and is determined to take it from her. After the events at the ball showed that the Dark Queen could gain access to the school, Ivy is sent away to The Town for her own safety. The Town is not only protected by magic but is also impossible to find unless you know it's name. A name only known to those with magical blood. But is Ivy safe from the Dark Queen's machinations any where?

If anything I enjoyed The Girl With The Whispering Shadow even more than The Crowns of Croswald. I feel the author writes more confidently and the world building is excellent. I enjoyed watching Ivy develop, make friends and become more confident in her magic, as well as her new found identity.

I loved The Town with its eccentric shops and it's own weather system. The descriptions of the permanently night sky and it's stars was delightful. Who could help being entranced by the idea of fishing for stars? Or that catching one means that a wish comes true for the person who placed it in the sky? Then there is Quogo a game played with quills that has some unexpected outcomes.

All in all this is a lovely book with enough danger and adventure to keep the reader turning the pages until the very last one. I look forward to reading book 3 of the series.

Thank you to NetGally and Stories Untold Press for my E copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

I just finished this book 2 of Crowns of Croswald and I am in love! This series is amazing. In this book Ivy has learned the secret of who she really is and what happened to her family but she is still in danger from Dark Queen. Because of this danger she isn’t allowed back at school right away and has to stay hidden in a secret town. She also needs to find the missing pieces of her stone. This world is so whimsical and magical and we experience a lot more of it in this book. I just adore everything about this book and this series. I love the characters and really enjoyed getting to know more characters and also getting know some characters even better (Fyn). I can’t wait to see where this story goes and how things develop. So excited for book 3 now! Also just a side note I think these books would be so cool to do illustrated versions of.

In the second book of the wonderfully whimsy world of Croswald, the story seems to branch out and really add more flesh to the world whilst still retaining all the magical feels of the 1st book. The story starts to become it's own with more depth, rather than being affiliated with another story (cough, cough, Harry Potter). As a reader we really get to travel more deeply into the story and the world. It takes place exactly where the first book finishes off. The author has such a whimsical with words and names that make them so one of a kind! We get to see Ivy Lovely flourish and grow as main character whilst still remaining as the likeable protagonist. The imagery is vivid and magical, and the pace is more progressive than previous. A fun and fantastical read.

Plot includes: a magical game called Quogo, a runaway luggage, a secret society called the Quality Quills Club, a Dark Queen, and heartwarming friendships. An all round solid sequel to the series.

First, I want to thank @author.denight @danielastoriesuntoldpress and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book in return for my honest review.
The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, Book 2 in the Crowns of Croswald series...."You can be trapped in a castle, trapped in a scaldrony. Trapped by people. But the worst is being trapped by fear." This book was so good! Roo stayed up super late to finish this book! This book was entertaining from the minute that I picked it up to the minute I put it down. D.E. Night has an incredible talent, she can transport her readers right into the story! I honestly feel that readers of all ages will love this series! I cannot wait to see what happens with Ivy next!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars I recommend this book to everyone! If you want to be taken away on an adventure, this book is for you. You will most definitely fall in love with Ivy and her friends.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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