Member Reviews
The most resonant aspect of "The Whispering Fog" is its exploration of sisterhood and the unbreakable bond that binds Neve and Rose together. As Neve embarks on a perilous journey to save her sister, she discovers that true bravery lies not in the absence of fear, but in the willingness to confront it head-on for the ones we hold dear. "The Whispering Fog" is a masterfully crafted tale that will linger in the hearts and minds of readers long after they turn the final page. With its blend of mystery, magic, and sisterly devotion, Landra Jennings' debut is a spellbinding ode to the power of love to conquer even the darkest of forces. A must-read for fans of contemporary fantasy and lovers of stories that transport them to worlds both familiar and fantastical.
After their parents' separation, middle grade sisters Rose and Neve have been moved to the piney wood son the outskirts of Etters, South Carolina by their mother. Rose, the elder, plays tennis, and Neve the younger by 11 months, is more inclined to creative pursuits. The sisters seem to be slowly adjusting to their new life, until Rose is enveloped in a dense fog, and disappears. None of the adults will believe Neve, but new friends Piper and Sammy believe, and Piper has the personal experience to back up the story behind several disappearances. Add in a strange hound dog, book of fairy tales, a swamp, and a witch, and you have the ingredients for a contemporary retelling of Snow White and Rose Red. Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Clarion for the digital arc.
Two sisters--constantly compared and always mentioned in the same breath. Will it take a supernatural adventure for them to set themselves apart?
The Whispering Fog by Landra Jennings is a spooky thrill of a ride for middle grade students. A quick read, it draws you in and swallows you just like the fog swallows Neve's sister, Rose. It has just enough scare factor to satisfy elementary students without being too graphic. A great story, I will be adding it to my collection and recommending it to my readers who enjoy a scary story.
I'm a huge sucker for a fairy-tale retelling and this was an excellent example of the genre. At times the writing felt a little as though the author was still finding their feet but by and large a thoroughly enjoyable middle grade novel. (Maybe, sometime, somehow, someway, we might get a protagonist with queer family members as opposed to one who has a side character with queer parents whom we never meet or see.)
The Whispering Fog is definitely a spooky, fantastical story of sisters Neve and Rose. Neve seems to always do what older sister Rose is doing regardless of what it may be. They are inseparable so it seems, but the fog comes in and swallows Rose right before Neve's eyes. Neve is forced to learn how to become her own person and forced to find her own voice to conquer the witch's plan and save her sister. Middle grade fans of scary or spooky fiction will enjoy this novel.
The Whispering Fog is a great story about learning to be your own person and trust your own instincts. Although she always just did whatever her sister told her she should do, Neve did quite well when she had to go out on her own to rescue Rose. The parallel between Neve/Rose and Mrs Katch and her sister was very well crafted. You could have felt bad for Mrs. Katch had she not spent decades murdering young girls. My heart did break a little for Piper when it was clear her sister was really gone, but it was also nice to see that her sister's message helped her to move on. And Sammy turned out to be the perfect kind of friend for Neve - even when he thought she was nuts he was still there to help and support her. The parts about the book dealing with the situation between Neve's parents were also really well done - I was really glad to see they were still separated at the end rather than the fairy tale of them getting back together (her dad had a lot of work to in order for that to happen). I wish that there had been one more with Neve telling her father about how she felt about the way he treated her. I just felt like there was still a lot for Neve to get off her chest with regard to that. I highly recommend this for classroom and school libraries. Some of the parts involving Mrs. Katch might be a little too scary for more sensitive readers.
Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins Children's Book for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The Whispering Fog follows two sisters Rose and Neve that are never apart. But when their parents get separated, divisions between the sisters begin to form. Rose seems to be heading in one direction, while Neve starts feeling left behind. But when rumors of their new home start floating around, an unsuspecting threat begins to loom.
I enjoyed the sister dynamic between Rose and Neve. I felt like their differences felt like a genuine part of growing up and becoming your own person. I haven't read the Rose Red and Snow White fairytale in a while so I can't offer a constructive review on whether this is a good retelling. But I enjoyed the magic, the family dynamics, and the plot. The characters were also a delight! I loved the little quirks each character, event he minor ones had.