Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

The Shadows of Rookhaven is the second Monsters of Rookhaven book by Pádraig Kenny. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Henry Holt imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 3rd quarter 2023 from the publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an exciting and well written fantasy adventure story for middle grades (10-14 years, Lexile 660L). Following on from the events in book 1, Maribelle and her raven friend Lucius are helping the family of Rookhaven monsters with the planning of the once-per-century Great Configuration. Fate has other plans in store, when a young half-human boy stumbles into their midst.

This is very much an action driven plot with interesting and quirky characters (mostly monsters who are generally ok, and humans who are mostly monstrous). It's a fast moving and engaging story and I never found my interest waning or found myself yanked out of the story by clunky dialogue at any point.

There's a distinctly creepy gothic vibe with both the narrative and the characters. Although it's not at all derivative and the writing styles are very different, in some ways it recalls Bradbury's "Family" stories. The themes of found family, honor, love, charity, kindness, what it means to be a true friend, and the perennial struggles of good vs. evil.

The chapter heading and internal page illustrations by Annie Carbonneau-Leclerc are simple and effective and add a lot to the read.

Fans of TJ Klune and Diana Wynne Jones will likely enjoy this series as well. The book works reasonably well as a standalone, but readers who choose to read them out of order will find a large number of spoilers in this installment for occurrences in book 1.

Four stars. Enjoyable. It would make a good choice for public or school library acquisition as well as home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Shadows of Rookhaven is the 2nd in duology by the author Pádraig Kenny, and although I did not read the first book, Monsters of Rookhaven, it wasn't hard to jump into the this fantasy. While Mirabelle's Rookhaven family is preparing to receive guests for the much anticipated 100 Year Great Configuration, Mirabelle is trying to reconcile her discovery that she is half human half monster. Among the guests is Billy, who is not an invitee, but has been coerced by a twisted group to travel to Rookhaven and retrieve an object they desire. Atmospheric and gothic, magical and mysterious are words which best describe this plot which leads the reader from London to Rookhaven and back again as Mirabelle and her friends pursue Billy in hopes of retrieving the object. The characters prove that differences provide a positive productive dynamic, and that judgmental hateful actions are evil. As the story draws to a close, I felt there was a chance to compare some plot points to contemporary times.
Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for the digital ARC.

Pádraig Kenny brings readers back into the world of Rookhaven and England after The Blitz as Mirabelle and her family prepare for the Great Configuration... but there is a new threat to the family that puts everyone at risk.

THE SHADOWS OF ROOKHAVEN builds upon the world Kenny created in THE MONSTERS OF ROOKHAVEN and is a satisfying conclusion for this duology. I loved that Kenny gave us more of the story through the eyes of Odd and Piglet - and Piglet's arc is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It was great to see Mirabelle older and growing into her own within the family and learning more of her history. I thought the new characters added to the story and the conflict was interesting. The ending is both satisfying and made me want the story to continue.

This is a great middle grade series to read for spooky season!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) in exchange for an honest review.

This sequel to The Monsters of Rookhaven really delivered on revealing secrets, the expansion of lore, and the solution to lots of interesting mysteries from book one. It was also a moving meditation on grief, love, family, and the celebration of difference.

I just reviewed The Shadows of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny. #NetGalley

I didn't read the first book in this series, so I think that made it hard for me to understand the storyline. I think it's crucial to read the first book before reading this book. Other than that I enjoyed the story.

Another great book in the Rookhaven series! Old characters were brought back with some new ones sprinkled in. I love how the author takes a band of "misfits" and creates a family that struggles with typical family problems in addition to dealing with "being monsters".

I loved the first book and was looking forward to the second. This one was also super good! The first drew me in and made me love the characters and this one only solidified that more.

I love the world that was created and it is so unique to fantasy books