It has been a while since I either read or listened to a children/middle grade fiction. I decided to give this series a try and clicked on 'Listen Now' because of the quirky cover design and the blurb. Incidentally, it was the second book in the series 'The Secret Benefits of Invisibility' that popped up first on NetGalley and I was getting pretty confused with regards to what was actually going on in the book when the first title soon followed and helped me a great deal in understanding the plot line.

Both are fun books to listen to with two very precocious and smart children as protagonists and is a mixture of Sci-fi adventure- with an alternate dimension world called Falinnheim (which is a mix of medieval and futuristic technology) as the backdrop- mystery solving( with clues being nursery rhymes!) and a struggle to bring the rightful government back in power in Falinnheim. Tuesday, the eldest of the two children, is quite hyper while Zed is someone who, in desi terms, can be described as 'chota packet bara dhamaka'. Also, Falinnheim is a world where the yearly calendar is based on seasons and not months (as both Tuesday and Zed find out in book two).

This is a fun series which children, whose age group it is aimed at, will surely enjoy listening. I am not sure how many books this series will consist of but it has started off well. Ivy Tara Blair does a very good job as the narrator; her narration is lively and plays a big role in keeping the interest of the listener.

I received an audio Arc of both the books from the publisher Cinnibar Moth Publishing LLC and the author C. W. Allen via NetGalley. Since I listened to both the books back to back, this is my review for both the books.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (both audiobooks).

Thank you to Cinnabar Moth Publishing and Net Galley for access to an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Benefits of Invisibility is a great sequel to to Relatively Normal Secrets, following on from the action and infinitely expanding the world. My main criticism of the first book was a lack of worldbuilding, but there was so much more in this one! I especially loved the Jewish influence on the second world fantasy setting rather than the more typical and overused Christian - I learnt a lot I didn’t know, which is great as an informative opening for younger readers.

I would have loved a continuation of the rhyme riddles from book 1 or something similar - the plot felt a little less connected and well-threaded overall, and could have used a tying together device such as this.

Overall, a fun and quick read.

4/5

I enjoy middle grade fiction and this was a fun listen. The narration was very good and I enjoyed the characters. I did not, however, realize this was book 2 in a series and felt lost at times, but that was my own fault.

This series is not for me….

The characters just aren’t so interesting and the world building isn’t there…it could have been more original with original names etc.

I'm a fan of this series for two reasons: one, it's thoughtful, snappy, and imaginative. C.W. Allen has created a more than compelling setting for Tuesday and Zed, where they get to journey through danger and explore their connections in a new-to-them world. I love how Allen writes action-packed sense that feel great in context to the story but moreso are just fun! The second reason I love this series is for the audiobook narrator, Ivy Tara Blair. Talk about a master of energetic storytelling! Blair brings an amazing conversational read that is so clearly connected and age-appropriate for this story. Her narration of the toothpaste volcano in this book is an absolute blast, and she deftly takes us across Falinnheim with her. In this title, Blair even ventures into podcast-y storytelling territory with some effects, particularly in the climactic ending of this novel that, while non-traditional, felt well executed and did help me feel in-context and in the moment. This title is a win, and I can't wait for more collaborations from these two creators down the road and into the future!

What a fun book! This is the second in a series by C. W. Allen and does a great job continuing a story that is engaging, charming, and both well-suited to its intended age group and enjoyable for adults. The characters are personable, memorable, and endearing, and neatly avoids any characters being overly shallow or two-dimensional caricatures. The protagonists act believably for their age and in entertaining ways, the audiobook narrator did a great job bringing them to life. The plot is well-paced, builds tension and impact in ways that keep the reader identifying with the protagonists, and makes great use of the unique world-building, with nothing described seeming useless or irrelevant. The climax is especially clever and compelling as a confluence of all the major conflicts and themes leading up to it. I can't wait to see where the story goes next!

Adventure filled for sure, but also a bit slow or repetitive in places. This is the second book and there may be some plot points missing if you don't read the first book. I found it hard to trust any of the characters aside from Zed and Tuesday, considering how many double crosses happened or were foreshadowed. The world-building is interesting and most of the plot twists worked and fit in with the story. Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for a review.

Good sounding narrator, interesting storyline. I enjoyed the different characters and how they intertwine with each other.
Good fantasy story for older children and young adults.
Easy listen and interesting story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I already read an eARC version of this book and I just wanted to listen to the audio version to see if my opinion might change. I have to say that it did not and the only difference here is that I liked the narrator voice which made it a pleasant listening moment that I enjoyed very much.

My review will remain the same as so: The second book in the Falinnheim chronicles series, where Tuesday and Zed find themselves trying to adjust to a new different environment in underground bunkers full of secret agents and members of the Resistence in a modern-meets-medieval world of Falinnheim. They will live new exciting adventures full of danger, enemies but their courage and strong personalities will help them face everything even a Tyrant.

I have to say that I loved the first book way more than this second one. I missed the presence of Nyx. The mixed cultures references that was just a big nonsense, I didn't get it if Falinnheim was another version of Japan or what, with the kids calling their grandma "Obaachan" ad their dad "baba", we also have Kyoto, Alexandria, celebrating the Solistice, Christmas and Hanukkah too!! I think that the author was a bit lazy here because she could have created new names for the cities and all the other things for her world building to make it more special and kind of neutral. It wasn't like this in the first book because we have some plot holes here and the fact that their parents always disappear at the beginning of the story and reappear at the end of it. I found their grandma kind of cold either here or in the first book. It was not the sequel that I was wishing for it.

This book was a quick, fun read. I felt like I had missed something as the characters were talking about past adventures. It took quite a bit of looking to realize that it is a sequel. I did not know that when I requested it. All in all, not exceptional literature but fun and a unique example of middle-grade dystopia.

Book: The Secret Benefits of Invisibility
Author: CW Allen
Series: The Falinnheim Chronicles #2
Audiobook Narrator: Ivy Tara Blair
Publisher: Cinnabar Moth Publishing LLC
Genre: SciFi/Fantasy
Pub Date: June 7, 2022
Rating: 3.5 rounded up Stars

Zed and Tuesday are starting new school; this school is underground and full of secret agents.

A security breach interrupts a school field trip; Zed, Tuesday and classmates find they are locked out and the adults are trapped inside the Resistance base.
It is up to the kids to save the day. Since they are kids and have always been treated like they’re invisible; no one suspects they are capable of taking down the intruders that captured their families, as well as the dictator who put them all there.
I know I am not the target audience for this story but as an educator I like to read stories suitable for school age children. There is no doubt a middle school boy or girl who probably feels invisible to the world would certainly enjoy this story.

Want to thank NetGalley and Cinnabar Moth Publishing LLC for this Audio eGalley.
Publishing Date was June 7, 2022

I picked up this book because I wanted some easy listening. This booked is definitely aimed at middle school children, but I’m an adult I enjoyed the book. It struck me that this is the sort of book I enjoyed reading when I was a child. A well written, accessible, story with adventure and mayhem, goodies and baddies, adults who are more than they seem, adults who see children and some who don’t see them at all, and child heroes. This would make an excellent first step into Sc-fi/fantasy or be a wonderful next book for an already hooked youngster. Or could be used in the Science classroom for Sci-fi based literacy work. Thank you to Cinnabar Moth Publishing and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.