The next installment in the Waxways series is absolutely worth the read. Readers who dive back into Ren’s world and her plot to exact revenge on the people who killed her father will not be disappointed. The fast paced, thrilling, dark and twisty sequel to A Door in the Dark keeps readers entertained and on their toes through out the entire literary experience.

Reintgen does an excellent job propelling his audience through both the high society and the dirty alleyways of Kathor while treating the reader to multiple perspectives of different characters in the novel. Fans of magic, adventure, action, fighting, complex plots, twists, romance, and revenge will all enjoy this read.

I would have liked some deeper development into the relationships and emotional connections between characters; I am always hoping for a few more moments with Ren and Theo! I hope to see more of that in the next Waxways book. However, I do appreciate that the priorities and time spent in the plot remain true to Ren’s character. She’s out for vengeance, and anything else she feels or experiences is second to her goals. Reintgen has developed her character in such a way that I care deeply for Ren and I hope that her quest for vengeance doesn’t keep her from the happiness she could experience if she shifted her priorities. I can’t wait for the next book so I can find out!

Reintgen has hit another home run with this book! Grab a copy and some snacks, clear your schedule, and get cozy because once you get started on this book, you won’t want to put it down.

I made the mistake of starting A Door in the Dark one night before bed... and I woke up somewhere around 2am and kept reading. And I still don't regret those lost hours of sleep. Ren and her world caught me right from the start, and since flying to the end of book 1, I've been really anxious to find out how the next phase of her plan would pan out. I thought Door was dark and twisty, and I couldn't imagine how Scott might make it even more so.... well, wait until you re-enter the Waxways, try to unravel the layers upon layers of family drama, and the new characters introduced in A Whisper in the Walls.

Fantasy-Thriller isn't my usual genre, but because I've been a fan of Scott's other MG and YA, and had Ren pitched to me as a vengeful Hermione, I picked up A Door in the Dark. What I appreciate about these first two books in the series is how Scott creates a world that is easy to step inside with just enough Magic and Fantasy elements to help you suspend belief, without needing an index or map to follow (however, I hear the print book WILL have a really cool map!). A Whisper in the Walls keeps that going with really unique magic put to work, with enough context to keep the pace of the story going. With bringing new characters in the fold (through Multi-POV which I LOVED), twisting the original plot into a tighter spiral of suspense and emotional punches, AND expanding the world-view, A Whisper in the Walls brings new complexity as a really fast-paced sequel, and satisfyingly, we're left with a new mystery unfolding on the last pages! I can't wait for any details announced of Book 3 and find out where we go next....

MITOCHONDRIA IS NOT THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL. REN MONROE IS.

The RAGE. The AMBITION. The DARK DESCENT that never finds a bottom. It is a rare book that lingers in my lungs long after the final page. I guess I wasn't breathing properly for most of it???

Tbh A Door in the Dark was SO INTENSE that I wasn't sure how the story could expand into the greater societal structure with that same intensity. After all, book one has a thriller-like plot that just. doesn't. stop. It's a proper thriller too, not a "whodunit" packaged as a thriller just to sell better. It's such a unique plot with built-in anxiety that I HAD to resolve. BUT SCOTT REINTGEN PULLED IT OFF YET AGAIN IN THE SEQUEL. The scope of the world expands greatly, but even the tiniest details are personal gut punches to the POV characters. The two new POVs carry just as much rage and ambition as Ren, but each with a unique flavor that utilizes fascinating new sections of the world and personalizes their styles of magic. At first I was worried that I would miss time with Ren, but I didn't. She never leaves the narrative. She permeates everything and everyone. Seeing her perceived through their eyes and how she affects them is FASCINATING and honestly made me giddy. That interrogation scene? *chef's kiss* You'll have to read it to learn what I mean. Someone better buy the film rights because it would make a KILLER TV series.

I'm SO GLAD there's gonna be a book three, but I also hate that I got book two early because now the wait for book three is longer. CURSE YOU, SCOTT REINTGEN!!! I had too much fun and now I'm just an empty human with shriveled lungs. 😭😭😭