When listening to the audiobook, there were moments when not having read the previous book made things a bit of a struggle. It wasn't that I couldn't catch up; Ivy spends a chunk of time reflecting on her past. The issue was that I just didn’t feel that strong attachment to the characters like Ivy.
Although the story contained elements that usually draw me in, I didn’t find myself completely captivated or yearning to keep listening until I was well over halfway through. Maybe that lack of familiarity with the first book was a stumbling block for me.
Another aspect that affected my enjoyment was Ivy's character. At times, she has these profound realizations, but then she seems to act as though they never happened. Some might chalk it up to the nature of being a teenage girl, but it felt a bit inconsistent for me.
On the flip side, I did appreciate the mystery behind closed doors at the castle. The layers of fantasy—with all the extra abilities—were definitely intriguing and added an engaging twist to the plot.
I'm actually considering going back to read the first book now to get a fuller understanding of Ivy’s backstory and the clues she's been following.
As for the audiobook itself, I have to give a shoutout to Kim Churchill. Her reading is fantastic; she captures the characters' emotions beautifully, making the listening experience enjoyable.
Overall, while "Castle Ever Dark" had its ups and downs for me, I’m curious to see what I might discover by starting from the beginning of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Portal Publishing, LLC for the advance copy of the audiobook to review.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read & review via ARC. I struggled some in the beginning- only because it was an audiobook & I am just now starting to really be able to focus on having someone read the story. The book is a great book & I do recommend you to buy it

This was good
It had great plot and flowed so well, the narrator done an amazing job.

I did feel the last 30% of the book was slightly rushed and could have been drawn out slightly better. But this definitely wouldn’t stop me reading book 3 for sure.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

- YA Fantasy
- Found Family
- Coming of Age
- Slow Burn Romance

Castle Ever Dark seems more interesting and engaging than Secrets Ever Green, there is more slightly spooky / mystery Vibes in Book 2. After Book 1, Secrets Ever Green left me with many, many questions, Castle Ever Dark answered some of those questions, but is clearly leaving the door wide open for another book.
I think that this book would be a good cozy fantasy option for a YA reader.

Castle Ever After by Sara Knightly

Castle Ever After is book 2 of the Everlight Series is a fantasy story filled with magic, and lots of suspense. The story continues Ivy's story (I have not read book one and felt I was definitely missing something, but I was still able to follow the story) I loved this world, and the story gave lots of unexpected twists. The author does a great job creating a magical world. I can picture the castle and Dark Woods. Discovering the enigmatic Count and Dr. Plye reveals their twisted nature, reminiscent of Dr. Frankenstein. The story captivated me from the start and gripped me until the very end, leaving me eager for the next book. The diverse characters were compelling, making me feel deeply invested in their journeys.

The story's fast pace was captivating. I found myself quickly immersed and delighted by the direction of the narrative. The level of mystery was just right, constantly keeping me on my toes. Overall, it was an exceptionally swift and enjoyable read.
 
Listening to Kim Churchill's narration was a delight. She perfectly captured the mood, enveloping you in the intrigue and mystery of Dark Woods. Her narration was so enjoyable that I am eager to explore more of her work.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
~

I enjoyed the continued mystery of Ivy's story in book two of The Everlight Series. The author did a great job with the new characters in the Castle, and makes you unsure of who can be trusted. The atmosphere of the Castle is done really well.

This book has elements of fantasy, mystery, friendship, and light romance. It builds upon the last book (Secrets Ever Green) really well.

Castle Ever Dark is a fantastic read, if you enjoy YA based fantasy and magic. There is also a great gothic feel to the book, and a lot of mystery to keep the story interesting.


Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

YES, yes and yes!!!
Could not wait for the second in this series.....and let me tell you it did not disappoint.
Cannot wait to find out more answers
Found the ending a little rushed but that is ok because it also left it open ended for another book
This is a must on the YA read list., read the first one and then delve right into this one.
I could not stop listening and can not wait to read it in print form

I really loved this book! I loved the creepy maze runner vibes with all the weird experiments. I like Ivy and all the other characters. I especially love how Anna is transformed.
By the 50% mark I was hooked! I just had to know what was going on! The ending of this book is so satisfying, including the cliffhanger. It’s not painful, instead it fills you with hope. I can’t wait for book 3!

I reviewed it on goodreads. Also I will be sharing about this book and Secrets Ever Green on my youtube channel some time in the next month! :)

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book unfortunately. I think maybe I waited too long so I had kinda forgotten what was going on. I found the middle of the book pretty confusing and dragged out. It did comeback together at the end but I was expecting everything to resolve which didn’t as this book is nit the end of the series. I really enjoyed the narration, distinctive voices for each character. I still enjoyed this but it was missing the most of the botany element which is what made me enjoy book 1 so much.

This sounded like such a great book but I only got approved for the second book, so I'll have to read the first.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC

this book was even better than the 2nd one. there was so much to learn and a lot of action. all the characters are easy to love. i cannot wait for book three!!

thanks to netgalley for the review copy!

SPORTOCHICK’S MUSINGS: I became addicted to the complexity of the storyline and characters.

When I first started listening to this audio book, I wasn’t sure if I’d like it but after my initial reaction, I became addicted to the complexity of the storyline and characters. It has darkness to it but not so dark that I needed to stop.

There are so many twists and turns to this storyline that I couldn’t wait to get back into my car to listen to the next part. I like that it was always on my mind. To me this is the sign of a good book. Some of the scenes broke my heart while others gave me hope.

Author Sara Knightly did a phenomenal job at developing the scenes between Ivy, Jack and all the other characters creating a believable storyline.

I am looking forward to the next book to this series. I want to learn about what happens with the Count and the rest of the characters in this story.

Castle Ever Dark is a brilliant twisty fantasy novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the way it’s reminiscent of fairytales. I used to read as a child. If you’re a fan of things like things like Snow White or Cinderella or fantasies with a strong female protagonist that starts off as the underdog then this is for you! I’m so hooked and rooting for more!

Thank you for providing me with an ARC copy of Castle Ever Dark. I really enjoyed reading this and I was able to jump straight back in from reading the last book which was great. I loved the developments we were able to see in this second book and that we get to unravel more of the mystery. I was not expecting the reveal of what was going on in the castle - there was so much more going on that what I was thinking during the first book! I loved the development of Ivy’s character and the relationships with other characters both from the first book and new to the second. The descriptions are fab throughout the book and give a really vivid experience and by the end I was wanting to read book 3! I would definitely love to continue with this series in the future. A great YA mystery-fantasy series that’s cozy and fast paced.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is a great continuation of this story. I love this world and the story twisted in unexpected way.s. The world building is beautiful and I can picture the castle and Dark Woods. We learn more about the count and Dr. Plye. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
The narrator is fabulous. She does a great job making the world come alive.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the audiobook! While this series is YA i did enjoy the story, the characters and the world building! The idea of the story was unlike anything I have read before so it was like a breath of fresh air! Definitely would recommend this series
As this was an audiobook, the narrator was excellent, to listen too and very enjoyable
Looking forward to reading Ivy’s next adventure!

The hold Sara Knightly’s characters have on me should be studied. This was one of the best sequels I’ve read. I have not felt this invested in the plot and characters of a book since I read Sara’s first book in The Everlight Series.

This book has elements of fantasy, mystery, friendship, and light romance. It builds upon the last book (Secrets Ever Green) flawlessly, so I recommend reading it first. Jack ended up being my favorite character by the end of this book. It was a very satisfying read.

As always, the narration by Kim Churchill was intriguing, dynamic, and a pleasure to listen to. I cannot wait to listen to the next installment!

Thank you for the Audio ARC, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.

I loved that this book started where the last one left off, this book was darker than the first and definitely answered a lot of questions I had from the first book.
I'm really enjoying this series and can't wait for the next one to come out.

If you thought the first book was captivating, prepare to be thoroughly enthralled by the sequel! Picking up seamlessly from where we left Ivy, this installment invites readers to dive deeper into a world filled with mystery, tension, and unexpected alliances within the castle walls. The author has masterfully crafted Ivy’s journey as she grapples with her new circumstances, compelling readers to closely accompany her in deciding who to trust in a beautifully intricate environment.
The character development in this book is nothing short of outstanding. Each character shines with their unique personality and distinct motivations, adding rich layers to the unfolding narrative. You can’t help but feel for Ivy as she decodes her father’s clues and embraces new friendships which illustrate the importance of trust and resilience. While many questions from the first book are resolved, the plot cleverly lays the groundwork for even more thrilling mysteries, leaving you eagerly anticipating the next installment.
If you’re looking for a story that mixes adventure with genuine emotional depth, this book is a must-read!

This was the second book in Sara Knightly's Everlight series, and getting this arc prompted me to go find the first one. I thoroughly enjoyed them both and highly recommend this series! I loved this audiobook, and would recommend for anyone, appropriate for teens and YA readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook eARC in exchange for my honest review.