This is my first time reading DE Night, but I found this book to be well-written and accessible for young readers, as well as older fans of the YA genre. I would gladly add this book to my classroom shelf or school library. Many thanks to the author/publisher for this advance copy.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! It has everything to keep you hooked from the first page! Definitely would recommend to all the fantasy readers

Ivy has learned she is part of the Queenly bloodline and that the dark queen is after her and her royal stone. She’s been instructed to hide away in a secret town for her own safety and to find the missing pieces of her stone. She spends her summer making new friends and continues her learning as best as she can since she is unable to go back to The Halls of Ivy. With no clues to help lead her on her mission she doesn’t make it far before she is thrown back into danger of the Dark Queen. She uses the knowledge she’s gained, the help of her new friends and allies, and the few clues she has to make it closer to finishing her mission.

This was actually a second reading for me. I wanted a refresher before starting book 3 and I loved it just as much the second time. I never thought I would but I actually love the similarities to Harry Potter world, but I do. It’s like almost reliving it again but in a completely new and fresh way. But even though there are a lot of similarities the characters are completely unique and well developed. The magic is still it’s own and the story is thrilling and well written. I’m incredibly excited to start book 3 and see where Ivy’s story takes us to next.

I would also like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book since the one I own was loaned to a friend and I didn’t think the middle of a global pandemic was the best time to ask for it back.

It's the second instalment of The Crowns of Croswald series and the magic is growing!

Following the first instalment, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is all about the second year at a school of magic and also the journey to finding the second piece of a lost stone. This stone, called a Kindred Stone, apparently holds a ton of power that works just like an amplifier. It is said that it belongs to the true queen of Croswald, who happens to be our main character, Ivy. However, the Dark Queen seeks to claim this stone so that she can continue to reign with terror for eternity. So, in between studies, learning magic, staying on top of the Dark Queen, and finding the truth about the past, Ivy has to work hard to discover and retrieve the second missing piece of the Kindred Stone before it gets into the wrong hands.

One of the special things that was introduced to this series that I love is "Quogo". Instead of battling with wands, we have scrivenists battling with quills left behind by their passing owners. I mean, how cool is that! What makes it even more fascinating is that it is actually considered a sport! This reminds me so much of Harry Potter. But instead of Quidditch, we have two individuals battling with magic.

Additionally, we were also introduced in more detail to a secret club called Quality Quills Club (QQC). I mean, where's the fun in schools if not for secret clubs? Am I right or am I right? So this secret club was formed from the love of Quogo. The founder, Fyn, is an huge fan of the Quogo sport who dreams of becoming part of the game in the future. However, with the Dark Queen threatening to harm Ivy and all scrivenist to get what she wants, the QQC plays to practice the use of quills. This immediately reminds me of "Dumbledore's Army" practicing their spells in secret.

As for the other elements of this story, I would say that there was a step up from the first instalment. I thought that the plot was more exciting and there was tremendous growth in character development. I really like where this story is going and I can't wait to read the next instalment. I need to see how the budding love between Ivy and Fyn blossoms.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from D.E. Night through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

(4.5/5 stars)
It’s always great when a sequel not only lives up to, but outdoes its predecessor! Returning us to the world of scrivenists (mages who channel magic through quills), ‘The Girl with the Whispering Shadow’ (incredible title) is just as full of ingenious and refreshingly original magical concepts as ‘The Crowns of Croswald’, with even more of the lovable characters, subtly chilling foreboding and hilarious moments that I enjoyed in Book 1.

One of my favourite things was the introduction of a popular scrivenists’ game called ‘Quogo’ – eat your heart out, Quidditch! Quogo is almost like a magical RPG (role-playing game), where players battle it out with the spectres of retired or deceased scrivenists, using their decommissioned quills. I also loved the Quality Quills Club (where can I sign up?!), a secret society of amateur Quogo players run by our wonderful Fyn Greeley. I loved the dynamic within this friendship group, spiced up by the new additions of Ivy and Rebecca to its ranks, and they had so much great banter between them. Each QQC member felt realistic, especially after a certain accidental catastrophe, and I really look forward to seeing more of them in Book 3! This was a very well-written rendition of a found-family trope, if that’s one you enjoy.

Speaking of character love, I have to include a tribute specifically to my favourites, Fyn and Rebecca! They’re so loyal to Ivy but never come across as sycophants or merely foils, and yet again, Rebecca (in multiple scenes) proves herself an MVP in this squad. Fyn cracks me up so much with his sarcasm, and I’m completely invested in the adorable slow-burn between him and Ivy! I also grew to like Ivy more in this one – while some of her actions in the first book felt at times out of character, this book is where she really comes into her own and grows in confidence, maturity and just all around personality palpability.

Great twists abound, with hints dropped here and there to amp up the apprehension, and several were rather disquieting. In general, this book’s ‘horror’ level feels middle-grade to YA, but there were certainly some moments that gave me ‘Criminal Minds’-type chills. The Dark Queen definitely feels more genuinely threatening in this book compared to the first, and we learn a bit more about her motives that clarify scenes in the first book.

There were also plenty of new spells, creatures and even careers introduced – my favourite one being a teledetector matteler, a sort of teleporting magical police/CSI officer who can travel to crime scenes through mentally connecting through a scene sketch. I really like the style of magic in this series, it’s very whimsical and strong on wordplay, which is right up my alley.

If you’re a ‘Harry Potter’ fan, or on the hunt for more magical boarding school stories, I really recommend diving into this series! Following that slight cliffhanger (and its link to the title of Book 3), I’m so hyped for ‘The Words of the Wandering’, out May 30! Not long now before I can return to Croswald…

The Girl With The Whispering Shadow takes us back to Croswald and the unique magical world that it is. It is Ivy's first summer away from the slurry fields and Derwin has shipped her off to the scrivenist town called Belzebuthe. With a piece of paper and an address written on it, Ivy lands up at none other than our dearest Fyn's house. Over the summer Ivy learns more and more about scrivenists and how they protect the 'Town' from the dark queen. She uncovers some exciting stuff like fishing for stars, Quogo matches and a job being a potioneer. But the most heartwarming thing about this book was how Ivy finds her own friends. She had a group of people from school who care for her and look out in case she is in danger. Ivy is someone who has had the company of scaldrons for so long. Even in Book 1, her only friends were Fyn and Rebecca but mostly she solved her problems alone.

This book values friendships as each one of the many friends she makes helps her fight with The Dark Queen. The writing style has definitely improved and so have the character arcs. From being clueless, Ivy is now learning about scrivenists and her past. The character 'Glistle' was one of my favourites in this book.

The world-building goes beyond the Halls of Ivy and there are new creatures that the characters in the book discover. It was such a fun read and is perfect for anyone looking for an engaging middle grade fantasy. The kids are so talented and think on their feet. Fyn's graduation made me completely teary-eyed because I love how he toes every line.

The book ends in the most mysterious way that has something to do with The Forgotten Room which makes me a little queasy. I was so glad to receive a copy of Book 2.

I received this book from @Netgalley. This sequel really ties the series together. I can see where the author sets herself a part from other fantasy writers. We see the characters that we all love evolve into their respective roles and the reader feels a connection with each one. Making this story all the more enjoyable. This series keeps you wanting more and rhe storyline does not fade out and keeps the reader engaged.

In The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, we join Ivy Lovely once again on her whimsical adventures in this magical world. We start off in Belzebuthe, were Ivy finally feels like a part of a family while living with Fyn and his mom. In this wonderful place filled with twinkling stars, she makes new Quogo friends and gets a job as a potioneer. However, Ivy can't leave the town after summer since it's the only place she'll be safe from the dark queen.

Then Ivy receives a letter from the Selector and goes back to join her classmates later in the year, only to discover the Selector didn't send the letter and she's in danger. She meets her old friend Rebecca, and together with her new friends from Belzebuthe, they go on countless adventures together.

I loved getting to know more about this magical world and meeting the new creatures within it. The introduction of Quogo, a secret game playing with quills, was another interesting element. Although I believe Ivy could have used a bit more character development, I still enjoyed reading about her wonderful adventures.

I'd like to thank Stories Untold and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow: A Sneakily Wonderful Sequel

I was asked to read this book in exchange for an honest review by D.E. Night’s publicist, Daniela from Stories Untold, so thank you!

When I put down D.E. Night’s first book, “The Crowns of Croswald,” I wasn’t super excited to read the next one, but I was hopeful for a good follow up, and “The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” was exactly the kind of book I was expecting as a second installment—a world builder, deeper character development, and even more magic.

“The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” steps back into Ivy’s story after the events of “The Crimes of Croswald” as she ends her first year at school and is told life changing news. The book primarily focuses on the summer before Ivy returns to school and after she receives a letter saying she is safe to return. Things aren’t as simple as they seem though, and she quickly finds her and her friends at danger, and they must equip themselves for anything that comes their way.

While there were elements of the first book that I liked, I ultimately didn’t love it. But this book was extremely enjoyable and a nice addition to the series. Something that I loved about the last book was Night’s world building and how it sets her aside from other books that follow the same premise. This was no exception, as Night takes you to new parts of Ivy’s world, introduces new people and builds up even more about her family, the school, and just the world they live in in general.

Another thing that I found more enjoyable was the tone and seriousness of the book. The last one felt a little too over the top in appealing to a younger audience, but this one seemed to hit it spot on. It didn’t feel too childish and it felt much more serious than the first one. That does mean though, that the story is getting more serious and that there is much more to come, such as an impending battle of sorts with the Dark Queen, a potential romance with Fyn and even more.

The only aspect of this book that I wasn’t the biggest fan of was the cliches from time to time, and there were some moments where I began to zone out, but it wasn’t often. Towards the end, I found myself skimming the paragraphs and, I believe, sometimes missed some stuff, but it wasn’t too awful. And there were obviously moments of cliche middle school dialogue, but it wasn’t too bad. Nothing that took me out of the book.

The Verdict
I was extremely pleasantly surprised by this book! D.E. Night is proving herself to be a strong author and has a promising career in writing, especially writing that is popular with middle schoolers. While the first book didn’t catch all of my attention, I greatly enjoyed “The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” and it’s a fun read that will take you away to a magical land that has promise to grow and expand. Personally, I will be reading the next book and look forward to the circus theme that has been teased for the third installment. I highly recommend this book and am happy I was given the chance to read and review these!

I’m just so obsessed with this amazing little story! I never thought I would fall for a middle grade but here I am, falling and enjoying every second of it!

We pick up with Ivy still learning how to be a proper scrivenist and fumbling through her day to day life. But trouble of course always finds Ivy, or does she go looking for it? We are on a round trip to another whimsical, fun adventure with her and her classmates!

I love the bonds that were made stronger throughout this second book and I throughly enjoy the new creatures that we’re introduced to and I just eat up every new magical aspect that is added to this story! I also really enjoyed the introduction of the QQC, I thought it was so fascinating and had me really intrigued. I know I keep saying how much I love everything about this book, but something else I really LOVED was the stars and wishes that are linked to them, it was really just so heartwarming.

Once again, this is such a unique and WHIMSICAL, fun middle grade that I suggest to readers of any age that just want a fun, lighter fantasy read but still action packed and gripping! This one also had an air of mystery to it and I found myself not being able to put this down, much like the first one!

For fans of: Harry Potter like stories, friendship/bonding, magical, adorable creatures and evil queens!

When I was asked to read these books I was grateful that I could read the first two, since the first one ended on a cliff hanger for me. I was left wondering what life looked like for Ivy after all of the revelations at the end of the first one.
The second one was just as whimsical as the first! The story picked up right after the first and transitioned Ivy from a home that she loved to feeling like she had none. I know that this was considered middle grade, and would recommend to any girl between the ages of 11 and probably 14, but I wish that there was more between Flyn and Ivy. I think that both characters developed well over the course of the book.
It was a little predictable but that is what made it more of a comfort read. Personally, I want to read the third just to have a closing with these characters.

Spoiler-Free Review

Still magical as always!

The author’s wit and creativity in crafting this world? Incredible!

I mean, where do I begin?

The Town? I’d love to see it in person!

Lie Buries: A Library of All Things Fantastical? The name makes me grin, Lie Buries? Get what I mean about the wit there?

Pseudopen? I would do anything to own one!

Quogo? I wish I could play that game with all of the club members!

Casting and catching stars? I really love this one!

The spells? The magical creatures? The adventures? The stores? Places? I could name many things!
And of course, my forever favorite, that I wish I could do too in real life - an Hour of Discovery at school!

My question was finally answered! Who was the perpetrator? It’s….. I can’t say this is a spoiler-free review.

Ivy’s adventure in this book was fun and exciting, most especially those moments with her new found friends (oh I love that bunch!). Her and Fyn’s scenes were always the cutest and magical, both in danger and not. I mean, there’s nothing cute about being in danger but seeing the two of them work things out together puts a smile on my face.

It’s also a breath of fresh air that everyone in the Town knows who she is and not a big hidden mystery unlike most of the books that I’ve read about missing princesses.

This book still reminds me of a mix of Howl’s Moving Castle and Harry Potter, it just gives off that world vibe, you know? So if you love those books might as well give this one a go!

I fell once again into the magic of Croswald! This is the perfect 2nd story. The book picks up right where the 1st book left off. The unfolding of Ivy’s story is just enough to wanting more but not super frustrating that we might never find out certain details. D.E. Night does a wonderful weaving in more about the enchanting world of Croswald. The Invisitaurs are by far my favorites! The growth of Ivy & her friends has been beautifully paced to see how not only with age and experience but also with the help of friends, they have each come more into their own. The underlining lesson of how fear can stop us is done well and I believe appropriately done for this upper middle grade read. The ending gave me goose-bumps and I felt as if I was there with. I’m excited to dive into Book III.

Thank you D.E. Night, Stories Untold, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

First of all, thanks to Netgally for giving me the ebook in exchange of my honest opinion 😊 I just recently read the first one and I was eager to continue this magical middle grade series.

In this continuation we follow the direct consequences of Ivy's discoveries at the end of the first book, she's the last heir to the throne, the only one with royal blood, descendant of princess Isabella herself. That's why the Dark Queen wants to destroy her, but she has to find the missing pieces of the Kindred Stone first.

Derwin sends Ivy to Belzebuthe, the only magical place where she'll be safe, and she's staying with Fyn!😏 Her summer it's going to be a little different than she expected. However, she quickly gets used to the new town, finding out about all the secrets that its permanent star sky holds. In addition, she joins the Quality Quills Club with Fyn's friends, discovering Quogo. Even though she can't return to class next year, and that makes her really sad, she's not going to be bored, that's for sure.

La verdad es que este libro me ha gustado más que el primero, se ve una evolución en el estilo de la escritora y también en los personajes, que por fin parecen algo más maduros. Me encanta cómo se expande el mundo y el sistema mágico, en especial me ha encantado el Quogo, que son una especie de duelos mágicos super emocionantes y que el club de amigos de Ivy realiza algo ilegalmente JAJAJ Además la ambientación de la ciudad secreta me ha fascinado, te atrapa de lleno.

I have truly enjoyed this sequel better than the first book, you can see improvements in the writing and the characters, that finally seem more mature. I love how the world expands and also the magic system, specially Quogo (oh yeah illegal magical duels?! GIVE ME MORE OF THAT).

As for the romance it goes too slow... the only thing that happened between them is that they blushed hahaha.

En resumen, esta segunda parte ha superado a la primera y me ha dejado con un buen sabor de boca para continuar con la saga. No es lo mejor que he leído de fantasía, pero es entretenido y tiene conceptos originales, quizá si tirara más a juvenil me gustaría más. Le doy un 3,75/5🌟

Overall, this sequel was better and left me wanting more. It's not the best I've read, but it's entertaining and has original concepts. Maybe if it was more YA I would like it better. 3,75/5🌟

It is not often that I like a second book in a series more than the first, but The Girl With the Whispering Shadow is one of the few. Now that Ivy knows who she is, she must begin to seek after her her birthright, the Kindred Stone. However, her school is no longer safe, the Town is being threatened, and she must choose who to trust when not everyone is as they appear.

The characters are more defined in this book than the first, and I enjoyed meeting more of Ivy's classmates and seeing more of Rebecca and her bubbly personality as she chatted throughout the story. Ivy is learning to overcome her feelings of inferiority that stem from growing up outside of the magical world and struggling to accept her true identity.

As before, the similarities to Harry Potter are noted, however the author again adds creative twists that prevent things from becoming too copy-cat. I personally loved the Quogo contests and fishing for stars, although magical owls who have the power to dematerialize valuable objects as a means of protecting them is also worth noting.

I look forward to reading the next installment in this series as well as to enjoying further growth of this author!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, I am thoroughly impressed by D.E. Night and her amazing writing skills! Back in Croswald, Ivy has just faced the Dark Queen at the Ball and is left wondering what to do during the summer. She is told that she needs to head to The Town in order to be safe. After figuring out how to get there, she sees some familiar faces and meets plenty of new ones as well! However, the issue of Ivy's safety is still very much a problem, particularly once the summer ends. Meanwhile, she is supposed to locate the other pieces of the Kindred Stone, which is much easier said than done. With the stone being the only thing powerful enough to stand a chance against the Dark Queen, it remains Croswald's only hope of returning to a peaceful and prosperous way of life.

Like I mentioned in my previous review for the first book in this series, this book reminds me of Harry Potter. Ivy's predicament about where to spend the summer as school wasn't in session was similar to Harry's situation during the summer. However, the author continues to prove this book is unique and magical all on it's own!

Once again, the magic and the magical creatures continue to fascinate me! I honestly wish I could meet some of these creatures in real life or spell up a cup of tea to help me study! The way they are woven into the story really makes for an interesting adventure for both the characters and the reader!

I loved the characters in the first book, and this book introduces even more characters for me to love! The QQC, in particular, is very entertaining! Plus, the main characters from the first book are still fun to watch! Their antics never fail to bring a smile to my face, especially when Ivy gets a "great idea" that usually ends up being quite a bit of trouble!

I honestly wish these books had been around when I was a middle schooler but I'm still enjoying them even now! Like I stated in my review of the first book, this series is great for younger readers and I would definitely recommend it to any fantasy-loving middle grade readers or any fans of Harry Potter!

3.5 stars
This was a super solid sequel and I really enjoyed it. I liked getting to know Fyn better in Belzebuthe and his friends were so much fun! The friendship between Ivy and Rebecca is so adorable and it was great to see their friendship grow in this one.
I like the magic system in this book, but I wish it was a little bit more well explained. Unless I missed something, the fact that the quills write spells was only mentioned once and I feel like that is a big part of the magic system even though Ivy doesn't have a quill yet. I was a little bit confused regarding the magic system a few times.
Like the first book in this series, there were a lot of elements that reminded me of Harry Potter. The overall plot was unique, but there were several little things that were very similar (for example, invisible creatures that give Ivy and Fyn a ride far away in a pinch when they were tricked to go there in the first place).
I liked how the book was split up between Belzebuthe and the Halls of Ivy. It was really fun to see Ivy get used to living in a magical environment and getting an apprenticeship and interacting with the people there.
I absolutely loved a few of the unique elements in this book. Quogo was so cool and I loved reading about it. Fishing for stars that grant people's wishes was just magical to think about.
Overall this book was enjoyable to read and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Sequel to The Crowns of Croswald, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow picks up right where the first left off with Ivy and friends. The school year is over and everyone is looking forward to summer break, but the Dark Queen being on the hunt for Ivy puts a damper on everything. But Ivy knows what her mission is, and will fulfill it no matter what the consequences.

Truly, this series is so magical and whimsical. If you are looking for a more light-hearted, genderbent Harry Potter than this is the story for you. The magical creatures and magic system are so much fun and the characters are just adorable. Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca are are great friends and each bring something different to the table. It's an easy read and worth the time.

One thing I will say is that is is VERY close to Harry Potter and the dialogue isn't the best. The descriptions and writing are beautiful, but the dialogue is very stilted and has far too many !'s. However, this is more of a middle grade book so this could make sense. I also think the similarities to Harry Potter are just a bit much, almost too close for comfort.

So I couldn't remember anything that had happened in the previous book as I read it around a year ago - oops. It made the beginning of this book a very rocky read because I couldn't remember any of the characters, besides Ivy, or the events that they were talking about! This book immediately follows on from the ending of the first book.

We still follow Ivy who has just overcome her first Dark Queen encounter. She has been whisked away to the secret town that the Dark Queen does not have access to, nor anyone else unless they know the name of the town. She was forbidden to return to the magic school she attended in the first book for her safety. But then received a letter saying she was allowed to come back. Danger was everywhere she went however. Both in the secret town - which is meant to be one of the safest places in this world - and at school. She and her friends were faced with these dangers and did what they could to keep themselves, and everybody else, safe. Though if you were to read the book, you might laugh at that haha.

I did enjoy this book, despite the rocky start. Though I found the story to be quite simple - unlike the first book. Again, I wish it were longer and more detailed. The author pretty much gives us the main events of the story without much riffraff which I suppose is good, but I am left wanting more every time, and with this series, that is a very frustrating thing.

Ok but this second book in the series was everything and more! If I didn’t have to work, it would not have taken me a week to finish! Gosh, it was soooo good! First off, Belzebuthe sounds amazing and I NEED to go there! Especially to see the stars. I loved when Ivy and Fyn were on the roof, they are adorable and I am totally rooting for them. I also NEED to go star fishing and make a wish! “We just have to see the stars inside us.” YES WE DO. Also, I may or may not have dropped my jaw when the title made sense.... (Internally screaming!!!!) I was STOKED to read about the Occulyst and the owls, because owls are my favorite animal - DUH. I probably would have cried if I had the opportunity to go there lol. Ivy’s friendship with Rebecca reminded me a lot of how I feel with this awesome book community, you all are so supportive and I appreciate it so much! And to see Ivy’s character develop even more, I am so here for it! I can’t wait to read the third book.

Ivy’s adventure continues and it did not disappoint. Many times the second book has the”second book syndrome" and really not worth much but it is not the case with The Girl with the Whispering Shadow. The story continues with Ivy trying to find the pieces of the Kindred Stone and her rightful place as Queen. During this book you get to see a new part of the magical world, a hidden town, and a magic quill duel game called Quogo.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is the 2nd book in the series and takes us back to the magical land of Croswald and the Halls of Ivy. Things are still rough since what happened at the masquerade ball and protecting Ivy is of utmost importance now. As the only home she has ever known has been deemed unsafe, she is sent to the place where it is impossible for any outsider to step it.
If I didn’t adore this world already in book 1, I do now! This one was much more intense and more plot oriented, sort of like every piece coming closer to each other to form a whole. This book had so much more depth and soul, unlike the last one which was more about world building and Ivy finding her place.
The title for this one was very intriguing to me and when I fully grasped the meaning of it, it blew me away! The real intents of the Dark Queen became much clearer in this book and so the plot picked up quickly.
I loved Ivy in book 1 but this one had so many other characters taking the light as well, especially Fyn and Rebecca. I loved both of them and I hope to see them taking charge in the upcoming books.
I loved this one and I recommend it to people new to reading and the ones who like Middle Grade/YA fantasy.
I received an ARC for this book in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to the author and publisher who allowed me to read this novel early!

Summary: Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise, she is whisked away from her beloved school to Belzebuthe, a secret town for only those with magical blood.

Ivy sets out on a mission to uncover the second facet of the Kindred Stone while eluding the Dark Queen’s wrath. But even when she’s supposed to be safe, something is shadowing Ivy. She will need all her natural-born magic and more as she battles to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to the Halls of Ivy.

Before it’s too late...

My thoughts: I really enjoyed the sequel to this novel! Ivy is such a strong character and I found myself eager to read more about her journey. The author built a fascinating world. Looking forward to reading more from her !

I was not ready for the first book to end when it did and I was super eager to start reading "The Girl with the Whispering Shadow".
As said before fantasy is a new genre for me and I use a longer time getting into these type of stories, but as I read on, I slowly disappear into this new world filled with magic and quills and mystery.
The best thing with reading is all those images in your mind. It's like a movie is playing in your head while reading the story.
This book begins where the first book ends. It tells what's next in store for Ivy after the school year ends. At first I felt like there was something missing, but as I read along I couldn't help liking this story. I felt the story slowed down a little towards the middle of the book but towards the end I couldn't put this book down.
I'm beyond ready for the third book now. I need to know what's going to happen with Ivy and her friends, and not to forget the Dark Queen.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow (2019)

Disclaimer: I got a digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review on all my bookish platforms.

The story continues hours after the end of the first book with students from the Halls of Ivy leaving the school for their summer break. With Ivy reuniting with her family's Scrivenist, Derwin Edgar Night, she was instructed to not come back to school for it is too dangerous for her, and find the remaining pieces of the Kindred Stone. Derwin believes the second piece of the stone is located at the Town, which is also the safest place for Ivy to be at.

Ivy discovered new things during her stay at Belzebuthe, the secret town where Scrivenist are free to use their magic without the fear of the Dark Queen. She spends her whole summer and half of the school year in Belzebuthe wherein she met new and interesting characters, joined a club called Quality Quills Clubs (QQC), learned of a new game called Quogo and having a never ending encounter with danger.


BELZEBUTHE - Reading about the Town was a magical experience, the way it was described makes me want to find a cabby and head there myself. And the stars! Don't get me started on how beautiful the stars are and I love how the people from Town can fish for the stars and grant wishes. This is the place to be when you want to learn about magic. AND I LOVE THE QUOGO GAMES.

I was so into the world of Croswald that I immediately requested for the second book. Even if this is categorized as Middle Grade book, I believe this book is open for all ages. It is an easy to read book, narrated in third person and with illustrations on the first page of every chapter. From the story line to the concept, it is absolutely incredible.

P.S. I am obsessed with the color of their uniforms just because I love every hues of violet and purples.

I will admit that I wasn’t in love with the first book in the series; mainly because I found myself making comparisons to other magical novels. Book two... it stands out in such an amazing, captivating way that I do not understand why everyone isn’t reading or talking about it!!

Ivy Lovely is our heroine and she is such a perfect main character, growing into her own and you really can’t help but love her. Our supporting characters can’t be forgotten either and I seriously adore them all for one reason or another. The Dark Queen is at times actually scary, along with her freaky entourage.

Once I hit that last 25% I just couldn’t draw myself away. I’m actually so excited about this book that I’m writing this review rather than getting some very much needed sleep. But I don’t want to give anything away, so just start on this series stat!!!

Thanks so much to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is the second book of the series that I reviewed not long ago.

I really loved the first book so I was a both excited and nervous about the second one not living up to the first. Fear not! Whilst the first book gives us the background, sets scenes and brings us the first drama, the second introduces more characters, and develops relationships, as well as ramps up the whole story.

Friendships are formed and strengthened, and I fell in love with “The Town”....I want to live there...and of course, the Dark Queen shows up again...

Really enjoyed the second book, one more to go...!!.

My thanks to Netgalley and Stories Untold for the copy in exchange for an honest review

I have received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Actual rating: 4.5

This review can be found on goodreads

-Synopsis-
The Girl with the Whispering Shadow was a great sequel to The crowns of croswald.
This book grabbed my attention firmly. I liked this books so much that I finished it during one sitting. I need to mention how I now want a Special Moonsday Milkshake they were described so good I need one asap! I loved going back to Ivy’s world and seeing her adventures.

-Setting-
This world is probably one of my favorites. I enjoyed learning more about Croswald during this book. I liked how croswald was developed. I hope in the next book we get to learn even more about this world!

-Writing-
The writing in this book was pretty good. The book had a pretty fast pace for me but that was fine. I liked discovering the game “Quogo” it was a great experience. All the characters were written beautifully. The magic was explained good and I understood everything. I do wish there were more class scenes in this book, I particularly enjoyed those. The book started where it left off and ended nicely.

-Characters-
One of my favorite parts of this book/series was the friendships and characters. It was so wholesome and sweet. Ivy’s relationship with Fyn and Rebecca developed greatly and I adored it. I feel as though Ivy could have had more character development. Her character was basically the same as the first book, which was okay but I wish there was more personality. Ivy is also a good role model for young children. She is a likable protagonist, she is brave and takes on challenges, people of all ages can love her, etc.

-Conclusion-
This was a nice sequel to the first book. I preferred this to the first. I would for sure recommend this book/series to anyone. There is magic, adventure, great characters in this book. If you are looking for any of that and much more definitely think about reading this series.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series and picks up right where book one left off . . .

After having dealt with the Dark Queen at the ball and finding her family’s scrivenist - Derwin Edgard Knight, Ivy Lovely is swept off to the hidden town of Belzebuthe where she will continue her scrivenist/magic studies safely out of the Dark Queen’s reach.

However things do not go exactly as planned and Ivy ends back again at the Halls of Ivy on another adventure with her friends, her adorable scaldron Humboldt and a sinister shadow that seems to be following her.

I absolutely loved this book - the story is so whimsical and has this cozy vibe that makes you feel like you’re reading a fairytale. The characters are all lovable and I enjoyed getting to know each of them { I completely ship Ivy and Fyn } and meeting all the new ones that were introduced - I especially liked learning a bit more about Ivy’s scrivenist Derwin Edgar Night and hope to get even more info on him in the third book.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a fantastic read filled with magic and mystery. I’ll definitively be reading book three and recommend that you add it along with book 1 to your TBR list - because you can never have too many books right?

wow. I loved this book, dare I say, more than the first one. This one gets darker as the story continues. Instead of summarizing the girl with the whispering shadow, I'll just share my review this way. First, what I found interesting was how the first book ended with Belzebuthe and the first line of the prologue in the second books started with Belzebuthe (you need to read it to know what I mean). The mysterious girl made me thinking about her identity throughout the book. The way Ivy takes care of her friends and everyone else was what touched mt heart. The scrivinist, Night, his care and devotion towards his royal family (read it, read it) brought tears to my eyes. I am so much amazed and mesmerized with the new terms, words and terminologies that the author came up with in the girl with the whispering shadow. I hadn't forgotten the way hollow shaft affected me and winsome and all and here in second book I found more heart-gripping scenes and places. I was suspicious of each and every character and I was scared for Ivy's safety (uhh God how scared I was and how it caught my breath). When Ivy got the letter (again I'll say you need to read the book to know what I am talking about), I was both happy and scared for her. I have started to love the characters more than ever. Scriven this is my favorite one as it keeps us informed (if u know what mean). ohh and that black quill gave me a really creeps. And it was a surprise where Ivy stayed in the belzebuthe (shhh.. secret). Glistle really annoyed me though lolz. Loved Gretta. She is really a strong girl. I so so want Ivy and Gretta to be friends (Rebecca sorry, nobody can replace u). The starguster, star fishing and star casting made me go like yaaaaaaayyyy. I loved these more than the Quogo game (again read it, read it). I feel like I missed Winsome and felt sad about him more than Ivy did. The mettelers were so cool. ugh and I feel that Demaris is never going to be good, wait until she gets to know the truth (lolx). Invisitaurs! how can I forget Invisitaurs. I loved them. Please I want them too. Star solo is my most favorite. I liked Occulyst. I feel so so sad and I am Grieving for the events that took place along with the srivinist, Night's problem (if u have read it, then you know what I am talking about). Tearfully, I am stating this series is so so close to my heart and the author D. E. Night has done wonderful job. She is genius. 5 stars from my side (I would give more stars if there were any). looking forward to the third book now

I just finished the second book of the trilogy. Really, I cannot recommend these books enough. The story continues with the main character, Ivy, leaving for a quest and her confronting the Dark Queen again.

The book has action, suspense, adventure, humour, strong relationships between the characters and the plot reveals a lot cues of the past of the heroine. Generally, you feel the characters grow the further you read the story which is something that I admire and value in books.

The second book did not let me down a bit in all its length. On the contrary, it maintains a pace in sharing events and information that makes you want to fly through pages! Can’t wait to see what other adventures D.E.Night has for us in book 3!

Right after the first book's crazy ending, we pick up Ivy's story right where we left off and her story gets even more interesting as the 2nd book progresses. I love the world of Croswald and am so thankful that I was approved for all 3 books so I didn't have to wait to continue Ivy's story and her battle against the Dark Queen. I love that we can start to see the hints of a romantic relationship for her and that her confidence in herself starts to grow as the story progresses. Her friendships become even stronger as they are tested further by the Dark Queen. This story truly draws readers in from page 1 and keeps them there. Readers won't be able to put the book down and will be itching to get their hands on each book in the series. Great read and I can't wait to rejoin Ivy's story in the 3rd book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for a gifted eARC of this book.

I actually rated this book 4.5/5

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one! It was a quick and easy read with more action, more magic, and more friends. Ivy grew into a much stronger and self assured character (though she still had her doubts here and there), but she was much more fun.

I liked her new group of friends and their adventures and getting to know Derwin a little bit more. Fyn is my favorite and I’m glad we got to learn so much more about him and his backstory. He’s brave, adventurous, sweet, and I love his little bursts of jealousy when Glistle is around, though it is sometimes odd how he’s always where Ivy is going 🤷🏻‍♀️

I love the new aspects of Magic brought into this book, like Quogo, which seems like an awesome game, and the stars in Belzebuthe, which grant the wishes of people if you catch them. The stars were my favorite new magic and I love the idea of them, it’s such a novel concept ☺️

There were some things that I questioned a bit…a few main plot points where Ivy figured things out that older, experienced scriventists couldn’t 🤔…but I’m excited to read the third book and, if it’s a similar setup to this one, learn even more about Ivy’s friend Rebecca. Though I will be sad that Fyn will not be around much (I’m assuming since he graduates, though he does have a knack for always being where Ivy is...) 😉

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow by D.E. Night
Publication Date: January 23, 2019 - Out Now!
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Description from NetGalley...
“Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise, she is whisked away from her beloved school to Belzebuthe, a secret town for only those with magical blood.

Ivy sets out on a mission to uncover the second facet of the Kindred Stone while eluding the Dark Queen’s wrath. But even when she’s supposed to be safe, something is shadowing Ivy. She will need all her natural-born magic and more as she battles to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to the Halls of Ivy.

Before it’s too late...”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @storiesuntoldpress for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
This is the second book of The Crowns of Croswald series. Categorized as middle-year, but I think with some of the existing details, it can also be categorized in the ya genre. This book picked up right where the first book ended. In this story, more of the Croswald world, history and Ivy’s destiny came together to weave a great coming of age story, and the growth of friendships. Ivy and her friends were relatable; the way they came together, their innocence, their bonds and individual magic were an interesting and fun read. The world-building and the storyline were just as good as the first book. Looking forward to the next book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for letting me continue with the journey!
Absolutely loved this book, I think it's a phenomenal sequel. There were so many new things I learned about Croswald, and I was enjoying it so much!

There's many things I loved that I could comment on, but overall I can say it's the warm fuzzies that made me pick up this book all the time, the characters are actually so likeable, their relationships wholesome and to me this is one of the most important aspects of a book: do I feel like the characters are real? And I did.

The stakes have indeed got higher in this book and I was on the edge of my seat waiting how things would turn out. Ivy and Fyn are adorable, and Rebecca is such an awesome friend!
I'm also head-over-heels for all the magical creatures in here, and still, the setting of The Halls of Ivy..! I was so immersed while reading about Ivy and her friends going about their daily activities and learning new things all the time.
At the beginning, when Ivy was confined to The Town, I felt with her so much, and I realized that one of the fortes of the author is painting certain situations and feelings in a way that makes them so relatable to.. well, I think anyone! Of course, maybe not riding invisitaurs... but being left behind in a quiet town without your friends (even if it's just for your own good!).

Love this series so much, can't wait to read the next installment.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the sequel to The Crowns of Croswald, a middle grade fantasy story about Ivy Lovely, a young girl who ended up in a magical school, The Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems.

The ending of the first book was full of intrigue and discovery, and The Girl with The Whispering Shadow picked up where book one left off, after the chaotic Halls of Ivy’s Masquerade Ball. From chapter one, the plot was moving fast and I was immediately swept away in this magical and enchanting world. As for so many sequels, I was afraid this book would have some pace/plot issues, but it wasn’t the case at all. The pacing and intrigue of this book were way better than book one, and I didn’t get bored one second, I was just happy to be back into this world!

“You’ll only be as good as you allow yourself to be. If everyone were afraid to showcase their magical abilities, it would be one boring world, that’s for sure!”

The world-building and writing, just like book one, were really good, I was just so curious to learn more and more about this world and this new Town that we were discovering for the first time. With its never-ending night sky and colder weather, the shades growing and being more present through this book and the almost scary vibes of the shadow following Ivy, I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting of this book, and I would really recommend to read this book during the Fall season.

In this sequel, Ivy made new friends with The Quality Quills Club, a forbidden club of 9 members, all students from The Halls of Ivy, where they were dueling each other to practice and learn as much as they could about quills and scrivenists abilities. This club was really interesting and I really enjoyed these new friendships. Rebecca and Fyn were also really great and enjoyable to read, and their friendship with Ivy was just so sweet and touching.

“You can be trapped in a castle, trapped in a scaldrony. Trapped by people. But the worst is being trapped by fear.”

The only criticism I could have about this book, is that even though Ivy and some of the characters were seventeen and Fyn nineteen, I thought that they were behaving like younger teenagers than they were supposed to be. In my mind, these characters were more 14-15 years old, and that’s why I was a bit annoyed with Ivy sometimes because I wished she would ask more help to her friends for her big issues with The Dark Queen. Most of the time, she was doing things on her own when she could have told everything to her friends and have let them help her! However, it improved towards the end of the book, so that was nice to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel, and I would really recommend it to fans of Harry Potter or middle grade fantasy series in general. I will definitely read The Words of the Wandering and the rest of the series!

I received a free copy from the Stories Untold Press via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl in the Whispering Shadow starts right where “The Crowns of Crosswald” left off and continues to develop this magical universe. Honestly, this book was the perfect sequel. We got to know more about the scrivenists, the world and the characters (specifically Ivy). In this book we uncover more of Ivy’s past, which lets us understand her more.

Like in the first book, the author describes the setting and the characters in such a way that it’s easy to imagine and that gets you hooked. I honestly can’t wait to read the third book!

Thanks Stories Untold Press and Net Galley for introducing me to this series!

Note: All opinions are my own.

t’s hard to review each book in the series separately without giving away spoilers! Each book in the series is better than the last. Some reviews have drawn parallels to Harry Potter but I think that does this series a diservice. This series is its own unique world and can stand on its own. If you enjoy stories about discovering magical powers and find yourself wishing you could go to a magical school, you’ll really enjoy this series! .Night does a wonderful job of brining Croswald and all the characters to life! I can’t wait for the next books in the series!

D.E. Night’s sequel to The Crowns of Croswald doesn’t disappoint.

We return to the tale of Ivy Lovely and her friends who attend the Halls of Ivy in the hope of the Royals being Masters of their crowns and Scriveners to earn their own quill and work at the employ of their Royal household.

I really enjoyed that our initial return wasn’t at the viewpoint of Ivy but rather, two other students who, along with Ivy? Are to spend their summer holidays at the Town. Why doesn't it have a name you may ask, well that is explained in the story and the name of the Town made known.

But don't tell anyone what it is, because once a secret is no longer a secret in Croswald, things will inevitably go wrong.

After the chaos of the Halls of Ivy Masquerade Ball, you would imagine Ivy Lovely would want a quiet summer but that's not going to happen; she's a slurry girl no more and has found herself a brilliant and loyal set of friends. All of whom are quick to show her how much fun can be had as a member of the Quality Quills Club where they battle against one another with ’acquired’ quills. Each battle over the Summer a new lesson for the would-be Scrivener.

As Summer draws to an end, Ivy has barely heard from her family Scrivenist, Derwin Knight and she's facing months alone without Fyn and the other members of the QQC; all our descendent of Isabella wants is return to school but the Dark Queen’s threat has made it impossible. I loved how despite being a fantasy novel, the despondency that Ivy feels is really well written and as a reader, I wished I could reassure our protagonist that all will be well.

The possible love aspect to the story between Fyn and Ivy is sweet and quite realistic of that first flutter of affection when a teenager. It doesn't distract at all from the main storyline and instead gives the reader another side of the two to see. I couldn't help but giggle sometimes at how easily green-eyed Fyn can become when his friends flirt with Ivy; again D. E. Knight shows us a very realistic and well-written character in Fyn during those lighter moments between the two.

This story is even better than The Crowns of Croswald which I had loved. It's got everything you could want in a fantasy series, we have already met and got to know the Royals and the Scriveners who attend the Halls; but The Girl with the Whispering Shadow not only expands on what we know about familiar characters but seamlessly introduces new faces and species. I always love the creations fantasy writers come up with when creating native creatures to their lands and the author doesn't disappoint; though I really wish something would fix Ivy’s pitiful hairies for her so they would light up properly more than once every Blue Moon!

The Dark Queen is still after Ivy and will stop at nothing to get our heroine. With her not being permitted back at school and feeling forgotten by Derwin; there is no doubt that Ivy’s life will be anything but peaceful.. and Ivy is determined to do everything she can to prevent the mess that the Dark Queen brought about again!

I absolutely love this series, if you love magic; and good versus evil? Get reading the adventures of Miss Ivy Lovely.

This was a very enjoyable sequel. I loved the magic in this story. This world is so fun and whimsical that I can’t get enough of it. I would definitely recommend this series for young readers! I can’t wait for my kiddos to get to experience these books. This series will definitely have a place on our bookshelves!

First of all, I absolutely adored the first book in this series!

Continuing on with the mc was like revisiting an old friendship and I adored it so much!

I will be passing this book along to my own daughter!

This story is amazing and so magical, I really enjoy this second part, I always enjoy a good book with fantasy and lots of magic.

"The girl with the whispering shadow" is the sequel to "The Crowns of Croswald".
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
🌬
This book begins right where the last one ended. Like its prequel,it is also a thrilling magic-filled book that is so much more than other typical middle-grade books. I think it can even be categorized as YA.
🌬
The only issue I had was no information about the previous book was gifen,it was totally on me to remember each event and character completely. Apart from that,it was really fun.

Another fast paced magical adventure filled with excitement and fun!

This sequel answered questions and left others still open, I desperately need to get my hands on the next installment of Ivy's story.

This book was just as wonderful as the first and I once more fell into the world of Croswald, onto this time the stakes were a little higher as The Dark Queen was a much more visible threat!

I cannot wait to see where Ivy's story goes next.

After the events of the Ball at the end of book 1, Ivy finds herself on the hunt for an address she was told to go to, but not how to get there. Once she arrives, she meets a group of friends who introduce her to a new game that could up her magical skills. It’s not all fun though, because Ivy is pursuing the pieces of a magical stone she needs to keep from the Dark Queen, and something shadowy seems to be stalking Ivy in return.
I must admit I did have trouble remembering the exact events and character names from the first book, as I read it so long ago! So, I was playing catch up for a while as the story just barreled on, with no real memory joggers in the first chapters. Once I got my head around the characters again, the story proceeded in the same whimsical, magical way of the first book. I know I mentioned in my review of the first book that these books have a very Harry Potter feel to them and that is still the case. There are SO many similarities, but that doesn’t mean I’m not recommending them, that means I’m saying ‘if you loved Harry Potter and are looking for something similar, this will fit the bill’. The characters are a lot of fun and I love the magical feel of the whole setting.
I felt like this book was a little faster paced than the first one, there were several little mysteries going on, that intertwined at the end. I really enjoyed the new creatures we were introduced to this time too! The friendships were a wonderful theme in this instalment of the story and having the characters spend time out of the Halls, and in the town of Belzebuhe, kept the setting from going stale.

Overall I’d recommend picking this magical series up and I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

I received a copy of The Girl with the Whispering Shadow from Stories Untold Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

D.E. Night created something fun and magical in The Crowns of Croswald. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a fantastic sequel that adds to that magic.

While this book does feel a bit different, it is still just as enchanting as the first.
The world building is expanded and readers get a deeper peek into the world of scrivenists. And as with the first book, I never quite knew what to expect and was excited to see what new creature, spell, or potion was waiting to be discovered on the next page. (There are times when I suspect D.E. Night’s imagination is in fact limitless.)

It is an absolute delight to follow Ivy’s story and uncover more of the secrets of her past and Croswald.

D.E. Night’s writing is still just as vivid and it’s hard not to imagine yourself alongside Ivy and her friends. Another aspect that made me enjoy this sequel even more was that D.E. Night gives you the information you need when you need it without completely retelling you what happened in the first book. This is something people who don’t reread, marathon read series, and/or read series as they are released can truly appreciate. (I know I did.)

I did have some issues with the pacing and occasionally got lost in the world building, but I was still able to enjoy the story. I actually think I enjoyed this one more than the first and am excited to see what happens next in Ivy’s story.

So, if you’re looking for a magical escape I recommend checking out this series! The third installment, The Words of the Wandering is available now too.

Thank you so much Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for the review copy!

I enjoyed this book and it was great book. I couldn’t put it down and the storyline was great and I can’t wait to read the third book.

Thanks to the publisher (Stories Untold) and NetGalley for providing a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest book review.

Synopsis: Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfilment of the Moonsday promise, she is whisked away from her beloved school to Belzebuthe, a secret town for only those with magical blood. Ivy sets out on a mission to uncover the second facet of the Kindred Stone while eluding the Dark Queen’s wrath. But even when she’s supposed to be safe, something is shadowing Ivy. She will need all her natural-born magic and more as she battles to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to the Halls of Ivy.

I gave the first book of this series 3 stars, mainly because I couldn’t help but comparing it to another well known magical world. Book number two in the Croswald series however captivated me. The World of Croswald evolved in such a adventurous way full of magic and wonders, that I couldn’t stop reading. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters more and following Ivy on her quest on finding the second part of the Kindred stone. The town of Belzebuthe was described in such a charming and whimsical way that it is now a place I really want to visit!! The pace of the novel was much better than in the first one too. I am really looking forward to the third book in the series.

📖Review: The Whispering Shadow By D.E Night
(Middle Grade, fantasy)
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.6

Secret towns, whispering shadows, cunningly strategic quogo games with quizzical quills, haunting visions and comical characters... Its all here in 'The Whispering Shadow' (book 2 in the Crowns of Croswald series).

Plunged into a secret fairytale town 'Belzebuthe', Ivy seeks the second facet of the Kindred stone, while hiding from the dark queen's magic. But every corner Ivy turns, a mysterious darkness follows, as she delves deeper into the puzzling prophecy of the wanderers and the Moonsday promise.

The beginning briefly confused me but was quickly forgotten as I delved deeper into Belzebuthe's magical winter wonderland and its mystical matellers and scrivenist's. I swooned at the flights of romance filled with enchanted stargazing and was wonderstruck by 'Quintons Brews and Hodgepodge' - antiquated apothecary of potions and creatures. Hodge and Podge (both dwarves) are my new favourite characters with their sharp wit and sassy brotherly relationship, their magical battle made me laugh out loud! The fiercely entertaining quogo matches had me enraptured, especially by the ghostly visions and daring spells. I enjoyed that we got to learn more in depth about Ivy and the Quality Quill's Club members and their differing relationships with each other and the magical world outside of Croswald.

D. E Night has created a mesmerising world with lyrical prose, perplexing plots and heartfelt characters. I particularly enjoyed 'The Whispering Shadow' and its my favourite so far in the series!

Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress @storiesuntoldpress @author.denight and @Netgalley for sending me this book to review.😊👍💙

I am absolutely loving The Crowns of Croswald series
These books are just amazing reads!
D.E. Night has created such a fun, magical world & I cannot wait to see what happens next!!

Highly recommend this series!!

I really enjoy this series and this second instalment really confirmed that. The plot always keeps me intrigued and the end of this one made me want to continue on with this series. The characters, especially Ivy, Rebecca and Fyn are the stars of this novel and this second book really made me feel really close to them and made me want to find out what will happen to them but hoping they get the best ending.
I can't wait to start the next one.
4 out of 5 stars.

It’s not often you can say that the sequel was better than the first one, more often than not the sequel isn’t very good, but then they make it up by bringing out a third part which blows everyone away. However, this is book 2 and I’ve not yet read book 3…soon I hope to rectify that fact.

Book 2 in the Croswald series blew me away. In short it was everything that was great about the first book, doubling it and, if possible, making it even more exciting and intriguing.

I like that book 2 picks up right after book 1 finishes, so there’s no awkward gap where we have to rehash every singe thing all over again. We get reintroduced to our main character and quickly jump into the action. Then we get introduced to even more characters and the world they live in.

If we were painting a picture, the canvas - although already full of colour - would only be half done. I feel like there is so much more yet to come.

As with the first book, I’d say it’s still an easy and captivating read. And would definitely help with reading slumps. And the graphics are still gorgeous.

All opinions are my own. However, I was very kindly gifted The Crowns Of Croswald: The Girl With The Whispering Shadow as and e-book for the purpose of an honest review. But shall be purchasing a physical copy for my home library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Stories Untold Press for the Advanced Readers Copy.
This is a middle-grade fantasy and as a child I would've loved this series. So much nostalgia was felt throughout this book. I love that the author went into so much detail about the Croswald world, and the Dark Queen particularly. It was fabulous!
I also love how the author named a character 'Derwin Edgar Night' when her own name is D.E.Night,
Everything in this series is wholly fantasy and that quality reminded me somewhat of Harry Potter, however this series is unique and magical in its own way.
Now calling anyone with children to buy this series. But everyone needs some magic so even if you don't have any children in the family, Read it yourself!

This book is the second volume of the series The crowns of Croswald. I just love it. This book was better than the first in the way that its unique universe was more developed and it didn’t feel like a remake of Harry Potter anymore.
However, the beginning was a bit slow. It took me quite some time to go through the first hundred pages but the last hundred pages went very quickly. I finished the book in one-go. It was just so captivating with so much action that my heart was beating fast for Ivy, who I liked even more than in the first book. I so wanted to know what was going to happen that I sometimes skipped sentences just to get to the bottom faster. By the end of the book, I even had tears in my eyes.
I was sad that I didn’t get to read a lot about Fyn and Ivy’s romance but I’m hoping book three will be full of love. This slow-burn is killing me. Overall, the characters are all lovable, funny and inspiring. The story is full of twists and action and the universe created here is gorgeous. This series is definitely a must-read for all fantasy fans.
4.5/5

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow - Review (Engllish and Spanish)

Thanks again to the publisher for letting us read this book through NetGalley.

First of all, there is a big change between the first book and the second. Since we already know the characters, there is not that much confusion at the beginning. However, it is still rather slow. It's not until 70% of the book that it gets interesting or it seems that something is happening.

I have to say that I was expecting a bit more on that point, but I'm happy with the ending and somehow I really liked how it ended.

The characters are all the same, except for Fyn’s friends and Gretta, who has a big part in this book. I loved the idea of Fyn’s friends meeting Ivy and the Quogo game, but it just seemed to be something missing in the friendship. I don’t know what, honestly, but i would have loved to read more about their friendship rather than them playing with the quills or the cards.

The Gretta part was predictable in a way. I mean, I knew it was her from the beginning but I didn’t knew what was going on with her exactly. I liked what happened to her though.

Apart from these little things, the ending was very quick. All the action was completely packed in just a few chapters and I really, like, REALLY want to know what is going to happen next.

SPANISH
Gracias otra vez a la editora por enviarnos una copia a través de NetGalley.

Ante todo, hay un gran cambio entre el primer y el segundo libro. Como ya conocemos a los personajes, el principio no es tan confuso como fue en el primero. Sin embargo, sigue siendo bastante lento. Hasta el 70% del libro no se pone interesante y parece que es en ese punto cuando pasa algo.

Admito que esperaba algo más en ese sentido, pero estoy satisfecha con el final y de alguna manera me gustó cómo termina.

Los personajes son los mismos, excepto por los amigos de Fyn y Gretta, que es una gran parte en este libro. Me encantó la idea de que sus amigos conocieran a Ivy y el juego de Quogo, pero parecía que faltaba algo en esa amistad. Sinceramente, no sabría decir qué exactamente, pero me habría molado leer más sobre sus relaciones que sobre ellos jugando con las plumas o las cartas.

La parte de Gretta fue bastante predecible en ciertos puntos. Quiero decir, sabía que era ella desde el principio, pero no sabía qué pasaba exactamente con ella. Me gustó lo que le pasó, eso sí.

Aparte de estas cosillas, el final iba bastante rápido. Toda la acción estaba completamente comprimida en unos pocos capítulos y tengo muchas, MUCHAS, ganas de saber qué va a pasar en el próximo.
-L

Usually the first book is slower because you still have to meet all the characters and get used to a new world, and when you get to the second you’re familiar with almost everything, so the story should have a quicker pace. And yet I think I liked the first more than this one.
This book should have had me excited since the beginning, but I actually couldn’t get into it until almost the end of the story.

I really like the ideas in this book, and the writer does a good job at telling the story, but I think there’s a lack of surprise and adventure, at least for me. I like that there’s a secret Town that can’t be named to stay protected, and Ivy living with Fyn and getting to know his friends, but not much happened in the Town.
The idea of the Quogo game was interesting, but a little too absorbing. They focused too much on playing the game and those scenes got a little boring at times.

As for the big mystery, was it really a mystery? I think it was pretty obvious from the beginning. There are clues every step of the way. Although I have to admit that it wasn’t exactly as I’d imagined it, which was nice. And the search in Derwin’s memories was also interesting; getting to know more about the royal family.

So even if I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, the ending was good and I want to know more about what will happen with Ivy and Fyn, and their fight against the Dark Queen.

SPANISH
Por lo general, el primer libro de una saga es el más lento porque tienes que conocer a los personajes y acostumbrarte a un nuevo mundo, y cuando llegas al segundo, estás familiarizado con casi todo, por lo que la historia debería tener un ritmo más rápido. Y, sorprendentemente, creo que me gustó más el primer libro.
Este libro tendría que haberme emocionado desde el principio, pero no me metí en la historia casi hasta el final.

Me gustan mucho las ideas del libro y la historia está bien escrita, pero en mi opinión faltan sorpresas y aventuras. Me gusta “la Ciudad” secreta que no puede ser nombrada para protegerla, y que Ivy viva con Fyn y conozca a sus amigos, pero no pasó gran cosa en la Ciudad.
La idea del juego de Quogo era interesante, pero demasiado absorbente. Creo que se centraron demasiado en el juego y esas escenas se volvieron un poco aburridas a ratos.

En cuanto al gran misterio (¿era realmente un misterio?), creo que fue bastante obvio desde el principio. Hay pistas a cada paso, aunque tengo que admitir que no fue exactamente como lo había imaginado, y eso me gustó. Y las escenas en los recuerdos de Derwin también fueron interesantes; descubriendo más sobre la familia real.

Así que, aunque este libro no me haya gustado tanto como esperaba, el final estuvo bien y quiero saber más sobre lo que pasará con Ivy y Fyn, y su lucha contra la Reina Oscura.
-Ali

In this second installment, Ivy visits the Town. A place where magic and mystery abound. She makes friends, connects with those who knew her ancestors and uncovers more of the wandering curse. Exciting and thrilling part two.

Picking up where the first book left off, we follow the adventures of Ivy Lovely once again! This book has more adventure and whismy than the first one, if that's even possible. The world that D.E. Night created in the first book comes to life in this second book, which doesn't fall prey to the sophomore slump that happens to some authors. In fact, this book might even be better than the first!

While the first book has hints of other children's fantasy novels, what I like about this installment is that it's able to break from the mold. We get to meet more characters and see more of this magical world that Night has created. I loved meeting the new characters, and can't wait to see more in later books. Ivy is such an excellent role model for young girls, and I would definitely recommend this to middle grade leaders looking for fantasy with strong female leads!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow was full of adventure and magic from the start. I really enjoyed this second book and I am curious to see what happens in the third story. Ivy has gained much more confidence in this book and has started to use her magic for the good of Croswald. I loved watching Ivy learn more about her past and the magic she contains. I found this book to be much easier to relate to and I loved the relationship that Ivy has established with her best friends Rebecca and Fyn. I also loved how there was a ton of mystery elements within this book, about Ivy's past and the future of Croswald. This book had me much more captivated and I could not put it down, especially at the end. I highly recommend reading this book if you are looking for a young adult fantasy read with tons of magic and creatures!

Blurb:
Even a secret town cannot protect Ivy from a mysterious darkness...

Only hours after Ivy Lovely discovers that she is the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise, she is whisked away from her beloved school to Belzebuthe, a secret town for only those with magical blood.

Ivy sets out on a mission to uncover the second facet of the Kindred Stone while eluding the Dark Queen’s wrath. But even when she’s supposed to be safe, something is shadowing Ivy. She will need all her natural-born magic and more as she battles to find the rest of the Kindred Stone and return to the Halls of Ivy.

Before it’s too late...

Review:
“You let go of that stone, I let go of his life.”

“The most wondrous things, the most impossible of things, are often just ordinary things doing what they are best at.”

This book picks up where the first book picks off, and let me assure you, Ivy’s adventures are just as exciting and thrilling as in the first book. I usually find that a sequel is less interesting and though out as the first in the series. However, I can definitely say that I enjoyed this book a little more than the first book!

The world of scrivenists, royals and the Dark Queen is so interesting! The magical creatures, studies and places that are explored over the course of this novel are completely unlike any fantasy system I have read before and I cannot wait to see how the story progresses in the third book. Damn these cliffhanger endings!

This series is a definite must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy worlds, perfect for middle grade readers and older readers alike. Ivy Lovely is a perfect main character, as her development over both books is fascinating to read, and she is not presented as the all-powerful heroine. She still has a lot to learn, and she uses the help of her friends, including Fyn and Rebecca (my favourites!), in her battles against evil. She is the heroine that everyone needs to read about.

A fun sequel that picks up right where we left off! The adventures that we follow Ivy and her friends make an accessible and fast-paced read for middle-grade and YA readers alike. Definitely a great instalment to the series!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a great second instalment of The Crowns of Croswald series. This series is perfect for middle graders, and even the younger reader. The world DE Night creates is unique and fun. While reminiscent of other magical novels this book carries its own personality, quirky language and interesting plot. I enjoyed it and found it easy to read.

This book was received as an ARC from Stories Untold in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved the first book The Crowns of Croswald and had high expectations for The Girl with the Whispering Shadow since I have not found my fangirl YA series since P.C. and Kristin Casts' House of Night Series and after reading The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, I could not be more happy and excited than I am right now. The drama, suspense and exhilaration was all the more reason to stay in the book and stay in the zone. I love books that take you alongside the journey and you can feel Ivy's dilemma and how she wonders the mystery behind this shadow and what it wants from her as well as all of her friends she meets at the Hall of Ivy and the adventures she entails. I can't wait to read The Words of the Wandering and will love that one too and be in high anticipation of a potential book 4.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

“The wanderers no longer wander.”

Scaldrony maid-turned-scrivenist-turned-royal is back in the second installment of D.E. Night's infamous work. After meeting new friends, discovering her own great prowess and engaging in adventures unimagined---Ivy Lovely's character has improved and continues to. She's become more confident, more powerful and stronger after weathering the Dark Queen's wrath in book 1.

We see more original devices, ideas and systems in the second book. I love the Suitcasery System, the quogo matches, programs, the idea of the Star Shoppe and...oh let's just say all of Belzebuthe? This girl is especially fond of the description for moonsday milkshakes and dying to try one! Very creative.

On the other hand, I was surprised to find very little emotion in most of this book. It felt detached and hasty, if that makes a single sense: especially the starguster parade. The scene indeed fed my imagination. My feelings? Not so much.

The plot has took so many dazzling turns. The Wandering family's history is slowly unfolding, the events leading to Ivy's complicated life unfurling.

Like many decent writers, D.E. Night gives her readers puzzles to solve, mysteries to answer and thoughts to ponder.

5/5

- I enjoyed this more than the first book, it wasn't as hard to follow and there wasn't an overload of information.
- We really get to learn more about Ivy and we are introduced to more magical aspects and even a new magical sport. It was all extremely fantastical. We also learn more about Croswald.
- The writing flowed well and the plot was a rollercoaster, leaving you wondering what could happen next!
- This novel is not as fast-paced but it does pick up in a few chapters, but mostly it's a relaxing and fun read, especially in the more serious chapters, there is always something to lighten the mood.
- Ivy is an absolute sweetheart and a great bookish role model for young girls who read this book, like a Hermione Granger. And Fynn is a great male bookish role model for young boys who would read this.
- I like that it included some silliness on the part of the characters because it keeps the target audience (middle grade) enthralled and makes the weight of the events that occur easier to digest.
- Definitely recommended for middle-grade students and anyone feeling nostalgic for that familiar magical feeling.

Okay, first things first: I need to air my grievances. Or, just one, rather.

I miss the anxious, flatulent porcupine.

There. I said it. And I meant it. That little ball of noxious gas provided some well-needed comic relief in the first book and was a critter I was most anxious (pun not intended) to see brought back in this book. Oh, well… I guess some things just aren’t meant to be.

Now that that is out of the way, I will move on.

So… we know the name of the Town now. I, however, will keep its name a secret in this review (partly to retain its mystery if you haven’t read these books and partly because I am utterly convinced that I am–mentally–mispronouncing the name and would like to spare myself the indignity of it). I really liked that the beginning of the story took place here because, as readers, we knew about the Town and–vaguely–what it is like, thanks to the prologue of the first book. But Ivy? Our trouble-attracting heroine? This was her first trip there and that was exactly the experience we got.

At first, I was a little afraid that Ivy would spend the entirety of what was supposed to be her second year at the Halls of Ivy–in the Town, but that fear righted itself out not too long after I’d had that thought. I mean, how else was Ivy supposed to get into near-death situations while developing her budding romance with a certain fourth year sqwinch? Oh yeah, speaking of said sqwinch, you’ll never believe where Ivy stays when she goes to the town. I may or may not have squealed when that certain someone opened the door. But seriously, all of their interactions are that cute and it’s just not fair.

Before I move on from the Town, I just wanted to quickly mention (because I don’t really think that this counts as a spoiler, so you can uncover your eyes) that I loved the realism of Ivy needing–and acquiring–a job shortly after the beginning of her summer vacation. I’ve read so many stories like this where the protagonist somehow never runs out of money (though it was stated that they were not of wealthy means) and somehow manages to always buy the biggest and the best of everything. I don’t know, I guess I just liked that little detail thrown in there.

And the dwarf war? Amazing.

So, when Ivy arrives back at the Halls, everything was pretty much as you’d expect: an escaped quill wreaking havoc, a shadow lurking around without it’s human, and a fun, yet entirely illegal, club of sqwinches battling it out in the dungeons with, yes, even more stolen quills. Ahhh… fun times.

Also, Professor Night? Yes, please. We all know the poor man deserves it by now.

Since this brings us to roughly the middle of the book-ish (?), I should probably refrain from speaking any more about plot-related things. *nervous laughter* But I can–and will–tell you that Silius is the cutest little huge invisible creature I’ve never seen! We get exactly three scenes with the sweetheart and that is more than enough to make you love him. Speaking of lovable creatures, our beloved Humboldt, is back and the lazy little lizard is as content as can be (I say with the utmost affection).

You may be wondering about the cutest (this is indisputable) almost-couple to ever grace the halls of the Halls of Ivy (pun… unintended). It wasn’t until the *beeeeeeeep* of the book when Fyn finally confessed his feelings. To himself.

I screamed. My family worried–it was a whole thing, but don’t worry.

And then this little *beep* *beep* *beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep* had the nerve to just up and graduate? I have half a mind to not read the next book out of spite because ya girl needs some Fyn Greeley. Though, at the same time, I kinda need to read the next book because… same reason. But if he’s not there, ooh!

*deep, calming breath* Okay, I’m better now; moving on.

The Dark Queen is just as evil as she was when we last left her and she’s just as, if not more, keen to reclaim the Kindred Stone. Poor Ivy. She just can’t seem to catch a break. Between the beautiful baddie on her tail, the thing with Winsome (which I am still not over, thank you very much!), and her friend-hopefully-soon-to-turn-sweetheart graduating, it’s just been a lot.

“Empathy is drowned out by fear, leaving only self-interest. Courage is suffocated by fear, leaving only cowardice. Doubt and self-loathing grow stronger, larger. Anger, too, has its roots in fear.”

All in all, I genuinely enjoyed this sequel. You know how sometimes the first book is the best and every book that follows pales in comparison? I am thrilled to say that that is not the case here! Night’s craft is more finely honed and the effort clearly shows in the pages of this book. So, if you want a potion war between feuding dwarves, an inevitable swan, and, yes, even more evil unicorns, I’d say you came to the right place.

The Book Stats:

Feels: yeah… some

The Funnies: Fyn and Ivy are an incredible sarcastic duo, so, yes.

Continue-the-series-ness: OF! COURSE! If nothing else, I, for one, need to see what happens between my ship *ahem* the kingdom of Croswald, of course… *nervous sweating*

Cute Things: all of them.

My rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.

This was a great sequel! It included all the great characters from the 1st book and some new great characters in the Town and the QQC. The pacing was good and I literally can't wait until I get the final book.

This is a great YA series for a few reasons:
1. I really appreciate that the characters seem like realistic teenagers. They aren't superhumans who are never scared. They do risky things and get freaked out when things go wrong. They are also adorably awkward at times like most teenagers.
2. I love how Rebecca and Fyn support Ivy. They really are the greatest best friend and friend/more ever! They don't get jealous of her abilities and they just want to make sure that she is safe and happy. When they have the group hug at the end I almost cried.

I 100% recommend this series!.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the free copy!

The Girl With the Whispering Shadow by D.E. Night is the second book in the Crowns of Croswald Series. For my opinion on book one, please see my earlier reviews.

Following the exciting events at the end of book one, the school year has come to and end. Having been firmly advised that she is unsafe at the school halls, Ivy plans to spend her summer in a secret magical town, at the guided instructions of the one adult she knows she can trust – her family scrivenist.

On arrival, Ivy sets out to the accommodations she was provided an address for, and not much else. She is more than surprised to discover it is also the home of one of her fellow students and they are just as surprised to see Ivy. But Ivy isn’t there simply to lounge around and have fun (not that she doesn’t also partake in both). She also has a task that has been set for her – she must find a missing item and she doesn’t know where to begin to look. Furthermore, it has been broken into parts and they are each hidden separately!

When all of the other students head back to school, at the end of the break, Ivy stays put. While remaining at the job she secured during the summer, Ivy continues to try and figure out where the parts of the missing item might be.

Then the day comes when she receives a letter from the school inviting her back and letting her know that the halls are once again safe for her. She finally gets to go back to the only real home she has ever known, be reunited with her friends and family scrivenist, and enjoy being able to attend classes again. The only thing is, she hasn’t found the missing item yet and danger is actually still lurking.

This second instalment in this series introduces some new characters and experiences for Ivy. It sets up a dynamic between Ivy and some of the characters that wasn’t yet developed in the first novel and continues the fight against the Dark Queen.

Although there are many differences, the atmosphere in these books feel like they are inspired by the magical world of Harry Potter. Based on this, I believe that the same group of readers, both young and old, will find something enjoyable in D.E. Nights series as well.

While I admit that there are a few points that could perhaps benefit with tweaking, there are others that would no doubt think I am being fussy. I can say that the world is full of action, loveable characters and a well thought out magical format that will appeal to many creative minds. If you’ve not already done so, The Crowns of Croswald is definitely worth checking out.

A well earned 3.5 stars out of 5 from me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy of this novel in exchange for an impartial review.

The last time we were with Ivy Lovely, she had just been told she could not return to the Halls of Ivy as the Dark Queen knew where she was there. The Girl with the Whispering Shadow brings us to the Town. Ivy’s journey is just as entertaining as her journey was to the Halls of Ivy. Somehow Ivy always gets into some kind of trouble when she leaves the Hall and this is no different.

I found The Girl with the Whispering Shadow to be even more entertaining than D.E. Night’s Crowns of Croswald, which I absolutely loved. I think that it’s because we get to know more about Ivy’s friends, such as Fynn’s background, we get to know where he comes from, who his friends are and we get to know a ton about The Town.

Speaking of The Town, or the name I can not speak because right now it’s a secret to all of you readers. what a great place! To me, it feels a bit like Seattle or London with its low cloud cover, but what an adventurous way to get to know it. Ivy ends up taking the serendipitous route to arrive at the address that her Scrivenist gives her before she leaves the Halls of Ivy.

Where she ends up is a pleasant surprise! My favorite part of this adventure is the amazing places Ivy has to visit to further the education and learning of her power and the backstories that give even more depth to where Ivy comes from besides as a Scullery Maid.

What I won’t tell you is whether evil or good prevails and how the adventure proceeds. I will tell you though that if you have fallen in love with Ivy, with her friends and the adventure, then you definitely need to read this second book in the series! I look forward to reading the next book in the series that came out in May 2020- The Words of the Wandering!

D.E. Night has done a wonderful job at creating tension and terror at the hands of the Dark Queen and her cohorts and has continued building darling Ivy into the heroine that we love and cheer for. Ivy has her challenges, she has her weaknesses, but she also has the strength to keep fighting for her heritage, her friends, the people of The Town, and her role into the future.

Buy this book from your favorite Indie book shop in-store or online, or if your shop doesn’t have a website and you need to buy online buy from http://www.Bookshop.org and support your favorite book shop by linking your favorite shop to bookshop.org’s option to do so.

I plan on reading this series to my granddaughters when they are older. I see myself reading this series over and over. The Crowns of Croswald series is definitely a fairytale that will become beloved by current and future readers all because of a girl named Ivy Lovely!

Thank you Netgalley, D.E.Night, and Untoldstories for the opportunity to read and review this book!

5 stars!!

Just like the first, the second book did not disappoint as I enjoyed the continuation of Ivy's story. In the previous book Ivy faced the evil Queen, but the darkness and her broad are not vanquished yet.
This series is a must read for fans of Harry Potter, especially young girls so they can see themselves in the protagonist. D.E creates the story world with Ivy’s scrivenist journeys of finding yourself, recognizing the power within you, and finding your inner being. I could not stop reading this book once I started and I cannot wait to see where Ivy's journey goes next.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in a four-book series full of conjuring, creative creatures, and colorful characters. Book 3 is out now and Book 4 will be released this year. If you follow D.E. Night on Instagram, you have already gotten a sneak peak of her writing the fourth book.

A novel that is a thoughtful, action-driven fantasy and will leave you clamoring to find out what happens next.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow
Discover the enchanted world of Croswald with our young scrivenist Ivy Lovely.
In the previous book Ivy faced the evil Queen, but the darkness and her broad are not vanquished yet. For her safety and for the town of Croswald Ivy has been whisked away into hiding in the town of Belzebuthe, however this time a shadowy presence is shaking the town of Belzebuthe and bringing along with it havoc for our young heroin Ivy Lovely.
Ivy’s friendship with Fyn is definitely one piece of the book I cherished the most and we got to expand on it in fyn’s wonderous hometown of Belzebuthe. Right before Ivy is drawn back to the Halls of Ivy, she forms new friendships with Fyn’s members of The Quality Quils Club, a secret Quogo society. While new friendships formed, we learned more about the history of the scrivenists, how powerful a quill can truly be and the crown and it’s legacy in Croswald.
Ivy and her friends Rebecca and Fyn evolved immensely as characters throughout the book which give Ivy the strength and guidance, she needed to find her true powers and face the Evil Queen.
D.E lights the story world with her scrivenist journeys of finding yourself, recognizing the power within you, and finding your inner being.
As I mentioned in my previous review for The Crowns of Croswald if you love the universe of Harry Potter, the vivid magic, the friendships, and the adventures in The Crowns of Croswald series will light you with scrivinist passion. the intrigue of the mysterious shadow and the shining magical experiences in Belzebuthe made this book my favorite so far out of the series and I’m eager to see how Ivy fairs in the Halls in the next book without Fyn, and where the challenges of the Dark Queen will take her.
Thank you to the Publishing Team – Stories Untold and the author D.E Night for the opportunity to review yet another brilliant Croswald chapter.

*ARC received in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine*

What I liked

It was really nice to be back in the world of Croswald! This is a strong sequel to a first book that really surprised me and I ended up enjoying it more than I thought.
The setting and the magic system are, in my opinion, the strong points of the series. I just want to visit this world sometimes, it really is that magical.
This second book had so much more plot and felt more high stakes. Ivy has found her place, she knows who she is and she knows what she has to do in order to win (spoiler alert: friendship is important!)
Nothing can stop Ivy and I love this about her! It’s so fun to follow her through all the mischiefs and adventures. It keeps reminding me of Harry Potter and I love that!

What I didn’t like

I realised that I didn’t mention this in the review of the first book, but the only critique I would give to this series is the age of the characters and the genre of the book. The characters are between 16/18 years old and they act like children because it’s a middle grade. It really bothers me sometimes. I also feel like sometimes they can’t get the depth they deserve because of the genre. Either the characters should have been younger or the genre should have been YA so they could act their age.

Final thoughts

This is a strong series that I’m really liking and would definitely recommend. I’m for sure continuing reading Ivy adventures!

I received this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange form my honest review.

I'm reading this series along with my son and he absolutely loves it.

This book is fantastic, it picks up exactly where we left off. The school year is over and Ivy needs to stay hidden in the town for her own safety. We get to learn a lot more about living there and we also spend a lot of time with Ivy, Flyn and the gang.

Ivy has matured a lot since the first book. She's goal oriented and determined to find the missing pieces of the kindred stone. She makes awesome new friends and realizes what it feels like to be part of something.

I got to say I loved the Quogo matches. The whole idea of a ghostly magical duel is fantastic.

We spent quite a lot of time in the town. Learning the layout, it's history and getting to know the people.

I can't wait to keep reading this series with my son.

This series gets better and better the magical aspect will keep you enthralled throughout your time reading it.
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
The characters are enchanting.
Ivy really comes into her own in this book showing how she is a perfect heroine. Delving deeper into characters we already know but also ones that we meet along the way.

I will be recommending this middle grade series to people who are looking for a some escapism.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this arc.

I was given a copy of the second Crowns of Croswald book, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, from the publisher, just like I did with the first book. It was pretty good, but I didn’t like it as much as the first book, so I gave it four stars! I felt like the pacing was off. There wasn’t much that happened that during the summer and yet a good chunk of the book was spent in The Town during summer. Then at the school, again not much happened, and then suddenly it was the end of the year and the book was over. I am still curious to see what will happen in the third book, but I just wish the pacing in this book had been a bit better!⁠

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This series is just so good. I loved book 1 and this sequel took everything that had been set up in that story, added to it and made it even better! I am very excited to see what happens next, but after the events of this book, I'm also a little anxious and worried for all my favourite characters.

This installment picks up after the climatic ending of the first book with Ivy leaving school and setting off to spend the summer in a place called The Town (the real name of this place is known only to residents, in order to protect its secrecy). Amongst the interesting inhabitants of this magical place, Ivy makes news friends and also gets to see and spend time with a familiar face. However, when school resumes, Ivy is initially unable to return. Instead she must go on a mission that only she has the ability to complete to save herself, her friends and all the places she holds dear.

The worldbuilding in this book is fantastic. The descriptions of The Town are so fascinating that I could read a whole book just about everyday life in this place and explore the wide variety of magical shops. Everything in this story is so engaging and well-balanced that I never find myself getting bored, I just want more of all of it. I loved learning more about quills and the ways in which they can be used. I loved finding out more about Ivy's abilities and the secrets that surround her. I loved the scenes at the Halls of Ivy (yes, don't worry, there is more magic school adventures) when we get to experience magical lessons, the dining rooms or sneaking around at night. I loved all the friendships, rivalries and new characters. The villain is even more menacing in this book and the threat they pose is just becoming greater as the story progresses.

This book is a great sequel and this series is perfect for readers aged 10 - 13.

I received an e-book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second volume of The Crowns of Crosswald series. And i really loved it.

At the end of the first volume, Ivy finds out who she really is and that The Dark Queen is after her. So she has to go to a town with no name and find the next part of the stone. But things are happening in the town, quills are being stolen and strange shadows appear in the dark.

This volume reminded me, like the first one, of Harry Potter; we have a game played by the scrivenists and a group of friends who are trying to learn more things on their own. In The Girl with the Whispering Shadow we meet new great characters, we discover more magic places and meet new challenges. New secrets are discovered and things are happening all the time. Is more captivating, the universe is more developed, it's paced and you don't have time to get bored.

I really liked it, i liked the friendships made in this volume, the interesting creatures and Ivy is finally embracing her magic, becoming a real queen. We have a cute and innocent love-story, which i love and the slow burn is quite amazing. The ending was perfect and i'm so so curious about the last volume. Can't wait to read it.

So, if you're a Harry Potter fan, please give this a chance. I know is for YA, but it's so cute and so interesting to follow Ivy's adventures. It was a perfect sequel and i can't wait to have the last volume.

This sequel to The Crowns of Croswald picks up almost exactly where its predecessor left off. Ivy Lovely recently learned that she's the true Queen of Croswald and the fulfillment of the Moonsday promise and, at the instruction of her family's scrivenist, makes her way to the magically-hidden town of scrivenists. Like The Crowns of Croswald, and other fantasy school series, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow follows the frame of the school year as Ivy searches for pieces of the stone that will grant her her true power.

In my review of Crowns, I raved about Night's magic system. The sequel shows us so much more of this world of crows and quills, and I was as eager to learn about it as the students in The Halls of Ivy. Despite hitting some time-tested tropes of middle-grade/YA fantasy, this magic system keeps the book fresh and interesting.

There are a couple shortcomings to this book, though none are detrimental. The first part of the book was a little slow and difficult to push through, and might be even moreso with younger or slower readers. Still, I liked learning more about the world of Croswald, and this section widened the readers' world. Second, the frame of the school year seemed rushed. There are allusions to recurring events but not enough exploration of them--the timeline and pace sometimes seemed jarring. Still, as I said, none of these are significant enough to detract from a purely delightful visit to a smart and intriguing fantasy world.

This book moved at a much quicker pace than the first one. The world has now been established and we know where things stand. Now Ivy is in a race against the Dark Queen to save the kingdom and its people. Ivy has become stronger and more self confident, her friends have her back, and more of her past comes to light. The ending was intense and though devastating it left hope for the future.
I can’t really say to much without giving away key points of the story so I’m just going to say that I enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait to read the third book. I’ve come to really care for Ivy and her friends. I love how they interact and the world is so original and imaginative. I can’t wait to see what they all get up to next.

*I received this book (via eArc from NetGalley) for free from the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review* Yet again I had a whole lot fun in this world!! Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca are still the best friendship trio and always protect each other. Thought it felt a tab bit all over the place I loved the ending and the battles between Ivy and the Dark Queen! I wonder what they will do next? A huge thanks again to the publisher for the ARC!! It was positively magical and I can't wait to read the conclusion to this trilogy :)

It had been months since I read the first book, so I was really praying that I’d remember enough to read this. Thankfully, D.E. Night did a great job of recapping the major events of the first book without making it feel like we were reading a textbook.

The Girl With the Whispering Shadow picks up right where The Crowns of Croswald left off. Ivy is determined to find the second piece of the Kindred, to prevent the Dark Queen from amassing any more power. Even though she’s supposed to be safe in the Town, she is being shadowed by something, and no one knows what it is.

Although this series is very simplistic, I really love the world. It’s as magical as it could be, and with every single book, it’s developed even more. The descriptions of Belzebuthe were luscious, and it was insanely fun to imagine. I’m super excited to learn even more about this world in the third book!

I also really love the focus on friendship. Romance is non existent in this series, and I’d really like to see one developed, but I love the friendship between Ivy and Rebecca. If you like middle-grade fantasies, this is for you!

Thanks to D.E. Night and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the second in The Crowns of Croswald series and picks straight up from where the first book left off. Starting with the summer holidays away from Ivy Halls. With the events and revelations of end the first book fresh in her mind, she travels to a secret protected town for Scrivenist called Belzebuthe, in hopes to discover more about the location of the second piece of the Kindred stone. Whilst she is safe within Belzebuthe, the Dark Queen has other ideas to draw her out from the protective bubble and draw her back to Ivy Halls where she intends to steal the Kindred stone from her. In the process endangering everyone and everything Ivy holds dear.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first. The plot was much faster pace and more action packed. There are still elements where the strong Harry Potter vibes are present but less often than the first book and quickly absorbed into the Coswold setting. We learn a lot more about what happened to Derwin in the past and hints about who the Dark Queen really is. We also get introduced to Quogo (Quill duels), secret club meetings, Invisitaurs (Invisible creatures), an owlery and much more to the magical world outside of the school setting which was great. Imagine being able to catch the stars in the sky and actually getting wishes granted! There is also a more obvious love interest going on in this one which is very cute! I love that Ivy is getting to realise more of her strengths and weaknesses in this and we get to become more familiar with the other characters in her new "found family".

I really enjoyed this book and glad I got to continue with this series. This ended on a bit of a cliffhanger though and I can't wait to pick up the next one. Going to put it on my Wishlist.
Thank you to @netgalley and @storiesuntoldpress for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review has also been posted on Instagram and Goodreads.

When we left Ivy Lovely at the end of The Crowns of Croswald, she had just defeated the Dark Queen at the Ball, had learned her true identity, was given part of a Kindred Stone, and had discovered that the pirate she kept being drawn to in glanageries was actually her family's scrivenist, Derwin Edgar Night.

In this book, Derwin then sends Ivy off to "The Town" (the enchanted magical city of scrivenists, called Belzebuthe) to search for the second part of her Kindred Stone and stay hidden from the Dark Queen. It just so happened that the address Derwin sent her to stay at in Belzebuthe belonged to none other than Fyn Greeley and his mother! Ivy spends much of the book running around with Fyn and his friends, getting into trouble and dodging a creepy shadow figure.

We got to see more of how the magic in Croswald works in this book, which I really enjoyed. Ivy spent most of the story either in Belzebuthe or on other adventures, and only a very small part actually at The Halls of Ivy. It was quite fun to get to know some other settings! The whole world of Croswald still gives me major Harry Potter vibes, and I enjoy it quite a bit.

In the first book, I didn't find that there was much character building of the secondary characters, like Fyn and Rebecca, but I found that was improved in this book (however I still don't much care for, or trust, Fyn). I did have a bit of difficulty keeping the members of the Quogo Club straight, but that is likely more a personal thing than the characters themselves.

I don't have much to say on the side of criticism - there were a few grammatical errors here and there, but nothing too serious. This second book also reads like a middle grade novel, which is great. There were moments when Ivy did act a bit more like a 16-17 year old girl than in the first book, but I still feel like she should be around 14, so her age still throws me off and is still a bit of an issue for me.

One of my favourite aspects of The Girl with the Whispering Shadow were the stars in Belzebuthe. I love that the stars are wishes, and that a person can rent stargusters to putter around among the stars, and that if one were to catch a star, the wish inside would be granted...! Such a romantic and lovely idea! If I lived in Belzebuthe I would most definitely buy wishes/stars on a very regular basis. I also really love that because this magic system uses quills instead of wands, spells are actually written as well as spoken, and so good penmanship is of quite high importance. I have always loved penmanship, and taken pride in having legible handwriting - I think I would get along quite well in the world of Croswald!

I continue to recommend this series to others, and am looking forward to reading the next two books at some point!

Great follow up book to The Crowns of Croswald. Fast paced read is hard to put down. I really enjoyed the world building in this series. The hidden town Ivy is spending her summer feels like a Diagon Alley permanently stuck in a winters night. There is still a heavy influence in my opinion from Harry Potter but again, not enough to dissuade me from thoroughly enjoying the story.

A great continuation to the story of Ivy and her search for the pieces of Kindred Stone that will defeat the Dark Queen. She is surrounded by friends with unique magical abilities as she battles shades and shadows who are trying to destroy her.

I love Ivy’s world it is so fascinating. I enjoyed being able to enter it again. I found Ivy a little childish in the first book, this one I found she had grown up and it was more acceptable that she was seventeen. I had also struggled with the first book keeping track of all of the side characters and I found it easier to keep track of them all. I it was a fun novel to read and it was great to learn about more of Ivy’s adventures.

This second book is way better than the first one! I love the scenes, the Town and its different shops and new characters, the Quogo game is wonderful and most of all the star-fishing and wish-granting idea is epic. Love that! Also, I still love Rebecca's character, how she can turn to something useful when needed the most. Fyn and Ivy's building romance is something I look forward to, their friendship along with the other members of the club makes me kind of emotional. Ivy being the heroine, doing the adventures while breaking all the rules is basically like Harry Potters! (sorry for the comparison)

I wish there's more to each chapter though, I feel like it's too short for me. I wanted to know more about what it's like to be in the Town, Belzebuthe. I definitely would like to read the next book, the Selector's character is suspicious to me.

I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review by Stories Untold LLC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book!
The Girl with the Whispering Shadow was engaging and pulls you along for the adventure. In the first book in this series I felt like it was a little slow to start, but this one jumped right in (and I know that has something to do with already knowing Ivy and some of her story). This book took you to The Town, a secret scrivenist "lair" where magic is practiced freely and no Dark Queen can enter. Ivy spends most of her time here through the book until she gets asked back to The Halls of Ivy where both fun and danger await. At the end of the book there is a magical battle that takes place and friends band together to fight. The end also leaves you (sort of) on a cliffhanger, that is if you are wanting to know what happens next!
I also enjoy D.E. Night's fun and fantastical places and creatures! If you love fantasy (or even if it's not all your style), this book is worth a try. A good middle-grade read too!

Review also posted on Goodreads, Amazon, and will be posted to my instagram.

“You can be trapped in a castle, trapped in a scaldrony. Trapped by people. But the worst is being trapped by fear.”

In The Girl with the Whispering Shadow by D.E. Night, the book picks up where The Crowns of Croswald left off. The school year is complete and Ivy is whisked off to a secret town for only those with magical blood. She reunites with Fyn, and spends her break with him learning even more about him and about her own magical heritage. She sets out to learn more about her prophecy and how it ties to the Dark Queen. When they return to school where she should be safe, it quickly becomes evident that not all is as it appears and something dark is at play again. Ivy does not want to be part of putting anyone in danger again, but it becomes clear that she is going to have to face evil again to protect those she cares about most.

I loved delving even deeper to this magical world. Ivy and her friends are fun to read about, and I especially like her growing relationship with Fyn. I feel like they are well suited to each other and love that he stands up to her but supports her at the same time. This series is perfect for anyone who enjoys middle school age reading, books like Harry Potter, and magical worlds. I give this installment 4 stars.

Ivy Lovely and her friends are back for more adventure in The Girl with the Whispering Shadow! After the events at the Ball last year, Ivy has been told that school and the Halls of Ivy aren’t safe for her anymore. Her scrivenist Derwin leaves cryptic instructions telling her to seek refuge in the mysterious Town while she searches for the remaining pieces of the Kindred Stone.

My favorite scene in the whole book is where Ivy and Fyn are fishing for stars on Fyn’s rooftop in the Town. If you catch a star, whoever wishes on that star has their wish come true! There was just something so sweet about that particular scene.

If you love stories with magic, adventure and strong friendships, then definitely check out the Crowns of Croswald series!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3627629593?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvP93bgS9S/

Welcome back to the world of Croswald.

This review contains spoilers if you have not read Book 1: The Crowns of Croswald.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow the second instalment of D.E Night's The Crowns of Croswald series. And like the first book it did not disappoint.

The book basically starts days after the events of book 1, Ivy and Rebecca are getting ready to leave the Halls of Ivory for the summer. One going home the other, Ivy going to the town with no name, well it has a name but it is a secret and only those who live there or are going there know it. You can not find this town on your own you have to go by cabby. It is protected from the outside world, it where the many of the scrivenist live in safety to practice magic.

But things are happening in the town, shades are being scene and quills are being stolen. Ivy has been sent there to find the next stone and to keep her safe from the Dark Queen but how safe can she be if things are happening in the town that hasn't happened before. Is the Dark Queen getting closer to finding her? To find the stone?

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow like book 1 screams Harry Potter vibes, we are introduce to a game that that scrivenist play involving their quills and and the quills of past scivenists. With that we get introduced to a greater cast of characters, ones I'm sure we will see again in future books, ones that play a big role in this particular one.

So back to the Harry Potter vibes, I can see this series blowing up. This could be the Harry Potter, and it should be,I hope for D.E Night and all booklovers and Harry Potter fans it does.

Over all I really enjoyed this book, and I love this series thus far. One day they will be at home on my bookcase.


*I was given a copy in exchange for review

Oh my gosh Night just gets better. This is a great follow up to the 1st book. The story pulls you in from the beginning and you just want more and more. I loved having favorite characters return and meeting new ones. You learn a lot more about the magic in this book. I think this series is going to be something big. I look forward to the next book. I recommend for any fan of Harry Potter series.
*I was gifted a copy for an honest review.

After the crazy whirlwind that ended book 1, we’re back with our favorite secret princess and her dragon sidekick in this sequel of Crowns of Croswald.
Fearing for Ivy’s safety after the intense events at Crosswald, her family’s scrivnist, Derwin, urges Ivy to go hide in the safety of a secret town known as Belzebuthe.
Being in Belzebuthe was so charming and whimsical. Imagine a town that has the biggest and brightest at stars, the most peculiar yet enchanting food, and the most amazing people you could ever meet. As soon as Ivy lands in Belzebuthe, I was immediately entranced in by the magic in this whimsical world.
Although this town is known to be safe, strange things have been arising and it is up to Ivy to follow her destiny and figure out a way to put an end to the dark queen while figuring out the path to finding the missing pieces kindred stone.
My favorite things about this book:
-Ivy’s character development and seeing her go from a lonely girl who constantly doubts herself to a QUEEN who conquers her fears
-Quogo!!! A magical competition kinda like Quidditch but super unique and different! Quogo ended up being super important to the story and I LOVED that
-the friendships (Rebecca and Fyn- I would literally die for y’all 🥺)
-the world building!! I love seeing it through Ivy’s eyes and growing/learning with her
-the way D.E Night always manages to connect the beginning of the book and the title of the book to the entire story.
Filled with mystery, magic, adventure, enchanting world building, and amazing characters, the girl with the whispering shadow was a great sequel that will keep you guessing and wanting more!

Ivy learned about her past and her Queenly bloodline, and now has been brought to Belzebuthe, a secret town for those with magical blood. She has to find the second part of the Kindred stone while avoiding the Dark Queen, all while feeling she is being followed. If she can’t, she might not be able to return to the Halls of Ivy.

Despite her bloodline, Ivy is still new to magic, magical items, and the town itself. This means the reader is now brought into the town itself, and we’re exposed to new types of scrivenist magic. Being so isolated in her early years means people growing up with magic see her as naïve, but she remains our entry into this world. Summer proceeds with making more friends and some covert magic practice, especially because Ivy isn’t returning to school right away. Of course she does return for her second year of classes, and it’s a trick meant to draw her out into danger. It’s hardly the first time that happens over the course of the year, until we get to the final quarter of the book. Now we’re at the end of the school year and the Dark Queen makes another appearance, facing off with Ivy directly.

All in all, Ivy is a fun middle grade heroine. Some of the actions she takes and the mistakes she makes seem younger than her sixteen years, though her relative newness to magic and the customs of the scrivenist culture explains part of that. She has the best of intentions in mind as she and her friends do their best to find the Kindred Stone, as well as her attempts to discover why she is so important. There are consequences to Ivy’s actions as she tries to fight off the queen, all of which will ripple down into future novels of this four book series.

Book two of The Crowns of Croswald certainly delivers! I liked the first book but it just gets better with book two - filled with magic, critters and adventure! (I adore the idea of the Hairies- little cousins to fairies with bright hair that light the way in and around Croswald. Especially in the Halls Of Ivy. The school in which Ivy and her friends attend to learn magic and the ways of the Scrivinist)

We return to the familiar world and characters of Croswald but its much more in depth and developing. Pieces of the last book come into play and frequently I stopped in an "ah-ah" moment as the books and ideas linked. Sorry... no spoilers!

The world is full of delights including wishing stars and it's own game called Quogo - where scrivinists battle with quills and specters of the quills former owner ~ spell binding.

"Have you ever fished for a star before? It takes hours, and I'm not leaving here until I catch one"

" The act of catching one (star) is like wishing on a star, just in reverse. Meaning, you net a star, you get to help grant the wish inside, for whatever the star setter wished"

Well thought out and a good pace, we follow Ivy and her friends as she tries to find the 2nd piece of the Kindred stone before The Dark Queen can get there first.

What's brilliant about Ivy is that her character is developing. She doesn't just know she's the rightful heir to the throne - she's starting to believe it too.
A quick mention of her friend Fynn here; always following and supporting her. I really can't help liking him and his growing love for Ivy.

I thoroughly enjoyed wondering around this world in my minds eye. The descriptions are wonderful too - they are detailed; and bring the reader up close with the characters such as : "The wet, cobbled street that Ivy walked down reflected the colorful lights above: bright pinks, yellows, oranges and purples"

Book two is a magical roller caoster- I just don't understand why I haven't seen this book around more. I really can see why there's a comparison to Harry Potter; but it really holds it own. Great ideas- would love to see them continue to flesh out. Its delightfully spell binding- so much depth to the Croswald world and its characters. ( I want to play Quogo too!!!) Would definitely recommend to those who love to get lost in a magical world.

I am falling completely in love with this world and Ivy's story. The second book in this series has just concreted what I felt about the first. The world building so far has to be my favourite part; everything is so magical and you feel like you're right there with Ivy in the book.
The friend group in this book has great character development. It is nice to see more than just the main character getting that development in a series and makes you feel closer to the group as a whole. So often in middle grades I feel the stakes are never high enough to keep me on the edge of my seat but these books have definitely presently surprised me with that.
This series so far has just got better and I’m excited to get to the 3rd book in the series to see where it takes me next.
A beautiful magical world filled with all kinds of creatures and spells with a story that feels straight out of a fairy tale, a must read if you love magical middle grades.

This is the second book in the series after the Crowns of Croswald, continuing the life and adventures of Ivy Lovely. After what happened at the Ball at the end of the first book, Ivy was asked to spend the summer at The Town in a place called Belzebuthe, a secret place only a magical can have access to. Derwin Edward Night, her family’s scrivenist, sent her on a mission to find the missing pieces of the Kindred Stone. While she was here and up until she came back to the Halls of Ivy, a shadow is trailing her and wrecking havoc.
While at school, she continued to be friends with her Belzebuthe acquiantances in The Quality Quills Club. How will she solve the puzzle of the shadow and avoid the wrath of the Dark Queen?
.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book than the first one, I somehow have finally let the Harry Potter similarities out of my mind. There are areas in the book that I still find to be like Harry Potter although not directly, this book still have created a world of it’s own. I’ve finally known how these quills are different from the wands we have been so accustomed to. There are additional characters in the story, from the QQC, all of whom are endearing. I like Belzebuthe too. Overall, this is a great follow up to the first book.

The Girl with a whispering shadow has the same magical feel as volume one.
I love that there are so many parallels with Harry Potter.
I love the plot twists and the world created in both books. The atmosphere is just pleasant and dreamy.
Since that part the characters feel like family and I like to read more and more about the city of Belzebuth.
Conclusion: This part is even better than the first. The atmosphere and characters are great. The cover is very good just like the writing style. For everyone who loves Harry Potter and fantasy, this book series is something.

This is the sequel to The Crowns of Croswald and I actually enjoyed this one more than the first. I think part of it is that I’m invested in the story now but I also think most of it is how much more developed the world of Croswald seems in this book. I got to delve deeper into this world and learn so many new things. This world is so unique and fascinating! I loved how this book picked up right where the last one left off and we were thrown into action from the get-go. The background romance continued in this book and I enjoyed it a lot. I definitely ship Ivy and Fyn, they’re so cute! Even if they just stay friends (which I hope they’re more than that) I still really like the relationship they have going. I felt like this book had more action in it and I enjoyed that a lot. However, there were some slow bits here and there. They were scenes that helped establish the storyline but sometimes they felt a bit too dragged out. Maybe I was just antsy to get back to the action. I will say the ending threw me off a little. I was expecting a little more or something different? I don’t know how to talk about it without spoiling it. But other than that I throughly enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to learn more about this world and Ivy’s adventures in it!

What a great continuation of The Crowns of Croswald. It began right where the first left off which is great. There was even more action and adventure and I couldn’t get enough. I really liked how there were references to events from the first book, enough to remind you of what happened but not repetitive. Ivy continues to grow as a character and I am all for it, but what I really loved was the development of the secondary characters. We got to know them more and they are friends I’d like to have.

The club Ivy joined was so refreshing. It was another way to learn about the quills instead of just through classroom lectures. I would like to learn a little more about the jewels the royals carry. We learn so much about the quills and now I find myself wanting to learn more about the stones.

This is such a fun story and the magical world is wonderful. I would love to be able to fish for stars and play Quogo. There is so much to love about this series and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

Can book 2 live up to the first? In this case yes it can and in my opinion tops the 1st book.

We get to explore more places and see Ivy grow with confidence. The subtle love story that’s simmering in the background is a lovely touch, one that isn’t over powering but makes you route for them to realise their friendship is more.

The added element of the Quogo is fabulous and an added bit of humour. If this little known series gets made into a film (which I believe it should) Quogo would be great to see on the big screen.

I find it a shame these books aren’t well known, as a teenager I would have loved to immerse myself in the Ivy’s magical world. I hope they start to build in popularity and get the recognition they deserve.

The return to Croswald drops us back into the adventures of Ivy Lovely in the best possible way. After spending the summer in The Town, Ivy finally makes her way back to the Halls.
Surrounded by Fyn, Rebecca and the rest of the QQC, Ivy's second year leads her into ever more, thoroughly enchanting misadventures.
As mysteries unfold, danger arises and the tiniest hint of love blossoms, readers are welcomed back into the treasure of Croswald.

👑 In the first book of the series, The Crowns of Croswald, we discover that Ivy is part of the Queenly bloodline. To keep her safe and far from the Dark Queen, in the second book, Ivy is sent to the secret town of Belzebuthe and has been told not to go back to school for her own safety. Suddenly, though, she receives a message that allows her back. She can't be happier, but is it really safe? And will she find the second piece of the Kindred Stone?⁠
⁠
♥️ I liked:⁠
📚 Belzebuthe. This amazing town, secret and known only to those with magical blood, sounds incredible and is described in every single detail. I wouldn't mind going there just for a bit of shopping at "Quintons Brews and Hodgepodge" or at the bookshop. ⁠
⭐ Star fishing. One of Fynn's hobbies in Belzebuthe: fishing for stars that grant people's wishes. It just sounds so magical that I decided I have to try it as well!
⚗️ Hodge and Podge. The dwarves that run the potion shop where Ivy works in Belzebuthe are my new favourite characters! Their magical battle was probably one of the funniest scenes of all book. ⁠
👨 Ivy, Fynn and Rebecca. You can see the characters are growing up in this second book. They are still teenagers, of course, but it's good to witness how they change, becoming more mature and even more attached to each other. I especially appreciated Fynn in this second book, the character that I liked the least in the first one.⁠
🪄 Quogo. It's a magical game, where scrivenists duel with quills left behind by their owners. The game was super interesting, but sometimes I felt like there were too many details in those scenes. I also loved the fact that this game actually plays a role in the development of the plot.⁠
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Once again, I have to thank @netgalley and @danielastoriesuntoldpress for letting me dive in this amazing magical world. I loved this book as much as I loved the first one and I can't wait to read the third. If you love fantasy, you have to give it a try!⁠⁠
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I received and voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (thank you!).

The first book in the series, The Crowns of Croswald, was an enjoyable read but not anything that stood out to me. I'm glad I continued with the series and read The Girl with the Whispering Shadow because I enjoyed it more than its predecessor.

The story picks up where the first book left off, which helped me feel as if I was thrust right back into the action. After Ivy learns she's descended from the last true queen of Croswald, she's sent to the secret town of Belzebuthe, and it's there she starts to come into her own. Ivy begins to embrace her magic and her destiny, which is to collect the missing pieces of the Kindred Stone and defeat the Dark Queen.

The world-building and magic system, which I enjoyed in the first book, continue to shine and build in this book. Although there were still some spots that read slow to me, there was an improvement in the pacing from the last book as well.

What I enjoyed most were the relationships in this story, and it was satisfying to see Ivy's friendships with Rebecca and Fyn grow. I'm also a sucker for the potential of romance in any capacity, so seeing the stirrings of (what I hope to be) first love in all its innocence was really sweet.

While I did enjoy this book more than the last, the characters still continued to read really young; I felt as if I were reading about preteens instead of teenagers. My personal preferences still run more mature, but this is an admittedly enjoyable read that should resonate really well with a younger audience or those who want a low-stress reading experience.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow will whisk you away to a magical world. I highly recommend reading book one to fully enjoy this book. Ivy is back with a new quest and a familiar enemy. Watching Ivy grow not only into her powers but her confidence just makes you love her more. A brilliant second installment you'll find yourself lost in the pages for hours.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is book number 2 in the Crowns of Croswald series.
If you haven’t read the first one, Id do yourself a favor and let your imagination run wild and get hooked like I have.

Book 2 dives deeper into the magical realm of “The Town” as Ivy Lovely becomes more mature with her newfound magical powers.
You get to see the friendships she’s building and how important the friendships become to her. You really would be nowhere without your friends. And this book shows just that.

I cannot wait to see where book 3 takes her, especially with how this book ended.
Also, you can find me fishing for stars with Fyn in the near future.

I’m in love with this series and how it transports me to a complete world of imagination.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the first book, I was excited to see where The Girl with the Whispering Shadow would take the story. This book picks up at the moment the first novel ended, so there is no time jump or explanation of events that the audience needs to catch up on. Ivy has a slightly better grasp on the magical world and her place in it, but there is still much of her past that remains in the dark. Half of the book takes place outside of the school, which is a fun departure from the previous book and introduces us to more of the world. This is pretty obviously a mid-series book and as such, spends time world building which I assume will be necessary for future installments, but can slow the pacing down a tad.

Fantasy is not typically my first choice in genre, but this series has me hooked and I will definitely be on the look out for the next books. I loved the little easter egg of the author sharing the same initials/last name as a mysterious central character, and could see kids wondering if they are holding in their hands a volume written by the famous scrivenist!

The Girl with The Whispering Shadow follows Ivy as she moves to Belzebuthe, a secret town for those with magical blood, to find the next part of the Kindred stone. But even in a town that should be safe, something is shadowing Ivy and she will need all of her magic as she battles to find the rest of the kindred stone.

The setting of Belzebuthe was very enchanting. I loved the fact they could fish for stars to grant wishes. And I loved the game Quogo that Ivy was introduced to here. It allowed us to see more quill action and different types of magic scrivenists used. The Halls of Ivy also felt just as magical as the last book, I loved the invisotaurs we were introduced to.

We got to learn more about the characters, especially Ivy, we got to find out a bit more of her past. It was great to see her growing as a person and learning to accept her magic. One of my favourite characters ended up being Rebecca, she’s such a great friend to Ivy and I love her shapeshifting abilities. There is also a really sweet romance developing between Fyn and Ivy that I’m excited to see evolve.

Again the plot was full of action with plenty of quogo matches, flying on invisitaurs and fights with the Dark Queen. There weren’t any moments where I felt bored and it all led up to the ending really well. It definitely wasn’t a disappointing sequel and I’m excited about the final book!

This is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series. I loved the first book, so when I got the chance to read book two I jumped at the chance.

This one carries on where the first book left off and I was so happy to delve back into this world.

I get major Harry Potter vibes from this story which is a big plus for me. The magic system is quite straightforward and I love the world-building. This author has put so much detail into the story.

I love Ivy and Flynn. Their characters have developed even more and I have loved watching them grow so far.

This was a nice, quick read and roll on book three!

This is the second book in the Crowns of Croswald series and I was excited to read it but also a bit apprehensive that I might not enjoy it as much as the first. I can safely say it’s every bit as good as the first book and was a joy to read.

Once again you join Ivy Lovely, who is now in her second year at the Halls of Ivy, on more adventures to find the other parts of the Kindred Stone. There is also the mysterious shadow, who does it belong to? what does it want?

I really do enjoy these books the detail in the characters, the places, the beasts everything is so eloquently written. It’s a world I enjoy visiting.

Looking forward to the third book.

The second instalment to the Crowns of Croswald is full of adventure, suspense, and magic.

I was looking forward to reading this book so much! I loved the first book in the series and couldn't wait to read what happens next to Ivy and her friends.

It is super easy to get into this book now that I know the world of Croswald and all the magical things that can happen. This book is even more interesting than the first as it is action and adventure packed from the start. There are things that you guess at the beginning but that isn't a bad thing and the whispering shadow curse makes the book so much more interesting.
I really like that the Halls of Ivy are still the main milieu for this book. I really like the Quogo matches as well, it brings another level of magic into the book plus it totally brings up my Quidditch feels from Harry Potter.
I also like that there aren't too many new characters introduced in this book but that you get to follow your old "friends" in their journey to try and bring down the Dark Queen. Of course, Ivy is special, but I really, really like Fyn as well and I so hope that he is part of the third book. There's no way that he isn't :)

All in all, it was an interesting second book to the series. I now understand a lot of the things better and I cannot wait to read the third book!

The adventure of Ivy Lovely continues with more action and fun!!! This series is proving to me it’s one of those that get better as it goes on. I liked this more than the first book because unlike the first book which felt familiar, this book felt new! I love reading about new and unique stories, so I really liked this one. This was more predictable (but not super!!), but I still felt chills when everything was finally revealed.

Some parts of the book made me feel nervous and say, “IVY STOP BEING CURIOUS AND JUST RUN!” But, of course, where’s the fun in that? I was also very suspicious of everyone. I don’t know who to believe and who to trust! Even until the end, I was still having trust issues with some of the people around Ivy. If I were Ivy, I would probably run away. LOL

I’m so excited to read the next one and witness Ivy make more scary decisions that always lead to fun (and life threatening lol) adventures!!

This is the second installment in the Crowns of Croswald series and I’m falling more and more in love with this middle grade level book series of magic and mayhem. In this book, you see the main character, Ivy Lovely, grow into her personality and find a community of friends at the Halls of Ivy. The world that D.E. Night has created is so creative, magical, and charming. While magical high school books are pretty common, D.E. Night’s world continues to stand out as unique.

My only critique of this book is that D.E. Night is the Queen of Cliffhangers! I finished this book and I MUST read the third now! The ending is jarring because of the cliffhanger, but it just means that I need to get my hands on book 3.

I’ve really been enjoying the Croswald series, it’s been great to take a break from work or heavy reading and dive into this amazing middle grade level fantasy world! I recommend this series for middle readers, teachers, parents, and anyone who enjoys a fun story and a world of magic.

This is such a huge improvement from the first book, The Crowns of Croswald. I loved how magical the first book was but The Girl with the Whispering Shadow has taken its reader to even more whimsical places like Belzebuthe! The hidden town is everything that I fell in love with in the fantasy genre. This is one of those books that I wish I read as a chold because I would have enjoyed it a thousand times better.

Like the first one, this has some Harry Potter feel to it. Specifically, some crucial elements of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. However, this similarity does not take away from the original parts. My personal favorites are fishing for stars and Quogo.

I'm about to start the third book and I cannot wait to see where the story takes me.

Ready to enter a world of magic, spells, curses, and mystery? This adventure awaits in Book Two, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, a story about royal lineage and the battle between good and evil.

The Dark Queen is relentlessly tracking first year-student, Ivy, following her first schoolyear at the Halls of Ivy. For her own safety, Ivy is sent to the Town for the summer. This is a hidden place where the Dark Queen cannot find Ivy, or so we think! While there, she begins to learn about her heritage, while staying with a fellow student's family, Fyn Greeley. Fyn's mother has an important job in the Town; she is preserver of records at the Quill Keep, a facility to study quills that are highly dangerous and no longer being used. At one point, Ivy ask Fyn why these quills are not totally locked up and forgot about. Fyn is quick to say that being able to observe the nature of these dangerous quills allows us to learn from their harmful nature and past. It is as though the author of this book is saying that through studying history, we learn how to not repeat errors and mistakes.

During this summer, Ivy begins to learn why she is an orphan and about her royal background. She senses natural magical abilities and learns that the safety of all Croswald might depend on her strengthening in character and fearless nature. Fyn seems to be one of Ivy's best advisors, yet also we see signs of a budding romance! The greatest event of the summer is when Fyn introduces Ivy to the Quogo League and its secret activities. Ivy makes some true friends there and begins to learn that the game may serve a bigger purpose in teaching her to be fearless and fight evil.

Good will battle evil throughout this book. There are monsters, shades, the whispering shadow, and the Dark Queen and her brood that want to suffocate Ivy's courage and force evil upon her. Finding an all-powerful magic stone, the Kindred Stone, is in the constant minds of many throughout this story. Join Ivy in search of its pieces. Hopefully, she will do so before the Dark Queen does!

This story has an unending list of spells, curses, stones, creatures, potions, secrets, magical rides, and more surprises. The author has a miraculous ability to stir up magic in her storytelling. She weaves mystery and suspense and drops hints of what's to come along the way! These are the type of stories you might want to read again and again to solve mysteries and guess at what's to come. But how can readers wait till Book Three?

And as student grads at the Hall of Ivy are offered this final thought at graduation, "May your magic bring you even more delight and your mind grow in wisdom." So the author offer this thought to us in her stories.

This picked up right where it left off, and jumps right into some very descriptive, atmospheric and just FUN scenes for our characters. I like how the author expanded on the world-building and added more character development as well, even for some of the side characters like Fyn. This was nice to see, especially as more characters were introduced. I'm really excited to see where the rest of the story goes in terms of the story-building - the author's world is so interesting! Sidenote, the food imagery is so strong in this series - I adore it! The author's descriptions are perfect!

I loved that there was such a strong emphasis on the power of friendships and uniting with others. The thing about this series I have trouble with is how young the characters read - I believe Ivy is around 17 here, and Fyn is 19. Although there is an obvious romance budding between them, I'd rather the two just be friends, as the characters read so young.

I can't finish this review before I mention how strong Ivy is as a lead. I think she is a great role model for any children reading this series, as we watch her grow over time. She's trying to find her place in the world and sometimes we see her feeling like she's not enough, which is something that we all experience. We aren't always going to be confident and feel ready to tackle the obstacles in life - sometimes we need support and encouragement from our friends. I think this is a great message for all readers. On the other hand, I love that some of our side characters like Fyn and Rebecca are so kind and loyal to Ivy, showing how important it is to be there for our friends - we don't always know what they're going through just because we're friends!

Overall, this was yet again another really fun read with even more exciting world-building and adventures for Ivy and her friends! Looking forward to seeing what happens next with the Dark Queen's plans!

The sequel to The Crowns of Croswald has the same magical ambiance and makes a fun middle grade read. I love that we find out more about the secret Town and how the magic of the quills can work. My favourite scene was when Ivy and Fyn go star fishing. Fishing for a star, and when you catch one the wish someone made upon that star comes true, is such a lovely idea! The QuoGo game also sounded fun, and it was good how everything came together in the end.
I am looking forward to read the third book in the series, I hope to find out more about the history of the Dark Queen!

Thank you again to the publisher for reaching out to me for an opportunity to read this book through NetGalley.

This book continues on from the previous book following Ivy who is looking for the missing pieces of her stone.

Once again the world was so magical and I loved the magical creatures in the book. I loved seeing her relationships grow with her friends. I found it very endearing, especially when she and her friend joined the Quills club.

This book was a lot slower than the previous one. I was a bit bored until about the last third of the book when the action finally started. The rest of the book may have been about Ivy and her learning more about herself and her friends, but I feel like it focused so much on that and the school that the main focus of the story was lost and I even forgot what the sequel was actually about.

Other than that, I found it entertaining. The kids are pretty hilarious around each other. Like true friends. I did find Fyn annoying at times. He seemed to try to hold back Ivy a lot which I wasn’t a fan of, but other than that, I really enjoyed the characters and the world of course.

This definitely would have been a series I would have loved when I was younger. Definitely up my alley and if you enjoy magical books such as Howl’s Moving Castle like I do, then I’m sure you’d enjoy this series too 😊

I've enjoyed this one considerably more than the first one. I was correct in my assumption that side characters would be fleshed out. They are more realistic and I was invested in them the entire story. I liked the additions to the world. Croswald now has a sport and in The Town they have lore about shooting stars. I can appreciate that everything is being fleshed out with unique ideas. There were still a lot of HP references but I noticed them less. I think the addition to the world and the character development make it fade to the back. "The Girl with the Whispering Shadow" is considerably more fast paced once it takes off. I think this would be a great series for a middle school aged kid. This is incredibly fun and attention grabbing. I'm still interested enough to continue with the series which is rare for me.

I received this e-book for free from the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review.
Ivy Lovely, fresh out of her first year at the Halls of Ivy is now homeless. An orphan, banished from her school, this second book on the series finds her in the town of Belzebuthe. A magical town found only by those who know it's name, and merely "The Town" to everyone else. This girl is on a mission to find the second segment of the Kindred Stone and defeat the Dark Queen. Or maybe not defeat, just stay alive until graduation?
The growing friendship between Fyn and Ivy was a highlight. D.E. Knight expands Ivy's circle in this book and introduces so many fun characters. World building is clearly a strong suit for her.
I would recommend for upper grade to young adults. A wonderful alternative to the HP series by a lovely author who is also a woman of color!

I love sequels because you can jump in, and you already know the character. 's. Same with this book. We continue to follow Ivy on her adventure in the pursuit of the Kindred Stone. This is such a wonderful and imaginative world to get lost in. I really have come to love the work of Scrivenist's and what they do. All the characters from adorable dragons and to the town. We see friendships building ( just like any other school). We follow Ivy from the secret town back to the Halls Of Ivy, where she will battle shades and shadows on the way.

We watch Ivy grow into herself in this book with the support of all characters. Anyone who loves magic and royalty will love this book. I am not the demographic for this book, but I enjoyed reading it, and I think it would be a great book for kids to read. Even a book to get them to start their love of reading. Thank you NetGalley and Stories untold for providing a copy of this book.

I loved the first book and thanks for providing me with the second!
And I loved this even more!!
Ivy’s character grows beautifully in this sequel and I loved the villain too. Can’t wait to finish this series!!

Another fabulous fantasy read by D.E, Night! Book 1 didn’t disappoint, and book 2 definitely didn’t either! Continuing Ivy’s story continued on an adventure that kept you engaged throughout. Subtle clues throughout the book keeping you on your toes and trying to guess what was to come next! I loved every second of this book and love how the characters contribute to develop in the series. I can’t wait to have my students read this one!!

Thank you to the publisher stories untold press, net galley, and the author for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review. The series is quickly becoming a new favorite. The second book in the series I enjoyed just as much as the first, maybe even more. I loved that we got to explore more of the Croswald world. I can’t get enough of Ivy Lovely, her friends and Ivy’s adventures. I can’t recommend these books enough. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in Ivy Lovely’s story. If you love a great well written middle grade fantasy with fantastic world building, this is definitely the book for you!!

Harry potter meets Alice in Wonderland in this second book of the Crowns of Croswald series!

"The girl with the whispering shadow" starts exactly where the first book left off.
Ivy, our Mc, has to deal with the aftermath of her encounter with the Dark Queen, so for a while, she has to leave Ivy Halls, the boarding school of magic where she has been studying to become a scrivenist, but that doesn't mean that the story gets any boring! There is still plenty of magic, potions and adventure, since Ivy seems to be a magnet for troubles! It may also have to do with her mischievous friends, which I loved to read more about (especially Fyn and the whole Quality Quills club).
And, of course, when she does go back to school, things get even more interesting! (I mean, as a fantasy lover I have a penchant for Hogwarts like settings 😍)
I also enjoyed learning more about the mysterious town whose name can't be said out loud: I loved the fishing for a star thing, it made me wish that such a place existed in the real world too 😟
I would have appreciated more mature dialogues between Ivy and Fyn, since they are 16 and 19 years old respectively, but I understand they fit the book's intended target audience, which is middle grade children. Even so I think any fantasy reader would enjoy it, no matter their age!

This series is perfect for Harry Potter fans who love reading about magic, adventures and a touch of romance!

Many thanks to Netgalley, D.E. Night and Stories Untold for the free Arc ❤

Set outside the prestigious magic school the Halls of Ivy, and following on from the Crowns of Croswald, our heroine Ivy sets to spend her summer holidays at the Town - a secret scrivenist town where Ivy will hopefully be safe.
Reading this book would benefit from having read the first book in the series (which luckily I have).
This magical story about a school aged girl who has been asked not to return to school for her own safety leads us into realms of dark magic, into a story about friendship, kindness, overcoming odds and battling the Dark Queen.
Something lurks in the shadows, and this anticipation will have readers gripped.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐃.𝐄. 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
✨I was thrilled to receive the second instalment of this book series, this one , The Girl With The Whispering Shadow. Thank you to @netgalley, @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @author.denight for another magical experience.
✨This story started where the first book left off and was just as amazing. Sometimes I find books in a series can become quite repetitive as they go on but to be honest this one , in my opinion was better than the first. I loved the magic to it, the sketching and the description of the town, Belzebuthe. I want to go there , the way the author has described it is nothing short of beautiful.
✨I found this one to be a lot more in depth in terms of characters, that being in book one we were only introduced to Ivy and this book we learned so much more about her. She is a fantastic character.
✨This book is perfect for young readers and sets a lovely example of friendship. It is a great fantasy book and had a super ending. During the book you have parts of mystery in it which will keep the reader guessing. To keep guessing keeps the reader engaged and it is always fun to see how it turns out.

My rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5.

I'm going to start by saying this is my new favourite book series.

I read the first novel, The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night back in March when the lovely Netgalley and Stories Untold Press gifted me an eARC.

The age range they give for this book is 13-17 years old, however, I honestly don't think you can give a maximum age limit on art, because no matter your age, you can be young at heart, and enjoy these things just as much as a child (if not more as you can appreciate the work that goes into it).

'After the events of the previous year, Ivy Lovely is anticipating her arrival back at the Halls of Ivy. However, with the Dark Queen still at large, Ivy has been told not to return to the Halls, and to stay somewhere hidden where the Dark Queen cannot find her.
After arriving in a place called The Town, Ivy sets upon finding the remaining parts of the Kindred Stone, the only thing that can stop the Dark Queen from destroying everything she loves.'

I really enjoyed every single aspect of this book. The blossoming friendships between Ivy, Fyn, Rebecca and some new characters, such as Gretta and Glistle were heart-warming and left me aching for more (I really want some romance to happen, either Ivy and Fyn or Ivy and Glistle; either is fine with me!).

The description of The Town, the Quogo game and the creatures (including the Orbis) were magical and I could picture everything.

The world that D. E. Night has created is just beautiful.

There are some similarities again to Harry Potter, but nothing at all that felt like she was copying it, everything has been made her own and unique and I am so impressed.

I am so excited to read the next instalment in the series when I can get my hands on it; I need to know what else is in store for Ivy Lovely!

5 out of 5 stars!

I love the magic in this book. I also love following Ivy as she learns even more about who she is and grows into her own. Full of lots of little adventures that just keep getting better and better.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think this book was even better than the first, and i loved the first book. The character development in this showed so much growth, not only in the characters themselves, but also in the author. I really loved going back to the world of Croswald, and being there this book made me feel as if I never left. I cannot wait to read this to my little ones when they get a bit older. I think this series would be a perfect introduction to the fantasy world.

Thank you to NetGalley, D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” is the second installment of the “Croswald Series” by D.E. Night. The adventures of Ivy Lovely, the last of the royal bloodline, continues in this book. The Dark Queen’s threat is growing across the land and the Town (which we now find out what it’s called, but I won’t spoil it for you!) is now facing her wrath. Ivy’s friendships with Rebecca and Fyn develops further in this book and we are introduced to a number of other students at the Halls of Ivy including Gretta and Glistle, sister and brother. Their love of the game of Quogo brings them together and Ivy is now surrounded by a larger group of close friends who are sqwinches. Ivy is determined to find the other two pieces of the Kindred Stone but danger is lurking everywhere, even in the shadows! Gretta’s shadow becomes cursed and causes chaos and havoc for the Town, Ivy and her friends.

The continuation of Ivy’s adventures opens up new locations in the Croswald world including the Town, the Hex beneath the Quill Keep and the trip to see the Occulyst, which will grab a young reader’s attention and really entice them to want to find out more about the kingdom. I really enjoyed the expansion of the characters within the series and the relationships and dynamics between the main characters and this new cohort of figures.

More magical creatures are introduced by Night in this book. These creatures are one of my favourite parts in the author’s books, as she makes them come alive on the page. The description of these characters, especially the Invisataurs, BogDogs and Shades really makes you feel as if you can see them standing before you. Night’s imagination when it comes to magical beings seems to have no limits and I can see how this book is so appealing to children and their own never-ending creative minds!

The themes of loneliness, doubt, grief are all explored in this book with Ivy feeling like she is left behind when she has to stay in the Town and the impact of loss not only for Ivy but for young Fyn when we realise his father disappeared without a trace when he was very young. The way in which these issues are dealt with and discussed by the characters in the book makes them very relatable for a young reader. The book also focuses on inner strength, confidence and bravery which are all positive attributes and qualities to be promoted for the younger audience.

This book is darker than the first, and there is a real sense of the building tension and danger throughout the novel. Ivy is getting older and I think the darker elements matches well with the ageing of the characters into older teens. Similarly to the first book in the series, Night brings the novel to a crescendo with the battle against the evil forces of the Dark Queen and her cruel & vicious servants. Ivy has to be brave again and stand her ground against those who threaten not only her life but those closest to her, the only family she has- her friends.

I would highly recommend this book and series for the middle grade age group. It has everything a young reader loves: magic, mystery, adventure, danger and a wide assortment of creatures to make their imaginations go wild! I look forward to reading the remaining book in the series.

The second installment in this series was just as enchanting as the first book! I loved seeing Ivy learn to use her magic and grow in her confidence. It was also so cute to see the relationship between Ivy and Fan grow throughout this book as they went on adventures together! The chapters spent In The Town were so vividly described and I had so much fun reading about all the magical adventures Ivy and her new friends got into! I also love the small detail of the illustrations at the top of each chapter because the drawings are always so beautiful and help me connect more to the story. One of the reasons I love this series so much is that the plot for much of the books are super focused on immersing you into the world and then towards the beginning and the end the action really picks up so it ends up being a cool combination of imagination and action!

A fantastical, whimsical story.

Book two of the Crowns of Croswald did not disappoint. We are thrust right back in after the events of book 1 and continue our fantastic journey.

This book has a lot of world building and really draws you in to it. The characters have some great growth and the interactions between them felt authentic. I did feel that for the length, the plot wasn’t as jam packed as the first, but I still enjoyed the ride.

It’s the beginning of summer and Ivy’s plans to spend it hanging with her friend Rebecca gets ruined quite quickly, the only safe place for her is the secret Town, a place only the ones with the town’s true name can enter. She’s searching for something that might stop the Dark Queen, but she’s searching for it too, so in a race to find it first and avoid her traps, Ivy must find what belongs to her and fulfill the prophecy.

The world expands and we learn about Croswald’s traditions and customs like birthdays and entertainment games like Quogo. We’re introduced to more characters, I love the QQC crew and their banter. Ivy is a smart protagonist and we can see her growing into her power in every chapter. I’m so invested in the story, I have to know what happens next!

D. E. Night does it again!
I always worry with sequels. They don't usually live up to the hype of the first book but there was none of that here.
This sequel was as fantastic as the first book. I simply cannot wait to find out what happens to Ivy and company.
I really hope they manage to defeat the dark queen!
Wonderfully written and so incredibly immersive. One of my favourite book series by far!

This is the second book in the crowns of croswald series. this book felt physically longer than the first book, but definitely included more magic, adventures, and secrets. i love how we see action throughout the book and not just in the last couple of chapters. the dark queen and mentioned throughout the whole book, leading us up to the last chapters.

we also get a peek a fyn, and his home life. in this book ivy meets new friends/creatures, joins new clubs, and has lots of mysteries she must solve. I give it a 4/5 since it felt confusing / boring a couple of times BUT it helped to build the plot :)

There's a lot less going on all at once in this second novel, which makes it easier to follow along with. Ivy is still learning to make her way in this new reality, which leads to some embarassing moments. She's ignorant of the routines that are well-known to those who have grown up in this world, though she begins to navigate the unfamiliar with the help of her new friends.

I enjoyed the normality of Ivy's experiences in her second year at the Halls of Ivy. We got to see teenagers being teenagers, including secret club meetings in pantries, bonding over professional "sports" and prank gifts. It reminded readers that, despite the more serious events taking place, these were still just kids beginning to come into their own.

Overall, I enjoyed this book more than the first and look forward to finding out what happens in the conclusion of this trilogy.

Like the first book this middle grade read hit all the fantasy bases it needed to! I loved it from beginning to end. I would recommend this to children of all ages!

First and foremost, I find this book series exciting and adventurous as an adult. With this being a middle school aged book, I believe it should be incorporated into all middle schools across the world. It's good versus evil. It has friendship. It has how to handle bullies. It has the makings of that first time teenage love. It has all the features that every parent would want their middle school child to read about, to love, and to enjoy.

It's nice to take a time out of adult fiction to get lost into the world that D.E. Night has created for 9-12 year olds. Ivy Lovely is the rightful Queen being sent away from the Halls of Ivy where it is no longer safe to Belzebuthe, a secret town from only those with magical blood, to continue to find the other pieces of the Kindred Stone. The Kindred Stone is the one thing that will be used against the Dark Queen. Ivy leaves the town of Belzebuthe to return to the Halls of Ivy, but there is something shadowing Ivy. Ivy and her friends battle Shades and Shadows during their journey.

I love Ivy. She has grown since Book 1 and is no longer the shy, clumsy girl. She is a strong character that I look forward to seeing her relationships to evolve with her bestfriend Rebecca and could be teenage love, Fyn. I love the magical work in general. The critters, the plants that scream, the Bearded Cloud that shows your worst fears, and the game of Quogo-brillant! I absolutely love all of it. I get lost in the world of Croswald every time! I will be waiting patiently for the third book to be published.

Thank you to Stories Untold and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For sure I like this book much more than "The Crowns of Croswald". I gave first book 4 stars, here it's definitely 5 stars. I still see a lot of elements from Harry Potter and Nevermoor series which are really visible and if you know both series, you will catch them very quickly. Plot is interesting, dynamic and you don't have time to think a lot about similarities to another middle grade series.

World building is amazing. We have location descriptions which have a lot of details. When I was reading about Belzebuthe, Halls of Ivy and even every single classroom, I was involved and felt like I was there with Ivy and her friends. Belzebuthe is for sure one of my favorite magical place, I would like to visit this town.

In middle grade books I always have an issue with main character, but here Ivy is the person who you like from the first page. You cheer for her and want to support her. I like the way how she is discovering her magic and try to understand her destiny.
Fyn is ok for me, but a little childish sometimes, especially with his Quogo's love...but well, even adults have some passions which release inner child from our soul.
So far, I hope that Author will not do the same mistake which J.K. Rowling did and will not connect Ivy with another guy. I think she and Fyn match themselves.

I have my suspicious who the Dark Queen can be, but I will keep it for myself. xd To be honest I really like her as a villain. She is a little similar to the Red Queen from "Alice in the Wonderland", but she is focused much more on one specific thing.

This book will be great as a movie. I'll definitely read 3rd book very soon. I had a really great time with Ivy and her friends.

The Crowns of Croswald book 2: The Girl With The Whispering Shadow - D.E. Night

At the beginning of this book, Ivy has now discovered that she is the one that the Moonsday prophecy is talking about, In her journey, she has to find the next piece of the kindred stone whilst keeping safe from the Dark Queen who is out to put an end to Ivy's bloodline. For her safety, she whisked away to a town with a secret name (only those in the town or those going there know it) and ends up staying with fyn and his mum. Ivy befriends a new group of people due to Fyn, learns more about 'quogo" ( love this sport) and even picks up a part-time job. This sequel lived up to the previous book and again the skill D.E. Night has at world-building is just amazing there is so much detail and care put into this world.

I got this book from NetGalley, thanks to the publisher (StoriesUntold) in exchange of an honest review.


This book was even better than the first one! It was really hard to put it down.
Picking up where the first book left off, it really built up my connection to the story, Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca! I loved the way different characters were introduced and how Ivy’s friendships developed with them. The world created by the author gained more details, more magical creatures and more secrets. It’s escapism at its finest!
The length of the book is perfect, it ties in the things we learn in the first book and takes it to the next level, leaving you wanting more. Although, I do with it was longer just so I could keep reading! 😂

Can’t wait to read the next in the series to know more! Absolutely loved it.

In the second of a four book series, we find Ivy Lovely whisked off to the secret Town with many unanswered questions. All Ivy has is an address and the imperative to stay in the hidden Town for her own safety. We follow Ivy as she explores her new surroundings, learns more about magic, finds new friends, and finally returns to school. Forbidden duels, magical creatures, mysteries to figure out, this book is stuffed full of adventure!

Once again, the storyline has me so excited! This new world and all the eccentricities in it are so imaginative and captivating. Ivy and her friends seem like a great group of teens to be around, with good hearts and such a sense of right and wrong (except when they’re sneaking around holding illegal magical duels!) the last half of the book, once Ivy is back at school, really picks up and I just couldn’t put it down! I love this story and am excited to see how the next couple books play out!

That said, I still have quibbles with the writing. This book was better about editing out the world building that wasn’t necessary for the plot that plagued the first book. I didn’t experience as many characters or settings that were unnecessary and pulled focus. However, the descriptions are still static, not vibrant. I keep hearing my high school creative writing teacher’s voice “show! Don’t tell!” That was her favorite motto! And her advice is still just as good! I think it bugs all the more because I’m so excited about the story! I don’t have patience for the sometimes clunky writing. I want it to be perfect!

Bottom line 3.5 stars. If you can overlook the static writing, and get lost in the plot, you’ll enjoy this! I know book 3 is out, but not the final installment, book 4. I’ll keep reading—I have to find out what happens!

This book picks up right where The Crowns of Croswald ends, and sends you on all new adventures with Ivy Lovely and her magical pals. She is still on the hunt for the remaining pieces of the kindred stone, and her family Scrivenist Derwin Edgar Night sends her to The Town to (hopefully) remain safe from the Dark Queen.

I found this book more exciting than the first, which may be due to the fact that I was more familiar with the magical terms and characters. I loved the introduction of the game Quogo, and the suspense that it carried.

One thing I did find disappointing about this book is that the romance between Ivy and Fyn is so...meh. Her character is 16, and his is 19, and although the author touches on the chemistry between them, it never seems to go anywhere...which is sort of unusual for kids their age! Now, I understand that this is not a romance novel, so why not just leave the romantic aspect of it out? Since this is not the case, I am hopeful that the relationship between Ivy and Fyn plays a bigger part in the next book of the series.

I was given a copy of this book by D. E. Night’s team in exchange for an honest review.

Book 2 of The Croswald Series follows Ivy as she embarks on her second year as a student scrivenist at the Halls of Ivy. Following along from the end of Book 2 and her encounter with the Dark Queen, Ivy visits The Town, a city who’s name cannot be spoken otherwise it’s protection spell will be broken and the Dark Queen will find it. Ivy must find the final two pieces of the Kindred stone to stop the Dark Queen and bring peace to her people.

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book! Fast paced and world driven, I found this instalment so interesting. My favourite character continues to be Rebecca, who is fun, quirky and loyal.

Whilst reading, I always picture Ivy to be early teen years however she is meant to be 17 in this book. I’m not sure why I keep picturing her to be 14, maybe the writing style makes her seem younger?

As I said in my review for book 1, D. E. Night has some incredibly interesting and unique ideas in the stories. My particular favourite for this book was the concept of fishing for stars (yep, I said fishing!) in order to grant the wish of another person. Such a sweet idea and something I’ve not come across in a book before.

The world and magic system are detailed and complex. There are two types of magic in this novel: royals who use magical stones, which each complete different tasks, and a scrivenists who use their quills to complete magic spells and protect the royals they are assigned to. I think it’s a fantastic magic system but I do wish there was a deeper explanation as it can be confusing at times when new concepts are introduced. Sometimes I would need to reread a paragraph to check I understood what was happening correctly, as the explanation would be brief but the magic would have a huge bearing on the storyline.

Im so excited to read Book 3, The Words of the Wandering Book. Need to get my hands on it. If you enjoy middle grade fantasy books set in a school, surrounding a group of close friends battling against evil, I think you’ll love this series!

Returning to the world of Croswald, we continue with Ivy Lovely and her quest to find the stones that contain Princess Isabella’s magic to keep it from the dark queen! Now there is an added obstacle that the dark queen has added for Ivy and the Scrivenists to defeat, but will they be able to? The camaraderie between Ivy, Rebecca, Fyn and their fellow classmates is so endearing! This sequel was full of edge of your seat action, cute innocent first crushes, and magical learning. Crowns of Croswald is quickly becoming one of my new favorite fantasy series, and I look forward to the rest of the series. I need to know if Ivy will defeat the dark queen!!

This book is magical, mystical, transcendent and filled with adventure!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series. In this book, the story and adventure of Ivy continues as she finds the rest of the Kindred Stone while trying to elude the Dark Queen.

This series keeps getting better! I'm already soo invested in the story!
After reading the first few chapters, this nerd in me who wanted to figure out things already have a hunch as to who the girl with the shadow would be but I wasn't able to confirm it yet 😂. A couple of what and who questions arise as I continued reading which piqued my interest to read more.

Along the way, new otherworldly creatures (the fun part for me) and new characters were introduced in the story - another reason to read this book. Not just that, D.E Night also presented the readers with new magical powers, mysteries and adventures which I'm sure everyone who loves magic and adventure will love!

Also, can I just mention this? It amazes me how D.E. Night has managed for the attraction and chemistry between Ivy and Fyn to be very subtle but also noticeable at the same time. I find it cute because it pops up in the story when you least expect it, it will bring a smile on your face and maybe a few giggles 😉.

Overall, I loved this book! I was just a bit hung up at the end, but I think that's good because as a reader it made me curious and want to read book 3 right after finishing book 2. I questions I needed to be answered.

Can't wait to know how the rest of the story will unfold in book 3 and 4. I'm thrilled and excited to read book 3 and already waiting for book 4 to come out, especially now that D.E. Night has revealed book 4's title. Sooo excited!!! 😁

Lastly, I guess this book teaches us how important it is to be brave and to trust ourselves, that we can. Also, it teaches us the importance of friendship, how it helps us get through tough times - that no man is an island. 😊

Pick up this book! Highly recommended, even for kids. 😁

Thank you Stories Untold, author D.E. Night, publicist Daniela Barrera and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

The second i have read from D.E.Night series, The Crowns of Croswald. As expected it was a amazing, whimsical read that really dragged you into the book with the characters. It was fun to jump back in and follow ivy on her quest, very relatable characters, an cant wait to start the third book. I initially read this books to see if they were suitable for my 9 year old, now i cant wait to introduce her to Ivy and Rebecca, Ravenshollow and Belzebuth!

I enjoyed reading the first book in the series, and the second one was even better!

We really see Ivy coming into herself in this installment and get a deeper look into her relationships with Rebecca, Fyn, and Derwin. Night also introduces us to several new friends, including the ever charming Glistle!

Night continues to expand Croswald for us with wonderful new additions---Belzebuthe chief among them. What I could say about it without spoiling anything wouldn’t do it justice, but suffice to say that it makes my shortlist of fictional places I’d love to visit! With Quogo, Night has invented a magical form of recreation both more appealing and interesting than Quidditch. Should the world of Croswald ever end up on screen, I would look forward to these scenes with great anticipation.

I don’t want to spoil anything plot-wise, but (unencumbered with the task of worldbuilding from scratch) Night really delivers this time. I devoured this one in a day!

Ivy’s journey is a little darker this time and by the end of the book, she has matured more than a little. Younger fans of the series can grow up with her as a role model of courage, tenacity, and ingenuity.

Star Rating : 7/10

Would I recommend? Yes
Similar Titles? Harry Potter, The Paper Magician, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles

“We just have to see that star inside of us. I think that’s why the stars hang above Belzebuthe. They remind us that even in our darkest times, the bright spot in each of us can never be totally extinguished.”⁣⁣
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One of the quotes that really stood out for me. Such a beautiful writing. ⁣⁣
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The second book of the series to The Crowns of Croswald. The magical feeling of reading this friggin’ series continues. I had really high expectations of the second one and it did NOT disappoint! ⁣⁣
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The friendship in the book especially between Ivy and Rebecca is just so sweet.⁣⁣
The setting is as magical as the first. The names of the places in the book made me smile while reading, like ‘Lie Buries’?! I’m sure you can figure that out. 😍⁣⁣
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I love how the author took her time in introducing new characters AND places in the story without rushing it. You get to visualise the places and get to know the characters with some backstory. ⁣⁣
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The love aspect between Ivy and Fyn is sweet and realistic that it didn’t distract from the main storyline. ⁣⁣
The writing is beautiful and the magical creatures continue to fascinate me! ⁣⁣
I could go and on but I rather not spoil the magic for anyone. ⁣⁣
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It’s not the end though, the eviillllll is still lurking around. ⁣⁣
Really looking forward to the third book. ⁣⁣
I’ve decided that this series is now a favourite of mine!⁣⁣
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If you enjoy reading about magic, dragons and other magical creatures, I highly recommend this lovely series! ⁣⁣
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Thank you NetGalley, D. E. Night and Stories Untold Press for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. ⁣⁣
All opinions are my own. ⁣⁣

This is the second in the Croswald series and like the first I really enjoyed this book. Written so that all ages can enjoy I particularly liked the world-building of Belzebuthe.

In Book 1, the world building was just being set up, so at times, it was a bit hard to understand, but in book 2, it was solidified and I really enjoyed reading this. Ivy, the protagonist, is a lot more developed and I really enjoyed reading about her adventures. And I have to say, the Dark Queen really scared me at many points in the book. The climax was pretty intense too, and I was on the edge of my seat while I was reading it.

Now, I'm excited to get into the rest of the series!

After everything that happened in the first book, I wasn’t quite sure where the story was going to go with this one. I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by the direction it took! I felt like this one went in more of its own unique direction. Ivy seemed to grow a lot as a character throughout and I enjoyed getting to learn more about The Town and all the unknown connections it has to the plot. I think the best part of this series is that it holds a certain intrigue that’s good for any level of reader, from a middle school level up to adulthood this is a story that everyone can find some magic and enjoyment in.

I actually liked this book better than the first one. It had higher stakes, and was packed with adventure. Again it follows our protagonist Ivy, but unfortunately, she gets kicked out of her dream magic school and adventure ensues.

Another brilliant whimsical fantasy, picking up where the first book left off. This time, we travel with Ivy Lovely to new places and meet amazing new characters.

Really enjoyed the idea of the game 'Quogo' and how they use their quills. In this book you can see how the characters have grown and developed their own style.

From the first chapter, the plot was fast moving and you'll get sucked into the story right away. I really don't want to giveaway too much.

I liked the way how the book was split up between Belzebathe and the Halls of Ivy. The chapters were small and I think that helps. You can't help but compliment the author on her writing skills and narration.

This book was full of adventure, danger and mystery. I can't wait to introduce this series to my daughter.

I want to thank Netgally and @storiesuntoldpress for giving me this ebook to read in exchange for my honest review.

@storiesuntoldpress @author.denight & @netgalley, thank you so much for the gifted copy of the next book in The Crowns of Croswald series - The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.
✨
I didn’t think the first book could be topped but this was even better - the world outside the Halls of Ivy was even more intriguing and intense and I just couldn’t stop reading to find out more
✨
Ivy is a formidable character and I loved her growing friendship with Fyn and his friends, they make a perfect duo and gang.
✨
I genuinely loved this book and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.....
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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How would you like to spend a day under the Belzebuthe sky, nibbling on cracker hats, renting out stargusters? Or ride an Invisitaur to go star fishing on your birthday? Round it all of with a feast at Bramble's Fritter & Nosh or get a WInky Drink, that chases away the foggy blues. Hm? No? Yes? What's it gonna be?

If it doesn't sound appealing, you need to read this book. Or your kids need to read it. Or both of you together!

We continue where we left off, following Ivy through all her adventures. Navigating summer without school, staying away from the Dark Queen, stumbling into danger, learning about new things and creatures, getting to solve a few more mysteries, but also have some fun along the way.

Ivy as the characters was again, adorable, inquisitive, kind...But I felt she was even more shy in this book. She was scared all the time, filled with self-doubt, hesitation and insecurity. But, at the same time, she was constantly curious, going down dark alleyways and dark stairwells when she was curious, even tho it was obvious that danger was looming at every step. I expected a bit more growth in that sense, but maybe in the next book?

If I were to say what I didn't like is that I felt like Derwin would play a bigger role in her life. I feel like we only got a superficial insight into who he is and what he is doing in this book.

I also expected the whole book to be a quest for the parts of the stone, which it was, but in the middle part there was no talk of it, but mostly talk of the shadows. While I liked that the plot was multilayered, I also felt like for a while there, we completely drifted off from the main track and goal.

Unfortunately, I also felt like the story had so many similarities to HP, and although not obvious at first glance, but it was definitely there. It's not that big of a deal, but the whole Quogo thing, along with the diving into glanagerie to live through memories, the whole Gretta situation was similar to the Ginny situation... I hoped it would be a little bit more authentic, and not reminiscent of the Harry Potter world.

Anyways, brownie points for this book showing us that we have to overcome fear to shine and thrive. I will definitely read the next book, because I can't but not follow through with Ivy until the very end.

Book Review:

The Girl With the Whispering Shadow by D. E. Knight
⭐⭐⭐⭐
She range 10-13

Book 2 of The Crowns of Croswald sees Ivy Lovely's adventures continue. She has one piece of the kindred stone but there are two more to find. The Dark Queen believes that Ivy has the stone and is determined to take it from her. After the events at the ball showed that the Dark Queen could gain access to the school, Ivy is sent away to The Town for her own safety. The Town is not only protected by magic but is also impossible to find unless you know it's name. A name only known to those with magical blood. But is Ivy safe from the Dark Queen's machinations any where?

If anything I enjoyed The Girl With The Whispering Shadow even more than The Crowns of Croswald. I feel the author writes more confidently and the world building is excellent. I enjoyed watching Ivy develop, make friends and become more confident in her magic, as well as her new found identity.

I loved The Town with its eccentric shops and it's own weather system. The descriptions of the permanently night sky and it's stars was delightful. Who could help being entranced by the idea of fishing for stars? Or that catching one means that a wish comes true for the person who placed it in the sky? Then there is Quogo a game played with quills that has some unexpected outcomes.

All in all this is a lovely book with enough danger and adventure to keep the reader turning the pages until the very last one. I look forward to reading book 3 of the series.

Thank you to NetGally and Stories Untold Press for my E copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

I just finished this book 2 of Crowns of Croswald and I am in love! This series is amazing. In this book Ivy has learned the secret of who she really is and what happened to her family but she is still in danger from Dark Queen. Because of this danger she isn’t allowed back at school right away and has to stay hidden in a secret town. She also needs to find the missing pieces of her stone. This world is so whimsical and magical and we experience a lot more of it in this book. I just adore everything about this book and this series. I love the characters and really enjoyed getting to know more characters and also getting know some characters even better (Fyn). I can’t wait to see where this story goes and how things develop. So excited for book 3 now! Also just a side note I think these books would be so cool to do illustrated versions of.

First, I want to thank @author.denight @danielastoriesuntoldpress and NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book in return for my honest review.
The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, Book 2 in the Crowns of Croswald series...."You can be trapped in a castle, trapped in a scaldrony. Trapped by people. But the worst is being trapped by fear." This book was so good! Roo stayed up super late to finish this book! This book was entertaining from the minute that I picked it up to the minute I put it down. D.E. Night has an incredible talent, she can transport her readers right into the story! I honestly feel that readers of all ages will love this series! I cannot wait to see what happens with Ivy next!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars I recommend this book to everyone! If you want to be taken away on an adventure, this book is for you. You will most definitely fall in love with Ivy and her friends.

In the second book of the wonderfully whimsy world of Croswald, the story seems to branch out and really add more flesh to the world whilst still retaining all the magical feels of the 1st book. The story starts to become it's own with more depth, rather than being affiliated with another story (cough, cough, Harry Potter). As a reader we really get to travel more deeply into the story and the world. It takes place exactly where the first book finishes off. The author has such a whimsical with words and names that make them so one of a kind! We get to see Ivy Lovely flourish and grow as main character whilst still remaining as the likeable protagonist. The imagery is vivid and magical, and the pace is more progressive than previous. A fun and fantastical read.

Plot includes: a magical game called Quogo, a runaway luggage, a secret society called the Quality Quills Club, a Dark Queen, and heartwarming friendships. An all round solid sequel to the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another beautifully written book by D.E. Night! If you are a fan of fantasy and whimsical books, this one is a must.

It is not often that the second book lives up to they 'hype' of the first book, but this one did just that! The story sucked me in instantly with all of the new characters, new places, and new adventure.

This book picks up right where the first one leaves off. We follow Ivy to the town with no name, only those who go there will know the name. When Ivy gets there, there are so many things happening in the town. Ivy was sent to find the next stone, but also to be safe from the Dark Queen. However, suspicion arises that the Dark Queen may be getting closer to finding her and the stone.

I very much enjoyed this book as I did the first one. I mentioned in my review of the first book that many feel these books have a resemblance to Harry Potter, which I think is even more true with this book. Although there are definitely factors that are completely different, I would love to see Croswald break free of some of these similarities in the future.

I can definitely see so much potential in these books. I think that this author is going to go big in the YA world. I cannot wait to hear what else is in store for Ivy and for this author!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the sequel to the Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night.

“The most wondrous things, the most impossible of things, are often just ordinary things doing what they are best at. Think about a real star. They soar untouched and shine like diamonds, yet they are simply just balls of gas. The ordinary turned extraordinary.”

I get excited when I enjoy a sequel more than the first book. That was the case for this one. I enjoyed the pace and turns this book took more than the first book. In this installment we get to meet new characters and become immersed in the magical town of Belzebuthe where our main character Ivy Lovely is sent to be protected from the Dark Queen. I liked this book because of the way it answered my questions after finishing the first book. This series seems to only get better as it goes on and it’s a whimsical, adventurously fun escape for all middle grade readers as well as fans of the Sister’s Grimm series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Wow. The ending of this one was a solid 5 stars but it took awhile to get going. I really enjoyed the way the story played out and it ended on a cliffhanger which is perfect considering it’s a series. I do wish the beginning would have been quicker but overall I really liked this book and I love the story!

It’s a wonderful YA fantasy book for middle-grade readers that’s packed with adventures, friendship, & my favorite -🄼🄰🄶🄸🄲-!

I adored the first book of this series, and this is true with the second book as well. The second book gives you a much deeper look into this magical place called Croswald, and the magic that lives there. While reading this book I couldn’t decide which I wanted more, to play in a Quogo match or be a teledetecting matteler 😂 I’m still debating that one.

💭Final thoughts: This book is absolutely wonderful. I throughly enjoyed reading it. I loved everything about it: the characters, the adventures, and the magic. I have no doubt that all ages could enjoy this series. I was hooked at the beginning of book 1, and I’m still waiting to see what will happen next for Ivy and Croswald. Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

♥️ A huge THANK YOU to @danielastoriesuntoldpress & #UntoldPress for this e-copy of The Girl with the Whispering Shadow by D.E. Night in exchange for my honest review.

I loved it cant wait for more books :) I had forgotten to write a review here on Netgalley as I had posted on my bookstagram so make sure to go check it out on @onlyforthebooks to see more.

This is the second volume in The Crowns of Croswald series, and they just keep getting better. I love that the series has a strong female main character - think Harry Potter but focused on Hermione. (I never knew how much I wanted that til I read this series.)

I loved the first book, but I think I liked this one even better. Picking up almost immediately after the first book, the action never lets up. Ivy really grows in this volume, accepting her true identity. her magical abilities and destiny, and working out her new reality. She is flawed and still scared, and needs the help and encouragement of her friends who are there to support and back her up, which I love, and I think will really appeal to kids feeling just as overwhelmed. The relationship between Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca is my favorite part of the book and the series.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading Ivy's next adventure! I am so grateful to NetGalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold for offering me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinions.

i finished the second installment of d. e. night’s crowns of croswald series, the girl with the whispering shadow. this sequel ups the ante from last year’s adventures at the halls of ivy, with protagonist ivy lovely told to stay in the mysterious Town instead of returning to school. (not sure if ms. night meant to be so damn relatable in the prediction of remote learning but “i don’t think sending me assignments through a notebook is nearly as good as being in person” hit different during a global pandemic!!)

in my review for the crowns of croswald, i wished for more interactions between ivy and fyn and rebecca. happily, i got what i wanted!! i enjoyed reading about ivy’s time staying with fyn’s family over the summer and exploring the many intricacies and quirks of belzebuthe during her time there. (also found family QQC? love them all, they’re my kids.) the world of croswald is becoming richer with each book, and as the pieces (heh) start coming together, i look forward to finding out what happens next!

thank you again to stories untold for sending me this arc and netgalley for providing me with the way to read it.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is Book 2 of the Crowns of Croswald Series.

While there are definitely parallels between this series and other magical series’— Crowns of Croswald has its own unique spin with some well developed characters and whimsical details.

I actually enjoyed this more than the first book. The second book (Girl with the Whispering Shadow) packs in much more adventure and is faster moving. This is probably because the author needed to set the stage in her first book in the series.

This book has some great elements of suspense and answers a lot of the unanswered questions from the first book.

As a middle grade novel, this would be a fun read for kids on their own or parents with their kids.

Thank you Net Galley, DE Night, and Stories Untold for the copy in return for an honest review.

The second book in this series did not disappoint! D.E. Night successful followed up the Crowns of Croswald with an even more exciting adventure in The Girl with the Whispering Shadow. I love the new cast of characters that I’m hoping we get more time with in later books.

I love the concept of the town protected by magic. It screams mystery, excitement, and allure if you ask me. This is where Ivy ends up after the events in book 1 and unfortunately things don’t go as planned.

Ivy is a strong female main character, one that I think makes a great role model for middle age readers. She was brave, but needed assurance, proving to reader that sometimes it’s okay to ask for help and need others behind you!

While I still found this series simple at times, I had to remind myself it’s supposed to be! The target audience isn’t particularly me, a 26 year old woman, but it is for anyone who loves the world of creativity and magic.

*I received this book from Stories Untold LLC in exchange for an honest review*

I am enjoying this series so much! It’s a fun, magical adventure that draws you right in.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow starts off right where book one in the Croswald series ended. Ivy has just finished year one at the Halls of Ivy after narrowly escaping the Dark Queen’s attack. She is sent to Belzebuthe, a hidden, secret town for those with magical blood. Bezebuthe is the only place that can keep Ivy safe and away from the clutches of the Dark Queen. With the help of Fyn and some new friends she makes in Belzebuthe, she sets out on her mission to find the next piece of the Kindred Stone. While Ivy is supposed to be safe in Belzebuthe, something seems to keep shadowing her. She must embrace her natural-born magic and her courage as she battles to find the rest of the stone and return to the Halls of Ivy, in this action packed sequel!

I absolutely loved the town of Belzebuthe! It was winter there, even though it was summer for everyone else. It’s filled with matellers, the keepers of the quills, and the scrivenists. Ivy meets some amazing new friends, including her employers, Hodge and Podge, two dwarf brothers who are absolutely hysterical. Ivy even gets to attend some Quogo matches there, which were quite fun to read about. She also learns more about her past, and Fyn’s past as well. I really enjoyed learning more about Ivy’s world and her magic. The author really did a great job of expanding upon everything we learned in the first book.

If you haven’t checked out this series yet, I highly recommend it! Can’t wait to read book three.

As the sequel to The Crowns of Croswald we immediately jumped right back into the story and picked up where we left off. Ivy Lovely is on a journey to figure out who she truly is. As she did in book 1, the author does a great job at world building and creating a magical whimsical feel to the book but it became a bit much. With The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, we didn’t really get into any of the main story until almost halfway through. I loved how magical it was though and really appreciate how innocent Ivy is. Because of that, this series is truly perfect for those middle grade readers. Thank you to Stories Untold, NetGalley, and the author D.E. Night, for the eARC. After reading the ARC of book 1, I went ahead and purchased books 1 - 3 for my classroom, so I was happy to hold a tangible book in my hands as I read book 2.
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Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4)/5

I enjoyed this book a lot. The series inevitably will draw comparisons to other magical series but I felt that the story really came into it's own in this book and the characters really developed and came into their own.

I absolutely loved the description of Belzebuthe and the shops and people. I thought it was lovely and really added character to the magical world that Night has created.

Ivy and Rebecca's friendship is delightful and the introduction of the QQC added a lovely 'friendship' dimension to the story. The characters seem fairly young but that's probably because it's aimed at a much younger audience.

Looking forward to seeing what Ivy does next!