It took me a little while to get into this story, however, once I started to concentrate I fell in love with it. This bears no reflection on this book more to do with COVID and my job zapping my brain cells on a daily basis! D.E Night writes well and delicately, you definitely get the vibe that Ivy is dainty and lovely and spent her life oppressed in the slurry fields.

There is some new lingo to get your head around, much like the HP books when they started up, but its not too difficult to comprehend.

it was interesting to find out about the new interwoven side characters coming into play and their little quirks make you smile throughout the book, I was lucky enough to pick up book 2 and I am delving straight in.

I loved this book and cant wait for Ivy part 2

I adore Ivy and this sweet magical series has not disappointed me. I loved meeting new characters and seeing more development and growth in previous characters. I adored watching Ivy make new friends and get closer to Fyn. This book is a bit slower paced at first than the first book in this series, but it’s still a great read filled with magic, brave students, strengthening friendships, and quite the dangerous adventure!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in the Crowns of Croswald middle grade adventure series. I loved this book even more than the first- all the world building pays off and there are so many new elements added! It gave me more Harry Potter vibes, with a magical sport, invisible creatures and secret-keeping owls, but all these elements feel original and add so much to the story! We also get a new group of characters to befriend and a magical secret town to explore and save...I can't wait to read the next one!

4.5 stars

This is a much stronger book than the first one, and even though parts of it were predictable because I couldn't help making comparisons to Harry Potter, there were enough parts of it that were unique to this world that kept it fresh and interesting. Usually, second books are hit or miss in terms of how they compare to the first book, but in this case, it felt like the author is really hitting her stride. I also laugh at how long it took me to figure out the connection between Ivy's scrivener's name and the author, lol! There's another series I read last year where the author uses her name as one of the characters and something about that really tickles me. This story is definitely geared to a younger audience than Harry Potter, but it's crafted together well. Sometimes there's a disconnect in the way the students act in this book and the ages they must be (15 for Ivy and Rebecca, 18 for Fyn and his friends), but I didn't mind that at all. I loved some of the imaginative elements in this story, especially Silius, and the way part of the stone was hidden (no spoilers) was really interesting. I love the growing friendship between Ivy and Fyn and Ivy and Rebecca and watching Rebecca's skills at shapeshifting develop was a lot of fun. I am looking forward to continuing with this series and if this second book is any indication, I'm going to be plowing through the rest of the books as they become available.

I received a review copy from the publishers for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This tale started out hurrying our MC to a hidden city, where it's always night. Where you can go starfishing and make people's wishes come true. Where it's always beautifully cold- and y'all know I love my snowy aesthetic.

Here are my favourite things from this story:
-Invisitaurs. Invisible centaurs that are meant to be ridden? That's wild and I love it.
-Star!!! Fishing!!! Truly one of the coolest things I've read about in a while.
-Ivy actually staying home because it's dangerous for her to be at school. We love rational decisions sometimes.
-The fact that quills are stored in little water jails so they can be studied- It's dope and I wish to see it.
-An actual fiction bookstore inside this story where everyone's obsessed with the truth.
-Owls that can keep things safe for you until you come back to ask for the item? Incredible and adorable.
-The store Ivy worked at! With Hodge and Podge, it was great.
-Rebecca as a DRAGON HELL YES
-Having to ask for your food via spells coming at a risk; hello surprise chicken.

Here are some things that confused me or I thought could've been better.
-Gretta's shadow being possessed plotline wasn't very familiar. Until it was because she had holes in her memory and couldn't recall what she'd done and almost died because of the possession.
-I got confused by the break-in at the beginning, mostly because like the breaking into the school scene in the first book, it ended very abruptly without actually solving it completely?
-Going into someone's memories (via bottle) to find something once again sounds extremely familiar.

In short: I wonder if Ivy will ever use her royal stones- considering she could if she wanted to? And I hope there's more features of Rebecca the DRAGON sometime.

The Sequel to The Crowns of Croswald was another great adventure into D. E. Night's magical world. After defeating the Dark Queen (albeit temporarily) at the end of year ball, Ivy Lovely learns the truth of who she is, and discovers that the magical kingdom is far less safe than she ever imagined. Thus begins the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. All of the wonderful characters from book one make a return, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching their individual and inter-relational growth. The friendship between Ivy and Rebecca deepens, and Ivy's friendship with Fyn seems to be becoming something more. Whispering Shadows also introduces several memorable new characters, and Ivy joins a less-than-strictly-legal student club based around the popular game of Quogo. Before the book is over, the club will have to decide how committed they are to each other, and to the good of their world.

Darkness looms heavily over this part of the Croswald story, and shades--a newly discovered magical being--threaten not only the school, but the Town. A mysterious dark force seems to be haunting the Halls of Ivy as well, and as is to be expected in a story such as this, it will fall to our incredibly brave students. This book was exciting, filled with adventure, danger, the power of standing up for what is right even against insurmountable odds, and the magic of friendship.

My only complaint is that some of the world-building still felt a little clunky, as if I were expected to know who and where and what the history of Croswald and some of the new characters without yet being told. I found myself flipping back to previous pages, trying to sort out what I did and did not actually know. In all honesty, I do wonder if part of this has to do with reading a digital copy. I tend to absorb information better when I'm reading a physical book, so this may be user error and not a flaw in the writing, but it was a distraction for me in both of the Croswald books.

Overall, I definitely recommend these books. They are incredibly fun, and I look forward to the opportunity to return to this world in the next book.

This is the second book in The Crowns of Croswald series and I loved it more than the first book. There are times where the second book is underwhelming compared to the first but this was not the case. I loved that in this book we see Ivy go on more adventures and develop her natural inclination for magic.

The imagery was even more phenomenal because this book was action-packed. I loved feeling like I was battling the Dark Queen and working to save Croswald alongside Ivy. I had a great time being swept away in the world crafted by D.E. Night I can't wait for what comes next.

It was great to be back in Croswald!.
I really enjoyed the second instalment of this series! It's such a fun and easy read. I love the world and all the weird and wonderful creatures that live there (I'm lookimg at you Humboldt)
I enjoyed seeing more of Croswald such as the Town (sorry I can't tell you it's name) where there's amazing shops, you can fish for stars and of course what a Quogo match or 2 (think magic duals but with ghosts of past scrivinists!)
I loved meeting the the QQC and seeing Ivy make friends ( I think she's gonna need it in the next book!) You got to see more of her relationships with Rebecca and Fyn.
I love Ivy's journey of discovery about herself and how she's didn't doing the wrong think last time she faced the dark queen.
I'll definitely be reading the 3rd book. I can't wait to find out more about the dark queen! And of course see how are hero Ivy will defeat her (fingers crossed)

I actually enjoyed this more then the first of the series! I like that we got to see Ivy outside of the school and her relationship with Fyn growing more in this book. Such a cool and magical world!

I really enjoyed The Crowns of Croswald, and I was excited to win an arc of this second book in the series from the author, D.E. Night. I began reading and was instantly swept back into the world of Ivy Lovely. This time, we travel with her to new places, and meet fascinating new characters. It's full adventure as the first, dives deeper into old and new characters. All the while, Ivy is struggling to find her place in this world, and feeling inadequate, at times, in her ability to accomplish what she sees as her purpose.

3.5 stars!
The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second book in the Crowns of Croswald series. This book follows on nicely from the events of the first book. It felt nice to jump right back into the story without a big time gap. At the start of this book, Ivy is sent to Belzebuthe, a hidden, secret town. There she stays with Fyn and his mother.

Firstly, I would like to say how much I enjoyed this book. It feels lovely to be in this world and go on journey's with Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca. Leading on from this, I love how we get to spend more time with Fyn and Rebecca in this book. It was something which disappointed me in the first book but this one allowed the characters to spend more time on the pages and develop further. I love seeing the relationship dynamics of these characters. Speaking of characters, it wad great to meet some new characters in this book. The author does a good job at introducing new characters and making them likeable.

The book was more intriguing than the first in the series. I think this was because it was easier to jump back into the action after the world building in the first book. Both books were enjoyable, I do prefer this one to the first, though. It went straight back into the action. It was much more enjoyable to feel familiar with the world so that I could enjoy the story instead of trying to figure of what certain things were.

The last 20% had a faster pacing than the rest of the book which allowed me to finish the last section in one sitting.

One of my main criticisms is that the characters ages don't really match how they act. Ivy is 16 in the first book and I'm guessing she turns 17 in this book, since we pass her birthday in the timeline. Fyn also turns 19 in this book. Yet, they act quite immature in the way they talk and act. I know this has more to do with the target audience being of middle grade age rather than older readers.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a middle grade book or the younger side of YA. Like I said with the last book, it still has the same fantasy/fairytale feel to it which reminded me of stories I heard when I was younger which brings a nostalgic feeling to the book for readers older than the target audience. It is perfect for those who enjoyed Harry Potter and want to experience the magic again, in a different world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Stories Untold Press, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After Crowns of Croswald, this is the second book in a four-book series by D.E.Night.

It follows our heroine Ivy Lovely on her journey to defend the Dark Queen, rescue all of Croswald and find herself during this process.

While the first book is more of an introduction to the magic world and its characters, the second book is filled to the brim with action and showdowns.

Our heroine seems a lot more grown up in this book (even though she still infuriated me from time to time with her blind actionism) and while she isn’t always prone to making the smartest decisions, she is usually lucky enough to turn the situations around in her favour.

I liked that the second book focuses heavily on the people and their relationships. A few new characters are introduced and I absolutely loved them. I felt they were essential in this book and gave the story a lively and fun tone, despite the quite tense and heavy topic.

Even though it’s a book for children, I appreciated the gentle hint of our heroine having feelings for one of her friends and vice versa. It gave the characters more depth and made them even more real to me (and their innocence was stinking cute).

I had a really good time reading it and it got me hooked. I really want to know, how the story goes on and what will happen with our beloved characters.

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow
By: D.E. Night
Rating: 4.7/5

This is the second book in the The Crowns of Croswald series.
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 the help of her friends if she wants to return to the Halls of Ivy ever again

Having read the first book of this series, I just adored being able to read about the world of Croswald and to see their magic develop and grown with every word in every chapter. I loved the authors attention to detail continued in this book. When reading this book, you will get lovable characters, exciting magical Quill clubs, exciting action-packed scenes, friendships that grows. Oh, and how can I forget a potion war between two dwarves that will bring a smile to your face. I really liked how Night did not include a love story as a main part of this series, yes you get a perfect slow burn to Fyn and Ivy but nothing more than a crush right now. I did think that there were a few parts of the book that were slow to me, however I loved how Night leaves us with the unanswered questions and wanting more. I can not wait to see what the third book brings for sweet Ivy and the world of Croswald.
If you are a fan of Magical worlds, Exciting Magical game played with their Quills, Adventure, Friendships that grow, Fun loving creatures and some really creepy creatures, then this is one series you should definitely check out. If you like reading middle grade book – young adult, I think this series will be great for you.
Thank you to the publisher, Stories Untold and NetGalley for letting me read this book for my honest review. Thank you, D.E. Night for writing a lovely book series.

Ivy Lovely is back again in book #2 of the Crowns of Croswald series with more magical adventures as she pursues her scrivenist studies and the Kindred stone. The author continues to develop Ivy’s magical world with new characters, a new game-Quogo, and a new “town”. The author’s descriptive writing brings the characters to life and helps you imagine the amazing, magical world of Croswald. If you enjoy middle grade/YA fantasy add this series to your must-read list!

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is the second in the Crowns of Croswald series by D.E.Night and continues the adventures of Ivy Lovey in her magical and mystical world! Ivy's true identity has been hidden and protected, but she has discovered who she really is! The Dark Queen wants her dead, and has no problem endangering anyone who gets in her way. Ivy and her friends (Rebecca, Fyn, Glistle, Gretta and the others from the Quality Quills Club) from Ivy Hall realize it's up to them to protect the world of Croswald. In order for Ivy to regain her full power, she must collect the three pieces of a Kindred Stone which were broken and hidden from the Dark Queen. As Ivy tries to find the pieces, the Dark Queen is right behind ready to steal them away. A young adult book that this adult also enjoyed! The heroine, Ivy, is lovable, whimsical and has a knack for getting in trouble! The book is full of interesting characters and magical creatures with just the right amount of suspense for middle school readers. This is the second in a series of four books (the fourth being released in January 2022!), and I look forward to continuing along on this adventure with Ivy and her friends.
Thank you @NetGalley and @author.denight for the opportunity to read and review!

Wow! This book was even better than the first one. The chapters involving the town were my favorite. It was so nice to move away from the school and get to know more about this incredible world. I enjoyed this story so much I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. I could not wait to pick it up again. I highly recommend this series.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

After her acceptance into the school where she can develop her till now hidden magical powers, something strange and unexplained is following Ivy.

After reading the first book I was so happy of the chance to read the second one. As I started to read I noticed better character and a world development. I love how its easy to read and easy to follow what's happening with the main girl - Ivy. This time, #thegirlwiththewhisperingshadow is more detailed than the first book, author includes more action as well. Strangely I also loved that this book doesn't have romantic atmosphere ( even you can slightly feel it).

While reading its so easy to imagine everything that sometimes it feels like you're watching the movie - its so vivid !!!

Everyone who loves easy magical reads, fairytales, action and ( I would say - a bit of mystery) will love this book.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book started basically right where the first one left off. I really enjoyed the character growth of Ivy. She really starts to open up and embrace her magic. The world building and magic systems are expanded and it makes for a much more intriguing book. While I enjoyed the first one this one was even better. The side characters are really great and I think the slow burn small romance with Fyn is perfect for middle grade. Ivy and Rebecca’s growing friendship is a great addition too. The Dark Queen feels more threatening and real in this book she isn’t just mentioned and I enjoyed getting to learn more about her and her dark motives. My only critique is again the middle felt like it dragged on a bit and the action didn’t really start until the end. Overall I enjoyed this book even as an adult. If you enjoy middle grade fantasy books this is for you!

*This ARC was provided by the publisher through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*

The Girl with the Whispering Shadow is a genuine example of an author greatly improving their writing.

The main improvement I noticed, and truly enjoyed, was the growth in character development. Characters had their own voices and were easily distinguishable throughout the book and the point of view changes. They were much more well-rounded and this made them more relatable for the reader.

One of my favorite things throughout this book was how we were able to see Ivy grow in confidence, but also be vulnerable and talk about her fears. She allows friends to be there for her and also offers comfort to others where she can.

We also had Gretta playing a major, yet slightly overlooked, role throughout the book. It was an interesting use of character, given that she only shows up mainly in the beginning and in the end, but we are given enough clues at that beginning scene to piece together the puzzle and grow anxious at Ivy's obliviousness. Very well done usage of a secondary character.

With Derwin, we got a scrivenist who is now a shell of whom he once was, and is afraid of not being enough to be Ivy's protector. Rather than play the parental figure, he becomes somewhat of an older brother (or perhaps a young uncle) to Ivy, working through things together.

Then we have Fyn, who tries to be the savior and boyfriend, while also working through his own trust issues. He is not afraid to speak his mind, and we are able to understand him much more than in the previous book.

On the topic of boys though, something that felt a bit forced was the love triangle. There was no real reason to make Glistle like Ivy in order to have him play a major role in the plot because he was already part of the Club. Especially given that it was left unexplored. It didn't really add anything to the story, or to Ivy's blossoming romance with Fyn. If anything, it served as a distraction from the main plot.

I still had an issue with how sudden the POVs were, particularly during the battle closer to the end. It felt unnatural and unnecessary to insert a single POV sentence after mentioning characters (for example, Glistle or Fyn), to then revert back to Ivy's.

Despite all of this, we did learn more about what the Dark Queen is, and how she operates. Truthfully, she is quite a scary character, but also an intriguing one. A part of me feels like she is just misunderstood, so it will be interesting to see how she continues to develop.

Overall, this book was super fun to read and definitely continues to be an addicting series in terms of plot.

The Girl With The Whispering By D.E. Night is the sequel to The Crowns Of Croswald! To give a bit of a recap The Croswald is about a young girl named Ivy and she receives the chance to attend a special magic school. However, There are dangers for her more than she may realize. In this book Ivy doesn’t return back to school because she is in danger. I won’t say anymore on that. This book as overall sequel was great and better than the first book! All of the characters are maturing and we as the reader get to know them a little better. I really liked the introduction to the game Quogo and the introduction to The Quality Quills Club which is a secret club of Quogo players. This book is full of whimsy and it just puts me in such a better mood! I don’t think I could ever get tired of reading about Ivy and all of her adventures! Thank you so much. To Netgalley for giving me this book to review!