I finally managed to read Return to Roar written by Jenny McLachlan, illustrated by Ben Mantle who really did some amazing illustrations and published by Harper Collins. Return to Roar is the sequel to Land of Roar and follows on directly from where Land of Roar ended so I can't really say what this book is about. What I can say Land of Roar is the story of twins Arthur and Rose Trout who invented the land in their imagination and then something happens. This is all the synopsis I am going to give on Land of Roar. I highly recommend that you pick up both books and read them you will not be disappointed. The final book called Battle for Roar is being released on 8th July 2021 and I already have pre-ordered my copy as I can't wait to see what Jenny does as her writing is top notch. For all these reasons I have given this wonderful sequel 4 stars

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers Egmont Publishing for sending me the digital advance reader copy of this book. This book is the second in a series of three and I definitely think this series should be read in order.. I loved this book and could not wait to read it and it didn't disappoint! . Arthur and Rose Trout are so much fun to read about and keep you engrossed from start to finish.. This book is recommended for readers aged 8+ and it does seem a bit darker than the first book "The Land of Roar". This series will be highly recommended by me I cannot wait for the next instalment.

We have all come across stories that feature imaginary friends. In this series, Jenny McLachlan goes one step further and gives us an imaginary land made real. In the first book, The Land of Roar, we meet twins Arthur and Rose, who have grown out of playing in their imaginary land of Roar, which was accessed through an old, folding camp bed in their grandad's attic. Without giving anything away, they rediscover their love for this place, which still exists beyond the attic. In this second adventure, we find them looking forward to spending their half term there. I loved the first book and am pleased to report that this second is just as good. There is humour, and a few scares (Crowky, the scarecrow baddie is one of the most sinister characters I've encountered of late), and the story is a really exciting page turner, which also has a few things to say about standing up to your fears. With wonderful illustrations by Ben Mantle, I can recommend this as a great middle grade read. Cannot wait to see what is to come in the final installment.

In the second book about Roar, a land created by Arthur and his twin sister Rose, they have to face their fears. But the fears they had when they were little seem so small compared to the things they fear now. What's in the box? And can Arthur, Rose and friends defeat the evil Crowky?

Perfect for adventurers from 8 - 12 and older, Jenny McLachlan once again creates an amazing imaginary world and makes us feel as if we are there. A must read!

I LOVE these books. To me this is an almost perfect middle grade book and I would definitely encourage the children at my school to read it.
This story is full of adventure, emotion and the main characters have a good moral compass and educate through their actions.
Rose and Arthur are incredibly real feeling and I can truly picture them believably making every decision and choice that they do. They are at the age where they're old enough to be clever about their choices and understand you can't just act on impulse which I really appreciated. Win is still the lovable fool that I know and love and it was great to meet the cool Mitch.
This book is full of whimsy including new languages and a completely bonkers magic system! I like that the characters can reflect on how silly and embarrassing some of their childhood imaginations were but also understand that it made them happy at the time so it shouldn't be embarrassing. Crowkey is one of my favourite book villains. He is creepy and smart and arrogant and it works so well. I loved the idea of using the children's fears to try and beat them considering they no longer seem afraid of him now they've beaten him before and are aware of him. It felt like a good natural progression and like a villain who could grow and adapt in further books if there are to be any.
The illustrations in this are stunning and I love the trend of including illustrations in chapter books these days. It really adds to the atmosphere and heightened the creep level of Crowkey.
Jenny McLachlan's writing style is so smooth and easy to read that it makes this story binge-worthy and keeps and good pace that I don't think lags at any point.
I would love to read more from McLachlan and will be keeping an eye on their future works. I'm also defintely recommending this book to my school children!
(As a side note, I highly approve of the ship being called Alisha because it's my name and it still makes me giddy to see it anywhere!)
I can't wait to own a physical copy of this when it comes out!
4.5/5 Stars

The Land of Roar was a book I picked up in Waterstones last year after falling in love with both the gorgeous front cover and the blurb. It’s one that I know has been incredibly popular with many on Twitter, including a very dear bookish friend of mine and an author whose opinion I very much value who both told me they loved it as much as I did. With very high expectations of this sequel, I submitted a ‘wish’ to Net Galley for this read and was delighted when it was granted a few days ago.

For anyone who has not read the first book, it tells the story of twins Rose and Arthur who find their way into the Land of Roar while staying at their grandfather’s. This land is one which they have previously created through their imaginations as they have played, as many children do, but it is one which has fallen under the rule of the wicked scarecrow Crowky as a result of Rose and Arthur gradually forgetting about it as they have grown up. Rose and Arthur must battle and defeat Crowky in order to restore peace and harmony, encountering old friends and settings that they themselves have imagined into existence, as they do so.

Having recovered from all the excitement and danger of their last visit, Rose and Arthur plan to revisit during a half term break while their parents are away, with every intention of having adventures and fun galore. With Grandad’s collusion, the two of them travel through the magical portal in his attic – a folded up camp bed – and once more find themselves in the tunnel that leads into the Land of Roar.

After emerging from the tunnel and surveying the wonderful landscape, the children decide that their first port of call should be to visit their friend Win – a wizard ninja of Arthur’s creation – who helped them on their previous visit and whose wizarding and ninja skills are perhaps not what he would like them to be. Rose leaves the two boys to catch up while she heads off on a dragon to try to visit her friend Mitch, a merwitch who they were unable to locate before.

Once she has left, the two boys focus on spending their time larking about and experience a run in with a rather cross unicorn before welcoming back Rose who has been unable to find Mitch but has brought back a spell book of the merwitch’s and her tattoo kit. After they settle down for the night, Arthur is woken up by a presence asking to be taken to ‘Home’. Persuading himself that it’s just a dream, Arthur settles back down only to discover the words ‘WHAT’S IN THE BOX?’ painted in large, wet letters on the wall outside Win’s cave when he, Rose and Win get up the following morning.

A greatly concerned Rose and Arthur explain the meaning of the message to Win. The Box is an old cardboard one which has been used by the two of them to play a series of practical jokes on one another and they now fear that Crowky is back and is intent on finding it within the Land of Roar- something which would allow him to travel back through the tunnel and portal and into Grandad’s house.

Realising that their only course of action is to find the box before Crowky does, the three children set out on another adventure encountering old friends such as the Lost Girls and new enemies such as pirate baboons. Will they find The Box ahead of Crowky? Or will Crowky locate it first and use it to find his way to ‘Home’? And, perhaps most importantly, will the children make it back safely ahead of their parents coming to collect them at the end of the holiday or will Grandad have to explain their absence?

For anyone who loved the first book as much as I did, this is a worthy follow-up. Familiar characters such as Win and the Lost Girls – a feral bunch of feisty girls with a love of both mild violence and loom bands – make a very welcome reappearance but there are many new characters too so that the continued narrative picks up perfectly from the first book with the freshness of a brand new tale. As before, Arthur narrates our story and the transitions between his boyish anticipation and excitement at the prospect of adventure and his more reflective worrying about the threat from Crowky are very believable throughout, as are his interactions with friend Win and his sister.

As with the original story, the front cover is a glorious piece of art by Ben Mantle, whose illustrations throughout the book are a perfect accompaniment to the text, and together these will be sure to hook many readers in. A great many adults will enjoy sharing this book with children, not just because it is a cracking story but also because of some of the wonderful plays-on-words that are possibly wasted on younger readers. References to the Archie Playgo always make me smile as just the sort of mispronunciation my own children would have made when younger (Kylie The Nogue was a particular favourite here). As Rose and Arthur slowly grow up, the effects of their loss of belief in their imaginary land and its occupants will strike a chord with many parents who while desperate to see their children grow up will also pine for the innocence, fun and magic that comes with the way that young children play.

Although the book has some quite scary parts, it carries a strong positive message to its readers that fear can very often be overcome, in such a way that many children will absorb this without if being forced upon them and I would say it is appropriate for children of Year 4 age and above. While reading the first book gives you the backstory to this one, this could also be enjoyed as a stand alone read and would make a great class reader, with the opportunity to promote some really lovely discussions on a variety of topics such as facing fears and bullying as a result.

The very good news for fans of these books is that there will be a third – a finale – which promises: ‘secrets, surprises and fairies with fangs’. I for one cannot wait to read it and I know there will be a great many like-minded readers waiting for it with bated breath.

Huge thanks must go as always to Net Galley and also to Egmont Publishing for granting my wish to read this ahead of publication on 6th August. 5 out of 5 stars.