A fabulous yarn for older children / young adults. For those who love magic and fantasy worlds. I can’t wait to read it to my 8 year old granddaughter hwen she comes to stay.

The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found is a stunning, dark epic fantasy that swept me into an unforgettable quest in a richly imagined world with two incredibly brave children, hoping to find what they have lost.

Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek loves reading factual books and believes in science and logic. But everything he believes in is challenged when he is sent a strange doll – a poppet which transforms into a capuchin money, a dormouse and a nightjar. When he follows the nightjar into the cellar of the Once Upon a Time bookshop, he steps through a door into another bookshop … and another world … Wreathenwold, a place where everyone carries a poppet doll at their waist - and a place where magic most definitely exists.

Soon finding himself at the mercy of the Hanged Men (the law enforcers) Benjamiah gets help from Hansel who is searching for his missing son. He takes him to his bookshop, Follynook, where he meets his daughter, Elizabella, who is far from welcoming, feeling the pain and loss of her missing twin.

When Benjamiah discovers Elizabella leaving her home, determined to find her missing brother, Edwid, he goes with her, leaving a promise to her father that he will return the siblings to their home, but is it a promise he can keep?

And so begins the most breath-taking, page-turner of an adventure that swept me into a world I absolutely did not want to leave. I was completely captivated as I journeyed with Benjamiah and Elizabella as they seek the whisperwicks left by Edwid which they hope will lead them to him. This is an adventure where darkness and danger lurk, where secrets unfold, and where unexpected revelations will astound.

The world-building is just phenomenal from the labyrinthine streets of Wreathenwold where straying too far from home has devastating consequences to the magic system where poppets transform to animal friends, to the Hanged Men who enforce the law on behalf of the monster at its centre. I really enjoyed learning about the history of Wreathenwold at the start of each chapter which helped me understand its magic, its dangers and its secrets.

This is a story that does not shy away from exploring darkness and there are definitely some frightening scenes, characters and concepts, but there is also hope, goodness and friendship as Benjamiah and Elizabella work together to discover the truth alongside their magical friends. I think this is a world that readers really need to discover for themselves and I have no doubt they will be left utterly spellbound, and just the right amount of scared.

I loved the way magic is portrayed in this story: the magic of friendship, of family and of books and libraries alongside a magic that is given to those of Wreathenwold at birth held within the poppet dolls.

Benjamiah and Elizabella are both incredibly sympathetic protagonists who are both lost and in need of friendship and support which they find in each other and their poppets. They show incredible courage and determination in facing frightening and dangerous situations and in dealing with difficult truths. Benjamiah can see the pain and fear Elizabella has over her missing brother and wants to help her before finding his own way home, but Elizabella struggles to accept his friendship in the face of her all-consuming loss and single-minded determination to find her beloved brother. The genuine friendship that develops between them is just gorgeous – and magical!

This is a stunning, magical epic fantasy that I cannot recommend highly enough: a guaranteed Book of the Year for me, and perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Benjemiah Creek doesn't believe in magic. He believes in science and logic, facts and evidence. When he receives a mysterious doll in the post, one that can change form into a bird or a monkey, he thinks he must be dreaming, until the monkey leads him through a door into another world. The Wreathenwold is unlike anything Benjemiah has ever experienced, and before he knows it he is caught up in a quest to help Elizabella find her brother, hoping against hope that along the way he'll find his way home.

This is Jordan Lees' debut novel, and what a great way to start. This is middle grade fantasy at its best, with a darker take on things than we often see which is something I always appreciate.

Lees did a great job with the worldbuilding for Wreathenwold. I loved that there was elements of Greek mythology woven through, but the story itself is wholly original. The plot moves at a reasonable pace, the start of the book focuses on setting things up so is a little slower, but that makes for a detailed world and only adds to the enjoyment of the rest of the book.

Benjemiah and Elizabella were both well drawn up characters. Their emotions and actions were very believable, with both children in the process of coming to terms with their lives changing. I also thought that this was a great way to examine how children can respond to grief, and showing that there are different forms of grief, such as Benjemiah facing his parents getting divorced.

I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more Jordan Lees books in future.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK Children's and Puffin for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Although not being the target audience for this book I really enjoyed delving into this adventure where the fact-oriented Benjamiah ventures into the wonderous and dangerous realm of Wreathenwold. The author skillfully weaves together this richly intricate world based on the Greek labyrinth stories but including a magical element that is unique and engaging. I really loved the idea of the poppets and the diverse array of characters, this tale is a remarkable journey into the realm of fantasy. If you're a fan of the genre, I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in this captivating story.

The only element I felt I struggled with a little with the children's names as I kept reading Benjamiah as Benjamin and Edwid as Edward.

Thank you Netgallery for this ARC in return for an honest review

Benjamiah lives above an old bookshop in Wyvern-on-the-Water. One day he receives a toy doll, but doesn’t know who it’s from. At night the doll transforms into a mischievous creature and one night leads him down to the basement and though a door he’s never seen before, he finds himself in Wreathenwold - a place full of strange streets. His doll is a ‘poppet’ in this world, everyone has one. He is rescued from the police by Hansel and finds himself on an adventure with Elizabella.
Great fantasy YA read, engaging and exciting.
Loved it.

I liked this childrens book, it has a nice few twists on the usual ' magical other world' trope. It really had me running the whole gamut of emotions throughout the book. Exciting reading.

Benjamiah lives above the family run bookshop with her grandmother whilst his parents are away trying to save their marriage when he receives a strange doll in the post. Havoc ensues and he is woken in the middle of the night and led into a magical labyrinth known as the Wreathenworld. Nothing stays the same, streets are constantly moving and it is impossible for him to find his way back to his world,

In the Wreathenworld, logical Benjamiah discovers that the doll he has received is magical and is called a poppet. Poppets are tethered to their owner and contain their powers. Lost and confused, he finds salvation in Elizabella who is frantically searching for her brother, Edwid. Swept along by her quest in the desperate hope that she will help him to return home, they follow a trail of clues through a labyrinth of darkness and danger. Can they locate the missing Edwid and will Benjamiah ever find out why he is connected to this strange world and make it safely back home to his family?

As both protagonists fight their way through the twists and turns of this exciting maze of a plot, friendship, sibling bonds and different types of grief are explored. Suitable for fans of Pullman, we read this with children age 10+ as there is a somewhat scary undercurrent and at 400+ pages, it would be an epic adventure for most younger middle graders.

Thank you to Net Galley and Puffin for sending this eBook for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

I’m having such an incredible book year that I feel like I’m repeating myself with every review.

If I’d picked this book up as a young child it would be in my top 20 (I read a lot, give me 20!), and would have a special place in my heart and my bookshelf - one of those childhood books I read at the library then buy as an adult with a heart full of remembered joy.

Benjamiah does not believe in magic, he believes in science, until a mysterious gift leads him into Wreathenwold, a vast labyrinth where even venturing a few streets can find you lost forever. He finds himself off on an adventure with Elizabella, the daughter of the man who found him and rescued him on his arrival.

This broke my heart, made me laugh, and had me on edge a lot. I absolutely flew through it. Just wonderful.

My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children's for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and wanted to keep reading. It’s suitable for adults and children alike with a story of magic and danger. There were hints of His Dark Materials as everyone in Wreathenworld has a poppet, a doll that hangs by their side and can transform into a creature (like a daemon). Benjamiah, age 11, finds himself moving from his bookshop to another in a different world. He helps Elizabella look for her twin brother and they encounter all sorts of strange things on the way. I particularly liked Ariadne, the piece of thread, who could show them the way. There were hints of Terry Pratchett’s world as well as lots of new ideas, making this a fun read.

A magic and riveting novel that made me smile and kept me enthralled. I enjoyed what I read: plot, world building, characters.
Well done and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed this book, although I felt it got better in the second half. Great characters (it took me a little while to notice their names weren't actually how my brain automatically read them!) and really good world building. I liked the idea of the labyrinth town.

This was a fantastic read. Grabbed my attention right from the start and kept me reading like a madwoman.
The world is brilliantly imagined, including the magic in it. It's not too complicated or over explained, it's just the right level of interesting, deep but understandable.
The characters were great, doing some good old character growth. Elizabella especially changed a lot and became much less irritating.
I really enjoyed this whole story, it was so exciting and rarely let up the excitement. Definitely worth a read! I'm really hoping there will be more books in this series as some things feel not quite finished...

Brilliant new novel for me to enjoy. Benjamin h Creek loves books and science and when he receives a doll his life will be turned upside down. He is led to another world (Weathenwold) where magic is everywhere and causes people to get lost if they stray too far. He joins Elizabella in her quest to find her missing brother.

This novel is so well written with great characters who will have to face their fears and rely on each other as they seek the truth. They must find the Wisperwicks hidden by Elizabella’s brother to listen to messages that at first make no sense.

Adventure, danger, magical poppets and true friendships. Enjoy..

A new children's fantasy book series you say? Count me in. Benjamiah is sent a strange doll which leads him out of our world and into a new one; the Wreathenwold - a tremendous labyrinth. There, he becomes embroiled in a quest to find Edwid, who has disappeared but has left a trail of clues for his twin sister, Elizabella, to find.

The world building in this is fantastic; Lee has created a totally fantastical but believable world. The story was well plotted, with some
touching messages about grief and divorce.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for my review copy.

An intriguing concept with confident immersive world building, there is so much going on here. Wicked ideas are thrown around, almost in passing, which would otherwise be the entire premise of other stories.

There are strong references to Greek mythology and similarities with Philip Pullman’s daemons, but this wholly feels like an original idea.

The inclusion of dark and creepy moments should appeal to all but the most sensitive children. The Hanged Men are such a strong image. Kids will love the darkness and jeopardy, which barely lets up in a fast-paced plot. The ending is slightly left open for the next book, to which I’m very much looking forward.

A wildly entertaining read full of twists and turns - as you'd expect, since it's set in a labyrinth!
The worldbuilding is interesting and unexpected, and in this strange world, the characters feel very real and relatable.

Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science and logic. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious gift in the post - a doll that can transform into a bird - he is led into the impossible world of Wreathenwold, where dark secrets are lost amongst a vast labyrinth of streets.

Benjamiah soon finds himself swept along in a dangerous quest - led by the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, who is determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother.

Review

When I was offered a copy of this for review it was sold as the next great magical fantasy adventure, which given the strength of children’s fiction currently, is very bold!

However this was excellent. Lees is a very confident writer, with clear and readable prose. The book has a cold open that remains a mystery till almost the end of the novel which for kid lit, is brave. Secondly by virtue of being set in a wildly different world to ours there is a great deal of exposition about things like magical shapeshifting dolls linked to hosts a la Pullmans daemons, all in a world of confusion where once you go a couple of streets away you magically forget the way back. Then throw in tree people, those who steal colours from objects, magical lanterns with riddles - and that’s just a start.

What could have been a muddled mess hangs together as a cohesive whole. It does take some time to get through world building and magic system, but once it does it’s off like a rocket. The book confidently sends the main characters on fantastical side quests and missions to achieve their ultimate goal.

It does suffer from the old trope of ‘unresolved conclusion where there’s a magical enemy potentially coming back to life-itis’ a very common affliction, but Lees has the wise sense to also craft a definite ending with a neat twist if the book was to become standalone.

I enjoyed spending time in the world, was utterly swept away by the creativity. I can’t wait to see the characters fleshed out even more now their relationships are more established. Also, I’ve never rooted more for a mute magical piece of thread before - but Ariadne is delightful! (You’ll understand when you pick up the book - releasing March 28, preorders available now)

I loved this fantasy tale of fact-focused Benjamiah entering the totally chaotic and dangerous Wreathenwold. The author does a great job of tying all the threads together in a complex world. I loved the ever-changing city streets, Ariadne, and colour being the currency, including eye colour. I really really loved the poppets (I want one!). The book is full of imaginative detail (including the whisperwicks) and characters, Benjamiah and Elizabella are strong protagonists in the search for Elizabella's brother Edwid. It's a great story, with an unexpected twist, and if you like fantasy, I highly recommend you dive into this story.

The Whisperwicks is as epic fantasy full of magic, folklore and the unknown. Readers are pulled into the darkness of two brilliantly crafted worlds as strange events build intrigue page after page.

I found this slow going in the first half but enjoyed the story overall. The world was definitely original and quite creepy too (#poppets#stealing eye colours!). Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.