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sharnibee's review against another edition
4.0
What a gorgeous book! I loved finding out more about Stella's past as she looks for answers that nobody seems willing to give her - all she has to go in is a old photograph. Wormwood Mire was an amazing setting (although I did miss the Hotel Majestic a little as well as all the friends that Stella made in the first book). The illustrations are divine, the closer you look the more details you see. Looking forward to more!
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
Want a gothic tingle?
This series gave us just the right scary zing, but in true middle grade fashion, was not truly frightening.
It is written through a late-Victorian / Gothic lens, with a smattering of faerie, a magician, traveling "curiosities" and intrepid explorers. Tightly plotted and read together, back-to-back, they read like they were originally one book that was divided into two.
By the end of the second, the mystery of the MC's father has still not been explained, and we're hoping for a third book!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.strikingly.com/
This series gave us just the right scary zing, but in true middle grade fashion, was not truly frightening.
It is written through a late-Victorian / Gothic lens, with a smattering of faerie, a magician, traveling "curiosities" and intrepid explorers. Tightly plotted and read together, back-to-back, they read like they were originally one book that was divided into two.
By the end of the second, the mystery of the MC's father has still not been explained, and we're hoping for a third book!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.strikingly.com/
booksnakeaaron's review against another edition
4.0
I may or may not have stayed up until 11:30 at night to finish this book......
I did
And I don’t regret it
This book was really good and I think it’s safe to say that this series is one of my favourite middle grade series. Unfortunately this series is highly underrated though.
I do think the first book was slightly better but this book was still really good. It’s very hard to compare the 2 because they are so different. I’m happy we got lots of answers as well.
I did
And I don’t regret it
This book was really good and I think it’s safe to say that this series is one of my favourite middle grade series. Unfortunately this series is highly underrated though.
I do think the first book was slightly better but this book was still really good. It’s very hard to compare the 2 because they are so different. I’m happy we got lots of answers as well.
piper_joy_'s review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
danapoirot's review against another edition
4.0
4,5. Asko gustatu zait. Hasieran pixkat aspergarria.
earlgreybooks's review against another edition
4.0
This series just brings me so much joy with each book. This one has such a Secret Garden-esque feel to it and I honestly love it. Though I really missed the characters from the first book, Stella's cousins; Strideforth and Hortenese are wonderful and there was something just so lovely about this whole book even in it's darker moments.
claudiaferrier12's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really nice book, and I enjoyed it.
frostlywild17's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alfykins's review against another edition
4.0
These are such lovely books. Such care has gone into designing cover, illustrations, even the font and ink colour so that the physical object of the book enhances the enjoyment of reading the story.
This time Stella has been sent away by her dreadful aunts to stay at Wormwood Mire, the run down home of the Montgomery family. There are mysterious cousins, a creepy house, strange beasts and taciturn housekeepers to contend with. And Stella is also dealing with memories that begin to resurface, memories of the last time she was in that house, ten years ago, when something dreadful happened to Stella, her mother and her long vanished twin sister.
The plot hums along, the characters are charming and the level of spookiness is pitched just right for a middle grade audience. And the writing is superb -Judith Roswell really knows how to craft a sentence as well as how to tell a good story.
I would have liked a little more development in one or two points, one of the villains is a little under cooked, but overall this was great.
I can't wait to read the third and final installment.
This time Stella has been sent away by her dreadful aunts to stay at Wormwood Mire, the run down home of the Montgomery family. There are mysterious cousins, a creepy house, strange beasts and taciturn housekeepers to contend with. And Stella is also dealing with memories that begin to resurface, memories of the last time she was in that house, ten years ago, when something dreadful happened to Stella, her mother and her long vanished twin sister.
The plot hums along, the characters are charming and the level of spookiness is pitched just right for a middle grade audience. And the writing is superb -Judith Roswell really knows how to craft a sentence as well as how to tell a good story.
I would have liked a little more development in one or two points, one of the villains is a little under cooked, but overall this was great.
I can't wait to read the third and final installment.