Scan barcode
jackmchair's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
4.0
Short: A fantastic sequel that improves upon the characters, plot, and writing. It feels slightly more removed from Dungeons and Dragons than the first so people who don't play the game will still really enjoy this story (as long as they've read the first).
Full: This a strong sequel and as an educator, I love that it feels more "grown-up" than the first, while still being a young adult book. This is perfect for a reader who reads the first and wants something more challenging but still in the same world and with the same characters.
The stylized framing of each chapter feels less exciting than the first but the plot remains fresh! I genuinely was surprised by the twists and turns and none of it felt forced or out of place. I don't know if I'd say the characters grew a lot, but I found them to be more endearing than in the first book. I also think the new characters all added something fresh and helped our heroes shine!
Full: This a strong sequel and as an educator, I love that it feels more "grown-up" than the first, while still being a young adult book. This is perfect for a reader who reads the first and wants something more challenging but still in the same world and with the same characters.
The stylized framing of each chapter feels less exciting than the first but the plot remains fresh! I genuinely was surprised by the twists and turns and none of it felt forced or out of place. I don't know if I'd say the characters grew a lot, but I found them to be more endearing than in the first book. I also think the new characters all added something fresh and helped our heroes shine!
shannonreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
A fun twist on Dungeons and Dragons. A must if you've already read the first.
sibertooth's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
4.5
Loved this! It did so much to build on the previous book's premise, developing latent potential in the setting, making it bigger and stakesier in a justifiable way. It felt longer than it was, but in a good way: there's a lot of plot packed in.
At first, the characters struck me as a bit Flanderized, but that ironed itself out quickly. There were a couple of big twists, cool magic, a villain I never would have guessed, and a satisfying warm-fuzzy ending (where, among other things, the romantic tension that had been looming over the whole book got resolved in a definite but very gentle way).
Recommended! But you do need to have read the previous book first.
At first, the characters struck me as a bit Flanderized, but that ironed itself out quickly. There were a couple of big twists, cool magic, a villain I never would have guessed, and a satisfying warm-fuzzy ending (where, among other things, the romantic tension that had been looming over the whole book got resolved in a definite but very gentle way).
Recommended! But you do need to have read the previous book first.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
kaisermatthias's review against another edition
3.0
A solid entry in the franchise. Twists, turns, double-crosses, triple-crosses! The upside-down D&D game now has to navigate....High School, and many of their Middle School actions will combe back to haunt them. All while dealing with a moping Barbarian, a secretly happy gloom elf, and "the bard from my last party" come home to trouble.
More...