Whisper the Dead (The Lovegrove Legacy) by Alyxandra Harvey

The Lovegrove Legacy #2

by Alyxandra Harvey

Gretchen is struggling with her newfound gift as a Whisperer; the constant buzzing in her ears from detecting spells is more frustrating than fun, especially when she is spending time with one of the Order of Iron Nail's Keepers, the icy but strikingly handsome Tobias Lawless. But while Gretchen tries to hide the truth and resolve her feelings for him, London fades from beautiful and bustling to deathly silent ...Something evil is once again menacing Mayfair, and Gretchen and her cousins must use their powers to prevent a horrible sacrifice.

This second book in the Lovegrove Legacy trilogy is full of dark twists, spellbinding suspense and sweeping romance - perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, Lauren Kate and Ruth Warburton.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Witches, Romance, Historical

Hardcover

First published October 7, 2014

About the author

www.alyxandraharvey.com

Alyxandra Harvey is the author of The Cinderella Society, The Dainty Devils, The Drake Chronicles, The Witches of London, Haunting Violet and more!
She likes chai lattes, tattoos, and books.
Sometimes fueled by literary rage.

Reviews

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there won't be a third part of this novel, I'll change my rating down... like A LOT.

Whisper the Dead war eine tolle Fortsetzung zu A Breath of Frost, die mir gerade aufgrund der Charaktere so gut gefalle hat! Gretchen ist einfach so eine emanzipierte junge Frau, die sich sagt, sie braucht keinen Mann (und schon höre ich Megara in meinem Kopf singen...) und Tobias passte einfach so super zu ihr, auch wenn die beiden sich zu Beginn nur in den Haaren hatten. Oder vielleicht auch gerade deswegen.
Auch wird die Geschichte von Emma und Cormac weitererzählt und war auch einfach... CUTENESS OVERLOAD.
Und dann die Sache mit Penelope und Cedric, die hier einfach kein Ende gefunden hat... Ich fand das war ohnehin das offenste Ende, das Alyxandra Harvey jemals geschrieben hat und dann ist dazu kein dritter Band angekündigt?!!??!?
WARUUUUUUUUMMMM?!?!??!?

Das Buch bekommt insgesamt 3,5 Sterne von mir. Das liegt daran, dass ich es bei Alyxandra Harvey einfach lieber mag, wenn sie sich etwas mehr auf die Liebesgeschichte fokussiert. Aber das ist reine Geschmackssache.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/2/2016
I stand by everything I said about this book last time. Gretchen is such a wonderful character - sassy and strong and not standing for any bullshit. She's all "why the hell should I use this stupid shield spell when I could just throw a dagger at someone?", and it's freaking great. Tobias is an equally complex character, and I love him. Add the two together and you get one hell of a ship.

There are also a plethora of delightful hints about Penelope and Cedric, and OH MY GOD WHY DO WE NOT HAVE BOOK THREE YET WHY IS IT STILL NOT EVEN A THING ON GOODREADS WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. Because seriously. I need it like air.

16/9/2014
4.5 stars. I read the first book in this series, A Breath of Frost, back in January and I LOVED IT OMG. So needless to say, I was pretty excited when I got approved for an ARC of the second book. I read a decent chunk of it on a bus from Mafra to Lisbon, and polished it off on the train from Lisbon to Sintra because I just couldn't put it down.

Basically, this is the middle book in a trilogy about three cousins in Regency London who discover that they're witches. Each has a different power, and together they have to try and stop a group of insanely evil sisters (who just happen to have died like 200 years ago) from destroying London. They're pretty clueless, but luckily there are some cute and knowledgeable boys to help them out. Score. (Yes, I'm aware that's a terrible synopsis, but it's kind of hard to recap the plot of a middle book without listing a bunch of spoilers, so...yeah.)

Anyway, I loved pretty much everything about this. It didn't seem to suffer any of the dreaded middle-book syndrome that so often plagues trilogies at the moment. And I think a big part of that is the fact that each of the books is dedicated largely to one of the three cousins. Book 1 focused primarily on Emma, and this focuses on Gretchen. So while we're still getting the overarching narrative slowly unfolding and building towards the big finale in Book 3, we also get Gretchen growing into her powers and learning what's really important to her.

I liked Emma in the first book, but I adore Gretchen. She's ridiculously sassy when she wants to be and isn't afraid to break the rules when they're endangering the people she cares about. And before you ask, YES. There's some serious swoon in this book. I loved the relationship between Gretchen and Tobias. He needs someone to bring him out of the cage he's got himself locked in, and she needs someone a little out of the ordinary but who still knows when the rules should apply, so Tobias fits the bill perfectly. And yes, there's still a healthy dose of swoon from Emma and Cormac, with a side of squee.

Honestly, I think my only issue would be the cliffhanger ending. Because I don't know how on earth I'll wait until I-have-no-idea-when-but-my-money-is-on-next-year for Book 3. And OMG book 3 better feature lots of Penelope and Cedric squeeing or I will have serious words with Alyxandra Harvey. Because of reasons...

In short, I loved this. It was a great middle book that upped the intensity and the action, and which overcame a lot of the minor niggles I had with the first book in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: With the Greymalkin sisters safely captured, you would think the Lovegrove cousins could relax a bit. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case in this entertaining follow-up to the first book in the series.

Opening Sentence: Gretchen was on her way to the Worthing musicale when her head exploded.

The Review:

Ever since the Greymalkin Sisters were successfully trapped at the end of book one, the Order has been very curious as to how Emma, Penelope, and Gretchen were able to do something much more experienced witches had been unable to do. For their part, the girls are definitely not going to clue the Order into the fact that Emma is actually a Greymalkin herself, something which made their success possible. The Order has set Keepers to watch all three of them, so they can go nowhere without eyes on their every move. Gretchen – free spirit that she is – feels the most tied down by this, especially since her designated Keeper is none other than the extremely proper and tightlaced Tobias Lawless. When wards start failing all over London, however, Gretchen is going to find herself relying on her gift for hearing spells as well as Tobias’ knowledge of magic in order to help keep the city safe. For someone out there has decided to resurrect all seven Greymalkin sisters, and if they succeed, London will never be the same again.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to reading this one. While I enjoyed it, it did feel as if nothing much was really happening for the first half of the book. It was still entertaining to read, as I love all three Lovegrove cousins, but the plot really wasn’t advancing. Then it seemed as if everything started happening at once, and the book really picked up speed, especially in the last 20 percent or so. It became very hard to put down.

I think my biggest complaint would be that it was very obvious who some of the bad guys were early on in the book, so there really wasn’t any shock on my part when they were finally revealed. I seem to recall having the same issue with the first book. It wasn’t so bad as to wreck my enjoyment of the book, but it was occasionally frustrating that none of the characters seemed to have a clue. On the other hand, there was one big shock for me towards the end that I did not see coming at all, which was very gratifying after my previously mentioned disappointment.

As I mentioned before, I love all three of the cousins, so I do like getting to see all of their points of view throughout the story. However, I will admit to wanting more of Gretchen and less of Emma, probably because Emma was the main focus of book one, so I was ready to have more of a focus on a different cousin. There’s nothing wrong with Emma’s sections, but I just loved Gretchen so much that I didn’t want to leave her.

All in all, this was a very satisfying follow-up to book one. There is a major cliffhanger at the end of this one though, so readers beware! You’re definitely going to want book three on hand once you finish this book. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Notable Scene:

“I will cast three spells, each slightly incorrect. You will act as though you have not noticed anything untoward, and then you will tell me what is wrong with each spell.”

Gretchen braced herself.

“Begin.”

She curtsied, feeling like an idiot. Miss Hopewell used salt to create a symbol on the floor. She couldn’t tell what was off about the spell, or what it was meant to do, only that it must be something minor. The sound in her head was like waves on the shore, or bird wings, constant but not unpleasant. She strained to hear words, but there was only that murmur. She teetered slightly on her back foot and nearly lost her balance. Daphne and Clarissa exchanged haughty glances, back on the same side. Gretchen gritted her teeth.

“Again,” Miss Hopewell said. “This time you will take a turn about the room.”

Gretchen circled the room, casting a longing glance at the door as she passed by it.

Miss Hopewell sighed. “I haven’t even begun yet, Gretchen, and that is all wrong. You are meant to glide, not march. This is not the militia.”

Gretchen contemplated inventing a new spell that would turn Miss Hopewell’s hair into snakes.

Instead, she walked, she glided, she positively floated. And she still felt like an idiot.

An idiot with needles piercing her brain.

The buzzing was sudden and painful. The waves were gone, replaced with the grinding of a blade on a whetstone, the screeching of gulls, the relentless grating of rusty hinges. She was instantly queasy.

“Keep gliding,” Miss Hopewell ordered, but her voice was very far away. There were too many other voices all talking at once. Trying to sort through them was like trying to unravel a knotted carpet. She tried to focus on just one word, one tone, the way Mrs. Sparrow had told her to. It was like trying to hold on to water.

“Unring the bell.”

There. A thread. She followed it, her eyes scrunched tight. She’d stopped trying to walk. She almost had it. Pain ricocheted inside her skull. But she wouldn’t let go. Neither would they, it seemed.

“We are still here.”

“Stop it!” That was Penelope, trying to hold her up. “Can’t you see her ears are bleeding?”

Miss Hopewell rushed forward. The other students squeaked with alarm. It was just one more layer of voices.

Gretchen threw up into a potted plant.

“Well, that’s not very ladylike,” Daphne remarked.

FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury provided me with a copy of Whisper the Dead. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Kirsty-Marie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLIFFHANGER, I WANT TO HIT YOU.

As of A Breath of Frost, Whisper the Dead gave me the same feeling as it's predecessor gave me , while I absolutely adored it, I still have a few minor issues. With A Breath of Frost it took me a while to get into because of the large cast and side characters, the out of order perspective changes and such big personalities to contend with. Being familiar with the world now and the fun and outlandish characters that are out of style with the Regency Period, I had no problem getting back into it, and this time around, focusing more on Gretchen, who obviously now is was my favourite. She's so...Gretchen.

My main issue is that although it does eventually come together, while you're reading it still feels like separate pieces of a story rather than a whole story being told. However, the good thing about that is that you have no idea where it's going to go, there's a lot of surprises, one I didn't see coming, and you can honestly not even guess. The downside, it can be a little confusing at times since there's a lot going on. But, that didn't take away from how much I loved it (well, not much) because it's just so damn good. Once again, because it's down to the characters, they really do make a book, and these characters, seriously, Alyxandra Harvey just has a way with characters, they're all very eccentric and crazy and funny and wonderful and all remain their own characteristic that they don't blend in. You know who you're talking from, which is funny since it is third person and I always find it hard to find a personality within that, but you can clearly hear their voices.

A Breath of Frost followed Emma more, while still perspective from her cousins and other characters, Whisper the Dead is the same but with Gretchen being the main focus, and I loved it. Gretchen's hilarious, that's the first thing you'll find out about her. No matter what situation she's put in, whether awkward to waaay awkward to serious to dangerous, she is hilarious. She lightens the mood on more serious notes, but she's determined to get through, even with some painful moments, and it's great to see her explore being what a Whisperer entails. I loved Emma's progression too, she's the same, but she's also a little different from what she found out in A Breath of Frost, she's stronger for it. Penelope I still haven't quite got a handle on, and gathering the way the way the series is written, we'll get more from her in #3.

What I really love about this series though is the strong family bond, and female solidarity, and it's stronger than ever in Whisper the dead, along with a romance to root for and magic that although isn't anything knew, brings something new to the table.

~~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.~


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Review originally posted on Studio Reads

[Nara · Rating 3 out of 5]

(series review)

The Lovegrove Legacy so far has been quite the fun read- strong female leads, magic, romance, mystery, drama...it's certainly full of elements that make for a fantastic combination together.

The characters in particular, I think, are quite well developed. The two books so far centre mostly on Emma, Gretchen and Penelope, a group of three cousins who are descendants of a long line of witches. The relationship between the three is a strong one, where it's clear that they're both family and friends. The various romances are probably less solid; although they're not instaloves or love triangles or anything overly annoying, they're also not quite as well developed as I would have liked.

While it had a lot of positive aspects, I do feel like there was an element of it being superficially entertaining, and not really going any deeper than that. There's nothing particular outstanding about the books and the plot isn't overly memorable.

This series is one that you'd tend to read more if you're looking for something quick and fun.

Ratings
Overall: 6/10
Plot: 3/5
Romance: 2.5/5
Writing: 3/5
World Building: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 3/5

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you Bloomsbury Childrens and Netgalley for providing this in exchange for an honest review**

8/18/14

5 stars is just not enough for this book. I think this might be tied with The Supernatural Enhancements as my favorite book of the year. Everything about it was endearing. I absolutely love those girls

Review to come closer to the publication date.
********************************************************************

11/21/14

Ok, the full review will not come because I misplaced my notes. I knew I should have just written it out and saved it immediately. I can tell you it would have been full of nothing but absolute fangirling. I really liked Emma's POV in the previous book, but I loved Gretchen's in this book. I really hope Penelope gets the staring role in the third book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since cousins Gretchen, Emma and Penelope discovered they were witches they have been on a sharp learning curve and they're still trying to figure out how to use their gifts. After Emma accidentally released the Greymalkin sisters in the previous book all three of them are under constant watch by the Order of the Iron Nail and it's making life impossible. When strange magical events begin to occur around Mayfair the girls find themselves at the centre of suspicion but Gretchen has never been one to sit back and wait for things to happen so she becomes determined to uncover what is really going on and find a way to prove their innocence and to keep London safe.

Whisper the Dead is the second book in Alyxandra Harvey's Lovegrove Legacy trilogy and it picks up the story right where the first book, A Breath of Frost, left off. Although we still get to see plenty of both Emma and Penelope this is definitely Gretchen's story and I really enjoyed getting to know her better. Gretchen is the most outspoken of the cousins, she is very much a tomboy who has always wanted to do everything that her twin brother Godric does. She hates the restrictions placed on women by society and refuses to follow the rules when she could have much more fun dressing as a boy and going out on an adventure. I loved that rebellious side to her and enjoyed seeing her take such an active role in the investigation.

As a Whisperer Gretchen has the most difficult ability of all of them since she constantly hears all the previous spells any other witch have ever cast on repeat inside her head. It means she has a great depth of knowledge at her disposal but trying to pinpoint the spells she actually needs is nearly impossible and causes her a great deal of pain. Her gift may cost her but if she can figure out how to use it safely she will be a formidable ally and she wants the freedom to work alongside the Order. Gretchen is brilliant at escaping from her Order babysitter, much to Tobias's frustration and she definitely manages to keep him on his toes with her unpredictable behaviour which was fun to see.

As much as I enjoy the hint of romance between Gretchen and Tobias I really appreciate the fact that the romance isn't the main focus of these books. Both Gretchen and Emma may have found love (or be on the way to it) but these books are more about the magic and the mystery. This series is definitely darker than the Drake Chronicles but I don't mean that in a bad way and I'm always completely hooked from beginning to end. I do have to warn you that this book ends on a killer cliffhanger but although I'm disappointed I'll now have to wait a year for the final instalment I know it will jump straight to the top of my wish list when it is released.

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely sequel that was as thrilling, romantic, and action-packed as the first one, Whisper the Dead was a wonderful YA read. I really liked this book and I enjoyed reading it.

Gretchen was a strong heroine. She had a will and mind of her own and didn't bother to hide it. She could be a bit too reckless at times but, otherwise, I thought she was a tough, likable character.

Tobias was also great. On the surface, he was very calm, self-controlled, and faithful to rules. Underneath, he proved to also be kind, sweet, and, above all, very loyal to those he cared about. I really liked him, as well.

The romance was lovely. Gretchen and Tobias were great together. Despite how different they appeared on the surface, they were the perfect balance for each other and simply understood each other. I thought they were a lovely couple.

So, why, despite liking the characters and the story, did I not give this book a full rating? It wasn't something specific, nothing about the book that I didn't like. For some reason, I just didn't fully connect with the characters and the story. I was interested in them, but I never felt fully engaged and I'm not sure why. It's entirely possible that it might have just been my frame of mind while reading the book, because I can't pinpoint why I had this issue. However, even with this, I still liked the book, so it wasn't an irredeemable problem.

The plot was well paced and, though I wasn't hooked, I was kept interested the entire way through. There were several twists that I never saw coming, plenty of thrills, and tons of intriguing magic and I enjoyed it all. And, the ending was a huge cliffhanger that has me anxious to get my hands on the next book. Can't wait to read book 3!

Whisper the Dead was a wonderful YA read. With magic, romance, tons of thrills, and an enjoyable story, this book was great. Despite any issues I had, I really liked it. YA lovers, this is a book worth checking out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley.)

This was a good sequel, although what a cliff-hanger ending!

I liked Emma and Gretchen in this book. Emma was as feisty as ever, and Gretchen showed just how ready to fight she was. I also like how determined Emma was to get her father back from the underworld, no matter how dangerous.

The storyline in this was pretty good, and I liked the action. There were some twists thrown in, and it wasn’t easy to predict what would happen next! I liked the way Gretchen found a way to use her gift, even though it wasn’t easy for her, and she became quite important in this story.
There was a touch of romance, but not a lot. I didn’t really care all that much for the romance though, I didn’t really get much of a feel for Tobias.

The ending was a huge cliff-hanger, so I definitely need to read the next book now to find out what happens next!
Overall; good YA, paranormal story,
7.25 out of 10

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from Bloomsbury USA Children's/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Historical, Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5

*My Thoughts*

The Lovegrove cousins Emma Day, Gretchen Thom, and Penelope Chadwick haven't had a whole lot of time to get used to their newly awakened magical powers. Not since Emma accidentally unlocked them in A Touch of Frost. With Emma having the ability to control the weather, Penelope able to see things while touching them, Gretchen has the rarest of abilities; she hears the whispers of witches past and present casting spells, and so can detect how to make spells even stronger.

*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

*Recvd 07/15/2014 via NetGalley* Expected publication: October 7th 2014 by Bloomsbury USA Children's

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Gretchen was my favorite in the first book and she doesn't disappoint in this one. I love her snark and tenacity and it was fun getting to see how she deals with her magic.

The snippets we get to see of Emma and Penelope were also great and don't get me started on Tobias. There were some great new characters here and I'm hoping we get to see some of them in the next book.

This book was filled with swoons, laughs and some pretty epic heartfail. The ending was pretty cliffhangery and I need book 3 like now.

**Huge thanks to Walker Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Gretchen is struggling with her newfound gift as a Whisperer; the constant buzzing in her ears from detecting spells is more frustrating than fun, especially when she is spending time with one of the Order of the Iron Nail’s Keepers, the icy but strikingly handsome Tobias Lawless. While Gretchen tries to hide the truth from him, London fades from beautiful and bustling to deathly silent . . . Something evil is once again menacing Mayfair, and Gretchen and her cousins must use their powers to prevent a horrible sacrifice.

This is the second book in the Lovegrove Legacy trilogy, which can only be described as a light historical fantasy romance story. Makes sense, I think...

YA books really do fall into two categories for me - really well done and worth reading again and again - or the plot/characters were okay but the rest is forgettable. This book, sadly, falls into the second category.

Not that it was a bad book, by any stretch - but I just failed to connect with the characters. I loved the historical aspect, the fantasy line as well as the light romance story. But this just really did miss the mark for me with characters. And that is a shame because I think this could have been so much more...

However, having said that, I will read the final book in the trilogy and see how it all pans out. Maybe this just suffered from "middle book syndrome" - the 2nd book in a trilogy which kind of acts like a place holder for the finale.


Paul
ARH

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020 bk 388. A sequal as well written as the first - and while completed - left you wanting the third in the series. The three cousins are being watched closely now, each with her own keeper. However, when evil is around, not even a keeper can prevent problems, in fact, the keepers can just get in the way of stopping the evil from happening. And it does,

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

- - -

This series continues to surprise me with how great it is. I went into the first book not really interested in reading any regency books, but it was so great that I’m now a huge fan! I found A Breath of Frost (The Lovegrove Legacy #1) to be a tad long, however while Whisper the Dead is of similar size, I didn’t want it to end at all.

This series follows three cousins who’ve recently discovered they’re witches from a very powerful line called the Lovegroves. In the first book Emma manages to bottle the evil Greymalkin sisters, a family of powerful warlocks that want to escape from the underworld and regain their power. In this wonderful sequel, we switch perspectives and focus on the kickass Gretchen who is beginning to discover her powers as a Whisperer. This power allows her to hear the whispers of past witches who guides her with spell casting and finding the right method to break curses. I love the progression in this book – Gretchen does not miraculously become a skilled Whisperer – it takes her almost the whole book to hone her skills. There are multiple times where she passes out from the exertion of ‘Whispering’ or we see her ears bleed because she’s still learning and haven’t found her way yet.

In Whisper the Dead, where only a few days have passed since the bottling of the evil sisters, someone begins terrorising the people of London once again. The Order of the Iron Nails, witch keepers of the city, sets Keepers tailing after the movement of the cousins believing them to be suspicious after the events of the first book. Gretchen gets tailed by the handsome yet unapproachable Tobias who is hiding a secret of his own. I absolutely ADORED the interaction and slow burning romance between Gretchen and Tobias. Gretchen is a loud-spoken girl (very much unheard of in regency London), while Tobias is a stickler for the rules. They’re complete opposites and butt heads more than once throughout the book, reluctantly coming together when a curse is placed on the witching community of Mayfair.

While long, the book is fast paced and unputdownable. Harvey continues to create a vivid and fascinating world that sucks the reader right into the midst of the action. She takes the cliched idea of witches, turns it upside down and then adds her own interpretation to it. I must say I prefer her version quite a lot, aside from the evil Greymalkins of course. I could do without them.

This novel does change perspectives often, so if you loved Emma in the first book, have no fear because her story does still continue. While the focus this time round is on Gretchen (oh how I love thee), we still get to follow many of the old characters as well as new ones. One of the reasons I love this series are the Lovegrove cousins. They’re all such strong and independent characters who can stand on their own, but when they come together it’s like another league on its own. Their love and protectiveness of each other is such a wonder aspect to the story – I can almost do without the romantic interests. But please keep them in because they’re all so swoon-worthy. Cormac proved how awesome he was in the first book, and Tobias soon grew on me even with how proper he was. He was just the right balance to Gretchen’s trouble-making tendencies and I seriously ship them so hard.

My biggest issue is basically the ending – not so much an issue but a “HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME ALYXANDRA HARVEY” rant. After everything that’s happened, we are left on a cliffhanger that almost killed me a little. Okay, a lot. It felt like we were cut off right when the good part was happening and now I have to wait almost a year to get my next fix of the series. WHYYY?!

Needless to say, highly recommended if you’re a fan of paranormal fantasy stories with kickass and strong female characters. So good guys, so good!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Whisper the Dead is the second book in Alyxandra Harvey's phenomenal Lovegrove Legacy series and is a wonderful follow up to the first book; rich in tantalizing magic, romance and riveting danger. Blending together historical elements with love and friendship, this series just keeps getting better and better with the turn of every page!

After finding myself blown away by the first book in this series, I was once more swept up into high society and magic in Whisper the Dead; which is as good as, if not better, than it's predecessor. Continuing to follow cousins Emma, Gretchen and Penelope, Whisper the Dead is told through the varying POV's of the three main characters, as well as a few others whose roles within the story are important to the developing storyline.

Unlike A Breath of Frost where Emma's voice was most prominent, Whisper the Dead see's Gretchen's the most focal character, with this sassy, daring and fighting girl front and center in this installment. Of the cousins, Gretchen is the one who chaffs the most at the confines her sex and status bring in her society. Not one to enjoy the glitz and glamour of balls and parties, Gretchen is a debutante not looking to catch a husband despite her mothers ire, and would rather fight and do magic than sew and look pretty.

Gretchen is one sassy lady and boy does she have courage and bravery in spades. I mean, how can you not love Gretchen? She's argumentative and rash, and she does things and says things no well bred lady of her time should do or say, but boy does she make for a great character to follow! Gretchen wants to take action and doesn't want to rely on the Order to protect her--she's more than willing to play her part and take things on herself.

In Whisper the Dead Gretchen is still learning to use her abilities as a Whisperer and witch having just learnt the truth about her heritage in A Breath of Frost. As she and her cousins move on from the events of the last book, Gretchen finds her patience tested by Tobias Lawless, a duty bound Keeper whose calm and proper manner, mingled with his desire to follow rules and icy nature manage to infuriate and irk her at every turn. And yet there's something lurking beneath Tobias's cold exterior, something Gretchen is determined to uncover.

Honestly, Gretchen and Tobias are so very entertaining to behold. He's calm and collected, determined to cage and control the animal within him, whilst Gretchen is rash and rebellious, something that is completely at odds with Tobias's proper manner. And yet, as the two bicker and disagree there's a wonderful spark between them that slowly builds into a full blown fire. Stolen kisses and honest discussions make for a very powerful romance that simmers within the story and compliments the action and magic beautifully.

Alyxandra Harvey continues to win me over with the fantastic characters in this series and the developing storyline. Old enemies return and new ones appear as Emma, Gretchen and Penelope continue to embrace the witching world. Harvey explores the romance between Gretchen and Tobias, while also allowing readers to continue to follow Emma and Cormac. Other characters are beginning to play intriguing roles within the story including Moira, Godric and of course Penelope who I'm hoping will be paired with Cedric.

Racing towards an incredibly climactic ending, Whisper the Dead blends all the brilliance of Alyxandra Harvey's steady writing with scandalous high society and thrilling action. With the final chapter of the book already having me begging for more, I for one cannot wait for the next book in the series when I can dive into the lives of these brilliant characters once more!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whisper the Dead is the second in the Lovegrove Legacy series that features a paranormally enhanced Regency Era England. This book focuses on Gretchen who of the three Lovegrove cousins is the biggest rebel which is really saying something. None of them are exactly conventional Regency Era debutantes. Gretchen’s magic specialty is as a Whisperer which means she can access the thoughts of other witches and warlocks both living and dead. It means that she has access to the spells and knowledge of all magical folks who have come before her but shifting through the hoard of whispers is a difficult skill to develop.
The plot continues from book one. The three Lovegrove cousins are still under the tight scrutiny of The Order and the big bads which were vanquished in book one may not be as vanquished as previously imagined. Protective wards set up around London to shield the magical society from harm, as well as from the notice of the general non-magical populace, have begun disappearing. The Order who are tasked with…well…keeping order are at a bit of a loss how to deal with some of the unusual problems cropping up which is where Gretchen is useful. She does this by grudgingly helping her assigned watcher from The Order, Tobias, who is a very proper young English Gentleman who is doing everything he can to suppress his inherited werewolf nature. He is the perfect romantic foil to Gretchen’s wild and very anti-proper young lady.
So let’s talk about Gretchen. She’s great and I love her. Of the three cousins she has the most conventional and proper parents and she chafes the most at society’s expectations of gentle ladies. She despises balls and needlework and would rather be having adventures and living on her own like her twin brother Godric. She is always doing everything that is wrong and improper and the only way she has stayed sane and not been completely beaten down by her parents is by the help of her twin and cousins. She in no way understands Tobias’ devotion to civilized and proper society and he in turn is slowly and tentatively learning the value of being ones true self from Gretchen.
While I loved book one, it did not stop me from recognizing a lot of sloppiness in the construction of the novel. It had a great story and characters but it was kind of a mess. This book gets rid of almost all those issues. It felt much more tightly plotted and there were many fewer moments of disjointedness. There are still some issues with transitions that were sometimes jerky but it was much less of an issue here.
Another aspect I felt was done better in book two was the development of the setting. Without having to do such a complete info dump as in book one, Harvey settles in and really explores the world she’s created. One aspect I noticed this time around was the interesting contrast between the High-Born magic wielders and the lower class as personified in the “madcap” Moira. Madcaps are the young homeless magic folk that roam the rooftops of London doing odd jobs and surviving by their wits. The magic they practice is quite different than that of the upper class which adds some interesting layers to the Regency society being portrayed.
Unlike book one, this book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger which is frustrating because the release timeline for book three has not been announced. You may be rest assured I will be stalking the interwebs impatiently awaiting a release date, something I never do.

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whisper the Dead, is the second book in The Lovegrove Legacy, and just as magical and intriguing as the first book. I have always loved Harvey's books. They are always filled with so much fun and fascination. I still tend to find historical reads a little hard to get into, but the way Harvey tells it, it's felt so easy to sink into this world and enjoy the rich details, colourful characters and clever dialogue.

The storyline is quite busy with it's multiple point of views and endless string of power and magic that seems to bleed from the pages, so while it was at times, a bit overwhelming, I didn't find it overly confusing or frustrating. While this instalment is really Gretchen story, we still have the other character to keep us informed and entertained. The plot has thickened up immensely, adding in new twist and turns I never saw coming. The pace and flow was perfectly stretched to ensure that readers stay alert and on their toes the entire experience and the setting is, as always, beautifully vivid and rich in both romance and magical intrigue and I completely adored how much Harvey put into this brilliant world.

I really love all these wonderfully put together characters. They are all blended together effortlessly. I loved the crisp dialogue and all the witty ways that gives each of them all such a unique voice and personality, especially given the large length of the cast.
Gretchen has always been entirely her own person, despite what high society thinks a proper lady should be. I love her feist, fight and determination to master her newfound powers as a Whisperer.
I wasn't sure of Tobias at first since he seems a little aggressive at the beginning, but soon we see a different side to him. He's fiercely loyal to the Order and tries to deny his true-self, but I still loved his protectiveness and kind heart. I thought Gretchen and Tobias made a wonderful pair. They have great chemistry and provided the perfect balance to challenge and bring out the best in one another.
I really loved seeing Emma and Cormac again as well. They are a darling couple that made me smile. I'm greatly looking forward to Penelope's story next. She is such a hopeless romantic at heart and so incredibly sweet. I'm totally rooting for Cedric. Just saying.
However, I was really upset when it came to Godric's character. I simple adored him and I'm sad to see where fate took him.

Bottom line, I had a lot of fun with this book. The world Harvey created is a brilliantly dazzling and dangerous and these characters will keep you invested from minute one. Charming and enchanting, this is my idea of an amazing escape.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first sentence of this book instantly intrigues you and makes you want to read more. And I can tell you now, it just keeps going up, getting better and better.
The one negative thing I had to say about A Breath of Frost was that I didn't understand why there was Moira, but now I do. She brings the completely opposite perspective of the story, which is refreshing to see the contrast.
It was nice to see how everyone had a partner in this book - Emma and Cormac, Gretchen and Tobias, Godric and Moira, and Penelope and Lucius originally but preferably Cedric in my head.
Speaking of Penelope, I didn't know in the slightest who I wanted Penelope to be with more - Cedric or Lucius. I liked how Cedric was her childhood crush, but Lucius seemed so nice and genuine. That was, until I found out he wasn't all that he seemed.
I enjoyed the element of Tobias being a wolf - it didn't seem cliché surprisingly. Also, it gave Tobias and Gretchen's relationship that special touch. I have to say my favourite couple was definitely Gretchen and Tobias - all of their conversations made me smile with laughter, though especially the whole 'meeting the family' part; it had me grinning all the way through.
I feel as though Gretchen was more of the main character in this book, as opposed to Emma, who was the protagonist in the first book.
I loved Godric and Gretchen's affection towards each other and how close they were. It makes me wish for a brother. And whilst on the subject of Godric - I couldn't believe what happened to him; I almost cried. And now we'll never know if anything ever happened between him and Moira.
Even though I didn't read as much of Emma and Cormac as in the first book, I still thought it was really sweet how Alyxandra Harvey wrote their final scene of the book with him asking her to marry him.
If there was one word to describe how I felt after reading the ending, it would be SHOCKED. At first I couldn't believe it at all. Although I would've liked a happy ending for the characters' sakes, I appreciate that it wasn't one.
I don't think I have ever rated a sequel higher than the first in its series ever in my life. This definitely goes to show how amazing it was. Already, I can't wait for the nest book; I'm dying for it! I don't know anything whatsoever about it, but I hope to soon.
This book was absolutely unbelievable and left me speechless, so if that's not enough praise I don't know what is! I truly hope you buy this book when it comes out soon.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

At slightly over 400 overwhelming pages, WHISPER THE DEAD took a few chapters for me to fully immerse myself. Once I did, however, I was rewarded with a mystery that managed to be consequential and yet a story that felt lighthearted, all at once.

Once I got back into the rhythm of The Lovegrove Legacy series, I recalled why I liked book one so much – the key here is the cousins and their relationships with each other. Their sarcastic quips and loving insults are fun to read, and make a reader feel right at home amongst the three of them. While at times I got a bit confused what with all the boys whose names ended in C, I still managed to eventually fall for the various paramours, as well. The characters in WHISPER THE DEAD are not completely unpredictable, but they’re also not caricatures or one-dimensional, either.

Though lengthy, WHISPER THE DEAD felt a little like a filler book, holding a place between books one and three (and with cliffhanger, to boot). This doesn’t diminish the excellent writing, but it definitely is something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a story with a nice tidy happy ending. Be prepared to groan in frustration when you finish WHISPER THE DEAD and quickly look up how long to wait until book three (my Google-fu says undetermined).

All in all, a lovely treat of a book. WHISPER THE DEAD is everything one could want from a paranormal regency – magic, high society, handsome young suitors, and three wonderfully headstrong young ladies. If you haven’t yet, pick up A BREATH OF FROST, and then treat yourself to WHISPER THE DEAD. You won’t be disappointed.

Sexual content: Kissing

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for giving me this book to review.

The Lovegrove Cousins, Gretchen, Emma and Penelope, are adapting to their new powers but Gretchen is struggling because she is a Whisperer, which means she can hear other witches spells, but as she cannot control it, it makes her head feel like it is going to explode. Due to what happened with the Greymalkin sisters, the Keepers do not trust them and are watching them. The Keeper watching Gretchen is the rule abiding yet alluring Tobias Lawless. Magic is acting up in Mayfair with bones going missing and evil is stirring. As Gretchen tries to master her powers and to discover what is happening in London, will the cousins be able to prevent disaster?

Whisper the Dead is an enjoyable second book in the Lovegrove Legacy series which is an action packed YA historical paranormal novel. I don’t know what it is about this series but I just cannot get into it as much as I did with Harvey’s other books.

Gretchen is a strong, fierce character with a mind of her own but she came across to me as being too modern for the time this book was set, which makes her feel like a unrealistic character. On the surface Tobias comes across as a controlled and arrogant follower of the rules but underneath he is protective, kind and very loyal. It was nice to see Emma and Cormac in this book and I hope we get to know Penelope better in the next book.

This book is a fun paranormal novel with a cliff hanger ending so I am looking forward to the next book. I would recommend Whisper the Dead to fans of the first book A Breath of Frost.

[Autumn (Triquetra Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge major cliffhanger. Can't believe it ended like this.

Holy crap.

More in depth review after I've had time to wake up from this madness.


Oct. 27th, 2014
Ok, I've awakened. Still, holy crap. This book was amazing and I am SO glad it didn't fall into the sequel trap. Then again, because each book is about a different cousin, it seems like these could be read as stand alones (although you'd be missing a lot of info.) I quite like it.

Gretchen is amazing, she's sassy, head-strong, independent and seemingly careless for propriety and the standards that society has constructed for her. If I had a daughter I'd love for her to be somewhat like Gretchen.

Her relationship with Godric was also adorable. I love when twins complete each other. Enough on that topic.

Tobias is such a hard ass, and I quite like it. There's just SOMETHING about a strong FMC breaking down the walls that the MMC has built that is so satisfying, and I wasn't disappointed here either. Gretchen and Tobias were MEANT for each other and while we don't see a solid relationship at the end I have high hopes for the third book.

I'm quite interested as to how the third book is going to read. The first was mainly in Emma's POV, the second in Gretchen's. The third, it would be safe to assume, should be in Penelope's. YET, given the...circumstances it might also be safe to assume that it will be in Gretchen's with tidbits of Penelopes and Emma's. Hmmm.

Either way I was immensely thrilled with this book and I can't wait to get to the third...which is a long ways off.

[Avirem · Rating 3 out of 5]

!!! ACHTUNG !!! Band 2 einer Reihe

Kurzbeschreibung

Da Gretchen eine geborene Lovegrove ist und ihr damit sowohl das Aufbegehren gegen den Orden als auch die Fähigkeit, lange zuvor gesprochene Zaubersprüche hören zu können, in die Wiege gelegt wurden, wird jeder ihrer Schritte von einem Bewahrer beobachtet. Zwar glaubt sie, dass da etwas Wildes unter der offenbar eiskalten Oberfläche des Bewahrers schlummert, aber dennoch hält er sich strikt an die Regeln des Ordens. Gretchen versucht, sein Vertrauen zu gewinnen. Aber kann sie das schaffen? Und was noch viel wichtiger ist: Kann sie die Menschen, die sie liebt, vor einem schrecklichen Opfer bewahren?

Meinung

"Flüstern der Toten - Das Vermächtnis der Lovegroves" ist der zweite Band einer magischen Reihe von Alyxandra Harvey. Das Buch ist am 1. November 2015 im Papierverzierer Verlag erschienen, umfasst 440 Seiten und ist als ebook oder als Print erhältlich. Die Autorin hat bereits mehrere Bücher veröffentlicht. Für mich ist diese Reihe das erste das ich von ihr lese. Im Laufe des 19. Jahrhunderts entwickelte sich London zur größten Stadt der Welt. Als Hauptstadt des British Empire war sie Schauplatz von Politik, Finanz und Handel. Die Bevölkerungszahl explodierte und umspannte großen Reichtum und extreme Armut, Obdachlosigkeit, Umweltverschmutzung, Epidemien und Kriminalität. Allerdings findet sich in der Geschichte dort auch Magie. Alyxandra Harvey entführt ihre Leser in dieses viktorianische London. Die Cousinen Emma, Gretchen und Penelope halten nichts von höflichen Gesprächen, unliebsamen Knicksen und unnötigen Abendgesellschaften, doch als Debütantinnen bleibt ihnen derlei nicht erspart. Als ein Mädchen ermordet wird, gerät Emma in den Fokus der Ermittlungen, dabei hat sie nur einen winzigen Parfumflakon ihrer Mutter fallen lassen. Das der Bruch dieses, zugegeben seltsam riechende, Erinnerungsstückes solche Wellen schlagen würde, hätte Emma niemals vermutet. Es stellt sich heraus, dass es ein magischer Flakon er und Emma und ihre Cousinen Hexen sind. Plötzlich bedrohen längst verstorbene, trotzdem äußerst mächtige Hexenschwestern Emma und ganz London. Nachdem die Gefahr in Band 1 gebannt wurde, ereignen sich nun erneut seltsame Ereignisse. Handelt es sich um eine neue Bedrohung oder ist es noch immer die alte?


Lady Emma Jane Day hasst das Debütantinnendasein. Lieber blickt die Siebzehnjährige in den Himmel voller Sterne als von einem Gentlemen zum Tanz aufgefordert zu werden. Sich ständig schicklich und höflich zu verhalten findet sie anstrengend. Sie wollte nie heiraten, bevor sie Cormac Fairwax kennenlernte. Emma ist bei ihrem vermeindlichen Vater, dem Grafen von Hightower, aufgewachsen. Ihre Mutter ist nicht ganz bei Verstand und auf einem Familiensitz am Land. Erst seit kurzem weiß Emma das sie eine Hexe ist und ein besonderes Erbe in sich trägt.


Lady Gretchen Thorn verabscheut Abendveranstaltungen die sie an den Mann bringen sollen. Sie ist eine kleine Rebellin, hat eine Vorliebe für Abenteuer und kann nur selten ihren Mund halten. Ihre Mutter bezeichnet sie als flegelhaft. Sie ist neidisch auf ihren Zwillingsbruder, der sich als Mann weniger gediegenes Verhalten leisten kann. Sie will mitmischen, aktiv sein und etwas tun. Ihre Mutter hat dem Hexendasein den Rücken zugekehrt. Ihr Vater weiß von alledem nichts. Gretchen ist eine Flüsterin. Sie hört Zaubersprüche die Hunderte von Hexen über Hunderte von Jahren ausgesprochen haben.


Lady Penelope Chadwick nimmt ihrer Großmutter zuliebe am gesellschaftlichen Leben des Adels teil. Ihre Mutter ist wild, unkonventionell und zwingt sie zu keiner Heirat. Penelope ist romantisch und wünscht sich wahre Liebe zu erfahren. Empfindsam geht sie durch das Leben und sucht den richtigen Mann. Wenn sie Dinge berührt hat sie Visionen und wirft so einen Blick in die Vergangenheit. Interessante Charaktere denen die Autorin ihre Aufmerksamkeit schenkt. Die Mädchen sind ein unschlagbares Dreiergespann.


Den Auftaktband habe ich vor kurzem gelesen und die Erinnerungen daran sind noch frisch und unverfälscht. So fiel mir der Einstieg in die Geschichte leicht. Im ersten Band ging es vordergründig um Emma, ihr Familiengeheimnis, notwendige Mordermittlungen und romantische Gefühle. In diesem Fortsetzungsband rückt Gretchen weiter in den Vordergrund. Ihre schwierige Eingliederung in die Hexengesellschaft und der Umgang mit ihrer seltenen Gabe. Mit ihrem rebellischen Geist passt sie nicht in die Schublade in die man sie stecken will. Im ersten Band wurde klar, dass die drei Mädchen wie Pech und Schwefel zusammenhalten. Sie unterstützen sich unermüdlich, stehen füreinander ein und bauen einander auf. Sie sträuben sich gegen Konventionen und pflegen einen vertrauten und humorvollen Umgang miteinander. Das ist auch hier in Band 2 noch so, aber sie gehen immer mehr Wege alleine und gewinnen andere Vertraute. Insgesamt konnte der zweite Band nicht so überzeugen wie der erste. Die Fragen, Geheimnisse und Ermittlungen die die Spannung in Band 1 ausmachten, sind geklärt. Hier ist der rote Faden deutlich weniger markant und interessant durch die Geschichte geschlungen. Die Fortsetzung war immer noch ansprechend, doch deutlich zäher als der Auftakt. Zudem lässt sich vieles gut vorausahnen. Zum Ende erwartet den Leser ein Cliffhanger. Schade ist das Band 3 bislang noch nicht übersetzt wurde und der Leser derweil mit diesem offenen Ausgang zurückbleibt.


Mit dem Schreibstil der Autorin kam ich gut zurecht. Klar, lebendig, humorvoll und flüssig geht es durch die Seiten. Trotz angepasster Wortwahl, wirkt die Sprache oftmals zu modern für die Zeit. Das Erzähltempo fand ich teilweise etwas zäh.


Fazit: "Flüstern der Toten - Das Vermächtnis der Lovegroves" ist der zweite Band von Alyxandra Harveys, im vergangenenen London spielenden, magischen Reihe. Nicht so spannend wie der Auftakt, weniger schön gegliedert und mit nicht ganz so viel Überzeugungskraft. Von mir gibt es gute *** Sterne.

Zitat

"Sie stand unter Beobachtung des Ordens. Ihre Familie hatte eine aufrührerische Vergangenheit. Sie gab sich größte Mühe auf den Manieren und auf der Ettikette herumzutrampeln, die er für so wichtig und notwendig hielt. Sie war all das, was er nicht zu sein versuchte: unbesonnen, trotzig und chaotisch."
( Seite 169 )

Reihe

Band 1: Eiskalter Atem - Das Vermächtnis der Lovegroves

Band 2: Flüstern der Toten - Das Vermächtnis der Lovegroves

Band 3:

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only bad thing about this book is that I don't know how long I have to wait until book three, and the suspense is already killing me! I finished it late last night, and actually sat up in bed and said, "Noooooo!" aloud when I came to the ending! Woo!

I just love the Lovegrove cousins. I love the world they inhabit, the little details about debutante balls mixed in with strange magic, the kind that involves rainwater gathered from a wolf's paw print and rowan berries and certain words said. There's something elegant and old-fashioned about these books, but at the same time, the characters are timeless and you feel an instant connection with them.

Cannot wait for book three!

[S. Wigget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ebook is as poorly proofread as the previous one in the same series, which is a pity because it's an otherwise delightful series of historic fantasy. I have print editions of another series by the same author; I haven't read them yet and suspect the publisher took the time to proofread those editions, which I look forward to reading.

[Rileyrugrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story in "The Lovegrove Legacy." I can't get enough of cousins Emma, Gretchen and Penelope and the spies who love them. This story is layered with grit, chemistry and humor. More pretty please, and now! (Seriously can someone tell me when the next book comes out?)

[MissIntegrity]

The names Tobias and Cormac seem to be getting pretty old!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite improvement on the last book, but mostly OH MY GOD. The last 80 pages totally ramp the tension up. It gets intense. Why isn't there a third book yet whyyyyyyyy

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cousins Gretchen, Penelope and Emma, since finding out they're witches, are now dealing with trying to master their powers, a feat that is proving...painful for Gretchen. Her power manifests as hundreds of voices talking at once and there's some rather unpleasant side effects of straining herself using it. Such is the burden of being a Whisperer. The incessant buzzing of the voices lets her know when any witches spell has gone wrong.

Since the events at the end of Breath Of Frost, the girls have each been assigned a Keeper to keep an eye on them (hardeharhar), Emma gets the joys of Virgil, Penelope gets the decent Ian and Gretchen....she gets Tobias who's face would probably crack in half if he smiled. Although when things take a turn for the menacing and very creepy, he's quite handy to have around, even if he isn't what he seems. You see, bodies have been dug up, warlock magic is being worked, and Sophie....she's escaped. Not to mention Emma is on a quest to release Ewan from the Underworld, a quest that goes downhill when Virgil takes her measure, and well.....it's too spoilery to continue. But there's mayhem shall we say.

Gretchen must master her power to help fight against the evil menacing Mayfair, as well as the help of Penelope, Emma, everyone's favourite Madcap Moira, her little gargoyle Pip, and the ever icy and always irresistible Tobias Lawless. No-one is who they seem, someone has changed allegiances, things get tragic and the Greymalkin Sisters will rise again....or will they?

No. So much no. No. No. No. I finished this at like 4am, okay and I'm typing this at nearly 6pm. It still hasn't sunk in. Tragic? TRAGIC?! Absolutely heartbreaking and UGH. No. I can't even. How could you Alyxandra?! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US!? *ugly sobbing*

This installment is....well....it's a lot more emotional, obviously, than the first, and the stakes are definitely raised. Virgil, it has to be said, is a total dick, I knew it in the first book, but in this one I mean....can someone just.....I don't know...get rid of him? Somehow? Because seriously. SUCH a douche. So much hate for him. So much. I also had a lot of negative feelings towards the Order in this book, they where more present than in the previous book, you saw more of them, and what you did see just made you wonder why the witches don't just rise up and take them out, because if I was treated like how the Order treats them....I would be like raaargghhh *hits with magic* etc. They caused some rage, but injustice always makes me grrrrr.

Although from an actor-y, I Have To Find The POV Of Every Character, you can see why people go against them and to be honest, the fine line the girls walk between obeying them and still helping them even though they treat them like crap after saving them, and just.....letting them get wiped out by Sophie to be honest. Or going full Warlock and getting rid of them themselves.

The only good thing about the douchey Order being all kidnappery and just ugh, is that Aunt Bethany went totally badass. I mean....seriously, I love her even more because she just took none of their shit, and I so loved seeing more of her character and a slightly deeper glimpse of her. More please! Not to mention Theodora being all "WHERE THE HELL IS MY DAUGHTER". So badass. I'm waiting for Gretchen's mum to finally snap and join in.

Emma and Cormac are still my favourite, the bit at the end! THE QUESTION HE ASKED! I can't even. So much cute and all the warm and fuzzies. I had the same thing with Drake Chronicles, Lucy and Nick are still my favourite, the other couples are cute, but the first couple is usually the one I like best. I just love Cormac being all....Cormac haha. I'm feeling like Emma is walking a very fine line between Warlock magic at this stage, but I'm not entirely sure? I'm intrigued to see what's going to happen to her and her father when she brings him back, because the Order won't be happy, I'm also excited to see the Cormac and Emma thing play out in Society....it's going to be interesting. And don't worry Emma fans, while the majority of the book is from Gretchen's hilarious POV, with a few POV's from Tobias, we also get lots of Emma as well as Penelope and Moira!

I really, really am liking Daphne. I hated her in the first book, but this time round....you see more of the girl under the bitchy exterior and you see she's a lot more....vulnerable? Fragile? Than she leads you to believe with her hard facade. I really liked seeing the real Daphne, as it where, and I liked her being a total magical badass, and helping even though she was told no and wanting to fight as well, and man I loved her and Gretchen getting on! I need to see loooaaddss more of it in the next installment and I'm hoping Daphne is gonna team up with Gretchen to save everyone's asses!

Guess who's back....back again.....shady's back.....tell a friend......
Oh yes. Remember psycho Sophie? She's back. She's as shady as ever, and she's still crazy. She's also got a friend. It turns out her plan goes a lot deeper than we originally thought from the previous book, like I was totally unsuspecting. In this book, I pretty much didn't know what some things meant, or realize they where clues, or even realized what was happening...until the big thing happened and I was like...OH. And all the pieces fit together, not just with Sophie and her evil master plan, but with Virgil and his cord.

I really thought I knew the direction this series was going in, you know, a book for each cousin with their love story and some mystery, danger and magic, with all of it being wrapped up at the end but still leaving you wanting more; But I did not see this horrendous cliffhanger coming, like how am I supposed to function in the wait for the next book. I mean.....shit got real. Really real. Things have been set up for the next book, and it's all high stakes and immense danger. So I need the next book NOW. This book is definitely filed under the books that make you scream and want to throw it, or ya know....flat out throw it, right before you pick it back up and re-read it!

I mean...after Drake Chronicles, I shouldn't have let myself be lulled in to a false sense of security, I should have been on guard but NOPE!

Whisper The Dead is a fantastic sequel to a unique and truly enchanting series. Fast paced, full of action, humour, magic, mystery, twists and turns in a complex plot that you will not see coming, things are being set up all the time with subtle clues, and even if you pick up on them....you don't realize what they mean until it's right in front of your face! The board has been set for another explosive installment, and said complex plot has ratcheted up the tension, danger, stakes and general seriousness despite the moments of laugh out loud humour. The characters we love so much each get their own say, as we see different points of view, each change in POV perfectly timed, and in this installment we get a better understanding of Gretchen as she meets her perfect match.

The vivid world of The Lovegrove Legacy will suck you back in and you'll happily spend hours lost in the web of a plot where nothing is what it seems. The rules of Society and the rules of the Order are about to blown apart and things are going to change. This is one of my favourite series, and I cannot tell you properly how unique, and generally awesome this series, and this installment is. I mean....I've never read anything like it and I'm so excited to see how things are going to grow and change in the next installment to expand on what happened in this one!

[Lise · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF!

This book is as jumpy and jagged as the first in the trilogy if not more so! I am reading on a e-reader but that is no excuse for not properly editing the book with page breaks. I will show an example of what I mean below.

“Thank you,” Godric said, smiling at Moira. “You’re very brave to have helped us. I’ll make sure the order knows to whom it’s indebted.”

She stared at Gretchen. “Is he daft?”

“No,” Gretchen replied fondly. “Just kind.”

“Tobias kissed you?” Penelope squeaked an hour later. “Tobias?”

“It was only to break the spell,” Gretchen insisted as Emma squeezed past.

It all runs together! It needs page breaks to identify that we’ve switched locations and some time has passed. Some people are fast readers and quickly scan the page then get hung up and have to stop and reread to reorient themselves that we’re somewhere else now. It’s frustrating!

This is an example of a page break: ~ ~ ~

When applied to the above jumbled mess it is no longer jumbled!

She stared at Gretchen. “Is he daft?”

“No,” Gretchen replied fondly. “Just kind.”

~ ~ ~

“Tobias kissed you?” Penelope squeaked an hour later. “Tobias?”

“It was only to break the spell,” Gretchen insisted as Emma squeezed past.

See? You realize that Penelope didn’t just suddenly appear on the rooftop out of nowhere to ask her question.

This is not the only author that doesn’t add page breaks to the e-reader version of their books which is a shame. It completely detracts from the story! People who read on e-readers deserve well edited books too!!!

That being said this was a total Did Not Even Attempt To Finish. I made it partially through Chapter 5 and gave up. Again this storyline has so much potential, Tobias is intriguing as are the wolves. But I just can’t take the jumbled, jagged writing style. Maybe the physical books are better edited? I won’t know because I’m devoted to my
e-reader.

I really wanted to like this series but I can’t. I’m not sure if I will read anything else from this author which is a shame because I already own the third book. Other books by Alyxandra Harvey look intriguing as well but I doubt I’ll hazard the frustration any time soon.

PS. Yes the spiders are back so ARACHNOPHOBES please beware.