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The Whisperwicks #2
The Impossible Trials of Benjamiah Creek
‘Magic forged at Midsommer is the strongest and truest of all magic – both fair and foul.’
Ever since Benjamiah returned from his spectacular adventure in Wreathenwold, he’s been desperate to go back. When he discovers a strange fragment of witchstone, he is transported back to the labyrinthine streets of Wreathenwold and soon finds himself on another dangerous quest involving a strange collection of fairytales – The Book of Barely Believable Stories.
Reunited with Elizabella Cotton and helped by two new friends – Mea and Silas the mapmaker – the gang undertake a series of magical trials to save the missing children of Wreathenwold before Midsommer ends and they are lost forever . . .
Ever since Benjamiah returned from his spectacular adventure in Wreathenwold, he’s been desperate to go back. When he discovers a strange fragment of witchstone, he is transported back to the labyrinthine streets of Wreathenwold and soon finds himself on another dangerous quest involving a strange collection of fairytales – The Book of Barely Believable Stories.
Reunited with Elizabella Cotton and helped by two new friends – Mea and Silas the mapmaker – the gang undertake a series of magical trials to save the missing children of Wreathenwold before Midsommer ends and they are lost forever . . .
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
58 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 17, 2025
« Benjamiah thought that there was no way the world was fundamentally bad, neither this one nor any other. There were good people everywhere enjoying good things. Maybe those things just seemed smaller and quieter than the terrible things people did. »
Again, just like the first book… I’m at a loss for words. Just thinking about those two books gives me chills. This author’s writing is spectacular and gets me in my feelings. I will read everything he writes. This series has placed itself as my all time favourite middle grade series.
« The true wonder of life is precisely because of its briefness ; to be a momentary spark in an otherwise eternal oblivion, a spark that dances, laughs, loves in defiance of that endless gloom. To live forever is not to live at all. »
Again, just like the first book… I’m at a loss for words. Just thinking about those two books gives me chills. This author’s writing is spectacular and gets me in my feelings. I will read everything he writes. This series has placed itself as my all time favourite middle grade series.
« The true wonder of life is precisely because of its briefness ; to be a momentary spark in an otherwise eternal oblivion, a spark that dances, laughs, loves in defiance of that endless gloom. To live forever is not to live at all. »
June 15, 2025
If any middle grade fantasy could be more perfectly written and constructed than Whisperwicks 2, I haven't seen it. This is a stunningly beautiful novel with the best world building I've read in a children's book for over a decade. It's fun, poignant and meaningful without seemingly preaching, diverse, positive, addictive and compelling. A must read for any age group!
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April 15, 2025Really loved this, more than the first one, it was just as creepy and comforting as the first one, I just loved the concept of all of it. The Trials really intrigued me and Ariadne the string makes me laugh when she had a tantrum haha.
May 13, 2025
j'ai hâte au tome 3 🥺 mais avec la qualité dans chacun de ces livres, ça ne me dérange pas d'attendre !
July 14, 2025
Qu'est ce que j'aime la littérature jeunesse ❤️
November 4, 2025
Ta seria jest cudownie magiczna. Gdy tylko zobaczyłam ją w zapowiedziach, wiedziałam, że muszę po nią sięgnąć. Ben odnajduje tajemniczą maskę. Zakłada ją i ponownie trafia do świata magii oraz zagadek. Jedynym problemem jest to, że nie może jej zdjąć. Elizabella zaginęła, podobnie jak inne dzieci. Coś czai się w cieniu, a czas nieubłaganie ucieka. Wraz z nowymi sprzymierzeńcami Ben musi przejść przez niebezpieczne próby, by odkryć prawdę, uratować Wreathenwold i uwolnić się od maski, zanim zakończy się Przesilato.
Ta seria to moje prawdziwe odkrycie. Idealnie się w niej odnalazłam. Ben bardzo tęskni za Wreathenwold, a jedyną osobą, z którą może o tym porozmawiać, jest jego mama, która ostatnio coraz częściej go zbywa. Chłopiec jednak znajduje sposób, by ponownie dostać się do tamtego świata. Wtedy wszystko nabiera tempa. Ben zostaje wciągnięty w wir wydarzeń, a na jego barkach spoczywa los zaginionych dzieci.
Wątek pięciu prób został poprowadzony znakomicie, a ja uwielbiam taki motyw w książkach. Fabuła jest spójna i przemyślana, nie ma w niej chaosu ani zagubienia. Pojawia się wiele zwrotów akcji, które nadają historii dynamiki. Poznajemy też nowych bohaterów, świetnie wykreowanych, choć z nutą niepewności co do ich prawdziwych intencji.
Świat alternatywny, który stworzył autor, jest niezwykle barwny i dopracowany. Nie mogę wyjść z podziwu, jak cudowną krainę oddał w nasze ręce. Książka oprócz wartkiej akcji i interesującej fabuły porusza też trudne tematy, które mogą dotyczyć każdego z nas. Jednym z nich jest wątek separacji, mogący być trudny dla młodszych czytelników, ale jednocześnie stanowiący doskonały punkt wyjścia do rozmowy o emocjach i rodzinie.
Zakończenie było bardzo intensywne. Wiele się działo, a ja nie mogłam oderwać się od lektury.
Ta książka przeznaczona jest dla młodszych czytelników, ale ja całkowicie przepadłam w tej serii. Bawiłam się wyśmienicie podczas czytania i aż trudno mi sobie wyobrazić, jaką radość musi dawać młodszym odbiorcom.
Ta seria to moje prawdziwe odkrycie. Idealnie się w niej odnalazłam. Ben bardzo tęskni za Wreathenwold, a jedyną osobą, z którą może o tym porozmawiać, jest jego mama, która ostatnio coraz częściej go zbywa. Chłopiec jednak znajduje sposób, by ponownie dostać się do tamtego świata. Wtedy wszystko nabiera tempa. Ben zostaje wciągnięty w wir wydarzeń, a na jego barkach spoczywa los zaginionych dzieci.
Wątek pięciu prób został poprowadzony znakomicie, a ja uwielbiam taki motyw w książkach. Fabuła jest spójna i przemyślana, nie ma w niej chaosu ani zagubienia. Pojawia się wiele zwrotów akcji, które nadają historii dynamiki. Poznajemy też nowych bohaterów, świetnie wykreowanych, choć z nutą niepewności co do ich prawdziwych intencji.
Świat alternatywny, który stworzył autor, jest niezwykle barwny i dopracowany. Nie mogę wyjść z podziwu, jak cudowną krainę oddał w nasze ręce. Książka oprócz wartkiej akcji i interesującej fabuły porusza też trudne tematy, które mogą dotyczyć każdego z nas. Jednym z nich jest wątek separacji, mogący być trudny dla młodszych czytelników, ale jednocześnie stanowiący doskonały punkt wyjścia do rozmowy o emocjach i rodzinie.
Zakończenie było bardzo intensywne. Wiele się działo, a ja nie mogłam oderwać się od lektury.
Ta książka przeznaczona jest dla młodszych czytelników, ale ja całkowicie przepadłam w tej serii. Bawiłam się wyśmienicie podczas czytania i aż trudno mi sobie wyobrazić, jaką radość musi dawać młodszym odbiorcom.
September 17, 2025
4.5 Such a fun series!! We can’t wait for book #3.
December 17, 2025
Free from the shackles of grad school and I finally got to finish this book. So so good so lovely I want a million more in this series
August 31, 2025
Not as good as the first book, but I really enjoyed it!
July 10, 2025
If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know I’m a total sucker for middle grade fantasy reads. Last year, my book bestie Jessica and I buddy read The Whisperwicks and instantly fell in love with it. And because Jessica is basically the sweetest human on the planet, she surprised me with this STUNNING UK edition of The Impossible Trials of Benjamin Creek. (Seriously, it’s so purty she couldn’t resist — and honestly, same.)
And you guys… the inside is just as magical as the outside.In fact… dare I say it? I loved this one even more. Yep, it’s true!
I adored the dynamic duo at the heart of this story. Their bond is so special — one of those ride-or-die, face-the-impossible kind of friendships I just eat up in middle grade adventures. The new characters introduced in this one were equally fabulous, and Jordan’s imagination is off the charts. The world is whimsical, dangerous, and completely enchanting.
I’m always here for found family, fierce friendships, and just the right dash of danger. And that ending?! I’m already itching for the next one. Jordan knocked this out of the park. I seriously can’t wait to see where this adventure goes next.
If you love middle grade magic, imaginative worlds, and characters you’ll want to adopt as your own — add this to your shelf ASAP. And if you can get your hands on that UK edition… trust me, you’ll want to.
June 29, 2025
A brilliant sequel to the first book. Slightly too slow a start for me, but once you’re in, it just goes from strength to strength, you see a new side to the world, yet still the familiarity of the previous books is not forgotten. The adventure is exciting, sad, tense, and not too outlandish, it works well and keeps you wanting to find out what will happen next.
April 16, 2025
The Whisperwicks: The Impossible Trials opens as darkly as the first book. It’s the Festival of Midsommer and everyone should be enjoying the fun and frivolities. But Claris Songwood has had a falling out with her brother and does not want to return indoors. If only she had returned indoors…
The pounding of the drums heralds in the Strange Parade, a Midsommer tradition that Claris had never witnessed. Each section of the parade represents a story from Wreathenwold folklore as retold in Mildred Fogge’s The Book of Barely Believable Stories. The first chapter functions like a preface introducing Mildred Fogge’s book, which is an anchoring structure for the rest of the book, and introducing a malevolent presence in Wreathenwold, threatening the child population.
Back at home in Wyvern-on the-Water, there’s tension between Benjamiah and his mum over his desire to return to Wreathenwold. If the opportunity presents itself again, will he be able to resist?
I really enjoyed The Impossible Trials. I’d say the novel on the whole is a bit more familiar middle grade territory than The Labyrinth of Lost and Found. But there are still lots of dangers lurking in the shadows. And, lots of shadows. It is structured around an episodic quest, or trials, rooted in a beloved book of fairytales, which present multi-faceted challenges for the young heroes. I kept thinking how it would make a great read-aloud.
One of the villains of this piece, Bo, an underling in the bigger picture, is one of the most sinisterly designed baddies I’ve encountered in a children’s book in while. His backstory is brilliant and his realisation, as creepy as can be. And, all of the time there is the promise of a much bigger showdown to come with much more powerful ememies.
It’s dark, tense and twisting. With traditions and interesting characters drawn from folklore, grounding Wreathenwold in more of its own past. A great sequel and a treat for fans of a darker fantasy adventure.
The pounding of the drums heralds in the Strange Parade, a Midsommer tradition that Claris had never witnessed. Each section of the parade represents a story from Wreathenwold folklore as retold in Mildred Fogge’s The Book of Barely Believable Stories. The first chapter functions like a preface introducing Mildred Fogge’s book, which is an anchoring structure for the rest of the book, and introducing a malevolent presence in Wreathenwold, threatening the child population.
Back at home in Wyvern-on the-Water, there’s tension between Benjamiah and his mum over his desire to return to Wreathenwold. If the opportunity presents itself again, will he be able to resist?
I really enjoyed The Impossible Trials. I’d say the novel on the whole is a bit more familiar middle grade territory than The Labyrinth of Lost and Found. But there are still lots of dangers lurking in the shadows. And, lots of shadows. It is structured around an episodic quest, or trials, rooted in a beloved book of fairytales, which present multi-faceted challenges for the young heroes. I kept thinking how it would make a great read-aloud.
One of the villains of this piece, Bo, an underling in the bigger picture, is one of the most sinisterly designed baddies I’ve encountered in a children’s book in while. His backstory is brilliant and his realisation, as creepy as can be. And, all of the time there is the promise of a much bigger showdown to come with much more powerful ememies.
It’s dark, tense and twisting. With traditions and interesting characters drawn from folklore, grounding Wreathenwold in more of its own past. A great sequel and a treat for fans of a darker fantasy adventure.
May 6, 2025
★★★★★ – Magique, touchant et encore meilleur que le premier !
Ce deuxième tome de The Whisperwicks est une vraie pépite. J’avais aimé le premier, mais celui-ci m’a totalement captivée. L’univers devient encore plus riche, plus inventif, avec des rebondissements bien dosés et une vraie montée en puissance dans l’histoire.
Les personnages sont toujours aussi attachants, mais on sent qu’ils grandissent, qu’ils sont confrontés à des dilemmes plus profonds. L’émotion est là, l’humour aussi, et l’écriture garde cette touche de poésie et de malice qui rend la série si unique.
C’est un de ces livres où on tourne les pages sans s’en rendre compte, à la fois émerveillée et totalement prise par l’intrigue. Un vrai coup de cœur.
Ce deuxième tome de The Whisperwicks est une vraie pépite. J’avais aimé le premier, mais celui-ci m’a totalement captivée. L’univers devient encore plus riche, plus inventif, avec des rebondissements bien dosés et une vraie montée en puissance dans l’histoire.
Les personnages sont toujours aussi attachants, mais on sent qu’ils grandissent, qu’ils sont confrontés à des dilemmes plus profonds. L’émotion est là, l’humour aussi, et l’écriture garde cette touche de poésie et de malice qui rend la série si unique.
C’est un de ces livres où on tourne les pages sans s’en rendre compte, à la fois émerveillée et totalement prise par l’intrigue. Un vrai coup de cœur.
June 28, 2025
The Whisperwicks series by Jordan Lees, while meant for children, is a series I’m very pleased to have found and look forward to future installments. Having read the first book back in August of last year I was quickly drawn into the world that Lees had created. A magical world trapped within a labyrinth where you take one too many turns and you're lost forever, never to find your way back home. Playing cards used for currency and the only coin any one person possesses are the physical embodiments of promises.
All of this paired with a magic system that is not only easy to understand but also something a child could easily fall in love with and use to play pretend with their friends. It’s a charming and amazing creation that Lees should be proud of.
The characters are likeable and while there are moments that I find certain characteristics of Elizabella frustrating that doesn’t make me like her any less as she is a child reacting as a child should in the situations she finds herself in. Same with Benjamiah, our protagonist and the main lens from which we see the world of Wreathenwold through. He’s an outsider like us, someone just as curious and enraptured by all the mystery and whimsy of this other world.
I won’t speak on the first book and instead focus my thoughts only on this second installment and I must say I’m happy with how it began. It doesn’t gloss over any of what Benjamiah is feeling after his adventures in Wrethenwold. He still struggles to find his place, still trying to process how to navigate his new family situation. He’s surrounded by people who love him but feels so detached from others because he’s drawn to a world he can’t return to.
Benjamiah is a child and he acts like it. He’s not a powerful chosen one that knows what needs to be done. He makes mistakes, he acts on impulse, and sometimes he lets his emotions get the better of him. All things children experience and might struggle with and we get to see how he overcomes those obstacles and come out on the other side.
I also greatly enjoy how Lees pulled characters from the previous book into this new addition. The Viper continues to be a thorn in their side working to make their lives difficult for the slight done to her daughter. The main villain of the series is shown to be not only charismatic to the people of Wrethenwold but also cunning in how he seeks to accomplish his goals.
I personally cannot wait for the next installment to learn not only more about Wrethenwold but to see just how much further our antagonist’s plans will go. Already he has gotten quite far in his plans and I cannot wait to see if the third book with wrap this story up in a neat bow or if we’ll get maybe a fourth. I have faith in Lees to write this story with a satisfying ending as already he’s doing an amazing job of keeping me engaged in it.
If you like fantasy or have a child of middle school age who enjoys fantasy I highly recommend this book. Go show Joran Lees some love for the care he put into this story it’s was greatly deserved.
All of this paired with a magic system that is not only easy to understand but also something a child could easily fall in love with and use to play pretend with their friends. It’s a charming and amazing creation that Lees should be proud of.
The characters are likeable and while there are moments that I find certain characteristics of Elizabella frustrating that doesn’t make me like her any less as she is a child reacting as a child should in the situations she finds herself in. Same with Benjamiah, our protagonist and the main lens from which we see the world of Wreathenwold through. He’s an outsider like us, someone just as curious and enraptured by all the mystery and whimsy of this other world.
I won’t speak on the first book and instead focus my thoughts only on this second installment and I must say I’m happy with how it began. It doesn’t gloss over any of what Benjamiah is feeling after his adventures in Wrethenwold. He still struggles to find his place, still trying to process how to navigate his new family situation. He’s surrounded by people who love him but feels so detached from others because he’s drawn to a world he can’t return to.
Benjamiah is a child and he acts like it. He’s not a powerful chosen one that knows what needs to be done. He makes mistakes, he acts on impulse, and sometimes he lets his emotions get the better of him. All things children experience and might struggle with and we get to see how he overcomes those obstacles and come out on the other side.
I also greatly enjoy how Lees pulled characters from the previous book into this new addition. The Viper continues to be a thorn in their side working to make their lives difficult for the slight done to her daughter. The main villain of the series is shown to be not only charismatic to the people of Wrethenwold but also cunning in how he seeks to accomplish his goals.
I personally cannot wait for the next installment to learn not only more about Wrethenwold but to see just how much further our antagonist’s plans will go. Already he has gotten quite far in his plans and I cannot wait to see if the third book with wrap this story up in a neat bow or if we’ll get maybe a fourth. I have faith in Lees to write this story with a satisfying ending as already he’s doing an amazing job of keeping me engaged in it.
If you like fantasy or have a child of middle school age who enjoys fantasy I highly recommend this book. Go show Joran Lees some love for the care he put into this story it’s was greatly deserved.
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October 9, 2025~współpraca reklamowa wydawnictwozygzaki~
Każdy z Was kto tęskni za Narnią i chciałby się przenieść do nowego świata na całkiem podobnych warunkach powinien rozważyć przeczytanie Świecogłosy. Pierwszy tom mimo wielu przygód skupia się na pożegnaniu ukochanych osób w swoim życiu i powiedzeniu głośno czegoś co okazuje się finalne. Natomiast drugi tom to powrót do dobrze znanego świata w całkiem nowej odsłonie. A przy tym powrót do starych bohaterów jak i poznaniu nowych.
Co znajdziecie w środku;
❁ narrację trzecioosobową z różnych perspektyw;
↪︎ Ilustracje Vivienne Lees które wprost zabierają nas do magicznego świata;
❁ spis treści oraz mapę, a przed każdym rozdziałem wzmiankę z księgi historii ledwie wiarygodnych;
↪︎ nowych bohaterów którzy urozmaicą przygody wcześniejszych bohaterów czyli Benjamiaha i Elizabelli;
❁ przyjaźń wystawioną na próbę oraz próby odwrócenia się od kogoś kto ma na nas zbyt duży wpływ;
↪︎ jeszcze więcej przygód.
"Przynależność to dobre samopoczucie, wolność. Nie chodzi w niej o miejsce, jedno czy drugie, bycie z jakąś osobą, tą czy inną, a nawet ten czy tamten świat. To poczucie bezpieczeństwa w byciu sobą, bezpieczne wyrażanie swoich potrzeb i bycie potrzebnym".
Tym razem autor ponownie wpłata trudne tematy do książki dla trochę młodszych, nie zapominając o tych starszych. Z historii można wyciągnąć wiele, a przy tym zdać sobie sprawę jak wiele razy byliśmy w podobnej sytuacji. To trochę taka refleksja, a przy tym wykreowany świat sprawia że łatwiej nam to wszystko przyswoić. Tym razem przygody z jakimi zmierzą się bohaterowie i wyzwania jakie zostały im postawione stawiają na ich drodze nie tylko przyjaciół, ale również zwątpienie czy strach. Taka mieszanka może okazać się wybuchowa tu jednak jest zupełnie inaczej.
Świecogłosy. Pięć niemożliwych prób - skupia się bardziej na dobrych uczynkach i morału jaki płynie z każdego wyzwania niż wytykaniu błędów poprzedników. Powrót do tego świata jest magicznym przeżyciem, które każdego czytelnika zachwyci i chwyci za serce.
Każdy z Was kto tęskni za Narnią i chciałby się przenieść do nowego świata na całkiem podobnych warunkach powinien rozważyć przeczytanie Świecogłosy. Pierwszy tom mimo wielu przygód skupia się na pożegnaniu ukochanych osób w swoim życiu i powiedzeniu głośno czegoś co okazuje się finalne. Natomiast drugi tom to powrót do dobrze znanego świata w całkiem nowej odsłonie. A przy tym powrót do starych bohaterów jak i poznaniu nowych.
Co znajdziecie w środku;
❁ narrację trzecioosobową z różnych perspektyw;
↪︎ Ilustracje Vivienne Lees które wprost zabierają nas do magicznego świata;
❁ spis treści oraz mapę, a przed każdym rozdziałem wzmiankę z księgi historii ledwie wiarygodnych;
↪︎ nowych bohaterów którzy urozmaicą przygody wcześniejszych bohaterów czyli Benjamiaha i Elizabelli;
❁ przyjaźń wystawioną na próbę oraz próby odwrócenia się od kogoś kto ma na nas zbyt duży wpływ;
↪︎ jeszcze więcej przygód.
"Przynależność to dobre samopoczucie, wolność. Nie chodzi w niej o miejsce, jedno czy drugie, bycie z jakąś osobą, tą czy inną, a nawet ten czy tamten świat. To poczucie bezpieczeństwa w byciu sobą, bezpieczne wyrażanie swoich potrzeb i bycie potrzebnym".
Tym razem autor ponownie wpłata trudne tematy do książki dla trochę młodszych, nie zapominając o tych starszych. Z historii można wyciągnąć wiele, a przy tym zdać sobie sprawę jak wiele razy byliśmy w podobnej sytuacji. To trochę taka refleksja, a przy tym wykreowany świat sprawia że łatwiej nam to wszystko przyswoić. Tym razem przygody z jakimi zmierzą się bohaterowie i wyzwania jakie zostały im postawione stawiają na ich drodze nie tylko przyjaciół, ale również zwątpienie czy strach. Taka mieszanka może okazać się wybuchowa tu jednak jest zupełnie inaczej.
Świecogłosy. Pięć niemożliwych prób - skupia się bardziej na dobrych uczynkach i morału jaki płynie z każdego wyzwania niż wytykaniu błędów poprzedników. Powrót do tego świata jest magicznym przeżyciem, które każdego czytelnika zachwyci i chwyci za serce.
February 26, 2025
Absolutely stunning: Lees has avoided the trap of his second novel not being as good as the first. Instead, he has only grown in his capabilities to entertain us and bring us into the heart of the story and he has gifted us with another mystifying tale in the land of Wreathenworld, another ode to the power of books, reading and the joys of bookshops.
A lot has changed since Benjamiah Creek returned from his adventures. His parents have separated, so he is splitting time between Mum's new flat and Dad's place above the bookshop, his poppet, Nuisance, hasn't transformed from her doll-form since they got back, but more than anything, he is missing his very best friend: Elizabella Cotton.
Sneaking into Mum's room, Benjamiah finds something out of place, something he knows is not from this world, which leads him straight back into the ever-changing labyrinth of Wreathenworld. Reunited with Elizabella and with an additional cast of new friends, Silas and Mea, the quartet and their poppets battle sea witches, Snatchlings and more in a series of trials to come face-to-face with Agatha Drake: a fabled magi with incomparable powers, who, if Benjamiah should succeed, will grant him a wish.
This series of books has so much heart and soul, and Lees is so unafraid to tackle some of the more difficult topics, which is so refreshing. Again, the themes of loss and grief are explored and talked through in such a useful and healthy way, these books should become a staple on all library shelves and bookshops.
Unrelated, but this is also the first book I have ever tabbed, because there were just so many quotable moments or important messages about family, friendship and growing up that I had to keep track!
As always, thank you so much to both Jordan Lees and the team at Puffin for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
A lot has changed since Benjamiah Creek returned from his adventures. His parents have separated, so he is splitting time between Mum's new flat and Dad's place above the bookshop, his poppet, Nuisance, hasn't transformed from her doll-form since they got back, but more than anything, he is missing his very best friend: Elizabella Cotton.
Sneaking into Mum's room, Benjamiah finds something out of place, something he knows is not from this world, which leads him straight back into the ever-changing labyrinth of Wreathenworld. Reunited with Elizabella and with an additional cast of new friends, Silas and Mea, the quartet and their poppets battle sea witches, Snatchlings and more in a series of trials to come face-to-face with Agatha Drake: a fabled magi with incomparable powers, who, if Benjamiah should succeed, will grant him a wish.
This series of books has so much heart and soul, and Lees is so unafraid to tackle some of the more difficult topics, which is so refreshing. Again, the themes of loss and grief are explored and talked through in such a useful and healthy way, these books should become a staple on all library shelves and bookshops.
Unrelated, but this is also the first book I have ever tabbed, because there were just so many quotable moments or important messages about family, friendship and growing up that I had to keep track!
As always, thank you so much to both Jordan Lees and the team at Puffin for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2025
So good. I can't wait for book 3 and I'm so sad that it's only a trilogy. I want so much more. I read this pretty fast, but I think I like book one a lot more. Book one had a very visceral effect on me. Maybe it was because I was expecting all the horror this time that it didn't have such an effect. But I will say the hanged men are much more eerie than the lost children. And book one gives us much more of the hanged men. I missed them quote a lot in this one. For some reason I don't really like Elizabella. I also like the dolls more as dolls and the concept of them, than I do them changing into large beasts. That's too much for my taste. I'm a huge fan of the labyrinth world, and the upside down tower, and the like, but they weren't as much the focus in book two. I missed that. I wish book two would've emphasized those parts even more. Oh and I love the mapmakers and there futile yet passionate attempt at mapping the world. I think Silas ought to have an entirely different personality. One where it shows how confident he is in his job, that he really believes in the maps and doesn't care for other people dissuading him. Book one did a much better job at immersing you in the labyrinth and the creepiness of it. I like it much more right now.
The excerpts at the beginning of the chapters are absolutely incredible. Really loved those. So magical and so meaningful. The Book of Barley Believable Stories needs to be printed. I would read it.
Nonetheless these books are unique and above average of what most juvenile books are. And they're just as much for adults as for children. Please give me number 3 soon. xx
The excerpts at the beginning of the chapters are absolutely incredible. Really loved those. So magical and so meaningful. The Book of Barley Believable Stories needs to be printed. I would read it.
Nonetheless these books are unique and above average of what most juvenile books are. And they're just as much for adults as for children. Please give me number 3 soon. xx
April 9, 2025
The first Wreathenwold book was one of my top reads last year, so I went into this one with high expectations and it didn't disappoint.
While the first book had it's creepy moments, I felt it leaned more towards the fantastical side than this second installment. This book was much heavier on the creepy imagery, even managing to make me, an adult, feel unsettled at times. However, there were still plenty of fantastical and whimsical elements to keep me happy.
Once again, we're led on a journey through the winding, labyrinthine world of Wreathenwold, but with a couple new additions to the traveling party. These characters really helped flesh out the emotional journey for Benjamiah and Elizabella, and I hope we see more of them.
Just like the first book, you won't be let go until you've shed a few tears. These books are, more than anything, about Benjamiah's journey to emotional maturity despite all the setbacks in his home life. The lessons are poignant and mean just as much to me as I believe they would to the intended middle grade audience.
I think these books are great for anyone, but especially those kids who have a love of Tim Burton movies. The imagery would be right up their alley.
I can't wait to see what's next for Benjamiah and Elizabella.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.
While the first book had it's creepy moments, I felt it leaned more towards the fantastical side than this second installment. This book was much heavier on the creepy imagery, even managing to make me, an adult, feel unsettled at times. However, there were still plenty of fantastical and whimsical elements to keep me happy.
Once again, we're led on a journey through the winding, labyrinthine world of Wreathenwold, but with a couple new additions to the traveling party. These characters really helped flesh out the emotional journey for Benjamiah and Elizabella, and I hope we see more of them.
Just like the first book, you won't be let go until you've shed a few tears. These books are, more than anything, about Benjamiah's journey to emotional maturity despite all the setbacks in his home life. The lessons are poignant and mean just as much to me as I believe they would to the intended middle grade audience.
I think these books are great for anyone, but especially those kids who have a love of Tim Burton movies. The imagery would be right up their alley.
I can't wait to see what's next for Benjamiah and Elizabella.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.
June 1, 2025
This is the second installment in The Whisperwicks series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first.
Benjamiah, who misses Wrethenwold-like a missing half, gets the chance to return when he gets ahold of a gem his mother possesses. It becomes a mask, and pulls him into a series of trials that he must solve, or the children who have gone missing will stay missing forever.
Along with Elizabella, who is thrilled to have her dear friend back, Benjamiah is joined by Silas, someone he met previously, and a new girl-Mea. She is one of the lost children, and doesn’t remember anything about herself. But she knows she wants to be free, and is willing to help in anyway she can.
This is another journey that is full of heart and courage. Against all odds, this rag tag team takes on every challenge, and Jordan has us rooting for them to succeed, and for Mea to find her worth, and believe she can be truly loved. The author also introduces us to a new villain, Bo, who stop at nothing to keep Benjamiah and his friends from completing the trials, and setting his prisoners free. It’s a story that defies the odds, and shows what it means to love and protect the people who surround you.
I’m looking forward to continuing my journey with this quartet in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Puffin for my ARC. My opinion is my own.
Benjamiah, who misses Wrethenwold-like a missing half, gets the chance to return when he gets ahold of a gem his mother possesses. It becomes a mask, and pulls him into a series of trials that he must solve, or the children who have gone missing will stay missing forever.
Along with Elizabella, who is thrilled to have her dear friend back, Benjamiah is joined by Silas, someone he met previously, and a new girl-Mea. She is one of the lost children, and doesn’t remember anything about herself. But she knows she wants to be free, and is willing to help in anyway she can.
This is another journey that is full of heart and courage. Against all odds, this rag tag team takes on every challenge, and Jordan has us rooting for them to succeed, and for Mea to find her worth, and believe she can be truly loved. The author also introduces us to a new villain, Bo, who stop at nothing to keep Benjamiah and his friends from completing the trials, and setting his prisoners free. It’s a story that defies the odds, and shows what it means to love and protect the people who surround you.
I’m looking forward to continuing my journey with this quartet in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Puffin for my ARC. My opinion is my own.
July 5, 2025
Jordan Lees' second book in the series, The Whisperwicks: The Impossible Trials of Benjamiah Creek, opens during the Festival of Midsommer. Its loud, busy, and everyone is having a great time. Except Claris Songwood is angry at her brother. She refuses to return indoors, deciding to avoid him.
Claris watches the Strange Parade, where each section represents folklore from Wreathenwold. The folklore is retold in The Book of Barely Believable Stories by Mildred Fogge, and that book introduces the villain of the story, which threatens the children of Wreathenwold.
In the meantime, Benjemiah is arguing with his mom over his desire to return to Wreathenwold.
What follows is a story filled with quests, trials and spooky presences. The two young heroes have to face many dangers, including more than one sinister bad guy. It is a story filled with adventures.
I think almost any kid would enjoy this book, and it would make a great story to read aloud.
Thank you @simonkids for the #gifted finished paperback.
Claris watches the Strange Parade, where each section represents folklore from Wreathenwold. The folklore is retold in The Book of Barely Believable Stories by Mildred Fogge, and that book introduces the villain of the story, which threatens the children of Wreathenwold.
In the meantime, Benjemiah is arguing with his mom over his desire to return to Wreathenwold.
What follows is a story filled with quests, trials and spooky presences. The two young heroes have to face many dangers, including more than one sinister bad guy. It is a story filled with adventures.
I think almost any kid would enjoy this book, and it would make a great story to read aloud.
Thank you @simonkids for the #gifted finished paperback.
March 20, 2025
Back home in Wyvern-on-the-Water, Benjamiah is struggling to forget his adventures in Wreathenwold and the friends he had to leave behind, but the door to the magical world has closed and there doesn't seem to be another way back.
One night he decides to investigate a mysterious object his mother has been trying to hide from him, and a surprising turn of events lead him straight back to the labryinthine streets of Wreathenwold, where he must play a dangerous game in order to unravel the secrets of the Witch of Midsommer.
With the welcome return of familiar friends, and a host of equally enchanting new characters - some friends and others foes - Jordan Lee's second book in the Whisperwicks series is just as good as the first. Action packed, utterly enthralling and full of heart, this series is not to be missed!
One night he decides to investigate a mysterious object his mother has been trying to hide from him, and a surprising turn of events lead him straight back to the labryinthine streets of Wreathenwold, where he must play a dangerous game in order to unravel the secrets of the Witch of Midsommer.
With the welcome return of familiar friends, and a host of equally enchanting new characters - some friends and others foes - Jordan Lee's second book in the Whisperwicks series is just as good as the first. Action packed, utterly enthralling and full of heart, this series is not to be missed!
December 25, 2025
Quel plaisir de retourner à Dedaleum avec Benjamiah ! Jordan Lee a su créer un univers complexe tout en étant accessible pour des lecteurs plus jeunes. On y retrouve ici et là des références à la mythologie grecque avec le labyrinthe qui feront sourire ceux qui s’y connaissent.
Une histoire un peu plus sombre que celle du premier tome, mais tout aussi enlevante et remplie de rebondissements qui plaira aux jeunes lecteurs ( et aux moins jeunes assurément !). On y fait la rencontre de nouveaux personnages, dont la très attachante Moa et on en apprend plus sur la mère de Benjamiah.
L’histoire aborde des thèmes comme l’amitié, la famille, la confiance en soi, le regret sur fond de quête identitaire.
À placer sans hésitation dans les bibliothèque classe à partir du 3e cycle pour une lecture autonome.
Le tome 3 (en voa) est prévu en avril 2026 et je serai au rendez-vous!
Une histoire un peu plus sombre que celle du premier tome, mais tout aussi enlevante et remplie de rebondissements qui plaira aux jeunes lecteurs ( et aux moins jeunes assurément !). On y fait la rencontre de nouveaux personnages, dont la très attachante Moa et on en apprend plus sur la mère de Benjamiah.
L’histoire aborde des thèmes comme l’amitié, la famille, la confiance en soi, le regret sur fond de quête identitaire.
À placer sans hésitation dans les bibliothèque classe à partir du 3e cycle pour une lecture autonome.
Le tome 3 (en voa) est prévu en avril 2026 et je serai au rendez-vous!
August 17, 2025
I had a really great time with this sequel! It just feels good to read a middle-grade book full of adventure, friendship, and quests. Since it’s been so hot this month (August), it was refreshing to read about a spooky world with fall/winter vibes. It’s made me even more excited for fall weather to come around. Although this addition to the Whisperwicks series wasn’t as emotionally impactful for me, I still thoroughly enjoyed every second of it and look forward to continuing the series in the future. I’m interested to see where the story goes now that Benjamiah’s family knows about his adventures in this other world. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun middle-grade book to pick up!
June 9, 2025
Jordan Lees has done it again! I have been looking forward to this book since reading the first Whisperwicks last year and it was everything I hoped for and more. Lees crafts an incredibly imaginative world full of unique characters and unexpected adventures. I loved getting to know more about previous characters and meeting new ones. I loved that so much of this story is based on stories within the story. The characters grow and development together throughout the book in a way that provides powerful themes of friendship, resiliences, and self-awareness.
August 17, 2025
Some issues with the characters arcs but a wonderfully evocative world that is expanded here with their own fairytales come to life and morals about greed, loyalty and friendship and even hints of censorship and fascism. Good pace and mostly likeable characters that sometimes surprise you when moving away from tropes even if it's not throughout. Be interested in finishing this trilogy next year to see if the series continues to make realistic stakes and villains might, ie to give the central villain some depth because he's been an oligarch type that hasn't appeared close at hand too much yet.
June 6, 2025
4.5, rounded up. while the second whisperwicks installment didn’t have the same emotional impact as the first (no ugly crying this time), the writing is just as grand, the world of Wreathenwold just as enchanting, and the story as engrossing as ever. i will absolutely be rereading and am already counting down to book 3 to see what becomes of Benjamiah and Elizabella, and how they’ll stop Manfred and the Widow. love love love.
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November 5, 2025Hey there! This is Charlie P! I am eleven years old and I read books to raise money for charity. I want to help moms pick out books that their kids will like! Here is another review by me
The Whisperwicks series is a great fantasy/sci-fi/adventure book for a cozy night by the fire. It had action packed chapters and the most detailed descriptions. There were quite a few characters but you get the hang of it. Ages 10 to 13
The Whisperwicks series is a great fantasy/sci-fi/adventure book for a cozy night by the fire. It had action packed chapters and the most detailed descriptions. There were quite a few characters but you get the hang of it. Ages 10 to 13
October 20, 2025
I really liked this book but i can sense the same structure: four tasks benjamiah has to complete and elizabella is very enthusiastic about this book that like ends up helping them in sone way. Those are the only things i did not like about the book everything else perfect
December 12, 2025
The first one was great, and this one is just as good.
This is a wonderful story that treats all sorts of themes beautifully.
The characters are undeniably cute and full of personality.
That was an incredible experience. I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.
This is a wonderful story that treats all sorts of themes beautifully.
The characters are undeniably cute and full of personality.
That was an incredible experience. I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.
March 28, 2025
An entrancing sequel that’s once again so beautifully written. It’s wonderful to be absorbed back into Wreathenwold on another perilous journey with Benjamiah and Elizabella!
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