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The Whisperwicks #3
The Vanished Key
The spell-binding world-building of Philip Pullman and Katherine Rundell with the page-turning kid appeal of SKANDAR.
The epic conclusion to the highly acclaimed Whisperwicks series. Prepare yourself for impossible magic, spectacular adventure and a mind-blowing finale.
The epic conclusion to the highly acclaimed Whisperwicks series. Prepare yourself for impossible magic, spectacular adventure and a mind-blowing finale.
The magus Manfred Tarr is on the hunt for a key – a key that has been lost for centuries and which has the power to unleash a terrible darkness on the world.
To save Wreathenwold from a dreadful fate and armed only with his magic, his courage and his best friends Elizabella, Mea and Silas, Benjamiah must set out on another impossible quest to find the Three Sisters.
This dangerous journey will take them through the Weird Wood – home to ragwitches, root folk and half bears – and into a fierce battle with far-reaching consequences.
The epic conclusion to the highly acclaimed Whisperwicks series. Prepare yourself for impossible magic, spectacular adventure and a mind-blowing finale.
The epic conclusion to the highly acclaimed Whisperwicks series. Prepare yourself for impossible magic, spectacular adventure and a mind-blowing finale.
The magus Manfred Tarr is on the hunt for a key – a key that has been lost for centuries and which has the power to unleash a terrible darkness on the world.
To save Wreathenwold from a dreadful fate and armed only with his magic, his courage and his best friends Elizabella, Mea and Silas, Benjamiah must set out on another impossible quest to find the Three Sisters.
This dangerous journey will take them through the Weird Wood – home to ragwitches, root folk and half bears – and into a fierce battle with far-reaching consequences.
- GenresFantasy
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 19, 2026
J'aime tellement cette série 😭
April 5, 2026
so I loved this book. it was an excellent ending to a series but I thought it was going to be 4 books, rather than 3.
there are some very big spoilers for the ending here, so do NOT continue if you haven't finished this entire book!
so the whole way through this book, everyone from both our world and Wrethenwold were getting dreams from the Widow, who was locked away a long time ago for terrible things.
the whole book is about getting hold the key to make sure a) Manfred can't get it and release her or b) someone else doesn't release her or break the key, which would also release her.
now it became clear that there was no fitting the Widows release into this book, so towards the end I was like 'Something crazy is going to happen, and she'll be released right at the last moment.' but no. this does not happen. MC makes the choice to go home to the real world, so the Widow and the key are no longer in the same worlds, meaning he can never see his friends again.
now, it was a melancholy ending, but it felt like the story was heading one way, then just veered off to this more chill, relaxed ending. when I was fully ready for book 4, where they'd have to find a way to seal/kill the Widow forever.
I am half convinced that Lees (despite saying he's sad to say goodbye to Wrethenwold in the acknowledgements), is going to sneak a 4th book on us. this story just doesn't feel quite finished to me...
but other than this massive, rambling thought, I really enjoyed this book. it was very well paced, exciting and with so much packed into it. maybe a few too many epic battles (as I begin to find them tiresome to read over and over, and there were a lot towards the end).
there are some very big spoilers for the ending here, so do NOT continue if you haven't finished this entire book!
so the whole way through this book, everyone from both our world and Wrethenwold were getting dreams from the Widow, who was locked away a long time ago for terrible things.
the whole book is about getting hold the key to make sure a) Manfred can't get it and release her or b) someone else doesn't release her or break the key, which would also release her.
now it became clear that there was no fitting the Widows release into this book, so towards the end I was like 'Something crazy is going to happen, and she'll be released right at the last moment.' but no. this does not happen. MC makes the choice to go home to the real world, so the Widow and the key are no longer in the same worlds, meaning he can never see his friends again.
now, it was a melancholy ending, but it felt like the story was heading one way, then just veered off to this more chill, relaxed ending. when I was fully ready for book 4, where they'd have to find a way to seal/kill the Widow forever.
I am half convinced that Lees (despite saying he's sad to say goodbye to Wrethenwold in the acknowledgements), is going to sneak a 4th book on us. this story just doesn't feel quite finished to me...
but other than this massive, rambling thought, I really enjoyed this book. it was very well paced, exciting and with so much packed into it. maybe a few too many epic battles (as I begin to find them tiresome to read over and over, and there were a lot towards the end).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2026
Belle conclusion à cette charmante trilogie. On y ressent une vraie montée en maturité et en tension dramatique : plus fort, plus intense, pour une fin à la hauteur de ces aventures.
April 12, 2026
The Whisperwicks is an absolutely brilliant fantasy series for all readers (from around 8+) and this third book is a phenomenal conclusion.
(Cover art by Maike Plenzke. Interior illustrations by Flor Persichini.)
I’ve just finished The Vanished Key- the third and final (?🤞) book of The Whisperwicks series. I, like, Benjamiah, would never tire of visiting the wondrous world of Wreathenwold but I’m not sure I’m brave enough… nor do I have a good enough sense of direction!
The episodic structure, balance of action, character development and world building is spot on to help sustain reading stamina for younger readers. It would also make an amazing joint journey as a read aloud.
I LOVE the way a love of reading, and bookish things is part of the fabric of the story and the book within a book chapter openings- I just loved Captain Tomis’s increasingly frank entries, and how they echoed, or foreshadowed the main narrative. This feature brings so much to each outing in Wreathenwold. The author as a reader is so visible here.
The third installment is as thrilling and twisty as the previous two. Benjamiah and his loyal friends- and new allies- face a race to find a hidden key, which the magus, Manfred Tarr, also wants in his malicious mitts. The key is the… well… key to unleashing the sort of dark powers, which would surely signal the end of Wreathenwold. So, you could say the kids are under a bit pressure! And those high stakes, coupled with Lees great episodic pacing, make this a tense, exciting read.
But, it’s not just action sequences– as with the other books in this series, everything works so well because of the characters and their inter-relationships- talk about heart! Speaking of which, my own was variably in my mouth or on the verge of breaking at various points in this story! And, yes, I sobbed at least once.
This is the third exceptional series I’ve finished in recent weeks! I am going to be bereft!
(Cover art by Maike Plenzke. Interior illustrations by Flor Persichini.)
I’ve just finished The Vanished Key- the third and final (?🤞) book of The Whisperwicks series. I, like, Benjamiah, would never tire of visiting the wondrous world of Wreathenwold but I’m not sure I’m brave enough… nor do I have a good enough sense of direction!
The episodic structure, balance of action, character development and world building is spot on to help sustain reading stamina for younger readers. It would also make an amazing joint journey as a read aloud.
I LOVE the way a love of reading, and bookish things is part of the fabric of the story and the book within a book chapter openings- I just loved Captain Tomis’s increasingly frank entries, and how they echoed, or foreshadowed the main narrative. This feature brings so much to each outing in Wreathenwold. The author as a reader is so visible here.
The third installment is as thrilling and twisty as the previous two. Benjamiah and his loyal friends- and new allies- face a race to find a hidden key, which the magus, Manfred Tarr, also wants in his malicious mitts. The key is the… well… key to unleashing the sort of dark powers, which would surely signal the end of Wreathenwold. So, you could say the kids are under a bit pressure! And those high stakes, coupled with Lees great episodic pacing, make this a tense, exciting read.
But, it’s not just action sequences– as with the other books in this series, everything works so well because of the characters and their inter-relationships- talk about heart! Speaking of which, my own was variably in my mouth or on the verge of breaking at various points in this story! And, yes, I sobbed at least once.
This is the third exceptional series I’ve finished in recent weeks! I am going to be bereft!
June 3, 2026
C’est avec un petit pincement au cœur que j’ai refermé ce troisième et dernier tome d’une saga jeunesse que je trouve particulièrement qualitative. J’ai adoré replonger au cœur de Daedalum et en découvrir les derniers secrets. Ce tome vient conclure la trilogie avec justesse, et j’ai trouvé cette fin à la fois cohérente, aboutie et touchante. Je l’avais déjà souligné dans mes précédentes chroniques, mais pour une saga jeunesse, le worldbuilding est remarquablement construit, riche et travaillé, et les personnages bénéficient d’un vrai développement. On sent que tout a été pensé pour offrir une expérience immersive du début à la fin.
J’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à retrouver Benjamiah et Elizabella. Leur relation est belle, sincère et profondément touchante. Elle évolue avec naturel au fil des pages, entre moments de complicité et passages plus difficiles, ce qui la rend d’autant plus crédible. Ils grandissent ensemble, apprennent de leurs erreurs et ressortent toujours plus forts des épreuves qu’ils traversent. J’ai également aimé les voir évoluer aux côtés des autres personnages, qui renforcent cette dimension de found family que j’affectionne particulièrement. Malgré leur jeune âge, ils font preuve d’un courage impressionnant.
Concernant l’intrigue, sans entrer dans les détails, je l’ai trouvée très bien maîtrisée. Le rythme est soutenu, porté par des mystères, des rebondissements et des scènes d’action efficaces. Tout s’enchaîne avec fluidité, sans temps mort, ce qui rend la lecture particulièrement addictive. Je n’ai pas vu les pages défiler. L’aventure est au cœur du récit et cela se ressent pleinement.
Même si je suis triste de quitter cet univers, je ressors pleinement satisfaite de cette conclusion. C’est une saga que je recommande sans hésiter et que je relirai avec plaisir tant elle m’a marquée.
J’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à retrouver Benjamiah et Elizabella. Leur relation est belle, sincère et profondément touchante. Elle évolue avec naturel au fil des pages, entre moments de complicité et passages plus difficiles, ce qui la rend d’autant plus crédible. Ils grandissent ensemble, apprennent de leurs erreurs et ressortent toujours plus forts des épreuves qu’ils traversent. J’ai également aimé les voir évoluer aux côtés des autres personnages, qui renforcent cette dimension de found family que j’affectionne particulièrement. Malgré leur jeune âge, ils font preuve d’un courage impressionnant.
Concernant l’intrigue, sans entrer dans les détails, je l’ai trouvée très bien maîtrisée. Le rythme est soutenu, porté par des mystères, des rebondissements et des scènes d’action efficaces. Tout s’enchaîne avec fluidité, sans temps mort, ce qui rend la lecture particulièrement addictive. Je n’ai pas vu les pages défiler. L’aventure est au cœur du récit et cela se ressent pleinement.
Même si je suis triste de quitter cet univers, je ressors pleinement satisfaite de cette conclusion. C’est une saga que je recommande sans hésiter et que je relirai avec plaisir tant elle m’a marquée.
May 3, 2026
4,5/5
Quel plaisir mais aussi quelle tristesse de retourner à Dedalum pour la dernière fois dans cet ultime tome… Ça m’a fait quelque chose mine de rien.
Et d’ailleurs ce tome n’est pas de tout repos, un peu comme les autres vous allez me dire. On a de l’action, une forme de quête mais aussi beaucoup d’ombres et d’obscurité. Rien ne va, tout est compliqué. Mais nos protagonistes préférés ne baisse pas les bras, jamais. Même s’ils n’ont que 13 ans, ils sont portés par un courage incroyable. Ils ont évolué, encore, ils grandissent, ils se révèlent en douceur et c’est appréciable. Tant de tendresse pour eux, vraiment.
Côté plume et univers, les deux sont toujours aussi addictif. C’est fluide, ça glisse tout seul et c’est très prenant. Dedalum est loin d’avoir révélé tout ses mystères, ce tome le prouvant à merveille !
𝐄𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐟 : J’ai beaucoup aimé ! Que dire hormis que cette trilogie est touchante, drôle avec une très bonne intrigue. On ne s’ennuie pas du tome 1 au 3. Nos personnages sont jeunes mais attendrissant et courageux. Une belle histoire d’aventure que je recommande vraiment.
Quel plaisir mais aussi quelle tristesse de retourner à Dedalum pour la dernière fois dans cet ultime tome… Ça m’a fait quelque chose mine de rien.
Et d’ailleurs ce tome n’est pas de tout repos, un peu comme les autres vous allez me dire. On a de l’action, une forme de quête mais aussi beaucoup d’ombres et d’obscurité. Rien ne va, tout est compliqué. Mais nos protagonistes préférés ne baisse pas les bras, jamais. Même s’ils n’ont que 13 ans, ils sont portés par un courage incroyable. Ils ont évolué, encore, ils grandissent, ils se révèlent en douceur et c’est appréciable. Tant de tendresse pour eux, vraiment.
Côté plume et univers, les deux sont toujours aussi addictif. C’est fluide, ça glisse tout seul et c’est très prenant. Dedalum est loin d’avoir révélé tout ses mystères, ce tome le prouvant à merveille !
𝐄𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐟 : J’ai beaucoup aimé ! Que dire hormis que cette trilogie est touchante, drôle avec une très bonne intrigue. On ne s’ennuie pas du tome 1 au 3. Nos personnages sont jeunes mais attendrissant et courageux. Une belle histoire d’aventure que je recommande vraiment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Heart of the Weird Wood is the third installment in a Middle-grade Fantasy trilogy written by Jordan Lees known as The Whisperwicks. This finale is scheduled to be released on August 4th, 2026. Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for giving me the early access to this for my honest opinion. Yes. This is Middle-grade. Yes, it also says on Google that this is made for readers that are of the ages between eight and twelve. No, I will not be following that HELPFUL ADVICE. STOP trying to gatekeep books GOOGLE. All jokes, people. But getting into this last installment of The Whisperwicks is hard to come across with details without spoilers, which I LOATHE to do. So, I'll try to appeal to all my Fantasy genre lovers out there (such as myself, 8-12 years of age OR NOT) THIS HAS A MAP. Okay, there's one. Two, an underdog. We all love those. And then also strange magic mixed with folklore churned up in a real-world problem theme. ILLUSTRATIONS. Now, you can read the series. You're welcome. I just wish the stakes were higher and YES, I know it's a Middle-grade, but still. 3.5 ⭐
April 18, 2026
I’m sad to leave this world behind.
It enveloped me in this cozy embrace and provided a much needed piece of comfort which I did not realize I was missing since the end of Harry Potter.
Wrethrenwold is such a good place to spend time in. With all its weirdness and eccentricities similar to the likes of Coraline and His Dark Materials it brings a level of nostalgia and hope as the people and creatures live their everyday lives. I would love to walk through a bookshop in the heart of a Forrest and drink treacle tea which cozying up in an armchair with a nice soft glow from a standing lamp while the fireflies light up the space.
Jordan Lees thank you for imaging and creating this world for me get lost in.
This final installment did not disappoint. I hope we get to see these kids again in another series.
It enveloped me in this cozy embrace and provided a much needed piece of comfort which I did not realize I was missing since the end of Harry Potter.
Wrethrenwold is such a good place to spend time in. With all its weirdness and eccentricities similar to the likes of Coraline and His Dark Materials it brings a level of nostalgia and hope as the people and creatures live their everyday lives. I would love to walk through a bookshop in the heart of a Forrest and drink treacle tea which cozying up in an armchair with a nice soft glow from a standing lamp while the fireflies light up the space.
Jordan Lees thank you for imaging and creating this world for me get lost in.
This final installment did not disappoint. I hope we get to see these kids again in another series.
May 5, 2026
Ok, for a start, this was quite a bit darker than the first two, definitely a more serious tone to it, but it wasn't too in your face without detracting from what was going on.
This was constant, fewer lighthearted moments compared to the others, but no less enjoyable. Characters are still brilliant and there was higher stakes for them this time round, things went very downhill at one point.
Got to see much more of Wreathenwold which is great, I think it's an amazing fantasy land and very well thought out.
It was left a bit open, so I'm hoping there's more to come in the series. Again, these would have been something I would have devoured as a kid. Still happy to read them now and to pass them on at the libraries I work at, perfect fantasy series to get into, for new fantasy readers or longtime readers
This was constant, fewer lighthearted moments compared to the others, but no less enjoyable. Characters are still brilliant and there was higher stakes for them this time round, things went very downhill at one point.
Got to see much more of Wreathenwold which is great, I think it's an amazing fantasy land and very well thought out.
It was left a bit open, so I'm hoping there's more to come in the series. Again, these would have been something I would have devoured as a kid. Still happy to read them now and to pass them on at the libraries I work at, perfect fantasy series to get into, for new fantasy readers or longtime readers
March 17, 2026
I wish I could give this book more stars because it was just incredible.
One of the traits of my autism is that I struggle to picture things that are being described. This is one of the few books that I have read where it has been so beautifully described that I can not only picture it but I can hear it and feel it too. It’s hard to put into words just how wonderful that is to me.
Jordan Lees has created a beautiful world that has dark as well as light, friendships and enemies and characters I’d love to meet in real life.
I’m so sad this is the end of this trilogy. But just as Benjamiah always hoped he’d go back to Wreathenwold… I hope I will too.
One of the traits of my autism is that I struggle to picture things that are being described. This is one of the few books that I have read where it has been so beautifully described that I can not only picture it but I can hear it and feel it too. It’s hard to put into words just how wonderful that is to me.
Jordan Lees has created a beautiful world that has dark as well as light, friendships and enemies and characters I’d love to meet in real life.
I’m so sad this is the end of this trilogy. But just as Benjamiah always hoped he’d go back to Wreathenwold… I hope I will too.
May 15, 2026
Je retrouve enfiiiiiiiin Dedaleum, Benjamiah, Elizabella et toute leur clique mais malheureusement c’était pour un dernier tome 🥲
On est vraiment dans la continuité logique des 2 premiers tomes 📚 nos petits loulous vivent vraiment de chouettes aventures et le found family se ressent vraiment dans ce dernier tome 🫶🏻
Alors oui ça allait un peu vite, oui le méchant était un peu facile à combattre mais je peux pas nier que mon petit coeur est COMPLÈTEMENT accro à cette bande de joyeux lurons 🥰 J’ai adoré retomber en enfance et ressentir l’euphorie de l’aventure comme à 10 ans donc juste pour ça c’est gagné 👏🏻
On est vraiment dans la continuité logique des 2 premiers tomes 📚 nos petits loulous vivent vraiment de chouettes aventures et le found family se ressent vraiment dans ce dernier tome 🫶🏻
Alors oui ça allait un peu vite, oui le méchant était un peu facile à combattre mais je peux pas nier que mon petit coeur est COMPLÈTEMENT accro à cette bande de joyeux lurons 🥰 J’ai adoré retomber en enfance et ressentir l’euphorie de l’aventure comme à 10 ans donc juste pour ça c’est gagné 👏🏻
April 11, 2026
An incredible end to the series … even though I’m quietly hoping it won’t actually BE the end, and there will be more books set within in the world of Wreathenwold again. The world-building and small details here are just so brilliant, and make the whole plot and scenery feel incredibly vivid. Definitely shed a tear at the end!
April 17, 2026
This was an amazing end to the trilogy I for one hope more comes out in this amazing world
July 1, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Un immense pincement au cœur après avoir terminé cette saga. J’ai adoré la fin même si ce tome est celui qui m’a le moins transportée. Vive les Whisperwicks et les machines-à-réagir ❤️
Un immense pincement au cœur après avoir terminé cette saga. J’ai adoré la fin même si ce tome est celui qui m’a le moins transportée. Vive les Whisperwicks et les machines-à-réagir ❤️
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews