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For Anna, life has never been normal. She was raised by her uncle in the wilds of Siberia, educated at an orphanage in Geneva, and recently discovered her own supernatural powers. On top of everything else, Anna is a witch.

Anna knows she’s in danger. After destroying a child-smuggling ring in Geneva, there's no doubt of the risk every day still presents. Yet, as this fantasy adventure begins, Anna is in Tuscany, surrounded by sunny hills, and she’s determined to get some rest.

Relaxation is not destined to last, though. A letter arrives from Anna’s uncle Misha, and it changes her life forever. It says that her father – a father she has never met – is alive and in danger. Uncle Misha asks that Anna come quickly; she is the only one who can help. Responding to her uncle’s plea, the young witch leaves Italy, accompanied by her fearless friend Lauraleigh. When she arrives in her Siberian homeland, she finds dangers beyond anything she could have imagined.

Anna discovers that her father has awe-inspiring powers. Yet, he has been captured by none other than Anna’s grandmother – a fearsome witch known as the Iron Queen. Unless Anna manages to rescue her newfound father, the world will be overrun by ghosts, and Anna herself may experience an even more terrifying fate.

While Anna has the love and support of her friends and family and the help of the magical creatures she meets along the way, she will need to confront her grandmother with her own courage and wisdom.

How far will Anna go to save the one she loves? What compromises will she make, and how much is she willing to lose?

Combining traditional fairy tale with a coming of age story, this second Diary of Anna Sophia promises a meaningful read for middle grade children or young adults.

446 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2017

47 people are currently reading
93 people want to read

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Vic Connor

12 books12 followers

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews.
903 reviews158 followers
June 18, 2017
( Note: I received a review copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Publisher and author.)

Characters- Initially, in first few chapters, Anna was still skeptical about her powers, seesawing between good and bad use of magic, I thought I really want her character develop now. As story progressed, I liked her even more and I could understand her better. Her granny was real complex character, she was unpredictable and difficult to understand throughout the book which made the book thrilling. In first book, I wished I could know more about Uncle Misha and I got it in this book. I loved him in this book. I liked all other secondary characters.

What I liked? First the journey of Anna and Lauraleigh from Tuscany to Siberia. Narration of this part was really good. This little portion included a small adventure in first few chapter that hooked me to book. I loved the combination of Russian fairy tale with the story of Anna’s family. Two main stories in this story- of her father and of her granny and mother- was mesmerizing and spellbinding, and was a good surprise in the book. The tragic family story made this book more interesting than I expected. I so loved father daughter reunion in this book.

Unexpected twist and turns, I couldn’t guess how Anna was going to rescue her father till the climax and yet there was a surprise in the end. And was open-ended. I would like to see how her adventure is going to be in the next book- Fighting witch.

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Wandering Witch was steady paced yet page turner, enchanting witch novel with beautiful illustrations. I loved this one more than the first book.
Profile Image for Sohini De.
34 reviews1 follower
February 2, 2016
As I picked up Max Candee’s ‘Diary of Anna the girl Witch: part 2’, I was more than curious to be a part of Anna’s new adventure. I was introduced to Max’s works in the first part and looked forward to the second. However, the first book was really enjoyable and I wondered if the second could reach the same standards. Though it is slightly different, but the same engaging nature of the first book continues to prevail.
The second book jumps headfirst into a fictional world but makes sure that you can easily flow with the story. Anna returns back to Siberia after receiving a letter from uncle Misha to help her father. In the last book, we were offered a look into the Swiss countryside and in this part glimpses of Siberia has been vividly brought out with the inclusion of places like Irkutsk and Lake Baikal.
There are instances where Anna Sophia pours her thoughts into her diary, and in between those lines at times, we find hope and happiness while at other times she is scared or confused. She tries to understand the difference between good and bad magic and her struggle to find herself, to control herself is something that every teen can relate too.
I enjoyed the addition of werewolves, bears, ghosts and witches that would make the story highly enjoyable for any middle grader or young adult. Besides developing the characters of the book, the author has also given importance to the fictional characters like Egor the hoot. Another character of the book is Lauraleigh who has been a useful friend and companion throughout the book. When Anna gets engulfed in the dark side of her magic, it is Lauraleigh who helps her come out of the crisis and become herself again.
The book takes us through Anna’s adventure to save her father from the captivity of the Iron Queen, who also happened to be Anna’s grandmother. But often looks can be deceiving, and though Anna believed that her grandmother meant to harm her but in the course of the book we find a different shade of her character. The introduction of the ghosts was an interesting touch which brought a twist in the tale.
The second book has much more to deliver than the first. Despite being a work of fiction, the book incredibly builds up family values and friendship vows. It even helps the readers grow and learn along with the adventures of Anna. Packed with adventure, drama, mystery and humor, the Diary of Anna the Girl Witch 2 succeeds to keep the readers glued to their chairs till the very end.
Profile Image for H.M. Gooden.
Author 36 books707 followers
April 15, 2018
I recieved an advance reader copy of this book. I had previously read book one, and was pleased to discover this was more of the same. Russian mythology mixed with action, this is a great middle grade book.
12 reviews
January 17, 2016
Writing a review for a sequel is always a bit easier than writing for its predecessor- I can talk about the plot a bit more without revealing spoilers. If you're a future reader who has not yet read the first book but is looking into investing in the series, you may not want to proceed into my next paragraph. Let me leave you with this; I recommend it, middle school and up, for having loveable characters, a natural fight with the grey area between right and wrong, great editing, and proper Kindle formatting.

Now then, for you that have read the first book and, for some odd reason, aren't quite sure if you want to get the sequel: just do it. The first book set up Anna as a character (with a little bit of character growth, of course) but now she is able to blossom as we learn who she is and where she came from at the same time that she does. Granted, the author gives her more time to grow in this book- more than twice as many pages than the first installment had. We pick up a day after we left off from the first book.

In this book we learn more about the supernatural parts of Anna’s reality; Ghosts, werewolves, inheritance to the Land of the Dead- typical teenage witch stuff. The introduction of new characters (Egor is a hoot) and the development of existing ones (AKA we meet Uncle Misha) helped move the plotline along quite well while simultaneously winning me over. The logic behind the magic that Anna uses gets explained in a more detail than we met in the last book, and more of the world itself gets described.

I am looking forward to the third book when it’s released in the future. It’s been awhile since I have been able to enjoy a family-friendly series such as this.
Profile Image for Brenda Peick.
45 reviews3 followers
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February 13, 2016
While we had the privilege of meeting Anna and Lauraleigh in the first book of the series, the second book is where they blossomed. Anna was called back to the forest of Siberia to join her Uncle Misha and meet her father. She was very excited about this, but was under a timeline, so took risks that she probably otherwise would have avoided. Risks that eventually became a housemate. But enough - I don't want to spoil the book for you.
If you haven't read the first book in the series, go read it. You'll find out about Anna and a little about her powers, and how she struggles with the growing darkness inside of her. In this second book of the series, Max Candee really shows his strength as he considers the cost of your actions, kindness vs. wisdom, and what is really the right thing to do. The second book of the series takes you deeper into your own thoughts as Anna tries to make the right decisions, and fails sometimes. I received my copy of Diary of Anna 2 as part of a member giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kari (BookandCoffeeLover).
112 reviews30 followers
March 16, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Another great installment in the Anna the Girl Witch series. Though significantly more lengthy than the first volume, Wandering Witch managed to hold my attention with even more unique and memorable characters. I really enjoyed the Slavic folklore/mythology elements even if there was - at times - a lot going on in the book. Anna's struggle not only for the truth but to do the right thing was touching and heartfelt. 3.5/5
Profile Image for Jessica.
179 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2018
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received a bundle of both the first and second novels but I only read the second. However, I did not feel at a real disadvantage. Enough references and explanations of events that occurred in book one were supplied that I felt informed enough.

Anna is a relatable character. She has a piece of darkness inside her that she must continuously keep in check. In reality this is the true human condition. We all have the potential to be evil and it’s in our choices that we decide which side we will be on. However the depths to which her darkness takes her makes this book very dark in places and may give younger readers the idea it’s ok to follow that darkness as long as it's to save someone else. By the end of the book, relatable or not, I couldn’t stand Anna.

This story is like many younger reader geared books with unbelievable story lines - hey they wouldn’t be fantasy if they were completely believable. Fans of Harry Potter would enjoy this adventure. The world building is great and none of the characters are flat except for the supporting characters like the Horsemen.

I was a little disappointed by Baba Yaga when she first appeared. She just didn’t seem so evil propped up in bed watching infomercials. As time passed, more of her dark character developed and she definitely was the evil one we all know.

The author set it up nicely to flow into book three which, despite my abhorrence of the main character, I’m still interested in reading.

4 stars.
Profile Image for Angie.
333 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2025
What a great ending...
This series you guys... I can't say enough about it.

Anna needs to save her father, who is in the grasp of her grandmother. She embarks on an adventure to rescue him, and her loved ones who are all in danger from the powerful (and half-senile) Baba Yaga. The way Max Candee does this is reminiscent of the plots of Rick Riordan's novels, ie, Main characters will meet new and different people who help and guide them on their way to their end goal.

The writing in this novel is excellent, as it was with the first novel. I feel like it was more detailed and richer than his previous novel, explaining Anna's thoughts and the turmoil within her as she battles with the light and the darkness within her.

The character development in this book though... Anna goes through many trials, and along the way discovers a lot within and about herself. Lauraleigh's and Anna's relationship is everything to me. The friendship and companionship between these two girls is unlike anything I've ever seen before and I'm so happy there was a focus between their friendship in this novel.

The themes as well. It doesnt portray good or evil as so black and white, and it shows how Anna battles with those inside her, a corporeal representation of the darkness and lightness gives a great image for the younger readers and shows how easy it is to be consumed by dark thoughts, and how sometimes it's hard to ocercome them. Friendship, familial love is also a major thing in this book, so that was great!

This series deserves more love. Go read it!
Profile Image for Donna.
1,386 reviews9 followers
April 28, 2018
This second book in the Anna the Girl Witch series was a darker story than the first, and more scary, but no less great a read for it. The descriptive and imaginative talents of the author never cease to amaze me - he's brilliant! - and the whole interweaving back stories of the characters must've taken some designing. The beautiful illustrations also really compliment the story, bringing key characters and moments in the story to life. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who loved book 1 (and if you didn't, there's something wrong with you!), and I can't wait to read book 3!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
1,062 reviews18 followers
May 1, 2018
This was the continuing saga by Vic Connor of a teenage girl struggling with the understanding that she and her family were different from others, in that hers were witches, some good and some evil. It was also the story, then as it is today, about how one attempts to walk the fine line between doing good and doing bad, letting in lightness and keeping out darkness, especially when one finds out one has extraordinary powers. Young readers will understand the philosophy behind these ideas, as it is written using very clear and definite words, phrases and terms. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,349 reviews14 followers
April 13, 2018
Oh My Gosh! This is an amazing, darker addition to the series and captured my attention from the very beginning! I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.
Profile Image for Gea.
668 reviews
April 12, 2018
I love the deep conversations & philosophical questions!
How can you stay kind and loving when you’re heartbroken?
Only two things left to do now for Anna and her family.
Can’t wait to read the last book!
Profile Image for Phthon.
2,318 reviews7 followers
April 15, 2018
I thought the first book was marvelous...well this one was PHENOMENAL! Again I loved the rich Russian lore inter woven throughout the book. I truly loved it.
Profile Image for Elaine Pettit.
13 reviews
July 19, 2018
Very good

This is a very good book very interesting and kept you involved in the story it makes you want to read the next book
26 reviews
February 14, 2019
Another great read

Keep reading and you so r be disappointed. A brilliant story for older children and adults alike. Off book these next xxx
12 reviews
May 6, 2020
As good as the last one

Thank you, Vic Conor, writing this book. I'm sure many people would have enjoyed reading it. I am now going to read the next and the last book.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
2,246 reviews44 followers
March 20, 2016
What would you do if you found out that your grandmother was a notorious witch? That her fence was made of bones and topped with skulls? That she was rumored to eat people? You probably wouldn't be planning a family reunion any time soon. But if you found out that she had captured your father and was planning to do something evil to him, what then? This is the dilemma Anna Sophia is facing. She has only recently learned that her father and grandmother are still alive. All the years she was in the orphanage she never knew she had any family left. So when she gets word that her father is in danger, she immediately sets out to find him and do what she can to save him.

This second book of Anna's adventures shows her growing knowledge of her magical powers and of her background. Accompanied by her friend Laraleigh, she travels to Russia to meet with her Uncle Misha, the man who rescued her as a baby. From there, her journey will take her to a haunted castle, a witch's hut, and even the middle of Lake Baikal. Along the way she encounters ghosts, a wizard, a golem, a water spirit, evil horsemen, and a giant cat that likes to toy with humans before stealing their souls. It sounds like more than any 13-year-old is meant to deal with, but most teenagers aren't witches.

I recommend this book for middle grade readers who enjoy magical fantasy stories that are set in the real world (rather than an alternate dimension or other worlds). Anna wrestles with questions of identity, the temptation to the dark side of magic, and what it means to be a friend or part of a family. There are plenty of dangerous, magical, desperate situations to keep the book moving along quickly from one event to the next.

I read an e-galley provided by the author for review purposes.
Profile Image for Sissy Lu {Book Savvy Reviews}.
558 reviews49 followers
October 21, 2016
We met Anna Sophia in the last book, an orphan girl who finds out she is, in fact, a witch and that she has a grandmother who is also a witch and quite awful. The first book was a tale of good and evil, this one is not so unlike the first, except there is more depth to the story, and more background to Anna's family.

Anna is able to meet her Uncle Misha and we hit the ground running in this book, she learns that her father, Koschey, is actually alive and kept prisoner and she must seek out her grandmother so that she can free him. If she doesn't, the restless souls that rely on Koschey to bring them to the next life will grow increasingly restless and who can say what happens after that!?

We embark on a grand adventure with Anna, and eventually, she has to part with her beloved Lauraleigh and Uncle Misha. This is where the book kind of stalled for me, when Anna meets her grandmother all seems well except she begins to forget details, she begins to change during this process, too. There seemed to be a lot of back and forth with little to move the story forward. However, that changes swiftly.

My favorite thing about the first book was the struggle we were able to see between good and evil, this book is no different. In fact, we get to see what happens when evil tempts goodness and the toll it takes. I still found the story enjoyable and it kept me reading - even in the slower parts - this is a heavier book in both mood as well as pages. Still a fantastic read.

3.5 crowns!

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Profile Image for Selena.
587 reviews
April 22, 2016
Diary of Anna the Girl Witch #2- Wandering Witch begins just where Diary of Anna the Girl Witch- Foundling Witch ended. There is a lot of background thrown into her diary for those who may have not read the first book, or may need a refresher. Anna Sophia explains it as "time filler".
Wandering Witch may begin where Foundling Witch ended, but it doesn't take long for it to take a life of its own. Anna Sophia's holiday with Lauraleigh has barely begun when she receives an urgent raven message from Uncle Misha that her father is in danger. She's never met her father but feels she must go. As her journey begins she learns about her mother, father, and soon discovers who her grandmother really is. She begins to understand the danger she and her companions are in.
Anna Sophia begins the journey with the knowledge she is a new witch and knows little of her powers. The events in this book teach her more about herself and the real power of being a witch- she has to learn good from bad and how something that seems good may not really be. She learns that sometimes things aren’t always clear-cut good or bad. She begins to learn how to better control the shadows that magic can bring.
I enjoyed Wandering Witch as much as Foundling Witch and hope there will be another book in the series for Anna Sophia and her family and friends. This is a great read for middle school readers. There are a lot of great characters, character growth, and an exciting storyline. Although this is a sequel, it could be a wonderful stand-alone.
I was given the opportunity to read Diary of Anna the Girl Witch Book 2: Wandering Witch by Max Candee in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rachel Stansel.
1,425 reviews19 followers
March 10, 2016
More of the story of Anna. We find her with friend Lauraleigh, headed to Russia and Uncle Misha, right where book 1 left us. Anna is headed home to help the father she has never met and to uncover the history of her family.

Book 2 completely lives up to the first. I enjoyed the further development of Anna, the themes of good and evil (and intent) and really enjoyed the discussion on what wisdom is. The author continues to discuss these topics in deep, relevant ways without feeling preachy or like he is talking down to the readers. He also times up this story while preparing us for the next. I hate series where I feel like I read part of a book because there is nothing resolved. Mr Candee doesn't do that to his reader.


ETA - I meant to comment on the illustrations. They were fine but didn't, for me, match the tone of the book. They felt too cartoonish.

Will be looking out for the next installment.
Profile Image for Connie Anderson.
341 reviews28 followers
March 3, 2017
Diary of Anna the Witch 2: Wandering Witch is mind blowing! It continues where book 1 left off. It begins with a bit of confusion on Anna's guide when Lauraleigh decides that she is going to accompany Anna to Syberia. The guide leaves the girls at the end of the road trail. They end up having to deal with a pack of wild, nasty wolves.

What I love most about this book is that it is darker (more evil, not murder) than the previous book. Anna has to deal with her Granny, and all that it entails. It has so many funny moments, you sometimes forget the dark parts. It is full of action, some witchcraft, and lots of imagination to keep you wanting to keep reading. It is very hard to put this book down, or keep it down, as it calls to you when you least expect it. It is absolutely great to read. Great thing there will be a book 3!

Thank you to Max Candee for giving me a free e-ARC of this book to read and give my honest review.
Profile Image for Ally Santra.
41 reviews3 followers
April 7, 2016
I received my copy of Diary of Anna book two in exchange for an unbiased review.

The second book in the Anna series was a darker chapter in the series, as Anna struggles with her inner demons in this volume. While I am normally wary of sequels, I actually think this one may have been even better than the first one. I really enjoyed seeing Anna's struggles with her own darkness, and I found that most of the new characters introduced were very interesting. The bits of mythology that were played with in this book were also a really nice addition, and made me even more interested in Russia.

Although I just finished this novel, I'm already eager to read the next one. Max Candee's books are incredibly entertaining, and I'd recommend this series to anyone who likes a good coming-of-age mixed with magic story.
2,318 reviews11 followers
February 28, 2016
I'm a fan! This was the second book of this series that I read and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
Can you imagine a teenager being given tasks to complete that seem almost impossible and of course she manages to complete them overcoming lots of obstacles in order to do so.
At times this story reminded me of Alice in Wonderland with its ridiculous situations, but these fitted in so well with the storyline that I loved it.
Well done to Max Candee and his children. This was a book well worth reading.
This book was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Mindy.
643 reviews9 followers
November 24, 2017
Fantasy

Russian fantasy about Baba Yagami and other Russian characters and how they interact with the real world. Can kindness fix what is wrong with the world?
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