What do you think?
Rate this book
The Silver Gate #2
Into the Nightfell Wood
This action-packed fantasy novel about two siblings and the fractured world they inherit when they are adopted by a grieving queen is the stunning sequel to The Silver Gate.
Wynn and Elric may now be safe, but adjusting to life in the Between is not without complications. Their adoptive mother, the benevolent Fairy Queen, is haunted by the memory of her child who was kidnapped long ago—and she won’t risk letting the same thing happen to Wynn and Elric. But that same grief has been weakening the queen’s powers for years, and the protective shield around their kingdom is deteriorating.
Wynn is coerced into the Nightfell Wood by a creature sent to do the Grendel’s bidding, Elric knows he must go after her to save her life. What they discover there—about fear, prejudice, and the true nature of evil—will change the fairy kingdom forever.
Wynn and Elric may now be safe, but adjusting to life in the Between is not without complications. Their adoptive mother, the benevolent Fairy Queen, is haunted by the memory of her child who was kidnapped long ago—and she won’t risk letting the same thing happen to Wynn and Elric. But that same grief has been weakening the queen’s powers for years, and the protective shield around their kingdom is deteriorating.
Wynn is coerced into the Nightfell Wood by a creature sent to do the Grendel’s bidding, Elric knows he must go after her to save her life. What they discover there—about fear, prejudice, and the true nature of evil—will change the fairy kingdom forever.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2018
5 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Bailey
5 books185 followersKristin Bailey grew up in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California. As a kid she enjoyed visiting the beach, camping and skiing with her two brothers.
Now she is a military wife and mother of two young children. She is also terrible about spoiling her pets. She has one fluffy mutt, two cats who think they own the world, and a fish tank with a quartet of fat fish, and two secretive striped ninja-assassin snails.
In the course of her adventures, she has worked as a zookeeper, balloon artist, and substitute teacher. Now she enjoys writing books for teens who enjoy mystery and adventure as much as she does.
Kristin loves hearing from readers but asks that all Goodreads messages stay on the subject of books. E-ARCs are available through Edelweiss.
Now she is a military wife and mother of two young children. She is also terrible about spoiling her pets. She has one fluffy mutt, two cats who think they own the world, and a fish tank with a quartet of fat fish, and two secretive striped ninja-assassin snails.
In the course of her adventures, she has worked as a zookeeper, balloon artist, and substitute teacher. Now she enjoys writing books for teens who enjoy mystery and adventure as much as she does.
Kristin loves hearing from readers but asks that all Goodreads messages stay on the subject of books. E-ARCs are available through Edelweiss.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 26, 2019
Enjoyed this series!!! Wynn may have been born with a disability, but that doesn’t stop her from being brave, caring, loving, and a strong protagonist. A book about family and fighting for what is right and what you love no matter how great the obstacle.
#family #middlegradereads #YesiReads
#family #middlegradereads #YesiReads
March 11, 2019
The sequel to The River Gate, this fantasy picks up with siblings Wynn and Elric adjusting to new life in the fairy world.
The story continues their saga: of Wynn being tricked out of the safety of the fairy kingdom, lured into the Nightfell Wood – where the elves and the Grendel live -- and Elric going out to find her. Told in alternating points of view, this magical medieval survival tale is full of twists and turns. Some are predicable, some surprising and has a “Hollywood ending”.
Characterization is very good. While Elric may treat his younger sister Wynn as if she is helpless, the intrepid heroine of this series shows she has plenty of smarts and lots of heart. I found it intriguing that elves had the books in this magical world; the irony of naming two of them Lexicon and Codex was not lost on me! The odd creature Hob adds a lively element of humor during dark passages. Most chapters end in some sort of cliffhanger and will keep the kiddos reading and wanting more! Plenty of descriptive passages paint wonderful pictures of this world. How very cool to describe the woods as being so dark, yet you can climb to the top of the trees in order to see the stars! While you can jump into the series, reading the first book will help you understand the references to it in the story. Ohio author – lives in Alpha/Beavercreek!
Recommended for grades 5-8, though older readers may also enjoy it, younger readers (and their parents) might find some passages a bit gory.
The story continues their saga: of Wynn being tricked out of the safety of the fairy kingdom, lured into the Nightfell Wood – where the elves and the Grendel live -- and Elric going out to find her. Told in alternating points of view, this magical medieval survival tale is full of twists and turns. Some are predicable, some surprising and has a “Hollywood ending”.
Characterization is very good. While Elric may treat his younger sister Wynn as if she is helpless, the intrepid heroine of this series shows she has plenty of smarts and lots of heart. I found it intriguing that elves had the books in this magical world; the irony of naming two of them Lexicon and Codex was not lost on me! The odd creature Hob adds a lively element of humor during dark passages. Most chapters end in some sort of cliffhanger and will keep the kiddos reading and wanting more! Plenty of descriptive passages paint wonderful pictures of this world. How very cool to describe the woods as being so dark, yet you can climb to the top of the trees in order to see the stars! While you can jump into the series, reading the first book will help you understand the references to it in the story. Ohio author – lives in Alpha/Beavercreek!
Recommended for grades 5-8, though older readers may also enjoy it, younger readers (and their parents) might find some passages a bit gory.
May 14, 2018
I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in a series.
Siblings Wynn and Elric are living in the fairy world. The kingdom is surrounded by a tenuous force field, which keeps evil and deadly creatures out. The force field is cracking, based on the fairy queen's emotional state. The idea of losing the siblings may ruin the fairy world. This soon becomes a reality when Wynn leaves the fairy grounds and gets lost in the dangerous woods. With the help of some old friends and new, the siblings fight to be reunited and save the kingdom.
This seems like it would be a solid follow-up in a series. Everything seemed well-developed.
This is the second book in a series.
Siblings Wynn and Elric are living in the fairy world. The kingdom is surrounded by a tenuous force field, which keeps evil and deadly creatures out. The force field is cracking, based on the fairy queen's emotional state. The idea of losing the siblings may ruin the fairy world. This soon becomes a reality when Wynn leaves the fairy grounds and gets lost in the dangerous woods. With the help of some old friends and new, the siblings fight to be reunited and save the kingdom.
This seems like it would be a solid follow-up in a series. Everything seemed well-developed.
September 5, 2018
Wynn and Elric are sister and brother whose story starts in the first Silver Gate book. I didn't know that because I picked up the book [cover love] and there was nothing on it or in it to indicate it was a sequel. It took me a few chapters to figure out that they kept referring to things that happened in a prior book, like the girl's thumbs and her inability to communicate, and what happened to lead them to the fairy palace they could not leave. The language in the book makes me think it's for a 3rd-5th grade reading level, but I just couldn't get into the writing.
January 31, 2023
One of the best books I’ve read in years. Even though I read this as a stand-alone it was fairly easy to pick up on the backstory and to understand the world. At first the plot seemed a little lacking however it makes up for it at the end. Not to mention how magical the world is. Filled with fairies, elves, and magical animals this world is beyond wholesome and what every fantasy loving person dreams of. This is the perfect book if your looking for a cute, cozy, and fast easy read. It will make you feel all the feelings, good and bad. 20/10 recommend.
February 1, 2019
Definitely not as powerful as the first one? The parts with Wynn were still very sweet but it felt like perhaps the author was trying too hard with the fantasy aspect and did a bit too much telling and not showing where the themes were concerned.
December 21, 2024
I’m honestly kinda surprised that this series isn’t more popular. One of the core messages is about not underestimating people with physical and mental disabilities, something that I think is an important topic to discuss. Highly recommend this series! This book was just a great as the last one!
June 24, 2018
Great sequel. Adventure and magic and a beautiful sibling relationship! Loved it!
June 14, 2021
What a powerful ending to such a heartwarming tale.
There was a lot more action in this one, but it was a little harder to keep track of who was who.
Overall a cute read.
There was a lot more action in this one, but it was a little harder to keep track of who was who.
Overall a cute read.
June 18, 2019
Another book that should be made into a movie! Kept me intrigued!
March 30, 2019
This book is a sequel, and admittedly, I did not read the first. That said, I didn't have any trouble picking up the thread of the story and following along as Wynn and Elric try to navigate life in the fairy realm.
The sibling relationship between Wynn & Elric is lovely. They take care of each other, each in their own way, and they understand the other's abilities and reactions really well (perhaps this means it's not an entirely accurate representation of all sibling relationships, but it's much more enjoyable to read than squabbling would be). When Wynn is lured out of the safety of the fairy realm and into the Nightfell Wood, Elric knows he must go after her.
The darkling creatures in the Nightfell Wood are frightening, the elves are feisty and the 'witch' is an unexpected surprise. In their adventures there, they befriend some they otherwise wouldn't have - Wynn especially has that knack for making friends that only young children do - and uncover some old misunderstandings that have shaped the world.
MVP goes to Mildred, Wynn's chicken. If you know chickens, you probably don't need much more than that, but she is by turns funny and fierce, and ever loyal to Wynn. I'd probably recommend reading the first book before this one, do as I say and not as I do, but this is a good read for Middle Grade readers who love fantasy and adventure.
The sibling relationship between Wynn & Elric is lovely. They take care of each other, each in their own way, and they understand the other's abilities and reactions really well (perhaps this means it's not an entirely accurate representation of all sibling relationships, but it's much more enjoyable to read than squabbling would be). When Wynn is lured out of the safety of the fairy realm and into the Nightfell Wood, Elric knows he must go after her.
The darkling creatures in the Nightfell Wood are frightening, the elves are feisty and the 'witch' is an unexpected surprise. In their adventures there, they befriend some they otherwise wouldn't have - Wynn especially has that knack for making friends that only young children do - and uncover some old misunderstandings that have shaped the world.
MVP goes to Mildred, Wynn's chicken. If you know chickens, you probably don't need much more than that, but she is by turns funny and fierce, and ever loyal to Wynn. I'd probably recommend reading the first book before this one, do as I say and not as I do, but this is a good read for Middle Grade readers who love fantasy and adventure.
March 15, 2021
Content Warning:
Animal death
Intro:
I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed it much more than the first one as I think the fantasy element was much greater!
The Plot
Similar to the first one, the plot is more of a journey. However I did find this one much more well-structured, and truly enjoyed following this journey more so than the first. The adventure element was also much more at play, and there were many more twists and turns in this book than compared with the first.
The Characters
We were introduced to quite a few new characters in this book while also being reacquainted with the old ones.
I LOVED getting to see Wynn grow on her own, without the assistance of her brother! It was beautiful to see how capable she is on her own, and how she is able to touch the lives of almost anyone she comes across.
The Writing
I could truly see the change in skill with this author from this book compared to the first. The writing, the complexity, it was just so improved!
The Themes
The biggest theme I took away from this book, was the theme of hope, and having hope when all seems dark. How hope can shine a light, and make such a big difference.
I also found the theme of putting ones differences aside and helping on another when the need arises to be quite impactful!
The Romance and Relationships
Once again, like with the first, the relationships are aimed to friendships and family relationships. I found the focus of this book to more so on the friendship one, whereas the first was more focused on family.
The Sex and Language
This book is completely clean.
Small Grievance
I don’t think there was anything that really annoyed me, so I have nothing to put here!.
Conclusion
I loved this series! It was so cute and wonderful and I got really attached the characters. While I didn’t love the first one, this second one really makes the series worth a read!
Quotes:
“You can do magic. When you sing, it's magic. When you dance, it's magic. There is magic in the joy and love you share. That magic helped bring you here."
"There is always hope”
“You read it. These are picture of words. When you write words down or draw pictures, you can keep them forever and you don’t have to remember them. Then when you die, those thoughts stay in the book, and you can give them to someone else. That way nothing is lost, even if you are gone.”
“Don’t give up. The darkness of these wood can steal your hope. But hope is the best weapon we have.”
“Wynn decided he was very grumpy, but grumpy didn’t always make someone mean.”
“Now as the time for courage. Now was the time for strength.”
Animal death
Intro:
I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed it much more than the first one as I think the fantasy element was much greater!
The Plot
Similar to the first one, the plot is more of a journey. However I did find this one much more well-structured, and truly enjoyed following this journey more so than the first. The adventure element was also much more at play, and there were many more twists and turns in this book than compared with the first.
The Characters
We were introduced to quite a few new characters in this book while also being reacquainted with the old ones.
I LOVED getting to see Wynn grow on her own, without the assistance of her brother! It was beautiful to see how capable she is on her own, and how she is able to touch the lives of almost anyone she comes across.
The Writing
I could truly see the change in skill with this author from this book compared to the first. The writing, the complexity, it was just so improved!
The Themes
The biggest theme I took away from this book, was the theme of hope, and having hope when all seems dark. How hope can shine a light, and make such a big difference.
I also found the theme of putting ones differences aside and helping on another when the need arises to be quite impactful!
The Romance and Relationships
Once again, like with the first, the relationships are aimed to friendships and family relationships. I found the focus of this book to more so on the friendship one, whereas the first was more focused on family.
The Sex and Language
This book is completely clean.
Small Grievance
I don’t think there was anything that really annoyed me, so I have nothing to put here!.
Conclusion
I loved this series! It was so cute and wonderful and I got really attached the characters. While I didn’t love the first one, this second one really makes the series worth a read!
Quotes:
“You can do magic. When you sing, it's magic. When you dance, it's magic. There is magic in the joy and love you share. That magic helped bring you here."
"There is always hope”
“You read it. These are picture of words. When you write words down or draw pictures, you can keep them forever and you don’t have to remember them. Then when you die, those thoughts stay in the book, and you can give them to someone else. That way nothing is lost, even if you are gone.”
“Don’t give up. The darkness of these wood can steal your hope. But hope is the best weapon we have.”
“Wynn decided he was very grumpy, but grumpy didn’t always make someone mean.”
“Now as the time for courage. Now was the time for strength.”
August 9, 2018
Kristen shared my SLJ review earlier this year: https://www.kristinbailey.com/2018/01...
February 6, 2023
Also sheer awesomeness! Overall not as good as the first book, but some parts
dnf
October 21, 2018Ran out of time from the library ~60 pages in, fairly simple tale of twins taken by a fairy queen now living in a fairy tree surrounded by a magical barrier to keep out the Grendel and other creatures of the Nightfell Wood outside. May grab it back sometime later to finish.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews