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Roar #2
Return to Roar
Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781405295024
Twins Arthur and Rose can’t wait to go back to Roar, the fantasy world they get to through their grandad’s attic. Roar is a land of dragons, mermaids, unicorns, ninja wizards and where anything they can imagine can be real.
But when they return there’s no time for exploring, because a message arrives from their scarecrow enemy, Crowky.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
The Box would always contain the things that scared the twins most – and if Crowky gets hold of it, Roar could be in more danger than ever.
Soon they find themselves on another thrilling adventure, accompanied by old friends and new faces and seeing parts of Roar they’d almost forgotten. But will they get to the box before Crowky does? And if it opens, what will they see?
Twins Arthur and Rose can’t wait to go back to Roar, the fantasy world they get to through their grandad’s attic. Roar is a land of dragons, mermaids, unicorns, ninja wizards and where anything they can imagine can be real.
But when they return there’s no time for exploring, because a message arrives from their scarecrow enemy, Crowky.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
The Box would always contain the things that scared the twins most – and if Crowky gets hold of it, Roar could be in more danger than ever.
Soon they find themselves on another thrilling adventure, accompanied by old friends and new faces and seeing parts of Roar they’d almost forgotten. But will they get to the box before Crowky does? And if it opens, what will they see?
310 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2020
93 people are currently reading
2303 people want to read
About the author
Jenny McLachlan
53 books304 followersI have always loved reading and I studied English at university just so that I could read a bit more. Next I found my way into secondary teaching and discovered that I loved it too: I got to read more books, show off and hang out with very funny teenagers. What a great job!
Teaching English also encouraged me to write. Soon I had planned and started lots of different stories, but they were all abandoned and shoved to the back of a drawer. Then, one day, the plot for Flirty Dancing came together; Bea’s story was so alive it was like a film running in my head and I knew it was a story I would finish.
Over the next few years, various exciting events distracted me from Flirty Dancing: I got married, travelled the world, was chased by an angry elephant (and a pack of dogs) and I had two babies. While I was sitting on trains, swimming in the Outback and raising two crazy girls, I kept thinking about Bea, and her friends, Betty, Kat and Pearl, until I realised I had planned three more books.
In 2013, after attending the Winchester Writers’ Festival, I plucked up the courage to send Flirty Dancing to Julia Churchill, a brilliant children’s fiction agent at A.M. Heath. With dazzling speed I was then signed by Bloomsbury to write the four books in the series.
Teaching English also encouraged me to write. Soon I had planned and started lots of different stories, but they were all abandoned and shoved to the back of a drawer. Then, one day, the plot for Flirty Dancing came together; Bea’s story was so alive it was like a film running in my head and I knew it was a story I would finish.
Over the next few years, various exciting events distracted me from Flirty Dancing: I got married, travelled the world, was chased by an angry elephant (and a pack of dogs) and I had two babies. While I was sitting on trains, swimming in the Outback and raising two crazy girls, I kept thinking about Bea, and her friends, Betty, Kat and Pearl, until I realised I had planned three more books.
In 2013, after attending the Winchester Writers’ Festival, I plucked up the courage to send Flirty Dancing to Julia Churchill, a brilliant children’s fiction agent at A.M. Heath. With dazzling speed I was then signed by Bloomsbury to write the four books in the series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
August 6, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
During the school holiday twins, Arthur and Rose are staying with their Grandfather for a week whilst their parents are away. They can’t wait to get back to his house as it contains a special place they love.
In their Grandfather’s attic, through an old camp bed is their favourite mystical place, Roar. They haven’t been back for three months since the events in the first book, ‘The Land of Roar‘ but after defeating Crowky, the bad Crow, and him leaving Roar the children are hoping for a calmer time than last time.
However, it isn’t long before they realise that Crowky is still in Roar and what more he’s after the one thing that could make him even more dangerous and Roar a very scary place, a special box. With help from their friends can Arthur and Rose stop Crowky before it is too late for Roar and possibly Earth too?
Return to Roar is another action-packed adventure into the children’s fantasy land that they created. Everything that is featured in Roar was made invented by the twin’s imagination, including ‘The End’ the place where they discarded all the items they decided they didn’t want or didn’t fit in the main section.
The book opens strongly and it isn’t long, just a few chapters until we are back in the thick of the action. Arthur is excited to see his wizard friend Win and Rose is looking forward to seeing her best mermaid friend Mitch, but will she have returned from her mission in book one?
The book moves along at a fast pace and the chapters are quite short giving the book and even quicker feel, which then makes everything super exciting. Roar is both a wonderful and scary place, where they can have lots of fun but also be accosted by an octopus! The twins were obviously very inventive in their creation and role play.
Overall, if you have read book one and loved it then you need to read the sequel. If you love middle-grade books or have a child that loves them and they enjoy action/adventures with amazing characters, pirate ships, and a race to save the world from a dangerous crow, then this is the book for them.
During the school holiday twins, Arthur and Rose are staying with their Grandfather for a week whilst their parents are away. They can’t wait to get back to his house as it contains a special place they love.
In their Grandfather’s attic, through an old camp bed is their favourite mystical place, Roar. They haven’t been back for three months since the events in the first book, ‘The Land of Roar‘ but after defeating Crowky, the bad Crow, and him leaving Roar the children are hoping for a calmer time than last time.
However, it isn’t long before they realise that Crowky is still in Roar and what more he’s after the one thing that could make him even more dangerous and Roar a very scary place, a special box. With help from their friends can Arthur and Rose stop Crowky before it is too late for Roar and possibly Earth too?
Return to Roar is another action-packed adventure into the children’s fantasy land that they created. Everything that is featured in Roar was made invented by the twin’s imagination, including ‘The End’ the place where they discarded all the items they decided they didn’t want or didn’t fit in the main section.
The book opens strongly and it isn’t long, just a few chapters until we are back in the thick of the action. Arthur is excited to see his wizard friend Win and Rose is looking forward to seeing her best mermaid friend Mitch, but will she have returned from her mission in book one?
The book moves along at a fast pace and the chapters are quite short giving the book and even quicker feel, which then makes everything super exciting. Roar is both a wonderful and scary place, where they can have lots of fun but also be accosted by an octopus! The twins were obviously very inventive in their creation and role play.
Overall, if you have read book one and loved it then you need to read the sequel. If you love middle-grade books or have a child that loves them and they enjoy action/adventures with amazing characters, pirate ships, and a race to save the world from a dangerous crow, then this is the book for them.
September 11, 2020
How do I describe my love of this book??????????
This is the sequel to The Land of Roar.
The Land of Roar is about two twins named Arthur and Rose. When they were little they created a magical world named Roar. Now that the twins are 11 Roar has almost completely faded from their minds. When Arthur sees some strange things he believes that maybe just maybe Roar is real.
This book was just as magical as the first one. I loved seeing these characters again. Rose is a queen and I loved seeing her more in this book. Arthur is the best brother ever and he is also very clever (definitely didn't just rhyme on purpose...) Win is a free spirit and I love him with all my heart.
I loved the "WHAT'S IN THE BOX?" aspect it made the stakes extremely high.
Okay, I have a serious question: If you've read this book does Crowky truly terrify you????? Please comment and tell me because he scares the crap out of me.
Crowky is the best and scariest villain I've ever read about. I love how Jenny McLachlan can make her characters so lovable or scary in Crowky's case. Jenny McLachlan is amazing a creating and writing Roar. I love Roar so much and I want to explore it with Win, Rose, and Arthur. I want to fly on dragons and ride of Unicorns and hang with mermaids. And I guarantee you will too if you read this series!
Would highly, highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy or need a fun magical middle grade to make you happy!!
This is the sequel to The Land of Roar.
The Land of Roar is about two twins named Arthur and Rose. When they were little they created a magical world named Roar. Now that the twins are 11 Roar has almost completely faded from their minds. When Arthur sees some strange things he believes that maybe just maybe Roar is real.
This book was just as magical as the first one. I loved seeing these characters again. Rose is a queen and I loved seeing her more in this book. Arthur is the best brother ever and he is also very clever (definitely didn't just rhyme on purpose...) Win is a free spirit and I love him with all my heart.
I loved the "WHAT'S IN THE BOX?" aspect it made the stakes extremely high.
Okay, I have a serious question: If you've read this book does Crowky truly terrify you????? Please comment and tell me because he scares the crap out of me.
Crowky is the best and scariest villain I've ever read about. I love how Jenny McLachlan can make her characters so lovable or scary in Crowky's case. Jenny McLachlan is amazing a creating and writing Roar. I love Roar so much and I want to explore it with Win, Rose, and Arthur. I want to fly on dragons and ride of Unicorns and hang with mermaids. And I guarantee you will too if you read this series!
Would highly, highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy or need a fun magical middle grade to make you happy!!
October 20, 2024
Arthur and Rose are excited to visit Roar for “half-hols,” which I think means Christmas break. The world is richly detailed, an homage to kids who have ever wanted to desperately find Narnia.
They are after a MacGuffin because the villain is after it, so they want to get it first, but by finding it first they just lead the villain to it. So it’s kind of cliche plot-wise. Despite the world’s inherent silliness, there are some really creepy moments. Crowkey is an actually scary villain.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Mild
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
They are after a MacGuffin because the villain is after it, so they want to get it first, but by finding it first they just lead the villain to it. So it’s kind of cliche plot-wise. Despite the world’s inherent silliness, there are some really creepy moments. Crowkey is an actually scary villain.
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Mild
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
October 1, 2022
Okay so I teared up near the end, didn't expect to but I love it so much. I said it before about the first book and I'll repeat it here: I wish I could give this book to my younger self. I love Rose & Arthur and the things they face in this book will be so relatable to kids.
I'm so intrigued where the story will go in the next book, its all just so exciting.
I'm so intrigued where the story will go in the next book, its all just so exciting.
August 25, 2020
I finished this 1 last night!! I loved it so much! I’m so excited for the 3rd one. It was exciting, adventurous, action-packed, hilarious, heart warming, & just as vividly & amazingly described as ever. The twins have a new adventure in Roar, w/all new risks & things they are trying to prevent. Win still has my heart. I also loved Mitch! Such a cool, creative, amazing character! I still love the dynamic b/n the twins, & I really loved seeing how much Arthur helped Rose. Even though she always appears to be the tough, brave, strong one....it was nice to see that things aren’t always what they appear in some instances...& everyone needs help sometimes. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say I loved the topic touched on towards the end of the book. I’m so glad I didn’t have to deal w/that in my youth(I do deal w/it today🙄). It was hard enough back then, & I can’t even imagine how much harder it would have been w/that factored in.(when you read the book it will all make sense lol). Again, another BEAUTIFUL cover, w/the book being FILLED w/STUNNING illustrations all throughout.😍😍I will definitely be on the lookout for book 3! Highly recommend!!
Synopsis of 1st book in series: Everyone remembers their secret imaginary world…but what if you discovered that yours was real?
When Arthur and Rose were little, they were the heroes of Roar, a magical world they invented where the wildest creations of their imaginations roamed. Now that they’re eleven, Roar is just a distant memory. But it hasn’t forgotten them.
When their grandfather is spirited away into Roar by the villain who still haunts their nightmares, Arthur and Rose must go back to the world they’d almost left behind. And when they get there, they discover that Grandad isn’t the only one who needs their help.
Synopsis of 1st book in series: Everyone remembers their secret imaginary world…but what if you discovered that yours was real?
When Arthur and Rose were little, they were the heroes of Roar, a magical world they invented where the wildest creations of their imaginations roamed. Now that they’re eleven, Roar is just a distant memory. But it hasn’t forgotten them.
When their grandfather is spirited away into Roar by the villain who still haunts their nightmares, Arthur and Rose must go back to the world they’d almost left behind. And when they get there, they discover that Grandad isn’t the only one who needs their help.
October 26, 2024
3.5⭐️
Another fun and imaginative read. I think I actually might of preferred this one to the first - there was definitely more adventure and this one was basically non-stop from start to finish. We got some new characters which is always fun, we saw Arthur and Ross face their fears and naturally, a little cliff hanger wondering if the villain is actually dead to make us question what’s going to happen next. I’m looking forward to picking up the next one!
Another fun and imaginative read. I think I actually might of preferred this one to the first - there was definitely more adventure and this one was basically non-stop from start to finish. We got some new characters which is always fun, we saw Arthur and Ross face their fears and naturally, a little cliff hanger wondering if the villain is actually dead to make us question what’s going to happen next. I’m looking forward to picking up the next one!
January 19, 2024
Book #2 of The Great Book Unhauling of 2024 Project
New Words Learnt - 1
2.75 stars
This probably would've gotten a slightly higher rating under my previous rating system which would've put it above its predecessor, however I've gone stricter with my ratings and unfortunately the flaws are all too apparent.
The Land of Roar for me was fine. It had a good concept, lots of potential, and a warming message that hit right home with my imaginational self. The villain was also decent and scary, especially for the book's target audience. Unfortunately, because of that said target audience, the writing was simple, the plot was hyper, and the characters were unlikable or forgettable. This meant that I was in no rush to read the sequel, yet I found both books #2 and #3 in a charity shop which I then thought why not? Might as well get closure.
R2R is more of the same so to speak. I think it's better than the first book as the story is more engaging and we visit a bigger world than the first one (positive world-building). However many of the original problems remain. There was a limit to the potential of this series placed by the first one, and though at times R2R was achieving maximum available points, at others it was drowning to the bottom of the bottomless ocean. A mix of detestable or unmemorable characters, patronising and badly-executed messages, wishy-washy world-building, illogical things happening for the plot, and lack of cathartic material meant that R2R failed to impress me or justify why I should continue on with the third one.
New Words Learnt - 1
2.75 stars
This probably would've gotten a slightly higher rating under my previous rating system which would've put it above its predecessor, however I've gone stricter with my ratings and unfortunately the flaws are all too apparent.
The Land of Roar for me was fine. It had a good concept, lots of potential, and a warming message that hit right home with my imaginational self. The villain was also decent and scary, especially for the book's target audience. Unfortunately, because of that said target audience, the writing was simple, the plot was hyper, and the characters were unlikable or forgettable. This meant that I was in no rush to read the sequel, yet I found both books #2 and #3 in a charity shop which I then thought why not? Might as well get closure.
R2R is more of the same so to speak. I think it's better than the first book as the story is more engaging and we visit a bigger world than the first one (positive world-building). However many of the original problems remain. There was a limit to the potential of this series placed by the first one, and though at times R2R was achieving maximum available points, at others it was drowning to the bottom of the bottomless ocean. A mix of detestable or unmemorable characters, patronising and badly-executed messages, wishy-washy world-building, illogical things happening for the plot, and lack of cathartic material meant that R2R failed to impress me or justify why I should continue on with the third one.
December 28, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable return to roar! I still wish I had a childhood world of make-believe to visit.
This instalment sees Arthur and Rose still as twins who are growing up and maybe growing apart, but ones who have also found their way back to each other since the first book. Their bond is much better here, and their personalities come through a little more. I especially love how protective we see Arthur being over Rose nearer the end.
Crowky continues to be exactly the right amount of terrifying for a middle-grade book villain, and is wonderful to read! I was all for hiding from him and trying to protect Arthur and Rose too! But I especially liked the box - what a wonderful way to show how you mature and your fears become less tangible and harder to conquer. Rose's fear may have been a little obvious but was a lovely nod to what kids can go through.
I hope there are more in this series because I found it utterly enchanting. 4.5 stars.
This instalment sees Arthur and Rose still as twins who are growing up and maybe growing apart, but ones who have also found their way back to each other since the first book. Their bond is much better here, and their personalities come through a little more. I especially love how protective we see Arthur being over Rose nearer the end.
Crowky continues to be exactly the right amount of terrifying for a middle-grade book villain, and is wonderful to read! I was all for hiding from him and trying to protect Arthur and Rose too! But I especially liked the box - what a wonderful way to show how you mature and your fears become less tangible and harder to conquer. Rose's fear may have been a little obvious but was a lovely nod to what kids can go through.
I hope there are more in this series because I found it utterly enchanting. 4.5 stars.
April 4, 2025
I have just finished reading this to my 8 year old son. We absolutely loved it! So much adventure, magic, excitement, and true friendship. We can't wait to read the last book in the series - The Battle For Roar.
January 5, 2021
I enjoyed going back to the Land of Roar.
December 6, 2021
The sequel picks up shortly after the first book ends. Rose and Arthur plan a return trip to Roar during their school break. Their adventures continue and both learn to stand up to their fears.
September 1, 2024
This was enjoyable!
October 23, 2020
Such a great second adventure. With great moral stories that people can learn from!!
October 28, 2024
Didn't like the last page. But liked everything else. Twas pretty funny. Just didn't have that 5 star feel.
This book as a song -
Box In The Ocean (In the Meantime album) by Alessia Cara
This book as a song -
Box In The Ocean (In the Meantime album) by Alessia Cara
September 2, 2020
Actual rating: 3,5 stars! I really liked this book. It’s a fun, adventurous middle grade! It had some really good morals about facing your fears! ✨
May 29, 2024
I loved the sequel to the land of ROAR can't wait for the 3rd one
May 30, 2023
Maybe even better than the first one! Jesus loves you ❤️
August 14, 2020
Full of imagination, a ninja-wizard, a mermaid-witch, magic and mayhem. Never stop believing…
Return to Roar is the second in the ‘Roar’ trilogy and is the follow-up to Land or Roar. I strongly advise reading the first book before diving into this one as the story builds on the events that have occurred previously.
Twins Arthur and Rose have navigated the first weeks of high school and are really looking forward to half-term. Half-term means a week at grandad’s house and that means it is time to head back to Roar - the fantasy land that they created and that is reached by crawling through the camp-bed in grandad’s attic.
Roar is looking resplendent. Light is illuminating the Archie Playgo and the Rainbow River is glowing. The trees are full of colourful birds, and butterflies and colour-changing ladybirds swoop through the air. There is no sign of the evil Crowky and the Lost Girls are living happily in the Crows Nest, things are just about perfect.
It isn’t long until the excitement is ruined and an old enemy makes his presence felt. A creepy message appears that shocks the twins to their very core…"WHAT’S IN THE BOX?” ‘The Box’ was meant to have been disposed of long ago. It was always filled with Arthur and Rose’s worst fears and if Crowky gets hold of it then it could provide him with the key he needs to get to the home of grandad.
The race is on to find the box. With the help of some faithful old friends and some newly invented ones, the twins embark on another epic adventure that will take them far beyond the safe parts of Roar. They must venture to ‘The End’, the place where all things that are not wanted in Roar are sent to. Is this the end for Arthur and Rose…
This is another ROAR-SOME adventure from Jenny McLachlan. It is a middle-grade fantasy adventure filled with mystical creatures, places that could only come from a child’s imagination and magical objects. McLachlan’s world building is fabulous and she totally immerses the reader in it - you feel like you are there.
McLachlan wastes no time in getting the reader back into the Land of Roar. Within a handful of chapters the children are back into the world they love and from here the action moves along at pace. The chapters are relatively short and that just ramps up the excitement, tension and suspense. There’s a constant need to know what happens next as you always have the sense that something, quite often not good, is never far away.
It felt so good to be back in the Land of Roar. I immediately felt like I was reuniting with old friends, catching up and preparing for another big adventure. And what an adventure it is. Return to Roar is much darker than its predecessor. It is scary, and the cold and eery landscape of the ‘The End’ is a perfect location for the action to play out. There are plenty of times when the hairs will prickle on your neck and shivers will be racing down your spine.
McLachlan introduces more fantastical creatures and places into the narrative. There are honey-badgers who steer a ship, orangutan pirates, glow-in-the-dark tadpoles, ice dragons, wolves and a Vampire waterfall. I wait with anticipation to see what appears in the final book.
My favourite character from the first book was Win and I’m glad to see the that he hasn’t changed. He is full of excitement and positivity and is always on hand to provide a marshmallow in any situation. In the time between the two books his wizard-ing skills have improved slightly which is of great relief to Arthur and Rose as they find themselves in some hair-raising situations. I was thrilled to finally meet Mitch, a tattooed mermaid with plenty of attitude and heart.
I really liked how the narrative was driven around the hunt for ‘The Box’ and in finding it the children overcome their fears. We all have a box where our fears live and every now and again those fears jump out. The positive message that readers can take away is that fear can usually be overcome, we just need to be brave enough to face it. As the action unfolds there are lovely messages on friendship and the strength of the sibling bond. The read also provides the opportunity to explore bullying and the impact of social media.
The illustrations are fantastic. From the beautiful cover artwork to the black and white illustrations, Ben Mantle expertly brings Roar to life.
The story of Roar is not yet done and there will be a third and final part to the narrative that is published in 2021. I for one can not wait. Return to Roar is wonderfully imaginative and imaginatively wonderful… you’re never too old to have fun.
Recommended for 8+.
With huge thanks to Egmont Publishing for the copy of the book to review.
Return to Roar is the second in the ‘Roar’ trilogy and is the follow-up to Land or Roar. I strongly advise reading the first book before diving into this one as the story builds on the events that have occurred previously.
Twins Arthur and Rose have navigated the first weeks of high school and are really looking forward to half-term. Half-term means a week at grandad’s house and that means it is time to head back to Roar - the fantasy land that they created and that is reached by crawling through the camp-bed in grandad’s attic.
Roar is looking resplendent. Light is illuminating the Archie Playgo and the Rainbow River is glowing. The trees are full of colourful birds, and butterflies and colour-changing ladybirds swoop through the air. There is no sign of the evil Crowky and the Lost Girls are living happily in the Crows Nest, things are just about perfect.
It isn’t long until the excitement is ruined and an old enemy makes his presence felt. A creepy message appears that shocks the twins to their very core…"WHAT’S IN THE BOX?” ‘The Box’ was meant to have been disposed of long ago. It was always filled with Arthur and Rose’s worst fears and if Crowky gets hold of it then it could provide him with the key he needs to get to the home of grandad.
The race is on to find the box. With the help of some faithful old friends and some newly invented ones, the twins embark on another epic adventure that will take them far beyond the safe parts of Roar. They must venture to ‘The End’, the place where all things that are not wanted in Roar are sent to. Is this the end for Arthur and Rose…
This is another ROAR-SOME adventure from Jenny McLachlan. It is a middle-grade fantasy adventure filled with mystical creatures, places that could only come from a child’s imagination and magical objects. McLachlan’s world building is fabulous and she totally immerses the reader in it - you feel like you are there.
McLachlan wastes no time in getting the reader back into the Land of Roar. Within a handful of chapters the children are back into the world they love and from here the action moves along at pace. The chapters are relatively short and that just ramps up the excitement, tension and suspense. There’s a constant need to know what happens next as you always have the sense that something, quite often not good, is never far away.
It felt so good to be back in the Land of Roar. I immediately felt like I was reuniting with old friends, catching up and preparing for another big adventure. And what an adventure it is. Return to Roar is much darker than its predecessor. It is scary, and the cold and eery landscape of the ‘The End’ is a perfect location for the action to play out. There are plenty of times when the hairs will prickle on your neck and shivers will be racing down your spine.
McLachlan introduces more fantastical creatures and places into the narrative. There are honey-badgers who steer a ship, orangutan pirates, glow-in-the-dark tadpoles, ice dragons, wolves and a Vampire waterfall. I wait with anticipation to see what appears in the final book.
My favourite character from the first book was Win and I’m glad to see the that he hasn’t changed. He is full of excitement and positivity and is always on hand to provide a marshmallow in any situation. In the time between the two books his wizard-ing skills have improved slightly which is of great relief to Arthur and Rose as they find themselves in some hair-raising situations. I was thrilled to finally meet Mitch, a tattooed mermaid with plenty of attitude and heart.
I really liked how the narrative was driven around the hunt for ‘The Box’ and in finding it the children overcome their fears. We all have a box where our fears live and every now and again those fears jump out. The positive message that readers can take away is that fear can usually be overcome, we just need to be brave enough to face it. As the action unfolds there are lovely messages on friendship and the strength of the sibling bond. The read also provides the opportunity to explore bullying and the impact of social media.
The illustrations are fantastic. From the beautiful cover artwork to the black and white illustrations, Ben Mantle expertly brings Roar to life.
The story of Roar is not yet done and there will be a third and final part to the narrative that is published in 2021. I for one can not wait. Return to Roar is wonderfully imaginative and imaginatively wonderful… you’re never too old to have fun.
Recommended for 8+.
With huge thanks to Egmont Publishing for the copy of the book to review.
August 18, 2020
After twelve months of excitedly waiting, this is an extra special review for me. Not only because I loved the first instalment of The Land of Roar so much that I could barely wait for the sequel, but also it was the first book I properly reviewed on this blog. The Land of Roar still remains one of my favourite books I read last year and it's definitely back with a bang!
When Arthur and Rose return to Roar for half term, they plan on celebrating life without villainous scarecrow Crowky on the prowl. But when a sinister message is left outside Winija's cave, it appears that Crowky is very much around and hunting for a terrifying, long-hidden secret that could make all Arthur and Rose's nightmares come true.
To stop Crowky uncovering their deepest fears, Arthur and Rose must journey beyond Roar to 'The End', an unexplored and unknown place. With allies in tow, they battle through ice and snow only to unearth some deadly enemies. But what exactly is their main threat? Crowky? Hattie Skoll and her wolves? Or the fears inside themselves?
Jenny McLachlan brings all the familiarity of Roar back to us in this novel (hooray) but quickly takes us beyond the boundaries of the last story and into the fresh, iced territory of 'The End'. The beautiful but rather bleak landscape is brightened with brilliantly bright characters (old and new), pacey adventure and bags of humorous dialogue.
Once again, the novel encapsulates the very essence of children's imaginary worlds; furry whales, blue unicorns, on-off waterfalls and pic-n-mix by the bagful which gives it a frothier, lighter feel to other books in its genre. However, if you think that means that the plot isn't going to be gripping then think again. The threats are hair-raising, the emotions run deep and the second half of the book has a much darker feel than the first.
As well as a dynamic plot, McLachlan allows us to get to know Arthur and Rose on a much deeper level in this second instalment. Having made the move from primary to secondary school, the twins now have much bigger issues to face. Interestingly, Arthur, who narrates the story, is a much stronger, more together character as he makes his return to Roar, although he remains haunted by one dominant fear. Yet Rose's character, which I previously found rather dominant and unyielding, is peeled back and explored in a sensitive and empathetic way and highlights the impact of bullying on a seemingly confident person.
Crowky remains a loveable and brilliantly sinister baddy and yet remains relatable through his childlike qualities. The friendships are strong and endearing and the magic just crackles around you as you read. Roar is truly a delight - a Peter Pan type world that represents all those magical, secret places that exist in the hearts and minds of us all.
Roar returns in 2021!
When Arthur and Rose return to Roar for half term, they plan on celebrating life without villainous scarecrow Crowky on the prowl. But when a sinister message is left outside Winija's cave, it appears that Crowky is very much around and hunting for a terrifying, long-hidden secret that could make all Arthur and Rose's nightmares come true.
To stop Crowky uncovering their deepest fears, Arthur and Rose must journey beyond Roar to 'The End', an unexplored and unknown place. With allies in tow, they battle through ice and snow only to unearth some deadly enemies. But what exactly is their main threat? Crowky? Hattie Skoll and her wolves? Or the fears inside themselves?
Jenny McLachlan brings all the familiarity of Roar back to us in this novel (hooray) but quickly takes us beyond the boundaries of the last story and into the fresh, iced territory of 'The End'. The beautiful but rather bleak landscape is brightened with brilliantly bright characters (old and new), pacey adventure and bags of humorous dialogue.
Once again, the novel encapsulates the very essence of children's imaginary worlds; furry whales, blue unicorns, on-off waterfalls and pic-n-mix by the bagful which gives it a frothier, lighter feel to other books in its genre. However, if you think that means that the plot isn't going to be gripping then think again. The threats are hair-raising, the emotions run deep and the second half of the book has a much darker feel than the first.
As well as a dynamic plot, McLachlan allows us to get to know Arthur and Rose on a much deeper level in this second instalment. Having made the move from primary to secondary school, the twins now have much bigger issues to face. Interestingly, Arthur, who narrates the story, is a much stronger, more together character as he makes his return to Roar, although he remains haunted by one dominant fear. Yet Rose's character, which I previously found rather dominant and unyielding, is peeled back and explored in a sensitive and empathetic way and highlights the impact of bullying on a seemingly confident person.
Crowky remains a loveable and brilliantly sinister baddy and yet remains relatable through his childlike qualities. The friendships are strong and endearing and the magic just crackles around you as you read. Roar is truly a delight - a Peter Pan type world that represents all those magical, secret places that exist in the hearts and minds of us all.
Roar returns in 2021!
August 17, 2020
I was so excited for Return to Roar as I loved The Land of Roar so much, I really didn't want this one to ruin the story. I will strongly say that this book did not disappoint. I loved it just as much as the first one, possibly even more. It has left me excited about any future adventures that could possibly be thrown their way.
This time round you start the story by the twins being excited for the half term as they are off to grandads and he has said they are allowed to go to Roar for the whole week. Once inside Roar the twins go looking for their best friends that live within Roar. It doesn't take them long to realise that somethings are not exactly as they seem. They find that their imagination has not been lost to them and this opens many doors along the way.
The writing style of Jenny McLachlan is just unbelievable, the way that every single small details are brought to life. You really do feel part of the story. At some points it really did take my breath away and i felt as if i was in Roar along with them on their quest.
There is so much more excitement, adventure and danger than in the first book, however it fits smoothly in the story line along with The Land of Roar. These are books i would happily read again tomorrow.
I would highly recommend this book for children of all ages and adults of all ages for that matter. I feel that these books are such an escape that it doesn't matter how old you are, the story will take you to Roar and you will become part of the story. One thing i will say is you must read The Land of Roar first. I feel you would lose part of this book if you had read the first one as it does refer back to the story on many occasions.
All in all these two books are the favourite books that I have read this year, I would give these an 11 out of 10.
This time round you start the story by the twins being excited for the half term as they are off to grandads and he has said they are allowed to go to Roar for the whole week. Once inside Roar the twins go looking for their best friends that live within Roar. It doesn't take them long to realise that somethings are not exactly as they seem. They find that their imagination has not been lost to them and this opens many doors along the way.
The writing style of Jenny McLachlan is just unbelievable, the way that every single small details are brought to life. You really do feel part of the story. At some points it really did take my breath away and i felt as if i was in Roar along with them on their quest.
There is so much more excitement, adventure and danger than in the first book, however it fits smoothly in the story line along with The Land of Roar. These are books i would happily read again tomorrow.
I would highly recommend this book for children of all ages and adults of all ages for that matter. I feel that these books are such an escape that it doesn't matter how old you are, the story will take you to Roar and you will become part of the story. One thing i will say is you must read The Land of Roar first. I feel you would lose part of this book if you had read the first one as it does refer back to the story on many occasions.
All in all these two books are the favourite books that I have read this year, I would give these an 11 out of 10.
September 20, 2024
Just finished the second in this series with my kid. This was good for both of us. We continue to follow twins Arthur and Rose who invented a whole make believe world in their grandfather's attic as young kids. Turns out that make believe world became real through a portal. The twins wind up returning for the first time in a long time in the first book and revisiting some of their younger childhood dreams (and nightmares in the form of the villain, Crowky). I liked that message of embracing being childlike. In this book they return to Roar again with the express purpose of revisiting all of the things/creatures they forgot they loved prior to their last visit. Turns out Crowky is back and ready to cause mischief bringing back "The Box." This was invented by Arthur and Rose as kids where they would prank each other by pulling things each feared out of the box. Now Crowky wants to use it against them. The whole message is about how fears change from monsters and spiders as kids to different things, like bullies and your family being hurt, as you grow. The kids go on an adventure with some of the same friends from the first book to get the box back from Crowky. This involves traveling to "The End"--the place where Arthur and Rose "sent" all of the things they didn't want in Roar in the past. It doesn't make for a super nice place. Anyway, it's all about overcoming your fears not by pushing them down or away but learning to overcome them often with help from the people who love you. It was cute. My kid was entertained. We'll certainly be reading the next one.
September 13, 2020
Return to Roar is the second instalment in the Land of Roar series. Twins Arthur and Rose can’t wait to go back to Roar, the fantasy world they get to through their grandad’s attic. Roar is a land of dragons, mermaids, unicorns, ninja wizards and where anything they can imagine can be real.
I really enjoyed the first book so knew this one would be just as good! It was so great to be back in such a well developed imaginative world! I love how the real world connects to the Land of Roar.
The twins have a lot of character development from the first book and throughout this one. It is very character driven and the plot is heavily linked to something Arthur & Rose are experiencing internally. Everything they experience in Roar teaches them something and is relevant to their lives in the outside world. This makes for a really gripping adventure story!
My favourite part of the book was Arthur attempting to ride a unicorn. I have never laughed out loud so much at a Middle Grade book! The intricacies of Roar that Jenny has thought about are just wonderful.
I believe all ages would enjoy this story but if you have children starting school, trying to make friends & lacking confidence, I think this is the perfect book for them to enjoy and feel like they’re not alone!
I really enjoyed the first book so knew this one would be just as good! It was so great to be back in such a well developed imaginative world! I love how the real world connects to the Land of Roar.
The twins have a lot of character development from the first book and throughout this one. It is very character driven and the plot is heavily linked to something Arthur & Rose are experiencing internally. Everything they experience in Roar teaches them something and is relevant to their lives in the outside world. This makes for a really gripping adventure story!
My favourite part of the book was Arthur attempting to ride a unicorn. I have never laughed out loud so much at a Middle Grade book! The intricacies of Roar that Jenny has thought about are just wonderful.
I believe all ages would enjoy this story but if you have children starting school, trying to make friends & lacking confidence, I think this is the perfect book for them to enjoy and feel like they’re not alone!
January 11, 2022
What a fantastic follow-up to the first book! And as much as I hate trilogies, mostly, I now know this series has a third. Exciting! I am surely not the audience the author writes for, as this is Children's- Middle Grade fiction and I am over a half century old, but holycow was it a blast to read. Arthur and Rose and Grandad are a great family trio and we are thrown right back into Roar with little preamble. One of my favorite things about these books is there is no posturing or embarrassment or holding back, the children just do things because they believe in magic. Wininja and Mitch as each child's friend may be the embodiments of this disregard for shame and fear as they just do without much worry or doubt. Nothing is too ridiculous or silly or fantastical. And the world or Roar and how it exists is genius, and gets so much more detail in this book. Seriously, this is fabulous. We get some messaging about friendship and bullying, but it threads into the tapestry of the narrative, but never feels knotty or ragged. I am excited to read the third book and see where McLachlan takes all her characters and all her magical wonders.
February 20, 2023
Arthur and Rose. are back in this second novel. They are getting ready for their trip back to their grandfather's house and Roar. Rose is struggling to fit in with the new girls at school. Arthur has one friend and enjoys spending time with him. When Rose's cupcakes are accidentally destroyed on the last day of school she is ready to ignore her "friends" and spend time in Roar with Arthur and Mitch, the witch/mermaid. Roar is not all the relaxing vacation because Crowky is still out there waiting for mistakes. The journey for this novel was much harder for me to get into. I really wanted the POV to trade between the twins. A lot of this novel goes over. with Arthur thinks Rose is feeling and thinking. I really think this would have benefited from switching between the twins' POVs. I am still planning on finishing the series.
March 26, 2024
My son and I have been reading this series together and we absolutely adore them! This is the second book in the series, and like the first, Arthur and Rose go on more adventures in the imaginary-turns-into-real-life land called Roar.
My son loved this book for its fast pace, the humour, and the suspense and peril. I loved it because of the character development between Arthur and Rose. The way they grow and learn about themselves and each other is so well-written. Honestly, their character arcs are better than some of the adult books I've read.
If you have a fan of Middle Grade Fiction in your house, or if you yourself are a fan (like me!) I cannot recommend this series highly enough. We've already started Book three and it's shaping up nicely already!
My son loved this book for its fast pace, the humour, and the suspense and peril. I loved it because of the character development between Arthur and Rose. The way they grow and learn about themselves and each other is so well-written. Honestly, their character arcs are better than some of the adult books I've read.
If you have a fan of Middle Grade Fiction in your house, or if you yourself are a fan (like me!) I cannot recommend this series highly enough. We've already started Book three and it's shaping up nicely already!
September 1, 2020
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers Egmont Publishing for sending me the digital advance reader copy of this book. This book is the second in a series of three and I definitely think this series should be read in order.. I loved this book and could not wait to read it and it didn't disappoint! . Arthur and Rose Trout are so much fun to read about and keep you engrossed from start to finish.. This book is recommended for readers aged 8+ and it does seem a bit darker than the first book "The Land of Roar". This series will be highly recommended by me I cannot wait for the next instalment.
March 5, 2021
Wasn’t sure how the follow up would work on this as many of the issues between the characters were kind of resolved at the end of book one, but there are plenty of new ideas, new characters, new places and new challenges - it’s marvellous. I gave the first one 4.75 stars (rounded up!) only because it takes a bit of a while to get going (for a kids’ book) but this one dives straight in and balances action and character development / relationships really well. It also deals with the issue of bullying in a great way which helped prompt some really useful and important conversations with my 6 year old. She loved it, I loved it: 10 billion stars
August 12, 2021
I won a copy of Return to Roar by Jenny McLachlan from Goodreads.
Return to Roar by Jenny McLachlan is an exciting middle school novel that takes readers young and old on an adventure that is full of fascinating characters, imaginative settings, and a fast-paced plot. The twists and dangers, the turns and surprises just keep coming, and readers quickly turn pages to find more thrills. The illustrations by Ben Mantle help ignite young readers' delight. This is the second book set in the magical land of Roar, but readers do not need to have read the first to thoroughly enjoy this adventure. All readers will want the story to continue, to return to Roar yet again!
Return to Roar by Jenny McLachlan is an exciting middle school novel that takes readers young and old on an adventure that is full of fascinating characters, imaginative settings, and a fast-paced plot. The twists and dangers, the turns and surprises just keep coming, and readers quickly turn pages to find more thrills. The illustrations by Ben Mantle help ignite young readers' delight. This is the second book set in the magical land of Roar, but readers do not need to have read the first to thoroughly enjoy this adventure. All readers will want the story to continue, to return to Roar yet again!
February 20, 2022
Another great sequel. Arthur and Rose have planned to spend the entire week of half term in Roar, and Grandad is happy to let them, especially now Croaky has gone away. At first, everything is wonderful, until Arthur wakes in the night to find a message, "What's in the box?" daubed on a wall. It reminds him of a game he and his twin sister used to play when they were little, where their worst fears would emerge from a box. Surely the box isn't here in Roar, is it? And what are Arthur and Rose afraid of now they're not little kids anymore? This is another long book full of action and adventure.
October 15, 2020
I enjoyed reading this sequel to the Land of Roar. This series reminds me so much of Peter Pan for some reason and I feel that children aged 10 and up would absolutely love it. The sinister bad guy is just scary enough to bring a delightful shiver of fear and the story is exciting, you rush to keep reading it to find out how it ends. I enjoyed the moral of the story and how the main character learns to stand up to her bullies with the support of her brother, the theme of friendship and family shines through in this series and I love that part of it.
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