The Artifact Hunters

Rookskill Castle #2

by Janet Fox

Isaac Wolf can travel through time. But he's also in a race against it.With tensions in Prague rising at the height of World War II, Isaac Wolf is forced to leave home with nothing more than a small backpack and a pendant in the shape of an eternity knot. His parents believe the pendant will keep him safe--if he can discover what it really means.This clue leads him to Rookskill Castle, home of the Special Alternative Intelligence Unit where gifted children can learn to harness their powers to support the Allies' cause. With the help of his new friends and an antique watch that allows him to travel through time, Isaac must unlock his own powers and uncover the true meaning of the eternity knot. The only way he can do that, though, is by hunting for a series of magical artifacts that are scattered throughout the past . . . and Isaac isn't the only artifact hunter. Soon he finds himself in a race against a threat just as deadly as the war itself--one that his parents had been trying to shield him from all along.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Historical, Time Travel, Fiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2020

About the author

Author of award-winning fiction and non-fiction for young readers. (NOT Janet Kaye Fox)

Published books:
"Get Organized Without Losing It" (middle grade, Free Spirit Publishing, 2017, new edition)
"Faithful" (young adult, Penguin/Speak, 2010)
"Forgiven" (young adult, Speak, 2011)
"Sirens" - (young adult, Speak 2012)
"The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle" - (middle grade, Viking, 2016)
"Volcano Dreams" - picture book, Web of Life Books, September 2018
"The Artifact Hunters" - middle grade, Viking 2020
"Carry Me Home" - middle grade, Simon & Schuster 2021
"Wintergarden" - picture book, Neal Porter, 2023

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was just as good as the 1st book, if not better! Definitely a bigger feeling of danger, tension, & suspense than the 1st-& there was a lot in the that one lol So all of that combined, plus just how amazing the story is itself-couldn’t put it down! Most of the original characters are back, & we have a new character Isaac. It’s a couple of years later, & the war is still in full affect. While the book isn’t about the war, the war is always looming in the background, & you’re always aware of it, & the affect it is having on the characters, & the world itself. The Holocaust was evil in its purest form, more evil than any magic could be if magic were real. As usual w/MG, a great underlying message of friendship, our instinct & fight for survival, & always having the choice to be/do good. You always have a choice. You can do good or evil. Standing by & doing nothing in the face of evil-is a form of evil in itself too. You have the choice to stand up against what you know is wrong. Loved that. Not going to say anymore about the story, b/c I don’t want to spoil anything from the 1st. The villains were terrifying though-nightmare quality lol So much danger, suspense, adventure-& even more magic too! I absolutely loved Willow & Lark lol they have my heart! I really hope there will be a ton more in this series. I absolutely love this world, the characters, & the writing so much. Highly recommend! Absolutely STUNNING cover too.💜

[Cynthia Reeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical, page-turning, spooky escapades! This sequel to THE CHARMED CHILDREN OF ROOKSKILL CASTLE combines historical fiction and adventure in a sure-to-please middle grade novel. Most of the original characters are back, along with a new lead character, Isaac--a Jewish boy from Prague. He's trying to escape both the Nazis and the evil spirits chasing him. I love how the author, Janet Fox, combines elements of fantasy and history to create an intriguing, fast-paced plot for young readers. I certainly learned a few interesting facts and would gladly join the charmed crew for the next time-travel trip. And it does appear there might be more artifact hunter adventures ahead. I certainly hope so!

[S.A. Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader of Fox’s first book The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle, I was thrilled to reconnect with some of those characters as well as with the eerie and dark setting of the castle. Who doesn’t love a castle?! Within the pages, readers will find mystery, danger, and evil in creepy measures, but also magic, wisdom, and courage. And I haven’t even mentioned the super, cool time-travel parts! The writing holds fluency with a flair of the unexpected, but with ease that will excite the most reluctant of readers. Fox has created an enchanted adventure of intrigue and mythology readers will adore!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels like an entirely different story from the first book, but not in a good way. I'm imagining cartoon blobby characters floating around. The narrator lends a Dobby/Gollum sound for one character. I think it might be a different narrator from the first... The book cover as well really gives it an actual cartoony style.

It's WWII and Isaac has overheard his parents discussing shapeshifters, and soon after they leave their home in Prague. He's sent off to Scotland and his parents disappear disguised as an elderly couple. Once he arrives at the castle he meets all sorts of weird things.

Quit:
Chapter 24: Isaac
3h 29m

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As World War II intensifies, Isaac and his parents find Prague is doubly unsafe as the Nazi's increase their hold on the city and the magical dark forces are also closing in on his family. Isaac discovers that he must escape both on his own. His parents send him off by way of guides to get to Rookskill Castle which is in Scotland with very little preparation only that he will learn what he needs in order to understand his magical powers. He meets up with the children already living at Rookskill who are using their magic to help the Allies win the war, but he must also learn to use his abilities to save magic for the good of all.

The story and its pieces are amazingly complex for a middle grade novel so I recommend this book for ages 10-14 for that reason. It took a lot of slow reading and thinking to keep the magic pieces of the story in order as the reading went along. The author uses a lot of Celtic terms and there are two evil magical forces, the Wraith and Moloch which took some time to get straight as to what they were, what their evil intentions were and what they actually do in the story.

I think fans of fantasy might be the best audience for this book. You don't have to read the companion book The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle as this story can be read as a stand alone. The castle characters were my favorite part of the book and it would be good for those who like the new story to be introduced to them in the previous book.

I would recommend this book for purchase to middle school or public libraries.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review bye SWON Libraries.

[Thompson McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle, author Janet Fox weaves history with middle grade fantasy. Set mostly in WWII, young Isaac Wolf must flee war-torn Prague, the Nazis and evil spirits who are after him. Although it is not necessary to read the first book, it is helpful. I would advise reading the books in order.

As the war threatens and Prague is falling, before Isaac's parents disappear, they give him a pendant, an eternity knot, which they are sure will keep him safe. It leads Isaac to Rookskill Castle where a band of magical kids are learning to use their powers to help the Allies win the war. Isaac soon finds himself on a quest to travel through time (with an antique watch) and find magical artifacts that will save him, his family, and the world. Trouble is: Isaac isn't the only one searching for the artifacts.

The cover has spooky Scooby Doo appeal (look at that friendly, big dog!), and middle grade readers will love all the hints they can pick up from the cover alone. Who doesn't want to read a book with dragons, wolves, creepy, evil spirits, ancient scrolls, magic potions, swords, a huge stone castle set in an eerie woods? It is refreshing to have a Jewish main character in middle grade fantasy, and I love that Janet FOX names him Isaac WOLF!

Recommended for kids who love fantasy and magic schools. Grade 5 and up. Be sure and read The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle first.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isaac lives in Prague in 1942 He’s Jewish, and people around them are starting to disappear, like his teacher. One night, Isaac’s parents send him away after giving him mysterious objects; an eternity knot necklace and a casket that he is told not to open until he gets to Rookskill Castle. However, something is hunting them and him.

Isaac escapes with people who help smuggle him to Scotland, and once he arrives, he is transported through time to meet with his parents, who give him some cryptic clues he needs to solve. Unfortunately, his parents are not able to stay with him, as the being that hunts them arrives. Isaac makes his way to Rookskill Castle, not without incident, and he meets the other children and magical beings there. As he attempts to solve the clues and avoid what is hunting him, Isaac makes friends and learns about his own power.

Although some mentions are jarring to those who may know more about the legends (e.g. King Arthur in the 1300s), the overall premise of this book is intriguing. I am not sure about the author’s depiction of an Andean civilization in 1000 AD and would be curious to see the research that the author had done to ensure the representation was as accurate as possible. The research was not included in the eARC that I read.

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

MG-YA readers of sci-fi, fantasy, action-adventure, horror and even historical fiction will all find something to love about the books set at Rookskill Castle! It wasn’t until I was well into this installment when a few references to “before” clued me in that this was not the first of the adventures of magical children and their efforts to protect mystical objects from misuse by evil, supernatural beings and to help the Allies win WWII. Isaac is new to the group of extraordinary young people and had no idea that magic, good or bad, actually exists until his parents set him on a time-traveling quest to find his place as the guardian of a special vault and to defeat some seriously scary fae creatures. Sprinkled throughout the action, author Janet Fox includes literary and historical references that may spark students to search for more information on topics like Incan and Egyptian civilization, Shelley’s Frankenstein, WWII, and much, much more. Highly recommended for strong 5th grade readers through YA and can be read as a stand alone or as a companion to The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle. Content notes: no profanity or sexual content and the violence is relatively bloodless, however, a wraith creature does perform some eerie mechanical modifications on a number of animals and one human.

Thanks for the ARC, Amazon Vine.

[Stephanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off let me say that you do not have to read the first book to read this sequel. I didn’t know it was a series til I saw reviews. The book is full of suspense, danger, and magic!
Issac’s parents send him from Prague to Scotland at the height of WW2. He is suppose to find a symbol that matches the necklace his parent gave him. While there he befriends a group of friends who also have magic, they begin to help him track down the eternity knot.the book focuses on friendship, survival and the choice to go good or evil. He spends the book avoiding nazis and evil spirits.
This book is exciting and scary. It is fast paced and should hook readers from the very beginning.

I would definitely recommend this book.

[David Neilsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not having read Ms. Foix's first book, I had no idea what to expect, but it turns out I needn't have bothered worrying. I fell right into the adventure and had no trouble following along. Fox has created a gloriously-original world and manages to take a historical fiction peice and make you feel like you are right there at that time in that place. Rookskill Castle is a character all on its own, and the children go through trials and tribulations that push them each to their breaking point. There is just the right amount of darkness to give this an edge, while still being an uplifting and good-hearted novel. Highly recommended.

[Luanne Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children of Rookskill castle are back, joined by newcomer Isaac Wolf. It’s 1942 and Isaac’s parents send him to Rookskill to escape the Nazis and, unbeknownst to him, the dangerous shadow fae of the Unseelie court. Isaac’s parents provide him with a means of time travel and have left clues to Isaac’s life purpose in places throughout time. Can Isaac complete his tasks and save the human world from Moloch, the evil Unseelie hunter? Janet Fix has given us an exciting story of teamwork, sacrifice, discovery, and destiny. And magic. Lots and lots of magic.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping tale of time travel, found family and magic, The Artifact Hunters follows Isaac on a perilous journey, seemingly sent by his parent on a magical quest. He meets a cast of quirky loveable characters inside an old castle and soon they are threatened by horrifying creatures who want in, at any cost. This book was engaging and interesting, pretty dark in places but fast paced enough that it wasn’t too much. I loved the castle gang and would definitely read more books with them all combined.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

[E.S. Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is flashlight fiction! You will read under the covers long after bedtime...and likely keep the flashlight on long into the night!

I read this book with my two boys during our remote learning this fall. We LOVED it! It's the perfect mix of history, magic and adventure. And just the right touch of spooky.

I've read each of Janet Fox's novels and can't decide, but this may be the new favorite. What are you waiting for? Buy your copy today!

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series and eagerly awaited the second book. This book, however, lacked a lot of what made the first book so good. I was able to recommend the first book to students of multiple genres. This book I feel really only fits into the fantasy genre. There are bits of historical fiction and supernatural is present, but this one just lacked something. I ended up skipping several chapters at the end, and the ending still made sense....

[Diego Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Very close to four stars, but in the end there was more magic than mystery, I thought. And there's nothing wrong with that, Janet writes very well and this is a fun book to read. It's only that as personal preference, I like to keep my magic a little more on the side. It was actually a shame that the series this book seemed to set up did not to happen in the end (at least there's been no more Artifact Hunters books since 2020)

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Fans of Harry Potter, this is for you!
Regardless of the fact that this book is the second in a series, it stands on its own.
Children escape from other countries, fearing the Nazi Invasion during World War 2, parallels with the dark forces attacking a mysterious and unknown school for magically-inclined youth.
This book is a solid adrenaline rush of magical artifacts, time travel, good and evil, monsters, spells, and humor!


You won't put this book down!

[Kim Gontarz]

Wolf is sent by his parents from Prague to Rookskill Castle in Scotland. To get there he travels through time to pick up pieces information and artifacts that will lead him to understand what his task really is. Will Wolf and his new friend with their special skill be able to defeat the evil that is after them and the world?

[Jenny Dohner · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be fair, this isn’t the type of story I normally enjoy... I have a connection to Czech which is what interested me, and I’ve been enjoying exploring children’s books lately. This story had nice characters, good, moral role models, and is very well-written. It does seem like a ‘Harry Potter’ copycat though.

[Karen Syed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to a lack of good mysteries that I haven't read, I have been reading mysteries for kids. This one by Janet Fox, while not exactly a mystery, was excellent. I prefer not to read fantasies, but like I said, desperate.

The kids in this book are well developed and true to life, even with their gifts. The villains are truly wicked. With adventure, a little bit of history, and some fun, this book is perfect for kids and adults who like an exciting read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea this was a sequel until I came here to review it, so I think it's safe to say you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one. I liked it quite well, and would read another in the series.

[Rena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't read the first book in the series but this felt underdeveloped and rushed. The war plot would have been so interesting, time traveling to get instructions on how to time travel fell a bit flat for me.

[ikallam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh
OH
well guess what ? This is the second book. Idk if that should really change my review because its from two diffrent perspectives that they never met so idk


Its kinda , bland plain ect. Its a really intresting story line but it just not GIVING and the creepy is real stupid

[J.S. Jaeger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the storyline was interesting, it didn't draw me in as much as the first book in the series. In addition, I struggled to determine where this book lay in the timeline compared to the first one until sometime into the story.

[Ivan Benedict · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good fantasy novel. There is magic and there are time travels, and there are monsters. Most of the book happens in the year, 1942. The characters are mainly young people who are involved with magic. The story is often tense. The ending is a happy one.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Sandra Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Wonderful adventures

[Susan Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the first one of the series. Hard to put down. I’m hoping there will be more.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fantasy at it's best, pulling together myths of the ages with modern thoughts on magic and the deeds of men.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

More adventure and less darkness than the first Rookskill Castle book, with more magic pushing out some of the horror, though plenty of evil and danger remains. It's definitely an interesting series.

[RedFoxBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book! I wish it had a sequel...