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Netherfeld Trilogy #2
Double Double Toil
Six months after the events of Cauldron’s Bubble...
Alda is stranded in her remote cottage, unable to recreate the magical object that allows her to travel between time and place. Meanwhile, Dreng’s home with Miranda on a distant island begins to crumble. They both escape to Fairy Land, where they become embroiled in a battle of immortals as the clans of Queen Titania and King Oberon fight for supremacy. In order to restore order and return to their worlds, Dreng must rely on his adversary, Caliban, while Alda discovers an ally in the mysterious Ophelia. In a realm where only humans can die, will Alda and Dreng save themselves and, more importantly, each other? Or will they succumb to the fantastical powers in play?
Double Double Toil continues to build on the world introduced in Cauldron’s Bubble by intertwining Shakespeare’s plays in a unique and exciting way, introducing their stories to new readers and established Bard fans alike. Elements and characters from Hamlet, Macbeth, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet combine in this fast-paced tale of magic and adventure. Read on…
Alda is stranded in her remote cottage, unable to recreate the magical object that allows her to travel between time and place. Meanwhile, Dreng’s home with Miranda on a distant island begins to crumble. They both escape to Fairy Land, where they become embroiled in a battle of immortals as the clans of Queen Titania and King Oberon fight for supremacy. In order to restore order and return to their worlds, Dreng must rely on his adversary, Caliban, while Alda discovers an ally in the mysterious Ophelia. In a realm where only humans can die, will Alda and Dreng save themselves and, more importantly, each other? Or will they succumb to the fantastical powers in play?
Double Double Toil continues to build on the world introduced in Cauldron’s Bubble by intertwining Shakespeare’s plays in a unique and exciting way, introducing their stories to new readers and established Bard fans alike. Elements and characters from Hamlet, Macbeth, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet combine in this fast-paced tale of magic and adventure. Read on…
- GenresYoung Adult
195 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2018
12 people want to read
About the author
Amber Elby
4 books41 followersAmber Elby was born in Grand Ledge, Michigan but spent much of her childhood in the United Kingdom. She began writing when she was three years old and created miniature books by asking her family how to spell every, single, word. Several years later, she saw her first Shakespearean comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, in London. Many years later, she studied Creative Writing at Michigan State University’s Honors College before earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and two daughters and spends her time teaching, traveling, and getting lost in imaginary worlds.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 25, 2019
Act 2 Scene 6
“I am trapped in a memory... All this world is a stage, and we are the players. We can build here with our minds, but it is no more real than some pantomime.” You’ve got to love it...A phrase from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. There’s so much of Shakespeare sprinkled throughout these pages...in a turn of a phrase, a character and yes, even parts of the storyline. Others have said that you don’t need to read Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet or The Tempest to understand this trilogy that brings a different twist to the legacy of the Bard. And they are right, however, a quick Wikipedia recap would certainly enrich the reading experience. Just saying.
There are giants, gods, fairies, witches and magic all mixed up together to create a sumptuous story line to satisfy even the most ardent fantasy lover. The story itself is stormy and choppy. I felt I was being tossed about like a ship at sea upon a tempest. Ahhh, another taste from the Bard. The smell of rosemary lingers on the very last page...
To be continued.
“I am trapped in a memory... All this world is a stage, and we are the players. We can build here with our minds, but it is no more real than some pantomime.” You’ve got to love it...A phrase from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. There’s so much of Shakespeare sprinkled throughout these pages...in a turn of a phrase, a character and yes, even parts of the storyline. Others have said that you don’t need to read Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet or The Tempest to understand this trilogy that brings a different twist to the legacy of the Bard. And they are right, however, a quick Wikipedia recap would certainly enrich the reading experience. Just saying.
There are giants, gods, fairies, witches and magic all mixed up together to create a sumptuous story line to satisfy even the most ardent fantasy lover. The story itself is stormy and choppy. I felt I was being tossed about like a ship at sea upon a tempest. Ahhh, another taste from the Bard. The smell of rosemary lingers on the very last page...
To be continued.
October 12, 2018
Great read! I read it in 2 days and couldn't put it down. Better than the first one (Cauldron's Bubble)!
October 12, 2018
A simply wonderful sequel <3
October 9, 2018
Amazing book! I want to say it is even better than the first one! I am not sure how that could be possible. I loved learning more about the characters in a different world but in the same story. I finished the book in less than 24 hours because I simply could not put it down!
November 16, 2018
Six months after discovering a cauldron’s bubble, Alda has returned to her remote cottage in Grand Ledge. But Alda soon realises she is trapped and unable to travel between time and place. Meanwhile, Dreng is far away on an enchanted island with Miranda, where the magic is waning. Both Alda and Dreng manage to escape to Fairy Land where they become caught up in the conflict between King Oberon and Queen Titania. As mortals, Alda and Dreng face grave danger and must learn to save each other or risk losing their lives.
Thank you to the author, Amber Elby, for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Double Double Toil is an exciting sequel to Cauldron’s Bubble! This is a delightful YA fantasy novel about witches and fairies and magic. Just as with Cauldron’s Bubble, I like how Amber Elby has drawn inspiration from the work of Shakespeare to create a whole new story. Her book has elements and characters from Shakespeare’s plays which intertwine in a way you do not expect.
Magic is a key part of this book, and there is more to some of the characters than meets the eye. In Cauldron’s Bubble, we are introduced to certain aspects of Hamlet, Macbeth, and The Tempest. The sequel also has references to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I don’t think it’s necessary to have prior knowledge of these plays, although it does make the reading experience more enjoyable.
The two main protagonists are Alda and Dreng. These two are from different times, yet they are brought together time and again. I’m intrigued to learn about how they are linked to each other by fate. Alda is a brave heroine who finds out more about her mysterious past. You can’t help but root for both her and Dreng who is loyal and dutiful. I particularly loved reading about Caliban’s character. He is the master of throwing shade!
Shakespeare’s female characters are portrayed as being more assertive. Ophelia appears in this installment (yay!) and she is certainly not passive. Likewise, Sycorax plays a big part in the story, but rather than simply being an evil villain, she has some grey area.
Other highlights include the vivid descriptions of the fairies’ appearances, courtesy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Without giving too much away, the clans of Oberon and Titania are very violent!
Something which I forgot to mention in my review for Cauldron’s Bubble is the stream of consciousness. Amber Elby has a great imagination!
Overall, an enchanting story which is full of twists and turns. I am looking forward to the final novel in the trilogy, Trouble Fires Burn.
This review also appears on my blog, Shaz Reads.
Thank you to the author, Amber Elby, for providing a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Double Double Toil is an exciting sequel to Cauldron’s Bubble! This is a delightful YA fantasy novel about witches and fairies and magic. Just as with Cauldron’s Bubble, I like how Amber Elby has drawn inspiration from the work of Shakespeare to create a whole new story. Her book has elements and characters from Shakespeare’s plays which intertwine in a way you do not expect.
Magic is a key part of this book, and there is more to some of the characters than meets the eye. In Cauldron’s Bubble, we are introduced to certain aspects of Hamlet, Macbeth, and The Tempest. The sequel also has references to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I don’t think it’s necessary to have prior knowledge of these plays, although it does make the reading experience more enjoyable.
The two main protagonists are Alda and Dreng. These two are from different times, yet they are brought together time and again. I’m intrigued to learn about how they are linked to each other by fate. Alda is a brave heroine who finds out more about her mysterious past. You can’t help but root for both her and Dreng who is loyal and dutiful. I particularly loved reading about Caliban’s character. He is the master of throwing shade!
Shakespeare’s female characters are portrayed as being more assertive. Ophelia appears in this installment (yay!) and she is certainly not passive. Likewise, Sycorax plays a big part in the story, but rather than simply being an evil villain, she has some grey area.
Other highlights include the vivid descriptions of the fairies’ appearances, courtesy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Without giving too much away, the clans of Oberon and Titania are very violent!
Something which I forgot to mention in my review for Cauldron’s Bubble is the stream of consciousness. Amber Elby has a great imagination!
Overall, an enchanting story which is full of twists and turns. I am looking forward to the final novel in the trilogy, Trouble Fires Burn.
This review also appears on my blog, Shaz Reads.
November 8, 2018
This series is almost impossible to put down. Elby truly captures Shakespeare’s works with her adept writing. Double Double Toil is similar to a puzzle, in my mind, that Elby pieces together beautifully.
Cauldron’s Bubble introduced us to Alda and Dreng, and Double Double Toil continues taking us on their whirlwind journey. We travel across realms with these two, settling mainly in the fairy realm in this novel.
No one is who they say they are or who they seem to be. Secrets are uncovered and loose ends begin to be tied. The main question hovering in my mind is WHO IS DRENG?
Cauldron’s Bubble introduced us to Alda and Dreng, and Double Double Toil continues taking us on their whirlwind journey. We travel across realms with these two, settling mainly in the fairy realm in this novel.
No one is who they say they are or who they seem to be. Secrets are uncovered and loose ends begin to be tied. The main question hovering in my mind is WHO IS DRENG?
October 21, 2018
I have been waiting anxiously for this book to come out ever since I finished Cauldron's Bubble. I LOVE this series. Now that I have devoured the second book, I will wait patiently for the third knowing that this author has what it takes to keep me entertained time and time again. While this book can definitely stand on its own - I highly recommend reading both books in the series.
Great for adults of all ages. Highly engaging and hard to put down.
Great for adults of all ages. Highly engaging and hard to put down.
February 23, 2019
Amber Elby continues her Netherfeld trilogy in a book that - to me - exceeds the previous installment. With Alda and Dreng's stories more intertwined, the book seemed to flow better while simultaneously weaving in more of Shakespeare's characters (not needed to know to enjoy this book) and moving the story along at a nicer clip. Elby still doesn't provide much character development, but the motivations behind the characters' actions are more evident and enjoyable.
April 1, 2019
Took me a bit to get to this one, and I'm sorry for putting it off. Lots of fun stuff here with even more suspense and mystery than the first book in the series. I have to say that I've still got some questions, but I've got a feeling the author likes to keep readers hanging. Looking forward to the third book in the trilogy. Will probably reread the first two again this summer to stay fresh.
March 21, 2019
I enjoyed this one as much as the first book. I am particularly pleased that the third book will be released on my birthday
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews