The Twilight Circus

Wolven #2

by Di Toft

Having spent the summer dodging mutant werewolves and barking-mad scientists, Nat Carver and Woody, his shape-shifting friend, have joined the Twilight Circus of Illusion before going in search of Woody's long-lost clan. But instead the boys are caught up in a thrilling new adventure, this time against the forces of evil in the guise of a black widow vampire and her terrifying hive.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Werewolves, Childrens, Middle Grade

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2010

About the author

Di Toft was born in the black and white olden days of 1958, in Watford, Herts. A move to Somerset ten years later reinforced her love of the countryside and animals.

At school, she bribed friends to read her early stories, which were usually about vampires or ponies, or people being electrocuted in the bath. Some stories featured vampires and ponies, which wasn’t always a popular combination.

During the long hot summer of 1975, Di left school to find most of the best jobs were being done by other people. Her varied career has led to jobs in advertising, sales, and watching people dig holes in the road. She has also edited publications as well as written editorial and advertising features for newspapers and magazines. Although a very early ambition to become Dr. Who’s assistant was sadly unfulfilled, she is delighted that her other ambition - to be a published writer - came to pass in 2001, when she sold her first story to a magazine.

Di lives in Somerset with her husband and daughter; her grown-up son lives in London. Sharing the house is Dave, a dog so large he can actually be seen from space on Google Earth.

Reviews

[Mars Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haha so I literally got this book (and the last book in the trilogy) today and I have already finished it, I love it a lot!!!!!!!! This book is chefs kiss😌😌

[Nietuzinkowy bibliofil · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Zemsta jest daniem, które najlepiej smakuje na ciepło, po przyrządzeniu na krwisto…”

Drugi tom trylogii Wilken kontynuuje niebezpieczne przygody Nata Carvera i jego przyjaciela Woody’ego. Chłopcy po wydarzeniach w Wilczełykowym Chutorze są ścigani przez niebezpieczne istoty, więc postanawiają uciec do Francji i dołączyć do taty Nata w Cyrku Iluzji Półmorku. Tam poznają wiele niesamowitych istot, a ich docelowy punkt podróży okaże się czekać na nich z niebezpieczną tajemnicą śmierdzącą czosnkiem i zgnilizną…

„…Nat po raz pierwszy zadał sobie pytanie: „Jak zabić coś, co już jest martwe?””

Wilken wydaje mi się być jedną z tych trylogii, w których im dalej w las tym lepiej. Drugi tom otwiera przed nami ten nadprzyrodzony świat dużo szerzej niż poprzedni. Poznajemy wiele ciekawych i strasznych istot z baśni i mitów, a to wszystko w akompaniamencie cyrkowej muzyki pachnącej watą cukrową i… nieumarłymi.

Jest to właśnie groza dla dzieci w pełnym tego słowa znaczeniu. Autorka nie szczędzi nam krwawych scen, w których wampirze kły krzyżują się z wilczymi pazurami. Mamy demoniczne pakty, przerażające powroty z grobu i znacznie, znacznie więcej. Ale to wszystko jest okraszone ośnieżonymi francuskimi równinami, po których biegają konie palomino, a w lesie można znaleźć tropy pewnych bardzo dużych psowatych…

Z początku książka nie była szczególnie wciągająca, wszystko się dopiero zaczynało, narracja jest w końcu przeznaczona dla młodszych czytelników. Jednak po jakimś czasie, gdy akcja się zagęściła czytałam powieść z zapartym tchem zastanawiając się czy Nat i Woody wyjdą z tego wszystkiego cało. Pojawiały się intrygi i zwroty akcji, a autorka pod koniec na pewno nie zawiodła czytelnika.

Po przeczytaniu stwierdziłam, że należy szybko sięgnąć po finalny tom, ponieważ jestem ciekawa jak trylogia się zakończy. Już tutaj mogę chyba śmiało powiedzieć, że polecam te książki dla odważniejszych dzieciaków, a i dorośli szukający czegoś lżejszego, a jednocześnie nieco mrocznego nie powinni się zawieść czytając o przygodach Nata i Woody’ego.

„Półksiężyc ma rację, nie jestem ani człowiekiem, ani wilkenem. Jestem cholernym kundlem.”

[Andres Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Di Toft’s novel, Wolven: The Twilight Circus is a story about a young boy named Nat who wants a dog to keep company. Alec who is one of Nat’s friends brings Nat an unusual dog named Woody who looks a lot like a wolf. Throughout the summer Nat and Woody avoided mutant werewolves and barking-mad scientist wondering if the government was doing this and what were they after? Soon after that, Nat encountered his grandfather (John Carver) and he wants them to join the circus where they encounter themselves in a new thrilling adventure. The adventure is against the forces of evil by a black widow vampire and her horrifying hive. Will Nat and Woody survive?

A part of the book that shocked me was when Woody supposedly went after a man that stole an old lady’s purse who happened to be a young lady who worked as a secret agent. This confused me in a good way because I wondered why would a secret agent be at a train station. Another part that surprised me was when Nat woke up from a nightmare due to a loud crying sound. Nat looked off his bed to see a naked boy under Woody’s blanket who turned out to be Woody; Woody ran out the window for his night feast.

I love how the book turned out because of the thrilling adventure to get away from the black widow vampire. Nat and Woody had to understand that there were going to be obstacles in the way of this adventure and all their actions were going to be watched. I would definitely read this book again because of the action and mystery that is seen in the perspective of Woody who is looking for his long-lost clan.

[Daleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolven: the twiglight circus is the second of three books. I really enjoyed continuation of the story of Nat Carver and Woody. Woody is a wolven, a shapeshifter. The two boys had escaped from mad werewolves and joined the Twilight Circus of illusion. Soon the boys learn they are not as safe as they hoped. They must now deal with an evil vampire who is stealing children and turning a small town into the living dead. Great book

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as the first one. It seemed very slow to get going and most of the action happens towards the end. Reading it as an adult I reckon I would have found it quite scary if I read it as a child, although that's not necessarily a criticism. I plan to read the next instalment and hope it has more of the feel of the first book about it.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing so much all in one book and follows on from the first perfectly busy but not confusing can't wait to read the next one!
Recommend to anyone!!!

[18s-Chukwukaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i look forword to read it

[afks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ostatni rozdział... Tak samo dobry jak za pierwszym razem.

[Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

good vary good

[John Albano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first

Opens up a whole new world of magic in the Wolven universe. Plenty of thrills, adventure, and mystery. Phenomenal story.

[FantasyWereld · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Wolfling 1 zijn Nat en zijn beste vriend Woody, een wolfling, met moeite uit de klauwen van de slechte weerwolf Lucas Scale ontsnapt. Nat was zwaargewond en heeft het enkel overleefd door een bloedtransfusie met wolflingenbloed. Het is nu vier maanden later en Nat en zijn moeder gaan naar Frankrijk. Ze sluiten zich aan bij Nats vader, Woody en het circus van schemerschaduw en illusie, waar weerwolven, harpijen, vampiers en nog meer wezens wonen. Maar in Frankrijk zijn niet alle mythische wezens goedaardig. Een oude vampier houdt daar huis met haar nest en mensenkinderen verdwijnen. Ondertussen klopt ook de NachtWacht, een organisatie die slechte wezens bestrijdt, bij Nat en Woody aan. Wat willen Crone en zijn speciaal agent Alex Finn van de jongens? En wat heeft het vampiernest met hen te maken?

Geen kind meer
Wat in Wolfling 2 gelijk opvalt, is dat Nat geen kind meer is. Door de gebeurtenissen in het eerste deel is hij getekend, zowel fysiek – de littekens waar Scale zijn keel heeft opengereten – als mentaal. Er is niets kinderachtigs meer aan hem. En ondertussen verandert hij ook nog eens door het wolflingenbloed. Zijn zicht wordt scherper, zijn gehoor beter en de beheersing over zijn speekselklieren juist slechter. Hij probeert dit voor zijn moeder te verbergen, uit angst dat ze zich anders zorgen zal maken. Gelukkig is hij niet altijd zo serieus bezig. Zijn humor heeft hij nog steeds. Zo kan hij bij het horen over een lokaal gerecht gelijk bang vragen of daar bonen inzitten. In zijn caravan zit namelijk maar een klein raampje en Woody’s scheten zijn aardig vergassend. En welke jongen kan zich op dat vlak nou niet in Nat inleven?

Meer lezen? Klik hier voor de volledige recensie: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not having read the first title in this series, I felt quite disoriented during the first 50 pages of the book, the second title in a trilogy. There were too many characters being introduced who may or may not have appeared in the first book--Saffi, a young girl in the clutches of a vampire; a nameless vampire brought back to life by the blood of a mortally wounded rat; Alex Fish, a superior field agent; Woody, a Wolven; his best friend Nat. Then, too, the fact that Woody and Nat Carver are traveling with a circus of very unusual animals added to the confusion. I quickly realized that Nat has Wolven blood too, and those around him are simply waiting to see if/when he will change. Once all this confusion was sorted out, though, I actually ended up liking the fast-paced book. The descriptions of the vampires and the evil Scale, a villain from the previous title, were as delightful as were those in which Woody and his newfound clan come to his friend's rescue. I'll look forward to the next installment of this series.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

veery nice,liked it allot. Wolven are one of my favourite books, because of the supernatural-nes about them.Also the way they describe the characters is nice, but it kind of gets scarier as the series goes on.

[Lexy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very hard for me to read. I thought that the beginning was very boring and slow. But at the end it got better. I suggest that if you're looking for a really good book to read, don't read this one.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Tweller83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first because it had more action. Students should really like this series. Lots of vampires in this one.

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is great for young readers who love to read about werewolves and vampires. I loved the whole book!

[Jasminka Puskaric · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed reading it, was also a bit scary

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic follow up novel! I loved how Woody and Nat still are going strong, even as their situations change.