Good morning (or afternoon, or whenever), my dear Pagelings!
I’ve got a British, Urban Fantasy, academy-ish sort of book to share with you today!
Title: Ewan Pendle and the Castle of Nightmares
Author: Shaun Hume
- Date read: February 19, 2019
- Rating: 5 stars
- Genre: Urban Fantasy
- Age: MG-YA
- Year pub: 2018
- Pages: 339 (Kindle)
- Series: Ewan Pendle, #2
- Fave character: Rusty, Enid, Enola, Jack Mangrove, Ewan, etc. I LOVE ‘EM ALL.
- Source: The author
- Notes: I was given a free ebook copy of this book from the author (thanks!). I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
- Links: Goodreads • Amazon • Author’s Blog
Ewan Pendle is back! I enjoyed the first book in this series (Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith) and I’m pleased to say that this sequel is just as enjoyable, and in fact adds new awesomeness. 😀
5 Thoughts on Ewan Pendle and the Castle of Nightmares
I love these characters, getting to read more about their adventures, relationships, and interactions, and also their backstories and mysteries. Some questions are answered, while others are hair-raisingly raised — and there was one reveal in particular at the end that more or less had me jumping up and down going “I KNEW IT! YESSS! :D”
The setting is fun (a hidden academy in modern-day London for people who know about the existence of Creatures and have lessons in things like sword-fighting? And includes an adventure to Scotland? Sign me up!) and I just feel rather at home in this world and at the Firedrake academy and with these characters! (Plus, the fact that the author lives in England, I believe, only makes it that much cooler because I feel like it’s authentic!)
The plot hits a good balance between adventure and some slower times to get to breathe and enjoy the characters and mysteries. It’s exciting and cozy and fantastical and mysterious all at once, and I love that! It’s a bit long (though shorter than the first one), but I felt like it really picked up about a third of the way in! Some errors and typos were minorly distracting, but for the most part I was too busy having a blast to care at all. XD
More awesome things:
- The new (if brief) addition of a suitably dragon-y dragon — I hope to see more of him in the future! I LOVED how dragon-like he was!
- Adventure that includes an attack by a flaming skeleton wil-o’-the-wisp in a bog in Scotland at night. Can you say exciting?
- Dream world intriguingness! O_O
- Problems like trolls and goblins and the titular Castle of Nightmares — keeps things interesting!
- Reveals about Ewan and his backstory that have me even MORE curious. :O
- More of our young hero Ewan, Enid the pirate (she’s AWESOME), my favorite Rusty who is in it a bit more (hurrah!), Matilde and Max of course (need those loyal friends!), tantalizing hints of Brigid and Betony and Jack Mangrove (NEED MORE!), and of course the mysterious Enola Whitewood! I adore this cast. 😀 They’re awesome and my friends. ^_^
Perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events (but without the gloom) or Harry Potter (but without the magic, exactly), or for anyone who loves a good acadamy adventure, or an urban fantasy set in modern-day London and Scotland! I feel like all teens would enjoy this, and some of us who are a bit older too and just enjoy a good book. Other than some slightly scary parts, it’s suitable for all readers, and is just a blast! ^_^
A Favorite Quote
‘However, for now, your chief task during these dedicated Vanguard sessions will be the taking of notes.’
The enthusiasm in the session suddenly wilted like petunias left in a hot car.
‘Notes? We’re only going to be taking notes?’ moaned Enid, scandalised. Something told Ewan she would have zero qualms about tackling a ferocious Creature with a sword in only her first week as a Grade Two.
‘Oh well there goes my hopes,’ Rusty offered from Ewan’s side, ‘I kind of fancied being thrown headlong into the action, after that rather tame first year.’
‘Tame?’ whispered Rosie Prince, the ends of her short blonde hair fizzing at the mere suggestion, ‘we nearly all got killed by a white wraith!’
‘Ah,’ Rusty replied with blithe nonchalance, ‘there was only one of those. And that wasn’t even during Lyceum hours. It’s like being a detective and going on holiday, init? Someone gets offed in your guesthouse, and everyone else expects you to solve the murder … Then it’s just annoying. The sessions last year were a world class yawn in comparison.’
Review for book one:
The Page Dreamer (Deborah O'Carroll) 
I SO need to read these! They sound completely up my alley. I looove the idea of an academy that knows about the existence of mythical creatures. That’s just too fun! Also dragon you say??? Yep. I NEED! I actually have the first one on my Kindle, but I keep forgetting about it (my poor Kindle books…). Gotta read it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do! They’re quite fun. 😀 YES, I love the academy setting! The dragon wasn’t a HUGE character but had sooo much presence! I loved his dialog. 😀 Oh, fun! Haha, I so relate! *sweeps 76348768 ebooks on my Kindle app surreptitiously under rug*
LikeLike
There’s a sequel I need to re read the first one again. I loved it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there is! It came out in October! 😀 Oh, fun, I’m glad you loved the first one! 😀
LikeLike