#BookReview: Serafina and the Twisted Staff (Serafina, #2) by @BeattyAuthor @DisneyHyperion #Giveaway

Welcome to the second post of today! Man, I can't get over how good this series was! Check it out!    Serafina's defeat of the Man in the Black Cloak has brought her out of the shadows and into the daylight realm of her home, Biltmore Estate. Every night she visits her mother in the forest, eager to learn the ways of the catamount. But Serafina finds herself caught between her two worlds: she's too wild for Biltmore's beautifully dressed ladies and formal customs, and too human to fully join her kin.
Late one night, Serafina encounters a strange and terrifying figure in the forest, and is attacked by the vicious wolfhounds that seem to be under his control. Even worse, she's convinced that the stranger was not alone, that he has sent his accomplice into Biltmore in disguise.
Someone is wreaking havoc at the estate. A mysterious series of attacks test Serafina's role as Biltmore's protector, culminating in a tragedy that tears Serafina's best friend and only ally, Braeden Vanderbilt, from her side. Heartbroken, she flees.
Deep in the forest, Serafina comes face-to-face with the evil infecting Biltmore—and discovers its reach is far greater than she'd ever imagined. All the humans and creatures of the Blue Ridge Mountains are in terrible danger. For Serafina to defeat this new evil before it engulfs her beloved home, she must search deep inside herself and embrace the destiny that has always awaited her. 

Robert Beatty lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters who help create and refine his stories. He loves to explore the grand Biltmore Estate and the darkened forest trails where his novels take place. Mr. Beatty's Disney-Hyperion novel "Serafina and the Black Cloak" became a New York Times Bestseller the first week it was launched and remain on the list for 20 weeks. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, he was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative Magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his book, Robert said, "Serafina's journey grew out of my desire to write a story about an unusual and heroic young girl for my three daughters."

I have to say that there are NOT many middle-grade novels that I fall in love in. But man this one fit that bill in spades. I loved book one and book two was even better I couldn't put it down! I read this one in between chapters of The Hearts We Sold and I wasn't lost at all which is what normally happens when I attempt to read two books at once.  Which makes this book very good!! 

This one picks up a few weeks after the end and events of book one.  I really loved how this one was a direct story to book one.  This one did a wonderful job pulling me back into this world of good vs. evil and beings from the forest.  When I started this one it was like I never left and I was so excited to be able to come back to this world so quickly.  

The author whom I still can't believe he is a guy and is writing about this little girl. AMAZING! He did a wonderful job with opening this world even more to the reader. I love everything about this amazing world he has created and I was VERY interested in learning that the house of Biltmore Estate is REAL!!! You can tour the grounds as well as even stay there. I was so amazed to learn that, which just made this story feel so real.  This one has a lot of bigger and badder surprises and bad guys. I couldn't put it down.  Friendships and connections she created will be put to the ultimate test and she will have to push herself even further is she expects to win this time around. 

The flow and pacing were very good in this one. It was on par with book one and again the author did a wonderful job with it.  As for the characters, Serafina learned so much about herself in book one and she still has a long way to go.  I really liked that she just didn't fit right in with either world she has come to know and that she struggled.  It shows kids that you can feel out of place in your life and that, that is ok. 

Although this book is for younger readers I found it SO beyond amazing! I couldn't put it down and I can't wait to dive into book three! Which I will be sad to finish since it's the end of this series. I really love each character and the author does amazing with twists that I didn't see coming and keeping me on my toes/the edge of my seat. 

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Posted in: 5 Stars, Disney-Hyperion, Events, Giveaway, Jessica P., Middle Grade, Review