Review – Warren the 13th and the Whispering Wood (Warren the 13th, Book 2) by Tania del Rio, Will Staehle (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 240 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: March 21, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-1594749292
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Warren the 13th series
Source: Book from Publisher for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars

“ Twelve-year-old Warren has learned that his beloved hotel can walk, and now it’s ferrying guests around the countryside, transporting tourists to strange and foreign destinations. But when an unexpected detour brings everyone into the dark and sinister Malwoods, Warren finds himself separated from his hotel and his friends—and racing after them on foot through a forest teeming with witches, snakes, talking trees, and mind-boggling riddles.”

Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Warren the 13th series and I got a copy of this book to review from the publisher, Quirk Books.

Story (4/5): Warren is earning a nice living with his walking hotel and enjoying himself immensely, then his house stumbles and he finds himself facing off against the witches of Malwoods. This is a simple story that is well done and entertaining. It’s got a gothic theme to it but isn’t ever really scary.

Characters (4/5): I enjoy Warren and his hotel full of companions. The characters are a bit stereotypical but still well done; this is a book meant for a younger audience and you can tell because the characters aren’t all that complex. Still I enjoy them and think younger kids will find the cast of quirky characters highly entertaining.

Setting (4/5): I continue to really enjoy the setting of this crazy walking hotel. There is some adventure added to the story as they journey through the Malwoods. The setting was well done and the wonderful illustrations really brought it alive.

Writing Style/Illustration (5/5): The strong point of this series, and this book, continues to be the quality and design of the book itself. While the writing is easy to read, the illustrations are what really give the story its atmosphere and uniqueness. Both the writing and illustration are very high quality and well done and together they make for a unique book.

Summary (4/5): Overall I think I enjoyed this book of the Warren the 13th series even more than the first. I like the crazy walking hotel and Warren and all of his friends. The story is pretty simple and definitely aimed at a younger audience, however the book itself is beautifully put together and I enjoyed reading it.