Overlong junior sci-fantasy that might have appealed had I been the target age, but for an adult reads really poorly. The entire plot is happy to revolve around (and mention) the most stupid of contrivances, the repetitive narrator is not of benefit to anybody, and the whole thing – from action scenes to the depth of invention needed for such a cockamamie world – just smacks of desperation, over-writing and almost of the author being out of her depth. Two and a half stars.

I really enjoyed this sequel as it was very adventurous and I loved how one disaster fed into another for the O'Hero-Smiths.

It tells the next part of this magical families adventure as they discover their gifts and break a few rules along the way.

If you are a fan of Cressida Cowell then this is definitely a good series. Worth starting on the first one before this one though.

A great sequel with great characters. As always, Cressida Cowell's unique storytelling style takes some getting used to but then wins you over with it's charming quirkiness, sharp observations and humorous plot. I loved the narrator voice, the world-building and the sheer scale of Cressida Cowell's imagination. There were some brilliant themes of blended families, technology and the smartness of children - Annipeg is genius - and generally championing the younger generations. I can't wait to read the next one.

I love Cressida, and I loved Which way to Anywhere, so it’s not a shocker to hear that I love this. The kids are now friends, family life has settled - so we don’t have to worry about that anymore.

However, we all know what happened in the last book, and we knew it wasn’t over. Life erupts in a big bang once again, and more dangerous than last time (if possible). This is once again, unputdowneable, action packed fun.

Love the O’Hero-Smith’s, and love that cheeky little toddler..

My thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Children's Group for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read for our family.

I didn't realise this was book 2 in the series and was concerned my children wouldn't understand the story. However, it wasnt a problem as the it's a story in itself and the beginning chapters fill you in.

The story was full of interesting characters, robots, plants and unimaginable creatures from the authors imagination. It follows the blended O'Hero family and they go on an important adventure.

The characters and their antics kept us amused.

We are left wanting more, so I look forward to see when the third book is available.

The illustrations really helped my children picture the characters.

The four O'Hero Smith children return for another magical adventure - a magical creature is lost on Earthy and needs to get home to his own planet across the galaxy.

My 9 year old took a little while to get into this one and then about a third of the way in something clicked and she couldn't put it down and loved it. She loved the return of these characters and the magical elements but I think she was expecting another book similar to How To Train Your Dragon and she thought this one " felt different" which may explain why it took a little while for this one to engage her.

She very much enjoyed it and would recommend for readers aged 7+. An easy to read adventure.

I haven’t read the first book but I feel the characters and plot line swept you straight into book 2. The story is a tale about a small magical creature and the epic journey to return him to his icy home planet all while trying to stay alive!

The journey involves crossing the Universe using the Which Ways while avoiding killer robots and dangerous creatures. The plot is full of wild magic, there are walking plants, talking robots and a plethora of fantasy creatures.

I really enjoyed this story, much like Cowell’s other books. Highly recommend.

The second book in the Which Where to Anywhere series by the wonderful Cressida Cowell was a fantastic sequel.

We're back in the chaotic world of the O'Hero-Smiths where K2 has promised he will never, ever draw another map again. But when Izzabird turns up with a magical creature from another world, the children decide to come together to try and return him to his home, blissfully unaware of how many evil and dangerous creatures from across the universe are waiting ready to kill them.

I adore the children in this wonderful blended family. Cowell has a true gift for creating a world that's both hysterically funny (Annipeck had me in stitches at one point) and heart warming and sad too. Although this book definitely appeals to middle-graders, it deals with some dark themes that many children would face, such as a blended family, grief and learning to deal with the fact that a parent not might be the best they can.
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I can't wait for the next instalment in this series. It's one I'd recommend to primary children from year 3 up.

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for an arc in return for an honest review.

This is an amazing sequel.

I read this with my 8 year old son and we both loved every second.

Full of mystery and adventure. The plot was clever and intriguing.

We loved the characters. Especially Annipeck.

The writing is brilliant and the pace perfect for keeping younger readers interested.

The ending was great and we can’t wait for the next instalment.

In the words of my son ‘the best book we’ve read this year by a universe’

My children and I adore Cressida Cowell and her Which Way To Anywhere and Which Way Round The Galaxy is just as WOW! A rip-roaring twisty turny sci fi fantasy extravaganza with the BEST cast of characters! The pace is astonishing and so is the sheer number of character arcs woven together! Masterful storytelling.

At first I hadn't realized this was a sequel, but while there are references to the first book, you do not need to have read it to enjoy this one.

When we were a few chapters in, after the second night of reading, I actually gave Riley the option of choosing a different book but he said no and wanted t continue...and thank goodness we did!

While I struggled with the first few chapters, finding the language flowery and a struggle to read, it soon became a story we couldn't wait to read each night.

The characters are fun, different and well written. The adventure was captivating, especially to my youngest, space-mad boy! The worlds were bought to life by Cowell and the book was well paced.

We were big fans of the How To Train Your Dragon series and so had high hopes for this one - and while I had my doubts at first, it really didn't disappoint. I do hope the series continues and we will certainly read it if it does. In the mean time, we will have to catch up on the first book in this series!

It’s not Wizards of Once (that was our absolute favourite) but it’s a good story aimed for younger children than Wizards of Once I think. Boys and girls ages 6 and over would enjoy this. It’s the second in the series. Another great Cressida Cowell book.

Thanks for the ARC

What a book! So many questions and I can't wait for the next one to answer some of them. The O'Hero-Smith children set off on another adventure again and it brings them closer together. More powers are revealed and Annipeck uses her powers brilliantly to help. There are lots of secrets that the family hide from each other, but eventually realise that's not good. Horizabel Delft is back and is a great storyteller. There's definitely going to be at least one more book and I can't wait to read it!

A rollicking rollercoaster of an adventure that keeps your hands firmly in the air all the way round! Rich, inventive language and a strong narrative voice inspires the imagination and brings to life the conflicting emotions and aspirations of the diverse characters and their enemies. A fantastic magical read, which impossibly is even better than the first in the series. Cowell does it again!!!

K2 and his family have promised not to use their magical gifts, but when Izzabird's accidental new alien pet is ailing, they realise they will have to return it to its own world. Meanwhile, others are homing in on the O'Hero-Smith's home for reasons of their own, pushing Freya and the aunts to act as well, leaving Annipeck, Daniel and an alarmingly miniaturised Everest to defend the house.
A funny, chaotic, swift paced adventure ensues, with Horrizabel as the all-seeing and not exactly unbiased story maker entering the fray. Totally engrossing and thoroughly entertaining, the readers in our school library will love this!

This book is in a league of its own. I have to confess that I haven't read or heard of the first one in the series -- a mistake that I will rectify with my monthly book order next time. First few pages in, I already felt like I was whizzed into a completely different dimension. This series is perfect for cinematic adaptation.

The second outing for the four older Smith-O'Hero children unfolds at a less hectic pace than the first book in this series - but barely! Trying to save a tiny, magical creature and return the aforementioned Grub to his icy home planet while staying in one piece is no small task...

While not entirely realising the significance of the fact that they have left the youngest child in the family, the highly magical Annipeck, alone at home - and that they are breaking their promise to their parents not to recklessly use magic - K2, Mabel, Theo and Izza head out to save the day. I mean, it's not like they have any choice about it. The fate of the universe is it take, for heavens sake!

The children's promise of good behaviour to the grown-ups was made in a attempt to demonstrate that they are responsible and sensible, but this behaviour is unlikely to be considered to even vaguely match that description by the adults in their lives!

Their journey involves criscrossing the Universe using the Which Ways and avoiding any number of dangerous creatures such as the snow snakes and killer robots, while navigating various "everyday" challenges along the way.

This book, like the first one in the series, was great fun to read. The first book was largely centred around K2's mapping abilities, so I like that the focus shifted in the second book to Theo and Izza's conflicts and complementarity.

It was also nice to see how the blended family aspect was working out for the children, despite the inevitable adjustments required. I give this book 5 stars!

My main critique of book 1 was that there are so many characters, magical objects and lore that I felt like I barely got to know the 4 main characters.
Book 1 jumped right into the inter-galactic travel and chase scenes, book 2 starts smaller, at the O‘Hero-Smith house and it felt like a huge improvement in that part. Seeing the siblings interact in more normal situations, I got to know them beyond the basics that book 1 gave me, and I like them all.

Izzabird doesn’t like not being in charge. She was the assertive one between her and K2, and always got her way. And used to troublemaking as she is, Theo’s responsible comments don’t sit well with her, even if Theo is the only one who is willing to join her on dangerous adventures.
Theo on the other hand is told he is supposed to be the responsible one, even though he is barely older than the rest. He struggles with wanting to go back to a quiet normal life and enjoying the magic of their combined family. I like how his desire to be the mature one and the fact that he is just an excited 13 year old boy clash, as well as the loyalty to his dead mother and his human life and his new love for the o‘Hero family. It gave him the most interesting inner conflict out of the 4 of them.
K2 and Mabel are the sensible ones. K2 doesn’t want any trouble and struggles with his atlas-drawing gift. It could get him in trouble with his mom and the government of the universe.
Mabel is good with animals and the mediator of the group. She listens to all three others and the only one all three others are willing to.

If K2 and Annipeck were the stars of book 1, Izzabird and Theo are the main duo of book 2. Their struggles with their combined family were the best character moments in my opinion. It is something children from combined families can relate to and both of them were written with a lot of compassion. They cannot go back to the life they had before their families combined, but miss it sometimes. They snap at each other and cannot find a middle ground because they are both used to being the sibling in charge, but they also share excitement and impulsivity.
Compared to K2’s magical gift and the 2 year old Annipeck, these two are more realistic and relatable.

As for the plot, it is exactly the type of wild magical adventure you’d expect from this author. There are talking robots, shields made of lego, walking plants, a whole horde of fantasy creatures and robots. The writing filled with alliterations, narrator’s commentary and the greyscale illustrations make it a fun adventure. I finished it in one sitting, and I look forward to book 3.