After reading “Stepfather Christmas” by L.D. Lapinski, this author, has become a must-buy without reading the blurb. The unique take on writing and world-building makes me know that I am in for a treat. The sequel to The Artezans will make you want to stay up late, wanting to see where the story will take you with many twists and turns. It is a perfect fantasy book for middle graders to delve into and become future fantasy readers as adults. With this ending: I look forward to book three.

Brilliant and captivating middle-grade fantasy adventure.

I came to this not having read the first in the series, but it didn’t matter as the author quickly caught me up. Ed and Elodie are 13 year old Scottish twins, growing up in a family of Artezans (magical humans). Along with their dads and their cat, they embark on an adventure to find other powerful Artezan Masters like them, but it quickly goes wrong when their ship encounters a storm and begins to sink. Luckily, they’re rescued by a remote island community, but things might not be as they seem.

This is a beautifully-written book, simple enough for young readers to enjoy but rich with detail and character development. It’s exciting, nerve-wracking, and joyful. The casual LGBTQ+ rep is particularly great! The relationships between the young people and the way they’re entwined with magic are lovely, reminiscent of the intensity and confusion of early adolescence.

A coming-of-age story with a difference - I can’t wait for the next instalment!

The Whispering World is absolutely phenomenal, Ed and Elodie are back with a new friend, a mystery and some absolutely heart pounding plot twists. I loved every second of this and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Five stars. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this

Wow! Cliffhangers galore (thankfully, I've discovered it's a 3 book series so there will be answers - next year!)

In book 1, the Crane twins (Ed and Elodie) are waiting to find out whether they have magic, waiting for their reveal. Ed has plenty of action, discovering his true Artezan nature. In this book, Elodie finds more out about her true magic - and it's intriguing and magical (and a little bit creepy). They end up stranded on an island and meet Laurie, who isn't all as they seem.

I stayed up way too late reading this as I was so desperate to know what was going to happen (I had to stop at a crucial point too) and finished it as soon as I could the next day. This is so well written - the final third of the book feels frantic like you're in the action.

One really minor quibble - the characters use Scots (more so in the beginning of the book) but there are no footnotes for definitions/translations. In book 1, I looked them up - this time I didn't bother (mostly you can figure it out from context) but most children won't really be able to look up the words. I feel like it's missing an opportunity to introduce new words, with correct definitions/translations.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

It really would be difficult to say if the children or myself loves L.D. Lapinskis books more. The author is a genius, enough said ...buy this book.

Very lucky to be part of a book loop for this.

This was just incredible. So so much that I want to shout about from the rooftops. The magic! The bad guys! The good guys! The new friends! The bits that kick you in the face! I cried so much… and frequently. There’s just so much love in this. I love these characters so much, and I love the world so much. I gasped; I cried; I laughed; I swore. Genuinely raced through it in like 3 hours.

Now bring on the last one (once my heart is mended).

How magic has changed since I was a child. When I was young, it was all wands and cauldrons and casting little spells that in the main were fairly innocuous but now those who wield magical powers do so in increasingly different, exciting ways and are just as likely to be causing death and destruction as they are saving the planet. As someone who reads an awful lot of middle grade fiction and who in particular looks for magical stories/fantasies to enjoy, L. D. Lapinski’s Strangeworlds trilogy was one that I gobbled up and one that ensured I was suitably excited when the first in this series – The Forgotten Magic – came out last year.

That book introduced us to twins Elodie and Edward who, having been raised within the magical Artezan community came into their powers and were forced to use them to prevent a terrible catastrophe occurring that has left the world’s magic threatening to spiral out of control. Now set on a path to try to restore balance, the pair of them have discovered that they are Master Artezans and are about to face an even bigger challenge here when we meet them once more in a read that left me absolutely gobsmacked at the end and in desperate need of what I know will be a thrilling conclusion to their adventures in Book 3.

Having made it through to the end of their first year at Highland Royal Academy, a shock to both their systems after their small primary school, Elodie and Ed barely have time to catch their breaths before the busy summer they have ahead of them. Rather than the traditional summer camp they have enjoyed in previous years, the two of them, together with their dads and pet cat, Elodie’s beloved Mr Biscuits, are heading to Norway – not for a relaxing holiday but in an attempt to track down one of the two other Master Artezans who will be able to help them in their highly secret mission.

Setting out on the journey by sea, all seems to be well initially but when a terrible storm hits and the twins’ fathers’ magic has no effect on it, the family and the boat’s captain find themselves abandoning ship close to magical island Eilan Dìomhair and are rescued by its inhabitants. Expecting their stay to be a temporary arrangement, Ed and Elodie are not overly worried and after being made to feel at home, make a friend in Laurie, the only child their age living there.

But as time passes, it becomes clear that leaving is not going to be as easy as they had initially hoped. As Elodie’s power causes her to hear a strange voice that she cannot block out and Ed is forced to start rationing his own magic, they start to question what is going on, especially when they realise that Laurie is hiding something from them. Will they be able to discover just what Laurie’s and the island’s secrets are? And even if they can, how will their unscheduled stop impact on their vital plans?

Having focussed more on Ed’s story in Book 1, here Elodie takes centre stage. As her powers have grown, she has become more and more aware of the sounds around her that are generated by not just humans but also animals, down to the tiniest of bugs, and following the stranding is tormented by not being able to block out either these or the mysterious voice that speaks directly to her: the whispering world of the title. In Laurie, she finds the friend that she so desperately needs but when it quickly becomes clear that they are hiding things from her, she is unsure as to whether or not she can trust them. With the twins having previously been so interdependent on one another, the presence of Laurie also starts to impact on the time that Elodie spends with Ed – who is also struggling with the stranding, but for very different reasons – but as they start to uncover the truth behind the island’s isolated community, it’s clear that the bond between the two of them is one that is as strong as it’s possible to be.

For those who haven’t read Book 1, this would work very well as a standalone although I would recommend that you start with the first title simply because it’s a great story and I think you’ll enjoy this more if you do. As with the author’s other reads, this is a very inclusive book, with the brilliant LGBTQ+ representation typical of their writing throughout – something that is becoming increasingly important in the current climate. With an ending that left me reeling, this is a title that would be a great addition to any confident 9+ reader’s shelf or class read aloud and one to which I cannot wait to read the sequel.

My enormous thanks, of course, go to publisher Hachette and to NetGalley for my virtual review copy of the book. Artezans: The Whispering World publishes 13th March.

In the sequel to the very brilliant Artezans: The Forgotten Magic, Ed and Elodie are setting off with their dads to visit Norway and secretly hunt down the remaining two Artezan masters that could help control the magic that has been out of control since the twins received their powers.

The first Artezans introduced us to the world of magical powered families where magic had been dwindling until the twins Elodie and Ed inherited their powers and magic flooded back in uncontrollable ways. Whereas book 1 was Ed’s story this sequel is focused on Elodie’s point of view. When the twins end up ship wrecked on a hidden Artezan island the initial welcoming from the community starts to look like it’s hiding some dark secrets. Elodie's abilities to hear the voices of animals are furthering develop and a mysterious whispering voice begins stalking her around the island.

I adored this, even more than book 1. There is fantastic and effortlessly inclusive rep throughout the world, from the twin's dads to the fact the Eloise is described as fat, which is never negative. I love that the twins inherit their powers even though they are adopted into the magic family. I don’t want to talk much about the plot at risk of spoilers because this is a tour de force of twists and turns. The dads are back being wonderful and supportive and I loved the focus on Elodie whilst still exploring Ed’s developing powers. It expands the world and history of the Artezans and there were genuinely moments in this where I exclaimed out loud (slightly alarming my partner who was driving at the time). And as for the ending…I cannot wait for book 3!

Ed and Elodie Crane are back. And they are going away 'for the summer' although they don't really know for how long. Having found out that they are Artezan masters they need to find more Masters and the place to start is the North - Norway to start with, Their fathers having decided that Elodie's fear of flying is worse than Ed's fear of the sea have arranged for a boat from Scotland across, the captain is an artezan as well.
But things go very wrong when they are caught in a storm - and the boat is wrecked, they go into the water but Dad makes Elodie leave her beloved cat because they cannot hold him, however they are picked up by boats from Eilan Diomhair. The problem is it's an artezan island and no-one knows where it is because it's not on a map.

On the island they meet Laurie - they wear gloves and are staying with two islanders - but why. There is something strange about them and about the other islanders. When things go very obviously wrong they find out something important about Laurie. And they all want to leave - quickly...but some one arrives, who they think will help but who causes more problems than they expected. One problem is very big and the children have no idea how to fix it.
How can they get off this island?

This is a perfect sequel to book 1, family, magic and a new and special character who is going to be a very important part of book 3. Again the book ends leaving us wanting more. I need book 3!

This series is so good. We definitely need it at school.

In this second book about the Artezan children, Elodie and Edward, they are on their way to Norway on the hunt for Artezan masters. However, they become stranded on a small island, due to heavy storms. After the storm fails to abate, the children start wondering about the strange island they find themselves on. The story gradually unfolds strange happening and there are some twists at the end that will have you gasping in horror. Despite the limited cast of characters, this is a fast paced story, where you can't always know who you can trust. I am looking forward to the further adventures.

Artezans: The Whispering World by L.D. Lapinski – Spoiler-Free Book Review

Elodie and Ed Crane are twin Artezan masters granted extraordinary magic powers - Ed is the Laird of Dreams and Nightmares, while Elodie hears everyone's thoughts. Though lately, since uncovering their status as Artezan masters, she’s struggling with the constant noise and sinister Whispers. They embark on a quest to find the remaining lost Artezan Masters but are shipwrecked on an island hidden to anyone who isn’t an Artezan. Despite the Islanders’ kindness, the twins’ suspicions are peaked and not just by their new friend Laurie’s secrets. With Ancient magic back in the world for the first time in centuries, can the Crane twins save magic, regulate its power and, most importantly, get off the Island…

Artezans: The Whispering World by L.D. Lapinski is released on 13th March 2025 by Orion Children’s Books.

The opening of this novel made my cry. That is as upfront as I can be without giving too much away, but if I would’ve been reading a physical copy, I would’ve been upset with myself for tear-staining the pages so quickly. This is one of many examples within the novel showcasing Lapinski’s exceptional talent for packing a punch with words. I don’t think I’ve read a book in a long time that had me in tears that fast.

The Crane twins continue to sparkle in their magical way throughout The Whispering World. Elodie gets to shine this time round as the lead protagonist in the novel, after Ed’s turn last time, and this was a genius move. The Crane twins are so distinctly different that it’s intriguing to see an entirely different perspective of the world we fell in love with in The Forgotten Magic. I enjoyed this take and I’m invested in both of them wholeheartedly because they’re one of the most realistic sets of twins out there on the children’s fiction market.

Laurie is a wondrous addition to this cast of characters, and I think they are one readers are going to love. Their light in what, at times, can be quite a dark story, radiates endlessly and I’m excited to see where their journey takes them should their adventure coincide with the twins in Book 3 (Again, this is a no spoiler review). They remind me of a lot of people in my life growing up, who unfortunately felt restricted by the beliefs of others, but still managing to be a positive influence on everyone around them, so I loved them instantly.

The plot of this novel really does take you on an emotional journey. I was especially prepared as I reread The Forgotten Magic immediately before (something I would recommend to anyone planning on reading The Whispering World), and I have to hold my hands up and say it still wasn’t enough preparation! I cheered, I cried, I screamed, I laughed, I clapped (yes, out loud), and at one point had a touch of motion sickness. This read will have you on the edge of your seats, but don’t worry, there are a couple slower paced moments too to add to the ebb and flow and allow reader recovery. All in all, The Whispering World is an adventure I’d recommend everyone take!

L.D. Lapinski has crafted a perfect sequel and one that I’m sure will have new and returning readers engrossed. As the first sequel I’ve read this year, if The Whispering World is setting the precedent then the bar is incredibly high! While you head on to your preferred bookseller to pre-order a copy, I’m off to check there’s no little red boxes lying around… (In the words of River Songs, ‘Spoilers’)

I read this with my 11 year old daughter and we absolutely loved it! Full of adventure and great plot twists; it kept us hooked and ready for book 3!! The world building is fantastic and my 11 year old said she felt like she was there! Definitely recommend to anyone who is a lover of fantasy and magic!

LD Lapinski deftly returns us to the world of the Artezans - magicians hidden among us. Ed and Elodie Crane are a year older and magic is starting to go haywire after the events of the first book. The twins are, along with their dads, on the hunt for the other Artezan Masters in the hope of bringing balance back to their troubled world.

This installment introduces a whole new cast of beautifully drawn characters, including the wonderful Laurie Fern whose casual and universally accepted use of non-binary pronouns is a masterclass in how to write inclusively. As with all the best second installments, the end of the book leaves you desperately wanting to know more.

As ever, Lapinski's writing is evocative and the plot races along. Highly recommended for KS2 and lower KS3.

Back with Ed and Elodie, into the world of Artezans and an ambitious quest to to save Artezan magic.

This one was absolutely filled with excitement, drama and high stakes action. The more I read, the more I got sucked in and it was such a compelling story.

I love these characters and there is always great representation in L.D Lapinski’s books. By the end I was left reeling at the events that had taken place and by goood, it’s set itself up to be one fab and epic conclusion in the next book. There is so much at stake and so much to fight for, I can’t wait.