I love reading a good book, and having a great sequel makes it even better. Serafina and the Black Cloak was on the New York Times Best Sellers list for 20 weeks, so of course I was intrigued to find out that a sequel was going to be released.
I was given a copy of the two Serafina books in order to facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own.
As a mom, it is rare to have uninterrupted free time. Luckily, the summer brings all sorts of opportunities to read by the pool, on the patio while the kids play out back, and during nap times. While I am comfortable reading books for all ages, you should know that this series is written for both adults and children (ages 8 and up). After just a few chapters of the first book, I felt connected to the characters and couldn’t put it down. It mixes history, mystery and fantasy, all against the backdrop of the Biltmore Estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the 1890s. The plot has just the right combination to keep you on the edge of our seat, but not give you enough of a fright to keep you awake if you read in bed at night. I highly recommend both books whether you are looking for yourself, a friend, or an older child/teen in your life.
Serafina and the Twisted Staff is the follow-up to Robert Beatty’s bestselling debut novel. The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling mystery-thriller Serafina and the Black Cloak is set for nationwide release on July 12. Serafina and the Twisted Staff continues the adventures of the unusual 12-year-old girl we grew to love in the first novel.
Serafina’s defeat of the Man in the Black Cloak has set new dangers in motion for both Braeden and Serafina. But at the same time, it’s made it impossible for Serafina to keep hiding in the basement of Biltmore Estate. Once the secret “Chief Rat Catcher” extraordinaire who explored in the shadows, now she’s thrust into the light-filled world of the upstairs, with its beautifully dressed ladies and gentlemen and their strange customs. Lacking the social graces to fit in with the Vanderbilts and uncertain about what the discovery of her catamount mother means, Serafina finds herself caught between worlds. Where does she belong, the forest or the house?
But when a sinister arrival threatens both the animal and human residents of the estate, Serafina is the only one who can fight back. A dark, gray-bearded man in search of “the Black One” uses a pack of bloodthirsty wolfhounds to attack Serafina. Is he searching for the Black Cloak she destroyed? She only escapes with the help of a strange feral boy who seems to live in the forest.
When other animals at the estate begin lashing out, Serafina learns that a terrible power is taking hold of Biltmore and the surrounding forest. As she delves into the mystery of her past and searches for where she truly belongs, Serafina must find a way to defeat this new evil before it engulfs her beloved home.
In Twisted Staff, Serafina is starting to come out of the shadows. She finds herself caught between two worlds – the formality of Vanderbilt aristocracy and the wild ways of the forest. She and her friend Braeden Vanderbilt must solve a new set of mysteries as they face their darkest enemy yet. “Serafina’s world is expanding and changing,” said Beatty. “She’s coming to terms with her past and facing serious challenges. She and Braeden have to be braver and smarter than ever.”
Since its release last year, Serafina and the Black Cloak was on the New York Times Best Sellers List for 20 weeks. It has also appeared on the best seller lists of Publisher’s Weekly, USA TODAY, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and independent bookstores. It was selected by the Southern Independent Booksellers Association as representing the “best in Southern literature,” and has won many honors on Goodreads.com. Recently, it was named a finalist for the prestigious 2016 Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. A fast favorite for teachers and students, the book is being taught in hundreds of classrooms across the nation and has appeared on summer reading and Battle of the Books lists.
Serafina and the Twisted Staff is available for pre-order now at bookstores nationwide or on Amazon. The Summer Book Tour kicks off July 9 with stops in cities throughout the Southeast.
Make sure to check out the events in the Atlanta area in:
- Alpharetta on July 17th
- Newnan on July 18th
Visit the WEBSITE for more information on Serafina and the Twisted Staff and the Summer Book Tour.
Want to win a prize pack with Serafina goodies and an autographed copy of the highly coveted sequel?
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