The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found
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The spell-binding world-building of Philip Pullman with the page-turning kid appeal of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Discover a world of magic and secrets, friendship and unimaginable quests in this spectacular new fantasy series from the most exciting new voice in children's books. A boy who doesn't believe in magic. An impossible world that will change his mind. Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious gift in the post - a doll that can transform into a bird - he is led into the impossible (and most definitely magical) world of Wreathenwold, where dark secrets are lost amongst a vast labyrinth of streets. Benjamiah soon finds himself swept along in a dangerous quest - led by the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, who is determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother. Will Benjamiah ever find his way home and discover his puzzling connection with this strange, enchanted world?
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1 primary book#1 in The Whisperwicks
The Whisperwicks is a 1-book series first released in 2024 with contributions by Jordan Lees.
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Contains spoilers
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for letting me read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!
The Labyrinth of Lost and Found
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.57/10 overall
Characters - 6
The characters in this book were fine, but not especially standout. While each of them did have a rather clear motivation, all of the side characters fit into mostly stereotypical boxes like "evil rich lady", "old man who became an outcast", or "that guy who helps the main characters once but oops, he's actually evil?!?!" which did not help this story to become less predictable. :/
Atmosphere - 7
I did find myself enjoying the spooky vibes of the Wreathenwold and found the background and lore of this other reality to be quite refreshing and unique. However, having the addition of a navigational device to help the main characters felt a bit cheeky, I must say. We learn that others are searching for Ariadne, but we never learn the how and why behind her creation. Like, wouldn't everyone just create their own personal magic thread if they could?
Writing - 7
The writing was decent, though it felt a bit contrived at points. All of the twists felt bland and mediocre at best, personally. Some of the time I was like "oh, this seems cool and unique" and then it would go back to "oh, this the spooky, creepy world has spooky, creepy woods. Who would've thought?"
Plot - 5
The plot was a steady decline into gobbledygook and overdone tropes. The real twist of the book was how it tricked me into thinking there was a unique plot. :)))))))
Intrigue - 7
Despite my initial reservations about Benjamiah being an annoying know-it-all in the first chapter or two, the intrigue of figuring out what happened to Edwid was a strong pull to continue the story.
Logic - 7
This book was reasonably logical. Nothing stood out as an obvious plothole or anything, but there were a few parts that I thought could've been explained better.
Enjoyment - 6
I enjoyed parts of this book. Some elements felt similar to other spooky horror/thriller MG books that I've enjoyed, but others were not nearly so terrific. I think overall the overuse of tropes ruined this for me. :/
