Review Detail

The wolves howled, the wind groaned, the trees swayed ominously. Serafina crouched behind a large tree, drinking in the scents and sounds of the night. But she isn’t human. She has sleek black fur and deadly claws. She is a black panther.

Three weeks after defeating the Man in the Black Cloak, Serafina has come to terms with her shapeshifting ability, but has no idea where she belongs: Biltmore or the forest. One night, she explores the forest, when she comes across a carriage. A man and a pack of wolfhounds are inside, and they attack her. She barely escapes, but with the help of her catamount mother and an unknown boy. After the attack, the animals in the forest and at Biltmore started acting strangely and aggressively. Serafina must find and stop whatever, or whoever is controlling the animals for their own terrible reasons.

In this adventurous sequel, the character’s personalities bloom, and the reader sees even more of the traits that will shape them as they grow. Some new characters are introduced, such as Sera’s new friend Essie, a shy servant girl who helps Sera, and the feral boy Waysa, a clever and cunning character who has a surprising ability. The wonderful plot sends the reader on a roller coaster of emotions, with mysterious twists and turns as Serafina searches Biltmore and faces the terrible, controlling force that bewitches the forest’s animals, which threaten to overthrow the delicate balance of Serafina’s life. For those who enjoy heart-pounding adventure, the forest scenes will definitely satisfy their appetite. Serafina and her friends face many dangers amongst the shadowed trees and learn many secrets that send them on various spooky quests.

The only thing I would have liked was some setup for the third book, but otherwise, Serafina and the Twisted Staff was an amazing ride.

Robert Beatty’s sequel to Serafina and the Black Cloak pulls readers into a whole new wonderful of adventure with Serafina and Braeden at Biltmore. No reader will need a bookmark because they won’t be able to put this book down! Just like the prequel, this gets five stars from me!