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100 Dresses #2
Ghost of a Chance
Inside an enchanted castle, there’s a closet—a closet with one hundred magical dresses that only Darling Dimple can wear. Each one disguises her as somebody else.
It turns out that Darling needs disguises. A thief is on the loose! Someone is causing an uproar among the servants—moving things around, stealing clothes from the laundry, and even pocketing Princess Mariposa’s jewels. Then Darling and her friend Roger think they spot a ghost roaming the halls. Could the culprit be a spirit? Can Darling and Roger get to the bottom of it all? With the help of the one hundred dresses, there just might be a ghost of a chance.
It turns out that Darling needs disguises. A thief is on the loose! Someone is causing an uproar among the servants—moving things around, stealing clothes from the laundry, and even pocketing Princess Mariposa’s jewels. Then Darling and her friend Roger think they spot a ghost roaming the halls. Could the culprit be a spirit? Can Darling and Roger get to the bottom of it all? With the help of the one hundred dresses, there just might be a ghost of a chance.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2017
37 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 22, 2021
I am really enjoying this series! It’s such a magical fairytale adventure! There is also another mystery to solve in this one, & I love that aspect too. Darling is a strong character, but she’s so relatable because she is very capable of making mistakes-which she seems to do a lot in this. She is a bit of a trouble maker, & I was so worried for her! Some of the characters we met in the 1st book were developed a bit more in this which I also enjoyed. We got to spend more time w/Roger & Gillian(even though she annoyed me some at times lol). We got some more answers to some questions, but at the same time more questions developed lol so I’m so excited to read the 3rd book, & see what happens next! Loving my time w/these characters in this world. That little mouse had my heart! Love Iago! Dulcie also has a piece of my heart! A thrilling, magical, mysterious adventure full of friendship, loyalty, bravery, & resilience! Highly recommend! Another gorgeous cover by Melissa Manwill, & amazing inside illustrations by Lissy Marlin too!💜
May 10, 2018
Solid middle grade fantasy, with a broadening cast from the previous book, and extra complications thrown in about why the bad guys are doing what they're doing, and our main character's history. (Way to write a sentence that says almost nothing, Jasmine, gj.) But yea! This one was quite a bit of fun, as I quite like the characters and keep cheering for the growth of their careers. Am I extra amused that I'm cheering for career growth for middle grade characters? Yes I am. But Roger got a promotion! And Dimple got a new, more varied job with LOTS Of opportunity for growth that she doesn't see yet but *I* do, and we added Gillian and Dulcie as members of the inner circle of friends, AND with new promotions for them that come with new dresses and mittens and everything.
Oh, and I'm happy to see that the themes of "boys treat you badly cause they like you" was NOT continued, and friendship was found in like, being nice to each other. As it should be.
Oh, and I'm happy to see that the themes of "boys treat you badly cause they like you" was NOT continued, and friendship was found in like, being nice to each other. As it should be.
August 13, 2017
A really solid follow up to the first book, which I very much enjoyed! Darling is still a wonderful main character, very brave and determined but still capable of being scared and, to be honest, a terrible troublemaker. I enjoyed the twists of the story and the fleshing out of Darling's relationships with Roger and Marci. The single star missing from its rating is typical of sequels for me, because the joy of figuring out an entire new world that fills the first book is dimmed by the second, but I still look forward to reading the next book in this series and getting answers to some clues laid down in this one. Waiting for it to come out is going to be hard...
My five-star review of the first book, If the Magic Fits, can be found here!
My five-star review of the first book, If the Magic Fits, can be found here!
September 21, 2017
I liked this book but not as much as the first one. This was, overall, a fun story. It was darker than the first book, though. It was nice to learn more about Dimple and her family, but there us still a lot left to learn, which has me excited about the next book in this series. Also, knitting and knitwear. I like that those were included in this series.
April 9, 2019
3.5 stars. Another cute book in the 100 Dresses series. I was a little let down because there were very few new ideas in this one. The magic of the castle gets more interesting, but that’s about it. Although Darling is a go-getter type of character (which really drives the story forward), she does a few things that seem unrealistic for the time period. The plot is very focused, and lacks any interesting side stories, and there is a romantic connection that just kind of appears. 🤷🏻♀️ Overall, though, it’s a fun adventure- one I’m sure I would’ve loved as a kid, and I will definitely read the next book!
January 21, 2018
Not as wonderful as I found the first book, but still a delightful fairytale-esque, magical story!
November 20, 2020
(2.5/5 stars)
This was okay. It was very slow, and I was very bored at times. Still, the ending was interesting enough that I want to read the next book.
This was okay. It was very slow, and I was very bored at times. Still, the ending was interesting enough that I want to read the next book.
December 5, 2020
I was not quite as enchanted by this one, partly because I was disappointed that the "ghost" wasn't a ghost at all! But the story has more of the things I love in the first one, so it still gets a high rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2018
This series is one of a kind. Its a magical, fun, interesting story that can be quite confusing at times, but is great nonetheless. It has a wonderful background for Darling, but I wish they would talk more about her father and explain the magic in the castle a bit better. I also think that they should have Gillian apologize. She had been very rude to Darling, as you can see if you think about that she had lost her place as a Princess's Girl and that Gillian had taken her spot, telling Darling that she should 'Try not to get into trouble'. If Darling had not gotten into trouble, they would have never found Cherice. Besides that, Gillian had also been very mischievous. It is still a very good series and I look forward to reading the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2021
An interesting sequel to the first book, my daughter and I read this together aloud and enjoyed this one though not quite as much as the first book. The characters are still great and life at the castle is interesting, but the main plot felt like it didn't wrap up enough loose ends and left things unanswered. Of course, this may be intentional, as there is another book that comes next. Additionally, it felt like the magic dresses weren't used as much this time, which was a little disappointing as we thought it was part of the main overall theme of the story. Still, my daughter and I look forward to hopefully finding these loose ends tied up in the next book, which is up next on our reading list.
February 1, 2025
Not quite as enchanting as the last book, yet in no way a disappointment. Still perfectly lovely.
June 13, 2022
Magic bubbled under the stones, caressing my hand. The last Wray, it whispered to me.
Three months after the impostor scene happened, Darling Dimple – Darling Wray that is, became closer to Princess Mariposa; inviting her to the Royal Cemetery where the Wray lineage were buried. Darling is slowly discovering more about her family and realized that magic flows among the Wrays.
However, Darling’s relationship with Princess Mariposa became distant because of the disturbances happening around the castle – servants’ things go missing and the princess was a victim as well. Darling happened to get caught in the middle of it. And it did not help for her to blame the commotion on a ghost.
Determined to prove a ghost exists and is wreaking havoc in the castle, Darling enlists the help of Roger and went ghost hunting. Trudging the dark castle corridors at night added to the thrill in the story. But I sure do miss Darling’s interaction with the canary and the hundred dresses. Halfway in the story, Darling had to let go of getting their help because the difficulty to not get caught became a level harder because guards have been put in place everywhere in the castle and everyone has become more alert. The magical element in the second book was scarce. Still, thanks to the ghost hunting adventure of Darling, the story remained interesting. And yes, nearing the end, there goes the Wray magic I’ve waited to manifest again.
I somehow predicted a character’s fate in the story, but I was eager to find how it will be revealed. Darling has remained a darling and is always out to seek for the truth. Roger and Marci have been great allies. Gillian is somehow annoying. and the Baroness…something’s up with her which I hope to discover in the final book.
Magic! Warm and sweet, it rippled up under my hand. And it spoke to me. Let us in, it said, tapping at my palm.
What’s the last Wray’s connection to magic and the castle? Can’t wait to find out in the last book in this series!
This was a 4-star read.
Three months after the impostor scene happened, Darling Dimple – Darling Wray that is, became closer to Princess Mariposa; inviting her to the Royal Cemetery where the Wray lineage were buried. Darling is slowly discovering more about her family and realized that magic flows among the Wrays.
However, Darling’s relationship with Princess Mariposa became distant because of the disturbances happening around the castle – servants’ things go missing and the princess was a victim as well. Darling happened to get caught in the middle of it. And it did not help for her to blame the commotion on a ghost.
Determined to prove a ghost exists and is wreaking havoc in the castle, Darling enlists the help of Roger and went ghost hunting. Trudging the dark castle corridors at night added to the thrill in the story. But I sure do miss Darling’s interaction with the canary and the hundred dresses. Halfway in the story, Darling had to let go of getting their help because the difficulty to not get caught became a level harder because guards have been put in place everywhere in the castle and everyone has become more alert. The magical element in the second book was scarce. Still, thanks to the ghost hunting adventure of Darling, the story remained interesting. And yes, nearing the end, there goes the Wray magic I’ve waited to manifest again.
I somehow predicted a character’s fate in the story, but I was eager to find how it will be revealed. Darling has remained a darling and is always out to seek for the truth. Roger and Marci have been great allies. Gillian is somehow annoying. and the Baroness…something’s up with her which I hope to discover in the final book.
Magic! Warm and sweet, it rippled up under my hand. And it spoke to me. Let us in, it said, tapping at my palm.
What’s the last Wray’s connection to magic and the castle? Can’t wait to find out in the last book in this series!
This was a 4-star read.
September 10, 2018
Things are going missing from all over the castle, but despite heightened security, no one can figure out who is doing it. Princess Mariposa is getting quite distressed and depressed about events. And then Darling and Roger are sure they see a ghost in the hallway, and later Darling sees the same figure plant a stolen brooch in the girls' dormitory. Can they catch a ghostly thief without getting into more trouble themselves?
Just in case you're worried, there's a non-supernatural solution to the thieving mystery, but that's all I will say. I had figured out the how of the thieving but I was surprised about the who. Darling is learning a little more about her family as the book goes along, and that provides a bigger mystery to keep readers engaged for the next book. Darling is also starting to learn that the dresses aren't always the answers to her problems, and that there are many people in the castle who aren't quite what she first thought they were. Princess Mariposa's love life gets further developed as a side story in this one too for the romantics. Hand this to fantasy and mystery fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are some scratches but no major injuries.
Just in case you're worried, there's a non-supernatural solution to the thieving mystery, but that's all I will say. I had figured out the how of the thieving but I was surprised about the who. Darling is learning a little more about her family as the book goes along, and that provides a bigger mystery to keep readers engaged for the next book. Darling is also starting to learn that the dresses aren't always the answers to her problems, and that there are many people in the castle who aren't quite what she first thought they were. Princess Mariposa's love life gets further developed as a side story in this one too for the romantics. Hand this to fantasy and mystery fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. There are some scratches but no major injuries.
August 28, 2017
This is such a good story and writer. The story keeps the reader's interest and keeps the story moving from one event to the next while building the characters and story. Also, the story of the ghost came in pretty seamlessly for the character not believing in ghosts. Darling has a lot to go through, the story getting a little more serious than previous as she learns about her family and faces the climax. Also, secondary characters develop and grow beyond stereotypes (not that they ever were). The mystery of the magic of the castle deepens as Darling experiences and explores more. Can't wait for the next book.
February 7, 2024
When I read this series, I almost feel like the world is in black and white and I am seeing technicolor for the first time. These books are full of descriptive language and color, color, color! I can imagine it all vividly. That is not to say that the storyline is super strong, but the choice of words makes up for that.
This second book in the series, isn’t as exciting as the first. In fact, my preteen daughter thought this particular book from the series was a “waste of time” and that the ghost ended up being “nobody.” Not entirely true, but it is quite a slow plot and feels anticlimactic and a bit weird/unexplained when it finally does develop in the last chapter.
This second book in the series, isn’t as exciting as the first. In fact, my preteen daughter thought this particular book from the series was a “waste of time” and that the ghost ended up being “nobody.” Not entirely true, but it is quite a slow plot and feels anticlimactic and a bit weird/unexplained when it finally does develop in the last chapter.
January 2, 2018
Alright, so the ghost story of this was cliché. And I kept expecting a bigger story to build off of the last one, and FINALLY, it came...but very much near the end. So, I felt that this should have been a short story rather than a novel. HOWEVER...I loved seeing Darling and Roger and Gillian and Princess Mariposa again. It's like...coming home. To a dangerous but lovely castle, with lots of amazing people with vices and virtues, and of course, lots and lots of amazing dresses. I liked knowing more about Darling's deceased family, too - to understand her history was fascinating. I'm excited for the next book!
May 20, 2023
I think I loved Ghost of a Chance even more than If the Magic Fits. Chasing ghosts through a castle’s secret passages is right up my alley. And learning about all the myriad a jobs that go into keeping a castle running is fascinating. Darling is such a great character, wilful, caring, and often not above being scared out of her wits. The descriptions and imagery in this book will have you feeling as if your living in the castle and hunting for a ghost right alongside Darling and Roger.
Highly recommend for ages 7+
Highly recommend for ages 7+
August 15, 2017
Not quite as rousing a success as the first one, but definitely entertaining and it invoked and developed vague mysteries left behind by the first one that will help carry the series along through another fabulous adventure or two. It maintained all the lighthearted fun of the first one, and the very realistic, reasonable voice, and continued to develop the characters very well.
It was a nice, quick read, and I'm very pleased.
It was a nice, quick read, and I'm very pleased.
August 3, 2018
Darling Dimple is now friends with Princess Mariposa, but a mysterious ghost stealing items here and there could not only throw the castle into chaos, but lead to even more trouble for Darling and her friends! Schmid brings back the charm and beauty of this fantastical world that will have readers begging for more! Join Darling as she, Roger and Gillian investigate the mystery of the thieving spirit!
August 4, 2018
I actually ended up liking this one better than the first book in the series which is unusual for me. There was much more character development and it was definitely harder for me to guess where the story was going. I became more captivated with the revelation the main character goes through about her family so I'm very interested to see where it goes and how it ties into the rest of the series!
August 15, 2022
This book just didn't have the same charm as the first one. It was a lot less cohesive, and honestly, I didn't like the ghost bits. The first story was a cutesy, girly fantasy filled with dresses, butterflies, and castles, and this was a spooky mystery. I have no problem with those kind of stories but the two just don't go together. I'd much rather the writer had turned this concept into another series.
But it was still mildly enjoyable. I'll give it three cows.
But it was still mildly enjoyable. I'll give it three cows.
September 9, 2017
Reading about Darling is such fun! I love her spunk and that she sticks up for others. She and Roger have adventures chasing the ghost. The author left plenty of things open for a third book, but left me perfectly happy with the ending to this story. I enjoy her writing style and look forward to reading more in this series.
September 26, 2018
Another great book in this series! I read it as quickly as possible (though that is also thanks to needing to read book 3, so I could write a reading response for school to a book I hadn't read before) I really hated her friends in this book, because they annoyed me so much. I honestly don't remember much by this point, because I've been busy thinking about other things.
November 11, 2018
Darling finds herself in trouble once more as things goes missing in the castle. She thinks it is a ghost and Roger helps her look. They find adventures and trouble along the way.
Darling is an appealing character. She is intelligent, curious and cares for others even those who are mean to her. The magic and mystery surrounding the castle and the dresses gets more interesting with each book.
Darling is an appealing character. She is intelligent, curious and cares for others even those who are mean to her. The magic and mystery surrounding the castle and the dresses gets more interesting with each book.
January 8, 2020
I liked this book better than the first because I understood more of the characters' stories. I am anxious to learn more about the magic of the castle. I am anxious to learn more about how the current monarch is connected to her under-staff. Makes me wonder about how we are all connected when we take the time to take note.
March 19, 2024
This was cute. The dress magic was a little vague in how it worked, but the dresses in the chapter art were cute. There was a surprisingly physical fight in the narrative that I was not expecting based on the story's overall tone. It wasn't a stunning story but it was a little more than just okay. 3.5
December 27, 2017
Darling's adventures continue when she suspects a ghost may be stealing various items from the castle's inhabitants. Along the way we find out a little bit more about Darling's ancestry. This is a fun second installment, so well written, can't recommend it enough!
November 21, 2017
I'm not a fan of ghost stories and this one had a ghost theme, which made me sad. The series started off awesome, but this second installment left a lot to be desired. Can't decide if it's worth continuing this series or not.
July 3, 2019
Amazing series! I loved it as much as my daughters. Each book was full of fantasy, wonderful characters and enough suspense to make it hard to put down. Hoping that book number 4 will be on its way soon! We can't get enough!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews