The Tomb of the Sea Witch

Beaumont and Beasley #2

by Kyle Robert Shultz

Nick Beasley used to be a private detective who didn’t believe in magic and monsters. He’s revised his views since then—after all, the horns and fur he sees every time he looks in the mirror don’t leave him with much choice. Joined by eccentric enchantress Lady Cordelia Beaumont, as well as his younger brother Crispin, Nick has traveled far from his home city of Talesend in a quest to become human again.

The Warrengate Academy of Advanced Magic may hold the key to unraveling Nick’s curse—a powerful spell connected to the tale of The Little Mermaid. Unfortunately, the school’s headmaster is a dangerously grumpy dragon with ties to the sinister Council of Scions, so Nick and his friends will have to tread carefully.

They soon find that dragons are the least of their problems on Warrengate Island. An ancient evil is rising from the deep, bringing an army of the undead along with it. Shocking revelations send Nick, Cordelia, and Crispin on a harrowing journey under the sea.

The Sea Witch is not quite as dead as everyone believes...and her secrets will change everything.

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Dragons, Humor, Young Adult, Christian Fiction

ebook

First published July 20, 2017

About the author

Kyle Robert Shultz is the creator of the Aftermythos, an interconnected collection of stories set in an alternate universe where fairy tales and mythology are history. Shultz is a completely ordinary human being with no remarkable qualities whatsoever. Accounts suggesting that he is a dangerous wizard exiled from a parallel reality, a cleverly-disguised magical creature passing off the history of another world as original fiction, a mysterious trickster entity described in the folklore of a circumscribed region of Wales, or a pseudonym adopted by three talking otters stacked up in a trench coat should be dismissed as not entirely accurate.

Note: I'm not active on Goodreads, so I may not see messages or other notifications. I only use this profile for business, so don't be offended if I don't accept your friend request. If you want to get in touch with me, email me at kyle@aftermythos.com.

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I had Kyle Robert Shultz filed away as a one-hit wonder. It seemed quite unlikely to me that he would be able to recapture the magic (no pun intended) of his first book while offering up enough new material to make a sequel worthwhile. However, I am happy to say that I was wrong. The Tomb of the Sea Witch develops the storyworld of Beaumont and Beasley and introduces an entertaining cast of side characters while remaining true to everything that made The Beast of Talesend enjoyable. I highly recommend it for anyone who liked Book 1, and I look forward to seeing where the author takes the series next. Those epilogues. Wow. I really have no idea where he's going with this. The man must be some sort of mad genius.

DISCLAIMER: Despite my assurances to the contrary in my review of The Beast of Talesend, some still claimed that I have some personal connection with the author, citing a superficial similarity in our names. Utterly ridiculous, of course. However, to indulge them, I checked ancestry.com and discovered that Shultz and I do share a common ancestor--Heinrich Wilhelm Schulz, a Hessian mercenary in the Revolutionary War. He is best remembered for writing fanciful reminiscences of the conflict featuring talking hippogriffs in place of horses and an elaborate magic system based on cheese. Sadly, these classics were ahead of their time and faded into obscurity. Anyway, aside from Heinrich, there is absolutely no link between me and Shultz. I've tried striking up a friendship with him on social media, but he's ignoring my friend requests for some reason. I even stopped by his vendor table at a writers' conference, but he just gave me an austere look and didn't even speak to me. Apparently the public recognition of his brilliance has gone to his head. What a shame.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 5 out of 5]

CAN I HAVE BOOK 3 PLEASE? THIS SERIES IS BRILLIANT AND I WANT THE THIRD ONE FOR MY BIRTHDAY SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO SEND ME A BIRTHDAY PRESENT THIS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. XD

[deborah o'carroll (offline during 2026) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread Sept. 2018

Read July 2017

Original Review:

I don’t know how to review this book! I JUST LOVED IT A LOT, OKAY?

There are SO many amazing twists, and spoilers that I have to avoid talking about because I don’t want to spoil it... I also kind of want to keyboard-smash and flail in all-caps that everyone should read this... I will attempt to be coherent, but MAN, this might be hard. *twitch* Ahem. *gathers self*

This is an utterly fun adventure! From the moment I read the prologue (in Nick’s delightful dry narrator tone, of course) I knew I was going to adore this book—and was I ever right! (The answer is yes; yes, I was right.)

I loved The Tomb of the Sea Witch just as much as book 1, The Beast of Talesend—possibly more, if that’s possible. O_O I... I don’t even know; I loved them both a LOT. But this one has potential to be my favorite so far, if only because of a few awesome things which were even more prevalent than before.

LIKE THE CHARACTERS.
AND THEIR BICKERING.
AND THE HUMOR.
AND THE FAIRYTALE TWISTS.
AND ALL THE PLOT TWISTS.
AND MAGICAL CREATURES.
(And I will try to be coherent, promise. *cough*)

More fascinating fairytale bits feature in this! Book 1 was largely Beauty and the Beast, and this one has remainders of that, but is mostly The Little Mermaid... ish... but different. (I will say no more. XD) Other THINGS are also referenced. O_O Needless to say, this post-fairytale world of the Afterlands is still FASCINATING, and totally unpredictable, and I can’t wait to see what other fairytale things get woven in later on!

THERE ARE TWISTS GALORE. The adventure got pretty intense in the midst of all the humor and character interactions! Eep! *collapses* EXCITEMENT. And so much trouble for our heroes. XD I couldn’t put it down and had to keep flipping those pages. It kills me that I can’t say much about the plot because I LOVE so many of the plot twists, but I will not spoil them—just go read the book yourself! (But these plot twists though. So many amazing and/or ominous developments! :O)

Nick is still an AWESOME narrator—seriously, he’s a favorite! ^_^ I just love his loyalty and grouchiness and he’s fabulous. <3 Cordelia is taking a turn for the mysterious (I mean, she had a dash of that to start with) and—gah, I need to know more about her. O.o She’s great too. :D CRISPIN IS IN THIS ONE MORE. *does a dance of happiness* I absolutely loved Crispin in book 1, although he wasn’t in it very much, so I was ecstatic to find that he has more of a central role in this one. SO MUCH CRISPIN. <3 It’s still mostly about Nick, but more Crispin “screen-time” this time around was great, and all the shenanigans he got up to were hilarious. XD He also went through a lot... *cough* *hugs Crispin and adopts him*

But even better than each individual character on their own? ALL THE CHARACTERS TOGETHER. I absolutely LOVE this trio! THEY ARE THE BEST!!! *hugs them* Nick and Cordelia are so great; I love their banter. I love Crispin and Nick’s brotherly shenanigans and interactions. I love how Nick and Cordelia try to keep Crispin in line and he tries to keep THEM in line and—laksjdlfkj SO MUCH ADORABLE. All three of them just make the greatest trio! There are some fabulous character arcs going on here during the continuing quest to de-Beast-ify Nick, and more questions raised about all the characters... ACK, I can’t wait to read more about these three! Anyhow, the Beasley brothers are fantastic together! I love themmm! <3

There are other fun characters introduced, too. :) Molly, for instance. *grins* I really like her. :D She and a certain character were so adorable together. XD And we have an ominous dragon with SUCH a presence... o.o And since it takes place largely at a magical “anti-hero” type school (*laughs so hard over this*), we have a small group of students dubbed “the Mythfits” by Nick—and they were so fun. XD And Kiran (a certain descendant of a certain character...) was verrry interesting and I’m curious about him. Mer-people also feature—yay!—as well as mythical creatures galore—many of which Crispin “adopts” in this, which was beyond adorable. :P (The little dragon/salamander though!! “Zup-zup!” <3)

I must confess, the very ominous epilogues got me extremely nervous for what will become of these characters in the upcoming sequels—eep! O_O (NEED. MORE. BOOKS. NOW.) So as far as any “downsides,” that’s literally all I can think of: that I’m VERY worried for my character friends, and there’s a bit of intense, dark scariness throughout the book, mostly in the second half. (But all mixed in with hilariousness, so it still felt pretty lighthearted overall. Of course, it being intense only means it’s VERY EXCITING and only makes me want to read them more, sooo...)

Short version: This book is one of the funniest I’ve read, with the BEST dialog, and is an utterly original twist on fairytales, with some of my favorite characters ever; I totally recommend it. JUST READ IT ALREADY, EVERYONE. Or, well, maybe read The Beast of Talesend first. BUT READ THIS BECAUSE IT’S FABULOUS.

Now I’ll just be over here flipping through both books and reading amusing quotes from Nick and Crispin and co., while waiting impatiently for the sequel, because I NEEDS MORE OF THESE, PRECIOUSSS.

(P.S. This was the perfect thing to read over a weekend when I was kayaking—all the water!—and my family also benefited from it because I couldn’t resist quoting aloud parts of it as I read; there were lots of laughs. The book photography opportunities were also perfectly timed. <3)

[I received a free Advance Review Copy of this book from the author (many thanks!). I was not required to write a positive review and these opinions are entirely my own.]

Review originally posted (complete with photos!) at: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...

[Nate Philbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there's one thing Kyle Shultz consistently exudes, it's professionalism, be it in his approach to the craft, his understanding of the industry's mechanics, or the way he meticulously polishes every aspect of the books he puts out. Shame on me for working through his Afterverse collection so slowly.

I do feel like my rating needs a disclaimer: I am, regrettably, not Shultz's ideal reader, in that I'm not generally keen on fairy tale retellings or plots that rely heavily on magic. But Shultz is a crafty sneak, and somehow I always enjoy his stories anyway. If I don't rate an aspect as highly as others might, it's due purely to my own personal preferences.

Shultz is a good writer, you see. Just ask his acolytes fans!

Characters: 5/5 (Malcolm said I had to) Molly's a fantastic addition to the series. Some of the minor characters didn't particularly spark my interest, but honestly, who cares when the core group is so much fun. Also great to see some continued development between Nick and Cordelia.

Plot: 4/5 The only reason I didn't go for a perfect five is that I gravitate toward stories where the plot serves as a framework for the characters and their dynamics to thrive, and this book is definitely plot-driven. Kind of like a theme park ride--fast, tons of fun, full of twists (and loops), but without a whole lot of time between the start and the finish for those character roots to dig deep. Like I said, personal preference.

Writing: 4/5 Flawless in execution, as always, Shultz's writing knows its role and excels at it--refined simplicity. What you see is what you get, and that writing style is a perfect fit for the plot and story length. Would I have wished for the dialog to have been granted room to explore itself? For the narrative to ease off the throttle now and then? Maybe. But I wouldn't ask an apple to be a carrot instead, would I? No. Apples will be apples, and B&B will be B&B, and they're both really good at being what they're meant to be.

Overall rating: 4.3 stars!

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATED REVIEW (first reread December 2021. Review upped from four to five stars):
I love this book. I love this series. Brilliant, well-written, hilarious gold.

ORIGINAL REVIEW (first read May 2021):
This was absolutely hilarious and I loved it so much. In my opinion, it’s better than the first because I love the characters so much more now. (These characters make the book. And in this one we meet Malcolm, the snarky, shapeshifting dragon headmaster of Warrengate. The banter is amazing.)

There’s timey-wimey-multiverse confusion and dragon sass and mermaids and twists and AHH, I LOVE IT. And at the same time there’s so much heart and so many feels and some terrifying portents of coming pain for the characters (and readers).

It’s amazing.

Content: magic (mostly fairy-tale-ish, but one brief and nondescript mention of necromancy. The magic mostly doesn’t bother me, but there are a couple mentions of things I think the author could have done without), a couple non-descriptive kisses, mild violence

[M Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five-star fairytale mishmash in the world of Beaumont and Beasley-- this time following the theme of "The Little Mermaid."

... ALL THE REFERENCES TO FAIRYTALES THOUGH.

... *nods* Definitely a must-read for all fairytale-lovers. It shouldn't have taken me this long to discover this author. *shakes head at self*

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book continues the hilarious adventures of Nick Beasley and his motley crew as he tries to get himself un-Beastified (and accidentally saves the world again while he's at it).

Of course I had to continue reading after the hilarity of the first book. I really missed listening to this on audiobook since the narrator added so well to the experience, so it took me a bit longer to get into this one than the first book. Hopefully this one will eventually come out in audiobook.

This is a crazy, tangled tale in which (once again) fairy tales aren't exactly as they seem. While I don't normally like books with undead in them, the "undead" in this book were more like animated skeletons, which was more funny than gruesome.

With the way this book ended, I really can't wait until the next book in this series!

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I was stoked to revisit Tomb of the Sea Witch—because, before rereading it, it had been my all-time favorite indie book. And, after my second reading, I can certainly understand why I loved it so much. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had so much fun reading any other indie-story. This darkly hilarious Little Mermaid retelling was the book that made Beaumont and Beasley an official fandom of mine.

All things considered, the second installment in the Beaumont and Beasley series is an epic adventure from beginning to end. It has almost none of the pacing issues of its predecessor; it is exciting and exhilarating—but it also knows when to slow down and focus on more character building moments. I also feel that the plot is more original and more intricately crafted than the plot of The Beast of Talesend.

The characterization is also rather improved in this installment. Crispin has always been the highlight of the series for me—but he truly comes alive in this installment, feeling far more vivid than ever before. The perpetually-happy, jovial, pet-hoarding schoolboy is impossible not to adore. Nick also seems better developed here, showing a bit more complexity. In my initial review, I complained that Cordelia seemed to lose some of her spunk in The Tomb of the Sea Witch, but I changed my mind on the reread. While still I definitely like her the best in The Beast of Talesend, she remains awesome in this book.

And the new characters! The Beast of Talesend contains a very, very small cast—really only four reoccurring characters—but this book is chocked full of vivid and unforgettable personaliteis. Malcolm is a never-ending fountain of begrudgingly goodhearted snark—not to mention the fact that he’s a freaking DRAGON! Niall and Saiorse are the two most hilarious merpeople I’ve ever encountered. Kiran’s cockiness thoroughly amused me. The Mythfits, while perhaps not as engaging as the other major characters of the series, instantly put a smile on my face. My favorite addition, though, would have to be Molly. Perpetually ditzy, nerdy, and badass, she serves as the perfect match for Crispin. Admittedly, I don’t often care for fictional couples where the people are attracted to each other from the moment they meet; I much prefer slow-growing romances. Molly and Crispin, however, are a rare exception; they are adorable.

On my second reading, though, I’m not sure I can still give Tomb of the Sea Witch five stars anymore—and I think that Stroke of Eleven would probably now be my favorite of Shultz’s works. While everything else about Sea Witch is epic, I wasn’t quite satisfied with the way it concluded and how the villain got defeated. I found the magic involved confusing and insufficiently explained. Perhaps, though, my confusion might have merely stemmed the fact that I don’t read a great deal of fantasy.

Even if it can be a bit confusing at times for me, I ultimately would not hesitate to recommend the Beaumont and Beasley series to anyone. I want to go around telling all my friends to read these amazing books.

[Beth Wangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, "Beast of Talesend." As excited as I was for "Tomb" to come out, there's always a mild level of fear that the sequel will pale in comparison with the original.

That was definitely not the case with "Tomb of the Sea Witch."

Seriously, I don't think there are words to say how much I loved this book. Every aspect of it is beautiful. The characters are amazing. I loved seeing more of beloved characters from last book, and there was no shortage of delightful, unique new characters, either. All of their relationships are fantastic, whether that's sibling, friend, romantic, or otherwise. The world is brilliantly vibrant. The grammar and punctuation are impeccable.

"Tomb" is such a pleasant reading experience. It's a wonderful feeling as a reader when you feel complete trust in the writer and know that they're not going to let you down, and I felt that confidence the whole time I was reading. Even when the characters [and me] were suffering--and trust me, we all suffered--I was so happy to be reading the story that I couldn't stop smiling.

[Shannon Hiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tomb of the Sea Witch was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Shultz does a masterful job of weaving all the stories and plotlines together, while giving each one his own delightful twist. You may recognize the names and basic plots, but everything else is up in the air when he gets done with it.

The characters continue to grow and mature, even as new beloveds are introduced.

Malcolm & Kiran are scene-thieves, and you won't even mind.

Where else are you going to get dragons, unicorns, and undine with a heft dose of witty banter and the utterly ridiculous?

If you haven't started reading this yet, stop reading reviews immediately and buy it. It is worth every penny and more.

[C.B. Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow.

Every single time I read one of these books I'm blown away even more. Not only do I now neeeed the next book, I also need to reread the first one!
Full review to come!

[Faye Fite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Awesome character development, lots of fun Little Mermaid references, possibly even more humor than the first. And more Crispin. I'm happy. Full review coming soon.

[E.B. Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

Having read and loved the first book in this series, "The Beast of Talesend," there was a lot of anticipation surrounding this book. It didn't disappoint me for a minute!

There is something very special about Shultz's writing. Let's rewind a little bit. I adored reading as a kid. I would submerge myself in books and lose track of reality. But in high school, I went through a phase where I stopped reading fiction altogether. I couldn't find books that gave me the same freedom and exhilaration. Eventually, I landed on the classics, and that is still my favorite genre today.

Kyle Robert Shultz's books make me feel like a kid again. I completely lose myself in the story and feel like I am on the adventure with the characters. I love the wit, and snark, and sarcasm! I love that the characters have real emotions, but that this isn't a melodrama. I love the wild imagination of the settings and the plot!

I can be somewhat of a suspicious reader. There are so many books that muddle up their writing with mixed messages, uncomfortable scenes, or frustratingly underdeveloped characters, partly because gritty realism is a huge trend right now, but few people know how to do it in a tasteful, meaningful way. Shultz avoids these pitfalls by aiming in the opposite direction: escapist fiction. And he hits the ball out of the park.

I mean I have to deal with difficult relationships, confusing emotions, frustrating circumstances, and harsh reality every day. And while I value books that explore heavy topics in order to get important messages across, it's been a long time since I've found books that have allowed me to have SO MUCH FUN as Beaumont and Beasley. And the best part is that spending just a few hours in Shultz's hilarious world of exhilarating imagination gives me the strength and motivation to keep facing reality.

[Lilian · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my gosh Shultz's imagination... like what happened here

[Kate Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun twist on the classic tale! I enjoyed my time with this story.

[Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. And my honest opinion? I loved it.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel to The Beast of Talesend. However, sequels are often hard to pull off. Not only do they need to be great books on their own (and we all know how hard writing those are), but they need to advance the world, further develop the characters, and raise the stakes. As if that wasn’t enough, they need to be sure to appeal to readers of the first book. But as far as I’m concerned, The Tomb of the Sea Witch pulls it off.

No spoilers ahead.

As I first started reading, I felt like it was missing something. On reflection, I think it was because this starts out as full on fantasy. One of the biggest appeals of the first book for me was the detective/magic mashup, but there’s little of that in this one. Once I got into the rhythm of reading, though, that feeling went away.

Why is that? Because the two books feel the same. They have the same style, the same tone, and the same humor, even if the setting is different. If you liked the first book, you’ll definitely like this one. Even if it takes a couple chapters to get back into the story, it’s totally worth it.

A lot more of the world is explored in this book. Most of it takes place at what’s basically a Hogwarts for villains (excuse me, antiheroes), but it doesn’t feel derivative after its introduction. Part of that is because not a lot of time is spent on the classes or school aspect, but mainly it’s because the focus is on the different species that attend the school.

Not only does this set it apart from Hogwarts, but it widens the characters’ (and the reader’s) knowledge of the world. It gives a chance to explore the magic more, especially by learning how magic relates to the different species. Plus, it gives Crispin a chance to adopt a bunch of pets. Always a good thing.

Speaking of Crispin, I really like what’s happening with him. I don’t want to spoil anything, but he’s got a lot going on in the magic department. I’m excited to see where his character goes.

That being said, I’m not sure about his relationship with Molly. Although I like the role it plays in the story, it’s pretty rushed. That’s less on Crispin’s side, though, and more on Molly.

I feel like she’s the weakest part of the book. Although she’s important to the story, and her character could be one I grow to love, I didn’t see enough to get a clear mental picture of her. Much of her characterization is what people say about her rather than what she does.

But for Cordelia and Nick, the character development is excellent. Cordelia, especially, is awesome. In the first book, I chalked her up as the ‘feisty’ character, but there were two specific scenes that changed that for me. The first is when ‘Crispin Loses His Temper’ and the second is the, um, heated discussion she has with Malcolm, the dragon headmaster. Cordelia is tied with Crispin for my favorite character, and now I appreciate her quirkiness because that’s not all she is.

As for raising the stakes, well, there’s not much I can say without spoilers, but yes, the stakes have been raised. Something big is brewing in those epilogues, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

The one other small complaint I have is that the book seems rushed, especially near the end. One of the (minor) battles was skipped over, and the denouement was hurried. But it isn’t too big of a deal for the overall enjoyment of the story.

If you’ve read the first book, read this. If you haven’t read the first book, read that, then read this. Thanks to this book, I am officially hooked on the series.

This review is also at https://justiceandwriteousness.wordpr...

[Katelyn Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I need time to process this epicness."

Okay, I lied. I couldn't wait.

All too often sequels just don't live up to their predecessor. The Tomb of the Sea Witch is not one of them. It repeated everything that made The Beast of Talesend so much fun (witty banter especially), and added new characters, and new adventures into the mix.

I thoroughly enjoy Shultz's retellings. Each time he does it, he flips the fairytale on its head, and turns it into something completely new. I honestly can't say I've ever read any retellings until The Beast of Talesend, but I have to say I'm hooked on this series.

As for the characters, Nick is coming to grips with himself in his Beast form (although he still wants to be human—probably).

Cordelia is just as crazy as ever, but we get to learn more about her and her past, which I enjoyed. I loved her in the last book, but she feels a lot deeper and fleshed out in this one.

And Crispin—good grief, man. All I can say is that his powers are multiplying at a frightening rate. (You know if Cordelia's concerned, there's cause for alarm). But I kind of love it. Crispin is still Crispin, even through it all.

And the epilogue/credit scene things. Just: WHAAAT. *claps hands over mouth to avoid blurting spoilers*

I honestly can't think of anything negative to say, beyond a few minor typos, so if you haven't started this series, all I can say is (in the most well-meaning bossy way imaginable): Read it. Read it now. And if you've read the first one, but not Tomb of the Sea Witch, then what are you waiting for??

[J.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look how lazy I am. I only just now was reminded that I never actually got to reviewing this. It's not often I can enjoy a good clean read. This book combines all the best aspects of whimsey, strong character voice, and a great plot to make a story amazing. I cracked up laughing at multiple points. Some parts I had to go back and read a few times over because I just loved them so much. All the aspects of this book were brilliant and it's one of those rare reads where I find myself fully jealous of an author's talent. It doesn't happen to me as much as you think it would because my writing is probably the only area in my life where I feel confident (that wasn't supposed to be depressing...) My point is, this book and this series, is a rare gem. I am really excited to read more. I honestly keep using Kyle's books as "treats" for myself, once I hit certain goals. I.E. "Let me finish this long boring book." or "Let me finish my edits and THEN I get to read." Because not only are they good books, and funny, but they are actually refreshing to read, which is rare in a good book.
So buy it. Buy them all. And read them!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*SOME SPOILERS

So glad to have the second book in the tales of Nick and Cordelia! And I was not disappointed! I pretty much read this book in one sitting, as it was one of those books you couldn't put down! Maintaining the hilarity and adventure of what we come to expect from a Beaumont and Beasley story, I enjoyed every moment. What I loved about this book was that it went deeper into the world building, and felt so much like Harry Potter meets Doctor Who! I enjoyed learning about the new creatures, new characters, and new places, as the world of the Afterlands expands into a broader context! It is truly reaching some epic proportions as we get THREE "end credit" prologues setting up for the next books, one of which made my fangirl heart squeal just a little - not going lie!

Yet really what stands out about the story are the characters, and I loved getting to know Nick, Cordelia, and Crispin more. Crispin (Or "Crispy" as Malcom calls him, which I think is the cutest nickname) is a precious cinnamon roll who must be protected at all costs! I thought his love story was so sweet, and I want him and Molly in my pocket! They are too adorable. I also enjoyed Nick's character journey, as little by little he has had to come to accept the realities of a world of magic and the fantastical. I thought the conversation and confrontation he had with his internal "Beast" was really awesome, as Nick stubbornly has to learn to stop fighting against a new part of himself that is starting to grow and become something wonderful and unexpected. This also includes his relationship with Cordelia, who pretty much crashes into his worldview at all times and challenges his perspective. I really like how their relationship is growing, feeling natural and having that understated chemistry that I enjoy! It is one of those situations where literally everyone else around them knows their feelings except them! Haha. It's hilarious, but sweet.

At any rate, this was an excellent second installment in the series! Probably my only criticism being that the climax got a bit convoluted with the exposition and events. However, it had everything the first book had, but just more of it! Crazy magical antics (poor Nick), imaginative & unique retellings of fairytales you think you know, charming characters, and hilarious banter! I cannot believe I now have to wait for book 3! Alas, the life of a fangirl... *sigh*

Side note: My new favorite character is Malcom Blackfire, who just so happens to be a dragon! Loved the volatile, piano-playing headmaster of Warrengate! I kind of want to go to his "anti-hero" school now! *heart eyes*

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable romp with a fresh and creative twist to a well-known fairy-tale.

The character dynamics were always lively and excitable, but at times the banter became a bit too incessant and that made some of the characters seem more generic or 2D than they really were. As if to make up for that, there were more than enough hilarious moments as well as new characters added to the ever-growing roster of both allies and enemies.

The plot was actually not as busy as the never-ending dialogue made it seem, but it was well-paced. Much like The Beast of Talesend, the ending was the most thrilling part and the three part epilogue packed a punch. It made me all the more eager to start reading The Stroke of Eleven!

[Erin Dydek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I think these books are doing what they’re supposed to do. I’m more attached to the characters, the stakes are even higher than before, and mundane survival is happening. I’m glad I have the next book in the series because I’m excited to see what happens next after that little epilogue of three parts!

With lots of clean humor, creature adoptions, and loveable mythfits, I love how entertaining these books are! So many twists and turns, and even when the unexpected happens, things work out in the end...well, sort of, lol. Some more significant things are developing behind the scenes, and we’re just starting to see what the full overarching plot has in store for Nick, Cordelia, and Crispin. Can’t wait to see which other fairytale characters show up in the future books!

[Sarah Cnossen · Rating 5 out of 5]

{The Basics}
I've heard so many great things about this series. And y'all, it's all true!! I absolutely LOVED this little novel. The CHARACTERS!!! AHHHH, I loves them ALL. The plot twists. The faerietales retold. The transformations. . .

PLEASE NOTE: This is the sequel of a series, and it is not a stand-alone novel. To know the full, fantastic story, read the first! ---> The Beast of Talesend.

{Spiritual Content}
This is a wonderfully clean novel, with absolutely no language whatsoever. Characters use the phrase, "Dear God," a time or two. But other than that, there are no overt "messages" or agendas to classify this as a "Christian" novel. It is simply a thrilling, humorous adventure involving what you think you knew of faerietales. :]

Magic plays a huge part in these tales. The antagonist of this particular story possesses a girl and uses her to accomplish her dastardly evil goals. She uses song-magic to do so, and can hypnotize folks to do her will.

{Violence}
Undead skeletal pirates attempt to attack the academy of magic at Warrengate, but they seem to be easily disposed of as they fall to pieces without too much gnawing, kicking, punching, or magical combat. Characters often use magic to fight.

The rather strict headmaster of Warrengate, who also happens to be a DRAGON (*cue Crispin squeal*), is always threatening to barbecue anyone who falls out of line or oversteps his boundaries. A stone gargoyle is consumed by flames, but being stone is completely unharmed. A horde of skeletons are burnt to a crisp.

Characters are attacked by said skeletal pirates, underwater tentacley polyps, nearly eaten by a sea-monster, and suffer cuts, bruises, and the like. One is slashed on the arm with a dagger, but the wound quickly heals. A Beast-creature battles a great octopus-mermaid-woman---he defeats her with a fatal slash of his claws to her neck, drawing black blood. The Beast-creature suffers from dozens of cuts, but they soon heal.

{Love-y Content}
Crispin (Nick's little brother) falls in love with Molly, Cordelia's cousin (after knowing her for only a couple days)---he's so cute! Turns out Molly likes him a lot as well. They share a few kisses hugs.

Nick and Cordelia always bicker and argue their plans/points/etc. But you KNOW they care for each other.

{Conclusion}
All in all, I would TOTALLLLLLLLLYYYYY recommend this entire series to all my buddies. (Nearly had to fight my hubby off to keep him from stealing the book from me. . .) ;D As mentioned before, this is entirely clean fiction filled with action, humor, undead pirate skeletons, merfolk, and so much more. I can't wait to get my hands on the third tale!!!

Read on my blog: http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot...

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure with Beaumont and Beasley! For the first half of the book, I didn't feel like that much was happening...then, suddenly, everything was happening!
There were plenty of funny moments, along with some moments that made me very concerned for the characters. Especially a certain one--but I won't say who because of spoilers. All I can really say is that I've quickly grown attached to the main characters, and I'm eager to see what happens to them next!
(And dreading it a little, to be honest. Because if this series is heading in the direction I think it is...😬)

[R.J. Rodda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun fairy tale mash-up filled with all of Shultz’s trademark quirky humor. Enjoyable and original.

[Emily Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love these characters 💙

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awesome novel from this author! Definitely took me on another exciting adventure and this one much different than what I expected. No way was I prepared for some of the events that take place, especially with Nick in one very interesting role. (Seriously. He made me laugh so hard in certain areas.)

Can we take a moment to appreciate Malcolm? This was the first book I can recall reading that many caps as this one did, but it was PERFECT!! It enriched the scene so much more and maybe made it a little… warmer? XD

My only "complaint" is that I had a little harder time following along with the retelling of The Little Mermaid. I'm not sure if it was because I was really sleepy when reading or what, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy it. I felt as dumbfounded as Nick about the REAL story! :o A lot of great twists in this one for sure!

Overall, this was another excellent continuing of book one! The author is leaving me on my toes with so much stuff (yes, I am totally using the word stuff because there's a lot I could share, but that would spoil all the fun) that I would sometimes reread just to make sure I soaked it in right during my shock. Eagerly looking forward to seeing where book three will take us next!

(Those epilogues were beasty!!!!! I don't even know what to say, but I'm pretty sure my heart rate went up at all the crazy things it could mean for these epic characters!!)

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally fell in love with the world of Beaumont and Beasely with book 1 and couldn't wait to dive back in. I read this book pretty much in one sitting. It features the same witty banter and touches of magic that book 1 did, plus the added bonus of seeing Crispin adopt every single magical animal that comes his way.

Nick, Cordelia, and Crispin venture to a magical academy to try and find a way to break Nick's curse and find themselves running right into danger. Again. This time they're up against the tale of the Little Mermaid, but in fun Shultz fashion, it's not quite what you expect. The school was fun, described as a school for anti-heroes by Cordelia. I wish we could have seen some more of it and a bit more interaction with the Mythcreants. :)

There were a few twists I didn't quite expect, so that was pretty fun! The pacing never really falters and plunges ahead with lighthearted yet serious moments, banter, brotherly moments, and the beginnings of romance? :)

Highly recommended if you want a fun, clean read that will keep you laughing and on the edge of your seat!

[Alexis Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 stars. Hooray!

Enjoyed this one even more than the first. NICK! ♥ I always adore the grumpy ones haha.
I love that this journey of B&B is seen primarily through Nick's POV and that we went deeper with his struggle and revelations as the beast. That was my favorite part, actually! Even though I really liked the twisted version of The Little Mermaid too.

Also, calling it now... As Cordelia and Nick fall in love over the course of the books, it will be their true love that breaks his curse, not anything outside that they are searching for. That's what *I* want to see happen, anyway. Don't let me down, Shultz! ;-)

[The Jesus Fandom · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find a full review of all of the Afterverse books here.

This had a lot of darker and scarier moments than book 1, but the humour was still the same. Overall, I enjoyed it!

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good! Review soon!