What do you think?
Camp Whatever #2
Secrets of Camp Whatever Vol. 2: The Doors to Nowhere
Full of thrills and chills, Willow and her summer camp friends have more mysteries to solve in this sequel to the hit graphic novel, Secrets of Camp Whatever!
When twelve-year-old Willow went to her weird new town's even weirder summer camp, she didn't expect to get caught up in an ancient mystery involving forest-dwelling vampires, living garden gnomes, and other completely bonkers creatures most people would never believe exist. Now she's not only involved, she's marked—too close to the heart of an ages-old quest for power and control than she should be, and too concerned about her new friends and the dangers they face to let them go it alone. With the help of a spell book and her scrappy crew of camp friends, Willow is about to step through a doorway to magic and discovery that will change her world forever.
When twelve-year-old Willow went to her weird new town's even weirder summer camp, she didn't expect to get caught up in an ancient mystery involving forest-dwelling vampires, living garden gnomes, and other completely bonkers creatures most people would never believe exist. Now she's not only involved, she's marked—too close to the heart of an ages-old quest for power and control than she should be, and too concerned about her new friends and the dangers they face to let them go it alone. With the help of a spell book and her scrappy crew of camp friends, Willow is about to step through a doorway to magic and discovery that will change her world forever.
224 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 24, 2022
It’s been two months since Willow attended Camp … Whatever, where she participated in the usual summer camp activities. Like sneaking out of her cabin with her friends to solve mysteries and spending time with a vampire, gnomes and other magical folk.
Now her friends are helping her celebrate her thirteenth birthday. There’s Violet. One of her roles in this Volume is reminding us why we all need to be reading more books. There’s Emma, who has a secret. And there’s Rand, a werewolf.
Elric gifts Willow her great-great grandmother Rose’s spell book before he mysteriously disappears. Willow has Rose’s book in her possession for a good few hours before it’s stolen and taken through the swirly pink portal in her lounge room, which I promise wasn’t there a minute ago. Naturally, Willow follows the thief. I would have too.
It’s a good thing her friends are there to help her investigate and be on the lookout for anything weird.
Willow learns that sometimes wishes do come true, whether you really mean them to or not. There’s a secret meeting, a troll, a wishing well and a forest frog. Toast is there as well. Oh, and an invisible pixie-corn.
We learn more about the prophecy that we first heard about in Volume 1. I’m expecting an action packed conclusion.
We didn’t get to spend anywhere near as much time with Molly as I would have liked but hopefully she’ll get more page time in Volume 3.
I enjoyed my second read of this graphic novel much more than the first. The first time I read it, it had been so long since I’d read Volume 1 that I’d forgotten too much about who was who and what Willow and her friends had experienced at Camp … Whatever. This time I read them back to back, which helped immensely.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Now her friends are helping her celebrate her thirteenth birthday. There’s Violet. One of her roles in this Volume is reminding us why we all need to be reading more books. There’s Emma, who has a secret. And there’s Rand, a werewolf.
Elric gifts Willow her great-great grandmother Rose’s spell book before he mysteriously disappears. Willow has Rose’s book in her possession for a good few hours before it’s stolen and taken through the swirly pink portal in her lounge room, which I promise wasn’t there a minute ago. Naturally, Willow follows the thief. I would have too.
It’s a good thing her friends are there to help her investigate and be on the lookout for anything weird.
Willow learns that sometimes wishes do come true, whether you really mean them to or not. There’s a secret meeting, a troll, a wishing well and a forest frog. Toast is there as well. Oh, and an invisible pixie-corn.
We learn more about the prophecy that we first heard about in Volume 1. I’m expecting an action packed conclusion.
We didn’t get to spend anywhere near as much time with Molly as I would have liked but hopefully she’ll get more page time in Volume 3.
I enjoyed my second read of this graphic novel much more than the first. The first time I read it, it had been so long since I’d read Volume 1 that I’d forgotten too much about who was who and what Willow and her friends had experienced at Camp … Whatever. This time I read them back to back, which helped immensely.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
August 19, 2022
It’s Willow’s birthday and Elric, a local vampire, has gifted her a spell book that was once her great grandmother’s. It turns out that there’s a bit of supernatural history in Willow’s family and there’s a good chance that Willow has inherited more than just a spell book. Now that the book is in her hands, she’s caught right in the middle of a supernatural quest for power, and that spell book is at the center of it. There’s more problems on her hands when it turns out she’s at the center of an old prophecy, too!
I loved the first volume in this series, so I was extremely excited when I saw that the second volume was out. We follow Willow and the friends she made at camp in the previous novel as they celebrate her birthday. I loved seeing Willow and her friends again, including Elric. It was so much fun to get back into this supernatural world. I was rather surprised at how dark this volume is compared to the previous one. It was more dark and spooky than a supernatural spin on real life. Though, there are still important lessons for readers. For example, Willow learns that she can be quite judgmental and mean about people she just met, especially if she doesn’t like them. It’s something she learns she has to change because not only is it mean, but her friends are put off by the attitude as well.
That said, it’s still a fun read. I enjoyed learning more about the supernatural history of the island. It was fun seeing Willow learn how to travel by magic as well to see some new supernatural developments among her friends. While the overall tone of this volume was much darker, there was still some humor sprinkled throughout the story. I cracked up when Willow and her friends went to find the forest frog because it turned out to be absolutely hilarious.
I loved the first volume in this series, so I was extremely excited when I saw that the second volume was out. We follow Willow and the friends she made at camp in the previous novel as they celebrate her birthday. I loved seeing Willow and her friends again, including Elric. It was so much fun to get back into this supernatural world. I was rather surprised at how dark this volume is compared to the previous one. It was more dark and spooky than a supernatural spin on real life. Though, there are still important lessons for readers. For example, Willow learns that she can be quite judgmental and mean about people she just met, especially if she doesn’t like them. It’s something she learns she has to change because not only is it mean, but her friends are put off by the attitude as well.
That said, it’s still a fun read. I enjoyed learning more about the supernatural history of the island. It was fun seeing Willow learn how to travel by magic as well to see some new supernatural developments among her friends. While the overall tone of this volume was much darker, there was still some humor sprinkled throughout the story. I cracked up when Willow and her friends went to find the forest frog because it turned out to be absolutely hilarious.
March 15, 2022
In the second volume of the Camp Whatever series, we find ourselves following Willow and her camp friends as they navigate through a centuries old mystery. Willow learns more about herself after she receives an important spell book from a local witch. But will she be able to keep the spell book out of the wrong hands and keep her friends and family safe? There are all kinds of magical creatures from vampires to trolls to gnomes and even a frog Prince. There is some humor but this is quite the journey where most everything is trying to kill or deceive Willow.
I think this is a great graphic novel; the illustrations are great and the story is good. It does end on a cliffhanger so I will be eagerly awaiting book three to find out the next journey for Willow and her friends!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this for an honest review.
I think this is a great graphic novel; the illustrations are great and the story is good. It does end on a cliffhanger so I will be eagerly awaiting book three to find out the next journey for Willow and her friends!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this for an honest review.
September 27, 2024
I loved the first entry in this series, but I found this book very disappointing. I wanted a fun, spooky cryptid mystery. But this book got deep into lore, which I didn’t find compelling.
April 7, 2022
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
While this was on parts the same level of enjoyment I had for the first book… there was also just a bit too much dialogue, it was just a tad more chaotic, plus the epilogue.. eh. But I did have fun reading it and I would still rate it 3 stars! Since I already wrote like 4-5 reviews today, I will be doing a good/eh breakdown of the book.
LOVE
😍 Willow’s new hair colour!
😍 New spells! New monsters! New friends!
😍 Cover is awesome!
😍 New portals and I just love the symbols you had to use to get to place. Everything had a different symbol!
😍 Emma! I can imagine that she is still learning and pondering what to do, but I was proud that she was open with her friends and showed them!
😍 Rand! Especially in the later parts he was such a trooper and I loved seeing him go into his werewolf mode a few times.
😍 Family, we learn more about Willow’s family. Who her great-whatever-grandmother is. About the book she wrote in. The magic that runs through the family. I just love it when books go deeper into family history, family secrets. Give hints to what is going on.
😍 It was quite ominous at times. Because there is the prophecy…. And that one comes back in full force in this one on many levels.
😍 The art was wonderful as always! And I love how there were several silent panels with just art and movement. It was pretty and I have to say I preferred those a lot over the panels with WAY too much dialogue. XD
😍 Seeing Willow mellow down a bit. I mean, I don’t mind a character who dares to open her mouth, but at times she was just a tad too judgemental and it made me happy that she talked to her friends about it and said sorry.
😍 I loved that Willow was able to read Gnomish (looks a bit like runes). Yes, it was a tad convenient that just at this moment it was there, but I will take it!
😍 Loved that we are going back to the island. Not through boat.. but with another way.
😍 Mmm, donuts and ice cream, perfect birthday. XD
😍 The ending. Yes, I am bit mixed on it. I loved it, but it also made me cry. Also made me want to shake something. It was well-written and despite that I would have rather seen another outcome, I am also glad that the author didn’t shy away from things. Dared to go this way.
😍 Pixie-corns? Can I have one? Please?
EH
😐 The epilogue was a big no no to me. I think that one should have NOT been added. It just felt out of place given the ending we had. I think another character making ominous noises would have been a better fit.
😐 Again, Willow was, at first at least, quite judgemental. And that didn’t make me happy. I get that she is right, but one of her friends has known that person for a long time, you cannot expect them to instantly make that shift or understand your anger.
😐 How that person got the book.. it just felt SO convenient. Just like a book I read earlier in March. About a dad who always knocks and waits, but suddenly during a crucial moment doesn’t and thus things magically happen. 😐
😐 Like I said the ending was giving me mixed feelings.
😐 The Main Villain. Meh. I just wanted to punch him. I guess that means he is well-written, but I just was annoyed with him all the time. I dreaded each time he came around. Stay away. Bleh.
😐 Sometimes there was just SO MUCH DIALOGUE and I had to really force myself to get through it, but I noticed that my head was just not having it and just spat out the information, meaning I had to at times just re-read things.
😐 At times it just felt all very chaotic. We hoped from one thing to another and sometimes I just missed that bit of connection.
As you can see a bit of a mixed bag, but I am still very happy to have read this book, so thanks to the publisher for giving me a chance. I am still looking forward to the next book and seeing what is next. Because things are going to be much darker from this moment on.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
While this was on parts the same level of enjoyment I had for the first book… there was also just a bit too much dialogue, it was just a tad more chaotic, plus the epilogue.. eh. But I did have fun reading it and I would still rate it 3 stars! Since I already wrote like 4-5 reviews today, I will be doing a good/eh breakdown of the book.
LOVE
😍 Willow’s new hair colour!
😍 New spells! New monsters! New friends!
😍 Cover is awesome!
😍 New portals and I just love the symbols you had to use to get to place. Everything had a different symbol!
😍 Emma! I can imagine that she is still learning and pondering what to do, but I was proud that she was open with her friends and showed them!
😍 Rand! Especially in the later parts he was such a trooper and I loved seeing him go into his werewolf mode a few times.
😍 Family, we learn more about Willow’s family. Who her great-whatever-grandmother is. About the book she wrote in. The magic that runs through the family. I just love it when books go deeper into family history, family secrets. Give hints to what is going on.
😍 It was quite ominous at times. Because there is the prophecy…. And that one comes back in full force in this one on many levels.
😍 The art was wonderful as always! And I love how there were several silent panels with just art and movement. It was pretty and I have to say I preferred those a lot over the panels with WAY too much dialogue. XD
😍 Seeing Willow mellow down a bit. I mean, I don’t mind a character who dares to open her mouth, but at times she was just a tad too judgemental and it made me happy that she talked to her friends about it and said sorry.
😍 I loved that Willow was able to read Gnomish (looks a bit like runes). Yes, it was a tad convenient that just at this moment it was there, but I will take it!
😍 Loved that we are going back to the island. Not through boat.. but with another way.
😍 Mmm, donuts and ice cream, perfect birthday. XD
😍 The ending. Yes, I am bit mixed on it. I loved it, but it also made me cry. Also made me want to shake something. It was well-written and despite that I would have rather seen another outcome, I am also glad that the author didn’t shy away from things. Dared to go this way.
😍 Pixie-corns? Can I have one? Please?
EH
😐 The epilogue was a big no no to me. I think that one should have NOT been added. It just felt out of place given the ending we had. I think another character making ominous noises would have been a better fit.
😐 Again, Willow was, at first at least, quite judgemental. And that didn’t make me happy. I get that she is right, but one of her friends has known that person for a long time, you cannot expect them to instantly make that shift or understand your anger.
😐 How that person got the book.. it just felt SO convenient. Just like a book I read earlier in March. About a dad who always knocks and waits, but suddenly during a crucial moment doesn’t and thus things magically happen. 😐
😐 Like I said the ending was giving me mixed feelings.
😐 The Main Villain. Meh. I just wanted to punch him. I guess that means he is well-written, but I just was annoyed with him all the time. I dreaded each time he came around. Stay away. Bleh.
😐 Sometimes there was just SO MUCH DIALOGUE and I had to really force myself to get through it, but I noticed that my head was just not having it and just spat out the information, meaning I had to at times just re-read things.
😐 At times it just felt all very chaotic. We hoped from one thing to another and sometimes I just missed that bit of connection.
As you can see a bit of a mixed bag, but I am still very happy to have read this book, so thanks to the publisher for giving me a chance. I am still looking forward to the next book and seeing what is next. Because things are going to be much darker from this moment on.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 22, 2022
This is the second book in the series of Camp Whatever. You don't have to have read the first book, to get into this story. On the other hand, if you did read the first book, you might be surprised at how dark this one turns out to be. The first book was about werewolves, and vampires, and gnomes, yes, but they were not trying to kill Willow at every step. There was more humor in the first book.
In this second book, things have turned dark, although there is humor, albiet dark humor, and we find that Willow, the main character, is the great granddaughter of a local witch, and should have powers. She has been given a spell book by the local vampire, and isn't expected to be able to read it, but she does.
Interesting collection of twists and turns, and there is a cliffhanger. We will have to wait for book three.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
In this second book, things have turned dark, although there is humor, albiet dark humor, and we find that Willow, the main character, is the great granddaughter of a local witch, and should have powers. She has been given a spell book by the local vampire, and isn't expected to be able to read it, but she does.
Interesting collection of twists and turns, and there is a cliffhanger. We will have to wait for book three.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
April 1, 2022
I just want to start this off by saying I did not read the first book in the volume in its entirety, I just needed a book to take me out of a slump. This did exactly that.
This second volume of the Camp whatever series takes a dark turn. We follow Willow as she ends up getting involved with an ancient mystery involving all kinds of creatures - vampires, trolls gnomes, you name it!
I have never actually read a fantasy graphic novel so this was a first, but it was quite fun and interesting. The illustrations were great! highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This second volume of the Camp whatever series takes a dark turn. We follow Willow as she ends up getting involved with an ancient mystery involving all kinds of creatures - vampires, trolls gnomes, you name it!
I have never actually read a fantasy graphic novel so this was a first, but it was quite fun and interesting. The illustrations were great! highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2022
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I was a huge fan of the first volume so I was excited to see volume two was here! It starts off a few months after the first one and we follow Willow and her friends on an epic adventure, one that comes with consequences. This one was a little darker than the first but still very enjoyable and I really like the art. Can't wait for the third volume.
January 15, 2024
✨
Secrets of Camp Whatever Vol. 1
★★★★
Content/Trigger Warnings: Scene of sacrificial ritual, on page spider scenes, violence, on page death, grief
I was so torn of how I wanted to rate this, my enjoyment of this book, and have been debating on if I even want to finish this trilogy. It's been a lot of back and forth on many things. Ultimately, this feels like a low three stars for enjoyment. There were a few things I loved and there were things I noticed that kind of bothered me.
Starting with the things I loved, we get to see more magical, mythical creatures in this volume. We learn about land-walkers, some ghostly lich type creatures, some troll action, we get some elf backstory goodness, and probably the most precious creature, the creature the gnomes ride. It was a great time. We also get to see Rand show his werewolf form and we also get introduced to witches/spellbinders. There's so many new magical creatures we're introduced to and it was a fun time. Wasn't a fan of the giant mythical spider, but everything else was great!
We also learn of an ancient prophecy that Willow and all of their friends have been dragged into. It almost feels like a battle between bloodlines and like the fate of all the magical creatures inhabiting the island are now at risk by this prophecy coming true. I loved that! I was thriving, the whole volume almost felt like a DnD campaign, and it was very atmospheric. It's probably the only thing that has me excited for the next volume in this series.
With all that being said, there were a few things that didn't work for me. Starting with something that's kind of on the minor scale, but something that was very noticeable. For the majority of this particular volume, we don't see Willow using her hearing aids. There's one scene, one, where we see Willow using her hearing aids, but for the majority of this volume we don't see the hearing aids or even the simple action of Willow putting them in their ears. It felt really strange and odd because in the first volume they played a minor role, but it was such an important role. And in this volume, it almost feels like an after thought or the author forgot that their main character was deaf and uses hearing aids. It was just something that stood out and felt very odd not to see normalized in this volume the way it was in the first volume.
The other thing I didn't really like was Willow's attitude. Granted, Willow's attitude does get challenged at one point, but it's very clear Willow has anger problems and there were quite a few times where I didn't like Willow's treatment of others. Again, this circles back to what happened in the first volume, starting unnecessary fights or arguments and putting yourself in a negative spotlight. Not to mention, Willow has no personal growth when it comes to this or being called out on this behavior. There was a point where I was just kind of done with Willow being the main character and almost DNF'd this because I'm tired of reading literature that wants to follow the angry, angsty teenage mc who's angry all the time and starting problems for no good reason.
Overall, I don't know if I'm going to continue on with this series. This book kind of soured my mood and damped my expectations going forward with the final book. I think if you're looking for a fast paced, fantasy read that has an interesting storyline and is filled with magical beings then give this series a chance. I think this comic series caters to so many check boxes for readers like campy vibes, fantasy, adventure, etc...
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
Content/Trigger Warnings: Scene of sacrificial ritual, on page spider scenes, violence, on page death, grief
I was so torn of how I wanted to rate this, my enjoyment of this book, and have been debating on if I even want to finish this trilogy. It's been a lot of back and forth on many things. Ultimately, this feels like a low three stars for enjoyment. There were a few things I loved and there were things I noticed that kind of bothered me.
Starting with the things I loved, we get to see more magical, mythical creatures in this volume. We learn about land-walkers, some ghostly lich type creatures, some troll action, we get some elf backstory goodness, and probably the most precious creature, the creature the gnomes ride. It was a great time. We also get to see Rand show his werewolf form and we also get introduced to witches/spellbinders. There's so many new magical creatures we're introduced to and it was a fun time. Wasn't a fan of the giant mythical spider, but everything else was great!
We also learn of an ancient prophecy that Willow and all of their friends have been dragged into. It almost feels like a battle between bloodlines and like the fate of all the magical creatures inhabiting the island are now at risk by this prophecy coming true. I loved that! I was thriving, the whole volume almost felt like a DnD campaign, and it was very atmospheric. It's probably the only thing that has me excited for the next volume in this series.
With all that being said, there were a few things that didn't work for me. Starting with something that's kind of on the minor scale, but something that was very noticeable. For the majority of this particular volume, we don't see Willow using her hearing aids. There's one scene, one, where we see Willow using her hearing aids, but for the majority of this volume we don't see the hearing aids or even the simple action of Willow putting them in their ears. It felt really strange and odd because in the first volume they played a minor role, but it was such an important role. And in this volume, it almost feels like an after thought or the author forgot that their main character was deaf and uses hearing aids. It was just something that stood out and felt very odd not to see normalized in this volume the way it was in the first volume.
The other thing I didn't really like was Willow's attitude. Granted, Willow's attitude does get challenged at one point, but it's very clear Willow has anger problems and there were quite a few times where I didn't like Willow's treatment of others. Again, this circles back to what happened in the first volume, starting unnecessary fights or arguments and putting yourself in a negative spotlight. Not to mention, Willow has no personal growth when it comes to this or being called out on this behavior. There was a point where I was just kind of done with Willow being the main character and almost DNF'd this because I'm tired of reading literature that wants to follow the angry, angsty teenage mc who's angry all the time and starting problems for no good reason.
Overall, I don't know if I'm going to continue on with this series. This book kind of soured my mood and damped my expectations going forward with the final book. I think if you're looking for a fast paced, fantasy read that has an interesting storyline and is filled with magical beings then give this series a chance. I think this comic series caters to so many check boxes for readers like campy vibes, fantasy, adventure, etc...
All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.
Instagram|Ko-fi|Throne
July 20, 2025
You can tell that Willow has grown up a little bit more based on the dialogue and how she speaks in this book. She is sassy, and that tracks for the age she is. I liked this book a lot and I can't wait to read the last one! Love the frogs!
The story did feel a little rushed to me.
The story did feel a little rushed to me.
March 2, 2023
Definitely better than the first volume.
March 6, 2022
The sequel didn’t grab me as much as the first book. This volume was all action, action, action and the pacing didn’t really work for me.
January 25, 2023
Felt this one was off - Willow came off really rude at times and the adventure wasn’t as fun as the first novel.
July 4, 2022
This first sequel quickly dispenses with the summer camp tropes of the launch book, and just throws the characters into a new situation. Way back when, magical doodads, evil intent not done away with, can our young heroes save the day? That's the kind of book we get instead, broadening the series out to feature more of the world of Nowhere, the oddball village where everything and everyone seems particularly arcane. And as to the question about whether Wil can help with the magical problems, she may find herself further along the path to solving them than she first thinks...
Once again this is a brisk and colourful read, with very lively telling. It's also 40pp shorter than the launch book, and that didn't particularly dwell on anything or struggle with showing us what's what and who's who and why, either. There is a huge chunk of exposition here that seems to slow things up a bit, and make the pages look far too wordy for a brief spell, but at the same time there is also a cleverness with how the first book's events and further back-story happenings are woven in here. We're just told this coincidence happened and we move on; a whole scene that would have happened in Book One is discussed and again we fly through to something else, where other books would have had three whole pages of flashback, or cut and pasted the original with added voice-over.
So there's a brevity here, and once more good old fashioned narrative entertainment in something that looks spot on and soooo 2022. This modern attitude comes once more partly from Wil being a feisty, blue-haired feminist, and considerably from her being deaf. And there's a great beat to the plot here that echoes an episode from Greek myth that uses that attribute, proving once more that the best books of this kind can just knuckle down with plot, and make all-comers acceptable without labouring over their differences. It's so easy to imagine the nightmare version of this volume, that has ten pages of self-congratulating w*nkery about including a disability, where this is too busy telling a rip-roaring story without waving any 'woke' flags.
What it also, finally, manages to do is spin off the original in really unforeseen manner, taking what you might have guessed was part of a greater arc and still coming up with something so far removed from the camp-based original. We're not quite left in the same place this time – we can see much more of what is going to play out in the next volume – but the way this is an honest sequel and still such a surprising variant of the earlier story has to be applauded. This is a strong four stars, and 4.5 feels perfectly within this creator's grasp in the future of this franchise.
Once again this is a brisk and colourful read, with very lively telling. It's also 40pp shorter than the launch book, and that didn't particularly dwell on anything or struggle with showing us what's what and who's who and why, either. There is a huge chunk of exposition here that seems to slow things up a bit, and make the pages look far too wordy for a brief spell, but at the same time there is also a cleverness with how the first book's events and further back-story happenings are woven in here. We're just told this coincidence happened and we move on; a whole scene that would have happened in Book One is discussed and again we fly through to something else, where other books would have had three whole pages of flashback, or cut and pasted the original with added voice-over.
So there's a brevity here, and once more good old fashioned narrative entertainment in something that looks spot on and soooo 2022. This modern attitude comes once more partly from Wil being a feisty, blue-haired feminist, and considerably from her being deaf. And there's a great beat to the plot here that echoes an episode from Greek myth that uses that attribute, proving once more that the best books of this kind can just knuckle down with plot, and make all-comers acceptable without labouring over their differences. It's so easy to imagine the nightmare version of this volume, that has ten pages of self-congratulating w*nkery about including a disability, where this is too busy telling a rip-roaring story without waving any 'woke' flags.
What it also, finally, manages to do is spin off the original in really unforeseen manner, taking what you might have guessed was part of a greater arc and still coming up with something so far removed from the camp-based original. We're not quite left in the same place this time – we can see much more of what is going to play out in the next volume – but the way this is an honest sequel and still such a surprising variant of the earlier story has to be applauded. This is a strong four stars, and 4.5 feels perfectly within this creator's grasp in the future of this franchise.
May 4, 2022
The Doors to Nowhere is the second volume of the Secrets of Camp Whatever graphic novel series by Chris Grine. It is currently scheduled for release on May 3 2022. I do recommend reading the series in order to have the full backstory and understand who and what the characters are.
When twelve-year-old Willow went to her weird new town's even weirder summer camp, she didn't expect to get caught up in an ancient mystery involving forest-dwelling vampires, living garden gnomes, and other completely bonkers creatures most people would never believe exist. Now she's not only involved, she's marked—too close to the heart of an ages-old quest for power and control than she should be, and too concerned about her new friends and the dangers they face to let them go it alone. With the help of a spell book and her scrappy crew of camp friends, Willow is about to step through a doorway to magic and discovery that will change her world forever.
The Doors to Nowhere is another well written and skillfully drawn graphic novel for the middle grade and older set. I liked the continuation of the story and how the characters continue to grow as individuals and as part of a friend group. I liked the art style and found the expressiveness of character faces to be on point throughout the book. I thought the reminders of past adventures was well done, reminding readers of important moments without covering too much of the same ground. My only complaint is that I wanted more. The story had a satisfying resolution, with plenty of foreshadowing for further adventures, but it just felt like it was over far to quickly so I went back and enjoyed some of my favorite moments again. I am eager to see where the story goes from here.
The Doors to Nowhere is a great follow up to the first installment, and I look forward to reading what happens next.
When twelve-year-old Willow went to her weird new town's even weirder summer camp, she didn't expect to get caught up in an ancient mystery involving forest-dwelling vampires, living garden gnomes, and other completely bonkers creatures most people would never believe exist. Now she's not only involved, she's marked—too close to the heart of an ages-old quest for power and control than she should be, and too concerned about her new friends and the dangers they face to let them go it alone. With the help of a spell book and her scrappy crew of camp friends, Willow is about to step through a doorway to magic and discovery that will change her world forever.
The Doors to Nowhere is another well written and skillfully drawn graphic novel for the middle grade and older set. I liked the continuation of the story and how the characters continue to grow as individuals and as part of a friend group. I liked the art style and found the expressiveness of character faces to be on point throughout the book. I thought the reminders of past adventures was well done, reminding readers of important moments without covering too much of the same ground. My only complaint is that I wanted more. The story had a satisfying resolution, with plenty of foreshadowing for further adventures, but it just felt like it was over far to quickly so I went back and enjoyed some of my favorite moments again. I am eager to see where the story goes from here.
The Doors to Nowhere is a great follow up to the first installment, and I look forward to reading what happens next.
March 5, 2022
This book moved at a slightly faster pace than the first book and I think it’s due to the magic having been discovered and the world being a bit more established. In this book the author had more time to play around with the overarching plot development and expanding on the world we were introduced to in volume one and it was really fun!
Willow was just as clever, intelligent, and adventurous in this book as in the first book. I liked how her curiosity and her desire to do the right thing moved the story into some interesting directions. Willow’s camp friends were along for the adventure and had some of their own plot twists that I can’t wait to see more of in the next installment of this series.
The plot takes a lot of turns, some exciting, and some sad (don’t worry, there’s lots of humor too!), and I loved that cliffhanger ending. I am looking forward to seeing how the story progresses even more in the next volume. We learned a lot about Willow’s roots and the magic in this volume.
The artwork was just as wonderful in this book as it was in the first Secrets of Camp Whatever. Every image was clear, colorful, and expressive.
This book was a wild ride filled with gnomes, elves, magic, friendship, and adventure- everything I love to see in a book! I would recommend this to readers of all ages.
Willow was just as clever, intelligent, and adventurous in this book as in the first book. I liked how her curiosity and her desire to do the right thing moved the story into some interesting directions. Willow’s camp friends were along for the adventure and had some of their own plot twists that I can’t wait to see more of in the next installment of this series.
The plot takes a lot of turns, some exciting, and some sad (don’t worry, there’s lots of humor too!), and I loved that cliffhanger ending. I am looking forward to seeing how the story progresses even more in the next volume. We learned a lot about Willow’s roots and the magic in this volume.
The artwork was just as wonderful in this book as it was in the first Secrets of Camp Whatever. Every image was clear, colorful, and expressive.
This book was a wild ride filled with gnomes, elves, magic, friendship, and adventure- everything I love to see in a book! I would recommend this to readers of all ages.
September 5, 2023
3.5 stars
Willow and her friends are back from their summer at Camp Whatever, but the strangeness seems to have followed them back home. As dark forces start to stir in their town, Willow learns that she might be marked as a part of a dark prophecy from years ago. It's up to her and her friends to figure out what exactly that means.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for a copy of Secrets of Camp Whatever Volume 2 to review! The first volume was a lot of fun, and I was excited to jump back into this world. Plus, I just really enjoy Grine's art style in this series. It works so well.
I will say, I remember basically nothing from the first book and I was mostly fine at the beginning of this one. Though I was missing quite a bit of background on some of the side characters. The magical world we were introduced to in the first volume is expanded in this one, leaving off on a bit of a cliffhanger for another volume. I can see a lot of middle grade readers loving this, as it has magic and adventure and paranormal creatures. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I remembered more of what happened in the first book.
Willow and her friends are back from their summer at Camp Whatever, but the strangeness seems to have followed them back home. As dark forces start to stir in their town, Willow learns that she might be marked as a part of a dark prophecy from years ago. It's up to her and her friends to figure out what exactly that means.
Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for a copy of Secrets of Camp Whatever Volume 2 to review! The first volume was a lot of fun, and I was excited to jump back into this world. Plus, I just really enjoy Grine's art style in this series. It works so well.
I will say, I remember basically nothing from the first book and I was mostly fine at the beginning of this one. Though I was missing quite a bit of background on some of the side characters. The magical world we were introduced to in the first volume is expanded in this one, leaving off on a bit of a cliffhanger for another volume. I can see a lot of middle grade readers loving this, as it has magic and adventure and paranormal creatures. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I remembered more of what happened in the first book.
September 8, 2023
(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
May I start by saying that this title has one of the best dedications I have seen in quite a while? Because it made me start my reading with a smile already drawn in my face.
I really liked The Doors to Nowhere and the way it links back to different moments in the first volume (Secrets of Camp Whatever), because it means that any action, even the smallest one, can have repercussions later on. I was very intrigued from the beginning, and enjoyed the new characters. Grumblesnuff was my absolute favourite, although I must admit I loved certain winged, not so smart, character.
The humour was also spot on. Like it happened with the first entry in the trilogy, it is difficult to talk about certain things without entering spoiler territory, but there is a kind of juxtaposition in the very end that had me laughing out loud. My kind of humour, a hundred per cent.
I’m reading the third and final (I really hope not) book, the Witching Hour, right now. I simply cannot wait.
May I start by saying that this title has one of the best dedications I have seen in quite a while? Because it made me start my reading with a smile already drawn in my face.
I really liked The Doors to Nowhere and the way it links back to different moments in the first volume (Secrets of Camp Whatever), because it means that any action, even the smallest one, can have repercussions later on. I was very intrigued from the beginning, and enjoyed the new characters. Grumblesnuff was my absolute favourite, although I must admit I loved certain winged, not so smart, character.
The humour was also spot on. Like it happened with the first entry in the trilogy, it is difficult to talk about certain things without entering spoiler territory, but there is a kind of juxtaposition in the very end that had me laughing out loud. My kind of humour, a hundred per cent.
I’m reading the third and final (I really hope not) book, the Witching Hour, right now. I simply cannot wait.
March 7, 2022
I read the first book in this series a while ago, and had forgotten a lot of it. I was able to remember the necessary parts while reading through this one easily.
This one had a really fun plotline. Willow is given a book from her ancestors which is immediately something that gets stolen. She learns that the prophecy in the first book has started coming true and the book might hold the secrets to making the prophecy become fulfilled. Which is bad.
Willow and her friends along with vampire Elric investigate the theft and try to find the path to stop the villain. They meet some fun creatures and some scary creatures among the way and find out something that happened to Emma in the first book.
The ending really sets up for the next book and I can't wait to find out what happens!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This one had a really fun plotline. Willow is given a book from her ancestors which is immediately something that gets stolen. She learns that the prophecy in the first book has started coming true and the book might hold the secrets to making the prophecy become fulfilled. Which is bad.
Willow and her friends along with vampire Elric investigate the theft and try to find the path to stop the villain. They meet some fun creatures and some scary creatures among the way and find out something that happened to Emma in the first book.
The ending really sets up for the next book and I can't wait to find out what happens!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2023
It’s all about the prophecy and magic spell books in the second adventure for Willow and her friends. After her time at the mysterious Camp Whatever, Willow is back at home and enjoying her time off. When an elf on a revenge mission steals her spell book, Willow takes it into her hands to take it back. From live gnomes to a very old vampire, Willow and her friends travel through the portals of Nowhere to save the day and, hopefully, mankind.
I honestly didn’t think it was as great as the first, but it still held the mystery of the island and all its supernatural creatures. I liked how one of her friends' transformation to a mermaid was easy for the girl and how she took it all in with great stride. Willow’s friendship with the vampire is endearing till the end. And don’t forget that pixie corn! Hopefully, book three will come out soon.
I honestly didn’t think it was as great as the first, but it still held the mystery of the island and all its supernatural creatures. I liked how one of her friends' transformation to a mermaid was easy for the girl and how she took it all in with great stride. Willow’s friendship with the vampire is endearing till the end. And don’t forget that pixie corn! Hopefully, book three will come out soon.
March 13, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
Secrets of Camp Whatever vol. 2 follows Willow and her friends following all the secrets that came out in volume 1. Willow is celebrating her 13th birthday and realizes that she has gained a skill she hadn’t had previously, a skill that may prove dangerous to herself and those around her. She also finds herself further immersed in the prophecy she learned about in the first volume.
This was a bit darker in tone than the first volume but no less fun or interesting for it, I definitely am looking forward to the next part of the story and seeing how this will all play out.
***
Secrets of Camp Whatever vol. 2 follows Willow and her friends following all the secrets that came out in volume 1. Willow is celebrating her 13th birthday and realizes that she has gained a skill she hadn’t had previously, a skill that may prove dangerous to herself and those around her. She also finds herself further immersed in the prophecy she learned about in the first volume.
This was a bit darker in tone than the first volume but no less fun or interesting for it, I definitely am looking forward to the next part of the story and seeing how this will all play out.
May 20, 2022
In some ways this book is better than book one. There are a few bumps (if it has been awhile since you read book one, you might have forgotten a few characters or a story point or two), but overall, a fun adventure where everything is normal. So what if there is a vampire, elves, gnomes, scary spirit creatures, trolls, and werewolves? Willow has their family and friends and life is good. And so what if the troll wants to eat her and the elf wants to bring back a crazy wizard of the past? There is ice cream and cake to eat.
NOTE: I am having trouble (re)finding book one at my local independent, so hopefully your local library has a copy or you can purchase from OniPress directly
NOTE: I am having trouble (re)finding book one at my local independent, so hopefully your local library has a copy or you can purchase from OniPress directly
May 30, 2022
'Secrets of Camp Whatever Vol. 2: The Doors to Nowwhere' by Chris Grine is a graphic novel that takes place in a world of magic and magical creatures.
Willow is given a locked book of spells as a gift and told that she can't open it. This means she will find a way to open it. What she finds is something that is being sought by those who would restart an ancient war.
This is a pretty interesting world with some good characters. The story was unique enough and I enjoyed what I read.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Willow is given a locked book of spells as a gift and told that she can't open it. This means she will find a way to open it. What she finds is something that is being sought by those who would restart an ancient war.
This is a pretty interesting world with some good characters. The story was unique enough and I enjoyed what I read.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
February 17, 2023
I absolutely loved the first book, I fell in love with Willow's character and how she reacted with her friends. This book kind of took away that dynamic.
But finally we get a bit more explanation about the prophecy!!!!!!
It's cute, but also a bit darker than the first one. I do prefer to read the first one because Willow's nicer and the hearing aids make sense. (In the first one they died when she left them on, which makes sense. In this one she left them on for a whole night and they still did not die, did she get miracle hearing aids that only die when the plot needs them to?)
But finally we get a bit more explanation about the prophecy!!!!!!
It's cute, but also a bit darker than the first one. I do prefer to read the first one because Willow's nicer and the hearing aids make sense. (In the first one they died when she left them on, which makes sense. In this one she left them on for a whole night and they still did not die, did she get miracle hearing aids that only die when the plot needs them to?)
June 4, 2022
This is the sequel to Secrets of Camp Whatever releasing 6/7/22. This storyline was slightly darker and less comedic than the first book, but I enjoyed it! I liked that the theme of supernatural creatures continued & that we saw ones from the previous book as well as new creatures too. This is a fun middle grade series that reminds me a little bit of Scooby Doo. A group of kids always uncovering secrets and plots of some sinister adults. The ending had an unexpected twist with the epilogue and I’m really curious to see what comes next.
April 9, 2022
In the second book in the series we follow Willow and her friends as more of the dark prophecy unfolds. Many things happen, including quite a few new power developments as well as some interesting new characters. This second book is definitely darker than the first but nothing a middle grade reader couldn't handle. Looking forward to more in this series and trying out some other Chris Grine works.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!
May 16, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for a free review copy!
This was a great volume 2! We learned so much about all of the characters and got some backstory too. Willow and her friends are trying to navigate a centuries old mystery and Willow is learning some things about herself too. There's also a prophecy, mermaids, and much more! Will the kids be able to figure out the mystery? You'll have to read this and find out!
This was a great volume 2! We learned so much about all of the characters and got some backstory too. Willow and her friends are trying to navigate a centuries old mystery and Willow is learning some things about herself too. There's also a prophecy, mermaids, and much more! Will the kids be able to figure out the mystery? You'll have to read this and find out!
June 9, 2022
Honestly? I liked this book a lot better than the first one. You definitely have the read the first one to understand the second, but this one has more world building, more action, less random potty humor (though there are a couple actually funny mentions of poo), and the reader's understanding of the characters continues to develop. An excellent choice for kids who like modern-day magical adventures with cool creatures and world-saving stakes. I'm looking forward to the third installment!
July 6, 2022
I love this series. It's a comfort series, even though I've only read both books once, and they're relatively new. I just love this world so much, and the characters are so interesting and lovely. I can see myself being friends with them in real life, and I wish they were my friends.
I hope there's more books in this series because it left off on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens.
I can't even express how much I love this book.
I hope there's more books in this series because it left off on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens.
I can't even express how much I love this book.
February 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Oni Press, and Chris Grine for the eARC of Secrets of Camp Whatever: Volume 2 - The Doors to Nowhere by Chris Grine.
Another ace installment of Secrets of Camp Whatever! I loved Volume 1, and Volume 2 was no different.
We got to know more about the characters and the world in volume 2, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Again, I love the art work and the way Willow's communication is represented.
Can't wait for Volume 3!
Another ace installment of Secrets of Camp Whatever! I loved Volume 1, and Volume 2 was no different.
We got to know more about the characters and the world in volume 2, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Again, I love the art work and the way Willow's communication is represented.
Can't wait for Volume 3!
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