Listened to the audiobook and was ultimately disappointed. Unlike the first book, which had a delicious sense of rising paranoia and a tantalizing mystery, The Whisper felt rather disjointed as it went back and forth in time explaining the beginnings of Aquavania and the worlds created within it. Main character Alistair felt a lot like Alice down the rabbit hole, meeting up with a bevy of strange, new creatures. As he bounces around these worlds in his search for his missing friend, Fiona, interspersed are Alistair's memories of events that took place back in their hometown. While there is action and danger, too much backstory on the worlds and creators bogs down the pacing and distracts from the search.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time following the storyline. The audio wasn't engaging and there were probably significant events that went right over my head because of my disinterest. Sadly, all the things that I liked about the first book--the characterizations, the pacing, tension and mystery--don't hold up when I listened to this second book. Most notably lacking is the innuendo in the first book that Fiona's stories were masking a family secret, one that some may feel is more appropriate for a young adult, rather than juvenile, audience. Since that whole train of though by Alistair proved to be wrong, it dies in book one. Regardless, readers will need to read (not listen to) The Riverman first as I don't feel The Whisper stands up well on its own.
( )

Really enjoyed the prologue and first chapter of this one. I need to go back and read book one, but this is clearly a middle grade fantasy series perfect for me and I'm pumped! It has a delicious darker tone and rich world-building that I can't wait to dive into. ( )

I considered “The Riverman”, book one of the trilogy, one of the best books of 2014 (and one of the best tween books I'd ever read), so I couldn't wait to get book 2. Traditionally, book twos of trilogies tend to be the most boring for me, and often result in simply setting up for book 3. I found that “the Whisper” took a different approach. I think instead of a “book 2” it might be better explained as a “companion” to book 1. Instead of moving the plot forward leaps and bounds it instead goes back and develops the characters more wholly. I’m not saying that it’s lacking action – that’s not the case. In fact, the book moves ahead 25 years. But what I mean is more that the action is less consequential for the reader than going back and gaining a new perspective on…well…everything. Characters, motivations, actions, the tiniest details: you now feel like you’re in a completely different place than you were in book one, and that’s a good thing.

I rarely give books 5 stars, but I think Aaron Starmer deserves it on this one. If you haven’t read his other, “Only Ones”, you should. His books have a very dark tone. I found them all to be melancholy, and you kind of feel like you’re under a blanket of shadows. But this is what makes him, as an author, so great – you’re completely involved in whatever world he has created. I can’t wait for more from him. ( )