To make the second book just as great as book number one is to include bringing back the old characters in refreshing ways while giving them a whole bunch of new challenges to face. This is extraordinarily difficult for an author to pull off and why many stay away from writing a series (or should based on some who try and fail miserably). It must not only continue on where the first book ended, have original plot ideas of its own, more character goals that need to be achieved and interesting twists, adventures and efforts not seen in the first, but are better if not equal to what was written in the first book and still somehow connect to the story-line started in the first. So something refreshing, is widely accepted and revered. New concepts, not yet used by other authors are a welcomed relief from the boring repetitive themes seen in many genres. Readers are engaged and learn about the characters, their plot goals and hopefully see them achieve these goals in the most entertaining fashion possibly written. In the first book, everything is new and seen for the first time. I personally think the second book of a fantasy series is the hardest to write. So onto book #2 of the Storyteller’s Series… And you know how it goes in Story: keep your friends close and your enemies closer… But Gwenevere has opened a new Academy of Villains in Camelot and danger lurks behind every plot twist. Rexi’s plan? Steal the sword Excalibur and use its magic to write her own tale. But if Rexi doesn’t figure out how to break the curse that binds them, forget being overshadowed by the spirited princess, Rexi’s going to become a Forgotten, wiped from the pages of Story and reduced to a puddle of ink. Yeah, she and Princess Dorthea of Emerald have been inseparable since they teamed up to fight the wickedest witch. But sidekick? Accomplice? Sorry, that wasn’t in her story description. After all, she’s the daughter of the infamous Robin Hood.

The sidekicks though… they should be worried. No matter how difficult the obstacles or all-powerful the evil villain, one can rest assured that the hero of the story never dies. In the sequel to Spelled, can Robin Hood’s daughter, Rexi, stop the Wicked Witch from finding Excalibur?

Betsy schow books in order