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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
Some books don’t just tell a story—they live inside you, whispering their truths long after you’ve turned the final page. A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope is one of those rare books. It isn’t just a story—it’s an ache, a breathless moment, a flicker of hope in the darkest of nights.
From the very first page, Moronova’s writing grips you. It doesn’t ask for permission—it pulls you in with hauntingly poetic prose and refuses to let go. The characters feel raw, almost too real, as if their pain, their longing, their fragile hope could shatter at any moment. And yet, even in their brokenness, they shine.
There were moments when my heart physically hurt. Moments when I had to pause, close the book, and just breathe. The grief, the ghosts—both literal and metaphorical—felt suffocating at times. But then, just when the darkness threatened to consume everything, Moronova would slip in a line, a scene, a whisper of hope that felt like the first light after a storm.
This book is a masterpiece of emotions. It will break you. It will mend you. And in the end, it will remind you that even in the presence of ghosts, even when the past clings like a shadow, hope is always there—soft, quiet, but alive.
If you read one book this year, let it be A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope. It will haunt you. It will heal you. And it will stay with you, forever.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was one of my absolute favorite books I have ever read. When I say this I genuinely mean I actually had to slow myself down and savor it for the first time. Normally I fly through books because i'm so excited, but knowing all the hard work that K put into this I had to read it slow and get all the emotions.
Speaking of emotions our MMC Lanston is just a hurt young man trying to find his way in his cruel demise much like his cruel life. Our female MMC Ophelia is much the same but with a few twists and turns that you will not see coming. I can't wait to re-read this book for many many years to come. K.M Moronova you outdid yourself once again!
Merged review:
This was one of my absolute favorite books I have ever read. When I say this I genuinely mean I actually had to slow myself down and savor it for the first time. Normally I fly through books because i'm so excited, but knowing all the hard work that K put into this I had to read it slow and get all the emotions.
Speaking of emotions our MMC Lanston is just a hurt young man trying to find his way in his cruel demise much like his cruel life. Our female MMC Ophelia is much the same but with a few twists and turns that you will not see coming. I can't wait to re-read this book for many many years to come. K.M Moronova you outdid yourself once again!
Speaking of emotions our MMC Lanston is just a hurt young man trying to find his way in his cruel demise much like his cruel life. Our female MMC Ophelia is much the same but with a few twists and turns that you will not see coming. I can't wait to re-read this book for many many years to come. K.M Moronova you outdid yourself once again!
Merged review:
This was one of my absolute favorite books I have ever read. When I say this I genuinely mean I actually had to slow myself down and savor it for the first time. Normally I fly through books because i'm so excited, but knowing all the hard work that K put into this I had to read it slow and get all the emotions.
Speaking of emotions our MMC Lanston is just a hurt young man trying to find his way in his cruel demise much like his cruel life. Our female MMC Ophelia is much the same but with a few twists and turns that you will not see coming. I can't wait to re-read this book for many many years to come. K.M Moronova you outdid yourself once again!
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the first book. This I thought was really slow and I didn’t enjoy all the back and forth between the characters, BUT it was beautifully written and I enjoyed the ending.