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k_shanahan's review against another edition
5.0
Such a cute (and slightly dark) story of ghost friendship :D Cannot wait for a sequel since I've fallen in love with both Cassidy and (especially) Jacob.
janagaton's review against another edition
3.0
not a fan of middle grade, but im a huge fan of victoria schwab so i gave it a shot. it was cute and quick and fun to read
sofia_santana's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hannahhbic's review against another edition
4.0
Very fun, very spooky. Cassidy and Jacob are a pair to be reckoned with. Excited for book two!!
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so I typically do not like YA or Middle grade books BUT I friggin loved this. Our main character's best friend is a ghost, she typically ignores ghosts and tries to live her life but her unknowing parents get an opportunity that takes them to "the city of ghosts" and it becomes pretty impossible to ignore.
It was fun, it was simple, it was entertaining, and I hope more books come out in the series!
It was fun, it was simple, it was entertaining, and I hope more books come out in the series!
jonisbookquest's review against another edition
3.0
2,75 disapointed stars
Although Victoria Schwab is one of my favorite authors, I have to be just as hard as I would go on any other author. So here is my – somewhat – negative review.
But lets start with a few positive points. First, I liked the interaction between Cassy and Jacob. In my opinion this book also had the perfect amount of spookiness, for adults and children alike. It was a very atmospheric read and the descriptions very lively (see what I did there? XD).
Okay, now lets go over the stuff I didn’t like… I thing that the biggest problems in the book can be summarized in one word: pacing. In the beginning, I found that the plot moved rather slowly. In the first half of the book there doesn’t seem to be much of a plot. Then, when the Raven, an evil spirit who kills innocent children, and at the same time the ghost hunters are introduced, everything moves way too fast.
The issues that (I think) should have been elaborated on more, are totally overlooked. Lara turns a ghost into ash and Cassy is like: well, okay, guess I’ll do that too. Never once does she consider if these ghost actually want to ‘go one’, never once does she wonder if she sends these ghosts to a even more horrible place. Maybe this kind of questions are just to heavy for a middle grade book. I don’t know. However, I do think that the story stays really surface level. Sending on Jacob = bad. Sending on other ghosts = good. That’s it, no questions were asked.
My second big problem is that I didn’t find the characters that interesting. Cassy looks an awful lot like those ‘I’m not like other girls’ kinda girls. Lara really hasn’t much to her and well, I think Jacob was fine :’) These character just didn’t feel as real as the characters in other books by V.E. Schwab.
My last complaint are the endless Harry Potter references. I do not like Harry Potter that much, but I can take one reference. Or two. Or maybe even three. But… There. Were. So. Goddamn. Much. Of. Them. A ghost with a Slytherin scarf? Really? Describing a scene or character by comparing them to a scene or character from Harry Potter – that’s just really unoriginal writing, I believe.
Overall, this was enjoyable and a quick read, but it just wasn’t as good as the other books by V.E. Schwab that I’ve read. At least the cover looks pretty on my bookshelf, I guess.
Although Victoria Schwab is one of my favorite authors, I have to be just as hard as I would go on any other author. So here is my – somewhat – negative review.
But lets start with a few positive points. First, I liked the interaction between Cassy and Jacob. In my opinion this book also had the perfect amount of spookiness, for adults and children alike. It was a very atmospheric read and the descriptions very lively (see what I did there? XD).
Okay, now lets go over the stuff I didn’t like… I thing that the biggest problems in the book can be summarized in one word: pacing. In the beginning, I found that the plot moved rather slowly. In the first half of the book there doesn’t seem to be much of a plot. Then, when the Raven, an evil spirit who kills innocent children, and at the same time the ghost hunters are introduced, everything moves way too fast.
The issues that (I think) should have been elaborated on more, are totally overlooked. Lara turns a ghost into ash and Cassy is like: well, okay, guess I’ll do that too. Never once does she consider if these ghost actually want to ‘go one’, never once does she wonder if she sends these ghosts to a even more horrible place. Maybe this kind of questions are just to heavy for a middle grade book. I don’t know. However, I do think that the story stays really surface level. Sending on Jacob = bad. Sending on other ghosts = good. That’s it, no questions were asked.
My second big problem is that I didn’t find the characters that interesting. Cassy looks an awful lot like those ‘I’m not like other girls’ kinda girls. Lara really hasn’t much to her and well, I think Jacob was fine :’) These character just didn’t feel as real as the characters in other books by V.E. Schwab.
My last complaint are the endless Harry Potter references. I do not like Harry Potter that much, but I can take one reference. Or two. Or maybe even three. But… There. Were. So. Goddamn. Much. Of. Them. A ghost with a Slytherin scarf? Really? Describing a scene or character by comparing them to a scene or character from Harry Potter – that’s just really unoriginal writing, I believe.
Overall, this was enjoyable and a quick read, but it just wasn’t as good as the other books by V.E. Schwab that I’ve read. At least the cover looks pretty on my bookshelf, I guess.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
If I would have read this book a couple of years ago, I'd have freaked out and wouldn't have slept for weeks. This is completely and totally and extremely out of my comfort zone and it deals with one of the things I really really really fear: Ghosts! And yet, yet I'm really glad that I picked up this book and read it anyway, because it was truly a very amusing, entertaining and wonderful middle grade read.
I of course already knew that Schwab is an amazing author. I really enjoyed the Monsters of Verity series and I loved the first book in the ADSOM series and this Middle Grade once again proves how great she actually is. It really reads like a middle grade. The English is simple and easy (I'd dare to recommend this book to my 13 year old cousin who had only one year of English in school so far) and yet it still flows and reads incredibly nicely. It never feels childish or belittling.
The plot of the story is really nice too. The story really builds up, adding all the ingredients that lead to the epic finale one by one and pulling us into this weird world of ghosts beyond the veil step by step. I love the concept on how the whole ghost world works, why the ghosts are lingering around and what Cassidy needs to do. And of course I really really loved the epic finale. I can't wait to see what happens in future books!
And of course there also were the characters themselves. What I love is that Schwab really doesn't go into much details and yet it feels like I do know the characters and have a clear image on who they are. I feel a connection with Cassidy and Jacob due to very small details and mentions that say so much about them. And I even feel like I have a very clear image of her parents, even though we don't even get to see them that much.
I'm so glad I bought this book last week and I can't wait for the next book!
I of course already knew that Schwab is an amazing author. I really enjoyed the Monsters of Verity series and I loved the first book in the ADSOM series and this Middle Grade once again proves how great she actually is. It really reads like a middle grade. The English is simple and easy (I'd dare to recommend this book to my 13 year old cousin who had only one year of English in school so far) and yet it still flows and reads incredibly nicely. It never feels childish or belittling.
The plot of the story is really nice too. The story really builds up, adding all the ingredients that lead to the epic finale one by one and pulling us into this weird world of ghosts beyond the veil step by step. I love the concept on how the whole ghost world works, why the ghosts are lingering around and what Cassidy needs to do. And of course I really really loved the epic finale. I can't wait to see what happens in future books!
And of course there also were the characters themselves. What I love is that Schwab really doesn't go into much details and yet it feels like I do know the characters and have a clear image on who they are. I feel a connection with Cassidy and Jacob due to very small details and mentions that say so much about them. And I even feel like I have a very clear image of her parents, even though we don't even get to see them that much.
I'm so glad I bought this book last week and I can't wait for the next book!
therebemoogles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
What a fun little read. I love VE Schwab so it's not a surprise to me that I enjoyed this. It does feel more middle-grade than YA in comparison to her other books but that doesn't stop it from being enjoyable.