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namihs's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alida_m's review
2.0
Great concept and had a lot of potential. The main character wasn't likable (which I enjoy), there were ghosts, they had abilities buuuuut it just didn't work for me.
mijsfranssen's review
4.0
This book was so good!! I enjoyed it so much.
In this book we follow Harriet Stoker, who dies after a fatal fall while visiting an abandoned building.
There, other gosts are waiting for her, welcoming her to their world. But Harriet wants power. Even if she has to take it from others, destroying those around her. But the afterlife might not be the best place to make enemies.
What I loved about this book where the multiple POV’s. It made me really get to know all the characters, and watching them develope (which was done very well in this book) was so much fun. I loved the world building, how powers and energy come into play in this book. It was dark, twisty but also very well explained and nice to read. Lauren James did such a great job at the world building, and at making the whole story fall more and more into place while reading. There is also an ‘anonymous’ POV which you’ll find out more and more about during the book. This POV added so much to the story, and made it a lot more exiting and page-turning to read. The whole anti-heroine thing was refreshing to read for me, since I haven’t read a book like that, so that was fun!
The only reason why this isn’t a five star read for me, is because I do feel like some points of the book could have been sped up a little bit. There were just a tiny couple of points where the book was a bit slow going.
That being said, I highly reccomend this book! It is a bit of a crime/fantasy/thriller/ya book which just makes it so unique and interesting. Defenitly worth it! (And it also has a really pretty cover!!!)
In this book we follow Harriet Stoker, who dies after a fatal fall while visiting an abandoned building.
There, other gosts are waiting for her, welcoming her to their world. But Harriet wants power. Even if she has to take it from others, destroying those around her. But the afterlife might not be the best place to make enemies.
What I loved about this book where the multiple POV’s. It made me really get to know all the characters, and watching them develope (which was done very well in this book) was so much fun. I loved the world building, how powers and energy come into play in this book. It was dark, twisty but also very well explained and nice to read. Lauren James did such a great job at the world building, and at making the whole story fall more and more into place while reading. There is also an ‘anonymous’ POV which you’ll find out more and more about during the book. This POV added so much to the story, and made it a lot more exiting and page-turning to read. The whole anti-heroine thing was refreshing to read for me, since I haven’t read a book like that, so that was fun!
The only reason why this isn’t a five star read for me, is because I do feel like some points of the book could have been sped up a little bit. There were just a tiny couple of points where the book was a bit slow going.
That being said, I highly reccomend this book! It is a bit of a crime/fantasy/thriller/ya book which just makes it so unique and interesting. Defenitly worth it! (And it also has a really pretty cover!!!)
kilinandi's review
4.0
3.6 stars because the story was such a novelty. I feel like it could have done without the multiple POVs and kept it to the narrator + the mysterious voice (in italics). The twists were cool but somehow the delivery softened their blow.
The writer has been introduced to me now, so I shall try her other books.
The writer has been introduced to me now, so I shall try her other books.
alongreader's review
4.0
Lauren James is the queen of foreshadowing. She just is. Moments, words, looks that you think nothing of at the time take on huge significance later, when you realise what they really meant.
Several of Lauren's novels, although they cross genres, are set in the same universe. This one is a sort of action horror, a story about ghosts with special powers and vendettas that literally last beyond the grave. The group of ghosts Harriet meets are fascinating (although the idea is creepy; are there ghosts in my house eating spiders and watching me?) I have occasionally wondered about all the people who lived on this land before it was my house!
So far, apart from being gently linked, these novels don't have sequels. That's a shame, because I'd love to know what happens next. Although the story we've been following is over, there's plenty more to know about these people and more adventures they could have. (I have a question about Leah, but I don't want to spoil anyone reading this!)
I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters, even the ones I didn't like, the idea was very clever, and, if possible, I'm even more of a Lauren James fan than I was before. Brava.
And although this isn't so much Lauren's doing, I love the cover on this one. It matches her others without being exactly the same, just similar enough to be noticed, which I think is really clever. And the title, as always, is excellent.
Several of Lauren's novels, although they cross genres, are set in the same universe. This one is a sort of action horror, a story about ghosts with special powers and vendettas that literally last beyond the grave. The group of ghosts Harriet meets are fascinating (although the idea is creepy; are there ghosts in my house eating spiders and watching me?) I have occasionally wondered about all the people who lived on this land before it was my house!
So far, apart from being gently linked, these novels don't have sequels. That's a shame, because I'd love to know what happens next. Although the story we've been following is over, there's plenty more to know about these people and more adventures they could have. (I have a question about Leah, but I don't want to spoil anyone reading this!)
I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters, even the ones I didn't like, the idea was very clever, and, if possible, I'm even more of a Lauren James fan than I was before. Brava.
And although this isn't so much Lauren's doing, I love the cover on this one. It matches her others without being exactly the same, just similar enough to be noticed, which I think is really clever. And the title, as always, is excellent.
kateannarmy's review
2.0
I loved the book but the ending was unjustified. We spend the last part of the book learning that Harriet had been abused by Fabian/her grandma her entire life and continued to be manipulated by her “uncles” the Tricksters in the afterlife, but yet at the end of the book the friend gang still doesn’t forgive her and condemns her to the basement? Even though Leah knows how horrendous Fabian and his brothers were? Obviously the baby is a villain but Leah sucks too. Loved the book but Harriet didn’t deserve her ending.
kamiannaxo's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
charvi_not_just_fiction's review
4.0
This book started off a little slow and steady but picked up pace after the 100 page mark and oh my god I was glued after that. I just really loved the whole cast of characters, I think I loved the side characters much more than the main character.
I found that I couldn't relate to Harriet but I know she's not a relatable character and she's written that way but still, it impacted my reading experience. I was a bit annoyed with the interruption of the anonymous all-knowing narrator but no spoilers, I loved the actual voice and the character, I just wish they could have been incorporated in another way. Maybe the story could be told from their point of view?
I love how the whole plot of ghosts, their powers and past ghosts were dealt with. There was quite a bit of foreshadowing and the pay-off was worth it even though the plot twist didn't hit as hard as some of the ones in the author's other books. But the side characters? The found family? They made up for every freaking thing and now I need fanfics dedicated to their afterlives helppppp.
I found that I couldn't relate to Harriet but I know she's not a relatable character and she's written that way but still, it impacted my reading experience. I was a bit annoyed with the interruption of the anonymous all-knowing narrator but no spoilers, I loved the actual voice and the character, I just wish they could have been incorporated in another way. Maybe the story could be told from their point of view?
I love how the whole plot of ghosts, their powers and past ghosts were dealt with. There was quite a bit of foreshadowing and the pay-off was worth it even though the plot twist didn't hit as hard as some of the ones in the author's other books. But the side characters? The found family? They made up for every freaking thing and now I need fanfics dedicated to their afterlives helppppp.