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jo_lzr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
shaybrawner's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"So this is Scotland, I think. How haunted can it be?"
This book is for you if... you want an easy to read ghost story.
City of Ghosts was definitely enjoyable, but felt rather slow to me. I think the first half of the book just had me waiting for actual content but then the second half was packed full and almost felt like it wasn't giving enough.
I will say 100% young readers will adore this, if you're looking for a ghost book for a sibling, a child, ect... this is such a good one. Victoria Schwab does an outstanding job at making this book for the age it was intended for(I am not part of this age range), and I could see this being in many teachers classrooms. I think for me personally the second book will be better as I tend to prefer the second books of series’s, because we've gotten though the world building and the explaining of things so we get so much more action.
I don't really have any complaints except the pacing and just that I found all the explanations of things boring. Jacob was a shinning star of this book, and I honestly could've hated everything else about this book but would want keep reading the series for him, and I have no idea why. He's just great!
CAWPILE Rating: 6.14/10
Stars: 3/5 Stars
I'm intrigued for the next book.
This book is for you if... you want an easy to read ghost story.
City of Ghosts was definitely enjoyable, but felt rather slow to me. I think the first half of the book just had me waiting for actual content but then the second half was packed full and almost felt like it wasn't giving enough.
I will say 100% young readers will adore this, if you're looking for a ghost book for a sibling, a child, ect... this is such a good one. Victoria Schwab does an outstanding job at making this book for the age it was intended for(I am not part of this age range), and I could see this being in many teachers classrooms. I think for me personally the second book will be better as I tend to prefer the second books of series’s, because we've gotten though the world building and the explaining of things so we get so much more action.
I don't really have any complaints except the pacing and just that I found all the explanations of things boring. Jacob was a shinning star of this book, and I honestly could've hated everything else about this book but would want keep reading the series for him, and I have no idea why. He's just great!
CAWPILE Rating: 6.14/10
Stars: 3/5 Stars
I'm intrigued for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Murder
ziggypop's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
angel_kiiss's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
3.0
Considering V. E. Schwab’s authorial assurance that Lila Bard from Shades of Magic is gender-fluid, it’s pretty awkward that this book is almost a love letter to Harry Potter.
I’m completely enchanted by the idea of a girl who sees ghosts and photographs them. This is a cute YA novel, but I wish we could have this same character but with a more… Francesca Lia Block style writing.
I’m completely enchanted by the idea of a girl who sees ghosts and photographs them. This is a cute YA novel, but I wish we could have this same character but with a more… Francesca Lia Block style writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
angelicathebookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
readsandrants's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
I loved it, more than I thought I would. This book has been sitting in a corner of my room for at least a year, and I’ve owned it for at least another, and it felt like a daunting task, picking it up and starting it. But I could barely put it down from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
This is a fun story, and it left me with questions about where the series will go from here. (Good questions, mind you. No cliffhangers here.) I'm curious to see what troubles Cassidy gets herself into next time, and where her ghost hunting parents will take the family next. I want to know more about Jacob. I really like the character of Lara, and want to see if she shows up again.
Though this is a middle grade book, it could be enjoyed by older readers also. There is a little bit of explanation of words—usually in reference to the difference between American and British English—but not so much that it got on my nerves. Also, most of that happened toward the start of the story, when the family was getting settled in Edinburgh. Once the action started picking up, I didn't notice many (if any) breaks to explain the language.
Side note: though there is a cat on the cover, Grim the cat doesn't feature much in the book. Cassidy's sidekick is the ghost Jacob, not the family cat.
Though this is a middle grade book, it could be enjoyed by older readers also. There is a little bit of explanation of words—usually in reference to the difference between American and British English—but not so much that it got on my nerves. Also, most of that happened toward the start of the story, when the family was getting settled in Edinburgh. Once the action started picking up, I didn't notice many (if any) breaks to explain the language.
Side note: though there is a cat on the cover, Grim the cat doesn't feature much in the book. Cassidy's sidekick is the ghost Jacob, not the family cat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death
danielle_isreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The way Victoria Schwab is able to adapt her distinct voice from Adult to YA to Middle Grade is phenomenal.
City of Ghosts is a great start of a trilogy. Cassidy and Jacob are so enjoyable to read, and Schwab manages to make the stakes high without feeling like they cannot be overcome.
City of Ghosts is a great start of a trilogy. Cassidy and Jacob are so enjoyable to read, and Schwab manages to make the stakes high without feeling like they cannot be overcome.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
aasplund's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
valereads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
City of Ghosts follows Cass Blake, a 12 year old girl who can see ghosts. Not the most original concept but Schwab definitely manages to have fun with it because Cass' parents are paranormal investigators. She's looking forward to a nice quiet summer on the coast and far away from any ghosts - aside from her best friend, Jamie - but her parents have other plans. Their new TV show takes the family to Edinburgh, a city filled to the brim with history and, of course, ghosts.
Schwab really manages to build atmosphere and a sense of place. I haven't been up to Scotland since I was 9 but the Edinburgh of City of Ghosts is not dissimilar to my memories of it. As a Brit, I definitely enjoyed all the references to the differences between British and American culture.
The story itself was okay. I'm afraid that while a lot of the ghosts did put me on edge, I found the main antagonist to be the least frightening of all of them.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series but it isn't going to make a favourite books list anytime soon. And, yes, I will be picking up some of Schwab's adult books at some point.
I'd certainly recommend this to a middle grade reader and if you're an adult and interested then go for it but don't expect to be blown away
Schwab really manages to build atmosphere and a sense of place. I haven't been up to Scotland since I was 9 but the Edinburgh of City of Ghosts is not dissimilar to my memories of it. As a Brit, I definitely enjoyed all the references to the differences between British and American culture.
The story itself was okay. I'm afraid that while a lot of the ghosts did put me on edge, I found the main antagonist to be the least frightening of all of them.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series but it isn't going to make a favourite books list anytime soon. And, yes, I will be picking up some of Schwab's adult books at some point.
I'd certainly recommend this to a middle grade reader and if you're an adult and interested then go for it but don't expect to be blown away
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Child death