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fabledreader 's review for:
A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope
by K.M. Moronova
3.5 stars. Since this is a sequel of sorts, review will contain spoilers for what happened in Fabric of Our Souls. So please don’t continue reading if you plan on reading that book.
This is Lanston’s story 5 years after the events at the end of Fabric of Our Souls. He, along with some other familiar faces, continue to “haunt” Hallow Sanctum as they figure out why they haven’t passed on. One fateful night he meets Ophelia as she dances on stage in front of phantoms and living people alike, and his afterlife is forever altered. Ophelia is a sad and broken soul and she calls to him. Together they go on a journey to fulfill their “bucket lists” and in the process learn how to heal one another and hopefully pass on.
The story was just as haunting and poetic as the first book. The representation and dialogue on hard topics such as depression, suicide and child abuse was thoughtful and earnest in a way that’s not always easy to find.
I did find the constant fight or flight (mostly flight) to be a little dragged out. Ophelia has a hard time facing her demons, understandably so, but I felt like it slowed down the pacing of the book considerably. This book is already meant to be a methodical look at the pain and healing of these characters, but sometimes it felt too drawn out and made it hard to connect.
The ending scenes with Lanston’s father and Wynn brought tears to my eyes and I’m happy that Lanston finally finds his peace.
This is Lanston’s story 5 years after the events at the end of Fabric of Our Souls. He, along with some other familiar faces, continue to “haunt” Hallow Sanctum as they figure out why they haven’t passed on. One fateful night he meets Ophelia as she dances on stage in front of phantoms and living people alike, and his afterlife is forever altered. Ophelia is a sad and broken soul and she calls to him. Together they go on a journey to fulfill their “bucket lists” and in the process learn how to heal one another and hopefully pass on.
The story was just as haunting and poetic as the first book. The representation and dialogue on hard topics such as depression, suicide and child abuse was thoughtful and earnest in a way that’s not always easy to find.
I did find the constant fight or flight (mostly flight) to be a little dragged out. Ophelia has a hard time facing her demons, understandably so, but I felt like it slowed down the pacing of the book considerably. This book is already meant to be a methodical look at the pain and healing of these characters, but sometimes it felt too drawn out and made it hard to connect.
The ending scenes with Lanston’s father and Wynn brought tears to my eyes and I’m happy that Lanston finally finds his peace.