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A review by sol_journal
The Voice Upstairs by Laura E. Weymouth
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
*Thank you Laura Weymouth for the arc! All thoughts and opinions on this title are my own!*
Posted to: Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 15 September 2023
4.6 (rounded up to 5) out of 5 stars.
Another phenomenal piece that’s *perfect* for the upcoming fall season! Laura Weymouth delivers a beautiful piece as always, featuring ghosts, haunted homes, and a darker secret sitting at its heart. ‘The Voice Upstairs’ isn’t too spooky in its horror and gory meter- it’s rather tame and good for people who want spooky season vibes without the heavy spooks! It’s more like a mystery- and I certainly couldn’t put it down once the threads began to unravel.
For this title, there are two points of view- Wilhelmina (Wil) Price, and Edison (Ed) Summerfield. I think what’s interesting about having two focuses for this book is that we see the story coming together from two very *not* put together people who each have a strong role in the overall mystery. As usual, the characters have so much life and depth into them, which is no surprise as Weymouth’s previous works always show the full scope of characters- including the ugly sides of them that make them more human and relatable. For this particular story though, there was a bit more of a working cast that was featured. There were a few names and connecting storylines that had me feeling like a detective a few times trying to piece it all together. While this is good- keeps things interesting- it kind of left a bit more wanting. I almost wish the book was a little longer so some key points could be played out more.
That has to be one of my only dislikes- this book wasn’t nearly as long as I’d personally want considering what’s being untangled! It wasn’t exactly ‘rushed’, but it was really a personal preference to see *more* from this creative scene and world that we are given! It’s almost like a game of chess where you’d *want* more time to see all those options before you, but you don’t have nearly as many seconds with it as you’d like!
While its not a magic system per se, Wil’s ability to see ghosts was such an interesting take! It’s not the usual fully conscious spirits nagging at the middleman for attention, but rather half-sentient souls who know they have a message to say but just aren’t tethered to the physical world enough to get it through. I think this interesting take on an in-between world leads back to me wanting to see more. I’ve read a few paranormal and spirit filled stories, but none that view the land of the dead like Wil experienced. It wasn’t scary, but there was a sort of eeriness in this other world that left me wanting to see more of it.
I keep saying that I was left wanting more, but ‘The Voice Upstairs’ wrapped up *perfectly* for a standalone. I didn’t find too many loose threads to pull on, no lacking in the characters- it was just another enjoyable read from Laura Weymouth that I didn’t want to see end! I’m genuinely trying so hard to be unbiased when I say this too, but I have a select few authors who are my favorites, and Laura Weymouth certainly is on that list for me. I was super lucky to snag an arc even though I already know I’ll be re-reading this when my pre-order arrives.
Posted to: Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 15 September 2023
4.6 (rounded up to 5) out of 5 stars.
Another phenomenal piece that’s *perfect* for the upcoming fall season! Laura Weymouth delivers a beautiful piece as always, featuring ghosts, haunted homes, and a darker secret sitting at its heart. ‘The Voice Upstairs’ isn’t too spooky in its horror and gory meter- it’s rather tame and good for people who want spooky season vibes without the heavy spooks! It’s more like a mystery- and I certainly couldn’t put it down once the threads began to unravel.
For this title, there are two points of view- Wilhelmina (Wil) Price, and Edison (Ed) Summerfield. I think what’s interesting about having two focuses for this book is that we see the story coming together from two very *not* put together people who each have a strong role in the overall mystery. As usual, the characters have so much life and depth into them, which is no surprise as Weymouth’s previous works always show the full scope of characters- including the ugly sides of them that make them more human and relatable. For this particular story though, there was a bit more of a working cast that was featured. There were a few names and connecting storylines that had me feeling like a detective a few times trying to piece it all together. While this is good- keeps things interesting- it kind of left a bit more wanting. I almost wish the book was a little longer so some key points could be played out more.
That has to be one of my only dislikes- this book wasn’t nearly as long as I’d personally want considering what’s being untangled! It wasn’t exactly ‘rushed’, but it was really a personal preference to see *more* from this creative scene and world that we are given! It’s almost like a game of chess where you’d *want* more time to see all those options before you, but you don’t have nearly as many seconds with it as you’d like!
While its not a magic system per se, Wil’s ability to see ghosts was such an interesting take! It’s not the usual fully conscious spirits nagging at the middleman for attention, but rather half-sentient souls who know they have a message to say but just aren’t tethered to the physical world enough to get it through. I think this interesting take on an in-between world leads back to me wanting to see more. I’ve read a few paranormal and spirit filled stories, but none that view the land of the dead like Wil experienced. It wasn’t scary, but there was a sort of eeriness in this other world that left me wanting to see more of it.
I keep saying that I was left wanting more, but ‘The Voice Upstairs’ wrapped up *perfectly* for a standalone. I didn’t find too many loose threads to pull on, no lacking in the characters- it was just another enjoyable read from Laura Weymouth that I didn’t want to see end! I’m genuinely trying so hard to be unbiased when I say this too, but I have a select few authors who are my favorites, and Laura Weymouth certainly is on that list for me. I was super lucky to snag an arc even though I already know I’ll be re-reading this when my pre-order arrives.