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A review by eesh25
City of Ghosts by V.E. Schwab
4.0
2019 Reread update!
I listened to the audiobook this time around and it honestly made the book better. I mean, it was fun and interesting and kinda eerie before, but the narrator did such a great job that it heightened the experience. I'm definitely going to be listening to the audiobook of the sequel since the narrator is the same. Cassidy and Jacob have the cutest friendship and I'm excited to read more of their adventures.
*****************************
New Victoria Schwab books are always a great thing, though I seem to have started this new trend where I eagerly await a book and then don't read it until (at least) a month after the release. That's what happened this time. Still, got to it sooner than I thought.
This book is about twelve-year-old Cassidy Blake. There was an accident and a death experience (notice the absence of the word "near"?) and since then, she's been able to sense ghosts. She also feels a pull to the other side of the veil and can cross over temporarily to see said ghosts and how they died, if she's near the place of their death. But it's not as cool as it sounds. Usually it's a total pain. One great thing to come out of it though, Cassidy's best friend Jacob, who is a ghost.
Each summer, Cassidy's family goes to a vacation house and she's looking forward to it this time because no ghosts bother her there. Jacob's looking forward to it too because he's kinda afraid of ghosts (it's adorable). Except this time, the plans get changed.
Cassidy's parents write books about ghosts—they call themselves The Inspectres—and they've been offered a TV show in which they will explore some of the most haunted cities in the world. First stop is Edinburgh. Which is just great because now Cassidy gets to deal with even more ghosts than usual. But she's not that upset about it. Cassidy's a curious girl and she likes to explore and take pictures on her vintage camera. Jacob is the one who's always trying to keep her put of danger.
It's ironic, isn't it? But that's how their friendship is; Cassidy, the human, is the risk-taker and the more serious one whereas Jacob, the ghost, is the careful and goofy one who'd rather just sit at home and read comic books. They make a great duo with the way they balance each other's personalities. It's a really sweet friendship.
The tone of the novel is a mix. Victoria Schwab is known for dark books, but this is middle-grade so you can only go so dark. It feels like a cross between her Archived series and Meg Cabot's Mediator series; it's at times dark and scary, but not too much so. Especially because of Jacob who, if you haven't guessed, I love. I mean, he's like a sarcastic Casper and he makes funny faces at people—who can't actually see him—when he's bored. It's so cute, how could you not love him? Though I really like Cassidy too, and their friendship is the best.
Overall, this was a quick and fun read with some very gripping and creepy moments sprinkled in. Loved how vividly the city of Edinburgh was featured and I'm excited to read about more of Cassidy's adventures. Definitely recommend checking this book out. Victoria Schwab does not disappoint.
I listened to the audiobook this time around and it honestly made the book better. I mean, it was fun and interesting and kinda eerie before, but the narrator did such a great job that it heightened the experience. I'm definitely going to be listening to the audiobook of the sequel since the narrator is the same. Cassidy and Jacob have the cutest friendship and I'm excited to read more of their adventures.
*****************************
New Victoria Schwab books are always a great thing, though I seem to have started this new trend where I eagerly await a book and then don't read it until (at least) a month after the release. That's what happened this time. Still, got to it sooner than I thought.
This book is about twelve-year-old Cassidy Blake. There was an accident and a death experience (notice the absence of the word "near"?) and since then, she's been able to sense ghosts. She also feels a pull to the other side of the veil and can cross over temporarily to see said ghosts and how they died, if she's near the place of their death. But it's not as cool as it sounds. Usually it's a total pain. One great thing to come out of it though, Cassidy's best friend Jacob, who is a ghost.
Each summer, Cassidy's family goes to a vacation house and she's looking forward to it this time because no ghosts bother her there. Jacob's looking forward to it too because he's kinda afraid of ghosts (it's adorable). Except this time, the plans get changed.
Cassidy's parents write books about ghosts—they call themselves The Inspectres—and they've been offered a TV show in which they will explore some of the most haunted cities in the world. First stop is Edinburgh. Which is just great because now Cassidy gets to deal with even more ghosts than usual. But she's not that upset about it. Cassidy's a curious girl and she likes to explore and take pictures on her vintage camera. Jacob is the one who's always trying to keep her put of danger.
It's ironic, isn't it? But that's how their friendship is; Cassidy, the human, is the risk-taker and the more serious one whereas Jacob, the ghost, is the careful and goofy one who'd rather just sit at home and read comic books. They make a great duo with the way they balance each other's personalities. It's a really sweet friendship.
The tone of the novel is a mix. Victoria Schwab is known for dark books, but this is middle-grade so you can only go so dark. It feels like a cross between her Archived series and Meg Cabot's Mediator series; it's at times dark and scary, but not too much so. Especially because of Jacob who, if you haven't guessed, I love. I mean, he's like a sarcastic Casper and he makes funny faces at people—who can't actually see him—when he's bored. It's so cute, how could you not love him? Though I really like Cassidy too, and their friendship is the best.
Overall, this was a quick and fun read with some very gripping and creepy moments sprinkled in. Loved how vividly the city of Edinburgh was featured and I'm excited to read about more of Cassidy's adventures. Definitely recommend checking this book out. Victoria Schwab does not disappoint.