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A review by mystic_dclouds
Ghostcloud by Michael Mann
4.0
Special thanks to the authors, publisher & NetGalley for the review copy. All views and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
An intriguing story of a twelve year old’s quest to obtain freedom. Luke Smith-Sharma is a twelve year old who was kidnapped and forced to shovel underground in an old power station alongside many other kids. Their aim is to receive one of the amber tickets so they can rejoin their families and obtain their freedoms. However, when Luke gets punished during a kind gesture and has to clean the sewers he befriends a ghost named Alma and realizes the many truths behind what actually Tabatha Margate is doing in the power station.
This was a dark story with many dark elements. There is kidnapping, death, violence, abuse, sadness, threats, intimidation and more. This book wasn’t the happiest but it kept me hooked on every word. Luke was a character I could imagine. A simple boy who just wants to go back to his family by keeping his head down whilst also helping those who needed it because he’s kind. Luke’s character showed a measured growth in this story. He wasn’t the smartest or bravest and didn’t always make the best decisions, but that was what made him relatable.
I don’t know if this is a series but I need a second book. The author developed Luke’s friends so well that I was very interested in them. From Jess’s profound knowledge in plumbing, to Ravi’s ability to barter and get just the right items they needed, to Alma’s ghostly powers and directive, I desired more. It wasn’t a happy ending for them all to be honest and I think that’s what drives me to want to know more. It was a bittersweet ending for most, but it was one that seemed realistic.
The setting sometimes threw me off. I felt as though I was sometimes lost with the scenery. It is possible that maybe it’s because I don’t have any knowledge of traveling or history but I really did find some scenes hard to imagine. It made me miss out on some of the action and suspenseful scenes because I couldn’t visualize them.
The suspense, twist and turns in this book were spot on. There were many times I found I could guess what Tabatha was up to and what would happen next but was I wrong. The author did a great job in weaving little hints throughout the story and dialogue, making you believe something and then throwing something absolutely different yet believable at you.
Overall, this was a good read. It felt sad and disheartening at times, but it also made me cheer on the characters for their freedom.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
An intriguing story of a twelve year old’s quest to obtain freedom. Luke Smith-Sharma is a twelve year old who was kidnapped and forced to shovel underground in an old power station alongside many other kids. Their aim is to receive one of the amber tickets so they can rejoin their families and obtain their freedoms. However, when Luke gets punished during a kind gesture and has to clean the sewers he befriends a ghost named Alma and realizes the many truths behind what actually Tabatha Margate is doing in the power station.
This was a dark story with many dark elements. There is kidnapping, death, violence, abuse, sadness, threats, intimidation and more. This book wasn’t the happiest but it kept me hooked on every word. Luke was a character I could imagine. A simple boy who just wants to go back to his family by keeping his head down whilst also helping those who needed it because he’s kind. Luke’s character showed a measured growth in this story. He wasn’t the smartest or bravest and didn’t always make the best decisions, but that was what made him relatable.
I don’t know if this is a series but I need a second book. The author developed Luke’s friends so well that I was very interested in them. From Jess’s profound knowledge in plumbing, to Ravi’s ability to barter and get just the right items they needed, to Alma’s ghostly powers and directive, I desired more. It wasn’t a happy ending for them all to be honest and I think that’s what drives me to want to know more. It was a bittersweet ending for most, but it was one that seemed realistic.
The setting sometimes threw me off. I felt as though I was sometimes lost with the scenery. It is possible that maybe it’s because I don’t have any knowledge of traveling or history but I really did find some scenes hard to imagine. It made me miss out on some of the action and suspenseful scenes because I couldn’t visualize them.
The suspense, twist and turns in this book were spot on. There were many times I found I could guess what Tabatha was up to and what would happen next but was I wrong. The author did a great job in weaving little hints throughout the story and dialogue, making you believe something and then throwing something absolutely different yet believable at you.
Overall, this was a good read. It felt sad and disheartening at times, but it also made me cheer on the characters for their freedom.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf