“This is just a change of setting, a new storyline, a fresh chapter. We have a whole book to write,” she says, squeezing me around the shoulders, “and how do we write it?” “One page at a time,” I say automatically.
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City of Ghosts is a middle-grade, urban paranormal fantasy that follows the story of Cassidy Blake, who has a best friend, Jacob and he is a …ghost! Yeah. A year ago, Cassidy was drowning after she fell off a bridge and Jacob saved her life. They somehow got tangled with each other and Jacob is by her side ever since, in the real world. Cassidy is the only one who can see and hear him. (in short she’s haunted by him)
After that incident, she can see ghosts other than Jacob only when she is near The Veil or the in-between of our worlds. So, every time she gets the sensation that a ghost is close, she crosses the Veil with Jacob.
Now, Cassidy’s parents don’t know about this nor can they see ghosts like her, but they happen to be Paranormal book writers/Inspecter ghost-hunting team. (Haha ironic much)
When her parents along with Cassidy (and of course Jacob) head to the ultra haunted Edinburgh, Scotland to shoot for their new TV show about the world’s most haunted cities, she finds herself surrounded by ghosts and not all of them are friendly. There she meets Lara who can also see ghosts like her. She helps Cass to know more about what she is. In that city, Cass encounters a dangerous ghost that threatens her life and now she must fight it to save herself with Jacob and Lara in tow. (more like Lara leading with both of them in tow lol)
Writing & Plot: V. E. Schwab could never go wrong! My 15 yr old self would have adored this book.
The author always manages to make me ponder with such simple yet impactful words. Her ideas and characters are so unique. There is just some kinda magic in her stories that lures me in. It is like I don’t want to miss a single sentence.
The writing was humorous and engaging. The atmosphere was set from the beginning, creepy and fun at the same time. Cassidy’s encounters with the ghosts were so cool. Her banters with Jacob were written so well. (fun fact: I went into this book without reading the blurb. I would suggest you do the same. It makes the reading experience more enjoyable)
I loved the idea of all of them going to a haunted city to shoot for a TV show when her parents didn’t know that their daughter is haunted by a ghost. (well they do kind of know…but you’ll know what I mean🤭)
The pacing is fast and the side characters add to the plot too. The plot is typical V.E. Schwab style, simple yet entertaining. The stories of the city’s cruel past and its crimes and how it was blended with the ghost’s plotline was interesting to read. There were a lot of details in the plot. (They were obvious but I was too captivated by Cassidy and Jacob to catch the clues)
Characters: I loved Cassidy! I found her very thoughtful and self-introspective (kind of like me). Always trying to find meaning in things, like her birthday month or why she takes pictures, or why she is drawn to the tap tap tap (the calling of the Veil) despite herself. And she’s a Harry Potter fan, which makes me love her more.
Jacob, my ghost boy! Oh sorry, he prefers corporeally challenged😂. He is sassy, always has a retort ready. He is also such a baby at times. I want to know his story. What exactly happened to him?
Their chemistry was so cool, silly, entertaining, and cute. I enjoyed their conversations and adventures together. It’s so funny that he’s a ghost, so he can’t exactly do the normal human activities and how Cassidy points that out sarcastically. (cute)
Lara was such a good addition. She was confident, authoritative, and sweet (sometimes, when she wasn’t glaring). I wish to see more of her in the next books.
Cassidy’s parents were my favorite. They were caring and also silly at times. (loved them for that)
I loved their sayings too, that Cassidy would repeat in her head.
Nothing happens until it happens, and then it’s already happening. That’s one of Dad’s sayings.
She throws her arms around me. “Embrace your strange, dear daughter. Where’s the fun in being normal?”(her Mom is lit)
Final thoughts: City of Ghosts is fun, creepy, with cool characters and engrossing writing, pick it up for a read you’ll surely be entertained by this one!