A review by belle_fiction
City of Ghosts, by Victoria Schwab
4.0
Well now, of course I'm going to love anything Victoria Schwab writes, and her MG offering was no exception. This was the perfect birthday read and has made me even more ready for her upcoming release, Vengeful!
There is something very wholesome and natural about the way Schwab writes and the atmosphere she conveys is often dreamlike but very real at the same time. City of Ghosts captures the Scottish capital wonderfully (I really need to revisit it soon) and her friendship between Cassidy and Jacob is genuine and heart-warming. I found myself staying up later these past couple of nights trying to read another chapter because it was a captivating and enchanting MG story. Her characterisation and dialogue are always spot on, and this plot, whilst not as complex as her others (obvs for a younger audience) is nonetheless both spooky and charming. I also loved the depiction of Lara Jayne Chowdhury who is a very forthright and feisty girl which was refreshing from the fluffier characters you usually find in MG.
The only reason I didn't award it the full 5 stars is because, personally, I think there were too many HP references, and at times, made me think that Edinburgh's main pull was because J.K. Rowling wrote parts of HP while staying there.
Besides the above, I cannot wait for the sequel which promises to be equally as thrilling (especially where Jacob is concerned) and look forward to where The Inspectres will take Cassidy Blake and Jacob next time!
There is something very wholesome and natural about the way Schwab writes and the atmosphere she conveys is often dreamlike but very real at the same time. City of Ghosts captures the Scottish capital wonderfully (I really need to revisit it soon) and her friendship between Cassidy and Jacob is genuine and heart-warming. I found myself staying up later these past couple of nights trying to read another chapter because it was a captivating and enchanting MG story. Her characterisation and dialogue are always spot on, and this plot, whilst not as complex as her others (obvs for a younger audience) is nonetheless both spooky and charming. I also loved the depiction of Lara Jayne Chowdhury who is a very forthright and feisty girl which was refreshing from the fluffier characters you usually find in MG.
The only reason I didn't award it the full 5 stars is because, personally, I think there were too many HP references, and at times, made me think that Edinburgh's main pull was because J.K. Rowling wrote parts of HP while staying there.
Besides the above, I cannot wait for the sequel which promises to be equally as thrilling (especially where Jacob is concerned) and look forward to where The Inspectres will take Cassidy Blake and Jacob next time!