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A review by rosemaryandrue
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Ropa, a teenage ghost-talker, is too intent on making a living to work for free. But when a ghost begs for her to seek out her missing son, she gets drawn into the magical underworld of Edinburgh and uncovers the grisly truth.
Astonishingly, I have finally read a physical book! This is a series I've been eying for a while, and honestly I'm not sure why it took so long to get into it.
Ropa is a snarky lead with a strong narrative voice; it took me a little bit to get used to it, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The world-building is very intriguing - we are in some future Edinburgh that has entered urban decay. There are allusions to some kind of Scottish rebellion in the past, and magic seems to be an open secret. We get enough information on this to flavor the book without really getting a complete grasp on what's going on, but I expect we will learn more in future books. Same goes for a certain mysterious entity and whatever is going on with Ropa's mother.
There was plenty of action and mystery and magic, and I liked following Ropa along on her journey to find Ollie and learn some magic along the way. However, I did find the plot resolved in a somewhat predictable manner - once we were in Arthur's Lodge, about two-thirds through the book, I knew precisely how things would end, and I was not surprised.
On the whole, though, this is a fun urban fantasy with world-building that feels fresh, and I'm excited to continue the series.
Astonishingly, I have finally read a physical book! This is a series I've been eying for a while, and honestly I'm not sure why it took so long to get into it.
Ropa is a snarky lead with a strong narrative voice; it took me a little bit to get used to it, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The world-building is very intriguing - we are in some future Edinburgh that has entered urban decay. There are allusions to some kind of Scottish rebellion in the past, and magic seems to be an open secret. We get enough information on this to flavor the book without really getting a complete grasp on what's going on, but I expect we will learn more in future books. Same goes for a certain mysterious entity and whatever is going on with Ropa's mother.
There was plenty of action and mystery and magic, and I liked following Ropa along on her journey to find Ollie and learn some magic along the way. However, I did find the plot resolved in a somewhat predictable manner - once we were in Arthur's Lodge, about two-thirds through the book, I knew precisely how things would end, and I was not surprised.
On the whole, though, this is a fun urban fantasy with world-building that feels fresh, and I'm excited to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Classism
Minor: Addiction