A review by archiebb
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I can really imagine a wonderful claymation film with a soundtrack composed of mbira music. It’s just dark enough but also wraps up nicely and has a lot of very fun components (good friendships, side conflicts, memorable look for the MC with her died hair, fox buddy, etc).

i like the magic system in this series: its clear and im bought in! Especially the music vibrations and ghost talk and the seeming conflict between magic practices her grandmother gives to her and the “scientific” magic of the institutions she is introduced to. 

She is a very adultified child. It’s hard watching her work so hard and return home only to take on more responsibility there. It is nice watching her have a loving family with her Gran and younger sis though.  

One section in particular
where Ropa is trapped in the house
feels like Coraline in the best way. really fucking creepy. 

I loved that she had to ask herself “what would gran do” after the whole fire thing didn’t work. like yes come back to ur family’s magic and don’t listen to those arses at the hoity toity library!


Some of the plot feels a little Deus ex machine, particularly
the magic scarf.
The fox at least you kind of expect to be her sidekick. Also her super smart friend who knows so much magic than her kind of feels ike a “Gandalf on the eagle” thing. Like if only Priya was around to help Ropa would be able to get out of more of the mess she finds herself in. Which is even more evident when compared to J who never helps and always gets her in dire trouble. 
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