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A review by hereiskyra
A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope: A Paranormal Spinoff to The Fabric of our Souls by K.M. Moronova
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
What have you done to me… again? 😭
Well, it’s the first book that made me cry in the first chapter… then consistently made me tear up or cry through its entirety. It really hit deep.
This story was so interesting. The concept of the afterlife was really well constructed and I liked that it was so digestible. She created a purgatory existence where the characters were still able to experience a lot of things in a similar way as they would as living beings.
Lanston is such a beautifully tragic character. He is truly a good, kind soul but was forced to endure a life that led him to crave death rather than life, just as many do. Learning more about him and what he experienced as a child and young man was heartbreaking. It’s a testament to people like him that endure awful circumstances and still grow to be generous, kind, loving people… he just happened to be a person who also doesn’t want to be alive.
What I wasn’t expecting is for Ophelia’s story to be equally as sad. She believed she was unworthy of love and life but contrary to what everyone told her, she too had a beautiful soul. And because of the harsh words and callous actions of others, she could not cope with the life she was handed.
Two beautiful souls whose lives tragically ended far too quickly because of a harsh world meet and are so drawn to one another it’s as if fate put them in each other’s path. The bond between them was immediate and undeniable. The universe finally provided what each of them needed in the form of the other, even if it was far too late.
This book covers so many important topics and conversations around mental health. The part chemistry plays in our overall quality of existence is overlooked so much and the validation of that as well as feelings that stem from those imbalances is so important. While it’s hard to read about such heartbreaking things, especially if you struggle with depression or similar thoughts/experiences, I love that it was explored so thoughtfully. I will always appreciate that she does not shy away from the hard topics.
Lanston and Ophelia’s story may have broken my heart more than once but it also put it back together each and every time. And their story gave me so much of the healing I needed after what happened to Lanston. It was beautiful to see him find some happiness and peace, even if it took years and was in the afterlife. I love the idea that after a life of tragedy, there can still be hope. Even after death, there can still be hope.
Tropes:
Paranormal Romance
Slow Burn
Bucket List
Mental Health Rep
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Well, it’s the first book that made me cry in the first chapter… then consistently made me tear up or cry through its entirety. It really hit deep.
This story was so interesting. The concept of the afterlife was really well constructed and I liked that it was so digestible. She created a purgatory existence where the characters were still able to experience a lot of things in a similar way as they would as living beings.
Lanston is such a beautifully tragic character. He is truly a good, kind soul but was forced to endure a life that led him to crave death rather than life, just as many do. Learning more about him and what he experienced as a child and young man was heartbreaking. It’s a testament to people like him that endure awful circumstances and still grow to be generous, kind, loving people… he just happened to be a person who also doesn’t want to be alive.
What I wasn’t expecting is for Ophelia’s story to be equally as sad. She believed she was unworthy of love and life but contrary to what everyone told her, she too had a beautiful soul. And because of the harsh words and callous actions of others, she could not cope with the life she was handed.
Two beautiful souls whose lives tragically ended far too quickly because of a harsh world meet and are so drawn to one another it’s as if fate put them in each other’s path. The bond between them was immediate and undeniable. The universe finally provided what each of them needed in the form of the other, even if it was far too late.
This book covers so many important topics and conversations around mental health. The part chemistry plays in our overall quality of existence is overlooked so much and the validation of that as well as feelings that stem from those imbalances is so important. While it’s hard to read about such heartbreaking things, especially if you struggle with depression or similar thoughts/experiences, I love that it was explored so thoughtfully. I will always appreciate that she does not shy away from the hard topics.
Lanston and Ophelia’s story may have broken my heart more than once but it also put it back together each and every time. And their story gave me so much of the healing I needed after what happened to Lanston. It was beautiful to see him find some happiness and peace, even if it took years and was in the afterlife. I love the idea that after a life of tragedy, there can still be hope. Even after death, there can still be hope.
Tropes:
Paranormal Romance
Slow Burn
Bucket List
Mental Health Rep
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Murder