A review by gresor
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed “The Warm Hands of Ghosts”. I came into this read with high expectations and for the most part they were met. I loved the characters, the setting was fascinating, and Arden, just like with her previous novels, seamlessly blends history and fantasy.  I do wish that there had been a bit more character development with
Winter and Jones. While they’re both decently well written and I grew fond of them they felt a bit one dimensional. I also struggled a bit with the ending. I felt like it wrapped up awfully quickly and there wasn’t any real fallout? Like they were just spirited away, facing no consequences for any of the chaos that took place. Also, and this is a bit of a nitpick, Faland’s magic felt as though it changed form to fit the plot’s needs. One minute his magic consists entirely of turning memory into fiddle music and casting illusions, and the next he can teleport people?
I know that I sound like I have a lot on criticisms for this book, but I genuinely loved it and can’t wait to see what Arden comes out with next.
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