City of Ghosts (1) Paperback – September 3, 2019

"Ghost watching is a two person sport."4.5 STARSTW: death (including child and animal death, but not in graphic detail; it's ghosts, comes with the territory)Going into this, I knew City of Ghosts wasn't going to be my all time favorite Schwab book. It's a middle grade book, and I'm not the target audience. Simple as that, and not a judgment on the quality of the book. That also means the one star I took away was because I felt it was missing something and didn't enjoy it as much as I might have if it had had that extra something. A half star off for me not being as invested as I could have been is pretty great, especially considering that I loved the rest of it.It feels exactly like a middle grade novel about ghosts should. It's brisk, filled with recognizable references to comics and Harry Potter that an MG audience will have no trouble picking up on (and will probably be excited by), and best of all, it's COZY. You wouldn't necessarily expect a book about a drowned girl and her best ghost friend to be so cozy, but honestly, it's delightful and makes for a perfect autumn read despite the summer setting. You can thank the Edinburgh weather for that.And oh my gosh, I loved the characters. I loved the way Jacob and Cass interacted, the way Lara slowly got pulled into the fold, the little quirks of some of the minor characters like Findlay, the lore behind the big bad.Incidentally, I believe I saw on V's Twitter that all the ghost stories of Edinburgh in this book besides the big bad are all based on real stories! I love that so much, because it really grounds this story in a way that's a little hard to do when you're writing about a girl who can see ghosts and pass beyond the Veil. Seriously, it helps so much with suspension of disbelief.So does that atmosphere! It's what I read VE Schwab books for, regardless of the age range. She's so good at crafting an atmosphere and pulling you into the setting, and I appreciate it so much, especially as someone who gets nervous about traveling. A book is the next best thing, you know?Anyway, if you like ghost stories and world travel and fast-paced middle grade books that aren't too heavy on complex plots, this is probably the book for you! Bonus: there's also a black cat lacking in, I quote, "basic feline dignity," so you might also like that as well. Everything is improved with cats, right?

(Originally posted on kaleyconnell.wordpress.com)The story is fast paced, funny, a little scary, and sweet: all the makings of a good middle grade book. Cassidy is a strong willed female character--and self-proclaimed Gryffindor--with a whole lot of curiosity and even more love to give. She was easy to relate to despite the fact I'm a much older reader than what this book is 'technically' intended for. Her co-star, Jacob, was also a character that was easy to get behind, with his funny quirks and sense of humor.The book as a whole is an easy and fun read. The pace of the story makes sure that things are always happening while also giving readers time to digest the content. As an older reader, I felt like there was too much happening too quickly in terms of time in the context of the story, but for younger readers I think this is just right. The story also has some 'scary' parts, but nothing that should keep middle school kids up at night if that's a concern.I think my biggest complaint for City of Ghosts is that character development just felt to be really lacking, although given the fact that the book seemingly takes place over three or four days, it's a middle grade book, and (I think) it's supposed to be a series, this isn't a surprise. But it's also not a deal breaker when debating on whether or not the book worth the purchase. I would definitely recommend City of Ghosts to others. Maybe not friends who don't share a passion for MG books or Victoria Schwab herself, but definitely for those who do, as well as anyone with a child(ren) in the marketed age range.In conclusion: if you like Victoria Schwab, if you like MG books, and/or if you know someone between the ages of 10 and 14, go pick up a copy. It's a fun read, and with Halloween steadily creeping up on us, is a great choice for anyone who likes to think there might be something more to our world.

I’ve read most of Schwab’s books both as Victoria Schwab and V. E. Schwab. I love the way she writes and the flow of her stories. City of Ghosts is a ghost story like no other I’ve ever read. I was taken aback as the story actually backs up and begins again in chapter 3 where Cass drowns in a river but somehow survives…with the help of a ghost who hadn’t crossed over. His name is Jacob. Soon after Cass discovers the veil and crosses over. What she doesn’t realize is that the more she crosses the harder it is to get back to the land of the living. After all, Cass was supposed to have died.Cass’s parents are ghost hunters, authors and have a TV show highlighting haunted places. They are shooting the next sequence in Edinburgh, Scotland. The place is teeming with restless soles amongst its graveyards, castles and secret passages. All a bit overwhelming for Cass, who has much to learn about this world on the other side of the veil.Schwab writes a thrilling, chilling and nail biting tale for a middle grade reader with the same depth and attention to detail as her YA books. to detail as her YA books. Bravo! I wandered willingly into this ghostly world of ghosts and I’m so glad I did. I’ll be sharing this series with my 10 year old granddaughter.Another Ghostly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Parental Note:There are a few scary and nail biting scenes . It is after all a ghost story. I would recommend this series for 10-12 and for grandmothers.