City of Ghosts (1)

Delightful, spooky read - great for all ages. I am not middle-grade in age nor by reading selection but I loved this book so much. The characters of Cass and Jacob felt real and the setting was a place I would like to go. Who doesn’t want to go to Scotland??? And the story problem was such that you were kept guessing all the way to the breathless end.

Let me start by saying my rating has nothing to do with the actual content of this book. I have been on a V.E. Schwab spree and let me tell you everything they write is smooth and easy to read and digest. It takes you back and before you know it you’ve finished hundreds of pages in a day. I know this is likely just my squirrel brain but I enjoyed tying the “near death” experience and abilities to her villain series. This of course is likely to be presented to a younger audience compared to the above mentioned but it is still another fun find and I’m so happy to add it to the collection of growing novels from the author. As a female reader I would actually love to see the writer continue experimenting with male leads, though it’s likely my own bias from starting with a different series). I felt they were rather enjoyable to read and Jacob himself is a wonderful character and concept! His character is truly a treat and pairs wonderfully with Cassidy. I do enjoy the contrast of Cassidy and Lara and again have to say for an afternoon read in the summer it was when my partner peaked outside to make sure I ate dinner that I realized I had been fully soaked into the city of ghosts. Perhaps that’s what it feels like to be inside the veil. Jokes aside and my aggressive imagination aside I truly loved the book and look forward to the arrival of the rest of the series. It may be for younger readers but I wouldn’t sleep on it, especially if you are someone who enjoys this particular writers work. I look forward to gifting it to family and friends in the future. As for why I am giving the product 4 stars while the content of the book 5… I am disappointed that the book arrived dirty though alongside with sliced pages and faded text prints. Hoping it is just a rough copy and that others will have better luck. You can see in the first picture when I first opened my package that the bottom of the book is covered in sticky gross unknown material (hopefully glue?) I got it off but it did leave the white cover stained. I also added photos of the sliced pages alongside an example of faded text which is randomly splattered throughout the book itself. Physical copies of books are always the best kind so I will take what I get and the price given was accurate to the printed pricing of the novel (I did get it while on sale though).

"Ghost watching is a two person sport." 4.5 STARS TW: 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?

It's difficult to begin about City of Ghosts. It is really an amazing book- it reminds me of one of my all-time favorite books, The Graveyard Book. Cassidy drowns in a lake but she is saved by a ghost, Jacob, who becomes her best friend. Since coming back to life she has been able to cross the Veil into the place where ghosts stay when they can't move on. Her parents, writers of paranormal books, start filming a new tv show and their first stop is Edinburgh. Just like that, "two parents, a girl, a ghost, and a ticked-off cat" are off. This book made Scotland move several spots up my TBV (To Be Visited- can we make this a thing please?) list. I loved the cat, Grim, and details about him make it clear that Schwab knows a thing or two about cats. (Hi Oliver!) There was an unexpected photography element to the story and there's enough detail that I wonder if she has a real-life interest in it. Cassidy and Jacob's relationship is detailed enough that it brought out some thought-provoking elements, like how they spend time together when he can't move anything in her world. There are several perfect examples of why I love Victoria Schwab so much as a writer. On page 103 she writes: "Mrs. Weathershire is pouring him a cup of tea, the cup so small in his broad hand it looks like she's dumping hot water straight into his palm." Details like this give such life and imagery to the story that it is impossible not to have your head filled with rolling scenes as you read. I'm glad I read the second half of this book while outside on a nice day because there were some creeeepy parts. By the way, it's so good I read this book in two sittings. This was the perfect book to kick off my September/October holiday reading.

Honestly this book was just okay. It’s the first book of a middle grade series that I bought when I bought the small spaces series. I enjoyed them both but obviously didn’t favor this one. I think the main issue may be the author. I can’t get into any of her young adult books either. She’s that one “who’s a popular author you just can’t get into?” For me. She’d be that answer. I’ll start with the redeeming stuff. Part of what I really loved is that Victoria scwab has been to Scotland (I believe she lives there) and has intertwined real places thah actually exist in this book, and then at the end has pictures of the actual places! It’s really fascinating and exciting and I love when authors add a personal touch. Especially from their own photo album. What’s really cool is a lot of the creepiest and most atmospheric places in the book are real and you get to see pictures of them. A lot of the history and the urban legends/ghosts are also of true Scotland nature. And I always enjoy books like that! There are some pretty spooky scenes and the overall plot was pretty good. The way ghosts function in this book is actually pretty unique. The ghost best friend to the MC is probably my favorite character as of now. Hopefully he doesn’t turn out to be bad! I also loved Lara (who is like cass and can see ghosts) though I do wish people listened to her a little more! The red raven was horrifying and all but for being part of the main plot.... she really felt like a side story. And that’s the start of what I didn’t like. Obviously the MC finds out she has a unique purpose behind being able to see ghosts etc. and most of the book is spent with her just exploring that. It almost felt like near the end the author was like “oh right, the red raven and the main plot point!” Because of this the main story wasn’t that spooky. A lot of the story wasn’t as spooky as it could have been. It just didn’t do it for me. It was a fast read though so that’s good! I also hate that it’s written where the MC talks directly to the reader. To me that takes me out of the story. Especially since there’s never any reason given for the characters knowing about the reader. It’s not a letter, diary, anything like that. So when it’s none of those things and it still happens? Yeah it takes me out of the excitement and ruins the atmosphere. There were also constant Harry Potter references that made me cringe and I also really hated all the side notes about the differences between words with Scotland and the United States. Both those things get almost unbearable to me. We get it. Chips are fries. Biscuits are cookies. We didn’t need to spend half the book going over this. I also just don’t like the MC or the writing style. But I think I’ve talked enough. I have the second book already so I’ll read it. As for the third? Tbd. Idk.

I discovered this book walking around Barnes and Nobles, saw the title and cover of the book and instantly caught my attention as im a fan of Horror and scary/ghost stories. I can say now after reading this book im a fan of Victoria and her writing, since this was a YA book, the level of writing wasnt too complex or detailed which i prefer on days when i want to finish a book within 2 - 3 days. Victorias writing style does captivate the reader in many ways, but what did it for me was how she was able to make me feel as if i were in Scotland by how she wrote and really knew how to capture the atmosphere in her writing to make the reader feel as if they were there in the story with Cassidy and Jacob on their adventures. The spooky scares and overall character development was good and made you wanting more and to see what other adventures Cassidy will go on. overall i am now a fan of Victoria schwab and will continue to check out her other books.

(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.

This is the perfect ghost story for a middle grader who wants their ghost story to be light on the horror. Cassie's parents are the authors of a series of books on ghosts, and the books are now being made into a series of TV documentaries. Dad is a historian while mom is the folklorist. Fun fact--the parents can't see or communicate with ghosts, but unbeknownst to them, their twelve year old daughter, Cassidy, can. In fact, her best friend is Jacob, the ghost that saved her from drowning. The whole family, including Jacob and Grim the family feline, fly from New York to Edinburgh, Scotland for the first filming of the TV show. The dialogue between Cassidy and Jacob is spot on. The map in the front helps with the haunted locations, and the atmosphere of the city puts the reader in the scene. You feel the mist, the fog, the veil, and you are introduced to Scottish terms and food. Everything was so realistic, I almost labeled City of Ghosts as realistic fiction! Great book which leaves the reader wanting to start #2, Tunnel of Ghosts, which I did!

Le livre est arrivé en parfait état et en un éclair.. la lecture aussi.. V.E. Schwab ne nous déçoit pas.. une fois de plus !

Folha parecem de jornal mas aparentemente todos os livros de fora sao nessa assim

Cassidy Blake has a secret. She had a near-death experience, almost drowned, was saved by a spirit called Jacob (who is her best friend) and now sees ghosts everywhere. Even stranger her parents are 'The Inspecters' who write ghost hunting stories but have no clue that ghosts truly exist. 'The Inspecters' gets snapped up by a TV company to make a most haunted places documentary series and will star Cassidy's parents. The first location is Edinburgh, Scotland and Cassidy is travelling with them accompanied by Jacob. When Cassidy arrives she is surrounded by ghosts at every turn and the pull from the Veil, the place where ghosts live, grows stronger. This is troubling but paired with the presence of some malevolent spirits leaves Cassidy and Jacob feeling uneasy. Weirdly Jacob being a ghost doesn’t leave mean he isn’t scared of the others. While staying in an old hotel Cassidy meets Lara. She can also see ghosts and explains they she and Cassidy are In-Betweeners. She said their job is to interact with ghosts and to send them permanently beyond the Veil with the use of mirrors and a special incantation. Cassidy isn’t too enthusiastic about this new information and Jacob is worried that they might try sending him on. After Cassidy encounters the evil spirit of the Red Raven who targets children, she instantly knows that she has to take action to remove herself from their world. As Cassidy is drawn across the Veil into the world of the dead she will have to fight with everything she has to defeat the Red Raven and survive long enough to return to the living. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I am obsessed with this series. It may be aimed at a younger audience than her other novels but Schwab has once again created characters that I instantly adored and within a world that I wanted to visit. Cassidy and Jacob's unusual but loyal friendship is key to this story and I loved how it developed as the stakes grew. A perfect amount of action, thrills and emotion-driven banter made for a captivating and beautiful story. Looking forward to book 2.

One of my favorites! This is not a very great book if you want goosebumps and chills, I think. But it is really good in terms of story. It perfectly blends the categories I like (humor and adventure) in a page-turner story. What I liked in this book was that though it wasn't scary all the times, I got chills while reading what the Raven in the Red had done. ( I will not spoil it for you). So, if you are looking for a book that you would want to read again and again when you go to your bookshelf, this book is a must.

Ich hab das Buch auf englisch gelesen, da ich auch hier wieder das Cover so toll fand - und ich ehrlicherweise Freude an englischen Büchern gefunden habe. Cool an dem Buch ist gleich von Anfang an, dass es mit einer Ortskarte von Edinburgh ausgestattet ist. Ich war erst in Edinburgh, das macht die ganze Geschichte für mich natürlich noch viel spannender. Vorallem finde ich es schön, dass der Ort wirklich so beschrieben ist, wie er eben in echt ist. Eine tolle Geschichte rund herum gibt es also definitiv. Jetzt würde ich gerne gleich nochmal dort hin gehen :) vorallem weil es unglaublich viele verschiedene Geistergeschichten in diesem Buch gibt, denen ich gerne in Edinburgh selbst noch nachgehen würde. Hätte ich dieses Buch doch nur das letzte mal schon gekannt xD Ich mag es, dass die Protagonistin einen Geist als Freund hat. Diese Freundschaft ist irgendwie anders, als es sonst bei Geisterfreunden ist. Sie haben eine spezielle Beziehung zueinander, vielleicht auch, weil er ihr das Leben gerettet hat? Und vielleicht auch, weil alle kleinen Details erst nach und nach erzählt werden. Sie selbst ist eine Aussenseiterin, deren Eltern Geister und Übersinnliches lieben. Deshalb reisen sie nun nach Edinburgh. Die Eltern wissen nicht, dass sie einen Geist ( den Freund der Tochter ) mit dabei haben. Manchmal sind die Erlebnisse, die die zwei machen nicht schön, sondern beängstigend, und manchmal gehen sie sogar um Leben und Tod... Für mich ein unglaublich gelungenes Buch, das ich vielleicht, wenn ich mal wieder nach Edinburgh reise, wieder lesen werde :)