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dreaming_ace's review
4.0
This was a fun adventure overall with a fun protagonist. I loved it being set in Scotland. There were some parts that felt a bit clunky like the chapters that were going into the science of magic, personally I don't need someone to try to explain the magic away from the magic but over all a very enjoyable story.
lumie's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
thebookwh0re's review against another edition
I'm like 160 pages into this book and I have no idea what it's about. I don't understand the magic and I'm not really fond of the main character. This book just isn't for me
whatyoutolkienabout's review
4.0
I wanted to read this book when I first heard about it but was a little slow at getting around it. Fate would have it that I found a copy second hand, when browsing a local charity shop and I am so glad I did. Although, I am not so sure why someone would donate it.
The Library of the Dead is a contemporary fantasy following a sassy and smart teen as she explores the shadowy magical underside of modern Edinburgh. We follow Ropa, a teen who dropped out of school to become a fulltime ghost-talker. Now instead of sitting in a classroom she speaks to the dead and delivers messages to the living. It’s harmless enough and the money is good, so it seems like a win win. Then it all goes a bit wrong. The dead begin to whisper of someone bewitching children – leaving nothing but an empty shell of their former selves. Feeling honour bound to investigate – it’s on her patch afterall. Ropa ends up finding herself falling deeper into the shadowy and magical underworld of Edinburgh. Finding friends and enemies along the way, Ropa needs to call on her Zimbabwean magic as well as her Scottish pragmatism to sort this mess out once and for all.
I will start by saying at first I wasn’t sure if I would like this but honestly within a few pages I was hooked. The characters are all interesting and well thought out, I know a few people have mentioned the ‘accent’ coming through as a negative but I found it not too overdone and rather nice to see bits and pieces of dialect you’d expect from someone born and raised in Scotland.
The plot was well thought out and paced, not giving too much away or keeping too much hidden so we lose interest. I honestly cannot wait for book two and beyond with this series. Bonus points for including a fox and someone who shares my name – although thankfully we do not share the same ideals!
If you love modern fantasy YA you will definitely love this one. I know I did.
The Library of the Dead is a contemporary fantasy following a sassy and smart teen as she explores the shadowy magical underside of modern Edinburgh. We follow Ropa, a teen who dropped out of school to become a fulltime ghost-talker. Now instead of sitting in a classroom she speaks to the dead and delivers messages to the living. It’s harmless enough and the money is good, so it seems like a win win. Then it all goes a bit wrong. The dead begin to whisper of someone bewitching children – leaving nothing but an empty shell of their former selves. Feeling honour bound to investigate – it’s on her patch afterall. Ropa ends up finding herself falling deeper into the shadowy and magical underworld of Edinburgh. Finding friends and enemies along the way, Ropa needs to call on her Zimbabwean magic as well as her Scottish pragmatism to sort this mess out once and for all.
I will start by saying at first I wasn’t sure if I would like this but honestly within a few pages I was hooked. The characters are all interesting and well thought out, I know a few people have mentioned the ‘accent’ coming through as a negative but I found it not too overdone and rather nice to see bits and pieces of dialect you’d expect from someone born and raised in Scotland.
The plot was well thought out and paced, not giving too much away or keeping too much hidden so we lose interest. I honestly cannot wait for book two and beyond with this series. Bonus points for including a fox and someone who shares my name – although thankfully we do not share the same ideals!
If you love modern fantasy YA you will definitely love this one. I know I did.
bhnmt61's review
4.0
Not sure exactly how to review this one. It’s a creative premise that brings to mind the movie The Sixth Sense, a bit of Oliver Twist and Peter Pan, and definitely Flavia de Luce and her trusty Gladys. But it is also entirely its own thing. I enjoyed reading it, and although it had some creepy moments, it’s not too far out there in terms of horror. But the narrative voice is uneven— Huchu creates a believable precocious, philosophy-reading 14-year-old, but then occasionally there would be a detour about architecture or scenery that read as a different voice and kicked me out of the story. Still, it’s a great premise and I’m looking forward to others in the series.
mwatanabe's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
sirensaria's review
4.0
The book started off rather slow, but it picked up nicely. Really had to push through about the first quarter to third of the book before the real action started. Ropa was definitely an interesting character. And she was pretty badass, too. I also loved Priya! Who doesn't love a kickass girl in a wheelchair?! The world building was amazing! I wish there had been a little more to some of what was going on, like the whole catastrophe part, but that probably would have ended up taking away from the plot. Hopefully we get more insight in the next book.
caittilynn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ralac71's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25