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bookwyrm76's review against another edition
3.0
More a series of short stories than a novel. Interesting world building but the pace can be a bit relaxed....understandable when the protagonist has been dead for 70ish years. The air of boredom from Rose did wear on me though and I gave up a bit over half way through.
misfitmoxie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
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? No
3.5
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Ghost Stories urban fantasy series about a ghost … who once lived in Buckley Township in Michigan.
My Take
Man, even thinking about this story again makes me cry, for the loss and for the stupid horror of the accident that changed Rose’s life. Then what Gary does? What can I say, keep those tissues handy. Keep ‘em handy for the night Rose gets pushed into telling her story. I don’t care who you are, you will weep.
It reads like a series of short stories woven into a single story, a truly fabulous story — even with all the tears — as McGuire creates a whole new culture about ghosts with hierarchies and specialties. And McGuire teases, tantalizes, and leads you on, giving out hints and tastes that lead to the whole story. What I enjoyed was how well she teased, lol.
Makes sense that carnie workers know a ghost and their cultures; they’re a very generous group.
Do pay attention to the dates as McGuire has you hopping back and forth from today to 1952.
The Story
Rose Marshall came from the wrong side of the tracks but it didn’t keep Gary from loving her. He knew how much he adored his Rose, if only Rose had kept the faith that night.
Angry, miserable, Rose ignores all around her until the white-haired trucker who bought her a cheese sandwich.
After that, it’s the smells that warn Rose how badly her help is needed: ashes and honeysuckle is negotiable, of the road; ashes and lilies is a foregone conclusion;
The Characters
Rose Marshall is a hitcher who travels the roads doing good deeds as a psychopomp. The urban "myths" call her anything from the ghost of Sparrow Hill Road, the woman at the diner, Phantom Prom Date, Girl in the Diner, and the Lady in Green. Arthur and Morty are her older brothers. Gary Daniels is the boy from the right side of the tracks, the boy she loved. Bethany is a routewitch and Rose's grandniece, and she oughta know better. Mary Dunlavy also died in Buckley, now she's a crossroads ghost.
The Last Dance Diner is run by Emma, a beán sidhe, an Irish death omen and collector of the unquiet dead. The Last Dance is a safe diner for ghosts until it becomes the Last Chance. Amy O'Malley is a three-fer. Will is the boy she loves. The last of her family, she's looked after by Emma. The Valhalla Valkyries give Rose their blessing. The Kindly Ones watch for oathbreakers.
Larry Vibber is a truck driver; Tommy wanted to win that race to marry his girl; Mckenzie is a cheerleader; Dinah and Josie are waitresses; Michael and Anthony, the college boy, are caught in the crossfire; Chris is a sweetheart who doesn't deserve it; and, Dennis was a hitchhiker caught up in more than anyone could believe. Patrick Swenson and Josh are alive because they listened.
Apple is the Queen of the Routewitches, not someone you want to cross, and holds "court on the old Atlantic Highway". The Ocean Lady is the ghost version of this highway. Eloise is a routewitch who gave Rose the information. The last ruler was the King who took on the punishment for what he did. Mikey does the tattoo. Carl is the routewitch who helps Gary with his last request.
The evil Bobby Cross is wormwood and ashes; he's made a deal with the crossroads, and it's not one that favors anyone else. Dmitri doesn't know what he is. Professor Laura Moorhead is a survivor, and she's furious about her boyfriend's death. Jamie, Marla, Angela, Tom, and Katherine shouldn't have listened to Laura.
Hitchers know their roads whether they're ghost roads or the real thing. Homecomers forget everything but wanting to get home. Not much is known about the trainspotters except that sometimes they can see the future. Strigoi are trapped by wanting to finish something. Routewitches hunt down the stories of the roads, make bargains with it, use its power. Phantom riders bring their cars with them, home, and are tied to the stretch of road where they died. Crossroads ghosts oversee the bargains. A haunt lost love at some point and their kiss can kill or cure. "The twilight is another country", a place where you adapt or die. A Maggy Dhu is a Black Hound of the Dead whose bite kills.
The Cover and Title
The cover is perfect with a slightly transparent Rose and a letter jacket resting on a vintage car beside a cornfield. She may not be in her green prom dress, but she’s still dressed for her time period in a pair of rolled-up jeans and a form-fitting, satin shirt with a sad look on her face.
The title is where Rose was killed, on Sparrow Hill Road.
My Take
Man, even thinking about this story again makes me cry, for the loss and for the stupid horror of the accident that changed Rose’s life. Then what Gary does? What can I say, keep those tissues handy. Keep ‘em handy for the night Rose gets pushed into telling her story. I don’t care who you are, you will weep.
It reads like a series of short stories woven into a single story, a truly fabulous story — even with all the tears — as McGuire creates a whole new culture about ghosts with hierarchies and specialties. And McGuire teases, tantalizes, and leads you on, giving out hints and tastes that lead to the whole story. What I enjoyed was how well she teased, lol.
Makes sense that carnie workers know a ghost and their cultures; they’re a very generous group.
Do pay attention to the dates as McGuire has you hopping back and forth from today to 1952.
The Story
Rose Marshall came from the wrong side of the tracks but it didn’t keep Gary from loving her. He knew how much he adored his Rose, if only Rose had kept the faith that night.
Angry, miserable, Rose ignores all around her until the white-haired trucker who bought her a cheese sandwich.
After that, it’s the smells that warn Rose how badly her help is needed: ashes and honeysuckle is negotiable, of the road; ashes and lilies is a foregone conclusion;
The Characters
Rose Marshall is a hitcher who travels the roads doing good deeds as a psychopomp. The urban "myths" call her anything from the ghost of Sparrow Hill Road, the woman at the diner, Phantom Prom Date, Girl in the Diner, and the Lady in Green. Arthur and Morty are her older brothers. Gary Daniels is the boy from the right side of the tracks, the boy she loved. Bethany is a routewitch and Rose's grandniece, and she oughta know better. Mary Dunlavy also died in Buckley, now she's a crossroads ghost.
The Last Dance Diner is run by Emma, a beán sidhe, an Irish death omen and collector of the unquiet dead. The Last Dance is a safe diner for ghosts until it becomes the Last Chance. Amy O'Malley is a three-fer. Will is the boy she loves. The last of her family, she's looked after by Emma. The Valhalla Valkyries give Rose their blessing. The Kindly Ones watch for oathbreakers.
Larry Vibber is a truck driver; Tommy wanted to win that race to marry his girl; Mckenzie is a cheerleader; Dinah and Josie are waitresses; Michael and Anthony, the college boy, are caught in the crossfire; Chris is a sweetheart who doesn't deserve it; and, Dennis was a hitchhiker caught up in more than anyone could believe. Patrick Swenson and Josh are alive because they listened.
Apple is the Queen of the Routewitches, not someone you want to cross, and holds "court on the old Atlantic Highway". The Ocean Lady is the ghost version of this highway. Eloise is a routewitch who gave Rose the information. The last ruler was the King who took on the punishment for what he did. Mikey does the tattoo. Carl is the routewitch who helps Gary with his last request.
The evil Bobby Cross is wormwood and ashes; he's made a deal with the crossroads, and it's not one that favors anyone else. Dmitri doesn't know what he is. Professor Laura Moorhead is a survivor, and she's furious about her boyfriend's death. Jamie, Marla, Angela, Tom, and Katherine shouldn't have listened to Laura.
Hitchers know their roads whether they're ghost roads or the real thing. Homecomers forget everything but wanting to get home. Not much is known about the trainspotters except that sometimes they can see the future. Strigoi are trapped by wanting to finish something. Routewitches hunt down the stories of the roads, make bargains with it, use its power. Phantom riders bring their cars with them, home, and are tied to the stretch of road where they died. Crossroads ghosts oversee the bargains. A haunt lost love at some point and their kiss can kill or cure. "The twilight is another country", a place where you adapt or die. A Maggy Dhu is a Black Hound of the Dead whose bite kills.
The Cover and Title
The cover is perfect with a slightly transparent Rose and a letter jacket resting on a vintage car beside a cornfield. She may not be in her green prom dress, but she’s still dressed for her time period in a pair of rolled-up jeans and a form-fitting, satin shirt with a sad look on her face.
The title is where Rose was killed, on Sparrow Hill Road.
martinhope19's review
4.0
Audiobook. The door books written by this author are still my favorite but this one was intriguing and earned back a star at the end! If I’m still thinking about it in a week, I’ll probably read the second book in the series.
mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
I love Seanan McGuire's books. Every one I've ever read has been amazing. The Wayward Children Series is my all-time favorite book series. I had seen this book before, but I wasn't sure it was up my alley. I was so very wrong.
If you love ghost stories, this is the book for you! Rose Marshall, aka, The Phantom Prom Date, The Girl in the Green Dress, and many more, is a bad-ass 1952 ghost that you can't help but fall in love with.
I will say, I thought the ending with the car was a little hokey, and I didn't love it, but I won't hold that against the rest of the book.
MAKE SURE you read the Introduction, though!! I noticed a few reviewers here didn't understand the choppy nature of the story, how it seems like it's a bunch of short stories that are loosely connected. Well, if they had READ the Introduction, then they would have understood why that is.
Anyway, I loved the book and highly recommend it. I've already downloaded Book 2, The Girl in the Green Silk Gown, and plan to start it this evening. I'm so glad there's more Rose Marshall!
If you love ghost stories, this is the book for you! Rose Marshall, aka, The Phantom Prom Date, The Girl in the Green Dress, and many more, is a bad-ass 1952 ghost that you can't help but fall in love with.
I will say, I thought the ending with the car was a little hokey, and I didn't love it, but I won't hold that against the rest of the book.
MAKE SURE you read the Introduction, though!! I noticed a few reviewers here didn't understand the choppy nature of the story, how it seems like it's a bunch of short stories that are loosely connected. Well, if they had READ the Introduction, then they would have understood why that is.
Anyway, I loved the book and highly recommend it. I've already downloaded Book 2, The Girl in the Green Silk Gown, and plan to start it this evening. I'm so glad there's more Rose Marshall!
jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
I love the idea of making a book based off of the American phantom hitchhiker legend and I love it being connected to the Incriptid world but I just found the book lacking in some way. I think the actual plot and character development just felt uneven for me. I’m hoping the later books pick up since a lot of times the first book in an urban fantasy series is the weakest.
klparmley's review against another edition
4.0
NO explanation of Rose’s relationship with the Healey-Price family. Good stories, though. And, clearly, not all of them.
redheadsuperpowers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the first book in one of my absolute favorite series. An American legend, wrapped in a unique magic system, and a ghost story all in one. Main character Rose Marshall, the Prom Dress Ghost, the Girl in the Green Silk Gown, tells us her story in her own words, scattered through the short tales that make up the chapters in this book. The side characters she is surrounded by are intriguing and tale worthy themselves, from the WW2 era teenager, to the banshee proprietor of her favorite diner. This novel's has a deep love for the American highway, road trips, and the kind of magic you earn only by putting miles behind you. It makes me want to just hop in the car and go until the road runs out. And it is only the first in the trilogy.
runner5's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
delaneybull's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved it! Starting from the InCryptid series then reading Aunt Rose's story was really interesting!