City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab
Victoria Schwab, or V.E. Schwab, knows how to write dark, thrilling characters and worlds. Just like with her Villains or Shades of Magic series written under her penname, the Cassidy Blake series starts off strong with unique characters and a clever storyline. This series is different in the fact it’s for a younger audience so although dark, it’s not quite as much as her other series.
I enjoyed this new paranormal world Schwab creates and even though it’s for a younger audience, I found myself captivated from start to finish. This is what I love about Schwab so much; her ability of creating fantastically strange and mysterious situations.
Since City of Ghosts isn’t quite as dark as the other books, the main character, Cassidy, doesn’t have the somewhat antihero tendencies I’ve come to expect and love from Schwab’s characters. At first, I was a bit disappointed but it ended up being refreshing to read a truly innocent and naïve character surrounded by Schwab’s unique writing style. Cass is still trying to navigate her new ability of seeing ghosts and learns some truths in very difficult ways. This made the story seem very real for a young teenager trying to come to terms with who she is.
The descriptions of the city of Edinburgh and of the same city from the beyond adds to the chilling atmosphere caused by a sinister ghost haunting the city. This was very similar to Schwab’s wonderful way of crafting scenes that I loved in her other series.
One thing I am not quite sure about is the main character, Cass. Although I appreciate the slow understand and acceptance of her ability, she seems a bit too timid and naïve for me, especially with what I was expecting from a Schwab book. I don’t mean to say that Cass has to have everything figured out and be the bravest person ever within the first few chapters. She is a young girl with not very many people believing in her ability, but there were just one too many times where she was just a bit too meek and almost whiney. The majority of the book was focused on her trying to understand her abilities but yet she still cannot grasp them or accept them at any point. Since I do love Schwab’s writing, I am giving the second book of the series a try before I make my full judgement and hoping Cass grows a bit more into her role.
Synopsis: Cassidy Blake's parents are The Inspecters, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.
When The Inspecters head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn't sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn't belong in her world.