Publishers Weekly
★ 07/02/2018
Unbeknownst to her parents, who write books about ghosts but have never seen one, 12-year-old Cassidy Blake has paranormal abilities: ever since she almost drowned, she’s been able to visit the spirit realm. She is best friends with Jacob, the apparition who saved her life, and whenever she encounters a phantom, she feels compelled to “cross the veil.” Constant specter activity exhausts Cassidy, so she is dismayed to learn that her family is headed for Edinburgh to film a haunted cities television show. There, Cassidy meets Lara Jayne Chowdhury, a girl with similar skills. Jacob doesn’t trust Lara, but Cassidy thinks the self-proclaimed ghost hunter could shed light on her own abilities and prove useful—particularly after they attract the attention of a malevolent specter. This atmospheric ghost story from Schwab (the Monsters of Verity duology) chills and charms while challenging readers to face their fears. Courageous, quick-witted Cassidy inspires, her relationship with Jacob is tender, and the thrilling conclusion is sure to gratify. Ages 8–12. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Praise for City of Ghosts:"Spine tingling and page-turning, perfectly blending humor, heart, and adventure . . . I loved it!" — Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of The False Prince"This book has it all — a ghost for a best friend, a city brimming with magic, and a brave girl discovering her strange power. A thrilling and chilling mystery that will have you counting the days until Cass's next adventure." — Zoraida Cordova, author of the Brooklyn Brujas series* "This atmospheric ghost story from Schwab (the Monsters of Verity duology) chills and charms while challenging readers to face their fears. Courageous, quick-witted Cassidy inspires, her relationship with Jacob is tender, and the thrilling conclusion is sure to gratify." — Publishers Weekly, starred review"Begs to be read in the dark of night." — Kirkus Reviews"Schwab paints an eerie portrait of haunted locales and her descriptions of the various ghosts and their terrible ends will send shivers down even the bravest readers' spines. . . This fast-paced, spooky ghost story filled with international adventure is sure to please horror enthusiasts and armchair travelers." School Library Journal"Readers craving a spooky story that won't terrorize their dreams will do well with this. Genuine frights are offset by Cass' rapport with Jacob, which injects a steady stream of humor into the spirited, mysterious narrative. A polished, fastpaced read, sure to be popular. . . Schwab's YA fantasies are regularly best-sellers, and this has every reason to follow suit." — BooklistPraise for This Savage Song:* "There are no wasted words here, and the end result is a darkly precise narrative that feels like a shiver down the spine... this taut creation about the nature of humanity lingers long after its disquieting finale." — Booklist, starred review"Schwab's latest seems poised to grab both her adult and teen readers; the world is fascinating... the characters complicated, and the political machinations and emotional depths both charged and compelling... Crackling with energy, just the ticket for an all-night read." — Kirkus Reviews"Schwab explores the natures of justice and humanity in an assuredly built world with a compelling settings and an intriguing music-based magic. And in August and his Sunai siblings, she introduces a type of monster both sympathetic and terrifying. A cliffhanger ending promises a sequel." — The Horn Book"Kate and August both undergo an impressive amount of character development, and fans will like them despite their flaws. Combined with the nonstop action and the author's immersive writing style, this first purchase is sure to be a hit with older teens and fans of urban fantasy." — School Library Journal"Schwab has built a strange, captivating alternate America filled with offbeat, fascinating characters... Readers looking for a dangerous and engrossing new world to fall into will find it with this fast-paced, frightening read." — Publishers Weekly"The pacing is fast, the narrative enthralling, but it is the depths of the novel — its acuteness of moral imagination and perception — that will stay with you afterward. My highest recommendation." — San Diego Union-Tribune"Gritty dialogue and realistic scenes of violence will have senior high school students who enjoy The Hunger Games and Divergent series awaiting the next book in this series." — Voice of Youth AdvocatesPraise for A Darker Shade of Magic:* "Schwab (Vicious) creates an ingenious set of nesting alternate Londons in this imaginative, well-crafted fantasy. Confident prose and marvelous touches — a chameleon coat, a scarlet river of magic, a piratical antiheroine — bring exuberant life to an exhilarating adventure among the worlds." — Publishers Weekly, starred review"A Darker Shade of Magic has all the hallmarks of a classic work of fantasy... Schwab has given us a gem of a tale that is original in its premise and compelling in its execution. This is a book to treasure." — Deborah Harkness, New York Times bestselling author of The All Souls Trilogy"Compulsively readable... her characters make the book. Just as Kell has layers, Lila is a satisfyingly rich invention... With so many worlds on the map, there's plenty left to discover." — NPR"A Darker Shade of Magic is smart, funny and sexy... Schwab keeps the excitement coming with roller-coaster plot twists that establish her as, perhaps, the natural successor to Diana Wynne Jones's contemporary fantasy crown." — The Independent"Fantasy fans will love this fast-paced adventure, with its complex magic system, thoughtful hero and bold heroine." — Kirkus ReviewsPraise for A Gathering of Shadows:* "This is how fantasy should be done." — Publishers Weekly, starred review"Addictive and immersive... between [the characters], the vivid setting, and the climactic cliffhanger, Schwab already has us anticipating the rest of the series. [Grade:] A." — Entertainment Weekly"Full of magic, intrigue, adventure, deception, a bit of piracy... this will engage both adult and young adult fantasy readers alike." — Booklist
School Library Journal
08/01/2018
Gr 4–8—Cassidy is looking forward to a mostly ghost-free summer vacation when her parents, paranormal history authors, break the news that, instead of a summer at the shore, their family will be traveling to Edinburgh to investigate the most haunted places in Scotland. This trip of a lifetime is exciting but also scary for Cassidy, who has the power to cross "the Veil" and see ghosts ever since her brush with death. Thankfully, her best friend, a ghost named Jacob, comes along for the trip and helps her navigate the haunted streets of Edinburgh. Cass encounters some scary haunts and is forced to reckon with the strongest ghost she has ever met, all while learning the true purpose of her powers. Schwab paints an eerie portrait of haunted locales and her descriptions of the various ghosts and their terrible ends will send shivers down even the bravest readers' spines. She also portrays modern Edinburgh with accuracy, and readers will be eager to look up pictures of the medieval castle looming over modern streets. The story moves quickly, and children will be intrigued enough to keep reading even in light of the terrifying events. VERDICT This fast-paced, spooky ghost story filled with international adventure is sure to please horror enthusiasts and armchair travelers.—Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL
Kirkus Reviews
2018-06-11
The 900-year-old city of Edinburgh takes center stage in this middle-grade ghost story.Since a near-death experience a year ago, Cassidy Blake can see ghosts. She can enter the Veil, the curtain between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her best friend, Jacob, is one of the "corporeally challenged." Cass' parents, paranormal-nonfiction authors known as the Inspecters (pun intended), have big news: The family is off to Scotland to film the first episode of their self-titled docuseries about haunted places. In Edinburgh, Cass meets Lara Chowdhury, a British-Indian girl who shares Cass' ability. Lara informs Cass they are ghost hunters whose purpose is to help ghosts pass beyond the Veil (what Lara calls the "in-between") to the "place beyond." When a sinister specter known as the Raven in Red sets her malevolent sights on Cass, the American must use her new knowledge to save her own life. Cass narrates in the present tense, and Jacob, who can hear her thoughts, interrupts when he doesn't agree with her. This clever narrative style choice and the real-world setting, which includes the cafe where Harry Potter was "born" and the most haunted cemetery in Europe, Greyfriars, firmly anchor the story in reality. The dead lack diversity, and biracial Lara seems to be the only living person of color (her father is British-Indian, and her mother is Scottish).Begs to be read in the dark of night. (Paranormal adventure. 8-13)
