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The Library of the Dead
The Library of the Dead | T. L. Huchu
48 posts | 42 read | 42 to read
'A fast-moving and entertaining tale, beautifully written' - Ben Aaronovitch When ghosts talk, she will listen . . . Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghost talker - and she now speaks to Edinburgh's dead, carrying messages to the living. A girl's gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper that someone's bewitching children - leaving them husks, empty of joy and life. It's on Ropa's patch, so she feels honour-bound to investigate. But what she learns will change her world. She'll dice with death (not part of her life plan . . .) as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. For Edinburgh hides a wealth of secrets. And in the process, she discovers an occult library and some unexpected allies. Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted? Opening up a world of magic and adventure, The Library of the Dead by T. L. Huchu is the first book in the Edinburgh Nights series.
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review
Laughterhp
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Mehso-so

I picked this up randomly because I needed an audiobook to listen to. I did not really like this book. It kind of seemed like there was no point but at the same time all over the place and had a lot going on. For a book called library of the dead, there are not a lot of library scenes.

#hauntedshelf #flerken #spookoween #witchathon #31by31

TheSpineView Bummer. Hopefully the next book will be better. 2w
PuddleJumper Better books ahead 2w
Catsandbooks 👏🏼👻🧡 2w
41 likes3 comments
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monalyisha
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Mehso-so

This book about a Scottish & Zimbabwean high school dropout who can talk to ghosts, solving the mystery of one missing child & another resurfacing drained of his youth, toes the line between YA & Adult Fic. Is New Adult still a term people are using? I‘m not sure how much I would‘ve enjoyed this in print but I‘ll likely continue the series based on Tinashe Warikandwa‘s performance alone. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1: The language can be embarrassingly colloquial & crass, which isn‘t *inappropriate* for a story that centers a street-savvy teen in a dystopian future society…but it still made me cringe. 🙈 The plot is predictable but the unique setting did it for me. Bonus points for: the unconventional “library card” system at the occult library; Ropa‘s pet fox, River; diverse representation; and the Murder, She Wrote reference. 2mo
jen_the_scribe I read the physical copy of this one, and also rated it a so-so. I remember also wanting to see more of the library as a setting. It wasn‘t mentioned as much as I expected it to be with it being in the title lol. 2mo
julesG @jen_the_scribe same! I think I also mentioned that in my review 2mo
54 likes4 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Mehso-so

Considering plausible descriptors that personally count as 'marks against' for me: young adult, urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic/major societal crisis, I enjoyed this more than I might have expected.
I honestly only picked it up knowing it had library in the title and was fantasy, so vague expectations maybe worked in my favour? I enjoyed the snippets of science worked into the learning of magic, reminds me of the Rivers of London series. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? Ropa is a believable badass with her heart in the right place, an impressive vocabulary of curses and the least insufferable teen character I've encountered as an adult, probably because she wasn't in high school and didn't really have a love interest. Arguably she reads as older, especially older than the specified fourteen, though circumstances have required her to grow up fast. 7mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/? Alas, this suffers from some other YA standards: the pace moved at lightning speed, cramming in world building and character development in a breathlessly entertaining rush that really compromised any building of tension by the imminent resolution of all challenges, and, again, maybe it's an adult reading a teen book thing, but I saw a couple of the big reveals coming. 7mo
Robotswithpersonality 4/4 Most tragically, there was very little of the Library of the Dead actually in the book, the plot did not centre on it, at least this book didn't.
Fun characters and definitely a lot set up well for continuing as a series, but I don't think I'll be picking up the next book.
⚠️child abuse, body horror, mention of alcohol and gambling addictions, mention of SA, suicide
7mo
TheIntrovertedDodoBird Great review! 7mo
julesG That sums up my thoughts about the book nicely. 7mo
6 likes5 comments
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ElisabethRose
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Kicking off my 3rd 24hr-read-a-thone with my bestie with this book! So excited, she picked it out for me so let's see if she truly knows what I like to read.

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BookmarkTavern
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Mehso-so

A ghost talking girl is forced to intervene when someone is kidnapping and bewitching the children of Edinburgh.

First of all, the Library is next to useless & barely appears. But Ropa is a pragmatic & clever protagonist & a lot of fun to follow. The story comes almost to a dead stop in the middle for a magic info dump, but the rest is fast & intriguing. I think I‘ll try the next one as an audiobook because the style is pretty choppy. 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

70 likes2 comments
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Dragon
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A lazy Saturday listening to this YA urban fantasy/ ghost 👻 story- had a picnic in the Costco parking lot ( the poutine )

rabbitprincess Yay poutine picnic! 2y
Dragon Thanks @rabbitprincess 🧺💚🐉 2y
37 likes2 comments
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MajorCasey
Pickpick

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Like many reviewers, I was hoping the library in question would be featured more. I liked the main characters, their loyalty to one another and an overall desire to do the right thing, even if it may be inconvenient or painful.

This was a new author to me, and I look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series.

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booksandsympathy
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I did a re-read of this book in the hopes I can get to the sequel soon. With that finished, I met my goal for books read for the year.

Gissy Yes!!! 📚 📚📚📚👏👏👏 2y
17 likes1 comment
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

Adventure in a sort of post apocalyptic magical version of Scotland. The characters were all really appealing so this was a fun read! It could easily have ended on this note, so I‘m definitely curious to see what direction the other two books take.

 @jen_the_scribe Thank you for choosing this one for me! #NewYearWhoDis @monalyisha

60 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Eggbeater
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Mehso-so

I didn't connect much with this book. It felt somewhat disjointed to me. For one thing, the library was hardly featured in the book at all, so it wasn't aptly named. The story didn't quite flow. I liked the middle part the best; that was unique.

#JubilantJuly #Readathon 2nd book read @Andrew65

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kimmypete1
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Pickpick

I was lost a bit in the middle, but that could have just been me. The ending was fantastic. #BookSpin #DoubleSpin

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JoyBlue
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Mehso-so

You know I‘m a sucker for books with “book,” “bookshop,” or “library” in the title . . . even though I know better! Read my review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#the-library-of-the-dead

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AFrostCauseReads
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Panpan

This book fell flat for me. I really think if I was younger (like the target audience age of 13) I would have loved it, but I see too many flaws with the writing now. It also didn‘t have much of the library from the title in it 💀

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amma-keep-reading
Pickpick

If “library“ is in the title, I will read it. #sorrynotsorry

After a rough start, I enjoyed this book by the end. I need to see what other trouble Ropa gets herself into.

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ATB
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This read brought to you by a very long drive and Orlando.

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Redy2trvl
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I was skeptical of this book because of the reviews. I‘m thrilled I gave it a chance because I am flying through it. Fast paced and fun!

19 likes1 stack add
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ATB
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This read brought to you by a long walk and man made waterfalls.

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ferskner
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Book in my ear, puppy on my lap.

Gissy 🐶❤️❤️❤️❤️ 3y
tracey38 Love! ❤❤❤🐶🐶🐶❤❤❤ 3y
kspenmoll Cutest face!!! 3y
57 likes3 comments
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emmaturi
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Pickpick

The first in a series, set in Edinburgh, there are ghosts, magical people and a really cool library. It's definitely an interesting story, a bit gruesome at times, the MC is very cool and the cover is stunning.

25 likes1 stack add
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Merethebookgal
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I‘ve gotta say, the cover and title initially drew me in, and then I found out it‘s set in Edinburgh with Zimbabwean magic and I was even more intrigued! I‘m really looking forward to starting this one! What‘s a cover that caught your attention?

JazzFeathers Oh my goodness! Staked! 3y
Merethebookgal @JazzFeathers it sounds so good, right? I‘m only a few chapters in, but it‘s really interesting so far! 3y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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RebeccaRoo7
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"There are pockmarks where the bullets went through. It's said their blood was the first graffiti to paint the walls. Blood is the strongest ink. You can't erase what's written in blood, ever."

pg. 165

#mystery #halloween #ghosts #amreading #readKY #zombies #creepy

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jen_the_scribe
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Pickpick

I‘m actually somewhere between a pick and so-so, but that‘s not an option lol. I enjoyed the story and liked the protagonist, but was disappointed that the “library of the dead” wasn‘t more of a prominent setting in the story. It was a pretty quick read and I liked how the author made the magical aspects somewhat scientific.

Johanna414 Love that cover though! 3y
IndoorDame I‘m always intrigued by the books that stick with me more than I expect them to 3y
18 likes3 comments
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Traci1
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Mehso-so

⭐⭐⭐
I listened to the audio of this one, and the narration was fantastic. The story, though, was just ok. Maybe my expectations were too high, but for me this was just so-so.
#scarathlon #teamhendrix @StayCurious
15+1+(5h×10×11r)=566
#screamathon @4thhouseontheleft #littenlisten @aperfectmjk #wickedathon #spookoweenathon @thespineview #frightfall #thewitchinghour #halloweenhorrormoviemania #readlikehellathon #fallintoreading #panspookathon

LibrarianRyan I have started this on audio 2x and still not made it more than an hour b 3y
Traci1 @LibrarianRyan the cover and title had me thinking I'd just loved it. I'm not even sure why I don't. But... 🤷‍♀️ 3y
Twainy This was so ….. ummm for kids? It gets better but it‘s not really an adult story? 3y
Traci1 @Twainy yeah it was weird cause it felt like a middle grade story, but the language was much more adult / ya. I never got a good feel for what it was supposed to be. 3y
75 likes4 comments
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booksandsympathy

"We are mind, heart, and hand. Through these our will is made manifest in the world. We shape it by touching it.... What is magic if not the thing that connects us to the land and those who rest in it, the voices that whisper in the wind - our ancestors and their forebears?"

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booksandsympathy

"The auld reekie in the air tonight's louder than a Phil Collins song." ?

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Twainy
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Pickpick

🎧 This isn‘t what I expected. I still enjoyed it & recommend it as maybe a family read.

Ropa is a 14 yo drop out who sees & talks to dead people. She‘s sassy & outspoken as a Ghostalker that‘s paid a lot to help the dead finish their business.

She & her BFF fall into trouble & Zimbabwean magic at the Edinburgh library of the dead. There‘s a mystery involving some children that Ropa plans to solve getting herself into some trouble!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

25 likes1 stack add
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jen_the_scribe
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My next read. After having my fill of nonfiction, I desperately need some fiction. And something ghostly to start off spooky season is perfect 😁👻

wanderinglynn Sounds like an interesting read! 3y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Traci1
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My #bookspin list for September. Most of these were chosen #scarathlon in mind. 💀👻🧟‍♀️🧙‍♀️

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
55 likes1 comment
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booksandsympathy
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It's spooky book season! 🎃💀

24 likes1 stack add
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ShyBookOwl
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I'm really not supposed to be doing this, but a girl's got to get paid, so here we go. #firstlinefridays

I started this one last month but couldn't get into it on my kindle. I could tell the narrator had a distinct voice and I was having trouble hearing it in my head. I decided to put a hold on the audiobook instead. It just came in & I'm blown away by how much better this experience is for me! 🎧📖🎉

38 likes1 stack add
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Traci1
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I think I've finalized my #scarathlontbr. They won't all probably fit the theme for #teamhendrix, but I think they're all sufficiently spooky, creepy, halloweeny and will likely fit other readathons I'm doing. I am soooo excited for October, I can't stand it!! ☠👻🎃

@StayCurious

BookwormAHN Loved the Book of Accidents, its a good sci-fi horror combo. 3y
night_shift 😲 that's a lot of books! Good luck! 3y
StayCurious I love how many choices you gave yourself - a great start to a spooky season. +50 early bird points! 3y
76 likes3 comments
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Traci1
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My man took me to Barnes and Noble this morning, and bought me all the things. 😁 Bonus: I think most of these will work for the #scarathlon.

#teamhendrix
@StayCurious

JacqMac Oh, that‘s a great stack! 3y
EadieB I‘ve read Book of Accidents and The Butterfly House and enjoyed both of them! 3y
StayCurious Great choices! 3y
Linsy Sounds like you've got a great man! 3y
70 likes4 comments
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RainyDayReading
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Bailedbailed

This book just isn‘t for me. I thought it was going to be an adult fantasy but it reads much younger. More like a young YA/older Middle Grade (I think it was marketed as adult).The idea of the story is intriguing and I do enjoy YA/MG, this just didn‘t do it for me. Most likely because it wasn‘t what I was expecting and I‘m not the biggest fan of the main character. Oh well, I‘m sure many others will enjoy this one. It‘s just a miss for me.

AlisBookNookCorner I felt the exact same way! It came off tweeny & I was under the impression it was Adult Fiction too. It was in the Adult section at my local library . . . Just not the book for me. 3y
RainyDayReading @AlisBookNookCorner Tweeny is a good word for it! I checked the shelf location for it at my library and it was in the adult section as well. I‘m glad I‘m not the only one that didn‘t get on with it. 3y
ShyBookOwl Just bailed with very similar feelings 😔 3y
RainyDayReading @ShyBookOwl Glad I‘m not the only one! 3y
32 likes4 comments
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ShyBookOwl
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I missed #firstlinefridays yesterday. It was my bday and I spent it mostly offline. But this morning I picked this one up and I must say, that's a damn intriguing opening! So ready! Pairing it with leftover bday doughnuts 🍩 😋

rachelsbrittain Happy belated birthday!! 3y
mcctrish Happy Belated Birthday ( sounds like a great way to start the day ) 3y
See All 9 Comments
ShyBookOwl @mcctrish Thank you! And yes. I thought I might regret the breakfast sugar rush, but I do not lol 3y
rubyslippersreads Happy belated 🎂🎂🎂! 3y
Ruthiella Happy Birthday! 🥳🥳🥳 3y
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm A very Happy Belated Birthday to you! ❤️ 3y
rwmg Excellent reason to miss it. Belated felicitations 🥳 3y
67 likes9 comments
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sprainedbrain
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Mehso-so

I wanted to love this audiobook, but ultimately it was a so-so leaning towards pick. A teenager who can talk to ghosts (and does so for money) in a post-something-very-bad Edinburgh, trying to solve what‘s happening to local kids who are disappearing. I loved Ropa—this is a first person narrative YA, and her voice comes through very well— and the cool Zimbabwean-Scottish elements of the story. I wish there was more of the actual library and ⬇️⬇️

sprainedbrain …maybe more on the background of what the heck happened to the world. There‘s just a lot going on here and with the fast-moving plot, it doesn‘t seem like much is explained well. This is first in a series, so perhaps more background will come in future books. I really enjoyed the narrator of the audio, and will probably check out the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
(edited) 3y
Moray_Reads Ah, I loved this one. I loved being able to follow every step of Ropa's journey as a fellow Edinburgher. I'm also hoping for more detail about what Bad Thing happened in coming books though 🤞 3y
72 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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AlisBookNookCorner
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Mehso-so

🌟 🌟 🌟 https://suspensebookreviews.home.blog/2021/07/09/the-library-of-the-dead-by-t-l-...

I was a bit disappointed in this one. I loved the idea of Ropa being a ghost talker, I enjoyed the plot too. My problem laid with the fact Ropa is a teen and the narration is the first person, so it comes off extremely tweeny. I'm not a fan of YA and had no idea this was a YA novel (it was in the adult section at my library). I could not get into it.

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julesG
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Mehso-so

Full review: https://scepticalreading.com/2021/07/ghosthunting-in-edinburgh/

Wanted to see more of The Library of the Dead.

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Cazxxx
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Pickpick

Set in post apocalyptic Edinburgh, Ropa is a ghostalker who carries messages from the dead to their loved ones. Something is happening to the children and Ropa decides to investigate
This was a fun read with a strong main character
3 ⭐️

42 likes1 stack add
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julesG
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Wanted to read Harris' Orfeia with @Maike, but this book shouted at me all through my 40min yoga session. So, Urban Fantasy with a teenage exorcist it is.

BethM Sounds fun! 3y
Nute Where can I purchase a Litsy mug? I see them in many Litsy posts. 3y
See All 11 Comments
julesG @Nute I won it when I signed up for Santa Thing on Library Thing one year. The first 10(?) people from Litsy to sign up got one. 3y
Nute Thanks for the info. I thought that they were connected directly to Litsy. I‘ll just continue to enjoy seeing them in posts.😊 3y
julesG @Nute There was talk that they'd be made available on the LT store, but so far there haven't been any on it. Maybe we should 'pester' @LibraryThing, because my kids want their own mug, too. 😁 3y
Nute That sounds like a solid plan!👍🏽 3y
catsuit_mango I love the author/pen name :) 3y
julesG @catsuit_mango It's his real name. Tendai Huchu is from Zimbabwe. 3y
catsuit_mango @julesG I am sorry, I had never heard of him and with the theme of the book it looked like a play on Cthulhu :( 3y
julesG @catsuit_mango No need to be sorry, you didn't know. It could have been just as you described. 3y
66 likes11 comments
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jen_the_scribe
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Yesterday was my birthday and I got a bunch of gift cards. Safe to say I went crazy but I‘m not sorry 😁

Jennaree3 The library of the dead looks kind of cool 3y
jen_the_scribe @Jennaree3 I thought so too! 3y
Avanders Oooh 😍😍😍 And Happy Birthday!! 🎂🎈🎊 3y
15 likes1 stack add3 comments
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PickwickPlockPlock
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Mehso-so

Ropa is a ghostalker in Edinburgh after some kind of... Revolt? Catastrophe? There are a lot of good ideas - too many, actually, so that the library of the dead from the title is only one small part of the story. I think this is the start of a new series, but unless the sequel will be tighter, I don't think I will read it.

CaramelLunacy If you don't mind reading middle grade, this sounds a bit like Victoria Schwab's Cassidy Blake series - the first involves dealing with ghosts in Edinburgh. 3y
PickwickPlockPlock @CaramelLunacy I actually read that one and liked it very much. The books are very different, though. 3y
CaramelLunacy @PickwickPlockPlock I'm glad you liked that one. Shame this one was so all over the place 3y
49 likes3 comments
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TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

The start of a new series, I absolutely loved this one that hit the shelves 6/1! Narrator Ropa talks to ghosts to scrape by a living to support her younger sister and grandmother in a magical, post-apocalyptic Edinburgh. She makes for a terrific heroine- brave, funny and a definite survivor- this is a genuine pleasure to read and while the plot may not be unpredictable it is entirely fun and I can‘t wait for the sequel!

47 likes4 stack adds
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

This was such a fun, adventurous book to read full of magic, great characters, and culture. Ropa is the perfect mix of loyal and sassy. She's become a ghostalker in order to provide for her family, but she encounters a ghost who is going to change her whole world.

Great start to this series and I'm excited for the next one when it comes out.

#NetGalley

36 likes1 stack add
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Juliwyant
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Review copy of this upcoming book...can‘t wait to read it!

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BookmarkTavern
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Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please!

🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻#NetGalley

AmyG Good luck! 4y
62 likes1 comment
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Cazxxx
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These two arrived yesterday, I had forgotten that I had pre ordered them, I must admit I enjoy the surprise!
The library of the dead is set in my hometown of Edinburgh so I can‘t wait to read it. And how Britain ends speaks to me a lot, being Scottish and hoping for independence, I think this will be interesting

MsMelissa The tagged book sounds good! I love Edinburgh. I‘ve only visited once, but it left a strong impression on me 😊 4y
Cazxxx It‘s a lovely city 🥰 I‘ve lived here my whole life and wouldn‘t move 4y
The_Penniless_Author I really need to visit. I went to Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania- Edinburgh's sister city - and had a chance to study abroad there for a semester, but dragged my feet on the paperwork and missed the deadline. I've been kicking myself ever since! 4y
Cazxxx @The_Penniless_Author you should definitely visit as it‘s a beautiful city ☺️ 4y
18 likes4 comments
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scripturient
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I‘m enjoying this book so so very much. 😍

squirrelbrain Gorgeous pic! 4y
Moray_Reads I loved this one! The characters are brilliant and Huchu's Edinburgh is so well-executed 4y
scripturient @squirrelbrain Thank you! 😘 4y
See All 8 Comments
scripturient @Moray_Reads Yes! I love his work. The mathematician one (I can never remember the title) was wonderful as well. He‘s the friend of a friend who said he also gives the best walking tours of Edinburgh. 😂 This book reminds be a bit of that comment with Ropa walking everywhere. 😁 4y
Oryx I saw this new book and thought of you. Edinburgh based. Has some good reviews, but I haven't read it yet (it's sitting in my waterstones basket... waiting for a moment of weakness). 4y
Oryx Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have a Litsy profile 4y
scripturient @Oryx Thank you!! I‘m reading that right now. 😁 It‘s really good but kind of weird. 😊 4y
Oryx @scripturient Funny! it does sound weird. Look forward to your review 4y
85 likes11 stack adds8 comments