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Library of the Dead
Library of the Dead | T L Huchu
17 posts | 21 read | 26 to read
An absolute delight . . . kept me totally hooked. - Genevieve Cogman, bestselling author of The Invisible Library A fast-moving and entertaining tale, beautifully written. - Ben Aaronovitch, bestselling author of Rivers of London WHEN GHOSTS TALK SHE WILL LISTEN Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker - and they sure do love to talk. Now she speaks to Edinburgh's dead, carrying messages to those they left behind. 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 strength. It's on Ropa's patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will rock her world. Ropa will dice with death as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. And although underground Edinburgh hides a wealth of dark secrets, she also discovers an occult library, a magical mentor and some unexpected allies. Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted? Sixth Sense meets Stranger Things in T. L. Huchu's The Library of the Dead, a sharp contemporary fantasy following a precocious and cynical teen as she explores the shadowy magical underside of modern Edinburgh.
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ShyBookOwl
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I love how the #yellow font pops on this one. Bookish and spooky, a win-win for #HauntedShelf recs.

#BlackCatCrew @BookwormAHN 31 pts

BookwormAHN 🖤🐈‍⬛🖤 3w
34 likes1 comment
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BookBr
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Pickpick

A great read. Ropo is engaging, funny and cynical and realistic in all the best ways. Surprisingly insightful, this manages to be a dystopian novel, a fantasy story, and a mystery all in one — and it works. I wanted to see more of the Library, but hopefully that will come in future books in the series — which I will definitely be reading. Loved it.

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Dragon
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Finished this audiobook and I enjoyed the magical world and the hard scrabble life of Ropa -this is an older YA book even though the main character is 14 there are adult themes and some horror. Went to Russell Books and picked up a signed book by a local author. Also had brunch at a favourite cafe - first time back since the pandemic.

FlowerFairy Your brunch looks scrumptious! 2y
Dragon Thanks 🙏 @FlowerFairy it was really good - I like that the Sunshine Cafe offers corn bread and grilled tomatoes 🍅 on their list of choices. It was as good as I remembered 💚🐉 2y
31 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
Pickpick

3.5 ⭐ This book is something else. It is not an easy read or listen to, because just like life, multiple things are happening all ⬇at once. Ropa is just 14. She lives in the poorest part of Edinburgh, in a caravan with her sister and her grandmother. Time is a bit hard to tell. It fells almost like an alternative universe, but Scotland is different from the one we know exists.

LibrarianRyan First off, ghosts are real, and they can ask for help, and there must be people there to offer it. Ropa end up on a journey to find not only a few missing children, but what the heck happened to the children that disappeared then returned looking old. But there are other stories taking place at the same time. Stories like the library and how Ropa makes friends and realizes she has some magic. It‘s just kitchen magic, not anything she could 2y
LibrarianRyan ever go to school for (not that she could pay for that anyway).

To be honest, I don‘t quiet get the title as very little take place in or around the library and it‘s just a plot device. However, I did enjoy this book once I got into it. It was nothing like I thought it would be based on title and over, but once I was into the story I was hooked. And you HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION. The slightest thing may mean something and if you miss it you are
2y
LibrarianRyan lost. I listened to this on audiobook and had to keep rewinding. It took me like 16 hours to listen to a 12 hour audiobook. (I don‘t know the actual times). But here‘s the thing. I wanted to. That is right, I wanted to go back and get every relevant story point I missed.

2y
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LibrarianRyan Is this the best story I have ever read, no. In fact, I don‘t even rate it high. I finished this a few weeks ago, and the story has just stuck like molasses. It is still here and with me. I started book two right away after my pallet cleanser. I am now addicted to this world and fell sorrow I must wait for book 3.

2y
LibrarianRyan While I don‘t love this book, I find it comforting in that it feels very life like. Ropa has a life just like all of us. You finally think you get ahead and something else comes up. You must cover more than just one story in life. There are tangents and there are curves that happen while the rest of life if still going on, and I think this author does a better job showing that then any other book I have ever read.

2y
LibrarianRyan So, once again, I liked this book, I didn‘t love it. But I live in this story. This story stays on my mind. And I want the next adventure. I want to see this alternative Scotland and know more about it. So while it may not “score” well in ratings, it is entirely worth the read. Be sure to have the next one ready. 2y
39 likes6 comments
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Littlewolf1
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Pickpick

3.9⭐️ it was really good, it just I expected a lot more, especially were the library was concerned. There were also moments in the book where I felt overwhelmed with all that was happening, but it all tied together in the end. It did end where I don‘t need to read the next book, but I most likely will.

20 likes1 stack add
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KristiAhlers
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Mehso-so

This was without a doubt one of the slowest reads I‘ve struggled with. I almost bailed but my friend who loaned it to me told me the last bit of the book would be good. Well, she wasn‘t wrong but dang…one shouldn‘t have to slog through 100+ pages to get to the good part.

KateReadsYA I almost got this today....kinds glad I didn't! I can't deal with a slow read right now hahaha 2y
KristiAhlers @KateReadsYA yeah, I put it down and picked it up and it took about a week to finish it. I cared that little 🤣. 2y
KateReadsYA @KristiAhlers oooo you saved me the trouble 🙊 2y
43 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Avanders
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Mehso-so

Contrary to others, I thought the ending was well done… fast paced, interesting, left a bit of a cliffhanger while still giving a sense of being wrapped up. But for much of the book, I was… I don‘t know, a little frustrated, a little disinterested. It drags in places and seemed unfocused at times. Some telling that felt unnecessary. So, overall, ⭐️⭐️⭐️. I would read the 2nd, but I don‘t need to rush right out to get it.

Also, this soda? 🌌🫶🏽💫

Texreader Excellent review 2y
Avanders @Texreader thanks! 😘 2y
shanaqui Unfocused is a good way to put it -- I'm hard-pressed, some time later, to summarise the book and pick out the important stuff. 2y
See All 10 Comments
Avanders @shanaqui that makes sense! It is kinda all over the place 😜 2y
BethM How is the soda different? 2y
Avanders @BethM mmmm that soda is starlight soda, space flavor. And the best way I can describe it is that it tastes like summer and stars. And that‘s silly, I know, and made my sister laugh 😜 When she tried it, she said it‘s the closest they could come to bottling me 😂 If you can find it, try it and let me know what you think! 2y
Chrissyreadit I did not even know that soda existed 😍 2y
Avanders @Chrissyreadit I hope it sticks around for a while! 😍 Have you seen the mango Pepsi zero? Also surprisingly good… 🤔😁 (I do love trying new things… 🤓😘) 2y
Chrissyreadit No but I would try it if I see it! 2y
Avanders @Chrissyreadit let me know if you see either — or any others! 😁😁 2y
77 likes10 comments
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Avanders
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I misplaced the book I‘m reading (it has to be downstairs somewhere bc I‘ve scoured up here), so I‘m picking this up for now ☺️

#SundayNight #ThatCover! #ItKindaMatchesMyPants 🤭

Gissy Plan B, Checked ✔️👍 2y
Avanders @Gissy 😁😎😘 2y
67 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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HeatherBlue
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I want to read my book (inside the book sleeve), but someone is being very adorable 🖤🐾
#catsoflitsy

Amiable 😻😻 3y
Crazeedi Sweet kitty!😺 3y
ravenlee Is mine. No have. 3y
45 likes3 comments
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TaraTLK
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Quote: These days it's more profitable to farm human beings than it is to work the land honestly, like in the olden days. In this age, people are the livestock, they're sheep. You can make a hell of a lot more fleecing them than you would shearing sheep.

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Sharpeipup
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Love the cover and the title but not the book…sigh.

#coverlove

33 likes2 stack adds
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Well-ReadNeck
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Mehso-so

Lots going on here. Loved the premise and the #audiobook narration was good. But, ultimately, it wasn‘t as satisfying as its possibility.

58 likes1 stack add
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Larkken
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Pickpick

#bookspin pick for June!
I liked the vibe, I liked the spunky girl protagonist, I liked the gritty near-future Edinburgh setting, and I loved the combo of African immigrant magic, very English ghosts, and an elitist, Western magic-user's society.

In related news, I've already used up all three of the free spaces I allotted myself 😅

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
10 likes1 comment
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Larkken
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New June #bookspinbingo board, and I just got the #bookspin book from my library hold list 👍⭐️

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Looks great!!! 3y
17 likes1 comment
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shanaqui
Mehso-so

Hmm. Feels like this hasn't quite come together for me -- obviously some of that is because it's the first of a series, and there's set-up for an ongoing Big Bad, etc. But it feels kinda... incomplete. I might let it sit for a bit before I write up a full review for my blog, though.

At least it kept me good company while I waited the 15 minutes before leaving after getting Pfizer part #1 today!

Clare-Dragonfly Yay, congrats on your first dose! 3y
14 likes1 comment
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shanaqui

Hmm. The science-y aspect of this makes it feel more than ever like it's been heavily, heavily influenced by Ben Aaronovitch's work. If the cover design didn't already make you think that way.

I wish it didn't feel so derivative; I want to like it, but it feels like it's Rivers of London in Edinburgh with a slightly different protagonist who still has a smart mouth and is supposedly a teenage girl.

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shanaqui

I'm not sure from the first couple of chapters how this is going to work for me, because I don't love the narrative voice, but I'm not totally turned off or anything... Gonna see where it takes me. It's tough to fully get an idea for the setting and how magic is seen in this world so far. Hmmm.