The Nighthouse Keeper

Blight Harbor #2

by Lora Senf, Kimberly Woods (Narrator)

Evie once again leaves her world behind to rescue Blight Harbor’s ghosts in this second book in the bone-chilling middle grade Blight Harbor trilogy that’s reminiscent of Doll Bones and Small Spaces.

Evie Von Rathe has been home for only a few weeks from her adventure in the strange world of seven houses when Blight Harbor’s beloved ghosts begin to disappear. Did they leave without saying goodbye, or has something gone horribly wrong? Soon Evie is invited to a mysterious council meeting, where she learns about the Dark Sun Side and a terrible secret.

Yes, the ghosts have gone missing. And that means serious trouble.

With the help of an eleven-year-old (or 111-year-old, but who’s counting) ghost named Lark, trusty Bird, and a plump ghost spider, Evie must find a way to defeat the vicious Nighthouse Keeper responsible for the missing ghosts, save her otherworldly friends, and find her way home from the Dark Sun Side before she’s trapped there forever.

Genres: Middle Grade, Horror, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Ghosts

Audiobook

First published October 17, 2023

About the author

Hi, I'm Lora Senf!

I'm a reader and writer of dark and twisty stories for all ages. I owe my love of words to my parents and to the public library that was walking distance from my childhood home.

I find inspiration for my writing all over the place - from my kids' retellings of their dreams to road trips through Montana, and often in lonely buildings.

I love the reading and writing communities. I'm a member of Authors Guild and Horror Writers Association.

PENNIES - a Blight Harbor prequel - is coming September 23, 2025. I have a YA horror novel, UNNAMED BONES, coming out summer 2026 and more on the way.

I no longer review books, but I do yell about the books I love on social media - mostly Instagram.

I live in Washington State with my husband, our twins, and two cats who think they're people.

I'd love to hear from you! 🖤

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! I enjoyed it only slightly less than the first book, and I really liked the new character, Lark. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just an okay sequel for me. I didn't love it quite as much as the first book, The Clackity. There was lots of creepy, supernatural vibes and creatures and I would recommend it for fans of Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel.

We get to know more about the Evie's family and background and see her investigate the disappearance of the Blight Harbor ghosts with the help of a crow sidekick and an child ghost friend. Good on audio too narrated by Kimberly Woods.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

[Trevor Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure Statement: I was provided an advanced reader's copy of The Nighthouse Keeper by the author. The review I've written below is entirely my opinion and has not been influenced in any way by the author or receipt of the book.

Lora Senf's The Clackity is as close to a perfect middle grade fiction as I've ever read. Its imaginative storytelling combined with themes relevant to issues and conflicts familiar to middle grade readers is nearly unrivaled, with Neil Gaiman's Coraline being the only book I've read that comes close to capturing its magical spirit. Trying to follow up such an incredible reading experience is no small task, though that is what The Nighthouse Keeper tries to do.

Thankfully, The Nighthouse Keeper is every bit as original and captivating as The Clackity, though its overarching themes are suitably more complex than in the previous book. Whereas I felt the first book focused on a creepy sort of wonder, The Nighthouse Keeper feels tonally much darker than the previous book, with greater emphasis on anxieties and dread. The plot is less invested in curious fancy, and instead focuses more on pressures pertaining to finding one's voice and owning one's power. The subject material in this book is no less suitable for children of middle grade reading age, but it does feel more mature, a bit heavier, and doesn't offer clean solutions to the conflicts the main character, Evie, has to face through the book.

What The Nighthouse Keeper does so beautifully is keep love and friendship as its core values, which serve as the bright beacon light cutting through the nebulous dark of its other anxieties. It would be a mistake to label something like this book as mere "children's fiction," because it really does offer meaningful developmental reading. It is unafraid of interrogating the difficult stuff of life in a way that I feel is still safe for kids going through critical stages in their development toward adolescence and adulthood.

The Nighthouse Keeper was not as "fun" a read for me as its predecessor, but I do not think that is because it is not a magnificent book; it takes its subject matter seriously and offers it authentically, which gives the whole of the developing series an air of greater maturity. This is a wonderful book serving to balance the scales of the series as a whole, advancing the story with emotional maturity worthy of a growing reader.

I honestly wish I had the Blight Harbor series alongside me as I was growing up into the reader I am today. Few books have ever inspired for me a sheer love for books and storytelling as Lora Senf's work, and The Nighthouse Keeper is the proof that her skill and craft is no fluke.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As deliciously creepy and spine-shivering as The Clackity, Evie stumbles upon a door that shouldn’t be there and what she finds will spook your nightmares. Luckily, Bird is there with a comforting peck, and she makes a new ghost friend who shows her what hope can look like. A sequel full of heart, hope, & haunts!

Evie has grown up a little since her last time in the now named Dark Sun Side, and she is mad. Mad at being tricked by Portia, the Nighthouse Keeper who is as creepy as the Clackity, guilty for accidentally lying to her Aunt Des, and worried because this go-round, she has a lot more decisions and choices to make. These choices take her through carnivorous kudzu, a skeleton cave, and a train full of ravenous soul-gobbling ghouls. And the ever present black nothing we were introduced to in the first book called the Radix. Luckily she has the best Bird to accompany her, as well as a new friend named Lark and her adorable ghost spider named Clyde.

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really rather impressed with the first book in this series, which I read almost 2 years ago. The 12 year old MC, whose parents have disappeared under suspicious circumstances but who everyone simply considers dead, lives with her aunt in a very unusual town (Blight Harbor). Unusual in that the entire town is haunted but the ghosts are not malevolent. They are rather part of the family in the houses they live in.

Evie has quite the harrowing experience in the first book, only narrowly escaping the clutches of a malevolent entity called the Clackity (the title) in a parallel dark world as she rescues her aunt.

This time the town’s house ghosts are disappearing and naturally, Evie is the one who should find out what’s going on.

I like how the book explores finding solutions to problems by enlisting the help of others and that the mistakes we make along the way, may have dire consequences but aren’t the end of the world.

[Miss Syreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun revisit to ghostie Blight Harbor.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across the first book set in Blight Harbor, The Clackity, via Goodreads and I loved it. Yes, it is aimed at a younger demographic than I can claim to be, but it was perfectly creepy. The Nighthouse Keeper continues those creepy vibes very well - I wish that Senf had more recognition for these novels.

In this instalment, it hasn't been long since Evie returned to Blight Harbor after defeating The Clackity. Although she should be revelling in her once again found safety, she realises that the ghosts of Blight Harbor seem to be disappearing. Evie investigates, to try and find out what is happening, and why.

Once again, we have the wonderfully eccentric characters that make up the town of Blight Harbor. There are hints within this instalment that certain characters will be important later on in the series. The book also features some illustrations by Alfredo Caceres. There seemed to be less of these than the first novel, and I truly wish that there were more; they are beautiful and creepy all at the same time. The ending of the novel suggests an opening for number three, and I would definitely continue reading this series. Senf has written a series of books which my child self would have loved - adult me will lap them too :)

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great entry in the series! This book course corrected some of the missteps from the first book. This time Evie has a friend to join her, a more compelling villain to fight, and the plot is tighter. It has the same beautifully surreal settings as the first book. Unlike many horror stories, this one has a world that will awe you once in a while for all the times it frightens you. I was surprised by the intricacy of the plot considering the target audience but I liked it! I cannot wait for the next book! This one was not a cliffhanger but it teased so many exciting things that will be coming in the third (and final?) installment!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how she did it, but I think Senf wrote an even better novel than her debut The Clackity with this sequel. I cried, several scenes were genuinely tense, there were so many dark moments, I was shocked this book went that far and that deep in a middle grade story. Did I say I cried? I cried. A lot. And I absolutely loved this.

The Clackity is amazing, as this book and the series. Great stakes were set out for the next edition in the trilogy and cannot wait for the prequel. This is truly wonderful middle grade literature that works well for both children and adult readers.

[Helen]

I read the Clackity last year and loved it. It was the perfect spooky middle grade that I did not know I needed. Naturally I had to pick up the sequel but it was nowhere as good. I am not going to rate it because I gave up with thirty pages to go. If I did it would be a one star......

[Connor Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book I really like the story with detail

[Zachariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book. And this is good too. The main character gets more agency, with less deus ex machina, and her ghost friend helps round out the characters more. However, the plot of this one isn't as terrifying as the first so I noticed my mind wandering at the traveling aspects of this. Still enjoyed it though.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle-grade horror has captured me this year. I am still surprised by how heartwarming and scary it could get. Evie's descent to the other world, the Black Sun Side, wasn't as gripping as The Clackity. I thought The Clackity had two great and truly scary villains but in this one, I didn't feel it as much. However, I loved seeing a glimpse of the villain for the next story. I also liked that this time around it felt like things did truly go wrong for Evie. Everything wasn't as formulaic and easy for her but of course there is always a happy ending. I think we needed to have a ghost story in this series since Blight Harbor is all about being haunted. I thought that Lark, a ghost girl, was a perfect companion for Evie in this adventure even though her presence technically slowed her down. It was good to learn and care for someone other than Evie. I'm pretty excited to see how this trilogy ends especially since it seems like Evie is finally going to go on an adventure to save her parents.

[bookish.reader.elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun spooky read. Even though it’s middle grade I think it’s enjoyable for older readers. Evie is sent on another important mission back through to The Dark Sun side. She meets many new characters and we see her continue to grow and her character evolve. I loved learning more about Blightharbor and the ghosts that reside there and learning more about the other characters that reside there. Overall this was a fun fast paced spooky adventure story and hopefully the ending means another story is coming.

[Geertje · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Clackity was one of my favourite books of 2023, so this sequel had a lot to live up to. Though I don't think it's quite as good as the first book, it's a truly solid second installment in this series. Book 3 better come out soon!

[Sarah Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect little spooky season read! I enjoyed this, though probably not quite as much as The Clackity. There were some new elements that I loved in the story, but I didn’t find this one quite as spooky/creepy as the first book in the series. However, this was still great and I’m looking forward to reading the last book of the trilogy.

[Nicole Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this had good representation of how sometimes you're more scared of being embarrassed than you are of a literal life-threatening situation. I really appreciated how the mayor and police chief treat the town ghosts as equal citizens worthy of respect and protection.

[Ivka_s_knihou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stejne fajne jako prvni kniha. Uz se tesim na posledni dil letos na podzim. 😍

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid follow up to The Clackity! Definitely less spooky than the first book but still a really fun and creepy adventure!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good continuation of the series. Creepy descriptions.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I'm loving this fun and fast-paced middle grade series. The writing and creativity style reminds me a little of the Sinister Summer series by Kiersten White, but with a bit more of a serious tone. The imagery is really well done and the plot moves very smoothly. There is some really great foreshadowing and enough action to keep the reader's attention from start to finish. A good and strong female protagonist with a kind heart and an ability to recognize her failures and short-comings that makes her a great role model. I'm looking forward to the next read. Highly recommend.

[Ctgt · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade series is so delightful. I truly adore Evie as our main character. Also the bird and spider companions? Perfection

[Colleen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lora Senf’s The Nighthouse Keeper is an intriguing blend of mystery, adventure, and a touch of the supernatural. Set in a coastal town where most townspeople have a spirit living in their home or shop, Evie goes on another adventure in pursuit of answers. Evie is a relatable protagonist, and her journey of self-discovery resonates with readers. As she battles through her fears and discovers what she is capable of, she realizes her true potential. The pacing of the novel keeps readers on their toes with a balance of tension and emotions. The author leaves the reader hanging with a cliffhanger about Evie's past, which will no doubt make kids want to read the next book in the series. It is a great middle grade option for students who want to dip into the horror or fantasy genre without having to encounter gore or realistic violence.

[Abbie Pond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly just want to hug the Blight Harbor books every time I finish one, and I can't wait for the next installment.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After dealing with The Clackity, Evie is back in Blight Harbor, where there is a new problem; ghosts are going missing from their longtime homes. She's particularly worried about her friend Maggie Seong's ghost, Florence. If Blight Harbor is a safe place for all sorts of paranormal creatures, Evie wants to make sure that it continues to protect them. When her Aunt Desdemona meets with Pastor Mike, Chief Mary, the Mayor's husband Steve, and Irv (who runs the local pottery shop and is hard to remember), it comes to light that perhaps the ghosts are going through a door into the Dark Sun Side, where they get caught. If they are there, they can't move on to their eventual destination. Evie doesn't feel that they are going there on their own, and sets out to investigate. She meets a young girl who invites her through, but once on the other side, the girl turns out to be Portia, who does not have Evie's best interests at heart. Luckily, she also meets Lark, who has a family connection to Chief Mary, and wants to help Evie find out how to get ghosts like her back to the other side of the Dark Sun. Evie has a tiny bird familiar, and Lark has a spider named Clyde. When the two discover that there are soul eaters who are luring the ghosts and taking their soul light, the two realize that Evie needs to steal Portia's necklace in order to free the ghosts. Traveling into the Nighthouse and dealing with the Radix, the root of evil that tethers the house, isn't easy. Evie is encouraged when she finds some belongings of her parents on this other side, and finds that her mother's glasses are a big help. Will Evie be able to defeat Portia, free the ghosts, and go on in the next book to find her parents?
Strengths: It's interesting to see the community of Blight Harbor, and understand how Evie's family is instrumental in keeping the psychic balance in order. Despite her harrowing experiences in the first book, she is dedicated to making sure that all of the citizens in her town, ghost or not, are safe. She's fearless and determined, makes good use of her allies, and works with the otherwordly elements to insure that Blight Harbor can continue. I really enjoyed the fact that her aunt and the other local adults are not portrayed as being ineffectual; I wouldn't have minded seeing them help her more in her quest. Lark is also a good character, but Evie ends up completely the quest on her own, which is somewhat unusual in a middle grade book. I'm curious to see how her parents figure in the next book, now that she has more clues that they did not die in a house fire.
Weaknesses: This is a good horror book for people who don't necessarily like horror, so I can understand why a lot of teachers and librarians REALLY liked The Clackity. Both books have quests involving loved ones, and focus on community and understanding the past in order to fix problems while having a few elements of horror. This volume didn't have the grusome aspects of the first, which I appreciated, but which would make it less successful with my students, whose idea of a good scary book is ones with murderous ghosts or deadly paranormal creatures. (Like Henderson's Scarewaves.)
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like a good dose of spirituality with their horror stories and were fond of Malinenko's This Appearing House or Marks' Grounded for All Eternity.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
This book is the sequel to The Clackity, a finalist for a 2022 Cybils Award, so readers will already know to expect ghosts and supernatural occurrences. Evie is the only human ever to enter the Dark Sun Side and escape back to Blight Harbor. In this book, some friendly ghosts have disappeared from the town and Evie suspects they haven’t moved on to a better place. She promises her Aunt Des that she won’t return to the Dark Sun Side to investigate but of course, she gets sucked into a situation beyond her control. She meets a witch-like character who won’t let Evie leave until she completes a seemingly impossible task at the Nighthouse.
The story includes unique characters who offer different kinds of help or dangers for Evie. Evie has a tattoo named Bird that’s able to move to different parts of her body. Bird wields some power and is usually on her back or shoulder usually acting as a barometer of danger or a voice of reason in her head. Evie meets a ghost named Lark who knows about how this strange world works and she’s accompanied by a ghostly spider named Clyde. The witchy character is Portia and she acts as the main antagonist. She possesses stolen magic that’s created problems to complicate things.
The setting is almost a character unto itself as it presents the main obstacle for Evie. She finds an ocean of black nothingness called the Radix that acts as a sentient being. It’s the source of all magical power and it gets upset when magic is stolen from it. Evie learns it doesn’t matter how far or how long it takes to reach the Nighthouse, it’s all about what she must do to get there. The author allows the Radix to dramatically and suddenly change the setting to provide challenges for Evie. For example, Evie is riding a train when she finds a spiral staircase leading down into another train car. It’s a surprising, unexpected twist to the plot and readers can expect additional strange events to pop up.
What didn’t work as well:
Some readers lacking imagination might find the strange occurrences hard to visualize and follow. Evie and Bird come to expect the weirdness and impossibility and some readers might not be as understanding. However, the strangeness keeps the story fresh and unpredictable which should keep most readers mentally engaged.
The final verdict:
The conflict is innovative as Evie travels to the world of the Radix in order to rescue her ghostly friends. The setting-shifting source of magical power oversees all of the lands and Evie realizes she must communicate with it if she’s going to complete her quest. Overall, this book shares an inventive adventure and I recommend you give it a shot!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary books abound for the grades 4-8 reader, but Lora Senf’s series starter The Clackity is one that will keep readers thinking as they solve the mysteries of the 7 houses that protaganist Evie must work her way through and The Nighthouse Keeper will also challenge their logical minds to puzzle through the world on the other side of ours. The creepy characters are somewhat gruesome in description and soul-stealing often results in death, but these are no “slash ‘em and gash ‘em” books designed to simply shock and awe students. Senf’s world-building and Evie’s backstory are detailed and interwoven in such a way that I can only imagine her bulletin board filled with notes so that she keeps the continuity sound throughout books 1 and 2 and leaves no doubt that book 3 is coming. Evie has been through a nightmare with her first experience on the Dark Sun Side and hopes never to meet up with The Clackity or anyone like John Jeffery Pope again. Her beloved Aunt Des has been restored and the two of them are closer than ever when large numbers of house ghosts in Blight Harbor begin to disappear and it is too many to simply be their time to “move on.” With one of the missing being Florence, her best friend’s house ghost, Evie sets out to solve the mystery and again finds herself alone, except for her ever-present (and moving) tattoo friend Bird, in a place where things don’t always follow the usual laws of physics or even good sense. New character Portia is just as evil as The Clackity or Pope and even turns out to have ties to Evie’s family and ghost Florence and so does not-quite-a-ghost Lark. Lots of loose ends establish themselves right from the start of this one and not all of them get tied up at the end but enough that readers should, overall, feel satisfied but excited to see what will come next for Evie, Bird, and Des in book 3. Text is free of profanity and sexual content but violence is present and the scare factor is high; just exactly what middle graders are looking for! Highly recommended. Can be read as a stand alone as references to events from book 1 will only intrigue those who haven’t read it, not confuse them.

Thanks for providing a print arc, Lora Senf and Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

[Jesse Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely intended to give this book a 3 star rating. Right until that 25th and final chapter, I was not sold on this being as good or pure as the original. But the big reveal on what he mother had written in their book, The Lonliest Place? The Clackity existing inside of Blight Harbor? Okay, I'm hooked again, and I cannot wait to pick up my copy of the third installment.

That said, there were some things that prevented a perfect score for me. The final battle with Portia felt so insignificant and minute in comparison to the build-up to that moment. Definitely a bit of a let down to have her just throw herself out of the fucking window. I thought the big confrontation deserved a little more than 5 pages and a few broken windows before the primary antagonist threw herself into the Radix.

I wanted to know more about the man with the crimson soul, and I NEED to know more about Irv. I suspect that's all coming in the next book, though. Even with the major clues and knowledge bombs Lora was throwing around in this book, it did, for some reason, feel very much like a bridge from the first to third book. I hesitate to say that it didn't feel super well thought out, but it did to me. I may feel differently after reading the third book and revisiting this one (make no mistake, I'm reading the entire trilogy once the third one drops).

Some things that earned this book a 4 star rating included Evie's growth throughout the book. No more perfect endings with everyone saved. Even though we only lose one minor ghost with any type of identity, it's still a loss. The regret and shame that she carries over all of the ghouls from the rain that went into the Radix is definitely felt by the reader.

The moment the tiny skeleton that helped them in the tunnel re-emerges, and we learn that it's actually Lark physically hurt my tiny heart. We see now that the stakes are real and that the author is willing to let characters die, or even worse, lose their souls. Regardless of what comes next, I need to know. I look forward to chasing down Evie's parents in the Dark Sun Side