The Ghostwing's Lie

Mossheart #2

by Rebecca Mix

The second and final book in a stunning middle grade fantasy duology about a young fairy who has always lived in her heroic grandmother’s shadow but now must step up and embark on a quest to save her world—from New York Times bestselling YA author Rebecca Mix.

Something rots within the wood…

Ary Mossheart has done the The terrarium is shattered, and her people are free. When the folk of Terra are welcomed in by the fairies of Siltshore, an abundant treetop village filled with light, food, and peace, Ary promises herself that her days of saving people are over. It’s time to be normal. Live the life her gran would have wanted; the one she never got back in Terra.

But when fairies begin to disappear one by one and it becomes clear that Siltshore is not as safe as it seems, Ary Owl, and Briar will be pulled down dangerous paths as they try to unravel the strange magics of their new world—and the truth about the one they left behind. To save her new home, Ary will have to step into the role of hero once more.

 Except this time, if she fails, there will be no new world to escape to.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Fairies, LGBT

448 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

new york times bestselling jasmine tea enthusiast and author of weird magical books. I don't use this account anymore, but you can find me here:

rebeccamix on tumblr
mix.becca on insta
mixbecca on tiktok

Reviews

[Rebecca Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle school appropriate. It was really wonderful to see the world building outside of the world of the terrarium. There were so many really deep moments as Ary deals with the trauma of the first book. It was very moving. I also loved seeing how adults in this book try to care for and protect Ary. Overall, well worth the read.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. My review of the first book still stands - if I had read this when I was in middle school, this would have been my entire personality.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Overall, a fun conclusion to the story and I enjoyed spending time again with this great cast of characters! Some sections were a bit too heavy-handed with moralizing, and I thought the villain arc was probably the weakest link with lingering questions about motives/decisions. I also thought the conclusion was a bit rushed with not enough details describing the solution. I can’t go into more detail without spoilers. Overall, Book 1 was extraordinary and Book 2 was good, and that’s good enough for me!

[Lizzy S]

this one got me right in the childhood trauma

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best middle grade duology I've ever read! I'm glad to say you'll find heart, sacrifice, lovely themes, and the most precious found family ("we follow" 🥺💕).

Some scattered moments of silly humor as well (our characters are 12, after all), but more the realistic kind than the obnoxious kind.

I liked the addition of more magic and the plotline with the woods. The pacing really picked up in the second half! Some of the twists were obvious (see: middle grade), but a couple surprised me!

Owl and Shrimp shone through in this one! I loved the moments when we saw how both of them thought about Ary and her bravery.

There's encouragement to readers that other people DO see when we stand up when no one else will. A valuable lesson for all ages, but especially for the young and the pressures they face as they grow.

This ending did not fall flat at all, and I loved the hope it left us with. While a bit on the darker side for a middle grade, I think that darkness encourages young readers to dig into the themes.
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*Parent's Guide: mentions of falling in love. Two young girls hold hands several times and briefly kiss once. Grief is a large focus, and a character has a range of emotions about a loss (grandparent). Other losses are mentioned (parents, siblings). Death is alluded to, though no bodies are seen. Eeriness and danger abound, including danger to children. Spiders are prominent. Fire is used off-screen to harm other (bad) creatures.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book of the Mossheart Duology. I did not read the first book in which Ary Mossheart shattered the terrarium, set her people free from their dying world, losing her wings in the process. This book takes place immediately after they escape.

Although the people of Terra appear to be welcomed by the fairies in the idyllic village of Siltshore, they find it not quite what they thought it was. Terra friends Ary, Owl, and Briar begin to drift apart and each notice changes around them, yet do not alert or consult with the others. Ary, once again, realizes she must set her trauma from the past aside and stand up to help her people – whether by herself or with her friends. I always appreciate a map of fantasy worlds; this book includes one in the front of the book. Short chapters help make this 425-page tome appear to read a bit faster…

Having not read the first book, I found this one to be very slow in the first half, then picks up in the second. It does not stand well alone. That said, most of the reviewers on GoodReads who had read both books note that they were very satisfied with it. Buy if the first is popular.

Recommended for grades 4-8.

[Kaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an extraordinary story! Rebecca Mix is definitely up there with my favorite authors now and I'm very much looking forward to her next novels :) I loved how the duology was a really well done exploration of the chosen one trope, and goes beyond its superficial glory but delves into the exploitation of young children singulary burdened with the responsibility to save their society (often repeatedly) and how the pressure, horror, and repetitive trauma inevitably breaks a person in different ways. We were able to see that through various chosen ones and their fates throughout the series, how these heroes became bitter, resentful, paranoid, destructive, or mad with power.

I chose to give this 4 stars because I felt the last 50 pages were a bit rushed and I desperately craved closure and answers between some particular characters and plot lines that sadly didn't happen. Some things were left unclear, but the ending, however, brought tears to my eyes and it was a satisfying conclusion to Ary's story :)

[SpectatorSpector · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually picked this one up before its previous book, The Mossheart's Promise, and tried to get into it before realizing three pages in that this was part of a duology. So I returned it to the library, and eventually got both books and left them in my to-read pile before sitting down and reading the first book and loving it. This sequel makes absolutely no sense if you read it first, but is absolutely amazing to us lovers of The Mossheart's Promise. So glad that Ary + Briar got together, even tho they were always setting us up for that, I only wish there was more of that and a finish to Robin and Alder as well. (do they get married? Are they even officially a couple?) But this book was fantastic and even more dramatic than the first, I also loved the relationship between Ary and Sootflank and seeing Shrimp again (SO CUTEEE)
I wish they would write one more book to make it a trilogy, to tie up loose ends- and I wasn't actually really sure, what was the third terrarium mentioned at the end of the first book? was that mentioned in the sequel?

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghostwing's Lie by Rebecca Mix is an exciting conclusion to The Mossheart's Promise Duology. I love Rebecca's writing style, which makes this middle-grade book for everyone!

In The Mossheart's Promise, Ary must brave the unknown to free her people from a dying world. In The Ghostwing's Lie, Ary thought her saving days were behind her. But something is rotten in this expanded world. There are intense scenes, funny moments, and many unique people who become family. Can I just say the characters are excellent, but Shrimp the Pillbug is my absolute favorite!

I don't read too many middle-grade books, but you don't want to miss this duology! If you don't think 12-year-olds should be saving the world, Ary agrees with you! Absolutely a delight with important themes and messages that weave perfectly in the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars!

[Linda Maleh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this book even more than the first one. Once you get about 100 pages in the plot is just on the best rollercoaster until the end. The new characters, especially Willow, work SO well. Even Mayor Nightingale, who was present in the first book but we didn’t spend much time with until this one, had me so invested. Especially thrilling are the new POVs. Being in Owl and Shrimp’s minds is the best. The voice for Shrimp’s pov is so specifically Shrimp and reinforces every time why he’s a fan favorite. My only qualm with this book is that it is messy at times, plenty of contradictory details. Otherwise I loved it. A satisfying sequel.

[Cassie (Reader at heart) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first, I just had to read this one. These books are long for middle grade. Not complaining, in fact, I think it is great that younger kids can find themselves invested in full length fantasy with heroes their own ages. The atmosphere, setting, and set up from the first is just as strong in the second, continuing to call back to those beloved popular middle grade fantasies I’ve loved for decades. Truthfully, I might like this one better! Maybe because it is new and fresh, or maybe because I can see young readers falling in love with the stories like I did with so many middle grade books. I love this genre anyway but I’m very impressed with the author’s work.

[Ace Swervey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of laughs and wonderful wonderful quotes I’ve bookmarked for myself — I was a little leery on the POV changes, as it was pretty different from the first book in that way, but it was also a blast to be in some other character’s minds like that!!
Definitely a lot more moving parts and a new set of problems these characters deal with, and I think Mix did a great job of presenting them in a way that had me reading nonstop !

[SOYAMRG · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book of the Mossheart Duology. I did not read the first book in which Ary Mossheart shattered the terrarium, set her people free from their dying world, losing her wings in the process. This book takes place immediately after they escape.

Although the people of Terra appear to be welcomed by the fairies in the idyllic village of Siltshore, they find it not quite what they thought it was. Terra friends Ary, Owl, and Briar begin to drift apart and each notice changes around them, yet do not alert or consult with the others. Ary, once again, realizes she must set her trauma from the past aside and stand up to help her people – whether by herself or with her friends.

I always appreciate a map of fantasy worlds; this book includes one in the front of the book. Short chapters help make this 425-page tome appear to read a bit faster…

Having not read the first book, I found this one to be very slow in the first half, then picks up in the second. It does not stand well alone. That said, most of the reviewers on GoodReads who had read both books note that they were very satisfied with it. Buy if the first is popular.

Recommended for grades 4-8.

S.D.B.
Children's Literature Consultant

[Allison Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to give this book six stars?

This duology is one of the best I’ve ever read. Mix creates a magical world that is beautiful and simple and terrifying, but the heart of her stories is in the relationships that she skillfully weaves. Her writing challenges tropes in YA and MG books in a way that is simply masterful. Thank you for these books!

[Randi · Rating 3 out of 5]

So well written with an imaginative story and wonderful characters. Although, I think there may be too many characters in this one? Regardless, I think it's a great sequel. It just didn't personally hit me the way the first did, but I'm grateful to see how the story ends.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, wishing there was another book so I could get more of these wonderful characters! I wish this had been 200 pages longer, though I realize the intended audience probably didn’t mind the length 🥲 Mix always crushes characterization!

[Jesse Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one sadly. I think the villains were something of a weak point of the book to be honest. Overall though still a good book

[Karis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really should've finished this yesterday, but I had to be ~social~.

Still, such a great sequel. I love this duology.

[Cristina Cicivelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghostwing’s Lie is a beautiful conclusion to the Mossheart’s duology, that deals carefully with the aftermath of a child-hero actually becoming a hero and consequently having their whole life turned upside down.
It’s sometimes slightly depressing and sad, but also so deeply realistic, and I really liked how this whole reflection on Ary’s emotions, her fears and her doubts, slowly morphed into the actual plot of the book, which turned how to be intriguing and captivating, with some brilliant plot twists and a couple of lovely teary-eyes moments.

Rebecca created a second beautifully crafted world that perfectly ties into the first one (the Terrarium), adding more layers to an already interesting and well-written world-building.

Chracters-wise, it’s honestly impossible to pick faves (but I can’t lie, Shrimp the pill-bug has a special place in my heart), particularly after seeing how they evolved in this book, in parts due to the journey Ary leads them into in The Mossheart’s Promise and the impact it had on them.
The relationships between the characters, like Ary and her mom's one (Robin is so badass I love her), were so sweet and special, and there was even a tiny bit of sapphic romance which truly warmed my heart.

Overall I adored how masterfully a lot of important and meaningful messages are intertwined in this story about little ferries and bugs, making the Mossheart’s duology the kind of book that *have* to be in the hands of kids (and adults, too)- I frankly can’t recommend it enough.