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The Keeper of Lonely Spirits
In this mesmerizing, wonderfully moving queer cozy fantasy, an immortal ghost hunter must confront his tragic past in order to embrace his found family.
Find an angry spirit. Send it on its way before it causes trouble. Leave before anyone learns his name.
After over two hundred years, Peter Shaughnessy is ready to die and end this cycle. But thanks to a youthful encounter with one o’ them folk in his native Ireland, he can’t. Instead, he’s cursed to wander eternally far from home, with the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants.
Immortality means Peter has lost everyone he’s ever loved. And so he centers his life on the dead—until his wandering brings him to Harrington, Ohio. As he searches for a vengeful spirit, Peter’s drawn into the townsfolk’s lives, homes and troubles. For the first time in over a century, he wants something other than death.
But the people of Harrington will die someday. And he won’t.
As Harrington buckles under the weight of the supernatural, the ghost hunt pits Peter’s well-being against that of his new friends and the man he’s falling for. If he stays, he risks heartbreak. If he leaves, he risks their lives.
Find an angry spirit. Send it on its way before it causes trouble. Leave before anyone learns his name.
After over two hundred years, Peter Shaughnessy is ready to die and end this cycle. But thanks to a youthful encounter with one o’ them folk in his native Ireland, he can’t. Instead, he’s cursed to wander eternally far from home, with the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants.
Immortality means Peter has lost everyone he’s ever loved. And so he centers his life on the dead—until his wandering brings him to Harrington, Ohio. As he searches for a vengeful spirit, Peter’s drawn into the townsfolk’s lives, homes and troubles. For the first time in over a century, he wants something other than death.
But the people of Harrington will die someday. And he won’t.
As Harrington buckles under the weight of the supernatural, the ghost hunt pits Peter’s well-being against that of his new friends and the man he’s falling for. If he stays, he risks heartbreak. If he leaves, he risks their lives.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2025
96 people are currently reading
15273 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Anderson
6 books239 followersE.M. Anderson (she/they) is the queer, neurodivergent author of The Lord of the Wood (Hanover Squre Press, 2026), The Keeper of Lonely Spirits (MIRA Books, 2025), and the now out-of-print The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher, as well as various short stories. It is their doom to one day vanish in the depths of a forest, never to be seen again, after ignoring the repeated warnings of the locals to stay out of the woods. Until that fateful day, you can find them on Bluesky or Instagram @elizmanderson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
May 25, 2025
In a Nutshell: A horror-fantasy about an aged immortal ghost hunter solving a ghostly mystery and making new friends. Not as cozy as promised. Interesting diverse characters and a gripping storyline. Good use of the found family trope. The romance was a little cringeworthy and the writing, a tad repetitive. But on the whole, a good experience. Recommended, as long as you aren’t afraid of ghosts, and are ready to not overanalyse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
👻 The author's note at the start, clearly stating the heavy themes and triggers in the book despite its being cosy. Much appreciated.
👻 Peter Shaughnessy – What a character! His conflicted emotions, his grumpy exterior and soft heart, and his bravery make him an outstanding lead. But what really elevates his arc is that unlike almost every immortal fictional character, Peter stopped aging only in his seventies. It's refreshing to see an older immortal. (If ever a movie adaptation is made, Sam Elliott would be perfect as Peter!)
👻 The other characters are also great, perhaps a bit too goody-goody but they suit the vibe. Be it Nevaeh – the first Black woman to be the director of the cemetery where Peter works in Harrington, Sayid and Samira – the two kids with plenty of secrets and family worries, and David – the museum director with a penchant for history, all bring with them a wonderful range of emotions. I cannot forget to mention Isaiah whose presence infuses every one of his scenes with tremendous warmth.
👻 The excellent diversity of the cast in terms of age, ethnic background, and sexual orientation. None of the inclusions felt shoved in.
👻 The role of grief in taking the story ahead. Almost every character is facing some of the other sorrow, whether from the past or present, and is handling their burden differently.
👻 The small-town setting is used excellently, with characters being close and trusting and helpful in a way city dwellers won't ever understand. This also helps create a convincing found-family trope.
👻 The atmosphere, especially in the paranormal scenes and the nature-based scenes. I especially loved how plants and trees were made a part of the narrative through Peter’s ability to talk to them.
👻 The description of the various spirits and their "feelings" – so creative!
👻 A couple of really surprising reveals, which left me open-mouthed.
👻 The title. Its use of the word “Spirits” has a dual meaning, and can be applied to the living and deceased humans of this story. Perfect for the book!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚰️ Officially, this is tagged as a “cozy horror-fantasy”, which I totally forgot when I began reading this. 🤭 The horror elements took me by surprise, and in some scenes, I didn’t find the paranormal content cozy. I did enjoy the spooky parts, but I don’t think the ‘cozy’ label is accurate.
⚰️ The curse that has stuck Peter in an endless living spell is minimally explained. While this adds intrigue to the plot, it also leaves us with many queries. I wish there had been some more detailing about this, especially at the end.
⚰️ The pacing, though on the slower side, doesn’t drag. As the dominant mood of the book is contemplative, this unhurried tempo suits the proceedings. But this might not make most readers happy.
⚰️ The ending. Without going into spoilers, all I can say is that it is a bit too easy and a bit incomplete. I liked it, but I wanted some more continuation, clarification, and closure.
Bookish Nays:
☠ While I love the idea of two senior citizens fighting their feelings for each other, I didn’t like the “insta” feel to the attraction. Right from their first interaction, the focus is on the physical reactions such as blushing and hearts fluttering and so on. This kind of language probably suits YA novels better. Making geriatrics sound like teens is a turn-off. Plus, the intensity of the attraction doesn’t even suit the otherwise stoic Peter.
☠ There is a lot of repetition in the writing, whether in some of the descriptions or in the emotional reactions. Some words seem to pop up after every few pages. (24 uses of “blush”, 50 uses of “yellow”, 33 uses of “warm”, even 6 uses of the rare “pinkening”!) The editing needed to be much tighter.
☠ Some plot gaps are never clarified. (Mostly but not only connected to Peter’s past. One thing I really wanted to know was why Nevaeh was so intent on denying her budding relationship.) And some plot developments aren’t realistic. (Would a cemetery director not know the name of her employee for multiple days? Would a parent leave their young child in a strange old man’s house when he’s new to town and they barely know him?) Again, editing issues.
All in all, despite some things that could have worked better for me, I still liked this story and more so, the characters. If the editing could have fixed the repetition and plotting loopholes, this book could have ended up as a favourite. As the storyline is much beyond a typical fantasy, this novel could go either way for readers. It would help if you pick it up prepared for a paranormal fantasy than a cozy one.
I picked this up during one of the most challenging months of my life. Usually, I take about 4 days to read a standard-length novel, but it has taken me more than forty days to complete this work. Often, when a book takes me more than a week, I lose my interest in it. I think it speaks volumes that I never once thought of DNFing this book, and kept returning to it willingly, even if I couldn’t read more than 2-4% per day.
Recommended to readers who enjoy fantasy stories with a splash of paranormal and a dash of romance. The triggers are fairly intense, so do check out the author’s list before you dive in. This book is a heart-read and not a head-read.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA for providing the DRC of “The Keeper of Lonely Spirits” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Peter Shaughnessy has been alive for more than two hundred years and is ready to die. Unfortunately, thanks to an encounter with an annoyed fey during his teens in Ireland, Peter is cursed to spend eternity wandering away from home. As the curse has given him the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants, he spends his time looking for angry spirits and sending them onwards. His roaming has now brought him to Harrington, Ohio, where he has heard about the presence of a vengeful spirit. But as he looks for this elusive ghost, he gets drawn into the lives of some of Harrington’s citizens, and for the first time in over a century, Peter wants something other than death. Can he afford to stay and risk heartbreak, or should he simply move on, even if it means risking the peoples’ lives?
The story comes to us in the third-person perspective of a few characters, but mainly from Peter’s POV.
Bookish Yays:
👻 The author's note at the start, clearly stating the heavy themes and triggers in the book despite its being cosy. Much appreciated.
👻 Peter Shaughnessy – What a character! His conflicted emotions, his grumpy exterior and soft heart, and his bravery make him an outstanding lead. But what really elevates his arc is that unlike almost every immortal fictional character, Peter stopped aging only in his seventies. It's refreshing to see an older immortal. (If ever a movie adaptation is made, Sam Elliott would be perfect as Peter!)
👻 The other characters are also great, perhaps a bit too goody-goody but they suit the vibe. Be it Nevaeh – the first Black woman to be the director of the cemetery where Peter works in Harrington, Sayid and Samira – the two kids with plenty of secrets and family worries, and David – the museum director with a penchant for history, all bring with them a wonderful range of emotions. I cannot forget to mention Isaiah whose presence infuses every one of his scenes with tremendous warmth.
👻 The excellent diversity of the cast in terms of age, ethnic background, and sexual orientation. None of the inclusions felt shoved in.
👻 The role of grief in taking the story ahead. Almost every character is facing some of the other sorrow, whether from the past or present, and is handling their burden differently.
👻 The small-town setting is used excellently, with characters being close and trusting and helpful in a way city dwellers won't ever understand. This also helps create a convincing found-family trope.
👻 The atmosphere, especially in the paranormal scenes and the nature-based scenes. I especially loved how plants and trees were made a part of the narrative through Peter’s ability to talk to them.
👻 The description of the various spirits and their "feelings" – so creative!
👻 A couple of really surprising reveals, which left me open-mouthed.
👻 The title. Its use of the word “Spirits” has a dual meaning, and can be applied to the living and deceased humans of this story. Perfect for the book!
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚰️ Officially, this is tagged as a “cozy horror-fantasy”, which I totally forgot when I began reading this. 🤭 The horror elements took me by surprise, and in some scenes, I didn’t find the paranormal content cozy. I did enjoy the spooky parts, but I don’t think the ‘cozy’ label is accurate.
⚰️ The curse that has stuck Peter in an endless living spell is minimally explained. While this adds intrigue to the plot, it also leaves us with many queries. I wish there had been some more detailing about this, especially at the end.
⚰️ The pacing, though on the slower side, doesn’t drag. As the dominant mood of the book is contemplative, this unhurried tempo suits the proceedings. But this might not make most readers happy.
⚰️ The ending. Without going into spoilers, all I can say is that it is a bit too easy and a bit incomplete. I liked it, but I wanted some more continuation, clarification, and closure.
Bookish Nays:
☠ While I love the idea of two senior citizens fighting their feelings for each other, I didn’t like the “insta” feel to the attraction. Right from their first interaction, the focus is on the physical reactions such as blushing and hearts fluttering and so on. This kind of language probably suits YA novels better. Making geriatrics sound like teens is a turn-off. Plus, the intensity of the attraction doesn’t even suit the otherwise stoic Peter.
☠ There is a lot of repetition in the writing, whether in some of the descriptions or in the emotional reactions. Some words seem to pop up after every few pages. (24 uses of “blush”, 50 uses of “yellow”, 33 uses of “warm”, even 6 uses of the rare “pinkening”!) The editing needed to be much tighter.
☠ Some plot gaps are never clarified. (Mostly but not only connected to Peter’s past. One thing I really wanted to know was why Nevaeh was so intent on denying her budding relationship.) And some plot developments aren’t realistic. (Would a cemetery director not know the name of her employee for multiple days? Would a parent leave their young child in a strange old man’s house when he’s new to town and they barely know him?) Again, editing issues.
All in all, despite some things that could have worked better for me, I still liked this story and more so, the characters. If the editing could have fixed the repetition and plotting loopholes, this book could have ended up as a favourite. As the storyline is much beyond a typical fantasy, this novel could go either way for readers. It would help if you pick it up prepared for a paranormal fantasy than a cozy one.
I picked this up during one of the most challenging months of my life. Usually, I take about 4 days to read a standard-length novel, but it has taken me more than forty days to complete this work. Often, when a book takes me more than a week, I lose my interest in it. I think it speaks volumes that I never once thought of DNFing this book, and kept returning to it willingly, even if I couldn’t read more than 2-4% per day.
Recommended to readers who enjoy fantasy stories with a splash of paranormal and a dash of romance. The triggers are fairly intense, so do check out the author’s list before you dive in. This book is a heart-read and not a head-read.
3.75 stars.
My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA for providing the DRC of “The Keeper of Lonely Spirits” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Threads || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
January 14, 2025
Peter is cursed to roam the world, never to die. He sees ghosts, tries to rid the world of malevolent and angry spirits by helping them cross over, and leaves Savannah for Ohio when a teenager on a ghost tour says he saw a ghost in a small Ohio town. He becomes the grounds keeper for the local cemetery, and meets people there who care about him. Unfortunately, I never really felt a connection to any of the characters. I selected this book because it was supposed to be a cozy fantasy, one of my favorite genres, but it read more like "horror lite" to me. I received an advance copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2024
I fell in love with every character in this captivating story about grief, love, and finding your way in the world, both in the world of the living and of the dead. E.M. Anderson has created a diverse cast of characters who are all dealing with different types of ups and downs in their lives, but support one another in the ways that truly matter. Peter, the grouchy new groundskeeper of the cemetery in Harrington, Ohio, is in town to take care of business with an angry spirit. His plan to keep to himself and disappear as soon as his task is done gets a little complicated as he meets the other folks around town. The range of human, and spirit, connection represented in these pages brings a cozy feeling to a somewhat spooky tale of curses and ghostly influence. I highly recommend this book, especially to lovers of T.J. Klune's Under the Whispering Door or Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book!
April 28, 2025
Lads, this one got me.
Peter Shaughnessy is cursed to see the dead and wander eternally far from home. After two hundred years, he has outlived everyone he's ever loved. He serves the only penance he can: helping unhappy ghosts move on to an afterlife he'll never see. After each haunting, he moves to the next, before he can get to know his neighbors, or worse, get attached. He follows a local legend to a small town in Ohio, where he inserts himself as the cemetery's groundskeeper. But the lingering anger there is stronger and more mysterious than Peter expected. As his work draws out, he grows dangerously close to the town's inhabitants and what haunts each of them.
This is a book about loss and all the tangled emotions that come with it: grief, anger, guilt, defensive fear. It's about how we react, and how we can move on when it feels like the whole world. As such, this book stabs you in the heart multiple times. I DID cry, which is very rare for me!!
Peter is a gruff old Irishman with a knack for plants, enough guilt to kill a mortal man, and an unlikely, sometimes awkward instinct to comfort people. In other words, he's one of the most charming characters I've ever read, and an excellent choice to carry a book. The neighbors he meets along the way are ordinary people with ordinary problems that are nonetheless treated with gravity. They're all delightfully colorful and unique, often stressed but trying to make it through. The ghosts don't speak but have their own personalities. I liked that they felt like remnants, with less and less left of them depending on how long they had lingered. They were a clever way to reveal more about the living characters.
This isn't a fast or action-packed book, as well it shouldn't be. The contemplative pace and small conflicts fit the tone of the story. I enjoy when books with small-town settings are content to settle into the feeling of those places. Everything builds up nicely so that when the book stabs you, you feel it. It explores the loneliness of immortality and the strange homesickness of changing times.
Some conversations could get a little therapy-speak, BUT this is set in the modern day and people are going to therapy. It's far less bothersome than in a fantasy book. The writing was clear, and very fond of its subject. An easy read writing-wise, harder emotionally. Had a great and terrible time. Would recommend.
Peter Shaughnessy is cursed to see the dead and wander eternally far from home. After two hundred years, he has outlived everyone he's ever loved. He serves the only penance he can: helping unhappy ghosts move on to an afterlife he'll never see. After each haunting, he moves to the next, before he can get to know his neighbors, or worse, get attached. He follows a local legend to a small town in Ohio, where he inserts himself as the cemetery's groundskeeper. But the lingering anger there is stronger and more mysterious than Peter expected. As his work draws out, he grows dangerously close to the town's inhabitants and what haunts each of them.
This is a book about loss and all the tangled emotions that come with it: grief, anger, guilt, defensive fear. It's about how we react, and how we can move on when it feels like the whole world. As such, this book stabs you in the heart multiple times. I DID cry, which is very rare for me!!
Peter is a gruff old Irishman with a knack for plants, enough guilt to kill a mortal man, and an unlikely, sometimes awkward instinct to comfort people. In other words, he's one of the most charming characters I've ever read, and an excellent choice to carry a book. The neighbors he meets along the way are ordinary people with ordinary problems that are nonetheless treated with gravity. They're all delightfully colorful and unique, often stressed but trying to make it through. The ghosts don't speak but have their own personalities. I liked that they felt like remnants, with less and less left of them depending on how long they had lingered. They were a clever way to reveal more about the living characters.
This isn't a fast or action-packed book, as well it shouldn't be. The contemplative pace and small conflicts fit the tone of the story. I enjoy when books with small-town settings are content to settle into the feeling of those places. Everything builds up nicely so that when the book stabs you, you feel it. It explores the loneliness of immortality and the strange homesickness of changing times.
Some conversations could get a little therapy-speak, BUT this is set in the modern day and people are going to therapy. It's far less bothersome than in a fantasy book. The writing was clear, and very fond of its subject. An easy read writing-wise, harder emotionally. Had a great and terrible time. Would recommend.
July 13, 2025
I found this book poorly written lots of what attempts to be flowery language that came off as nonsensical I believe was put in to pad the book length. There is very little that happens in this book many relationships are pointless as are the characters who do not feel real or complete. Every other line talks about where a characters hands are or what the fauna is doing. I don’t know why I just didn’t feel a connection to this and it felt like a chore to get through.
May 18, 2025
It took me a while to get into this, but that may be the fault of my own brain at the moment and not the book. Once I was about a quarter of the way in I got more attached to the characters and more invested in the story and then quite enjoyed it. I wouldn't really describe this as cozy, there's too much danger and a lot of difficult emotional ground covered, but there were definitely comforting aspects. The pacing was a bit off for me, with the beginning a bit slow and I wished there had been a bit more closure at the end. But I'd definitely recommend this one if you like stories about found family or ghosts. I also loved that the main character was elderly. Such a nice change and so great to read about older LGBTQ+ characters.
ARC provided by Net Galley
ARC provided by Net Galley
May 26, 2025
I'm in physical pain
March 25, 2025
I utterly adore the concept of this book. When I read the synopsis, I needed it. Immediately. Unfortunately, I have some personal hang ups that made what this book is actually about less for me than I wanted it to be.
This book does so many things so interestingly and so well. The characters are incredibly diverse for small town Ohio and they’re endearing as people. The way that ghosts work and the lore for what Peter does and how is interesting and makes sense while also feeling just a little unique. A lot of the prose is very pretty. When the action hits, I was hooked. Genuinely, there’s a lot to love here and I’m glad a lot of people seem to be enjoying it so far. It just was not for me.
Peter, our lonely groundskeeper, cannot die. I knew this. I always expect these immortals to be somewhere between 20-40 in appearance and sometimes countenance because that’s what you usually see. Peter hits at 70-80. I really truly struggle to read about characters like that and that’s fully on me. I’m stating it here only because I know it may be a hang up for someone else as well and I’d like to save you the trouble.
The tone and writing style is also very whimsical most of the time. This book is cozy but also kind of horror, if that makes sense, and sometimes with cozier storylines the whimsy just takes over and the logic doesn’t have to apply. A lot of people don’t mind that, but I overthink everything so little inconsistencies or anything that feels like it needs fact checking will stop me cold and I obsess over it a little. There’s a lot of that here and, again, that’s a subjective problem and not really a statement on how well this story was crafted.
That said, there were some less subjective problems I had with this book too. The plot was very drawn out, repetitive, and a little plodding up until the 60% mark when things actually started happening. It took 300 pages to get a backstory that all of the important parts had already been sprinkled into the narrative. I feel like I lived Peter’s past probably twenty times by the end and it was excessive. There’s so much buffer and fluff here that the plot structure kind of collapses; it could have been 150 pages shorter and still hit every emotional beat (flip floppy as they were, as intended). I truly enjoyed a lot of the last 30% of this largely because it tightened up. There were less extraneous details in the descriptions, people were reacting in a less easy going way (I will rant for days about the al Masri’s not being more worried about their kids hanging out with Peter before they even knew his name), and things that mattered were finally happening.
Before I get bogged down with things that don’t matter for this review, I want to reiterate that this isn’t a bad book. It’s a bad book for me. There’s a distinction I feel it’s important to truly make. This book is heartfelt and it’s a beautiful take on grief and love and what makes a home. I truly hope many people pick it up and enjoy it and see what they need to within its pages. Just maybe skip it if you’re not a fan of octogenarian narrators and can’t turn off the overly analytical part of your brain is all.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC given in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.
This book does so many things so interestingly and so well. The characters are incredibly diverse for small town Ohio and they’re endearing as people. The way that ghosts work and the lore for what Peter does and how is interesting and makes sense while also feeling just a little unique. A lot of the prose is very pretty. When the action hits, I was hooked. Genuinely, there’s a lot to love here and I’m glad a lot of people seem to be enjoying it so far. It just was not for me.
Peter, our lonely groundskeeper, cannot die. I knew this. I always expect these immortals to be somewhere between 20-40 in appearance and sometimes countenance because that’s what you usually see. Peter hits at 70-80. I really truly struggle to read about characters like that and that’s fully on me. I’m stating it here only because I know it may be a hang up for someone else as well and I’d like to save you the trouble.
The tone and writing style is also very whimsical most of the time. This book is cozy but also kind of horror, if that makes sense, and sometimes with cozier storylines the whimsy just takes over and the logic doesn’t have to apply. A lot of people don’t mind that, but I overthink everything so little inconsistencies or anything that feels like it needs fact checking will stop me cold and I obsess over it a little. There’s a lot of that here and, again, that’s a subjective problem and not really a statement on how well this story was crafted.
That said, there were some less subjective problems I had with this book too. The plot was very drawn out, repetitive, and a little plodding up until the 60% mark when things actually started happening. It took 300 pages to get a backstory that all of the important parts had already been sprinkled into the narrative. I feel like I lived Peter’s past probably twenty times by the end and it was excessive. There’s so much buffer and fluff here that the plot structure kind of collapses; it could have been 150 pages shorter and still hit every emotional beat (flip floppy as they were, as intended). I truly enjoyed a lot of the last 30% of this largely because it tightened up. There were less extraneous details in the descriptions, people were reacting in a less easy going way (I will rant for days about the al Masri’s not being more worried about their kids hanging out with Peter before they even knew his name), and things that mattered were finally happening.
Before I get bogged down with things that don’t matter for this review, I want to reiterate that this isn’t a bad book. It’s a bad book for me. There’s a distinction I feel it’s important to truly make. This book is heartfelt and it’s a beautiful take on grief and love and what makes a home. I truly hope many people pick it up and enjoy it and see what they need to within its pages. Just maybe skip it if you’re not a fan of octogenarian narrators and can’t turn off the overly analytical part of your brain is all.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC given in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.
April 24, 2025
More novels like this with vibrant and thirsty 70 year old MCs please! E.M. Anderson's sophomore novel (note to self: check out her debut) is charming and emotionally gripping. The bare bones of the story are familiar - solitary man who drifts from town to town because Reasons finds himself making actual connections despite his vow to eschew them - but the details make it stand out.
Peter is 200 years old, although he stopped aging at 70. Because of a Bad Thing he did as a young man, he was cursed to wander eternally far from his Irish home. He can see and communicate with ghosts, encouraging the more angry spirits to let go and move on. When he follows a tip to the small town of Harrington, Ohio and establishes himself as the cemetery's groundskeeper, he meets the director; a mischievous 8 year old girl and her older, more serious brother; and a friendly widowed museum curator who threatens to crash Peter's emotional barriers.
You have to take a few things on faith to enjoy the book. Anderson never explains how Peter manages financially without any official identification, or his ease with modern technology. For that matter, I'm not sure I know how Peter realized his true calling. But the writing is so wonderful that you can overlook those missing details. The characters are diverse - queer, Black, Palestinian, Asian, young, old - and the tension slowly builds to a dramatic confrontation when the Harrington ghost's identity is finally discovered. The love story between Peter and David is full of sweetness and frustrated yearning. Normally I can't stand the noble self-sacrificing trope, but Anderson so clearly shows how Peter has been devastated by losing everyone he loved that it worked for me. Almost all of the book's characters have experienced grief - CWs for death of a parent, grandparent, and husband - but this odd found family starts to heal together.
I tried to slow down and savor the last quarter of the book, but I did finally reach the end smiling through my tears. The Keeper of Lonely Secrets is one of those books that sweeps you away on a journey, and only after you're done can you realize its eminently forgivable imperfections.
Peter is 200 years old, although he stopped aging at 70. Because of a Bad Thing he did as a young man, he was cursed to wander eternally far from his Irish home. He can see and communicate with ghosts, encouraging the more angry spirits to let go and move on. When he follows a tip to the small town of Harrington, Ohio and establishes himself as the cemetery's groundskeeper, he meets the director; a mischievous 8 year old girl and her older, more serious brother; and a friendly widowed museum curator who threatens to crash Peter's emotional barriers.
You have to take a few things on faith to enjoy the book. Anderson never explains how Peter manages financially without any official identification, or his ease with modern technology. For that matter, I'm not sure I know how Peter realized his true calling. But the writing is so wonderful that you can overlook those missing details. The characters are diverse - queer, Black, Palestinian, Asian, young, old - and the tension slowly builds to a dramatic confrontation when the Harrington ghost's identity is finally discovered. The love story between Peter and David is full of sweetness and frustrated yearning. Normally I can't stand the noble self-sacrificing trope, but Anderson so clearly shows how Peter has been devastated by losing everyone he loved that it worked for me. Almost all of the book's characters have experienced grief - CWs for death of a parent, grandparent, and husband - but this odd found family starts to heal together.
I tried to slow down and savor the last quarter of the book, but I did finally reach the end smiling through my tears. The Keeper of Lonely Secrets is one of those books that sweeps you away on a journey, and only after you're done can you realize its eminently forgivable imperfections.
October 22, 2024
I had the absolute pleasure of betareading this book, and not only did it make me a rabid fan of E. M. Anderson's work, it also gave me out-loud gasps and shivers, unhinged cackling, poignant tears, and even drove me to drawing (rare) fanart. These are rare occurrences for me when reading, so it earned a permanent place in my bookish soul.
These characters have SO much heart. It's a glorious exploration of found family, and a thoughtful exploration of the ripples of trauma that affect a whole community when we let wrongs fester.
One of the freshest voices in fantasy currently. Treat yourself to The Keeper of Lonely Spirits for a surprising tale of unusual immortality, second-chance romances, and chilling ghosts. Oh, and a whole lot of plants!
These characters have SO much heart. It's a glorious exploration of found family, and a thoughtful exploration of the ripples of trauma that affect a whole community when we let wrongs fester.
One of the freshest voices in fantasy currently. Treat yourself to The Keeper of Lonely Spirits for a surprising tale of unusual immortality, second-chance romances, and chilling ghosts. Oh, and a whole lot of plants!
December 24, 2024
Somewhere around a 3.5. Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. I have exceptionally mixed feelings about this book. I had moments of loving it and absolutely adored the characters, so it breaks my heart that the story just… dragged. The last ~20% was so great and felt big (emotionally, plot-wise, etc.), which makes me wish it were shorter/tighter.
If you love magical realism like I do, I definitely think this is worth the read. I have a lot of big, positive feelings about this book’s overall vibe but it just fell a bit short for me.
If you love magical realism like I do, I definitely think this is worth the read. I have a lot of big, positive feelings about this book’s overall vibe but it just fell a bit short for me.
April 6, 2025
More people need to read this one! Its beautiful story. Can a reader love every single character in a book? I might!
March 25, 2025
The Keeper of Lonely Spirits is not what I expected in what turned out to be the BEST way.
Maybe I didn’t do enough info gathering or maybe I was just not in the mood, but the first part of this book was slow for me to get into. This was definitely a me problem and honestly, just sometimes happens as a mood reader. I put it down for a little while and when I came back to it it felt like an entirely different book. Does that ever happen to you? Just me? Ok, well…it’s just how I’m built.
I’m so glad that I gave this book another shot because it ended up being so so good. This book is about grief, loss, relationships, and how we do (or don’t in some cases) move forward after experiencing loss. It’s touching and tearful and heartbreaking in a way that a book can only be when the subject matter is relatable and real. E.M. Anderson brings so many beautiful characters to life in this book.
- Peter Shaughnessy, a ghost hunter with a tragic past.
- Nevaeh, a young woman struggling with the sudden death of her beloved father.
- Sayid and Samira, two young siblings who are feeling alone and unmoored while their parents do their best to balance an impossible situation.
- David, a museum curator whose long time partner passed away.
Just to cover a few of my favorites.
I would definitely recommend you read this if you’re wanting a cozy, slightly spooky, queer paranormal story with beautiful friendships and a little bit of romance.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
Maybe I didn’t do enough info gathering or maybe I was just not in the mood, but the first part of this book was slow for me to get into. This was definitely a me problem and honestly, just sometimes happens as a mood reader. I put it down for a little while and when I came back to it it felt like an entirely different book. Does that ever happen to you? Just me? Ok, well…it’s just how I’m built.
I’m so glad that I gave this book another shot because it ended up being so so good. This book is about grief, loss, relationships, and how we do (or don’t in some cases) move forward after experiencing loss. It’s touching and tearful and heartbreaking in a way that a book can only be when the subject matter is relatable and real. E.M. Anderson brings so many beautiful characters to life in this book.
- Peter Shaughnessy, a ghost hunter with a tragic past.
- Nevaeh, a young woman struggling with the sudden death of her beloved father.
- Sayid and Samira, two young siblings who are feeling alone and unmoored while their parents do their best to balance an impossible situation.
- David, a museum curator whose long time partner passed away.
Just to cover a few of my favorites.
I would definitely recommend you read this if you’re wanting a cozy, slightly spooky, queer paranormal story with beautiful friendships and a little bit of romance.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the gifted digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.
August 4, 2025
- Reminded me of TJ Klune’s Under the Whispering Door mixed with Age of Adaline.
- I found the writing style kind of hard to read, nothing crazy but different sentence structure. Maybe because the main character was Irish?
- I loved all of the character relationships. I think their growth and connections were the star of this book.
- I appreciated the candidness around grief, anxiety, and fear. I especially appreciated the inclusion of anxiety attacks and how they can feel.
- I liked how the author described the various ghosts/spirits in terms of colors and smells depending on their mood and motives.
- I didn’t understand Peter’s ability to talk to and influence plants?? Didn’t seem important to the storyline.
- It seemed like the ghosts were mostly harmless throughout the book, until the “final boss” scene (iykyk). I was shocked by how dark and slightly sinister it got.
- Would be a fun read around halloween!
- I found the writing style kind of hard to read, nothing crazy but different sentence structure. Maybe because the main character was Irish?
- I loved all of the character relationships. I think their growth and connections were the star of this book.
- I appreciated the candidness around grief, anxiety, and fear. I especially appreciated the inclusion of anxiety attacks and how they can feel.
- I liked how the author described the various ghosts/spirits in terms of colors and smells depending on their mood and motives.
- I didn’t understand Peter’s ability to talk to and influence plants?? Didn’t seem important to the storyline.
- It seemed like the ghosts were mostly harmless throughout the book, until the “final boss” scene (iykyk). I was shocked by how dark and slightly sinister it got.
- Would be a fun read around halloween!
January 4, 2026
Maybe names held more power over the dead than they did the living. Maybe other things held power over the living. A pot of soup shared at lunch. A walk to the sandwich shop. A cup of tea.
this was a soft, loving story that I was utterly consumed by. loneliness, creating distance, grief, loss, anger, love, family, friends, forgiveness - it felt like a warm yellow glow throughout my reading. it is a slow book, in a sense, but i was hooked from the beginning till the end. i felt for every character introduced and could have easily read more of this. instantly one of my favorites I've read in a while.
this was a soft, loving story that I was utterly consumed by. loneliness, creating distance, grief, loss, anger, love, family, friends, forgiveness - it felt like a warm yellow glow throughout my reading. it is a slow book, in a sense, but i was hooked from the beginning till the end. i felt for every character introduced and could have easily read more of this. instantly one of my favorites I've read in a while.
May 3, 2025
One of my anticipated new releases for this year, by an author new to me. In The Keeper of Lonely Spirits, Peter is cursed to immortality, rootlessness, and a life laying angry ghosts to rest. When a particularly troublesome spirit leaves him stuck in Ohio, against all his instincts, he begins making connections to the local community...
My record on books marketed as "cozy" has been more miss than hit, but The Keeper of Lonely Spirits worked for me. It helps that the themes of found family and new love are grounded by Peter's deep unhappiness and desire to die. (He gave up on suicide years ago when he realized it wouldn't work.) There's a particularly good recurring element in the book where Peter avoids telling people his name in order to distance himself from forming connections, to the extent that even the book's narration just refers to him as "the groundskeeper." As more people begin to love Peter, his name is mentioned more and more often. Oh, and I did also enjoy the sweet gay romance--it's rare to see a book center a relationship between two men in their seventies.
A gentle meditation on grief and loss. Recommended for people who are looking for something a bit slower focused on found family.
My record on books marketed as "cozy" has been more miss than hit, but The Keeper of Lonely Spirits worked for me. It helps that the themes of found family and new love are grounded by Peter's deep unhappiness and desire to die. (He gave up on suicide years ago when he realized it wouldn't work.) There's a particularly good recurring element in the book where Peter avoids telling people his name in order to distance himself from forming connections, to the extent that even the book's narration just refers to him as "the groundskeeper." As more people begin to love Peter, his name is mentioned more and more often. Oh, and I did also enjoy the sweet gay romance--it's rare to see a book center a relationship between two men in their seventies.
A gentle meditation on grief and loss. Recommended for people who are looking for something a bit slower focused on found family.
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July 20, 2025Too sad for me.
October 10, 2025
I cried very hard over this book (a reaction I quite frankly did not expect) and I am very upset about that.
July 9, 2025
I knew going into this it was highly unlikely to be a book I'd enjoy, and I gave it a solid go but ended up quitting around 150 pages in. The story was getting set up for something to finally happen. Finally. And then absolutely nothing. The tension was resolved in the briefest of exchanges. I called it quits.
Some other complaints:
- somehow the m.c. has worked so many jobs and no one has ever bothered to ask his name??
- every black character has a description of their skin color. no one else does.
- I was already getting tired of the repetition of descriptions
- I just could not buy into any of the circumstances of the story. I know this is a book where you're supposed to just accept things as they are, but I'm not built like that
Some other complaints:
- somehow the m.c. has worked so many jobs and no one has ever bothered to ask his name??
- every black character has a description of their skin color. no one else does.
- I was already getting tired of the repetition of descriptions
- I just could not buy into any of the circumstances of the story. I know this is a book where you're supposed to just accept things as they are, but I'm not built like that
March 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
I’ve always loved ghost stories and ghost hunters (I was a big Supernatural fan back in the day). But I’ve never read a book about an immortal ghost hunter who struggles not only with his immortality, but with when to go and when to stay.
Peter was a complicated character with a difficult past, but that doesn’t stop him from treating the ghosts he hunts and helps move on with such gentleness and kindness. There was such compassion in this book; it was clear that Peter struggled with wishing he too could move on after 200 years alive, but that jealously never colored his kindness when helping someone move on.
Peter is also probably the oldest protagonist I’ve ever read from (stuck in time in his 70s). I enjoyed seeing how that affected his story and what things he could and couldn’t do.
Overall, this was a really sweet, cozy read. I loved all the inclusivity in this story and can’t wait to pick up a physical copy on release day 😊
I’ve always loved ghost stories and ghost hunters (I was a big Supernatural fan back in the day). But I’ve never read a book about an immortal ghost hunter who struggles not only with his immortality, but with when to go and when to stay.
Peter was a complicated character with a difficult past, but that doesn’t stop him from treating the ghosts he hunts and helps move on with such gentleness and kindness. There was such compassion in this book; it was clear that Peter struggled with wishing he too could move on after 200 years alive, but that jealously never colored his kindness when helping someone move on.
Peter is also probably the oldest protagonist I’ve ever read from (stuck in time in his 70s). I enjoyed seeing how that affected his story and what things he could and couldn’t do.
Overall, this was a really sweet, cozy read. I loved all the inclusivity in this story and can’t wait to pick up a physical copy on release day 😊
August 2, 2025
Disclaimer: Did not finish. I really wanted to like this book. I tried to muscle through, but it was too much of a chore. The premise was interesting: a cursed, immortal man is tasked with protecting the world from angry spirits. My issue was that the characters were bland. The author made a noticeable effort to create a diverse cast of characters but, by focusing on the diversity, the personalities were quite under developed. Every character was kind. Even if they were upset, it was due to loving too much. The angry spirits were more mischievous than dangerous. It is more of a love story than a ghostly tale. This book is unique, and I am sure it will appeal to some readers. It was not my cup of tea.
March 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Oh this was such a pleasant surprise of a book! I was unfamiliar with this author going in, and I will absolutely be keeping them on my radar from now on! Taking what could have been a predictable premise and turning it entirely on its head with the lead character had me won over within just a few pages!
Peter Shaughnessy has dedicated his extremely long, cursed life to putting ghosts to rest. After a run in with one of the folk back in Ireland almost two centuries ago, he's had the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants - and he's barred from returning home... and refuses to get attached to people after everyone he's ever loved has long since died. So when he follows rumors of a haunting to tiny Harrington, Ohio, his goals are to deal with the ghosts and NOT to get involved in the lives of the living there. But the young director of the cemetery where he's placed himself as groundskeeper desperately needs therapy after the death of her father (whose ghost lingers nearby and refuses to leave until she does so), two children are constantly sneaking into the cemetery, and a very attractive museum curator is researching the cemetery's history and could use some protection.
The delight I felt when I realized I was getting to read about an immortal trapped in the body of a 70-year old! That fact alone immediately changes so much about the premise of this book. That he's also some flavor of asexual is also a high point. And the diversity in this book is just so lovely - all of the characters are so different and Anderson has managed to fit in so much representation without it feeling tokenized. This is just how small towns are! Sure, there's a mystery and an aggressive ghost for the main plot, but this book is SO cozy anyway. It's an elderly immortal trying and failing to avoid getting attached. The romance was minor, but so so so precious, especially in how it handled the aftermath of grief and healing together.
Seriously, I could babble about how soft this book is for paragraphs. Please just read it.
Oh this was such a pleasant surprise of a book! I was unfamiliar with this author going in, and I will absolutely be keeping them on my radar from now on! Taking what could have been a predictable premise and turning it entirely on its head with the lead character had me won over within just a few pages!
Peter Shaughnessy has dedicated his extremely long, cursed life to putting ghosts to rest. After a run in with one of the folk back in Ireland almost two centuries ago, he's had the ability to see ghosts and talk to plants - and he's barred from returning home... and refuses to get attached to people after everyone he's ever loved has long since died. So when he follows rumors of a haunting to tiny Harrington, Ohio, his goals are to deal with the ghosts and NOT to get involved in the lives of the living there. But the young director of the cemetery where he's placed himself as groundskeeper desperately needs therapy after the death of her father (whose ghost lingers nearby and refuses to leave until she does so), two children are constantly sneaking into the cemetery, and a very attractive museum curator is researching the cemetery's history and could use some protection.
The delight I felt when I realized I was getting to read about an immortal trapped in the body of a 70-year old! That fact alone immediately changes so much about the premise of this book. That he's also some flavor of asexual is also a high point. And the diversity in this book is just so lovely - all of the characters are so different and Anderson has managed to fit in so much representation without it feeling tokenized. This is just how small towns are! Sure, there's a mystery and an aggressive ghost for the main plot, but this book is SO cozy anyway. It's an elderly immortal trying and failing to avoid getting attached. The romance was minor, but so so so precious, especially in how it handled the aftermath of grief and healing together.
Seriously, I could babble about how soft this book is for paragraphs. Please just read it.
March 25, 2025
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and E.M. Anderson for allowing me to read this lovely story before its publication date in exchange for an honest review.
What is grief, if not love persevering?
This book ripped at my heartstrings, basically all but destroying them several times, and then delicately put them back together. It is a beautiful take on grief, complex family dynamics, and choosing to move forward in your life despite an overbearing sense of guilt. If you like chosen family or slow-burn romance tropes, this book is for you.
This book sort of reminded me of Ghost Whisperer, as the main character's goal is to help spirits pass over. However, this book focuses much more on the emotional motives of the spirits, which was written very beautifully. Peter, an immortal trapped in the body of a 70-year-old, will easily become one of your favorite book characters of all time as you read about him sharing his vast emotional wisdom with a plethora of spirits and the living.
Overall, I loved this book. It was cozy, heart-breaking, heart-warming, all of the hearts. I cannot wait to read more by this author moving forward.
SPOILERS BELOW:
I rated this book four out of five stars, for two main reasons. One, I loved the book's plot progression and felt very immersed throughout, never waiting for any scene to end to get to the next one. However, there is a sort of fight scene that occurs towards the end that feels like the MCU meets Ghostbusters, and it did not really work for the overall vibe in my opinion. Additionally, there were parts of Peter and Sayid's powers that I wish were explained just a touch more. Sayid's storyline of yielding such powers felt unfinished.
What is grief, if not love persevering?
This book ripped at my heartstrings, basically all but destroying them several times, and then delicately put them back together. It is a beautiful take on grief, complex family dynamics, and choosing to move forward in your life despite an overbearing sense of guilt. If you like chosen family or slow-burn romance tropes, this book is for you.
This book sort of reminded me of Ghost Whisperer, as the main character's goal is to help spirits pass over. However, this book focuses much more on the emotional motives of the spirits, which was written very beautifully. Peter, an immortal trapped in the body of a 70-year-old, will easily become one of your favorite book characters of all time as you read about him sharing his vast emotional wisdom with a plethora of spirits and the living.
Overall, I loved this book. It was cozy, heart-breaking, heart-warming, all of the hearts. I cannot wait to read more by this author moving forward.
SPOILERS BELOW:
I rated this book four out of five stars, for two main reasons. One, I loved the book's plot progression and felt very immersed throughout, never waiting for any scene to end to get to the next one. However, there is a sort of fight scene that occurs towards the end that feels like the MCU meets Ghostbusters, and it did not really work for the overall vibe in my opinion. Additionally, there were parts of Peter and Sayid's powers that I wish were explained just a touch more. Sayid's storyline of yielding such powers felt unfinished.
March 4, 2025
Thank you to Mira and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this one. All thoughts are my own.
This was SUCH a good book. I had my doubts at the start but once I settled into the style and tone, I was absolutely hooked.
This one is marketed as a cosy fantasy and while it definitely has elements of that, I’d argue that it’s more cosy horror if such a thing could exist. Very horror lite, but also definitely has horror elements throughout.
I LOVED Peter so, so much. He’s such a sad, tired, wonderful person. He’s suffered so much and he builds these protective walls to keep his heart safe, but he still goes out of his way to help people without letting them in too far.
But all that changes when the people of Harrington get under his skin and its history entwines with his own.
The relationships he forms in this book, every single one of them, hooked my heart. His love for these people and the spirits around them was palpable. I laughed, I teared up, I was on the edge of my seat during some moments. I felt so many things reading this book.
The soft, slow romance between Peter and David made my heart sing. They were so lovely together, so careful with each other.
Ahh! I can’t recommend this book enough.
This was SUCH a good book. I had my doubts at the start but once I settled into the style and tone, I was absolutely hooked.
This one is marketed as a cosy fantasy and while it definitely has elements of that, I’d argue that it’s more cosy horror if such a thing could exist. Very horror lite, but also definitely has horror elements throughout.
I LOVED Peter so, so much. He’s such a sad, tired, wonderful person. He’s suffered so much and he builds these protective walls to keep his heart safe, but he still goes out of his way to help people without letting them in too far.
But all that changes when the people of Harrington get under his skin and its history entwines with his own.
The relationships he forms in this book, every single one of them, hooked my heart. His love for these people and the spirits around them was palpable. I laughed, I teared up, I was on the edge of my seat during some moments. I felt so many things reading this book.
The soft, slow romance between Peter and David made my heart sing. They were so lovely together, so careful with each other.
Ahh! I can’t recommend this book enough.
February 6, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC, this story didn’t just tug at my heartstrings; it built a nest there. The Keeper of Lonely Spirits is one of those rare gems of a book for me (and how lucky I was to stumble across the beautiful cover art on NetGalley. Somethings are meant to be, I suppose.) E.M. Anderson masterfully entwines the darker themes of loss, grief, and loneliness with the warmth of found family, the beauty of human connection, and the art of love (both romantic and platonic) at all stages of life. From the grumpy yet deeply tender groundskeeper Peter (old as shite and utterly endearing) to the fierce and fabulous Samira, every character has a purpose, a moment, a heartbeat. Their journeys through sorrow and healing felt genuine and relatable. The only thing this book was missing for me? A never-ending cup of tea and a rainy day to match its poignant, heartfelt prose.
March 29, 2025
Peter is probably one of the best book characters I have ever read. He is relatable in so many ways and written in a way that makes you look at yourself in a different light.
Cursed to never die he spends his over 200 years roaming the earth ridding it of unhappy spirits. He’s never put down roots after his beloved Jack died when they were in their 80’s and his neighbors started to notice he wasn’t aging beyond that. Once his 100th birthday came and went he started off on his journey. Every ghost he chases he hopes will be his last.
Peter’s arrival in Harrington brings a terrible anger and sadness from a ghost who is holding the entire town in its palm. While Peter is on a quest to save Harrington, Harrington saves him.
David, Neveah, Sayid, and Samira show Peter what love and family really mean. The book is riddled with life lessons for those of us a little lost, feeling a little unloved, for anyone who feels different and not seen.
Cursed to never die he spends his over 200 years roaming the earth ridding it of unhappy spirits. He’s never put down roots after his beloved Jack died when they were in their 80’s and his neighbors started to notice he wasn’t aging beyond that. Once his 100th birthday came and went he started off on his journey. Every ghost he chases he hopes will be his last.
Peter’s arrival in Harrington brings a terrible anger and sadness from a ghost who is holding the entire town in its palm. While Peter is on a quest to save Harrington, Harrington saves him.
David, Neveah, Sayid, and Samira show Peter what love and family really mean. The book is riddled with life lessons for those of us a little lost, feeling a little unloved, for anyone who feels different and not seen.
August 7, 2025
A paranormal tale of a cursed, aged, immortal ghost hunter who can see the dead and uses his gift to solve ghost mysteries and help restless spirits pass to "the other side". The story unfolds at a contemplative pace, which could be mistaken for cozy, but does not shy away from heavier themes like death and loss. Themes of healing and found family help to balance it out.
Peter follows rumors of a troublesome spirit to a small, historic town in Ohio. Posing as the new groundskeeper (don't worry about how he got the job it's fine), he finds himself drawn into the lives of certain townspeople and, despite his intentions to remain distant, becomes more entangled in the community than he expected. I couldn't put this down!
Peter follows rumors of a troublesome spirit to a small, historic town in Ohio. Posing as the new groundskeeper (don't worry about how he got the job it's fine), he finds himself drawn into the lives of certain townspeople and, despite his intentions to remain distant, becomes more entangled in the community than he expected. I couldn't put this down!
April 4, 2025
4.5 stars
I thought this would be a sweet, cozy fantasy book and it is, but it's also so much more. This grabbed me from the start and never let me go. I love the magical realism and how the ghosts and faeries were an integral part of the characters' lives, for better or worse. And the characters were my absolute favourite part, I adored all of them and it was so lovely to see them grow and bond. I felt so deeply for Peter and his curse to go anywhere he wanted, but just not home. The keeper of lonely spirits was ultimately the loneliest spirit.
In short, this was beautiful and heartfelt and I need more people to read it!
I thought this would be a sweet, cozy fantasy book and it is, but it's also so much more. This grabbed me from the start and never let me go. I love the magical realism and how the ghosts and faeries were an integral part of the characters' lives, for better or worse. And the characters were my absolute favourite part, I adored all of them and it was so lovely to see them grow and bond. I felt so deeply for Peter and his curse to go anywhere he wanted, but just not home. The keeper of lonely spirits was ultimately the loneliest spirit.
In short, this was beautiful and heartfelt and I need more people to read it!
June 19, 2025
Anderson's The Keeper of Lonely Spirits has made me a fan of her writing for life. The subtlety of the magic and the worldbuilding, the sweetness of the characters, the terrible clarity and realism of how grief is written...everything about this book was wonderful. I slipped into the story quickly, and could barely put it down as it unfolded, especially for the last half. It's just a wonderfully queer, smartly written, and thoughtful story, with just enough danger and fear to keep things interesting.
Absolutely recommended.
Absolutely recommended.
March 22, 2025
I definitely enjoyed this book more towards the end and there was a scene that made me a little teary eyed. However, it did feel as though it started off a little slow and took a bit to really get into.
I loved the direction the story went and all of the representation spread throughout.
I think I would have been happier if the ending had a little more added to it and had a more substantial feeling to it since the book definitely focused on things like that.
Overall, it was a but slow, but definitely enjoyable.
I loved the direction the story went and all of the representation spread throughout.
I think I would have been happier if the ending had a little more added to it and had a more substantial feeling to it since the book definitely focused on things like that.
Overall, it was a but slow, but definitely enjoyable.
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