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Ghostling
Circle of Seven Book 1Etherall Valley Academy. It’s an elite school for students facing “unique challenges” – so there’s going to be drama.
Mimi’s unique challenge is her trio of invisible companions, but nobody can know about that. Her plan is to blend in, keep her head down, and simply survive her final year at this new high school.
That’s until she’s selected for the school’s gifted program. It’s a class like no seven very different people with talents Mimi never suspected. Among them is bookish Drew, dark and solitary behind his facade of spikes, piercings and dramatic makeup. He barely looks at Mimi, and yet she always feels like he’s watching her.
Their mentor says their gathering is a convergence of their powers – that they must learn to use their gifts in balance and connection – but that’s not easy when secrets, rivalries and desires are in play.
Mimi just needs to survive her final year of high school. Literally.
Settle in for a tale that brings heartbreak, happiness and understanding to a wonderful group of kids as Mimi finds a place where she finally fits in and it is a place where everyone is uniquely different in their own way. (Goodreads)
This was a fast paced, action packed and an extremely well detailed story. So much happened, it kept me engaged and I really didn’t want to put it down. (Goodreads)
Ghostling is Book 1 of the Circle of Seven trilogy. Content this novel contains some violence (including family violence), cult and exorcism themes, attempted abduction, paranormal themes and occasional swearing.
Mimi’s unique challenge is her trio of invisible companions, but nobody can know about that. Her plan is to blend in, keep her head down, and simply survive her final year at this new high school.
That’s until she’s selected for the school’s gifted program. It’s a class like no seven very different people with talents Mimi never suspected. Among them is bookish Drew, dark and solitary behind his facade of spikes, piercings and dramatic makeup. He barely looks at Mimi, and yet she always feels like he’s watching her.
Their mentor says their gathering is a convergence of their powers – that they must learn to use their gifts in balance and connection – but that’s not easy when secrets, rivalries and desires are in play.
Mimi just needs to survive her final year of high school. Literally.
Settle in for a tale that brings heartbreak, happiness and understanding to a wonderful group of kids as Mimi finds a place where she finally fits in and it is a place where everyone is uniquely different in their own way. (Goodreads)
This was a fast paced, action packed and an extremely well detailed story. So much happened, it kept me engaged and I really didn’t want to put it down. (Goodreads)
Ghostling is Book 1 of the Circle of Seven trilogy. Content this novel contains some violence (including family violence), cult and exorcism themes, attempted abduction, paranormal themes and occasional swearing.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2025
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Ash Harrier
10 books33 followersAsh Harrier lives in Perth, Western Australia. She is an Ambassador for the Books in Homes Australia charity, which helps children in disadvantaged circumstances build their home libraries. Ash has a great fondness for puzzles, scientific facts, birds and the smell of dried tea. Some of her favourite pastimes are reading, daydreaming and spending time in the garden with her small flock of hens.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 2, 2025
**4.5 stars**
I got my hands on this book a couple of months before the publication date (due to be published 2 February 2025) as I proudly was a backer for the Kickstarter. And I'm SO glad that this project happened because what a fantastic book; I devoured it. While marketed as a young adult novel, I really believe many adults would thoroughly enjoy it. Think teenage angst in combination with secret paranormal powers, add in forbidden romance, and buckle in for some drama. Our lead character is Mimi who has her issues, namely that she has ghost companions. She is starting at a new high school as a boarder when she is invited into the 'gifted program'; six students already attend and their unique talents are soon revealed. With a cast of intriguing characters, and a focus on Mimi building relationships after being a 'loner' for some time while also having her paranormal world widened, it was easy to get sucked into the narrative.
Can't wait for the next instalment!
I got my hands on this book a couple of months before the publication date (due to be published 2 February 2025) as I proudly was a backer for the Kickstarter. And I'm SO glad that this project happened because what a fantastic book; I devoured it. While marketed as a young adult novel, I really believe many adults would thoroughly enjoy it. Think teenage angst in combination with secret paranormal powers, add in forbidden romance, and buckle in for some drama. Our lead character is Mimi who has her issues, namely that she has ghost companions. She is starting at a new high school as a boarder when she is invited into the 'gifted program'; six students already attend and their unique talents are soon revealed. With a cast of intriguing characters, and a focus on Mimi building relationships after being a 'loner' for some time while also having her paranormal world widened, it was easy to get sucked into the narrative.
Can't wait for the next instalment!
December 4, 2024
This story was pretty good. It was suspenseful and kept you guessing what would happen next. I’m interested in seeing what happens in the next two books. It’s definitely YA. There is some profanity, though no sexual content.
August 1, 2025
Ghostling does not disappoint. YA dark academia with supernatural powers, solid friendships, and an overarching sense that the seven you get to meet are only a tiny part of something bigger.
I can't wait for the next book!!!
I can't wait for the next book!!!
October 24, 2025
Overall review:
A young adult dark academia paranormal romance that ticks all the boxes.
Lots of questions raised with big answers delivered as the mystery deepens – so much suspense around who to trust and what the clues mean. The pacing and drama are perfect for YA. The moment you realise the significance of the cover art, you will gasp and keep reading to find out how everything unfolds! Book 1 leaves plenty of intrigue to keep readers waiting for the sequels.
So many interesting and unexpected characters are drawn into the weave of this story. Although loosely grounded in high school cliques, every character feels rounded, with their own arc to grow through. As Mimi learns more about herself and her new friends, she also falls hopelessly in love. There is so much more to the world and journey in Ghostling, but the will-they-won’t-they romance was a page-turner.
The Etherall Valley Academy is an American boarding school with an interesting premise. The story makes you want to be a part of the program and the tight-knit crew. The contemporary boarding school has very restrictive rules – less Harry Potter, more private school vibes – which makes the academy seem real. I would have loved a little more insight into the school itself and its place in the wider world, but I feel this will come with the sequels. Book 1 scratches the surface of the lore and hidden life of the school and the mysterious cult threatening to ruin everything.
Mimi’s worldview and sass make this novel insightful and comedic in a satisfyingly dark way. The narrative voice is well-suited to a YA audience – with some modern slang dotted throughout – but still relatable for older readers. Sensitive topics are handled with care and a light touch. Even the scenes taking place over the virtual chatroom ooze with character and tension.
Ghostling brings together all the juicy tropes of a mysterious academy and teens with supernatural powers while also exploring deeper issues. There were so many red herrings and unexpected twists that it was impossible to predict how the pieces fit together. The combination of paranormal and coming-of-age elements, on a backdrop of well-developed lore and intrigue, makes this novel standout from the rest.
5 Stars
(Star rating rounded up if 0.7 or more)
A young adult dark academia paranormal romance that ticks all the boxes.
Lots of questions raised with big answers delivered as the mystery deepens – so much suspense around who to trust and what the clues mean. The pacing and drama are perfect for YA. The moment you realise the significance of the cover art, you will gasp and keep reading to find out how everything unfolds! Book 1 leaves plenty of intrigue to keep readers waiting for the sequels.
So many interesting and unexpected characters are drawn into the weave of this story. Although loosely grounded in high school cliques, every character feels rounded, with their own arc to grow through. As Mimi learns more about herself and her new friends, she also falls hopelessly in love. There is so much more to the world and journey in Ghostling, but the will-they-won’t-they romance was a page-turner.
The Etherall Valley Academy is an American boarding school with an interesting premise. The story makes you want to be a part of the program and the tight-knit crew. The contemporary boarding school has very restrictive rules – less Harry Potter, more private school vibes – which makes the academy seem real. I would have loved a little more insight into the school itself and its place in the wider world, but I feel this will come with the sequels. Book 1 scratches the surface of the lore and hidden life of the school and the mysterious cult threatening to ruin everything.
Mimi’s worldview and sass make this novel insightful and comedic in a satisfyingly dark way. The narrative voice is well-suited to a YA audience – with some modern slang dotted throughout – but still relatable for older readers. Sensitive topics are handled with care and a light touch. Even the scenes taking place over the virtual chatroom ooze with character and tension.
Ghostling brings together all the juicy tropes of a mysterious academy and teens with supernatural powers while also exploring deeper issues. There were so many red herrings and unexpected twists that it was impossible to predict how the pieces fit together. The combination of paranormal and coming-of-age elements, on a backdrop of well-developed lore and intrigue, makes this novel standout from the rest.
5 Stars
(Star rating rounded up if 0.7 or more)
April 15, 2025
started good and by the end I couldn't put it down
January 9, 2025
16 year old Mimi, struggling with what her parents believed to be a strange mental Illness is sent to an exclusive boarding school for ‘troubled kids’. There she meets six others like her, proving to herself she isn’t crazy after all.
I loved everything about this book. The characters were interesting and well drawn, the writing was excellent, and the story was unique and super engaging. There were twists and reveals I totally didn’t see coming, and one chapter that I had to put the book down to calm myself before continuing.
One thing that always bugs me with “YA” is the trap of writing teenagers as pathetic and juvenile, when it really doesn’t have to be that way. Ash Harrier avoided this trope, and wrote a book about high school students that can be read by adults. The characters were able to have mature conversations, as well as think rationally. They even had friendships with the opposite gender without it turning into the inevitable romantic relationship.
Found family, supernatural powers, dark academia, forbidden romance, page-turner, YA urban fantasy, Australian author.
I loved everything about this book. The characters were interesting and well drawn, the writing was excellent, and the story was unique and super engaging. There were twists and reveals I totally didn’t see coming, and one chapter that I had to put the book down to calm myself before continuing.
One thing that always bugs me with “YA” is the trap of writing teenagers as pathetic and juvenile, when it really doesn’t have to be that way. Ash Harrier avoided this trope, and wrote a book about high school students that can be read by adults. The characters were able to have mature conversations, as well as think rationally. They even had friendships with the opposite gender without it turning into the inevitable romantic relationship.
Found family, supernatural powers, dark academia, forbidden romance, page-turner, YA urban fantasy, Australian author.
February 12, 2025
This is an amazing YA where we follow Mimi who can see ghosts.
The story takes place in Etherall Valley academy and is the first book out of two. It has everything you want in this kind of story. Suspense, intense scenes, love interest, mystery, premonitions and so much more.
I loved the world building, the character development and the pace of the book. It kept me on my seat and yes. I had to finish just one more chapter around 3am the day I picked it up. I absolutely loved it and I cant wait to read the sequel. Because I need to know what is gonna happen to Mimi and her friends.
The story takes place in Etherall Valley academy and is the first book out of two. It has everything you want in this kind of story. Suspense, intense scenes, love interest, mystery, premonitions and so much more.
I loved the world building, the character development and the pace of the book. It kept me on my seat and yes. I had to finish just one more chapter around 3am the day I picked it up. I absolutely loved it and I cant wait to read the sequel. Because I need to know what is gonna happen to Mimi and her friends.
February 26, 2025
Ghostling is a YA paranormal and totally worth the read if you’re looking for a ‘superpower’ teens fix.
A little background for this story, too. A decade ago, Harrier (aka S.D. Wasley) published The Seventh (in fact, it was a 3-book series), and she recently got her rights back to do a rewrite and self-publish. The Seventh is now called Ghostling, and this beautiful cover is the end result of Harrier’s re-work and vision for the series! She will soon follow up with Book 2 (Darkling) and Book 3 (Deathling) – bonus points: she’s an Australian author!
The story: Etherall Valley Academy is an elite school for students facing ‘unique challenges’, and Mimi’s unique challenge is her trio of invisible companions, but nobody can know about that. Her plan is to blend in, keep her head down, and simply survive her final year at this new high school. That is until she’s selected for the school’s gifted program, but it’s a class like no other: seven very different people with talents Mimi never suspected. Their mentor says their ‘class’ is a convergence of their powers, but that’s not easy when secrets, rivalries, and desires are in play.
Ghostling was an incredibly enjoyable read and will certainly appeal to its YA audience. Easy to read, easy to comprehend, and your young reader will definitely be able to relate to at least one of the characters.
There’s heartbreak, there’s adventure, and it kept me engaged the whole way through. I was really rooting for Mimi in this story, and can’t wait for Darkling to come out later this year. This is dark academia for youth and is definitely a page turner.
There are some content warnings for parents: family violence, cult themes, attempted abduction, paranormal themes, and occasional swearing.
A little background for this story, too. A decade ago, Harrier (aka S.D. Wasley) published The Seventh (in fact, it was a 3-book series), and she recently got her rights back to do a rewrite and self-publish. The Seventh is now called Ghostling, and this beautiful cover is the end result of Harrier’s re-work and vision for the series! She will soon follow up with Book 2 (Darkling) and Book 3 (Deathling) – bonus points: she’s an Australian author!
The story: Etherall Valley Academy is an elite school for students facing ‘unique challenges’, and Mimi’s unique challenge is her trio of invisible companions, but nobody can know about that. Her plan is to blend in, keep her head down, and simply survive her final year at this new high school. That is until she’s selected for the school’s gifted program, but it’s a class like no other: seven very different people with talents Mimi never suspected. Their mentor says their ‘class’ is a convergence of their powers, but that’s not easy when secrets, rivalries, and desires are in play.
Ghostling was an incredibly enjoyable read and will certainly appeal to its YA audience. Easy to read, easy to comprehend, and your young reader will definitely be able to relate to at least one of the characters.
There’s heartbreak, there’s adventure, and it kept me engaged the whole way through. I was really rooting for Mimi in this story, and can’t wait for Darkling to come out later this year. This is dark academia for youth and is definitely a page turner.
There are some content warnings for parents: family violence, cult themes, attempted abduction, paranormal themes, and occasional swearing.
March 19, 2025
I am not the target audience for YA but I found this book and loved everything about it! It’s a sassy story of seven young people with amazing but hidden talents who come together in their final year of school at Ertherall Valley Academy - an elite school for students facing ‘unique challenges’. But it’s also about finding your tribe, recognising and loving your own uniqueness and creating something even more special by combining talents! And there’s a hot guy! Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews