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Southlands #5
Among Ghosts
Set in the world of New York Times bestseller Seraphina, a boy on the run from a dragon—among other dangers—seeks refuge in a haunted abbey in this wholly original ghost story about what haunts us, and what connects us.
A few things to know about the town of St. Muckle’ It’s too out-of-the-way to interest greedy lords, and too damp and muddy for marauding dragons to burn. And anyone, from a humble serf to a runaway nun, may earn their freedom by living for a year and a day within the town walls. Seven years ago, Charl and his mother fled to St. Muckle’s and made it their safe-haven, building a new life in this so called Peasant’s Paradise. But when Charl sees something impossible—a ghost—soon the embers of his past are threatening to engulf his world in flame. A tragic accident is quickly followed by murder, a deadly plague, and a mercenary dragon.
Charl manages to escape to an abandoned abbey outside of town, but finds no safety within those ruined walls. A treacherous nun, a chorus of murdered girls, and the fearsome Battle Bishop await, ready to ensnare him in a complex web of history, magic and fate. For some things should never be forgotten, however much they haunt us, and Charl will need all his wisdom and resiliency if he is to fight for the world he knows…and the people he calls home.
Discover more critically-acclaimed fantasy from Rachel Hartman!
Seraphina
Shadow Scale
Tess of the Road
A few things to know about the town of St. Muckle’ It’s too out-of-the-way to interest greedy lords, and too damp and muddy for marauding dragons to burn. And anyone, from a humble serf to a runaway nun, may earn their freedom by living for a year and a day within the town walls. Seven years ago, Charl and his mother fled to St. Muckle’s and made it their safe-haven, building a new life in this so called Peasant’s Paradise. But when Charl sees something impossible—a ghost—soon the embers of his past are threatening to engulf his world in flame. A tragic accident is quickly followed by murder, a deadly plague, and a mercenary dragon.
Charl manages to escape to an abandoned abbey outside of town, but finds no safety within those ruined walls. A treacherous nun, a chorus of murdered girls, and the fearsome Battle Bishop await, ready to ensnare him in a complex web of history, magic and fate. For some things should never be forgotten, however much they haunt us, and Charl will need all his wisdom and resiliency if he is to fight for the world he knows…and the people he calls home.
Discover more critically-acclaimed fantasy from Rachel Hartman!
Seraphina
Shadow Scale
Tess of the Road
Audible Audio
First published June 24, 2025
32 people are currently reading
2538 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hartman
14 books3,969 followersRachel Hartman lives and writes in Vancouver, BC.
Her first YA fantasy novel, Seraphina, was published by Random House on July 10th, 2012. Here are some things that are already being said about Seraphina by some fabulous authors:
“A book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales, with a heroine who insists on carving herself a place in your mind.” — Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of the Temeraire series.
“Seraphina is strong, complex, talented — she makes mistakes and struggles to trust, with good reason, and she fights to survive in a world that would tear her apart. I love this book!” — Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author.
“Just when you thought there was nothing new to say about dragons, it turns out there is, and plenty! Rachel Hartman’s rich invention never fails to impress — and to convince. It’s smart and funny and original, and has characters I will follow to the ends of the earth.” — Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award-winning author.
Her first YA fantasy novel, Seraphina, was published by Random House on July 10th, 2012. Here are some things that are already being said about Seraphina by some fabulous authors:
“A book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales, with a heroine who insists on carving herself a place in your mind.” — Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of the Temeraire series.
“Seraphina is strong, complex, talented — she makes mistakes and struggles to trust, with good reason, and she fights to survive in a world that would tear her apart. I love this book!” — Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author.
“Just when you thought there was nothing new to say about dragons, it turns out there is, and plenty! Rachel Hartman’s rich invention never fails to impress — and to convince. It’s smart and funny and original, and has characters I will follow to the ends of the earth.” — Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award-winning author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
July 27, 2025
I’ll say here what I said about Tess. Hartman is heir to Lloyd Alexander.
October 29, 2025
Pure perfection. A moving, sometimes heart wrenching story set in the same world as Seraphina et al but with no overlap, about a boy and the people he loves and what it means to be strong and do right by others when you are relatively powerless and the chips are down (trying so hard to give away nothing, because the slow unpeeling of layers was part of why the writing is so good). It’s complicated but simple and the many layers of intertwined stories all build perfectly. Loved every page.
June 25, 2025
CW: insects, vomit, pandemic/epidemic, child death, blood, violence, death, fire/fire injury, medical content, religious bigotry, domestic abuse, (references to) pregnancy
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way impacted my final rating.
Set in the backdrop of a frightening plague, as heart-wrenching as it is magical, Among Ghosts is ultimately a story of redemption.
The world this novel is set in is so lovingly, thoroughly crafted, I could feel it on every page. While I would say there is a relatively large cast, it felt like nearly every character was lovingly devoted page time without once slowing down the flow of the plot. The setting is rich and visual. The magic, established over four previous books, is precise and clear.
Don't let this gorgeously whimsical cover fool you - as sweet as the characters are, there is a good dose of darkness. It also featured one of the most disgusting descriptions of a magical illness I have ever read in my LIFE. As a connoisseur of horror as well as fantasy, I thought it was masterful.
While I have been interested in Hartman's Seraphina universe for several years, I have yet had the opportunity to prioritize them. After reading this book, that changes NOW. Reading this book was a wonderful experience and I am so looking forward to reading more in this setting.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way impacted my final rating.
Set in the backdrop of a frightening plague, as heart-wrenching as it is magical, Among Ghosts is ultimately a story of redemption.
The world this novel is set in is so lovingly, thoroughly crafted, I could feel it on every page. While I would say there is a relatively large cast, it felt like nearly every character was lovingly devoted page time without once slowing down the flow of the plot. The setting is rich and visual. The magic, established over four previous books, is precise and clear.
Don't let this gorgeously whimsical cover fool you - as sweet as the characters are, there is a good dose of darkness. It also featured one of the most disgusting descriptions of a magical illness I have ever read in my LIFE. As a connoisseur of horror as well as fantasy, I thought it was masterful.
While I have been interested in Hartman's Seraphina universe for several years, I have yet had the opportunity to prioritize them. After reading this book, that changes NOW. Reading this book was a wonderful experience and I am so looking forward to reading more in this setting.
June 21, 2025
This fantasy novel is set in a small town in a medieval-ish world. 13 year old Charl and his mother have been living there since he was 6, since his mother ran away from her abusive husband, an earl, and since then she has set out to improve the conditions in the town. But then a bully hatches a plan against Charl, a plague breaks out, just as multiple people converge on the town looking for them - a nun, a mercenary for the earl, and a dragon. And Charl ends up hiding out with the nun at an old monastery outside of town, which he soon realizes is haunted by ghosts, both friendly and not.
I have read and loved all four of Rachel Hartman’s previous books - the Seraphina duology and the Tess of the Road duology, and I’m happy to say I loved this one too. It’s set in the same world as those books - one where dragons can take human form - but it’s set at a different time and with different characters so can definitely be read as a standalone. It combines great characters and a great world with some interesting themes - here including religion and some subtle LGBTQ themes. I highly recommend Hartman’s books to all fantasy fans; this one in particular I think might appeal to those who like VE Schwab.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 6/24/25); all opinions are my own.
I have read and loved all four of Rachel Hartman’s previous books - the Seraphina duology and the Tess of the Road duology, and I’m happy to say I loved this one too. It’s set in the same world as those books - one where dragons can take human form - but it’s set at a different time and with different characters so can definitely be read as a standalone. It combines great characters and a great world with some interesting themes - here including religion and some subtle LGBTQ themes. I highly recommend Hartman’s books to all fantasy fans; this one in particular I think might appeal to those who like VE Schwab.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 6/24/25); all opinions are my own.
September 13, 2025
Charl and his mother Ilene, have fled the powerful and tyrannical rule of their father and husband - the Earl of something. They have landed in a small out of the way community. Ilene has used her dowry to set up an inn and create a middle-class utopia, where simple folk can have a secure and happy life. But then plague hits, dragons attack and kidnappers in disguise show up, spreading doubt and fear. Do the ghosts at the nearby Abby offer a sanctuary or just more instability for the beleaguered community.
Hartman has woven a complex and exciting plot. Charl is a sympathetic and at times, reluctantly noble character. The villains are complex and at times, surprising. Since this book ended with a number of dangling threads I’m sure there is another to come. Every book she has set in this world has a second volume. My guess is this will be her third duology. It will not be necessary to read the first four to enjoy this, but they are worth reading.
Hartman has woven a complex and exciting plot. Charl is a sympathetic and at times, reluctantly noble character. The villains are complex and at times, surprising. Since this book ended with a number of dangling threads I’m sure there is another to come. Every book she has set in this world has a second volume. My guess is this will be her third duology. It will not be necessary to read the first four to enjoy this, but they are worth reading.
August 7, 2025
“One may be wise and wrong, just as one may be foolish and good. So don’t put too much stock in your own wisdom.”
4 ⭐️
Awww this was a really sweet book! The cast of characters was very lovable, and the plot was well laid out. The ghosts were my favorites, their love for each other and the living world was so tangible.
The pacing was a bit inconsistent, though. Really slow to start, and then the finish was very fast. Overall, I would have just hoped that the plot points would be more spread out.
This was still a lot of fun to read, though!
4 ⭐️
Awww this was a really sweet book! The cast of characters was very lovable, and the plot was well laid out. The ghosts were my favorites, their love for each other and the living world was so tangible.
The pacing was a bit inconsistent, though. Really slow to start, and then the finish was very fast. Overall, I would have just hoped that the plot points would be more spread out.
This was still a lot of fun to read, though!
July 17, 2025
Rating - 2.5/5
Thank you @penguinteenca for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really wanted to like this book. I could tell it had a lot of potential, and it seemed really interesting which is why I’m not giving it a zero on my scale. But it also had way too much going on, and definitely not enough organization to properly approach the amount of things it tried to. I would’ve liked any of the plots individually, but each of them together just became clumpy, and didn’t benefit the story at all.
I personally think this book did itself its greatest disservice by marketing itself as a teen book to begin with. Charl is 13. The plot and execution of this novel SCREAMED middle grade, and I think I would’ve liked it more if that’s what I’d been expecting.
Despite how much was going on, I felt like literally nothing was happening until two hundred pages in, which made the first two hundred pages incredibly boring to read. The last one hundred though, were quite fun even though the ending was pretty dissapointing and open ended.
This is a personal issue that will contain spoilers, but halfway through the book, a (what felt like it was supposed to be major but mostly fell flat and was almost missed until they kept trying to drive the point home) reveal was made that Charl was transgender. Obviously this is great and I love to see trans representation in books, but I kind of HATED that it felt like it was meant to be there for shock value and to be this big “oh” moment, when we could’ve been enjoying a strong trans protag from the start. And also it felt almost like this decision was made halfway through the writing in the book and they forgot to go back and sync up the story to accommodate for it.
Given one more edit, a rebrand to a middle grade novel, and one or two scratched out plot lines, I think this book could’ve been so much more enjoyable, but I do imagine there are people out there that will enjoy it regardless.
Thank you @penguinteenca for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really wanted to like this book. I could tell it had a lot of potential, and it seemed really interesting which is why I’m not giving it a zero on my scale. But it also had way too much going on, and definitely not enough organization to properly approach the amount of things it tried to. I would’ve liked any of the plots individually, but each of them together just became clumpy, and didn’t benefit the story at all.
I personally think this book did itself its greatest disservice by marketing itself as a teen book to begin with. Charl is 13. The plot and execution of this novel SCREAMED middle grade, and I think I would’ve liked it more if that’s what I’d been expecting.
Despite how much was going on, I felt like literally nothing was happening until two hundred pages in, which made the first two hundred pages incredibly boring to read. The last one hundred though, were quite fun even though the ending was pretty dissapointing and open ended.
This is a personal issue that will contain spoilers, but halfway through the book, a (what felt like it was supposed to be major but mostly fell flat and was almost missed until they kept trying to drive the point home) reveal was made that Charl was transgender. Obviously this is great and I love to see trans representation in books, but I kind of HATED that it felt like it was meant to be there for shock value and to be this big “oh” moment, when we could’ve been enjoying a strong trans protag from the start. And also it felt almost like this decision was made halfway through the writing in the book and they forgot to go back and sync up the story to accommodate for it.
Given one more edit, a rebrand to a middle grade novel, and one or two scratched out plot lines, I think this book could’ve been so much more enjoyable, but I do imagine there are people out there that will enjoy it regardless.
September 24, 2025
✩₊˚.⋆👻⋆⁺₊✧
“When you’re dead, everything alive looks so beautiful. I have always thought it a pity that we never get to see the world like this while we’re alive. Maybe we would value each other more if we could see how we shine. How would we be different if we saw what really is? Could we kill each other, if we had even the tiniest inkling of what we’re made of?”
Oh how absolutely lovely this was! Rich and engaging writing, adorable characters so full of personality, and many valuable lessons to take away. This was deeper and more thoughtful than some of the adult fantasy I've been reading recently.
Charl is impossible not to love from the moment he appears. Perfect little protagonist, who has to face some very hard challenges but he faces them with bravery and wisdom, and with friends. The ghosts were wonderful, I LOVED learning about their backstories so much. I love how every character had nuance and layers, even the "villains" had valuable input. And dragon/human shifters? How cool!!! The dialogues were often very witty as well and I laughed quite a lot!
The cover is very gorgeous as well. The audiobook narrator was also perfect and did a wonderful job with this. I'm excited to check out more books from this universe!
February 20, 2025
The premise for this one was incredibly intriguing, but I kept waiting for the plot to pick up. I like slower paced novels and ones that leave room for the characters to grow, but I couldn’t seem to connect with any of the characters. It did deal with some dark themes like death and the plague but I always felt removed from it.
I was hoping it would grip me, but ultimately I struggled through it.
(Thank you to NetGalley for the arc)
I was hoping it would grip me, but ultimately I struggled through it.
(Thank you to NetGalley for the arc)
May 11, 2025
4/5 ⭐️
The perfect book to bridge from middle grade to YA.
Now I haven’t read this authors other books, but I heard great things about her Seraphina and decided to give her newest book a chance. This was amazing! It’s a fun story that simultaneously tackles tough issues in a manner that is digestible for a slightly younger audience while still being engaging for an older one. Just to list some of the topics tackled here: the idea of second chances, ghosts (literal and the past that haunts you), bullying, conformity, domestic abuse, being trans, kindness, and found family.
This is a story I, with my whole heart, recommend this to any lover of fantasy and stories like Ella Enchanted for example. It has a very similar tone to that while also weaving in great messages. I recommend this to anyone who reads middle grades and ya books. This was absolutely adorable and thought provoking. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children's for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
If you do not care for mild spoilers, continue to see my thoughts while reading:
Among Ghosts
A bridge between MG & YA?
1st ch is unraveling interestingly
Class divide
Heavy topic of abuse but done in a way that’s digestible for a audience
Not action pack, may not hold a kids attention as much as say Percy Jackson, but the lesson here is very important and I love how it’s being told
POV shifts slightly, 3rd person omniscient, gives a fairytale feel to it
Very eventful. A lot happening in 2nd half
The depiction of someone experiencing a panic attack is very accurate
Is charl trans?
Him having a crush is so adorable & realistic
The perfect book to bridge from middle grade to YA.
Now I haven’t read this authors other books, but I heard great things about her Seraphina and decided to give her newest book a chance. This was amazing! It’s a fun story that simultaneously tackles tough issues in a manner that is digestible for a slightly younger audience while still being engaging for an older one. Just to list some of the topics tackled here: the idea of second chances, ghosts (literal and the past that haunts you), bullying, conformity, domestic abuse, being trans, kindness, and found family.
This is a story I, with my whole heart, recommend this to any lover of fantasy and stories like Ella Enchanted for example. It has a very similar tone to that while also weaving in great messages. I recommend this to anyone who reads middle grades and ya books. This was absolutely adorable and thought provoking. I loved it.
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children's for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
If you do not care for mild spoilers, continue to see my thoughts while reading:
Among Ghosts
A bridge between MG & YA?
1st ch is unraveling interestingly
Class divide
Heavy topic of abuse but done in a way that’s digestible for a audience
Not action pack, may not hold a kids attention as much as say Percy Jackson, but the lesson here is very important and I love how it’s being told
POV shifts slightly, 3rd person omniscient, gives a fairytale feel to it
Very eventful. A lot happening in 2nd half
The depiction of someone experiencing a panic attack is very accurate
Is charl trans?
Him having a crush is so adorable & realistic
June 23, 2025
Thanks to PRHAudio for the preview. All opinions are my own.
Having loved Seraphina and Dragon Scale, I was excited for this. Sadly, I was disappointed. Will Watt did a fantastic job with the narration, but I felt disconnected from the story. There wasn’t a ton of plot (and I do normally really like character driven books). But this kind of dragged and I found myself bored.
There were still moments of emotional brilliance. And there were definitely some moving passages. But overall, I was underwhelmed. I think this will still find a lot of fans. My rating is probably closer to 3.25-3.5 stars.
Having loved Seraphina and Dragon Scale, I was excited for this. Sadly, I was disappointed. Will Watt did a fantastic job with the narration, but I felt disconnected from the story. There wasn’t a ton of plot (and I do normally really like character driven books). But this kind of dragged and I found myself bored.
There were still moments of emotional brilliance. And there were definitely some moving passages. But overall, I was underwhelmed. I think this will still find a lot of fans. My rating is probably closer to 3.25-3.5 stars.
June 29, 2025
5+ stars!!
I am a big fan of Hartman’s Seraphina books (well, 3 of them, anyway), so I was really looking forward to reading this. And I was not disappointed at all! My gosh, what a gripping story! So many things happening, but Hartman wove them all together expertly. I really appreciated the complexity of the characters, too. No one was one-dimensional. Even the “bad guys” weren’t all bad, or had some way of at least generating sympathy for how they turned out. So many fantasy novels seem to fail at this, which really lessens my enjoyment of them. All of the people in this book (including the dragons) were multi-faceted.
There were times when it was hard to read - some of the more gruesome bits with the beetles, or the ghosts, or some of the places where people were cruel - but they weren’t extended scenes so they were tolerable. The overall feel of the book is very HUMAN and HUMANE. Charl is a wonderful protagonist, and I loved his backstory! (No spoilers!) Like all good books, Charl evolves and grows from all the challenges he faces, but he doesn’t face them alone. I just loved all the relationships he had that helped him survive.
[audiobook notes]The narration was quite good! At first I thought the voice was way too deep for a book about a 13 year old boy, but the narrator did a great job with making Charl, and all other characters, feel real. Kudos!
So, overall: HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! I predict this will become one of my favorite books to reread! Bravo, Rachel Hartman!
I am a big fan of Hartman’s Seraphina books (well, 3 of them, anyway), so I was really looking forward to reading this. And I was not disappointed at all! My gosh, what a gripping story! So many things happening, but Hartman wove them all together expertly. I really appreciated the complexity of the characters, too. No one was one-dimensional. Even the “bad guys” weren’t all bad, or had some way of at least generating sympathy for how they turned out. So many fantasy novels seem to fail at this, which really lessens my enjoyment of them. All of the people in this book (including the dragons) were multi-faceted.
There were times when it was hard to read - some of the more gruesome bits with the beetles, or the ghosts, or some of the places where people were cruel - but they weren’t extended scenes so they were tolerable. The overall feel of the book is very HUMAN and HUMANE. Charl is a wonderful protagonist, and I loved his backstory! (No spoilers!) Like all good books, Charl evolves and grows from all the challenges he faces, but he doesn’t face them alone. I just loved all the relationships he had that helped him survive.
[audiobook notes]The narration was quite good! At first I thought the voice was way too deep for a book about a 13 year old boy, but the narrator did a great job with making Charl, and all other characters, feel real. Kudos!
So, overall: HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! I predict this will become one of my favorite books to reread! Bravo, Rachel Hartman!
October 12, 2025
I love Rachel Hartman’s work so much and I especially appreciate her approach to YA.
This story is exactly as raw as it sounds and it’s also beautiful in how it tries to think seriously about being a good person in the way that only story can. It’s beautiful because it can’t boil itself down to a maxim and also it’s lovely because everything Hartman does in this world is lovely and this story of self discovery amid, among other things, a plague and horrible leaders, is no exception.
This story is exactly as raw as it sounds and it’s also beautiful in how it tries to think seriously about being a good person in the way that only story can. It’s beautiful because it can’t boil itself down to a maxim and also it’s lovely because everything Hartman does in this world is lovely and this story of self discovery amid, among other things, a plague and horrible leaders, is no exception.
October 17, 2025
*3.5/5
January 4, 2026
I might be in love with this book, Charl is one of my new fave protagonists pretty much ever, and there's so much interesting depth here. Definitely a high start to the year.
January 6, 2026
Audiobook- 3.5 stars
I didn't realize this was part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.
I didn't realize this was part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.
July 10, 2025
This is more like it. Possibly my favorite book in this world since Seraphina? For a story set in one small town, this has a lot of characters and moving parts, but unlike In The Serpent’s Wake, they all felt well-drawn and given enough weight in the story. It helps that they were mostly interlinked and related in satisfying ways, even the ghosts with the apparent outsiders.
Charl is such a great character, the whole cast is excellent, even the terrible people are mostly terrible in interesting, layered ways. Well, not Rafe, he doesn’t get an opportunity to be more than an awful bully, but at least his POV doesn’t last long. And Charl’s terrible father is more of a looming menace than a character present in the story.
Charl is such a great character, the whole cast is excellent, even the terrible people are mostly terrible in interesting, layered ways. Well, not Rafe, he doesn’t get an opportunity to be more than an awful bully, but at least his POV doesn’t last long. And Charl’s terrible father is more of a looming menace than a character present in the story.
August 3, 2025
Phenomenal. I tore through it and am SO SAD it’s over.
October 6, 2025
It's been way too long since I read a Rachel Hartman story, I need more.
June 28, 2025
Oh what a joy it is to be back in the southlands. I was first introduced to this world back in 2022 when I discovered Tess of the Road with its glowing review from NPR. I quickly realized it was connected to the Seraphina duology (which had been on my TBR list for a bit) and decided to start there. I have since read all 4 books at least twice with Tess of the Road becoming one of my most favorite YA fantasy books of all time. I was so excited to read this book when I saw it pop up a few months ago if only to reinhabit this world and the incredibly complex delightful characters that inhabit Goreddi and the surrounding countries.
Among Ghosts is wonderful, a worthy successor to the other books but set around 100 years before. The lessons within the story are lovely, the main character is a sweet young man who is stuck in a truly terrible situation trying to make decisions that would confound most adults. He reminded me a bit of my nephew who is deeply tender hearted and caring, I’m excited to one day pass these books along to him when he is old enough to appreciate them. The bittersweet life lessons that are always woven into these southland tales are definitely one of the reasons I love these books along with the incredibly unique depictions of dragons (and their absolutely charming cousins of chaos the quigs who were sadly not a part of this book). If you loved Tess of the Road I think you will love this one. If you love thoughtful creative YA fantasy that is inclusive and doesn’t shy away from discussing complex topics, give this book a go! As we say in my household…I give this book ten out of ten hands <3
Among Ghosts is wonderful, a worthy successor to the other books but set around 100 years before. The lessons within the story are lovely, the main character is a sweet young man who is stuck in a truly terrible situation trying to make decisions that would confound most adults. He reminded me a bit of my nephew who is deeply tender hearted and caring, I’m excited to one day pass these books along to him when he is old enough to appreciate them. The bittersweet life lessons that are always woven into these southland tales are definitely one of the reasons I love these books along with the incredibly unique depictions of dragons (and their absolutely charming cousins of chaos the quigs who were sadly not a part of this book). If you loved Tess of the Road I think you will love this one. If you love thoughtful creative YA fantasy that is inclusive and doesn’t shy away from discussing complex topics, give this book a go! As we say in my household…I give this book ten out of ten hands <3
January 11, 2025
This was a book that I knew I would love the moment I heard of it. And I did. So very much. It is set in the world of Seraphina, a book that I loved with all my heart back when it came out. This one takes place before, and it is possible to be read alone. But you would definitely love all books by Rachel. They are amazing.
There is so much that I wish to say about this book. I'm going to try my best not to write too much about it and not share spoilers. But oh, you should know that I loved this book very much. Five stars. The writing was all kinds of perfect. It was so easy to get lost in this wonderful world and all of these precious characters.
This book tells the story of thirteen-year-old Charl. He lives with his mother in the town of St. Muckle's. It is not the biggest town and not the best. But they are happy there and together. We get to know much about Charl. His mother escaped with him seven years ago, from his father. Whom was not a good person at all. We learn more about him and I did not like him at all. She went with her close friend, Sister Agnes. And their other close friend, Sir Aris. I really liked that Charl had many people close to him growing up. But he did not have it all that easy either. As this small town had a local bully. A boy several years older than him. And he picked on him from the beginning. Though Charl did his best to fight back, to hopefully put an end to this bullying. Which is what begins this book. And it was such an exciting start.
I cannot help but write a little about it. Charl is lured to an abandoned place some hours away from town. He knows it is a trap by Rafe, the town bully. Rafe also has his two friends with him. They were nicer and I am so upset about what happened to them. Rafe plans to kill Charl. But something goes wrong. And his two friends ends up dead instead, by an accident. Which was so awesome and sad to read about. I loved the beginning of this book. It was both exciting and tragic and just set up the book really well. I loved it so.
We get to know Charl so much and his life at this town. But after the deaths, more things go wrong. A plague begins in town. A sickness that is spreading from beetles. Which was all kinds of creepy yet so amazing to read about. I loved this part of the story too, though it was sad to read about how many died. Six months go by. They are just trying to survive, trying to get rid of the plague. Then the dragon arrives. Plus the assassin. Both hunting down Charl and his mother to take them back to his cruel father. Rude.
And so there is a whole lot going on in this story. The beginning and such had more action and had more things going on. The second half was a little slower, yet it was just as good. This is a book about a boy. A book about caring for other people. I loved how he loved his mother. And everyone else. I also loved how everything seemed to go wrong. It was fully exciting and fun at times. Fully heartbreaking, of course, but I loved it so. I will probably share a bit too much about this book. Yet there is still so much I am not saying.
Most of this book takes place in the old abandoned abbey a few hours away from town. And most of the book is about Charl spending his time alone, waiting for news about his mother. And taking care of a sick Mother Trude. While also dealing with all the ghosts in this place. And that was a part of this book that I really loved. There were several ghosts. Of young girls. I loved learning about their pasts. I so loved how they cared for Charl, and I loved how much time he spent with them. It was interesting and just so lovely.
There were so many other characters in this book too. And I loved reading a little about them each. We don't get to know Sister Agnes that well, but I still adored her. We get to know her teacher more, Mother Trude. She is an older nun. With such a secretive past. She had a mission, and I did not like her at first. But then I grew to love her, the more we got to know about her. She cared, in her own way. And reading about her past, at just thirteen, was so hard and so heartbreaking. I am glad it did not have more details.
This book also has dragons, just like Seraphia. I like how they are able to turn into humans if they wish to. And I loved learning even more details about them. There was one in this book, Miga. She was not a kind dragon or person. But she was also complicated. And I wanted to know more about her past. Hmph. But yeah. She ruined so much and I was not happy about it. Another villain was Jarlbrus. He was interesting, but mostly just an evil man and I did not like him at all. But I really loved what happened to him later. Ha.
In a way, I would say this is more of a middle grade book than a young adult one. The main character is thirteen years old through the whole book. He feels older, more mature. But he is still a child. But I don't mind what to label this book. As it was perfect the way it was, and I loved the age of Charl. He was every kind of precious. I loved getting to know this boy. He was so sensitive and loving. Yet so very fierce and protective. He tried his best. He failed at times. But he did not give up. I very much loved that about him.
We got to learn some personal secrets about Charl near the end of the book. I did not see it coming. But oh, how badly I loved it. It did explain a few things for me, made things clearer. And I loved this secret a whole lot. And it just made Charl more special to me. I adored him lots. There is a hint of a romance that could happen for him in the future. I'm a little bitter that I will not get to read about it, ha. As it seemed like it could end up being so cute, if it happened. I shipped them, at least. Even though he was still so young.
I would say that this whole book is the story of Charl. We get to see so much of him, like how he learns to deal better with his emotions. How he grows as a person. Then there were all the ghosts, of course. They were a huge part of this book too. And I did not mind at all. Though I do wish that ending had been longer. I wanted to know more details. I wanted to read about that one reunion and what would happen between two of the others. I just wanted to know more. And yet I did love the ending, as it was fitting with the story.
I'm just honestly so happy that I read this book. I knew it would be a story for me. It was a little different than what I had thought, in a way that it was more quiet, had less action for most of the book. Yet it was so beautiful and lovely to read about. And I loved the quiet moments too. I loved all that was learned in this book. From the past especially. We got to know many small stories and all of them felt important. All kinds of heartbreaking. These stories were not easy to read about. Yet I loved them with all of my heart.
The biggest thank you to the lovely PRH International for this free eARC copy of Among Ghosts to read and review via Edelweiss. I'm so thankful to you. And I had to read this one as soon as possible. I am so glad that I did so. As it was absolutely beautiful. And I cannot wait to own all the finished copies of it. This is a book that you simply must read when it comes out. It is haunting and heartbreaking yet so beautiful and lovely too. You will not regret reading it. I shall have to do a re-read of the Seraphina books soon too.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2025...
There is so much that I wish to say about this book. I'm going to try my best not to write too much about it and not share spoilers. But oh, you should know that I loved this book very much. Five stars. The writing was all kinds of perfect. It was so easy to get lost in this wonderful world and all of these precious characters.
This book tells the story of thirteen-year-old Charl. He lives with his mother in the town of St. Muckle's. It is not the biggest town and not the best. But they are happy there and together. We get to know much about Charl. His mother escaped with him seven years ago, from his father. Whom was not a good person at all. We learn more about him and I did not like him at all. She went with her close friend, Sister Agnes. And their other close friend, Sir Aris. I really liked that Charl had many people close to him growing up. But he did not have it all that easy either. As this small town had a local bully. A boy several years older than him. And he picked on him from the beginning. Though Charl did his best to fight back, to hopefully put an end to this bullying. Which is what begins this book. And it was such an exciting start.
I cannot help but write a little about it. Charl is lured to an abandoned place some hours away from town. He knows it is a trap by Rafe, the town bully. Rafe also has his two friends with him. They were nicer and I am so upset about what happened to them. Rafe plans to kill Charl. But something goes wrong. And his two friends ends up dead instead, by an accident. Which was so awesome and sad to read about. I loved the beginning of this book. It was both exciting and tragic and just set up the book really well. I loved it so.
We get to know Charl so much and his life at this town. But after the deaths, more things go wrong. A plague begins in town. A sickness that is spreading from beetles. Which was all kinds of creepy yet so amazing to read about. I loved this part of the story too, though it was sad to read about how many died. Six months go by. They are just trying to survive, trying to get rid of the plague. Then the dragon arrives. Plus the assassin. Both hunting down Charl and his mother to take them back to his cruel father. Rude.
And so there is a whole lot going on in this story. The beginning and such had more action and had more things going on. The second half was a little slower, yet it was just as good. This is a book about a boy. A book about caring for other people. I loved how he loved his mother. And everyone else. I also loved how everything seemed to go wrong. It was fully exciting and fun at times. Fully heartbreaking, of course, but I loved it so. I will probably share a bit too much about this book. Yet there is still so much I am not saying.
Most of this book takes place in the old abandoned abbey a few hours away from town. And most of the book is about Charl spending his time alone, waiting for news about his mother. And taking care of a sick Mother Trude. While also dealing with all the ghosts in this place. And that was a part of this book that I really loved. There were several ghosts. Of young girls. I loved learning about their pasts. I so loved how they cared for Charl, and I loved how much time he spent with them. It was interesting and just so lovely.
There were so many other characters in this book too. And I loved reading a little about them each. We don't get to know Sister Agnes that well, but I still adored her. We get to know her teacher more, Mother Trude. She is an older nun. With such a secretive past. She had a mission, and I did not like her at first. But then I grew to love her, the more we got to know about her. She cared, in her own way. And reading about her past, at just thirteen, was so hard and so heartbreaking. I am glad it did not have more details.
This book also has dragons, just like Seraphia. I like how they are able to turn into humans if they wish to. And I loved learning even more details about them. There was one in this book, Miga. She was not a kind dragon or person. But she was also complicated. And I wanted to know more about her past. Hmph. But yeah. She ruined so much and I was not happy about it. Another villain was Jarlbrus. He was interesting, but mostly just an evil man and I did not like him at all. But I really loved what happened to him later. Ha.
In a way, I would say this is more of a middle grade book than a young adult one. The main character is thirteen years old through the whole book. He feels older, more mature. But he is still a child. But I don't mind what to label this book. As it was perfect the way it was, and I loved the age of Charl. He was every kind of precious. I loved getting to know this boy. He was so sensitive and loving. Yet so very fierce and protective. He tried his best. He failed at times. But he did not give up. I very much loved that about him.
We got to learn some personal secrets about Charl near the end of the book. I did not see it coming. But oh, how badly I loved it. It did explain a few things for me, made things clearer. And I loved this secret a whole lot. And it just made Charl more special to me. I adored him lots. There is a hint of a romance that could happen for him in the future. I'm a little bitter that I will not get to read about it, ha. As it seemed like it could end up being so cute, if it happened. I shipped them, at least. Even though he was still so young.
I would say that this whole book is the story of Charl. We get to see so much of him, like how he learns to deal better with his emotions. How he grows as a person. Then there were all the ghosts, of course. They were a huge part of this book too. And I did not mind at all. Though I do wish that ending had been longer. I wanted to know more details. I wanted to read about that one reunion and what would happen between two of the others. I just wanted to know more. And yet I did love the ending, as it was fitting with the story.
I'm just honestly so happy that I read this book. I knew it would be a story for me. It was a little different than what I had thought, in a way that it was more quiet, had less action for most of the book. Yet it was so beautiful and lovely to read about. And I loved the quiet moments too. I loved all that was learned in this book. From the past especially. We got to know many small stories and all of them felt important. All kinds of heartbreaking. These stories were not easy to read about. Yet I loved them with all of my heart.
The biggest thank you to the lovely PRH International for this free eARC copy of Among Ghosts to read and review via Edelweiss. I'm so thankful to you. And I had to read this one as soon as possible. I am so glad that I did so. As it was absolutely beautiful. And I cannot wait to own all the finished copies of it. This is a book that you simply must read when it comes out. It is haunting and heartbreaking yet so beautiful and lovely too. You will not regret reading it. I shall have to do a re-read of the Seraphina books soon too.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2025...
April 13, 2025
I have never met a Rachel Hartman book I didn't like... and she continues that trend with her newest book Among Ghosts. Hartman tells a poignant story about grief, loss, change, and growth. She had me quietly contemplating at points and crying at others. This book offered a sort of catharsis when thinking about those we've lost. I was blown away by the way she explores choices and the weight of those choices.
We meet Charl right before all hell breaks loose in the town he resides in with his mother, a dutiful nun, a dragon doctor, and a knight who no longer slays dragons. Charl is dared to meet his nemesis at the old monastery, but while there destruction occurs leaving neither boy the same as they went up. Shortly after this mishap plague settles on Charl's town and the past he and his mother have run from is catching up. A dragon, a nun, and a spymaster are all pursuing Charl and his mother and they have to figure out how to respond. What's left is a story that will linger with you.
I will say that even though she's not a main character, I loved the role Charl's mother played in this story, she is a parent who saw her child's safety and happiness, and ability to be himself threatened and does everything she can to protect him and support him. It was a display of parenthood that resonated and that I wish all children received. Hands down her character is so well written.
I could probably go on for hours about all the pieces of this story that resonated with me or kept me turning pages but I would love you as the reader to find out all those things for yourself. Hands down if you like fantasy you should check this book out. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via Netgalley in Exchange for an honest review.
4.5/4.75 rounded up to 5 stars
We meet Charl right before all hell breaks loose in the town he resides in with his mother, a dutiful nun, a dragon doctor, and a knight who no longer slays dragons. Charl is dared to meet his nemesis at the old monastery, but while there destruction occurs leaving neither boy the same as they went up. Shortly after this mishap plague settles on Charl's town and the past he and his mother have run from is catching up. A dragon, a nun, and a spymaster are all pursuing Charl and his mother and they have to figure out how to respond. What's left is a story that will linger with you.
I will say that even though she's not a main character, I loved the role Charl's mother played in this story, she is a parent who saw her child's safety and happiness, and ability to be himself threatened and does everything she can to protect him and support him. It was a display of parenthood that resonated and that I wish all children received. Hands down her character is so well written.
I could probably go on for hours about all the pieces of this story that resonated with me or kept me turning pages but I would love you as the reader to find out all those things for yourself. Hands down if you like fantasy you should check this book out. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via Netgalley in Exchange for an honest review.
4.5/4.75 rounded up to 5 stars
February 14, 2026
Among Ghosts is such a perfect book. I loved Tess of the Road so much because of how Rachel Hartman writes these slow, character-focused and trauma-informed standalone fantasy books. So when I heard there was a new standalone story in the same world, and it was about ghosts, that was all I needed to know. I didn’t look at the synopsis, so I had no idea what I was going into, and I’m very glad I got to experience the story that way.
First of all, I was not expecting so much death. From the very first chapter onwards, there are countless awful ways that people die on and off page. This book deals really unflinchingly with messed up characters. But what I loved was that it always took the emotional depth of the characters deeper, to the point where you can even feel pity for people who have done terrible things. Obviously, this book is about real ghosts that do haunt people, but most of the book is about the ways that people are haunted by their regrets and the ghosts of their trauma. I could definitely tell that the author had a lot of fun using ghost themed words to describe the very mundane ways characters had to live with their pasts.
It was so easy to root for the main characters. They were so well fleshed out and complicated. I also loved the way the queer representation was done. It’s never outright said how any character identifies, but it is demonstrated and never seen as out of the ordinary, except in a couple snide comments by bigots. The main character is a young trans boy, and his mom is polyamorous, so he has essentially three co-parents. All of his role models really emphasize being a pacifist, because all of them have had to learn the hard way the cost of regret and violence. And the main character is now at the point where he’s realizing that there are threats and dangerous people out there in the world, and he is drawn to violence because he wants to protect himself and his town. But what he’ll have to learn is that there are some problems that violence just can’t solve, like building a strong community or helping a loved one’s health.
I also continue to love the worldbuilding. Apparently this book is set a hundred years before Tess of the Road, and although it is unflinching in a lot of ways, there is also a certain whimsy to the way the world is described. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the town of St Muckles. The world is also built on the way that the new standardized Saints religion has sought to wipe out the pagan traditions of the past. Several of the villains of the book played a direct hand in past massacres, and the knowledge of how to work with ghosts is considered superstition. The lore around the ghosts and the pagan beliefs of this world were so fascinating. The climax of the story was so fast paced, and I was completely on the edge of my seat. I would have liked a bit more falling action or resolution, but I understand why the story ended where it did. The whole book had a complete grip on my emotional state, and it was so cathartic to read. I’m so glad I read it.
First of all, I was not expecting so much death. From the very first chapter onwards, there are countless awful ways that people die on and off page. This book deals really unflinchingly with messed up characters. But what I loved was that it always took the emotional depth of the characters deeper, to the point where you can even feel pity for people who have done terrible things. Obviously, this book is about real ghosts that do haunt people, but most of the book is about the ways that people are haunted by their regrets and the ghosts of their trauma. I could definitely tell that the author had a lot of fun using ghost themed words to describe the very mundane ways characters had to live with their pasts.
It was so easy to root for the main characters. They were so well fleshed out and complicated. I also loved the way the queer representation was done. It’s never outright said how any character identifies, but it is demonstrated and never seen as out of the ordinary, except in a couple snide comments by bigots. The main character is a young trans boy, and his mom is polyamorous, so he has essentially three co-parents. All of his role models really emphasize being a pacifist, because all of them have had to learn the hard way the cost of regret and violence. And the main character is now at the point where he’s realizing that there are threats and dangerous people out there in the world, and he is drawn to violence because he wants to protect himself and his town. But what he’ll have to learn is that there are some problems that violence just can’t solve, like building a strong community or helping a loved one’s health.
I also continue to love the worldbuilding. Apparently this book is set a hundred years before Tess of the Road, and although it is unflinching in a lot of ways, there is also a certain whimsy to the way the world is described. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the town of St Muckles. The world is also built on the way that the new standardized Saints religion has sought to wipe out the pagan traditions of the past. Several of the villains of the book played a direct hand in past massacres, and the knowledge of how to work with ghosts is considered superstition. The lore around the ghosts and the pagan beliefs of this world were so fascinating. The climax of the story was so fast paced, and I was completely on the edge of my seat. I would have liked a bit more falling action or resolution, but I understand why the story ended where it did. The whole book had a complete grip on my emotional state, and it was so cathartic to read. I’m so glad I read it.
June 4, 2025
ARC courtesy of Tundra Books and NetGalley
Among Ghosts haunted me and thinking about it still sends shivers down my spine.
I finished Among Ghosts last night, after waiting several months for NetGalley to resolve the Kobo compatibility issue. I absolutely loved Tess of the Road and when I found out there would be a new book by Hartman, I immediately requested an ARC. I picked up Among Ghosts knowing that Hartman could transport me to a world with dragons and where characters got to have a future, no matter their past.
Charl flees to a nearby abbey fairly early on and the almost the entire novel takes place in the abbey. He can literally see his hometown - fighting both the plague and a literal dragon - but is powerless to leave the abbey. Charl is restrained to the walls of the abbey, bound there by honour and duty and his soul. Hartman speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic in the foreword of the book and how sheltering-in-place had a huge impact on herself and her family. One of the most haunting elements of Among Ghosts is to be transported back to spring and summer of 2020, where we couldn't leave our houses, no matter how much those who didn't live with us needed us. Among Ghosts reminds us that we are not alone in our collective trauma, no matter how much we were physically apart.
Among Ghosts is fairly introspective, but it's in this slow build of minute details that Hartman holds the spirit of the story. Charl isn't on a quest to slay the dragon or frantically working to develop a cure for the plague. Charl's job is to care for the souls surrounding him and do his best to put them at peace - not through awe inspiring acts, but from simply listening. In the silence, he is supposed to listen to himself too - his hopes, his dreams, his fears, and his sins. It's a deafening silence many of us are afraid of, but Hartman shows us the path to a better world step by step in Among Ghosts.
I think I will ruin the part of the book that sent shivers down my spine if I discuss it here and give an inclination of an aspect I had missed until approximately the 75% mark. Once I caught on to this additional layer Hartman had woven throughout Among Ghosts, it unlocked a desire to go back and reread the entirety of Among Ghosts. I could see, in retrospect, the foundation that had been built, to hold up Charl and his community, but I know I will appreciate on a reread seeing each and every stone being placed.
Some might consider the start of Among Ghosts a little slow, but Hartman meticulously builds a masterwork window into the soul for anyone who has ever been helpless.
Among Ghosts haunted me and thinking about it still sends shivers down my spine.
I finished Among Ghosts last night, after waiting several months for NetGalley to resolve the Kobo compatibility issue. I absolutely loved Tess of the Road and when I found out there would be a new book by Hartman, I immediately requested an ARC. I picked up Among Ghosts knowing that Hartman could transport me to a world with dragons and where characters got to have a future, no matter their past.
Charl flees to a nearby abbey fairly early on and the almost the entire novel takes place in the abbey. He can literally see his hometown - fighting both the plague and a literal dragon - but is powerless to leave the abbey. Charl is restrained to the walls of the abbey, bound there by honour and duty and his soul. Hartman speaks about the COVID-19 pandemic in the foreword of the book and how sheltering-in-place had a huge impact on herself and her family. One of the most haunting elements of Among Ghosts is to be transported back to spring and summer of 2020, where we couldn't leave our houses, no matter how much those who didn't live with us needed us. Among Ghosts reminds us that we are not alone in our collective trauma, no matter how much we were physically apart.
Among Ghosts is fairly introspective, but it's in this slow build of minute details that Hartman holds the spirit of the story. Charl isn't on a quest to slay the dragon or frantically working to develop a cure for the plague. Charl's job is to care for the souls surrounding him and do his best to put them at peace - not through awe inspiring acts, but from simply listening. In the silence, he is supposed to listen to himself too - his hopes, his dreams, his fears, and his sins. It's a deafening silence many of us are afraid of, but Hartman shows us the path to a better world step by step in Among Ghosts.
I think I will ruin the part of the book that sent shivers down my spine if I discuss it here and give an inclination of an aspect I had missed until approximately the 75% mark. Once I caught on to this additional layer Hartman had woven throughout Among Ghosts, it unlocked a desire to go back and reread the entirety of Among Ghosts. I could see, in retrospect, the foundation that had been built, to hold up Charl and his community, but I know I will appreciate on a reread seeing each and every stone being placed.
Some might consider the start of Among Ghosts a little slow, but Hartman meticulously builds a masterwork window into the soul for anyone who has ever been helpless.
July 22, 2025
Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: YA fantasy, middle grade
Themes: ghosts, memory, hauntings, morality
📖 Read if you like: Elle Enchanted
This is a story about ghosts, those that manifest themselves in your memory and those that take a more corporeal form. It is a moving and heartfelt journey of discovery of a young boy deciding what type of man he wants to be and what he will be willing to do for those he loves. Well Charl really can’t help but care about everyone, even the bullies and the spies trying to kidnap him. Even if he is relatively powerless, he has a strong will to do what is right and stand in opposition to literal dragons. It is a YA novel with creative fantasy elements and a rather heartfelt moral compass. While perhaps catered to a younger audience with a youthful MC, it proved thought provoking for older readers.
Set in the small town of St. Muckle, we find a young Charl with his mother, a former knight named Aris, and a wise teacher who goes by Sister Agnes. A place full of mud and runaways, where any may find their freedom by living there for a year and one day. This Peasant’s Paradise has been living in quiet obscurity, but that is all about to change with death, a plague and a mercenary dragon wreathing the town in flames. When Charl manages to escape the mayhem to a supposedly abandoned abbey, he finds an unexpected motley of fearsome beings. A treacherous nun, a group of murdered girls, a bloody baron, an amnesiac murderous dragon and a spy operating in the shadows make for an interesting playground. A place where wisdom, resiliency and compassion will be needed for survival.
The omnipresent ghosts provided an eerie world where nightmares are relived, but forgetting your darkest moments can be equally problematic. Added to this medieval landscape where one religion has sought control over the pagans, is a small town under siege by evil powers. A mastermind who seeks to destroy not only the body, but the hope of a small town in order to vilify an idealist. It may have been slower in pace, but there were so many different concurrent storylines and thoughtful insights. A reminder that wisdom and doing what is right are not always aligned, just that those who are foolish are not always in the wrong. The paranormal meets the real world in this curious and rather dark tale that weaves together history, magic and determination.
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and the author for this gifted copy.
Genre: YA fantasy, middle grade
Themes: ghosts, memory, hauntings, morality
📖 Read if you like: Elle Enchanted
This is a story about ghosts, those that manifest themselves in your memory and those that take a more corporeal form. It is a moving and heartfelt journey of discovery of a young boy deciding what type of man he wants to be and what he will be willing to do for those he loves. Well Charl really can’t help but care about everyone, even the bullies and the spies trying to kidnap him. Even if he is relatively powerless, he has a strong will to do what is right and stand in opposition to literal dragons. It is a YA novel with creative fantasy elements and a rather heartfelt moral compass. While perhaps catered to a younger audience with a youthful MC, it proved thought provoking for older readers.
Set in the small town of St. Muckle, we find a young Charl with his mother, a former knight named Aris, and a wise teacher who goes by Sister Agnes. A place full of mud and runaways, where any may find their freedom by living there for a year and one day. This Peasant’s Paradise has been living in quiet obscurity, but that is all about to change with death, a plague and a mercenary dragon wreathing the town in flames. When Charl manages to escape the mayhem to a supposedly abandoned abbey, he finds an unexpected motley of fearsome beings. A treacherous nun, a group of murdered girls, a bloody baron, an amnesiac murderous dragon and a spy operating in the shadows make for an interesting playground. A place where wisdom, resiliency and compassion will be needed for survival.
The omnipresent ghosts provided an eerie world where nightmares are relived, but forgetting your darkest moments can be equally problematic. Added to this medieval landscape where one religion has sought control over the pagans, is a small town under siege by evil powers. A mastermind who seeks to destroy not only the body, but the hope of a small town in order to vilify an idealist. It may have been slower in pace, but there were so many different concurrent storylines and thoughtful insights. A reminder that wisdom and doing what is right are not always aligned, just that those who are foolish are not always in the wrong. The paranormal meets the real world in this curious and rather dark tale that weaves together history, magic and determination.
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and the author for this gifted copy.
August 25, 2025
I haven’t read anything else by Rachel Hartman or in the world of Seraphina (although I’ve wanted to!), so this was my introduction to this world. I’m also not the biggest fan of ghost stories, plagues, or bugs. Those things could have easily combined into me not liking this book, but actually I enjoyed the book a lot and will moving the rest of the books in this world up in my reading priority list.
Like I mentioned, I don’t do well with ghost stories, especially spooky ones. There were certainly spooky ghost elements here, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The ghost elements went deeper – and sweeter – than I anticipated, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the ghosts were varied and complex. I enjoyed the resolutions to their individual stories. It’s a slow build-up to a lot of the elements of the book, which almost made me want to reread to catch what I missed the first time that was setting up later parts of the plot or information about the characters.
I loved the characters in this book. Charl has a lot of courage and heart, and I love his sensitivity and determination even when difficult things are happening. His mother is inspiring and lovable. We got to know Sister Agnes and Sir Aris a little less than some other characters, but I still adored them. Mother Trude is complex, but I found her compelling and layered. Even the characters that might only appear for a single scene are interesting and fun. I personally found there were too many POVs, making it a little bit harder to follow or distracting from the main storyline even when I enjoyed the individual chapters.
Some elements of the book are inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic, and as a result, it touches on isolation, fear, polarizing views, blaming people when there aren’t clear answers, and losing empathy for people. The ghost elements and some of the character backgrounds also deal with some difficult topics. The slower build to get to some of these reveals or big topics help add to the overall book and come at the right time for each.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and think it is ideal for middle grade or younger YA readers who love some elements of spookiness with a lot of heart.
Like I mentioned, I don’t do well with ghost stories, especially spooky ones. There were certainly spooky ghost elements here, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The ghost elements went deeper – and sweeter – than I anticipated, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the ghosts were varied and complex. I enjoyed the resolutions to their individual stories. It’s a slow build-up to a lot of the elements of the book, which almost made me want to reread to catch what I missed the first time that was setting up later parts of the plot or information about the characters.
I loved the characters in this book. Charl has a lot of courage and heart, and I love his sensitivity and determination even when difficult things are happening. His mother is inspiring and lovable. We got to know Sister Agnes and Sir Aris a little less than some other characters, but I still adored them. Mother Trude is complex, but I found her compelling and layered. Even the characters that might only appear for a single scene are interesting and fun. I personally found there were too many POVs, making it a little bit harder to follow or distracting from the main storyline even when I enjoyed the individual chapters.
Some elements of the book are inspired by the Covid-19 pandemic, and as a result, it touches on isolation, fear, polarizing views, blaming people when there aren’t clear answers, and losing empathy for people. The ghost elements and some of the character backgrounds also deal with some difficult topics. The slower build to get to some of these reveals or big topics help add to the overall book and come at the right time for each.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and think it is ideal for middle grade or younger YA readers who love some elements of spookiness with a lot of heart.
November 3, 2025
Among Ghosts is a quiet story and a queer story, which is only revealed half-way through the book and I love how just-not-a-big-deal it is. As can be expected from Hartman it is written smartly and wonderfully. It feels like a warm hug.
The story is set 100 years before the events of Seraphina, Tess of the Road and sequels. You don’t have to be familiar with the later books to read this one, but I do think they help you get a better grasp on the world and its conflicts; Among Ghosts does not do a lot of explaining, but it’s also not as important to the story, I guess.
It pains me to write this but to me Seraphina and Tess were far more interesting books. Among Ghosts just doesn’t have as complex a story, there is no murder to solve, no war to end, no deep mystery to uncover and no foreign country to visit. Among Ghosts is still a well-crafted tale, I just found it a little … unexciting. Even though it has ghosts and a plague (spread in the most disgusting way).
Charl is a sweet protagonist, a good, kind person and those deserve to be in the spotlight of stories but I also wish the book had focused on Dr. Caramus instead. In the second half we learn that
Nevertheless, I’m glad that quiet books like this one exist and that they highlight the importance of loyalty, kindness, regret, making amends and (literally) facing the ghosts of the past.
[3.5 stars]
The story is set 100 years before the events of Seraphina, Tess of the Road and sequels. You don’t have to be familiar with the later books to read this one, but I do think they help you get a better grasp on the world and its conflicts; Among Ghosts does not do a lot of explaining, but it’s also not as important to the story, I guess.
It pains me to write this but to me Seraphina and Tess were far more interesting books. Among Ghosts just doesn’t have as complex a story, there is no murder to solve, no war to end, no deep mystery to uncover and no foreign country to visit. Among Ghosts is still a well-crafted tale, I just found it a little … unexciting. Even though it has ghosts and a plague (spread in the most disgusting way).
Charl is a sweet protagonist, a good, kind person and those deserve to be in the spotlight of stories but I also wish the book had focused on Dr. Caramus instead. In the second half we learn that
Nevertheless, I’m glad that quiet books like this one exist and that they highlight the importance of loyalty, kindness, regret, making amends and (literally) facing the ghosts of the past.
[3.5 stars]
August 11, 2025
4 stars from me, a mood reader :)
This story follows Charl, a young man striving to find his way at St. Muckles, where being redeemed and free is actually possible. Set in the same world as Seraphina, (though not necessary to be familiar with this work), Hartman illustrates a world where it is possible to rebuild after owing others both labor and favors. After he and his mother have found their place in society at St Muckle' through slowly rebuilding an inn and safe haven for others, havoc begins when a plague is set loose. Charl escapes to an abandoned abbey outside of town with an unreliable character and a band of helpful, sometimes terrifying, ghosts. Set in a world full of dragons and countries built on war, good battles evil.
Themes throughout this story contain found family, good versus evil, and heartwarming character arcs. There is quite a bit of gore, and an easy story line to follow. The story starts off tragic, and the main character is both lovable and fierce.
Hartman is a wonderful writer, with clear descriptions of this world and the characters within. I have read most of Hartman's other work, and it is always enjoyable and fun to read. It is a bit darker themed, with mentions of class discrepancies and a bit of clear prejudice between both species and humans alike. The atmosphere is gothic and muddy.
There is a unique paranormal system that permits the ghosts Charl has connected with to travel with him and vice versa. It was an interesting twist on ghosts that I found engaging. I wanted to know more!
I would recommend this book to people into the gothic young adult genre. It shows so much bravery in the characters, fighting despite their fears, and that makes it a true winner for me.
My favorite quotes that could speak with a fellow reader: What do we do in the face of suffering? "We do what we can."
"Any blunt instrument can break buildings; it takes finesse to break your heart."
"The self is the hardest prison to escape."
This story follows Charl, a young man striving to find his way at St. Muckles, where being redeemed and free is actually possible. Set in the same world as Seraphina, (though not necessary to be familiar with this work), Hartman illustrates a world where it is possible to rebuild after owing others both labor and favors. After he and his mother have found their place in society at St Muckle' through slowly rebuilding an inn and safe haven for others, havoc begins when a plague is set loose. Charl escapes to an abandoned abbey outside of town with an unreliable character and a band of helpful, sometimes terrifying, ghosts. Set in a world full of dragons and countries built on war, good battles evil.
Themes throughout this story contain found family, good versus evil, and heartwarming character arcs. There is quite a bit of gore, and an easy story line to follow. The story starts off tragic, and the main character is both lovable and fierce.
Hartman is a wonderful writer, with clear descriptions of this world and the characters within. I have read most of Hartman's other work, and it is always enjoyable and fun to read. It is a bit darker themed, with mentions of class discrepancies and a bit of clear prejudice between both species and humans alike. The atmosphere is gothic and muddy.
There is a unique paranormal system that permits the ghosts Charl has connected with to travel with him and vice versa. It was an interesting twist on ghosts that I found engaging. I wanted to know more!
I would recommend this book to people into the gothic young adult genre. It shows so much bravery in the characters, fighting despite their fears, and that makes it a true winner for me.
My favorite quotes that could speak with a fellow reader: What do we do in the face of suffering? "We do what we can."
"Any blunt instrument can break buildings; it takes finesse to break your heart."
"The self is the hardest prison to escape."
March 22, 2026
if you’ve followed me for a bit, there’s a good chance you know that rachel hartman’s second duology set in the southlands are some of my favorite books of all time, and that i like her first duo well enough. this book might be my least favorite of hers, but only because it does what her other books do best (expand upon the world of the southlands and makes its characters and their problems feel very real) and then kind of… doesn’t focus on this a ton? charl is a fine main character, and i think viewing most of the story through his perspective is an interesting choice. and perhaps this is because i’m not quite the target age range, but i’m far more interested in what’s going on with the adults around him. it’s not as if charl has nothing going on, but i’d read an entire book following mother trude alone, never mind the rest of his family or the other adult characters who show up. this book does do a fantastic job at exploring some of the history of the southlands and tying parallels to real life history, as in the serpent’s wake did. and i enjoyed the cast of ghosts a lot! they were very fun and sad at the same time, which is a good combo here. the ending does peeve me a lot, simply because i want to know more about what’s going to happen. hartman spends a fair amount of time setting up st. muckle’s, and i want to see more of it after the story’s end! to me, there’s so much more to pick at there! this book is also in an odd spot because it seems to be for a slightly younger audience than hartman’s other work in this series, but it’s also incredibly dark at times. for every gripe i have about it, there’s something good or interesting or enjoyable to meet it. but if this review hasn’t totally put you off reading it, give it a shot and tell me what you think :)
this review is also available on instagram here!
this review is also available on instagram here!
October 28, 2025
Another thoughtful, gripping adventure by Hartman. There are, of course, two dragons in it, one of whom appalled me, and one of whom I loved. There are also kidnappers, a plague, chases and fights, and more. But at the heart of it is a small boy, 13-year-old Charl. With his mother, he has escaped from his abusive father, the Earl, and found refuge in the town of St. Muckle. The first hint of disaster comes when Charl sees a ghost at the ruined abbey above the town--and then sees two boys die, while a third, Charl's chief tormentor, is driven mad. That's bad enough, but worse is to come. In order to navigate the trials he will face, Charl will have to come to terms with his own past--and he'll need some help from a group of ghostly girls.
On one level, this could be read as a straight adventure story. On another, it has a good deal to say about faith and how it can be misused. This may be almost too blunt. But the horrors of religious persecution are real, however uncomfortable reading a fantasy about them may be. In the end, forgiveness and grace are shown to be possible, too.
I read this for the Bank Street Children's Book review committee. Recommended for all libraries where Hartman's books are popular.
Note: I was not sure of the audience for this one. It struck me--almost--as appropriate for younger teens, because Charl himself is 13. But it's pretty grim. But is it grimmer than Rundell? I don't think so. It slants a little younger than Hartman's other books set in this world. We learn Charl is probably trans, but it doesn't make much difference to the story--everyone accepts him as a boy. I could easily see a bright ten-year-old reading and enjoying this. Thoughts?
On one level, this could be read as a straight adventure story. On another, it has a good deal to say about faith and how it can be misused. This may be almost too blunt. But the horrors of religious persecution are real, however uncomfortable reading a fantasy about them may be. In the end, forgiveness and grace are shown to be possible, too.
I read this for the Bank Street Children's Book review committee. Recommended for all libraries where Hartman's books are popular.
Note: I was not sure of the audience for this one. It struck me--almost--as appropriate for younger teens, because Charl himself is 13. But it's pretty grim. But is it grimmer than Rundell? I don't think so. It slants a little younger than Hartman's other books set in this world. We learn Charl is probably trans, but it doesn't make much difference to the story--everyone accepts him as a boy. I could easily see a bright ten-year-old reading and enjoying this. Thoughts?
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